Brace up now, girl."
Belding left the patio and traced thoughtful steps back toward the
corrals. He realized the need of his wife. If she had been at
home he would not have come so close to killing two men. Nell
would never have fallen so low in spirit. Whatever the real truth
of the tragedy of his wife's life, it would not make the slightest
difference to him. What hurt him was the pain mother and daughter
had suffered, were suffering still. Somehow he must put an end
to that pain.
He found the Yaqui curled up in a corner of the barn in as deep
a sleep as that of the rangers. Looking down at him, Belding
felt again the rush of curious thrilling eagerness to learn all
that had happened since the dark night when Yaqui had led the
white horses away into the desert. Belding curbed his
impatience and set to work upon tasks he had long neglected.
Presently he was interrupted by Mr. Gale, who came out, beside
himself with happiness and excitement. He flung a hundred questions
at Belding and never gave him time to answer one, even if that had
been possible. Finally, when Mr. Gale lost his breath, Belding
got a word in. "See here, Mr. Gale, you know as much as I know.
Dick's back. They're all back--a hard lot, starved, burned, torn
to pieces, worked out to the limit I never saw in desert travelers,
but they're alive--alive and well, man! Just wait. Just gamble
I won't sleep or eat till I hear that story. But they've got to
sleep and eat.
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