IV
FORLORN RIVER
WHEN Dick opened his eyes a flood of golden sunshine streamed in at theopen window under which he lay. His first thought was one of blankwonder as to where in the world he happened to be. The room was large,square, adobe-walled. It was littered with saddles, harness, blankets.Upon the floor was a bed spread out upon a tarpaulin. Probably thiswas where some one had slept. The sight of huge dusty spurs, a gunbelt with sheath and gun, and a pair of leather chaps bristling withbroken cactus thorns recalled to Dick the cowboys, the ride, Mercedes,and the whole strange adventure that had brought him there.
He did not recollect having removed his boots; indeed, upon secondthought, he knew he had not done so. But there they stood upon thefloor. Ladd and Lash must have taken them off when he was so exhaustedand sleepy that he could not tell what was happening. He felt a deadweight of complete lassitude, and he did not want to move. A suddenpain in his hand caused him to hold it up. It was black and blue,swollen to almost twice its normal size, and stiff as a board. Theknuckles were skinned and crusted with dry blood. Dick soliloquizedthat it was the worst-looking hand he had seen since football days, andthat it would inconvenience him for some time.
A warm, dry, fragrant breeze came through the window. Dick caughtagain the sweet smell of flowers or fruit. He heard the fluttering ofleaves, the murmur of running water, the twittering of birds, then thesound of approaching footsteps and voices. The door at the far end ofthe room was open. Through it he saw poles of peeled wood upholding aporch roof, a bench, rose bushes in bloom, grass, and beyond thesebright-green foliage of trees.
"He shore was sleepin' when I looked in an hour ago," said a voice thatDick recognized as Ladd's.
"Let him sleep," came the reply in deep, good-natured tones. "Mrs. B.says the girl's never moved. Must have been a tough ride for themboth. Forty miles through cactus!"
"Young Gale hoofed darn near half the way," replied Ladd. "We tried tomake him ride one of our hosses. If we had, we'd never got here. Awalk like that'd killed me an' Jim."
"Well, Laddy, I'm right down glad to see you boys, and I'll do all Ican for the young couple," said the other. "But I'm doing some worryhere; don't mistake me."
"About your stock?"
"I've got only a few head of cattle at the oasis now, I'm worryingsome, mostly about my horses. The U. S. is doing some worrying, too,don't mistake me. The rebels have worked west and north as far asCasita. There are no cavalrymen along the line beyond Casita, andthere can't be. It's practically waterless desert. But these rebelsare desert men. They could cross the line beyond the Rio Forlorn andsmuggle arms into Mexico. Of course, my job is to keep tab on Chineseand Japs trying to get into the U.S. from Magdalena Bay. But I'msupposed to patrol the border line. I'm going to hire some rangers.Now, I'm not so afraid of being shot up, though out in this lonelyplace there's danger of it; what I'm afraid of most is losing thatbunch of horses. If any rebels come this far, or if they ever hear ofmy horses, they're going to raid me. You know what those guerrillaMexicans will do for horses. They're crazy on horse flesh. They knowfine horses. They breed the finest in the world. So I don't sleepnights any more."
"Reckon me an' Jim might as well tie up with your for a spell, Beldin'.We've been ridin' up an' down Arizona tryin' to keep out of sight ofwire fences."
"Laddy, it's open enough around Forlorn River to satisfy even anold-time cowpuncher like you," laughed Belding. "I'd take your stayingon as some favor, don't mistake me. Perhaps I can persuade the youngman Gale to take a job with me."
"That's shore likely. He said he had no money, no friends. An' if ascrapper's all you're lookin' for he'll do," replied Ladd, with a drychuckle.
"Mrs. B. will throw some broncho capers round this ranch when she hearsI'm going to hire a stranger."
"Why?"
"Well, there's Nell-- And you said this Gale was a young American. Mywife will be scared to death for fear Nell will fall in love with him."
Laddy choked off a laugh, then evidently slapped his knee or Belding's,for there was a resounding smack.
"He's a fine-spoken, good-looking chap, you said?" went on Belding.
