"Gracias, gracias--adios--" He stood staring regretfully after them when they started erratically down the slope; erratically, because Solano preferred going backward or sidewise, or straight up and down, to going forward. They were not two hundred yards away from the stable when Valencia overtook them, having saddled in haste that he might ride with them for a way. "That caballo, he needs two to show him the way, Señors," grinned Valencia, to explain his coming. "Me, I shall help to get him started, and we will say adios farther up the valley, unless the señors desire to ride to Señor Seem'son's cabin." "That's where we're headed for, believe it or not!" laughed Jack, who at that moment was going round and round in a circle. "When he gets so dizzy he can't tell up from down, maybe he'll do as I say about going straight ahead." Eventually Solano did decide to move forward; and he did so at such a pace that speedily they reached Jerry's claim and galloped furiously up the slope to the cabin. "Must be asleep," Dade remarked carelessly, when they faced a quiet, straight-hanging bullock hide. But when a loud hallo brought no sign, even from Tige, he jumped off and went to investigate the silence. "There ain't a single soul here," he announced, "and that's funny, too. They always leave Tige to watch the place, you know--or they did before I went on rodeo." "They do yet," said Jack. "Only Mrs. Jerry never goes anywhere. She stays at home to watch their garden. That's it, over there; her 'truck patch,' she calls it." "Things are all upset here. Get off, Jack, and let's see what's up. I don't like the looks of things, myself." Dade's face was growing sober. Valencia, on the ground, was helping Jack with Solano. But he turned suddenly and cast an uneasy glance towards the quiet log hut. "Señors, for these two who live here I am afraid! It is as I told you; that Manuel was speaking threats against the big señor, last night; and he had drunk much wine, so that he walked not steady. And with Carlos and perhaps one or two others--of that I am not sure--he rode away soon after dark. Dolt, that I did not tell thee at the time! But I was dancing much," he confessed, "and the fiesta dance makes drunken the feet, that they must dance--" "Well, tie up that mustang and never mind." Dade was walking aimlessly about, looking for something--what, he did not know. "There's tracks all around, and--" he disappeared behind the cabin. In a minute he was calling them, and his tone brought them on the run. "Now, what do you make of that?" he wanted to know, and pointed. Two fresh mounds of earth, narrow, long--graves, if size and shape meant anything at all. The form of a "T" they made there in the grass; for one was short and extended across, near one end of the larger one. "What do you make of that?" Dade repeated, much lower than before. "Señors, evil has been done here. Me, I think--"