Devil's Canyon (13 page)

Striving mightily to contain their laughter, they turned the gambler loose. Unmindful of briars and thorns, Durham scrambled away on hands and knees until he could stagger to his feet and run.

“That'll give the varmint somethin' to think about,” Dallas said. “Do you reckon you could go through with that, for real?”

“I got some Comanche blood in me,” said Tarno. “What do you think?”

“I think I'll keep my britches on when you're around,” Dallas said.

*   *   *

Faro said nothing until they reached the horses, and when he spoke, it was to Shanghai Taylor.

“Shanghai, I'm goin' to lure that bunch of Indians down-canyon after me. It'll be up to you and Collins to
rescue Mamie and Odessa. Tie a couple of lariats together and hoist them up over the rim.”

“A splendid plan,” said Collins, “unless the Indians don't go after you.”

“In that case,” Faro said, “you'll have to back off, leaving Mamie and Odessa to face whatever the Utes have in mind. But I'm counting on the confidence of the Utes in their superior numbers. I'll ride down-canyon, barely within range, and cut loose with my Winchester. One of you—whoever remains on the rim, with the horses—will take six of these sticks of dynamite. If all the braves don't come after me, or if they return too soon, use the dynamite. I'll let them get close enough, and throw some of it myself. Collins, I want you to go down the ropes into the canyon. In the free end of the lariat, make a loop that will go under the arms of the women. Shanghai, using the horses, will lift them over the rim.”

“Rope against their bare skin will be painful,” said Collins.

“Not near as painful as bein' tortured to death by Utes,” Faro said. “Be damn careful when you go into that canyon. I can lure the braves away, but I can't help you with the squaws. Most of them carry a skinning knife, sufficient to gut you or slit your throat. I'm countin' on you, Shanghai, for some help from the rim. Some of those braves may wise up to what we're doin', and turn back. I'm countin' on you to discourage them with your Winchester.”

“You got it,” Shanghai said. “Come on, Collins.”

Leading his horse until he was almost out of Winchester range, Faro headed down the canyon rim.
While Shanghai and Collins must remain far enough back from the rim so as not to be seen, Faro could see them from his lower elevation, far down the canyon. With a leather thong he bound the oilskin-wrapped bundle of dynamite to his saddle horn, and from an oilskin pouch he removed half a dozen matches. These he clenched in his teeth for the time of need. It was still early enough until there was no wind, and Faro looped the reins about a sapling so the horse wouldn't spook. On the rim, Shanghai spoke.

“We may not have much time, Collins. Soon as them braves light out down-canyon, get over that rim as quick as you can. This end of the rope will be looped around my saddle horn, so I'll be free for some Winchester work from up here. Get ready. Faro will cut loose
pronto
.”

Shanghai had barely spoken the words when Faro cut loose with the Winchester. The first three shots dropped two Indians and had the desired effect. The rest of the braves ran for their horses, and galloping them close to the canyon walls, went after Faro. Collins was down the doubled rope in an instant, just in time to face a screeching squaw with a knife in her hand. Collins caught the upraised arm and flung her head-first into the stone wall of the canyon.

“Levi,” Odessa cried, “thank God.”

She seemed about to throw her arms around him, but Collins wouldn't have it.

“Raise your arms, damn it,” Collins snapped.

She did, and Collins slipped the noose over her head and under her arms. Shanghai was ready, and she gasped as the rope went taut and she was lifted off
the ground. Collins had to fend off two more knife-wielding squaws before Odessa was safely to the rim. The rope was dropped a second time, and without a word, Mamie raised her arms. Quickly, Collins dropped the loop into position, and Mamie was pulled to safety.

“Damn,” Faro said, as the charging Utes kept close to the canyon wall from which he was firing. After dropping the first two, he hadn't accounted for any of the others, for he lacked a target. Quickly, he withdrew a stick of dynamite, thumbed a match into flame, and lighted the fuse. While he was unable to throw the dynamite among them, he did the next best thing. He threw it as far as he could, dropping it on the canyon rim. The explosion had the desired effect, loosing massive amounts of rock and dirt. There were the shouts of Indians and the scream of horses, and before the echo of the first blast had died away, Faro threw a second stick of dynamite. The Indians who had survived turned their horses and galloped up-canyon, shouting as they saw Levi Collins being lifted from the canyon's floor. Barely missing him, arrows thunked into the canyon wall. While Faro was well out of range, Shanghai Taylor had perfect targets. He shot three Indians off their horses, forcing the others to back off.

