aking softly.

"Same as any of them raider outfits," replied Ladd. "They're across
the line for beef. But they'll run off any good stock. As hoss
thieves these rebels have got 'em all beat. That outfit is waitin'
till it's late. There's a ranch up the arroyo."

Gale heard the first speaker curse under his breath.

"Sure, I feel the same," said Ladd. "But we've got a girl an' the
young man to look after, not to mention our pack outfit. An' we're
huntin' for a job, not a fight, old hoss. Keep on your chaps!"

"Nothin' to it but head south for the Rio Forlorn."

"You're talkin' sense now, Jim. I wish we'd headed that way long ago.
But it ain't strange I'd want to travel away from the border, thinkin'
of the girl. Jim, we can't go round this Greaser outfit an' strike the
road again. Too rough. So we'll have to give up gettin' to San
Felipe."

"Perhaps it's just as well, Laddy. Rio Forlorn is on the border line,
but it's country where these rebels ain't been yet."

"Wait till they learn of the oasis an' Beldin's hosses!" exclaimed
Laddy. "I'm not anticipatin' peace anywhere along the border, Jim.
But we can't go ahead; we can't go back."

"What'll we do, Laddy? It's a hike to Beldin's ranch. An' if we get
there in daylight some Greaser will see the girl before Beldin' can
hide her. It'll get talked about. The news'll travel to Casita like
sage balls before the wind."

"Shore we won't ride into Rio Forlorn in the daytime. Let's slip the
packs, Jim. We can hid them off in the cactus an' come back after
them. With the young man ridin' we--"

The whispering was interrupted by a loud ringing neigh that whistled up
from the arroyo. One of the horses had scented the travelers on the
ridge top. The indifference of the Mexicans changed to attention.

Ladd and Lash turned back and led the horses into the first opening on
the south side of the road. There was nothing more said at the moment,
and manifestly the cowboys were in a hurry. Gale had to run in the
open places to keep up. When they did stop it was welcome to Gale, for
he had begun to fall behind.

The packs were slipped, securely tied and hidden in a mesquite clump.
Ladd strapped a blanket around one of the horses. His next move was to
take off his chaps.

"Gale, you're wearin' boots, an' by liftin' your feet you can beat the
cactus," he whispered. "But the--the--Miss Castaneda, she'll be torn
all to pieces unless she puts these on.