t me where the hair's short, Heine. I not only lose the rancho and
all, but every cent Jo and me and Hiram's put into her. I ain't
sellin' an acre these days. Won't till summer's here, and the
blame'-fool homesteaders see that Paloma Rancho's worth ten times what
the government land's worth. The work on the grade is nearin'
completion, and the steel's creepin' closer every day. Every mornin',
when it's still, you c'n hear the whistle o' the track-layin' engine.
The camps are finishin' and movin' on, one by one. That takes trade
away from Ragtown, and concessionaires are quittin', too. A month from
now Ragtown will be only a memory, Heine. Not that, as Tweet, she
won't build up later and more substantially, when the steel's laid and
trains are runnin'. But to keep a stiff upper lip till then brings
gray hairs!"

"Don't you worry," Heine said consolingly. "You just set tight and
watch the spring blossoms come. Jerkline Jo never failed man nor horse
nor dog in her life, and she ain't forgot you for a second. You bet
your last dime on Jerkline Jo, ol'-timer--and Wild Cat, too, s'far's
that goes. They'll ramble home in time to save you. I'll bet my bank
roll on it!"

"Only ten days more," Tweet sighed heavily. "Oh, papa, what pretty
fireworks you made! Heine, are you still keepin' Drummond in hot
water?"

"Oh, yes," Heine assured him. "They're doin' very well. Guess
Drummond'll be drivin' to see how Jo's gettin' along pretty soon. I
guess I queered things to-day. Tried to get funny, and pretty near
spilled the beans. I'll say he'd better take along about five huskies
to move boulders outa the road, if he tries to make it through the
pass. Them big boys just naturally roll down behind us the minute
we've passed. And comin' back, we hook on and snake 'em outa the way.
And then, by golly, they spring right back again! Funny rocks in this
country, Tweet."

CHAPTER XXXV

THE WAY OF LIFE

Sand, sand, sand--far as the eye can reach, a sea of sand, with here
and there a half-buried and bleached horned skull, and vultures
circling high above in the heavens.

Away in the blinding distance five specks appear, and finally are seen
to be slowly on the move. Hours after this discovery, if an observer
were to remain stationary, the specks take on the shapes of animal
life--two men, a woman, and two burros bearing packs. Onward they move
slowly, and once more become mere specks, scarce discernible a