CHAPTER VI
THE REAL LOW-DOWN
They rode on in silence. When they reached the north end of the ridge the man in the lead turned west on a slope studded with large boulders and rock outcroppings. There was considerable shale here, too, and they had to proceed cautiously in spots, both for fear of sliding down the shale and to prevent making much noise.
“If they follow us up here, we can hear ’em before they get to us,” said the man who called himself Percy, with a shrug and a frowning look at his companion.
Rathburn did not reply.
They continued across the slope and descended into a large bowl or pocket, guarded by huge boulders and scattering trees on the slope above.
“Guess it’s safe to rest our horses here,” said Percy. “We can hear ’em coming either way; but I don’t think they’ll get up here.”
However, neither he nor Rathburn knew how many men Brown had at his command, nor did they know that the sheriff of the county, with two deputies, had raced to Dry Lake by automobile, procured horses, and hastened to join Brown on the east trail, which seemed the most likely route of escape for the outlaw.
There was a spring in the pocket surrounded by a small meadow of good grass. The pair watered their horses, loosened their saddle-cinches, and permitted the animals to graze with reins dangling.