The Coolidge examiner., 1932-11-11
CHAPTER XII-Continued

Looks like a good bet. Which
ever way we go it's a gamble. Might
as well try yore Horse Thief park.
If we could work around an slip In
the back way we could probably lie
hid while we look around. How
about that?"
The boy shook his head. "You
can search me. We always went In
by the gulch an came out the same
way. Point is, can | find the en-
trance TO it,"
"Findin' our way in is one
thing; gettin' out is another" Will
son cautioned. I'D hate to find Git
ner had showed a cork in the neck
of :he bottle while we were in
side. I'm not loOkin' for a show
down with the odds against u.s."
"Pm not crazy about bumpin' into
him myself Phil admitted.
Through the drizzle they plodded,
moving toward the southwest. 1t
was a land of innumerable hills,
gulches, draws, wooded slopes and
mountain passes. To find in this
maze the concealed entrance to one
small canyon was no easy task. For
Phil could recall no details of the
country's contour, nor. any land
marks that reminded him of the way
they had approached.
They wandered rather aimlessly
for hours. trying first one defile and
then another. riding up draws that
proved to be blind alleys, and cir
cling hills patiently. The night fell
still wet. With difficulty they lit
fire. The sodden wood sputtered
and smoked. From the pines above
the gusts of wind shook showers of
gathered moisture upon them.
Beneath the tarp that bound TO-
gether the pack they slept uncom-
fortahly. The ground was wet and
cold. their blankets damp.
Daybreak found rain still falling
from a sky banked with clouds.
Breakfast was a cherries business.
To make matters worse, the pack
horse had pulled its picket pin and
wandered away.
i've sure got the feel of the rocks
In my bones." Phil grumbled with
a rueful grin. Looked to me like
they would work right through to
my spine. Say. what do we do
about that fool hawse-start after
ii before breakfast?"
I'll look around while you are
fixin' up somethin' to eat. II
wouldn't get far from the others"
Wilson picked up his rifle and
walked out of the draw. He could
see where the picket pin had been
dragged through the wet grass as
the horse had grazed down the
slope. The trail led him over a lit
tie rise and sharply to the left,
skirting a clump of willows on the
shoulder of the hill.
Abruptly Wilson stopped. The
pack horse was not hundred yards
in front OF him. grazing contentedly
on the moist grass in which il stood
10 the fetl0ck. But after the first
glance he forgot the horse. For he
was looking at small gateway be-
tween two rock faces. one rising di-
rectly in front of the other. Even
from where he stood be could see
that the opening between led into
some SORT of gulch.
He walked down TO the mouth OF
the ravine and verified his first i'm
preston. Back of the first rock
face was the mouth of hidden
canyon up which ran a well-defined
path. BY some odd freak of luck
the pack horse had led him 70
Julia Horse Thief park.
Wilson picked up one end of the
picket rope and led the animal back
TO their camp. A smoky fire was
struggling in depressed fashion
for its existence against the handi-
caps of sudden fuel and a steady
rain.
Better put out thai fire. Phil,
1On't you reckOn?" Wilson suggest
ed. Mr.. Gitner or some of his
friends might see il. That blamed
lost gulch of yours is right round
the corner"
Phil stared al him. saw he meant
II. and began TO throw dirt on the
fire.
CHAPTER XIII