So now Bucky was taking a short cut
across country instead of making the two train changes, with the
consequent inevitable delays that would have been necessary to
travel by rail.
He traveled at night and in the early morning, to avoid the heat
of the midday sun, and it was in the evening of the second and
last day that the skirts of happy chance led him to an adventure
that was to affect his whole future life. He knew a waterhole on
the Del Oro, where cows were wont to frequent even in the summer
drought, and toward this he was making in the fag-end of the
sultry day. While still some hundred yards distant he observed a
spiral of smoke rising from a camp-fire at the spring, and he at
once made a more circumspect approach. For it might be any one of
a score of border ruffians who owed him a grudge and would be
glad to pay it in the silent desert that tells no tales and
betrays no secrets to the inquisitive.
He flung the bridle-rein over his pony's neck and crept forward
on foot, warily and noiselessly. While still some little way from
the water-hole he was arrested by a sound that startled him. He
could make out a raucous voice in anger and a pianissimo
accompaniment of womanish sobs.
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