The biggest obstacle was their absolute ignorance of
where the nearest ranch lay. Not, surely, that half-day's ride back towards
Albuquerque, where they bad seen but one pony and that a poor specimen of
horseflesh. Another obstacle would be the dogs, which could be quieted only
with bullets.
"We might git hold of something to ride," Applehead stated glumly, "an' then
agin the chances is we wouldn't git nothin' more'n a scrap on our hands. 'N'
I'm tellin' yuh right now, Lite, I ain't hankerin' fer no fuss till I git a
hoss under me."
"Me either," Lite testified succinctly. "Say, is that something coming, away
up that draw the camp's in? Seems to me I saw something pass that line of
lava, about half a mile over."
Applehead stood up and peered into the half darkness. In a couple of minutes
he said: "Ye better git down an' tell the boys t' be on the watch, Lite. They
can't see no hat-wavin' this time uh day. They's somethin' movin' up to-wards
camp, but what er who they be I can't make out in the dark. Tell Luck--"
"What's the matter with us both going?" Lite asked, cupping his hands around
his eyes that he might see better. "It's getting too dark to do any good up
here--"
"Well, I calc'late mebby yore right," Applehead admitted, and began to pick
his way down over the rocks.
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