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horses； broncos； and the like。 At this time of year it was his habit to
corral all those saddlewise in order to select horses for the round…ups and
to replace the ranch animals。 The latter he turned loose for their turn at
the freedom of the range。
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The horses chosen； next the men turned their attention to outfit。 Each
had； of course； his saddle； spurs； and 〃rope。〃 Of the latter the chuck
wagon carried many extra。 That vehicle； furthermore； transported such
articles as the blankets； the tarpaulins under which to sleep； the running
irons for branding； the cooking layout； and the men's personal effects。
All was in readiness to move for the six weeks' circle； when a
complication arose。 Jed Parker； while nimbly escaping an irritated steer；
twisted the high heel of his boot on the corral fence。 He insisted the
injury amounted to nothing。 Senor Johnson however； disagreed。
〃It don't amount to nothing； Jed；〃 he pronounced； after manipulation；
〃but she might make a good able…bodied injury with a little coaxing。
Rest her a week and then you'll be all right。〃 〃Rest her； the devil！〃
growled Jed； 〃who's going to San Pedro？〃
〃I will； of course；〃 replied the Senor promptly。 〃Didje think we'd send
the Chink？〃 〃I was first cousin to a Yaqui jackass for sendin' young
Billy Ellis out。 He'll be back in a week。 He'd do。〃 〃So'd the
President；〃 the Senor pointed out； 〃I hear he's had some experience。〃
〃I hate to have you to go；〃 objected Jed。 〃There's the missis。〃 He shot a
glance sideways at his chief。 〃I guess she and I can stand it for a
week；〃 scoffed the latter。 〃Why； we are old married folks by now。
Besides； you can take care of her。〃 〃I'll try；〃 said Jed Parker； a little
grimly。
CHAPTER NINE THE LONG TRAIL
The round…up crew started early the next morning； just about sun…up。
Senor Johnson rode first； merely to keep out of the dust。 Then followed
Torn Rich； jogging along easily in the cow…puncher's 〃Spanish trot〃
whistling soothingly to quiet the horses； giving a lead to the band of saddle
animals strung out loosely behind him。 These moved on gracefully
and lightly in the manner of the unburdened plains horse； half decided to
follow Tom's guidance； half inclined to break to right or left。 Homer and
Jim Lester flanked them； also riding in a slouch of apparent laziness； but
every once in a while darting forward like bullets to turn back into the
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main herd certain individuals whom the early morning of the unwearied
day had inspired to make a dash for liberty。 The rear was brought up by
Jerky Jones； the fourth cow…puncher； and the four…mule chuck wagon； lost
in its own dust。
The sun mounted； the desert went silently through its changes。 Wind
devils raised straight； true columns of dust six； eight hundred； even a
thousand feet into the air。 The billows of dust from the horses and men
crept and crawled with them like a living creature。 Glorious colour；
magnificent distance； astonishing illusion； filled the world。 Senor
Johnson rode ahead； looking at these things。 The separation from his
wife； brief as it would be； left room in his soul for the heart…hunger which
beauty arouses in men。 He loved the charm of the desert； yet it hurt him。
Behind him the punchers relieved the tedium of the march； each after his
own manner。 In an hour the bunch of loose horses lost its early…morning
good spirits and settled down to a steady plodding； that needed no
supervision。 Tom Rich led them； now； in silence； his time fully occupied
in rolling Mexican cigarettes with one hand。 The other three dropped
back together and exchanged desultory remarks。 Occasionally Jim Lester
sang。 It was always the same song of uncounted verses； but Jim had a
strange fashion of singing a single verse at a time。 After a long interval
he would sing another。
〃My Love is a rider And broncos he breaks； But he's given
up riding And all for my sake； For he found him a horse
And it suited him so That he vowed he'd ne'er ride Any other
bronco！〃
he warbled； and then in the same breath：
〃Say； boys； did you get onto the pisano…looking shorthorn at Willets
last week？ 〃Nope。〃 〃He sifted in wearin' one of these
hardboiled hats； and carryin' a brogue thick enough to skate on。 Says he
wants a job drivin' teamthat he drives a truck plenty back to St。 Louis；
where he comes from。 Goodrich sets him behind them little pinto
cavallos he has。 Say！ that son of a gun a driver！ He couldn't drive nails
in a snow bank。〃 An expressive free…hand gesture told all there was to
tell of the runaway。 〃Th' shorthorn landed headfirst in Goldfish Charlie's
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horse trough。 Charlie fishes him out。 'How the devil； stranger；' says
Charlie； 'did you come to fall in here？' 'You blamed fool；' says the
shorthorn； just cryin' mad； 'I didn't come to fall in here； I come to drive
horses。'〃 And then； without a transitory pause：
〃Oh； my love has a gun And that gun he can use； But he's quit
his gun fighting As well as his booze。 And he's sold him his saddle；
His spurs； and his rope； And there's no more cow…punching And
that's what I hope。〃
The alkali dust； swirled back by a little breeze； billowed up and
choked him。 Behind； the mules coughed； their coats whitening with the
powder。 Far ahead in the distance lay the westerly mountains。 They
looked an hour away； and yet every man and beast in the outfit knew that
hour after hour they were doomed； by the enchantment of the land； to plod
ahead without apparently getting an inch nearer。 The only salvation was
to forget the mountains and to fill the present moment full of little things。
But Senor Johnson； to…day； found himself unable to do this。 In spite of
his best efforts he caught himself straining toward the distant goal；
becoming impatient； trying to measure progress by landmarksin short
acting like a tenderfoot on the desert； who wears himself down and dies；
not from the hardship； but from the nervous strain which he does not know
how to avoid。 Senor Johnson knew this as well as you and I。 He cursed
himself vigorously； and began with great resolution to think of something
else。 He was aroused from this by Tom Rich； riding alongside。
〃Somebody coming； Senor；〃 said he。 Senor Johnson raised his eyes
to the approaching cloud of dust。 Silently the two watched it until it
resolved into a rider loping easily along。 In fifteen minutes he drew rein；
his pony dropped immediately from a gallop to immobility； he swung into
a graceful at…ease attitude across his saddle； grinned amiably； and began to
roll a cigarette。
〃Billy Ellis；〃 cried Rich。 〃That's me；〃 replied the newcomer。
〃Thought you were down to Tucson？〃 〃I was。〃 〃Thought you
wasn't comin' back for a week yet？〃 〃Tommy；〃 proffered Billy
Ellis dreamily； 〃when you go to Tucson next you watch out until you sees
a little； squint…eyed Britisher。 Take a look at him。 Then come away。 He
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says he don't know nothin' about poker。 Mebbe he don't； but he'll outhold