Novel 1965 - The Key-Lock Man (v5.0) by Louis L'Amour

Author:Louis L'Amour [L'Amour, Louis]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Amazon.com
Amazon: 0553280988
Publisher: Bantam
Published: 1965-01-01T08:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

FROM THE RIM near War God Spring, Matt Keelock studied the vast broken land to the south. Using the field glasses, he ignored no patch of shadow, no fold or crack in the land. In the ten days since leaving the trade store at Tuba City they had seen no evidence of pursuit, nor had they seen the tracks of the golden stallion.

Obviously, something had frightened the mustangs from their accustomed haunts, but where had they gone? That they occasionally came here to War God Spring, Matt knew. There was lush grass, plenty of good water, and there was the shade of aspens and tall pines.

All morning he had had the feeling of being watched, the sense of something happening of which he was unaware, but he had seen neither smoke nor dust, nothing to give a reason for his worry. At last he lowered the glasses and went back to camp.

Behind him, and many miles off across the country he had been studying, a small puff of dust appeared, faded, then grew and maintained a course toward the northeast.

At the fire, Kris looked up. “Matt, I’ve been thinking. Let’s ride back to Organ Rock where we saw them last.”

“Why there?”

“That stallion was going somewhere, Matt. I think he was taking his herd to some particular place, but when they saw us they veered off. If we go back we might find some tracks.”

It was good thinking, and he told her so. Animals were notional, and if they took a notion to go somewhere, they would usually keep trying until they made it.

The trouble was, he knew of no direct route, although there might well be one. He disliked going back toward the south and the proximity of any searchers, while to the north the country was crossed by the San Juan River and its deep, winding canyon. War God Spring was good water, and it was the perfect hideaway. Getting out of it toward the south would take him right into the trail through Marsh Pass, the last place he wanted to be.

He had come to War God Spring half expecting to find the stallion there, but the only tracks were old ones. Only the Navajos knew the place—unless perhaps, Gay Cooley knew of it…but every hour increased their danger.

The coffee tasted good. He nursed a cup in his hands and looked across the fire at Kris. “How about it? Have you had enough of this? I mean a girl like you…used to so much.”

She smiled. “Matt, I left nothing behind me that mattered. Oh, I will admit that once in a while I think of what all my friends may be doing, but I’ve no desire to be back there again. Father said I was a throwback to the Vikings, that there was wildness in me.”

She looked around, then her eyes went back to Matt. “You must believe this. I am happier than I have ever been before.”

Before daylight the next morning they abandoned the spring, taking a faint Indian trail across Rainbow Plateau.

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