"Shore he is," said Laddy, warmly. "What do you say, Jim?"
By this time Dick Gale's ears began to burn and he was trying to makehimself deaf when he wanted to hear every little word.
"Husky young fellow, nice voice, steady, clear eyes, kinda proud, Ithought, an' some handsome, he was," replied Jim Lash.
"Maybe I ought to think twice before taking a stranger into my family,"said Belding, seriously. "Well, I guess he's all right, Laddy, beingthe cavalryman's friend. No bum or lunger? He must be all right?"
"Bum? Lunger? Say, didn't I tell you I shook hands with this boy an'was plumb glad to meet him?" demanded Laddy, with considerable heat.Manifestly he had been affronted. "Tom Beldin', he's a gentleman, an'he could lick you in--in half a second. How about that, Jim?"
"Less time," replied Lash. "Tom, here's my stand. Young Gale can havemy hoss, my gun, anythin' of mine."
"Aw, I didn't mean to insult you, boys, don't mistake me," saidBelding. "Course he's all right."
The object of this conversation lay quiet upon his bed, thrilling andamazed at being so championed by the cowboys, delighted with Belding'sidea of employing him, and much amused with the quaint seriousness ofthe three.
"How's the young man?" called a woman's voice. It was kind and mellowand earnest.
Gale heard footsteps on flagstones.
"He's asleep yet, wife," replied Belding. "Guess he was pretty muchknocked out.... I'll close the door there so we won't wake him."
There were slow, soft steps, then the door softly closed. But the factscarcely made a perceptible difference in the sound of the voicesoutside.
"Laddy and Jim are going to stay," went on Belding. "It'll be like theold Panhandle days a little. I'm powerful glad to have the boys,Nellie. You know I meant to sent to Casita to ask them. We'll see sometrouble before the revolution is ended. I think I'll make this youngman Gale an offer."
"He isn't a cowboy?" asked Mrs. Belding, quickly.
"No."
"Shore he'd make a darn good one," put in Laddy.
"What is he? Who is he? Where did he come from? Surely you must be--"
"Laddy swears he's all right," interrupted the husband. "That's enoughreference for me. Isn't it enough for you?"
"Humph! Laddy knows a lot about young men, now doesn't he, especiallystrangers from the East?... Tom, you must be careful!"
"Wife, I'm only too glad to have a nervy young chap come along. Whatsense is there in your objection, if Jim and Laddy stick up for him?"
"But, Tom--he'll fall in love with Nell!" protested Mrs. Belding.
"Well, wouldn't that be regular? Doesn't every man who comes alongfall in love with Nell? Hasn't it always happened? When she was aschoolgirl in Kansas didn't it happen? Didn't she have a hundredmoon-eyed ninnies after her in Texas? I've had some peace out here inthe desert, except when a Greaser or a prospector or a Yaqui would comealong. Then same old story--in love with Nell!"
"But, Tom, Nell might fall in love with this young man!" exclaimed thewife, in distress.
"Laddy, Jim, didn't I tell you?" cried Belding. "I knew she'd saythat.... My dear wife, I would be simply overcome with joy if Nell didfall in love once. Real good and hard! She's wilder than any antelopeout there on the desert. Nell's nearly twenty now, and so far as weknow she's never cared a rap for any fellow. And she's just as gay andfull of the devil as she was at fourteen. Nell's as good and lovable asshe is pretty, but I'm afraid she'll never grow into a woman while welive out in this lonely land. And you've always hated towns where therewas a chance for the girl--just because you were afraid she'd fall inlove. You've always been strange, even silly, about that. I've donemy best for Nell--loved her as if she were my own daughter. I'vechanged many business plans to suit your whims. There are rough timesa
head, maybe. I need men. I'll hire this chap Gale if he'll stay. LetNell take her chance with him, just as she'll have to take chances withmen when we get out of the desert. She'll be all the better for it."
"I hope Laddy's not mistaken in his opinion of this newcomer," repliedMrs. Belding, with a sigh of resignation.
