The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1937-10-07
CHAPTER XII

upon the dry hats until he was sure
Walt Amos was on his way.
Saddle up, he ordered. Get g
fresh horse, Tulare."
''Out at the Corrals they roped
square built, hill-running ponies
Horse, Billy said, chow big fool
is Magoon?"
''Magoon's queer one all right
If it weren't for that I'd say he
must be clear of the killings, or
why amt he in Mexico by now? But
he hasn't got all of his buckles
and that's break for us. Because
we sure need to catch witness
Tulare put in, his mouth full of
bread and meat he had grabbed
from the kitchen. Witness, hell! ]
bet he shotgunned Flagg himself,
for the dough he had on him. He
probably sold Flagg the horse and
saddle in Pahrangat, then rode
along with him, waiting his chance.
Then later he downed Cayuse be-
cause Cayuse caught up to him.
Get it?"
II can't swaller any setup that
doesn't show the Link Bender crowd
at the bottom of it," Horse Dunn
said flatly.
He jerked tight his latigo. "Ma-
COON is most likely headed out of the
country. But here's what we do:
Tulare, you get the fastest horse.
You circle to the head of the Tamale
Vine, by way of the upper bench,
and try to beat Magoon to the Pass"
BILLY, you strike northwest into the
point country. There's bare
chance that Magoon will skirt along
the foothills, picking pass north of
where we're figuring on. Get your
self a good high lookout, and camp
there until tomorrow.
''This is as good try as any,"
Tulare approved.
''Then let 'er buch! And if either
of you meet up with Marian, you
send her home a-packing. Billy,
leave word with Tia Cara where
we've gone" He put his horse out
of the layout at sharp jog, Tulare
beside him.
Wheeler held back long enough to
urge his horse to drink, and get
himself a canteen; then he also
struck out, northward, along the
outer edge of the brush. Two hours
before dust he took his post on a
high rocky point far to northward
of the "a. He hid his horse, spraw-
led with his back against hot rock,
and swept the rolling country.
Quickly his eyes picked out the trail
a rider would follow in moving from
the Tamale Vine toward the north
west passes. Far out on the dusty
flats he could make out dots that
were cattle; but in all that vast
visible range he could find no
mounted man, and nothing moved
on the trails he fruitlessly watched.
Dusk came on, cool and clear and
utterly still, and after a long time
the twilight faded, slowly giving
way to the faint light of appearing
stars, and Wheeler had sighted no
one. An hour before dawn he was
watching again, awaiting the first
light. But morning showed only the
same vast empty range; and three
hours after sun-up he knew he must
give it up.
He saddled his pony and dropped
down from his lookout One by one
he sought out and examined the
trails he had picked as the ones Ma
COON might use. This took time;
trails easily visible from his high
lookout were many slow miles apart
for a rider on the ground. Still he
found no sign; and he at last turned
toward the "a, disguised.
It was deep into the afternoon by
the time his thirst-fretted pony
brought him in, disguised, to the 81
Marian came running out to him
as he unsaddled.
'.In heavens name," said Wheel
Ter where were you yesterday"
81 was out with my horse-what
of it? When's Uncle John coming
back?"
''He'n be back tonight; he gave
Amos his word. Steve and Tulare
sighted Lon Magoon up"
eta Cara told me all that Blu
look here-where in the world art
they hunting for him now? I've rid.
den all over these hills back herr
and never saw a sign of them"
'They're probably hunting a lit
tie farther than you went"
s"Then," she said, they're hunt
ing too far away! Because I'm sur
I saw Lon Magoon not-more thar
three hours ago"
Much riding and the heat OF tn
day had made Wheeler drowsy, bu