were so absorbed by what they were doing that Tubacca and what might be
going on there had no more immediate meaning than the words in the books
which had ridden to the Stronghold in Drew's saddlebags.

In the late afternoon of the third day the Kentuckian was walking a
long-legged bay on a lead when Leon climbed to the top pole of the corral.

"The _patron_ comes," he announced.

Drew faced about. Two riders escorted at hardly more than a fast walk a
buckboard in which were two other men. Drew caught a glimpse of a white
bandage under the brim of the passenger's hat and knew that Johnny Shannon
was coming home.

"Anse!" Drew raised a hand, suddenly knowing that his fingers were moving
in the old scout signal of trouble ahead.

The Texan came across the corral. Drew's bay snorted, took a dance step or
two to the right as if it had picked up sudden tension from the men.

"What's up?" Anse pushed back his hat, turned up a corner of his
neckerchief, and swabbed the lower half of his sweating face.

"Rennie's back."

Drew watched Leon hurry to take the buckboard reins, watched Hunt Rennie
give a hand to Johnny. Then he saw Shannon jerk away from that aid,
walking stiffly toward Casa Grande while Rennie stood for an instant
looking after the younger man before following him.

Croaker tossed his head so high his limber ear bobbed in the murky air. He
brayed mournfully. Anse glanced at the mule's long melancholy face.

"That's th' way you think it's gonna be, Croaker? Well, maybe so ... maybe
so."

10

"This waitin'--" Anse sat cross-legged on the bunk next to Drew's, his
thumb spinning the rowel of one spur. "I never did take kindly to waitin'.
Is he or ain't he gonna sign me on?"

Drew, lying flat, stared up at the muslin-covered ceiling which years of
dust had turned to yellow-brown. "You ought to be used to it by
now--waitin', I mean. We had us plenty of it in the army."

"Only that was sorta different, not kinda personal like this here. We was
sittin' round on our heels then, waitin' for some general to make up his
mind as to where he was gonna throw some lead fast. This is waitin' to
know if _we_'re goin' to be throwed--out!"

"I heard California----" Drew began again.

"You've sure taken a shine to Californy lately," Anse commented. Under his
fingers the rowel whirred. "At least you talk about it enough." He sounded
irritated. "Looky here, Drew, if that's the way you really feel, why don't