Galloway (1970) Read Online Free PDF Page B

four feet long and three wide, it was still a place where I could crawl up and rest. As I neared it I found my spear and the hide with my few belongings in it floating near. After I'd beached the bow and arrows, I recovered them and returned to the beach.
    Stretching out on that beach meant putting my feet in the water, and that was just what I did. That sandy strip was completely invisible from anyone not on the surface of the water, for the pool was rimmed around with smooth rock edges, and none of them seemed to be less than six feet above the water. Even if the Indians circled and got on the rocks opposite they could not see into my hiding place. Their eyes could touch only the water or the rock above me.
    Nobody was likely to find me here, but the question was, and it was an almighty big question, how was I going to to get out? I'd no food left and not much strength, but for the moment I was safe. So I curled up on the sand, pulled the remnants of my hides over me and went to sleep.
    And in my sleep I dreamed that I heard a sound of horses, the whimper of a dog or wolf, and the sound of falling water.
    When I awakened it was a long time later. I was cold, shivering cold, and the water was gray with late evening. There was a waterfall near ... not that it mattered. This was one I wasn't going to get out of.
    Galloway, where are you?

    Chapter V
    "There's a town," Shadow said, "or what passes for a town."
    "Flagan don't know nothing about a town. When he taken out he was stark naked an' running his heart out, but if I know Flagan he'll take to the hills. There's places to hide and a better chance of rustling some grub."
    "Nevertheless, he's apt to come upon some tracks, and if he follows them he'll find some prospector's camp or a ranch."
    "Ranch?"
    "They're coming in. The Dunn outfit have laid claim to a wide stretch of range and they're bringing in cattle." Shadow rode around a tree, pulling up to let Galloway ride abreast. "There's some others, too."
    "There's room for all."
    "Not if you listen to the Dunns. They're a tough lot. From Kansas."
    There was the shadow of a trail, long unused. It wound among the rocks and boulders, following the contour of the land. Under the trees it was shadowed and still. Occasionally they drew up to give their horses a breather, for the altitude was high.
    "I was talking with an old Ute," Shadow commented, "and showed him a picture of the castle where I was born. He said there were bigger castles back in the mountains."
    "Castles?"
    "Big houses," he said, "bigger than any dozen houses he had ever seen, bigger than twice that many, he claimed."
    "You'd never guess it. Not in this country. He was probably tellin' you a tall tale."
    "Maybe."
    Hours later they came down off the mesa into a wide, grassy valley. Almost at once they saw tracks. A dozen riders on shod horses had passed, and not too long before.
    Nick Shadow drew up and studied the tracks. Then he looked north in the direction they had gone. "Some of that Dunn outfit," he said. "Stay away from them, Sackett. They're trouble."
    "Isn't likely I'll run into them." They mounted a ridge as Galloway spoke and he pointed off to the west. "River over there?"
    "The Mancos. Mesa Verde is just beyond. That's where the old Indian told me the castles could be found. Someday I'm going to ride over and have a look."
    After a moment Shadow added, "You'd best not hope too much. Your brother didn't have much chance."
    "He's a tough man. He's had his tail in a crack before this. If I know him he's a comin', and somehow or other he'll keep himself alive. Up to us to find him, no matter how long. No Sackett ever left another in a bind. Leastways, none from my part of the country."
    They had turned eastward, and high upon the right, but back from where they rode, the mountains lifted, bold peaks, their rugged flanks streamered with snow, forested almogt to the top. They rode cautiously, knowing it was Ute country but also that the Dunns were