ood at scrambling in rough places； and they took it as a lark。 While Battles stood guard after； it was up to Spanish and me to get the horses up。
The little buckskin was quick and nimble。 She climbed the gravel slope with me leading on the bridle； and though she went to her knees once； she made it。 But when I looked up at that crack in the rock； I had my doubts。
Knowing the route； I went ahead； leading the buckskin。 Spanish came along behind； but when I climbed into the crack the mustang pulled back and just wasn't having any part of it。
Spanish； he was right behind her； and he took off his sombrero and hit her a lick across the behind。 She was almighty startled and gave a big jump； and before she knew what had happened she had her front feet on the crack and her hind feet scrambling for a grip on the slope。
Me； I tugged at the bridle。 Spanish hit her another lick with his hat and she scrambled into the crack。 There we held up for a mite； to catch our wind。
It was the cool of evening now； with the sky still pale blue in the far…off place where the sun had gone down； but overhead there were a few stars。 Sitting back there on a rock； holding the bridle； I took long； deep breaths of that cool air。
All of a sudden the mare decided she wasn't too almighty fortable standing spread out on the steep side of a hill； so of her own notion she scrambled a few steps higher； then stopped； and we let her be。 It was still a far piece to the top。
After we'd all caught our breath we started on； and it was a struggle。 But little by little we scrambled up until at last we got on top。 By that time it was full dark and we still had the other horse to bring up。
Battles was down there alone； or as good as。 Rocca was in no shape to lend a hand； and might be asleep。 The Apaches didn't attack at night as a rule； for they had the notion that if a man was killed in the darkness his soul would wander forever in darkness。 But if they did try ing up that slope in the dark； Battles could never hold them。
Leaving Dorset with the mare and the youngsters； Spanish and me made our way back into the basin。 By the time we reached the bottom we were so almighty tired we were staggering； and we just naturally caved in。 John J。 reported no movement as far as he knew of。 Rocca was sleeping。 He had lost a lot of blood； and we had no way of treating a wound。 Up on the mesa we might find one of the herbs the Indians used； but down here there was nothing。
Spanish worked a hollow for his hip in the sand and went to sleep。 After I took John J。's place； he did the same。
It was still； and overhead the stars were bright as they can only be in a desert sky。 A coolness came up from the barranca below； and I listened for any whisper of sound； struggling against my own weariness and the need for sleep。 But a few minutes of sleep might mean death for all of us。 Only my wariness stood guard； and the thought of them trusting me。
A long while later； Spanish came to me。 〃You better get a little sleep；〃 he said； 〃but if we're figuring on getting that horse up the mountain； it won't be much。〃
There was no need for me to move。 I just let go and closed my eyes； and when I woke up it was with a hand on my shoulder。
〃They're stirrin' around down there；〃 Spanish said； 〃and it's gettin' on toward dawn。〃
〃You two hold 'em；〃 I said； getting up。 〃I'll take that other horse up the mountain。〃
〃Alone？ It can't be done。〃
〃It's got to be；〃 I said。 〃The Apaches will figure it out if we wait。 Maybe they already have。〃
John J。 was on his feet； his gun belted on and his Winchester in his hand； a spare cartridge belt draped over his shoulder。
〃If it gets bad； pull back to Rocca here； and make a stand；〃 I said。 〃I'll get back as soon as I can。〃
He indicated the horses。 〃Do you think we could make a break for it？ Down the slope and right into them； shooting all the while？〃
It was a thought； and I said so； but I told him no； not yet。 Then I went and caught up the other mustang and headed for the slope。 Oddly enough； Dorset's horse took to it as if it was home country。 More than likely she could smell the other horse； and knew it had gone this way。 Maybe she could also smell Dorset。 Wild horses can follow a trail as good as any wolf … I've seen them do it many a time。 And the other horse； with us working to help； had maybe made the trail a little better。
The horse had to struggle； and I tugged and braced myself and pulled； and that game little horse stayed right with it。 With daybreak tinting the sky； we made it to the rim。
And then we heard the shots。 Somebody down there was using a Winchester。
We heard the chatter of the rifle； then a few slower； paced shots。 There was silence； then another shot。
The children were wide…eyed and scared； but they were pioneer youngsters； and no telling the trouble they'd seen before this。 Dorset stepped into the saddle and I taken her hand。
〃Ride；〃 I said； 〃and stay with it。 Hide out by day； ride by night；〃 I told her again。 〃Don't shoot unless they get close； and then shoot to kill。 I figure you're going to make it。 We can hold them a day or two。〃
She put her hand on mine。 〃Tell； thank them for me； will you？ All of them？〃
〃Sure。〃
The shooting down there was steady now。 They needed me down there。 I knew how Apaches could e up a slope。 Nothing to shoot at but a few bobbing； flashing figures； you scarce saw them when they vanished； appeared again elsewhere； and came on。
Dorset knew it； too。 She turned her horse； lifted a hand； and they rode off into the ing morning。 I taken one look and then I hit the slope a…sliding。 Far below I could see the Indians。
Battles was on the rim； bellied down behind rock slabs。 Far off； near the stream； I could see the Apache ponies； but nothing was moving on the slope。 Behind Battles I could see Spanish； and he was rolling some rocks into place； lifting others； making a sort of rough wall from where John J。 was firing to where Rocca was lying。 He was getting set for a last…ditch fight； and the lay of the land sort of favored our position by being a mite lower than the rest of the hollow。
Of a sudden an Apache came up from behind a rock and started to move forward； and my Winchester came up as if it moved of its own will； and I taken a quick sight and let go。
High on the slope the way I was； right under the rim； I had a good view of what lay below。 That Apache was a good three hundred yards off and lower down； but I held low a…purpose and that bullet caught him full in the chest。
He stopped in his tracks and Battles shot into him； getting off two fast shots before he could drop； but when he did drop he just rolled over and lay sprawled out； face up to the sun。
A number of shots were fired at me； but all of them hit the slope a good fifty feet below me； and I decided right then I was going to stay where I was。
It stayed quiet then； and slowly the afternoon drew on。 Our horses had been bunched by Spanish so that they were close to Rocca； and the position seemed pretty good unless the Apaches decided to attack by night。 But I kept on thinking about what we might do。 There had to be a way out。
Now； my pappy was always one for figuring things。 He told me time and again that when in a difficulty a body should always take time to contemplate。 〃The only way folks got to where they are；〃 he'd say； 〃was by thinkin' things out。 No man ever had the claws of a grizzly nor the speed of a deer … what he had was a brain。〃
Right now we had here a stalemate； but it worked in favor of the Apache。 It worked for him because he had access to plenty of water and grass； which we did not have。
And I knew the Apache would no longer wait。 He'd be scaling that rimrock himself； and without horses he could get up there all right； although it would take some doing。 We could figure on having them above us by the next daybreak； and then that hollow would be nothing but a place to die in。
We had to make it out of there； and right now。 Nobody expects to live forever； but nobody wishes to shorten his time。 Of course； a body never knows which turn will shorten it。 Like when a bunch of us boys went off to the war we left a friend behind who paid a substitute。 We all came back； s