James Wadsworth Longfellow Pelly managed to get up and stagger over toward them.
“I—I can’t get this straight,” he said huskily.
“You never got anythin’ straight—so don’t worry,” said Frijole. “Stop teeterin’ —that aidge is too close.”
“Let him weave,” said Slim quickly. Henry took hold of the editor’s arm and steadied him. “How did you get here Pelly?” he asked.
“In a wagon,” whispered Pelly. “I—I was at the Circle G—visiting. The professor was going home; so I decided to ride back with them. Cooler at night, you know.”
“How many of you on that wagon?” asked Henry anxiously.
“Th-three,” stammered Pelly. “The professor, Jud Bailey and myself. But what happened—anyway? Don’t you know?”
“I hate to say this, gentlemen,” remarked Henry slowly, “but I’m very much afraid that Jud Bailey and his equipage went into Lobo Canyon.”
No one said anything for a while, and then Slim remarked, “Well, they ain’t here now, they didn’t go past that buckboard, and I’m fairly sure that they never backed up, Henry.”
“I remember a little,” said Pelly shakily. “I—I thought we were going a little too fast for that curve. Then it happened.”