"Shore I never made a mistake in my life figger'n' people," said Laddy,stoutly.
"Yes, you have, Laddy," replied Mrs. Belding. "You're wrong aboutTom.... Well, supper is to be got. That young man and the girl will bestarved. I'll go in now. If Nell happens around don't--don't flatterher, Laddy, like you did at dinner. Don't make her think of her looks."
Dick heard Mrs. Belding walk away.
"Shore she's powerful particular about that girl," observed Laddy."Say, Tom, Nell knows she's pretty, doesn't she?"
"She's liable to find it out unless you shut up, Laddy. When youvisited us out here some weeks ago, you kept paying cowboy complimentsto her."
"An' it's your idea that cowboy compliments are plumb bad for girls?"
"Downright bad, Laddy, so my wife says."
"I'll be darned if I believe any girl can be hurt by a little sweettalk. It pleases 'em.... But say, Beldin', speaking of looks, have yougot a peek yet at the Spanish girl?"
"Not in the light."
"Well, neither have I in daytime. I had enough by moonlight. Nell issome on looks, but I'm regretful passin' the ribbon to the lady fromMex. Jim, where are you?"
"My money's on Nell," replied Lash. "Gimme a girl with flesh an'color, an' blue eyes a-laughin'. Miss Castaneda is some peach, I'llnot gainsay. But her face seemed too white. An' when she flashedthose eyes on me, I thought I was shot! When she stood up there atfirst, thankin' us, I felt as if a--a princess was round somewhere.Now, Nell is kiddish an' sweet an'--"
"Chop it," interrupted Belding. "Here comes Nell now."
Dick's tingling ears took in the pattering of light footsteps, the rushof some one running.
"Here you are," cried a sweet, happy voice. "Dad, the Senorita isperfectly lovely. I've been peeping at her. She sleeps like--likedeath. She's so white. Oh, I hope she won't be ill."
"Shore she's only played out," said Laddy. "But she had spunk while itlasted.... I was just arguin' with Jim an' Tom about Miss Castaneda."
"Gracious! Why, she's beautiful. I never saw any one so beautiful....How strange and sad, that about her! Tell me more, Laddy. Youpromised. I'm dying to know. I never hear anything in this awfulplace. Didn't you say the Senorita had a sweetheart?"
"Shore I did."
"And he's a cavalryman?"
"Yes."
"Is he the young man who came with you?"
"Nope. That fellow's the one who saved the girl from Rojas."
"Ah! Where is he, Laddy?"
"He's in there asleep."
"Is he hurt?"
"I reckon not. He walked about fifteen miles."
"Is he--nice, Laddy?"
"Shore."
"What is he like?"
"Well, I'm not long acquainted, never saw him by day, but I was sometolerable took with him. An' Jim here, Jim says the young man can havehis gun an' his hoss."
"Wonderful! Laddy, what on earth did this stranger do to win youcowboys in just one night?"
"I'll shore have to tell you. Me an' Jim were watchin' a game of cardsin the Del Sol saloon in Casita. That's across the line. We hadacquaintances--four fellows from the Cross Bar outfit, where we workeda while back. This Del Sol is a billiard hall, saloon, restaurant, an'the like. An' it was full of Greasers. Some of Camp's rebels werethere drinkin' an' playin' games. Then pretty soon in come Rojas withsome of his outfit. They were packin' guns an' kept to themselves offto one side. I didn't give them a second look till Jim said he reckonedthere was somethin' in the wind. Then, careless-like, I began to peekat Rojas. They call Rojas the 'dandy rebel,' an' he shore looked thepart. It made me sick to see him in all that lace an' glitter, knowin'him to be the cutthroat robber he is. It's no oncommon sight to seeexcited Greasers. They're all crazy. But this bandit was shore someagitated. He kept his men in a tight bunch round a table. He talkedan' waved his hands. He was actually shakin'. His eyes had a wildglare. Now I figgered that trouble was brewin', most likely for thelittle Casita garrison. People seemed to think Campo an' Rojas wouldjoin forces to oust the federals. Jim thought Rojas's excitement wasat the hatchin' of some plot. Anyway, we didn't join no card games,an' without pretendin' to, we was some watchful.
