“I reckon we might as well drift along,” agreed the sheriff. “Much obliged for the breakfast, boys.”
“You’re always welcome,” said old Rance, following them to the doorway, where he watched them mount and ride away.
CHAPTER X—SCOTTY GETS AN EARFUL OF DIRT
The three officers rode back toward Red Arrow, riding knee-to-knee along the dusty road.
“Well, what do yuh think, Slim?” asked Chuck, after a long period of silent riding.
The sheriff shook his head slowly, his eyes fixed on the bobbing ears of his mount.
“Looks bad,” he said seriously. “That bump on his head might ’a’ been caused by a fall from a horse.”
“That’s what I thought of, Slim. But, by golly, he’s cool. His face didn’t show nothin’ when yuh told him. I watched him close.”
Slim drew up his horse and looked back, his brows drawn together in a thoughtful frown. Then—
“Scotty, you go back to the end of that cut, and camp where yuh can watch things. If old Rance knows his saddle horse is lyin’ dead near the end of that cut, still wearin’ his saddle, he’ll prob’ly try to get it away.”