CHAPTER XV

THE TEXAN HEARS SOME NEWS

Bat had pitched the tent upon a little knoll, screened by a jutting
shoulder of rock from the sleeping place of the others. When Alice
awoke it was broad daylight. She lay for a few moments enjoying the
delicious luxury of her blankets which the half-breed had spread upon a
foot-thick layer of boughs. The sun beat down upon the white canvas
and she realized that it was hot in the tent. The others must have
been up for hours and she resented their not having awakened her. She
listened for sounds, but outside all was silence and she dressed
hurriedly. Stepping from the tent, she saw the dead ashes of the
little fire and the contents of the packs apparently undisturbed,
covered with the tarp. She glanced at her watch. It was half past
nine. Suddenly she remembered that dawn had already began to grey the
east when they retired. She was the first one up! She would let the
others sleep. They needed it. She remembered the Texan had not slept
the day before, but had ridden away to return later with the clothing
for Endicott--and the whiskey.

"I don't see why he has to drink!" she muttered, and making her way to
the spring, dipped some water from the catch-basin and splashed it over
her face and arms. The cold water dispelled the last vestige of
sleepiness and she stood erect and breathed deeply of the crystal air.
At the farther side of the bowl-like plateau the horses grazed
contentedly, and a tiny black and white woodpecker flew from tree to
tree pecking busily at the bark. Above the edge of the rim-rocks the