"A little while afterward I seen a fellow standin' in the restaurantdoor. He was a young American dressed in corduroys and boots, like aprospector. You know it's no onusual fact to see prospectors in theseparts. What made me think twice about this one was how big he seemed,how he filled up that door. He looked round the saloon, an' when hespotted Rojas he sorta jerked up. Then he pulled his slouch hatlopsided an' began to stagger down, down the steps. First off I madeshore he was drunk. But I remembered he didn't seem drunk before. Itwas some queer. So I watched that young man.
"He reeled around the room like a fellow who was drunker'n a lord.Nobody but me seemed to notice him. Then he began to stumble overpool-players an' get his feet tangled up in chairs an' bump againsttables. He got some pretty hard looks. He came round our way, an' allof a sudden he seen us cowboys. He gave another start, like the onewhen he first seen Rojas, then he made for us. I tipped Jim off thatsomethin' was doin'.
"When he got close he straightened up, put back his slouch hat, an'looked at us. Then I saw his face. It sorta electrified yours truly.It was white, with veins standin' out an' eyes flamin'--a face of fury.I was plumb amazed, didn't know what to think. Then this queer youngman shot some cool, polite words at me an' Jim.
"He was only bluffin' at bein' drunk--he meant to rush Rojas, to starta rough house. The bandit was after a girl. This girl was in thehotel, an' she was the sweetheart of a soldier, the young fellow'sfriend. The hotel was watched by Rojas's guards, an' the plan was tomake a fuss an' get the girl away in the excitement. Well, Jim an' megot a hint of our bein' Americans--that cowboys generally had a namefor loyalty to women. Then this amazin' chap--you can't imagine howscornful--said for me an' Jim to watch him.
"Before I could catch my breath an' figger out what he meant by 'rush'an' 'rough house' he had knocked over a table an' crowded some Greaserhalf off the map. One little funny man leaped up like a wild monkeyan' began to screech. An' in another second he was in the air upsidedown. When he lit, he laid there. Then, quicker'n I can tell you, theyoung man dove at Rojas. Like a mad steer on the rampage he chargedRojas an' his men. The whole outfit went down--smash! I figgered thenwhat 'rush' meant. The young fellow came up out of the pile withRojas, an' just like I'd sling an empty sack along the floor he sentthe bandit. But swift as that went he was on top of Rojas before thechairs an' tables had stopped rollin'.
"I woke up then, an' made for the center of the room. Jim with me. Ibegan to shoot out the lamps. Jim throwed his guns on the crazyrebels, an' I was afraid there'd be blood spilled before I could getthe room dark. Bein's shore busy, I lost sight of the young fellow fora second or so, an' when I got an eye free for him I seen a Greaserabout to knife him. Think I was some considerate of the Greaser byonly shootin' his arm off. Then I cracked the last lamp, an' in thehullabaloo me an' Jim vamoosed.
"We made tracks for our hosses an' packs, an' was hittin' the SanFelipe road when we run right plumb into the young man. Well, he saidhis name was Gale--Dick Gale. The girl was with him safe an' well; buther sweetheart, the soldier, bein' away without leave, had to go backsudden. There shore was some trouble, for Jim an' me heard shootin'.Gale said he had no money, no friends, was a stranger in a desertcountry; an' he was distracted to know how to help the girl. So me an'Jim started off with them for San Felipe, got switched, and' then weheaded for the Rio Forlorn."
"Oh, I think he was perfectly splendid!" exclaimed the girl.
"Shore he wa
s. Only, Nell, you can't lay no claim to bein' theoriginal discoverer of that fact."
"But, Laddy, you haven't told me what he looks like."
