oss?"

Aunt Jane stopped the noise she was making, and Lucy darted to the
door. Then Bostil heard the sharp, rhythmic hoof-beats he recognized.
They shortened to clatter and pound--then ceased somewhere out in front
of the house.

"It's the King with Van up," said Lucy, from the door. "Dad, Van's
jumped off--he's coming in ... he's running. Something has happened....
There are other horses coming--riders--Indians."

Bostil knew what was coming and prepared himself. Rapid footsteps
sounded without.

"Hello, Miss Lucy! Where's Bostil?"

A lean, supple rider appeared before the door. It was Van, greatly
excited.

"Come in, boy," said Bostil. "What're you flustered about?"

Van strode in, spurs jangling, cap in hand. "Boss, there's--a
sixty-foot raise--in the river!" Van panted.

"Oh!" cried Lucy, wheeling toward her father.

"Wal, Van, I reckon I knowed thet," replied Bostil. "Mebbe I'm gettin'
old, but I can still hear.... Listen."

Lucy tiptoed to the door and turned her head sidewise and slowly bowed
it till she stiffened. Outside were, sounds of birds and horses and
men, but when a lull came it quickly filled with a sullen, low boom.

"Highest flood we--ever seen," said Van.

"You've been down?" queried Bostil, sharply.

"Not to the river," replied Van. "I went as far as--where the gulch
opens--on the bluff. There was a string of Navajos goin' down. An' some
comin' up. I stayed there watchin' the flood, an' pretty soon Somers
come up the trail with Blakesley an' Brack an' some riders.... An'
Somers hollered out, 'The boat's gone!'"

"Gone!" exclaimed Bostil, his loud cry showing consternation.

"Oh, Dad! Oh, Van!" cried Lucy, with eyes wide and lips parted.

"Sure she's gone. An' the whole place down there--where the willows was
an' the sand-bar--it was deep under water."

"What will become of Creech's horses?" asked Lucy, breathlessly.

"My God! ain't it a shame!" went on Bostil, and he could have laughed
aloud at his hypocrisy. He felt Lucy's blue eyes riveted upon his face.

"Thet's what we all was sayin'," went on Van. "While we was watchin'
the awful flood an' listenin' to the deep bum--bum--bum of rollin'
rocks some one seen Creech an' two Piutes leadin' the hosses up thet
trail where the slide was. We counted the hosses--nine. An' we saw the
roan shine blue in the sunlight."

"Piutes with Creech!" exclaimed Bostil, the deep gloom in his eyes
lighting. "By all thet's lucky! Mebbe them In