Red Kane and Hockling, leading three horses, appeared on the crest of the ridge.
CHAPTER XXIII
THE SMOKE OF CONFLICT
"Found him hid right pretty in a gully," said Hockling, indicating the extra horse.
"Yore hoss, Marvin?" queried Loudon.
Marvin nodded surlily. He had had his share of the water in the rescuers' canteens, but he was no happier.
"It's shore providential, yore happenin' down this way," said Loudon. "We'll do as much for you some day."
"Yo're welcome, but it ain't none providential, Tom," denied Hockling. "Me an' Red was fixin' the corral fence at the camp when up come Kate Saltoun on the jump an' says how yuh was standin' off six men opposite Box Hill. 'It's them deputies!' shouts Red, an' ropes a hoss immediate. Well, we come along, the three of us, an' that's all. It was long range, but I think I drilled one deputy. Red creased one, too."
"Yuh bet I did!" cried Red Kane. "I seen his arm flop when I fired."