At this juncture Dick Gale felt it absolutely impossible for him toplay the eavesdropper any longer. Quietly he rolled out of bed. Thevoices still sounded close outside, and it was only by effort that hekept from further listening. Belding's kindly interest, Laddy's bluntand sincere cowboy eulogy, the girl's sweet eagerness and praise--thesewarmed Gale's heart. He had fallen among simple people, into whoselives the advent of an unknown man was welcome. He found himself in asingularly agitated mood. The excitement, the thrill, the differencefelt in himself, experienced the preceding night, had extended on intohis present. And the possibilities suggested by the conversation hehad unwittingly overheard added sufficiently to the other feelings toput him into a peculiarly receptive state of mind. He was wild to beone of the Belding rangers. The idea of riding a horse in the opendesert, with a dangerous duty to perform, seemed to strike him with anappealing force. Something within him went out to the cowboys, to thisblunt and kind Belding. He was afraid to meet the girl. If every manwho came along fell in love with this sweet-voiced Nell, then what hopehad he to escape--now, when his whole inner awakening betokened achange of spirit, hope, a finding of real worth, real good, real powerin himself? He did not understand wholly, yet he felt ready to ride,to fight, to love the desert, to love these outdoor men, to love awoman. That beautiful Spanish girl had spoken to something dead in himand it had quickened to life. The sweet voice of an audacious, unseengirl warned him that presently a still more wonderful thing wouldhappen to him.
Gale imagined he made noise enough as he clumsily pulled on his boots,yet the voices, split by a merry laugh, kept on murmuring outside thedoor. It was awkward for him, having only one hand available to laceup his boots. He looked out of the window. Evidently this was at theend of the house. There was a flagstone walk, beside which ran a ditchfull of swift, muddy water. It made a pleasant sound. There weretrees strange of form and color to to him. He heard bees, birds,chickens, saw the red of roses and green of grass. Then he saw, closeto the wall, a tub full of water, and a bench upon which lay basin,soap, towel, comb, and brush. The window was also a door, for under itthere was a step.
Gale hesitated a moment, then went out. He stepped naturally, hopingand expecting that the cowboys would hear him. But nobody came.Awkwardly, with left hand, he washed his face. Upon a nail in the wallhung a little mirror, by the aid of which Dick combed and brushed hishair. He imagined he looked a most haggard wretch. With that he facedforward, meaning to go round the corner of the house to greet thecowboys and these new-found friends.
Dick had taken but one step when he was halted by laugher and thepatter of light feet.
From close around the corner pealed out that sweet voice. "Dad, you'llhave your wish, and mama will be wild!"
Dick saw a little foot sweep into view, a white dress, then the swiftlymoving form of a girl. She was looking backward.
"Dad, I shall fall in love with your new ranger. I will--I have--"
Then she plumped squarely into Dick's arms.
She started back violently.
Dick saw a fair face and dark-blue, audaciously flashing eyes. Swift aslightning their expression changed to surprise, fear, wonder. For aninstant they were level with Dick's grave questioning. Suddenly,sweetly, she blushed.
"Oh-h!" she faltered.
Then the blush turned to a scarlet fire. She whirled past him, andlike a white gleam was gone.
Dick became conscious of the quickened beating of his heart. Heexperienced a singular exhilaration. That moment had been the one forwhich he had been ripe, the event upon which strange circumstances hadbeen rushing him.
With a couple of strides he turned the corner. Laddy and Lash werethere talking to a man of burly form. Seen by day, both cowboys weregray-haired, red-skinned, and weather-beaten, with lean, sharpfeatures, and gray eyes so much alike that they might have beenbrothers.
"Hello, there's the young fellow," spoke up the burly man. "Mr. Gale,I'm glad to meet you. My name's Belding."
His greeting was as warm as his handclasp was long and hard. Gale saw aheavy man of medium height. His head was large and covered withgrizzled locks. He wore a short-cropped mustache and chin beard. Hisskin was brown, and his dark eyes beamed with a genial light.
The cowboys were as cordial as if Dick had been their friend for years.
"Young man, did you run into anything as you came out?" asked Belding,with twinkling eyes.
"Why, yes, I met something white and swift flying by," replied Dick.
"Did she see you?" asked Laddy.
"I think so; but she didn't wait for me to introduce myself."
