It was a paradise for myriads of mosquitoes and other insects and among them, lurking about in search of prey, was that deadly spider,—the tarantula, always a menace to both man or beast.
And those three days had been scorching hot ones, when for hours at a time not the faintest breath of air stirred the leaves or grasses. Yes, the boys were fully satisfied now that the life of the Texas Ranger was not an enviable one.
Tom had piloted the party to the place where he had come across the prostrate steer. The animal had evidently recovered and wandered off to other parts.
The Rangers, skilled in following the faintest trails, able to read signs in nature which to an ordinary observer would have meant nothing at all, had by tireless efforts found a passageway leading between jagged hills to the Rio. Here were the unmistakable tracks of cattle, hoof-prints clear-cut and comparatively fresh.
The deep chasms, overhung with dark beetling cliffs, led into a cup-shaped valley, where tall grasses and rank vegetation flourished in the greatest profusion. On the shores of the river, extremely shallow at this point, were still other evidences to show that the Texas Rangers had actually discovered at last the retreat of the outlaws.
“And we have Tom Clifton to thank for that!” exclaimed Carl Alvin. “Without his help we might have searched around this rugged country for weeks without finding a single trace.”
“You’re certainly right there,” assented Jack Stovall. “Now all we have to do is to play a waitin’ game. Rustlers, an’ ’specially Mexican rustlers, ain’t never satisfied. They’ll sure come ag’in.”
And the “waiting game” was being played. Stationed at various points from where the cup-shaped valley could be observed, the men kept vigil, often viciously attacked by hordes of ravenous mosquitoes. Hot, tiresome and monotonous work it was, for the most part unrelieved by comfort of any sort. But the hardy, courageous policemen of the plains seldom uttered a word of complaint.
And with the exception of Don Stratton, neither did the boys. Don emphatically declared that he had had all the roughing experiences he wanted or ever would want, and after this little affair was concluded that sort of life for him would be over forever.
“Don’t you believe it!” grinned Tom. “I’ll bet you’ll be out with us again some time.”