Trail Blazers by E. C. Tubb

Author:E. C. Tubb
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hale Ltd
Published: 1956-04-05T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

Colorado and the great ramparts of the Rockies looming far to the west. The soil was turning arid, dry, merging into desert, but because it was the trail the lowing herd moved slowly over the stony ground. Outriders had watched for further signs of the jayhawk menace, but had long lost the fear of being taken and pursued. Now the immediate threat was from the actual terrain, not the human wolves who roved the borders. Mike spoke about it at camp one night, sitting before the fire, sipping his coffee and listening to the thin, plaintive voices of the night guards as they watched over the sleeping cattle.

"We're heading for trouble, Gregg," he warned. "We've got to find water soon and some good grass. Cows can't live in the desert."

"I know it." Gregg slumped a little as he sat before the fire. He had ridden far that day, roving far ahead to find easy passage for the cattle. He had returned to camp and Curly had taken over and was now far to the north. The squat man had proved himself to be an excellent scout, and both he and Gregg took turns at riding far-point.

"Did you spot water, Gregg?" Red helped himself to coffee. "Even the water barrels on the chuck wagons are getting low."

"We'll reach the Pueblo in a couple of days," said Gregg. "There's water and feed there and we can rest up for a couple of days." He rubbed at his chin, frowning at the stubble which coated lips and jaw. "I'm not worried about the water."

"Glad someone's happy," said Red. He sipped at his coffee, put down the empty cup, built himself a cigarette.

"What are you worried about, Gregg?" Mike was shrewd and he had noticed the increasing restlessness in the big man during the past few days. "You spot anything ahead?"

"No."

"You sure, Gregg?"

"I'd tell you if I did. There's nothing to worry you."

"Maybe not." Mike took a cigar from his pocket, lit, it, breathed smoke. "This part of the country's new to me. As far as I know no one has yet blazed a trail through here. The Indian Nations are something which no man knows much about." He paused, looking at the tip of his cigar. "Is that it, Gregg?"

"What?"

"Indians?"

"Maybe." Gregg stared into the fire. "This is Indian country and the Sioux don't like settlers passing through."

"We ain't settlers."

"We're white men," said Gregg. "To an Indian that's enough."

"We can handle the Indians," said Red confidently. "One white man's worth twenty of those red savages. Let them all come, I ain't afraid."

"I'm not worried about you," said Gregg. "I'm worried about what the Indians may do to the cattle. This is bad country, full of gullies and covered with rocks. A stampede here would cost us a deal in maimed and dead steers."

"I see." Mike nodded, he had seen the effects of stampeding cattle before. He stretched and stared up at the sky. The night was clear, moonless, and the stars glittered like a double-handful of diamonds scattered by some careless jeweler across the vault of heaven.

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