Page:J Allan Dunn--The Girl of Ghost Mountain.djvu/200

182 behave I'll beg a piece of pie for you from Quong. He owes it to you, ennyway. An' you an' me 'll go out on front on the home trail, eyes to the front, ears to the front, all the way. Sabef? Three's a crowd, caballo."

Such was the order of their return. Once only Red turned off, with a gesture to Sheridan that the latter understood. Jackson rode off towards the range when they were opposite the little pass to Pioche, disappearing behind some cactus. There was a scramble and a sullen flight of buzzards in that direction which Mary, diverted by Sheridan, did not notice.

When Red joined them he brought back an extra saddle, his own, dug up from the sand, and took the lead once more. He said nothing about the dead Mexican, what was left of him. Only he began to sing just above his breath,

"Buzzards would fit in better than coyotes, caballo. I'll tell Thora what happened final to the hombre she jabbed in the jaw, some time when she's feelin' downhearted."

Towards the end of the afternoon he turned off at a long slant that cut the road to the Circle S. A mile from the ranch the outfit came galloping out to meet them. Pounding behind on the bony white horse was Thora, Juanita with her, impatiently restrained but minding her guardian.