nky was first, leading a pack horse. Pan followed next, and the
other four men strung out behind, with bobbing pack horses between.
This ridge was the high ground between Marco Valley and Hot Springs
Valley. Soon the trail led down, and it was dusty. The rising sun
killed the chill in the air, and by the time the hunters had reached
level ground again it was hot. There was alkali dust to breathe,
always an abomination. From above, Pan had espied a green spot fifteen
miles or more down the valley. A number of dust devils were whirling
around it.

"What's that, Blink?" Pan had asked, pointing.

"Thet's Hot Springs, an' the dust comes from wild hosses comin' to
drink."

They rode across the valley, which appeared to be five or six miles
wide, to begin ascending another slope. The pack horses lagged and had
to be driven. Up and up the hunters climbed, once more into the
cedars. Pan had another view of Hot Springs and the droves of wild
horses. He was surprised at their numbers.

"Blink, there must be lots of horses water there."

"Yep. Three thousand or more at this time of year. Many more later,
when the droves get run out of the high country by man. An' you see
Hardman's outfit has been chasin' them hosses fer two months. They've
shore purty well boggered."

"Are many of them branded?"

"Darn few," replied Blinky. "Not more'n five or six in a hundred. The
Mexicans call them Arenajos. These wild hosses haven't been worth
ketchin' until lately. Most all broomtails. But now an' then you
shore see a bunch of dandy mustangs, with a high-steppin' stallion."

"Ah, now, cowboy, you're talking," declared Pan. "You're singing to
me. It'll be darn hard for me to sell horses like that."

"Pard, I reckon we won't sell 'em," replied Blinky. "Cain't we use a
few strings of real hosses down there in Arizonie?"

"I should smile," replied Pan.

They climbed and crossed that ridge, which could have been called a
foothill if there had been any mountains near. Another valley, narrow
and rough, not so low as the last, lay between this ridge and the next
one, a cedared rise of rock and yellow earth that promised hard going.
Beyond it rose the range of mountains, black and purple, and higher
still, white peaked into the blue. They called to Pan. This was wild
country, and even to see it in the distance was all satisfying.

This narrow valley also showed some wild-horse bands, but not many, for
there appear