Page:Allan Dunn--Dead Man's Gold.djvu/235

Rh our monuments and notices and then hike it for Miami and the railroad to Globe."

"I'll go with Harvey," suggested Healy. "I wouldn't be much use in bringing up the gold and I don't want to tackle that climb again, unless I have to. It's hard work fending off from the cliff with one hand and my arm isn't in very good shape. I got too excited, I guess, and over-used it."

"Come along," said Harvey. He stood up and gazed toward the rim of the mesa and the gorge whence they had emerged from the main cañon. "Hullo," he said, "what's this? Someone comin' our way. A whole herd of 'em. Something wrong here. Hear that?"

"That," was the faint but unmistakable pop-pop of small arms, clear in the rare air, followed by the sharper crack of rifles. They all sprang to their feet.

Racing toward the mesa at top speed, the powdery soil flying up in tiny clouds from the spurning hoofs, came two figures on horseback, leaning low over their ponies' withers. Now and then one of the figures twisted in the saddle and a tiny ball of white smoke showed, followed by the pop of a pistol. Behind them came a group of about a dozen, galloping hard, firing rifles from the pommel. The sun, mounting just above the mesa level, was dazzling, and they shaded their eyes for a better view.

"Gels!" cried Harvey whose eyes, though old, were better trained for such conditions. "They're wearin' ridin' pants but they're sure 'nough gels.