So they said nothing, but rode on with squared jaws and set lips, the
seven ponies breast to breast in a close arc.
Soon they came to an arroyo which they took at a leap. As they
approached it they saw signs in the dust which told them that a body
had lain there huddled up; and there were brown spots on the baked
alkali. The trail they followed was now single, Buck having ridden
along the bank of the arroyo when hunting for Johnny, for whom he had
orders. This trail was very irregular, as if the horse had wandered at
will. Suddenly they came upon five tracks, all pointing one way, and
four of these turned abruptly and disappeared in the northwest. Half a
mile beyond the point of separation was a chaparral, which was an
important factor to them.
Each man knew just what had taken place as if he had been an
eyewitness, for the trail was plain. The assassins had waited in the
chaparral for Johnny to pass, probably having seen him riding that
way. When he had passed and his back had been turned to them they had
fired and wounded him severely at the first volley, for Johnny was of
the stuff that fights back and his revolvers had showed full chambers
and clean barrels when Red had examined them in the bunk house. Then
they had given chase for a short distance and, from some inexplicable
motive, probably fear, they had turned and ridden off without knowing
how bad he was hit.
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