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who stole as the Indians used to steal。
Already be had fought two pitched battles and had won them both。
His cattle increased； and he became rich。 Nevertheless he knew that
constantly his resources were being drained。 Time and again he and his
new Texas foreman； Jed Parker； had followed the trail of a stampeded
bunch of twenty or thirty； followed them on down through the Soda
Springs Valley to the cut drift fences； there to abandon them。 For； as yet；
an armed force would be needed to penetrate the borderland。 Once he
and his men bad experienced the glory of a night pursuit。 Then； at the
drift fences； he had fought one of his battles。 But it was impossible
adequately to patrol all parts of a range bigger than some Eastern States。
Buck Johnson did his best； but it was like stepping with sand the
innumerable little leaks of a dam。 Did his riders watch toward the
Chiricahuas； then a score of beef steers disappeared from Grant's Pass
forty miles away。 Pursuit here meant leaving cattle unguarded there。 It
was useless； and the Senor soon perceived that sooner or later he must
strike in offence。 For this purpose he began slowly to strengthen the
forces of his riders。 Men were coming in from Texas。 They were good
men； addicted to the grass…rope； the double cinch； and the ox…bow stirrup。
Senor Johnson wanted men who could shoot； and he got them。 〃Jed；〃
said Senor Johnson to his foreman； 〃the next son of a gun that rustles any
of our cows is sure loading himself full of trouble。 We'll hit his trail and
will stay with it； and we'll reach his cattle…rustling conscience with a
rope。〃
So it came about that a little army crossed the drift fences and entered
the border country。 Two days later it came out； and mighty pleased to be
able to do so。 The rope had not been used。 The reason for the
defeat was quite simple。 The thief had run his cattle through the lava
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beds where the trail at once became difficult to follow。 This delayed the
pursuing party； they ran out of water； and； as there was among them not
one man well enough acquainted with the country to know where to find
more； they had to return。
〃No use； Buck；〃 said Jed。 〃We'd any of us come in on a gun play； but
we can't buck the desert。 We'll have to get someone who knows the
country。〃 〃That's all rightbut where？〃 queried Johnson。
〃There's Pereza；〃 suggested Parker。 〃It's the only town down near that
country。〃 〃Might get someone there；〃 agreed the Senor。 Next day
he rode away in search of a guide。 The third evening he was back again；
much discouraged。
〃The country's no good；〃 he explained。 〃The regular inhabitants 're a
set of Mexican bums and old soaks。 The cowmen's all from north and
don't know nothing more than we do。 I found lots who claimed to know
that country； but when I told 'em what I wanted they shied like a colt。 I
couldn't hire'em； for no money； to go down in that country。 They ain't got
the nerve。 I took two days to her； too； and rode out to a ranch where they
said a man lived who knew all about it down there。 Nary riffle。 Man
looked all right； but his tail went down like the rest when I told him what
we wanted。 Seemed plumb scairt to death。 Says he lives too close to
the gang。 Says they'd wipe him out sure if he done it。 Seemed plumb
SCAIRT。〃 Buck Johnson grinned。 〃I told him so and he got hosstyle
right off。 Didn't seem no ways scairt of me。 I don't know what's the
matter with that outfit down there。 They're plumb terrorised。〃
That night a bunch of steers was stolen from the very corrals of the
home ranch。 The home ranch was far north； near Fort Sherman itself；
and so had always been considered immune from attack。 Consequently
these steers were very fine ones。 For the first time Buck Johnson lost
his head and his dignity。 He ordered the horses。 〃I'm going to follow
that into Sonora；〃 he shouted to Jed Parker。 〃This thing's got to
stop！〃
〃You can't make her； Buck；〃 objected the foreman。 〃You'll get held up
by the desert； and； if that don't finish you； they'll tangle you up in all those
little mountains down there； and ambush you； and massacre you。 You
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know it damn well。〃
〃I don't give a 〃 exploded Senor Johnson； 〃if they do。 No man can
slap my face and not get a run for it。〃 Jed Parker communed with
himself。
〃Senor；〃 said he； at last；〃it's no good； you can't do it。 You got to have
a guide。 You wait three days and I'll get you one。〃
〃You can't do it；〃 insisted the Senor。 〃I tried every man in the district。〃
〃Will you wait three days？〃 repeated the foreman。 Johnson
pulled loose his latigo。 His first anger had cooled。 〃All right；〃 he
agreed； 〃and you can say for me that I'll pay five thousand dollars in gold
and give all the men and horses he needs to the man who has the nerve to
get back that bunch of cattle； and bring in the man who rustled them。 I'll
sure make this a test case。〃 So Jed Parker set out to discover his man
with nerve。
CHAPTER TWO THE MAN WITH NERVE
At about ten o'clock of the Fourth of July a rider topped the summit of
the last swell of land； and loped his animal down into the single street of
Pereza。 The buildings on either side were flat…roofed and coated with
plaster。 Over the sidewalks extended wooden awnings； beneath which
opened very wide doors into the coolness of saloons。 Each of these
places ran a bar； and also games of roulette； faro； craps； and stud poker。
Even this early in the morning every game was patronised。
The day was already hot with the dry； breathless； but exhilarating； beat
of