I'd have gambled it'd take all of eight
men to steal him. But Greasers have got us skinned on handlin'
hosses."
Belding was unconsolable. He cursed and railed, and finally
declared he was going to trail the raiders.
"Tom, you just ain't agoin' to do nothin' of the kind," said Ladd
coolly.
Belding groaned and bowed his head.
"Laddy, you're right," he replied, presently. "I've got to stand
it. I can't leave the women and my property. But it's sure tough.
I'm sore way down deep, and nothin' but blood would ever satisfy
me."
"Leave that to me an' Jim," said Ladd.
"What do you mean to do?" demanded Belding, starting up.
"Shore I don't know yet....Give me a light for my pipe. An' Dick,
go fetch out your Yaqui."
VIII
THE RUNNING OF BLANCO SOL
THE Yaqui's strange dark glance roved over the corral, the swinging
gate with its broken fastenings, the tracks in the road, and then
rested upon Belding.
"Malo," he said, and his Spanish was clear.
"Shore Yaqui, about eight bad men, an' a traitor Indian," said Ladd.
"I think he means my herder," added Belding. "If he does, that
settles any doubt it might be decent to have--Yaqui--malo
Papago--Si?"
The Yaqui spread wide his hands. Then he bent over the tracks in
the road. They led everywhither, but gradually he worked out of
the thick net to take the trail that the cowboys had followed down
to the river. Belding and the rangers kept close at his heels.
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