BACK TO ATHENS
Mendoza and Tom walked toward the Casa Grande ranch-house with fearful hearts.
“Dark as a pocket,” commented Tom. “You set down here, Mendoza, while I go around in back.” From the side, a faint light was visible from the dining-room of the house. “Hullo, what have we here?” ejaculated the engineer. At the same time, he saw a man’s figure coming toward him; a very familiar figure. “Hard!” he gasped, darting forward and knocking the load of firewood from Hard’s arms with the fervency of his greeting.
“Hullo, Tom!” Hard returned the handshake quite as heartily. “Glad to see you. We were beginning to think we were marooned on this place.”
“We?” Tom’s face lit up. “You’re all right? All of you? Didn’t none of you get killed by them Yaquis?”
“Why, didn’t Scott tell you?” demanded Hard, with sudden anxiety.
“I ain’t seen Scott sence you all went off together,” said Tom, puzzled.
“Hold on! Do you mean to say that they haven’t shown up yet? Scott and the girl?”
“Well, I left Athens yestiddy morning. You see, I walked to Conejo and picked up Mendoza and his car.”
“You walked to Conejo!” Hard’s voice was awed.