including himself. With this slight witticism he
disappeared into the store.

The men dismounted. They sat down upon
the porch, and one of them, the large man, removed
his hat, produced a blue bandana, and fell
to mopping his red face. The day was warm,
and the settlement, lying low under surrounding
peaks, received none of the outside breezes. Also,
it was inert now, wrapped in the quiet of a frightened
people. There was no movement anywhere
save that of ruffling hens in the dust of the trail,
and the nearer switching of horses' tails. Once
this stillness was broken. Among the houses
somewhere rose feminine lamentations, wailing
sobs, the outburst cutting the quiet with a sharpness
that caused the men to turn grave eyes in
its direction. And now the keeper of the store
reappeared, bearing three bottles of wine in his
arms, and numerous supplies, which the men accepted
and paid for. Then all led their horses
back to the well, which was in a little clearing,
and there prepared to make camp, throwing off
saddle-bags and accoutrements and building a fire
while they planned a real meal.

Pat was enjoying all this. The settlement had
a faintly familiar look, and he half expected to
see a swarthy Mexican, whip in hand, approach
him with abusive tongue. Also, after weeks of
far horizons and unending sweeps of desert, he
found in this nearness of detail pleasurable relief.
It was good to see something upright again
without straining across miles of desolation, even

[[230]]

p229 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p230w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p231

v?