human
Must be rushing the rock,
gpt
More likely saw something and blazed away at it, just as they did at that log, and Brennan laughed.
human
Anyhow they haven't discovered we have vanished yet. With an hour more we'll be where trails are unknown.
gpt
In the desert?
human
That is the only safe hiding place around here. Besides we're carrying a message to Mendez.
gpt
Without the slightest knowledge of where that party is.
human
Well, hardly that, Jim. I may not know exactly, but I've got a glimmer of a notion about where the cuss hangs out, an' I'm going to have a hunt for it. There's five thousand dollars posted down in Arizona for that fellow, dead or alive; an' I need the money. Besides, I reckon this yere Miss Donovan, an' yer ol' partner--what's his name?--sure, Cavendish--will be mighty glad to see us. You're game for a try, ain't yer?
gpt
I shall never stop until I do find them, Dan, said the other earnestly, the very tone of his voice carrying conviction.
human
Every cent of reward is yours; it will be satisfaction enough for me to know those two are safe.
gpt
That's how I figured it. Now let's trot on; we ain't gaining nothing by sittin' our saddles here. We can talk while we travel.
human
What is your idea, Dan?
gpt
I ain't really got none, he admitted doggedly,
human
Yes; I asked her about that twice.
gpt
Well, he likely was headed for this yere Sunken Valley. That's point number one. But he never followed the ridge road very far, for it skirts the desert. He must have turned off south--but where?
human
Near the lone cottonwood is my guess.
gpt
Why?
human
Because there is a swale there of hard sand, which is easily followed, and leaves no trail. On either side for miles the sand is in drifts, and no two horses would ever pull a wagon through it. This hard ridge, which is more rock than sand, goes straight south to Badger Springs, the only place to get water. I was there once, three years ago.
gpt
You've hit it, old man, exclaimed the other confidently.
human
That's exactly how I had it doped out. He'd have to use that swale, or go ten miles farther east. I never was at Badger myself, but I've travelled that ridge road some, with my eyes open. Then, I take it, that our course is already laid out pretty straight as far as them springs. Beyond there the general lay of the land may help us, and I aim to reach that point along about daylight. Accordin' to Miss La Rue--she's that blond female I seen at the hotel, ain't she--Cassady was expected to reach this place where Mendez is about dawn, if he had to kill his hoss to do it. That would mean some considerable of a ride, I reckon.
gpt
And yet, put in Westcott, with increasing interest,
human
Likely enough--yes; either south, southeast, or southwest; what sort o' country is it?
gpt
Absolutely barren; a desolate waste as far as the eye can see, except that range of mountains away to the south, fifty miles or more off. It would be a dead level, except for the sand-hills; that's all the memory I've got of it.
human
Well, thar's allers some landmark to a trail, an' I used ter be a pretty fair tracker. Speed yer hoss up a bit, Jim; we've got to ride faster than this.
gpt
How about the note she gave you?
human
We'll wait a while to read that. I don't want to strike no light just yet. Maybe it had best be kept till daybreak.