[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
Gosh, mister, I wondered why he wanted two saddle horses. Mike backed to the
door and whistled sharply.
Where did he go? Damned if I know. He rode in here ab an hour ago wanting
two packhorses with grub and blankets. He took two canteens and then lit out.
Drusilla appeared in the doorway and Sutton s eyes went to her. I know you,
he said. Evenin , ma am. Get us some grub, and make it quick. Then I want
the two best horses Ben left here, and I want them fast! Sutton put bread and
meat on the table and ducked out of the door. Mike watched him hurry to the
corral and saw him bring two horses from the stable.
They were typical Curry horses, big, handsome animals. Sutton led them to the
door and then sacked up some supplies and tied them behind the saddles.
You ve been a help, Mike said, and I ll tell Ben about it. Now-have you
any idea where Ducrow might be going? Well-was Sutton hesitated, obviously
frightened. He ll kill me if he learns I told, but he did say something about
Peach Meadow Canyon. Peach Meadow? Bastian frowned. The canyon was a legend
in the red rock country, and Roundy had talked of it. What did he ask you?
If I knew the trail there and if it was passable. What did you tell him?
Sutton threw up his hands. What could I tell him? I ve heard of that canyon
ever since I came into this country, and I ve looked for it.
Who wouldn t, if all they say is true? As they moved out Mike put his hand
on Dru s arm. Dru? This is going to be rough, so if you want to go back-? I
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ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
wouldn t think of it. Well, I won t say I m sorry. I like having you with
me. In fact-was His voice trailed off.
There was more he meant to say, and Drusilla realized it. She also knew he
was very tired. She had no idea of the brutally hard ride before he arrived at
the Ragan ranch or the crossing of the canyon, but she could see the weariness
in his face.
They rode side by side when the trail permitted, and Mike explained. I doubt
if Ducrow will stop for anything now. There isn t another good hideout within
miles, and he will know he s pursued, although not by whom or how many. I
almost wish he knew it was me. Why? Because he wants to kill me, he said
simply, and he might stop long enough to try. Then they were alone in the
night, with only the horses under them, only the stars to watch. Is it far?
I do not know, he said. If Ducrow knows where it is he has found the
perfect hideaway.
Outlaws often stumble across such places in making getaways from the law, or
they hear of them from some Indian, some trapper or prospector, and file the
knowledge away against future need. What is Peach Meadow Canyon? It is
said to be near the river, one of those deep canyons that branch off from the
Colorado or one of its tributaries. According to the stories somebody
discovered it years ago, but the Spanish had been before him, and Indians
before them. There are cliff-dweller ruins in the place, but no way to get
into it from the plateau. The Indians had a way, and the Spanish are supposed
to have reached it by boat.
The prospector who found it told folks there was fresh water and a small
meadow. Somebody had planted some peach trees, probably from pits he carried
in his pack. Nobody ever saw him or it again, so the place exists only on his
say-so. The Indians now say there s no such place, but they may just not want
anybody nosing around. Ducrow might be trying to throw us off, but he might
actually know something. You ll try to follow him in the dark? No, not
actually. It is night and he will be taking it easy as this is rough country.
He can t get out of this area where we re traveling, so we ll stay behind him
until he leaves the canyon. By that time it will be daylight and we can pick
up his trail. I am worried for Juliana. his Of course, but I think he knows
somebody is following, so I don t think he will stop until he reaches the
canyon or turns into rough country. For several miles they rode down a
high-walled canyon from which there was no escape. Ben Curry and Roundy had
both told him of it, as one of the approaches to Walt Sutton s place. Once
they emerged fi-om the canyon, however, he must be extremely careful.
At the canyon s end, where it opened upon a wide stretch of semidesert, he
pulled up and swung down. We can t have a fire, he said, because in this
country a man can see for miles, and we want him to think we re pushing hard
on his trail. He put his folded poncho on the ground near a flat-faced
boulder and handed Dru a blanket. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl szamanka888.keep.pl
Gosh, mister, I wondered why he wanted two saddle horses. Mike backed to the
door and whistled sharply.
