Stephen sat down thoughtfully. All hope of
serving the man for the present was gone. He
must wait till daybreak at least. Then somebody
or something might appear to show him the way
out. He thought of the ranch wagon, and of
Buddy's offer, and it occurred to him that unless
he was too far off the regular course he might attract
Buddy. It was a chance, anyway.

"I've been 'most dead, too, for a week," suddenly
began the other. "I 'ain't eat regularly, for
one thing -- 'most a month of that, I reckon. Been
times, too, when I couldn't -- couldn't find water.
I didn't know the country over here. Had to
change -- change horses a couple times, too. Because--"
He checked himself. "I made a mistake -- the
last horse. He give me all -- all that
was comin'--"

A nicker from Pat interrupted him. Stephen
felt him cringe. Directly he felt something else.
It was a cold hand groping to find his own. The
whole thing was queer, uncanny, and he was glad
when the man went on.

"Did -- did you hear that?" breathed the fellow,
a note of suppressed terror in his voice. "Did
you hear it, friend? Tell me!" His voice was
shrill now.

Stephen reassured him, explaining that it was
his horse. But a long time the man held fast,
fingers gripping his hand, as if he did not believe,
and was listening to make sure. At length he relaxed,
and Stephen, still seated close beside him,
heard him sink back into the sand.

[[265]]

p264 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p265w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p266

v?