“That's enough, Shanghai,” said Faro under his breath. “Ride, damn it, ride.”

Seizing Odessa, Collins all but threw her astraddle his horse.

“Damn it,” Odessa snapped, “must you be so rough? I've had enough of that.”

“Shut up,” said Collins in a dangerously calm voice.

Mamie said nothing as Shanghai Taylor helped her astraddle his horse. He mounted and led out, Collins following.

“I suppose it would have been expecting too much for you to have brought us some blankets,” Odessa said. “Or do you not care if everybody sees us jaybird naked?”

“At this point,” said Collins shortly, “I don't care a damn if everybody in California, New Mexico, and all points in between see you just as you are right now. I doubt that Durham will be shocked, for he's seen it all before.”

Nothing more was said, and despite possible pursuit, they were forced to stop and rest the lathered horses. It was there that Faro joined them.

“You done it just right,
amigo
,” Shanghai said.

“You and Collins handled your part of it pretty slick,” said Faro. “The three of us might have been killed, and we didn't get a scratch.”

“I don't suppose it matters to you that Odessa and me are bloodied and hurting,” Mamie said.

“Not really,” said Faro. “You could have been bloodied and dead if we hadn't risk our necks comin' after you.”

Faro studied them critically. They were a mess, and, knowing it, had the grace to blush. Faro laughed.

“Go ahead and get your eyes full,” Mamie said. “When we get back to camp, perhaps we'll climb up on a wagon box, so the others can have a good look.”

“Not a bad idea,” said Shanghai. “Why limit yourselves to a tin-horn gambler? Any one of us is a better
man than Durham. Just let us know when to meet you under the wagon.”

While the McCutcheons deserved it, they didn't like it. Faro and Collins roared with laughter. Quickly, Faro became serious.

“We'd better ride. We hurt those Indians, but there's still more of them than of us. If they catch up to us, I doubt we can escape them.”

With two of the horses carrying double, it was an obvious truth. But they reached the wagons without difficulty. When Mamie and Odessa were lifted off the horses, Dallas Weaver and Tarno Spangler looked on with interest.

“Go ahead and look,” said Odessa, raising her hands above her head. “The others have had their chance, and we wouldn't want the rest of you to be left out.”

“We're obliged, ma'am,” Tarno said, with as straight a face as he could manage.

“
Sí
,” Dallas agreed.

Solemnly the pair circled the women, studying them from various angles. It all became so ridiculous, Mamie laughed.

“I reckon the two of you had better spend some time at the creek,” Faro said, “but not a step farther.”

“Perhaps you'd better send someone to watch us, so we don't stray,” said Odessa.

“After last night,” Faro said, “I reckon I had. Tarno, you and Dallas go with them to the creek and see that they don't do anything foolish.”

“
Sí
,” said Tarno. “Even if they do somethin' foolish, we'll see that the Indians don't get 'em.”

“By the way,” Faro said, “did Durham ever show?”

“For a few minutes,” said Dallas. “Tarno had his Bowie and was about to whittle off a part of the gambler's carcass he didn't figure he could do without. Last time we seen him, he was headed into the brush.”

“If the Indians get him, it's his funeral,” Shanghai said. “I ain't riskin' my hide again today, especially for him.”

“I feel the same way,” said Collins.

But Durham had found his clothing and dressed himself. He appeared just as the McCutcheons returned, naked, from the creek. He watched with interest, his face revealing nothing.

“We've lost half a day,” Faro said. “We move out in half an hour. Odessa, are you able to return to the wagon?”

“Yes,” said Odessa sourly, “and I'm going just like I am, without a stitch.”

“I couldn't care less,” Faro said, “but there may be splinters on that wagon box.”

They all laughed—even Mamie—and when Odessa mounted the wagon box, she was dressed. Again the wagons rolled west, while Faro scouted ahead.