"That was Nell Burton, my girl--step-daughter, I should say," saidBelding. "She's sure some whirlwind, as Laddy calls her. Come, let'sgo in and meet the wife."
The house was long, like a barracks, with porch extending all the way,and doors every dozen paces. When Dick was ushered into asitting-room, he was amazed at the light and comfort. This room hadtwo big windows and a door opening into a patio, where there wereluxuriant grass, roses in bloom, and flowering trees. He heard a slowsplashing of water.
In Mrs. Belding, Gale found a woman of noble proportions and strikingappearance. Her hair was white. She had a strong, serious, well-linedface that bore haunting evidences of past beauty. The gaze she bentupon him was almost piercing in its intensity. Her greeting, whichseemed to Dick rather slow in coming, was kind though not cordial.Gale's first thought, after he had thanked these good people for theirhospitality, was to inquire about Mercedes. He was informed that theSpanish girl had awakened with a considerable fever and nervousness.When, however, her anxiety had been allayed and her thirst relieved,she had fallen asleep again. Mrs. Belding said the girl had sufferedno great hardship, other than mental, and would very soon be rested andwell.
"Now, Gale," said Belding, when his wife had excused herself to getsupper, "the boys, Jim and Laddy, told me about you and the mix-up atCasita. I'll be glad to take care of the girl till it's safe for yoursoldier friend to get her out of the country. That won't be very soon,don't mistake me.... I don't want to seem over-curious about you--Laddyhas interested me in you--and straight out I'd like to know what youpropose to do now."
"I haven't any plans," replied Dick; and, taking the moment aspropitious, he decided to speak frankly concerning himself. "I justdrifted down here. My home is in Chicago. When I left school someyears ago--I'm twenty-five now--I went to work for my father. He's--hehas business interests there. I tried all kinds of inside jobs. Icouldn't please my father. I guess I put no real heart in my work.The fact was I didn't know how to work. The governor and I didn'texactly quarrel; but he hurt my feelings, and I quit. Six months ormore ago I came West, and have knocked about from Wyoming southwest tothe border. I tried to find congenial work, but nothing came my way.To tell you frankly, Mr. Belding, I suppose I didn't much care. Ibelieve, though, that all the time I didn't know what I wanted. I'velearned--well, just lately--"
"What do you want to do?" interposed Belding.
"I want a man's job. I want to do things with my hands. I wantaction. I want to be outdoors."
Belding nodded his head as if he understood that, and he began to speakagain, cut something short, then went on, hesitatingly:
"Gale--you could go home again--to the old man--it'd be all right?"
"Mr. Belding, there's nothing shady in my past. The governor would beglad to have me home. That's the only consolation I've got. But I'mnot going. I'm broke. I won't be a tramp. And it's up to me to dosomething."
"How'd you like to be a border ranger?" asked Belding, laying a hand onDick's knee. "Part of my job here is United States Inspector ofImmigration. I've got that boundary line to patrol--to keep out Chinksand Japs. This revolution has added complications, and I'm looking forsmugglers and raiders here any da
y. You'll not be hired by the U. S.You'll simply be my ranger, same as Laddy and Jim, who have promised towork for me. I'll pay you well, give you a room here, furnisheverything down to guns, and the finest horse you ever saw in yourlife. Your job won't be safe and healthy, sometimes, but it'll be aman's job--don't mistake me! You can gamble on having things to dooutdoors. Now, what do you say?"
"I accept, and I thank you--I can't say how much," replied Gale,earnestly.
"Good! That's settled. Let's go out and tell Laddy and Jim."
Both boys expressed satisfaction at the turn of affairs, and then withBelding they set out to take Gale around the ranch. The house andseveral outbuildings were constructed of adobe, which, according toBelding, retained the summer heat on into winter, and the winter coldon into summer. These gray-red mud habitations were hideous to lookat, and this fact, perhaps, made their really comfortable interiorsmore vividly a contrast. The wide grounds were covered with luxuriantgrass and flowers and different kinds of trees. Gale's interest ledhim to ask about fig trees and pomegranates, and especially about abeautiful specimen that Belding called palo verde.
