ke it with them, eh?" he soliloquized. "Well, that
means that there's more coming, so I'll just send the next batch plumb
west--they'll be some pleased to explore this God-forsaken desert some
extensive."

Grinning joyously, he replaced the weapon with its head pointing westward
and then looked anxiously at the tracks of the party which had just
passed. Deciding that the wind would effectually cover them in an hour
at most, he returned to his hiding place, taking care to cover his own
tracks. Taking a chance on the second contingent going north was all
right, but he didn't care to run the risk of having them ride to him for
explanations. Picking up the cards again he shuffled them and suffered
defeat after defeat, and finally announced his displeasure at the luck
he was having.

"I never saw nothing like it!" he grumbled petulantly. "Reckon I'll
hit up the Old Thirteen a few," beginning a new game. He had whiled
away an hour and a half, and as he stretched himself his uneasy eyes
discovered another cloud on the southern horizon, which was smaller than
the first. He placed the six of hearts on the five of hearts, ruffled
the pack and then put the cards down and took up his rifle, watching the
cloud closely. He was soon able to count seven warriors who were driving
another "cavvieyeh" of horses.

"Huh! Only seven!" he grunted, shifting his rifle for action. The fighting
lust swept over him, but he choked it down and idly fingered the hammer of
the gun. "Nope, I reckon not--seven husky Apaches are too much for one
man to go out of his way to fight. Now, if the sheriff was only with me,"
and he grinned at the humor of it, "we might cut loose and heave lead.
But since he ain't, this is where I don't chip in--I'll wait a while,
for they'll shore come back."

The seven warriors went through almost the same actions which their
predecessors had gone through and great excitement prevailed among them.
The leaders pointed to the very faint tracks which led northward and
debated vehemently. But the two small stones which held the arrow securely
in its position against the possibility of the wind shifting it could
not be doubted, and after a few minutes had passed they rode as bidden,
leaving one of their number on guard at the bowlder. Soon the other
six were lost to sight among the chaparrals to the west and the guard sat
stolidly under the blazing sun.

The dispatcher noted the position of a shadow thrown on the sand by a
ca