ing-fire, for that would have been low
and red, but a crackling blaze of mesquite. Three men were in sight,
all close to the burning sticks. They were Mexicans and of the coarse
type of raiders, rebels, bandits that Gale expected to see. One stood
up, his back to the fire; another sat with shoulders enveloped in a
blanket, and the third lounged in the sand, his feet almost in the
blaze. They had cast off belts and weapons. A glint of steel caught
Gale's eye. Three short, shiny carbines leaned against a rock. A
little to the left, within the circle of light, stood a square house
made of adobe bricks. Several untrimmed poles upheld a roof of brush,
which was partly fallen in. This house was a Papago Indian habitation,
and a month before had been occupied by a family that had been murdered
or driven off by a roving band of outlaws. A rude corral showed dimly
in the edge of firelight, and from a black mass within came the snort
and stamp and whinney of horses.

Gale took in the scene in one quick glance, then sank down at the foot
of the mesquite. He had naturally expected to see more men. But the
situation was by no means new. This was one, or part of one, of the
raider bands harrying the border. They were stealing horses, or
driving a herd already stolen. These bands were more numerous than the
waterholes of northern Sonora; they never camped long at one place;
like Arabs, they roamed over the desert all the way from Nogales to
Casita. If Gale had gone peaceably up to this campfire there were a
hundred chances that the raiders would kill and rob him to one chance
that they might not. If they recognized him as a ranger comrade of
Ladd and Lash, if they got a glimpse of Blanco Sol, then Gale would
have no chance.

These Mexicans had evidently been at the well some time. Their horses
being in the corral meant that grazing had been done by day. Gale
revolved questions in mind. Had this trio of outlaws run across Ladd?
It was not likely, for in that event they might not have been so
comfortable and care-free in camp. Were they waiting for more members
of their gang? That was very probable. With Gale, however, the most
important consideration was how to get his horse to water. Sol must
have a drink if it cost a fight. There was stern reason for Gale to
hurry eastward along the trail. He thought it best to go back to where
he had left his horse and not make any decisive move until daylight.

With the same