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"My turn came ten years ago, and it may come again." "And yo'll knaw then what good it doos ta-alkin'." He paused, listening. "They've coom," he said. There was a sound of scuffling on the stone floor below and on the stairs. Mrs. Gale's voice was heard out on the landing, calling to the men. "Easy with un easy. Mind t' lamp. Eh yo'll never get un oop that road. Yo mun coax un round corner."
His astounded gaze swept backward along this narrow swift stream to its end in a dark, round, boiling pool. It was a huge spring, a bubbling well, the outcropping of an underground river coming down from the vast plateau above. Yaqui had brought Gale to the source of Forlorn River. Flashing thoughts in Gale's mind were no swifter than the thrills that ran over him.
It was a bright, clear morning. The air was invigorating, and his spirits rose. He reflected upon his good luck in having found such a friend as Walter Gale. He had been unfortunate, to be sure, in being compelled to leave school, but the hardship was very much mitigated by Mr. Gale's friendship.
The whole household went out with him to the corrals and fields from which Belding bade him choose a horse any horse, even the loved Blanco Diablo. Gale's heart was in his throat for fear the Indian might choose Blanco Sol, and Gale hated himself for a selfishness he could not help. But without a word he would have parted with the treasured Sol. Yaqui whistled the horses up for the last time.
The other cowboy got off his nervous, spirited horse and threw the bridle. He, too, peered closely into Gale's face. "My name's Ladd," he said. "Reckon I'm some glad to meet you again." Gale felt another grip as hard and strong as the other had been. He realized he had found friends who belonged to a class of men whom he had despaired of ever knowing.
Opening the book at the page indicated, he read enough to prove to him that Gale's statement was correct. "Then all I have to say is, that it is extremely unusual," he said, as he slammed the book, and returned it to its place. "I am not concerned in that, Mr. Wallace. All I know are the facts. Now that you are also satisfied, you will see the work is hardly what a girl can carry out.
And Yaqui, who had been scouting on all the trails, gave information that made Belding decide to wait some days before sending any one to Casita. He required promises from his rangers, particularly Gale, not to leave without his consent. It was upon Gale's coming from this conference that he encountered Nell.
The steel-jacketed .405 had gone through him on its uninterrupted way to hum past Gale's position. The remaining two raiders frantically spurred their horses and fled up the valley. Ladd sent Sol after them. It seemed to Gale, even though he realized his excitement, that Blanco Sol made those horses seem like snails.
The roses are dead. The little green in that grass has come with the rains. What's happened? The ranch's run down. Now I look around I see a change." "Some change, yes," replied Belding, bitterly. "Listen, son." Briefly, but not the less forcibly for that, Belding related his story of the operations of the Chases. Astonishment appeared to be Gale's first feeling.
"Sure, Dick, sure," Belding replied, in softer tones. Then he stalked out; his heels rang on the flagstones; he opened a door and called: "Mother girls, here's Dick back. He's done up.... Now no, no, he's not hurt or in bad shape. You women!... Do what you can to make him comfortable. I've got a little job on hand." There were quick replies that Gale's dulling ears did not distinguish.
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