Belding explained that the luxuriance of this desert place was owing toa few springs and the dammed-up waters of the Rio Forlorn. Before hehad come to the oasis it had been inhabited by a Papago Indian tribeand a few peon families. The oasis lay in an arroyo a mile wide, andsloped southwest for some ten miles or more. The river went dry most ofthe year; but enough water was stored in flood season to irrigate thegardens and alfalfa fields.
"I've got one never-failing spring on my place," said Belding. "Fine,sweet water! You know what that means in the desert. I like thisoasis. The longer I live here the better I like it. There's not aspot in southern Arizona that'll compare with this valley for water orgrass or wood. It's beautiful and healthy. Forlorn and lonely, yes,especially for women like my wife and Nell; but I like it.... Andbetween you and me, boys, I've got something up my sleeve. There'sgold dust in the arroyos, and there's mineral up in the mountains. Ifwe only had water! This hamlet has steadily grown since I took up astation here. Why, Casita is no place beside Forlorn River. Prettysoon the Southern Pacific will shoot a railroad branch out here. Thereare possibilities, and I want you boys to stay with me and get in onthe ground floor. I wish this rebel war was over.... Well, here arethe corrals and the fields. Gale, take a look at that bunch of horses!"
Belding's last remark was made as he led his companions out of shadygardens into the open. Gale saw an adobe shed and a huge pen fenced bystrangely twisted and contorted branches or trunks of mesquite, and,beyond these, wide, flat fields, green--a dark, rich green--and dottedwith beautiful horses. There were whites and blacks, and bays andgrays. In his admiration Gale searched his memory to see if he couldremember the like of these magnificent animals, and had to admit thatthe only ones he could compare with them were the Arabian steeds.
"Every ranch loves his horses," said Belding. "When I was in thePanhandle I had some fine stock. But these are Mexican. They camefrom Durango, where they were bred. Mexican horses are the finest inthe world, bar none."
"Shore I reckon I savvy why you don't sleep nights," drawled Laddy. "Isee a Greaser out there--no, it's an Indian."
"That's my Papago herdsman. I keep watch over the horses now day andnight. Lord, how I'd hate to have Rojas or Salazar--any of thosebandit rebels--find my horses!... Gale, can you ride?"
Dick modestly replied that he could, according to the Eastern idea ofhorsemanship.
"You don't need to be half horse to ride one of that bunch. But overthere in the other field I've iron-jawed broncos I wouldn't want you totackle--except to see the fun. I've an outlaw I'll gamble even Laddycan't ride."
"So. How much'll you gamble?" asked Laddy, instantly.
The ringing of a bell, which Belding said was a call to supper, turnedthe men back toward the house. Facing that way, Gale saw dark,beetling ridges rising from the oasis and leading up to bare, blackmountains. He had heard Belding call them No Name Mountains, andsomehow the appellation suited those lofty, mysterious, frowning peaks.
It was not until they reached the house and were about to go in thatBelding chanced to discover Gale's crippled hand.
"What an awful hand!" he exclaimed. "Where the devil did you get that?"
"I stove in my knuckles on Rojas," replied Dick.
"You did that in one punch? Say, I'm glad it wasn't me you hit! Whydidn't you tell me? That's a bad hand. Those cuts are full of dirtand sand. Inflammation's setting in. It's got to be dressed. Nell!"he called.
There was no answer. He called again, louder.
"Mother, where's the girl?"
"She's there in the dining-room," replied Mrs. Belding.
"Did she hear me?" he inquired, impatiently.
"Of course."
"Nell!" roared Belding.
This brought results. Dick saw a glimpse of golden hair and a whitedress in the door. But they were not visible longer than a second.
"Dad, what's the matter?" asked a voice that was still as sweet asformerly, but now rather small and constrained.
"Bring the antiseptics, cotton, bandages--and things out here. Hurrynow."