*   *   *

The twin explosions along the back trail were heard by Perro Cara and his outfit.

“Dynamite,” Slade observed.

“Yeah,” said Kritzer, “but why? Could this gold strike be somewhere
behind
us?”

“I don't think so,” Slade said. “That second blast sounded like an echo of the first, so it couldn't have anything to do with the gold strike.”

“Here comes Dog Face,” said Hindes. “Explain it to him.”

“You heard them explosions,” Dog Face said. “You got any answers?”

“No,” said Slade, “but I doubt it has anything to do with the gold strike.”

“Then you don't think the claim's somewhere behind us.”

“No,” Slade said. “Word I had was them wagons is travelin' five hundred miles, back into these mountains, and they ain't gone near that far. You're friendly with this bunch of Indians. Why don't you send a couple of them along the back trail to read sign?”

“I already have,” said Dog Face. “I just wanted your thinkin'.”

“By God, he don't trust us,” Hindes said when the renegade leader had gone.

“No,” said Peeler. “He just tried to trick you into sayin' somethin' he could use agin us. We better watch for a chance, and when it comes, run for it.”

“Hell, he don't trust Sangre and Hueso,” Slade said. “Why should he trust us? Until them wagons reach the gold strike, we're safer here than anywhere else.”

“I'm with Slade,” said Withers. “If we break with this outfit now, we'll have all them after us, along with God knows how many other Utes, as well as them
hombres
with the wagons.”

“I'll stay for the time bein',” Hindes said, “but the first time that one-eyed varmint looks slant-ways at me, with his gun in his hand, I'm gone.”

“Your choice,” said Slade. “If you're smart, you'll stick until we can all make a run for it together.”

They waited, bickering among themselves, until the Indians sent to investigate the explosions returned. Again Dog Face approached, and when he spoke, he seemed a bit more genial.

“You was right, Slade. The explosions had nothin' to do with the claim. Them Utes grabbed a couple of captives, and the teamsters went after 'em. Found their camp in a canyon, and dynamited a wall. Pretty slick.”

“Just don't forget they got dynamite,” said Slade. “A man that knows how to use the stuff can lick an army.”

“I'm considerin' that,” Dog Face said. “Before we clash with them, we may have to take the dynamite away from them.”

“That I'll have to see,” said Slade.

“Oh, you will,” Dog Face said. “You'll be right in the midst of it.”

He turned away, leaving Slade wondering what he meant. Hindes looked at Slade with humor in his eyes, but had the good sense not to speak.

*   *   *

“We'll be crossing four streams,” said Faro, when he returned to the wagons. “Could all be tributaries from the same river.”

“They are,” Collins said. “They flow into the San Juan. Once we cross the fourth, we will have traveled about one-third of our journey. Two-thirds of the way in, we'll cross the Colorado.”

“One other thing,” said Faro. “I found tracks of two unshod horses headed northeast. Could be scouts from that bunch ahead of us, checking out the explosions.”

“That's bad news,” Dallas Weaver said. “If they're
bein' led by a white renegade, he'll know about dynamite, and there goes our edge.”

“Maybe not,” said Faro. “They don't know how much we have, or how handy we are in the use of it. Any fool can blow up a canyon wall. I have other plans.”

“They may attack us in force, planning to take the wagons and the dynamite from us,” Collins said. “That would kill any plans you have for the dynamite.”

“I doubt the Utes have any interest in anything but the wagons and their contents,” Faro said, “and for that reason—if we're dealing with a white renegade—I expect him to hold them off as long as he can. With their larger numbers, we can't afford to wait for them to come after us. We'll have to take the fight to them.”

“You have the experience,” said Collins, “so I'm not even going to ask how and when you intend to do that.”

“Well, I am,” Durham said. “The Utes walked off with Mamie and Odessa right under Duval's nose, so I don't have all that much confidence in his judgment.”

“Durham,” said Faro, “it was you who created the necessary diversion for that sorry situation last night. If you so much as mention it again, I'll beat your ears down to the tops of your boots. As for my judgment, you're stuck with it as long as you're part of this outfit. Makin' it as plain as I know how, you're welcome to get the hell out of here, anytime you feel so inclined.”