“And flowed up-hill, eh?”
“Thet’s what bothered me,” said Pete, “whar it all come from an’ why it was flowin’ contrary ter natur’.”
“It wasn’t flowin’ contrary ter natur’,” said Tenny. “Jest below hyer the gulch bottom pitches this way, an’ thar’s quite a sink a mile farther to’rds Sun Dance. I’ve noticed thet lots o’ times while I was goin’ an’ comin’. But whar the water come from is a mystery. Thar ain’t been no cloud-burst, as fur as I’ve seen.”
Cayuse, in a very few words, explained where the water had come from.
As Lawless’ diabolical plot to wipe out the scout was borne in upon the mind of old Nomad, his rage became tremendous.
“Confound ther pizen, no-’count whelp!” he shouted, shaking his fists in the direction the outlaws had taken. “Instid o’ snakin’ Buffler out o’ thet level, he left him thar ter drown! Did ther water come up over ther top o’ thet ore-dump?” he asked suddenly, turning to Pete and the others.
“The water buried thet ore-dump clean out o’ sight!” declared Pete.
Nomad stood for an instant as though stricken, then rushed for the rim of the cañon and looked down.
The waters were receding as quickly as they had risen. The ore-dump of the Forty Thieves was already shouldering aside the waves.
Nomad stared, realized what must have happened, then flung himself down and covered his face with his hands.