FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132  
133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   >>  
the Range he did not know. And how in the immensity of this hostile country, they could fulfill Topham's hopes and lead the troop patrol to Rennie's posse, was something the Kentuckian did not even try to answer. The border lay south. If Kitchell had made such a sweeping raid, he would be certain to run the animals in that direction, for the outlaw was fully aware of Rennie's reputation and temper, and knew that _Don_ Cazar would trail him with set determination. This meant the outlaw must have set up some plan for avoiding pursuit. Rouse the Apaches? Or prepare an ambush? Either could work. Then Bayliss' men could be a saving factor. If the Kentuckian could locate Rennie, and ride in to his camp--or skulk close enough to it--that should bring the troops down. But where was Anse? The Texan had not simply cleared out because of imminent trouble, Drew was sure of that. Had he followed Shannon to Mexico? This was one time when Drew could well understand the exasperation and frustration felt by an officer whose scouts did not report in as ordered and who had no idea of the disposition of reinforcements. Talk about going into something blind! But still he rode at a steady, mile-covering pace southward. 15 "Still south...." Teodoro pointed out the hoof prints deep in the soft earth beside the water hole. Drew steadied himself with one hand on the stirrup leathers as he stooped to see more clearly. He was groggy with lack of sleep and felt that if he once allowed himself to slip completely to ground level, he would not get up again. "Rennie's riders?" Teodoro was on one knee, conning the mass of tracks as if they were a printed page. "_Si_--there is the mark of Bartolome Rivas' horse. It has a misshapen hoof; the shoe must always be well fitted." "How far are they ahead now?" Drew had come to depend upon the young mustanger's judgment. Teodoro apparently was close to a Pima in his ability to read trace. "Two hours--maybe three. But they will be at the pass and there they will stay." "Why?" "I think they will lay a trap for the raiders. There has been no sign that they trail now behind driven horses. _Don_ Cazar does not pursue; he rides to cut off the road to Mexico. Kitchell's men, they would not take the open Sonora trail, that is folly for them. So they travel one ridden by men with a price on their heads. If Kitchell now moves south to stay, he will have with him all that he can carry, and
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132  
133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   >>  



Top keywords:
Rennie
 

Teodoro

 

Kitchell

 
outlaw
 

Mexico

 

Kentuckian

 

conning

 

Bartolome

 

printed

 

tracks


allowed

 
leathers
 

stirrup

 
stooped
 
steadied
 

ground

 

riders

 

completely

 

groggy

 

pursue


horses

 

driven

 

Sonora

 

travel

 

ridden

 
raiders
 

depend

 

mustanger

 

fitted

 

judgment


apparently

 

ability

 
misshapen
 

report

 

determination

 

avoiding

 

temper

 

direction

 

reputation

 

pursuit


Bayliss
 
saving
 

factor

 

locate

 

Either

 
Apaches
 

prepare

 
ambush
 
animals
 

country