Chances are they hunted around for Broncho Billie more’n half the afternoon. P’raps they’re keeping everlastingly at it even now. Huh! reckon Billie ain’t a baby, and can look out for himself some, if I do say it myself, as hadn’t ought to. Huh! I’m alearning right fast, seems to me.”
The fact that he had come out so well thus far seemed to inspire a new confidence in the stout boy. He even patted himself proudly on his chest, and congratulated himself on having snapped off several pictures of the gathering cloud of sand as it bore down upon them. If these turned out halfway decent, he would have something worth while to exhibit to his schoolboy friends away off in the East, when he went home again after his vacation was over.
The wind having died down fully now, the sand settled, and Billy believed that if it were daytime he might see where the hilly country lay in the midst of which was the Zuni village. But of course, in the darkness of a moonless night he could not make any sort of a discovery, and must apparently be satisfied to remain there in his makeshift camp until another day dawned, and brought new hope in its train.
He had secured Jupiter the best way he could, not wanting the pony to wander away during the time he, Billie, might be asleep. That would be a calamity the fat boy disliked to even contemplate.
It was bad enough having to ride over that scorching sand; but to be compelled to go afoot, with the heat burning through the soles of his shoes, must be ten times worse.
The pony had evidently made up its mind that what “could not be cured must be endured.” He stood there, close to where Billie had camped, and hardly moved. Perhaps later on he would lie down to rest, for he too must be weary, after such a strenuous day.
Billie found himself nodding presently. He was tired clean through, and knew of no reason why he should not secure his fair portion of balmy sleep, the strength renewer.
Once he had thought he might try shouting as loud as he could, but gave the idea up as useless. Even if his chums heard him in the far distance what good would it do to start them out on the desert again, roaming all around in search of him? No, it was best that he simply make the time pass by what means lay in his power, and with the dawning of another day he would feel refreshed, so that he could set out toward the north, always toward the north, he kept on telling himself, as he fondly touched the pocket where the compass was securely hidden.
Again Billie was nodding as he sat there. Had he been left undisturbed the chances were that before five minutes he would have rolled over in his
blanket, and settled down to sleep; and after that the hours would slip along, for Billie was a famous sleeper.