Gunsmoke Talk by Bradford Scott

Author:Bradford Scott
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Gunsmoke Talk
ISBN: 9780000000000
Publisher: Wildside Press LLC
Published: 2017-04-12T00:00:00+00:00

12

NOW THE SUN was slanting down the western sky, and twilight was not so far off. Slade shifted from one uncomfortable position to another—all positions had become uncomfortable—and swore wearily, under his breath.

And then, abruptly, business picked up. From the growth beyond the cabin, which flanked the trail, rode two men. One raised his voice in a shout that was answered by a call within the cabin. They proceeded to the lean-to, dismounted, flipped out their mounts’ bits and poured oats into feed boxes. They did not remove the rigs. Those matters attended to, they repaired to the cabin. Slade could not get a very good look at their faces, but neither appeared familiar. One man was lean and lanky, the other not so tall but broader. They vanished from his sight and had evidently entered the cabin.

The muttering rumble of voices loudened. Again there was a rattling, as of tin plates and cups. Smoke rose from the chimney. Apparently a meal was being prepared for the newcomers. Slade schooled himself to patience and further waiting. Now the sun had set, and the clearing was growing shadowy.

A light flared in the cabin, and he wondered gloomily if he was doomed to an all-night vigil. However, he deemed this unlikely, due to the fact that the new arrivals had not divested their horses of saddle and bridle. Looked like they expected to shortly be on the move. Slade devoutly hoped his reasoning was sound.

It was. The clearing was gloomy with the dusk when, after considerable sounds of activity, the light in the cabin was extinguished. Another moment and the five men filed out and headed for the lean-to. To Slade’s disgust it was already too dark to make anything of their features. A few more minutes and they rode across the clearing toward the brush which flanked the trail. Slade glided noiselessly to where Shadow awaited him.

He heard the bunch ride past his hiding place, in the direction of the valley. After a short period of waiting he led Shadow to the trail and mounted.

Now El Halcon found himself in a quandary. If he got too close to the dubious quintet and they heard him coming, he might well be blown from under his hat. And if he let them get too far ahead, he might lose them.

Such was the horned dilemma upon one point or other of which he ran the risk of being impaled. He considered the matter with an earnestness that almost amounted to mental agony. Once the quarry reached the open ground at the end of the old trail, he would have no difficulty keeping them in sight. That is, if he didn’t let them get too far ahead.

“Well, horse, we’ll just have to take a chance,” he said. Estimating the speed at which the five were traveling and hoping he was making no mistake, he sent Shadow easing down the trail in their wake.

It was a nerve-straining business, riding the winding trail through the black dark.

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