'Gone? In broad daylight, with the Indian a-watch-in?' queried Ladd.
'It happened while Yaqui was at breakfast. That's sure. He'd just watered Sol.'
'Raiders!' exclaimed Jim Lash.
'Lord only knows. Yaqui says it wasn't raiders.'
'Mebbe Sol's just walked off somewheres.'
'He was haltered in the corral.'
'Send Yaqui to find the hoss's trail, an' let's figger,' said Ladd. 'Shore this 's no raider job.'
In the swift search that ensued Gale did not have anything to say; but his mind was forming a conclusion. When he found his old saddle and bridle missing from the peg in the barn his conclusion became a positive conviction, and it made him, for the moment, cold and sick and speechless.
'Hey, Dick, don't take it so much to heart,' said Belding. 'We'll likely find Sol, and if we don't, there's other good horses.'
'I'm not thinking of Sol,' replied Gale.
Ladd cast a sharp glance at Gale, snapped his fingers, and said:
'Damn me if I ain't guessed it, too!'
'What's wrong with you locoed gents?' bluntly demanded Belding.
'Nell has slipped away on Sol,' answered Dick.
There was a blank pause, which presently Belding broke.
'Well, that's all right, if Nell's on him. I was afraid we'd lost the horse.'
'Belding, you're trackin' bad,' said Ladd, wagging his head.
'Nell has started for Casita,' burst out Gale. 'She has gone to fetch Mercedes some word about Thorne. Oh, Belding, you needn't shake your head. I know she's gone. She tried to persuade me to go, and was furious when I wouldn't.'
'I don't believe it,' replied Belding, hoarsely. 'Nell may have her temper. She's a little devil at times, but she always had good sense.'
'Tom, you can gamble she's gone,' said Ladd.
'Aw, hell, no! Jim, what do you think?' implored Belding.
'I reckon Sol's white head is pointed level an' straight down the Casita trail. An' Nell can ride. We're losing' time.'
That roused Belding to action.
'I say you're all wrong,' he yelled, starting for the corrals. 'She's only taking a little ride, same as she's done often. But rustle now. Find out. Dick, you ride cross the valley. Jim, you hunt up and down the river. I'll head up San Felipe way. And you, Laddy, take Diablo and hit the Casita trail. If she really has gone after Thorne you can catch her in an hour or so.'
'Shore I'll go,' replied Ladd. 'but, Beldin', if you're not plumb crazy you're close to it. That big white devil can't catch Sol. Not in an hour or a day or a week! What's more, at the end of any runnin' time, with an even start, Sol will be farther in the lead. An' now Sol's got an hour's start.'
'Laddy, you mean to say Sol is a faster horse than Diablo?' thundered Belding, his face purple.
'Shore. I mean to tell you just that there,' replied the ranger.
'I'll–I'll bet a–'
'We're wastin' time,' curtly interrupted Ladd. 'You can gamble on this if you want to. I'll ride your Blanco Devil as he never was rid before, 'cept once when a damn sight better hossman than I am couldn't make him outrun Sol.'
Without more words the men saddled and were off, not waiting for the Yaqui to come in with possible information as to what trail Blanco Sol had taken. It certainly did not show in the clear sand of the level valley where Gale rode to and fro. When Gale returned to the house he found Belding and Lash awaiting him. They did not mention their own search, but stated that Yaqui had found Blanco Sol's tracks in the Casita trail. After some consultation Belding decided to send Lash along after Ladd.
The interminable time that followed contained for Gale about as much suspense as he could well bear. What astonished him and helped him greatly to fight off actual distress was the endurance of Nell's mother.
Early on the morning of the second day, Gale, who had acquired an unbreakable habit of watching, saw three white horses and a bay come wearily stepping down the road. He heard Blanco Sol's familiar whistle, and he leaped up wild with joy. The horse was riderless. Gale's sudden joy received a violent check, then resurged when he saw a limp white form in Jim Lash's arms. Ladd was supporting a horseman who wore a military uniform.
Gale shouted with joy and ran into the house to tell the good news. It was the ever-thoughtful Mrs. Belding who prevented him from rushing in to tell Mercedes. Then he hurried out into the yard, closely followed by the Beldings.
Lash handed down a ragged, travel-stained, wan girl into Belding's arms.
'Dad! Mama!'
It was indeed a repentant Nell, but there was spirit yet in the tired blue eyes. Then she caught sight of Gale and gave him a faint smile.
'Hello–Dick.'
