When Billy had saddled and
mounted he saw that the others had done likewise.
"We're goin' with you," said one of the men. "Miss Barbara
b'longs to us."
Billy nodded and moved off in the direction of the
ranchhouse. Here he dismounted and with Eddie Shorter and Mr.
Harding commenced circling the house in search of some
manner of clue to the direction taken by the abductors. It was
not long before they came upon the spot where the Indians'
horses had stood the night before. From there the trail led
plainly down toward the river. In a moment ten Americans
were following it, after Mr. Harding had supplied Billy Byrne
with a carbine, another six-shooter, and ammunition.
Through the river and the cut in the barbed-wire fence,
then up the face of the bluff and out across the low mesa
beyond the trail led. For a mile it was distinct, and then
disappeared as though the riders had separated.
"Well," said Billy, as the others drew around him for
consultation, "they'd be goin' to the hills there. They was
Pimans--Esteban's tribe. They got her up there in the hills
somewheres. Let's split up an' search the hills for her.
Whoever comes on 'em first'll have to do some shootin' and the rest
of us can close in an' help.
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