Belding fetched a pail of water and a basin from the kitchen. His wifefollowed him out, and, upon seeing Dick's hand, was all solicitude.Then Dick heard light, quick footsteps, but he did not look up.
"Nell, this is Mr. Gale--Dick Gale, who came with the boys last lastnight," said Belding. "He's got an awful hand. Got it punching thatgreaser Rojas. I want you to dress it.... Gale, this is mystep-daughter, Nell Burton, of whom I spoke. She's some good whenthere's somebody sick or hurt. Shove out your fist, my boy, and lether get at it. Supper's nearly ready."
Dick felt that same strange, quickening heart throb, yet he had neverbeen cooler in his life. More than anything else in the world hewanted to look at Nell Burton; however, divining that the situationmight be embarrassing to her, he refrained from looking up. She beganto bathe his injured knuckles. He noted the softness, the deftness ofher touch, and then it seemed her fingers were not quite as steady asthey might have been. Still, in a moment they appeared to become surerin their work. She had beautiful hands, not too large, thoughcertainly not small, and they were strong, brown, supple. He observednext, with stealthy, upward-stealing glance, that she had rolled up hersleeves, exposing fine, round arms graceful in line. Her skin wasbrown--no, it was more gold than brown. It had a wonderful clear tint.Dick stoically lowered his eyes then, putting off as long as possiblethe alluring moment when he was to look into her face. That would be afateful moment. He played with a certain strange joy of anticipation.When, however, she sat down beside him and rested his injured hand inher lap as she cut bandages, she was so thrillingly near that heyielded to an irrepressible desire to look up. She had a sweet, fairface warmly tinted with that same healthy golden-brown sunburn. Herhair was light gold and abundant, a waving mass. Her eyes were shadedby long, downcast lashes, yet through them he caught a gleam of blue.
Despite the stir within him, Gale, seeing she was now absorbed in hertask, critically studied her with a second closer gaze. She was asweet, wholesome, joyous, pretty girl.
"Shore it musta hurt?" replied Laddy, who sat an interested spectator.
"Yes, I confess it did," replied Dick, slowly, with his eyes on Nell'sface. "But I didn't mind."
The girl's lashes swept up swiftly in surprise. She had taken hiswords literally. But the dark-blue eyes met his for only a fleetingsecond. Then the warm tint in her cheeks turned as red as her lips.Hurriedly she finished tying the bandage and rose to her feet.
"I thank you," said Gale, also rising.
With that Belding appeared in the doorway, and finding the operationconcluded, called them in to supper. Dick had the use of only one arm,and he certainly was keenly aware of the shy, silent girl across thetable; but in spite of these considerable handicaps he eclipsed bothhungry cowboys in the assault
upon Mrs. Belding's bounteous supper.Belding talked, the cowboys talked more or less. Mrs. Belding put in aword now and then, and Dick managed to find brief intervals when it waspossible for him to say yes or no. He observed gratefully that no oneround the table seemed to be aware of his enormous appetite.
After supper, having a favorable opportunity when for a moment no onewas at hand, Dick went out through the yard, past the gardens andfields, and climbed the first knoll. From that vantage point he lookedout over the little hamlet, somewhat to his right, and was surprised atits extent, its considerable number of adobe houses. The overhangingmountains, ragged and darkening, a great heave of splintered rock,rather chilled and affronted him.
Westward the setting sun gilded a spiked, frost-colored, limitlessexpanse of desert. It awed Gale. Everywhere rose blunt, broken rangesor isolated groups of mountains. Yet the desert stretched away downbetween and beyond them. When the sun set and Gale could not see sofar, he felt a relief.
That grand and austere attraction of distance gone, he saw the desertnearer at hand--the valley at his feet. What a strange gray, somberplace! There was a lighter strip of gray winding down between darkerhues. This he realized presently was the river bed, and he saw how thepools of water narrowed and diminished in size till they lostthemselves in gray sand. This was the rainy season, near its end, andhere a little river struggled hopelessly, forlornly to live in thedesert. He received a potent impression of the nature of that blastedage-worn waste which he had divined was to give him strength and workand love.