was standing gazing into
the black wall through which the shadow had plunged. Far up the trail
she could hear quick hoofbeats, and presently above the drone of the
wind came a faint musical "Adios! Adios!"
She dared not call back to him for fear of waking her father, in spite
of the fact that she knew he was drugged beyond all feeling and sound.
And she had her own good reason for caution. When Flores discovered
his best horse gone, there would be no evidence that would entangle her
or her mother in wordy argument with him for having helped the young
vaquero to leave--and against the direct commands of The Spider, who
had sent word to Flores through Malvey that Pete was to remain at the
rancho till sent for.
At the top of the canon trail Pete reined in and tried to get his
bearings. But the horse, fighting the bit, seemed to have a clear idea
of going somewhere and in the general direction of Showdown. "You
ought to know the trail to Showdown," said Pete. "And you ain't tryin'
to git back home, so go to it! I'll be right with you."
The heavy, hot wind seethed round him and he bent his head, tying his
bandanna across his nose and mouth.
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