The river next morning showed an appreciable fall, but there still was a vast volume of reddish, sand-laden water sweeping swiftly between the bluff banks, and to the group of men studying the swirling currents it was clear that the crossing would be a difficult and perilous undertaking. Danger to themselves would not deter them ; they were thinking only of the herd.
"I guess we gotta take a chance, boys," the foreman decided. "What's yore opinion, Jim?"
"Me an' Sandy '1I try her out," Sudden offered.
Stripped to the waist and riding bareback they entered the stream at a point where the bank shelved. In a few moments the horses were swimming, Nigger's black head in the lead. Progress was slow, for the current was strong and the crossing had to be made in a long slant. The soupy state of the water and floating driftwood which had to be avoided added to the task, but at length the riders emerged on the opposite bank and turned to wave to their watching comrades. A short rest and they again plunged in for the return journey.
"She's a gamble, with the odds against us," was Sudden's verdict. "But we've played in luck, so far."
The foreman had already made up his mind and presently the leaders of the herd appeared, trotting briskly, for in view of the crossing they had been kept thirsty. At the sight of the turgid flood, however, they baulked and would have turned but for the riders on both flanks, who drove them into the water. There they stood, knee-deep, snorting and bawling with fright, the force of the stream almost sweeping them from their feet. Beyond this they would not budge until Sudden splashed in, roped the foremost steer round the horns, and slipping the other end of his lariat across the broad breast of Nigger, headed for the far bank.
Willy-nilly the captive was dragged headlong into the flood and struck out lustily, seeing which--after a brief hesitation --those behind followed. In a few moments, a steady string of horned heads was moving across the river. Sudden, having pulled his victim up the far shore, removed the loop, and grinned at the disgruntled-looking brute, which seemed disposed to go "on the prod."
"G'wan," he said, and slapped it over the nose with the end of his wet rope. "What yu gotta belly-ache about? yu had the easiest trip of any, an' yu'll be Big Chief Show-'em-how to them four-footed friends o' your'n from now on."
For a while he sat watching the curving line of black blobs in the water, shepherded by horsemen on the downstream side.
After drying himself in the, warm sun, he recrossed the river. The foreman met him, his face beaming.
"Jim, that was a daddy of an idea," he said. "yu shore know cows."
"Shucks," Sudden smiled. "The critters is like humans--give 'em a lead an' they'll go most anywheres. It warn't nothin'."
"No?" Jeff said. "Allasame, I'm damn glad we got yu in the outfit, son."
Chapter XII
"SAY, Jim, do yu figure we've razzle-dazzled Rogue?" Sandy asked.
"Mebbe, but he's a foxy fella an' now he knows we ain't workin' for him he's probably trackin' us," Sudden replied. "But I expect we've put one over on other gents watchin' the trail."
They were riding some five hundred yards ahead of the herd, for being in Indian territory, scouts were deemed necessary, and, since they were no longer following a used trail, the easiest route had to be selected. More than a week had passed since they left the Red River and during most of the time they had travelled westwards before turning north again. Not one of the outfit had more than a vague notion of their location, for save to the Indians and a few trappers and buffalo hunters, this was unknown country. Moreover, wide detours to avoid difficulties had been made, and they had only the sun and stars to guide them.
"Plenty lonesome in these parts," Sandy remarked presently. "We ain't seen a soul since the Red."
"Suits me," his friend replied. "Anybody we met would likely be hostile. What yu think o' Lasker?"
"I don't," Sandy grinned. "Not never."
"Huh! I'm forgettin' that yu got a single-track mind these days," Sudden said gravely. "Allatime it circles round a certain hatchet-faced"
"Shurrup, yu idjut ; here's Carol a-comin'."
Sudden's eyebrows lifted at the familiarity, but before he could offer any comment, the girl reined in beside them.
"Jeff sent me for you, Sandy," she said. "I'm to take your place for a spell."
The boy's face fell. "Shore it wasn't Jim he wanted?" he asked.
Carol's eyes twinkled teasingly. "Quite sure," she told him, and when he had wheeled his mount and loped back towards the herd she murmured, "He seemed to just hate leaving you."
"yeah," Sudden said. "Wonder if Jeff wants him bad?"
She saw the little crinkles at the corners of his eyes and laughed herself. "I'm afraid he doesn't," she confessed. "You I te. Jeff I'd like to ride ahead for a while and he said, Send Sandy back ; a fellow scouting needs his eyes in more than one place.' Now what did he mean by that?"
"I ain't a notion," was the mendacious reply, and then, with a sly smile, "Mebbe he figures Sandy ain't very dependable." The girl bridled instantly. "Then I think it's too mean," she cried. "Dad said something of the sort last night. Just oecause Sandy is gay and light-hearted" She stopped, and her cheeks went red beneath their tan as she saw the quirk of amusement on his lips. Then she smiled also. "That was too bad of you," she accused.
"I'm askin' yore pardon, ma'am," Sudden said. "yu see, Sandy is my friend ; he can have anythin' I got, an' there's no limit."
"you have known him long?"
"That don't follow. Friendship is a funny thing ; it ain't a matter o' time. yu know one fella for years an' in the end he'll disappoint yu ; yu know another for hours an' yu can gamble on him."
So he closed the subject. In those wild days a person's past was his or her concern and it was neither polite nor prudent to probe into it.
The foreman having agreed to call it a day, camp was made near a thicket of oak and mesquite, while the cattle were bunched on the flat top of a swell not far away. There was no water but the animals had had a sufficiency the night before, and the long-horn could travel forty-eight hours without drinking. Nevertheless, the lack of it made the herd restive and Jeff anxious. Sudden, giving the cook a hand with his team, offered a word of advice:
"I'd hobble them critters an' keep 'em handy, Peg-leg. This is Injun territory an' them red devils would ruther eat mule-meat than prime beef."
"All a matter o' taste, I reckon," the cook replied.
"More a matter o' teeth, I'd say," the cowboy grinned, as he swung into his saddle and went to help with the herd. Some hours later Sandy came to relieve him and even in the darkness Sudden could see that the young man was not his usual bright self ; slouched in his saddle, head down, he appeared moody and depressed.
"yu look as happy as a wet hen," was the greeting he received. "What's bitin' yu?"
"I dunno, Jim, an' that's a fact, but I got a feelin' trouble is comin'."
"Trouble allus is comin' an' worryin' won't stop it. Get such fool notions outa the thing that holds yore hat up, an' keep a close eye on them durned cows ; half of 'em ain't even dozin' yet."
Riding back to the camp he heard the mournful, weird howl of a coyote and a moment later came an answering cry. He pulled up in doubt ; to his trained ear they did not sound just right. Smiling sardonically at the reflection that Sandy had made him nervy, he nevertheless circled to approach the rear of the timber behind the camp, whence the cries had seemed to come. This took some time, for the thicket was larger than he had thought and it was incumbent to move cautiously. Reaching the trees, he sat listening the indistinct mutter of a voice came to him. Slipping from his saddle, he crept into the undergrowth. It was nervous work ; once he put a hand on a clammy, writhing form and heard a sharp hiss as the reptile slithered away. Sudden shivered.