Where did he go? Damned if I know. He rode in here ab an hour ago wanting
two packhorses with grub and blankets. He took two canteens and then lit out.
Drusilla appeared in the doorway and Sutton s eyes went to her. I know you,
he said. Evenin , ma am. Get us some grub, and make it quick. Then I want
the two best horses Ben left here, and I want them fast! Sutton put bread and
meat on the table and ducked out of the door. Mike watched him hurry to the
corral and saw him bring two horses from the stable.
They were typical Curry horses, big, handsome animals. Sutton led them to the
door and then sacked up some supplies and tied them behind the saddles.
You ve been a help, Mike said, and I ll tell Ben about it. Now-have you
any idea where Ducrow might be going? Well-was Sutton hesitated, obviously
frightened. He ll kill me if he learns I told, but he did say something about
Peach Meadow Canyon. Peach Meadow? Bastian frowned. The canyon was a legend
in the red rock country, and Roundy had talked of it. What did he ask you?
If I knew the trail there and if it was passable. What did you tell him?
Sutton threw up his hands. What could I tell him? I ve heard of that canyon
ever since I came into this country, and I ve looked for it.
Who wouldn t, if all they say is true? As they moved out Mike put his hand
on Dru s arm. Dru? This is going to be rough, so if you want to go back-? I
Page 60
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
wouldn t think of it. Well, I won t say I m sorry. I like having you with
me. In fact-was His voice trailed off.
There was more he meant to say, and Drusilla realized it. She also knew he
was very tired. She had no idea of the brutally hard ride before he arrived at
the Ragan ranch or the crossing of the canyon, but she could see the weariness
in his face.
They rode side by side when the trail permitted, and Mike explained. I doubt
if Ducrow will stop for anything now. There isn t another good hideout within
miles, and he will know he s pursued, although not by whom or how many. I
almost wish he knew it was me. Why? Because he wants to kill me, he said
simply, and he might stop long enough to try. Then they were alone in the
night, with only the horses under them, only the stars to watch. Is it far?
I do not know, he said. If Ducrow knows where it is he has found the
perfect hideaway.
Outlaws often stumble across such places in making getaways from the law, or
they hear of them from some Indian, some trapper or prospector, and file the
knowledge away against future need. What is Peach Meadow Canyon? It is
said to be near the river, one of those deep canyons that branch off from the
Colorado or one of its tributaries. According to the stories somebody
discovered it years ago, but the Spanish had been before him, and Indians
before them. There are cliff-dweller ruins in the place, but no way to get
into it from the plateau. The Indians had a way, and the Spanish are supposed
to have reached it by boat.
The prospector who found it told folks there was fresh water and a small
meadow. Somebody had planted some peach trees, probably from pits he carried
in his pack. Nobody ever saw him or it again, so the place exists only on his
say-so. The Indians now say there s no such place, but they may just not want
anybody nosing around. Ducrow might be trying to throw us off, but he might
actually know something. You ll try to follow him in the dark? No, not
actually. It is night and he will be taking it easy as this is rough country.
He can t get out of this area where we re traveling, so we ll stay behind him
until he leaves the canyon. By that time it will be daylight and we can pick
up his trail. I am worried for Juliana. his Of course, but I think he knows
somebody is following, so I don t think he will stop until he reaches the
canyon or turns into rough country. For several miles they rode down a
high-walled canyon from which there was no escape. Ben Curry and Roundy had
both told him of it, as one of the approaches to Walt Sutton s place. Once
they emerged fi-om the canyon, however, he must be extremely careful.
At the canyon s end, where it opened upon a wide stretch of semidesert, he
pulled up and swung down. We can t have a fire, he said, because in this
country a man can see for miles, and we want him to think we re pushing hard
on his trail. He put his folded poncho on the ground near a flat-faced
boulder and handed Dru a blanket. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]