Free Skeleton Lode by Ralph Compton

never seemed to have trouble with the Apaches.”
     
    “I’m startin’ to wonder if Paiute hasn’t had somethin’to do with that,” Dallas said. “We don’t know what Hoss might have told him, or how much he knows, but he’s sticking with us. This old boy may be the biggest ace in the hole we’ve ever had.”
     
    When Yavapai and Sanchez reached the Salt River, they rode across it and secreted themselves in some willows on the south bank.
    “Por Dios,”
said Yavapai, “we have lose our job and our food in all the same day.”
     
    “Per’ap I will kill the
gringo
dog for his money and his food,” Sanchez said angrily, “but I will not have him put his hands on me.”
     
    “These other
gringos
are many,” said Yavapai. “Per’ap they pay us and feed us while we seek the gold.”
     
    “Si,”
Sanchez said. “We jus’ kill three times as many
gringos.”
     
    When Yavapai and Sanchez had ridden away, Gary Davis took stock of his situation. Besides Barry Rust, R. J. Bollinger, Paulette, and the Logan girls, all of the gold seekers from town had witnessed his falling-out with his Mexican guides. Striving for some dignity, Davis spoke to the men from town.
    “We’ll have to ride back to the river and start over. Why don’t we join forces?”
     
    “You’re as lost as we are,” answered a surly rider. “What’n hell do we need you for?”
     
    “Maybe because I have half a map,” Davis said angrily.
     
    “I wouldn’t take orders from you if’n you had a saddlebag full of maps,” said another rider. “Now either ride ahead, ride back, or just git the hell out’n the way.”
     
    Without a word Davis mounted his horse and rode back toward the Salt River, his companions falling in behind him. It being their only option, the disgruntled bunch from town wheeled their mounts and followed.
     
    In the hidden camp, Dallas punched up the fire, set the iron spider in place, and suspended a pot of water to heat.When it was ready, Arlo dug out a piece of soap, and the partners shaved, taking turns with the razor. Paiute watched in obvious amusement—like most Indians, he had not a trace of a beard.
    “Now,” Arlo said, “let’s go up on top and look around. With our horses and mules hidden, maybe we can disappear for a few days. That bunch lookin’ for us won’t expect us to be afoot.”
     
    When they left the cavern, Paiute made no move to accompany them.
     
    “He’s led us to a hidden camp,” Dallas said, “and he’ll get the horses and mule to graze at night, but I think that’s as far as he aims to go.”
     
    “Maybe as far as he
can
go,” said Arlo. “If only for his own safety, I doubt Hoss ever took him to the mine.”
     
    Before leaving the crevice that led to their hidden cavern, Dallas and Arlo looked around carefully. Since they stood on solid rock, there were no telltale horse or mule tracks.
     
    “Still too early for them,” Dallas said, referring to their followers. “I’m bettin’ they’ve all lit out along yesterday’s trail and they’ll end up backtracking.”
     
    “Now that they’ve lost sight of us,” said Arlo, “we’ll find out if there’s any trackers in the bunch.”
     
    “I’d put my money on those shifty-eyed Mex varmints Davis brought with him,” said Dallas. “That pair looks like the kind who’d know every mountain grizzly hole in Arizona Territory.”
     
    “I won’t bet with you,” Arlo replied. “Yavapai and Sanchez have been in trouble with the law before. They may be taking pay from Davis and eatin’ his grub, but before this search is done, those Mex owl-hoots will come after us in their own right. Secure as our camp seems, I think we’d better sleep with our Colts in our hands.”
     
    Gary Davis was in a foul mood by the time he and his companions reached the Salt River. They had wasted half a day and accomplished nothing.
    “We’ll rest and water the horses,” said Davis, “and then we’re going up that damned