Robbers' Roost by Zane Grey

Author:Zane Grey
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781632207418
Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing
Published: 2015-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

F

ROM that speech, Jim calculated, dated the beginning of a definite breach between Hank Hays and his lieutenant, Slocum.

“Wal, it’s no time to cuss me,” snarled the robber leader.

“By Gawd! I wish I had some,” replied Slocum, bitterly. “Fellers, grab your rifles an’ take to cover.”

“There ain’t no cover, Smoky,” asserted Brad Lincoln.

“This place won’t do,” interposed Jim, sharply. “Miss Herrick might be hit. We’d better make for a canyon.”

“No sense in a fight, anyhow,” rejoined Hays.

“But, man, we’ll have to fight,” rasped out Slocum. “Heeseman’s ridin’ light We’ve got this pack outfit. He’ll ketch us shore. An’ I say let’s hide behind these trees an’ wait fer him.”

There was no gainsaying the little rider’s wisdom, and Jim would have backed him up but for the girl. If she fell into Heeseman’s power she would be as badly off, if not worse.

“Jeff, air they comin’?” queried Hays of Bridges, who was standing in his saddle, peering back.

“Nope. But I see dust over the ridge, an’ I reckon thet’s him.”

Hays made a dive for his horse, and mounting, he leaned over to take up a rope halter round the neck of the horse Miss Herrick was riding.

“You lied—to me!” she cried, angrily. “You assured me that if I’d come without resistance you’d soon arrange for my freedom. Here we are miles from Star Ranch.”

Hays paid not the slightest attention to her, but started off, leading her horse.

“Jim Wall, are you going to permit this outrage?” She turned in her saddle to entreat him.

“I’m powerless, Miss Herrick,” he replied, hurriedly. “I’m only one of Hays’ band. We are being tracked. If Heeseman catches us you’ll be worse off.”

“Oh, how dreadful! I will not be dragged down into that ghastly hole.”

“Drive the pack-horses behind me an’ keep ’em movin’,” yelled Hays. “Once we reach the river I can give them the slip.”

“Aw, you’re crazy,” derided Smoky. “Heeseman knows this country as well as you.”

The leader did not answer that taunt. He headed down the slope, dragging Miss Herrick’s horse. Sparrowhawk Latimer fell in with them. Jim could hear the girl’s protestations. The other riders made haste to line the pack-horses. Smoky brought up the rear.

The wash that Hays had come down was the one which led into the Red Canyon. It was shallow, dusty, not. The dry stream-bed afforded easy progress. Jim could not see any sign of a trail or even of an old hoof track. No doubt about Hays knowing his way! He rode as one familiar with this red-clay and gray-gravel canyon. Soon it merged with another coming in from the left, and then all features were magnified. It began to drop, the stream-bed grew rough, the walls higher. All landmarks above were lost sight of; even the Henry Mountains disappeared. The pack-horses kicked up a dust like a red cloud; the riders pulled their scarfs up over mouths and noses. Their yells and curses sounded muffled.

Jim kept unobtrusively working ahead until there were only three pack-horses in front of him and he could see Hays and the girl at intervals.

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