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180 the brink of it and tell him how deep it is, and how always open for his reception."

Mary Burrows sighed a little at the new Sheridan. But it was not a sigh of reproach.

They sat silent for a while and then Jackson hailed them. He was bringing two horses with him, saddled.

"Found 'em tucked in a rift screened off by brush," he said. "They was thirsty, I reckon, an' w'en they heard me they whinnied or I might have passed 'em. Here's bacon, coffee an' canned tommatties."

He handed the provisions to the girl and winked at Sheridan.

"Lead one of the hawsses down to water, will you?" he asked.

"Well?" asked Sheridan when they were out of earshot. He knew Red's wink had not been casual.

"I found him," said Red. "You can take my word for it. He's dead an' he ain't pritty. Swollen up like a pizened woodchuck. Vasquez has saved the county money an' some good rope from bein' spiled. Vasquez' booze done the trick an' Vasquez has got to stop brewin' it. But I don't reckon it 'ud be a good idea to arrest him for this partickler occasion. From my p'int of view he ought to have a medal."

"You're right. Red. We don't want any inquiry, for her sake. The Mexicans won't talk. Hollister is known to have sold his place and stock. No one will grieve after him. We'll have to go light on what we tell the outfit, that's all, and ship Juanita away as soon as we can. Thora will have kept her quiet so far. Where was he?"