Pagina 16 van 439

"Two days ago. Last night he knocked at my window--at the window

of the room where I lodge in Fort Lincoln. I had not heard of his

escape, but I took him in. There were horses in the barn. One of

them was mine. I saddled, and after I had dressed his wound we

started. He couldn't get any farther than this."

"Do you live in Fort Lincoln?"

"I came there to teach school. My home was in Wisconsin before."

"You came out here to be near him?"

"Yes. That is, near as I could get a school. I was to have got in

the Tucson schools next year. That's much nearer."

"You visited him at the penitentiary?"

"No. I was going to during the Thanksgiving vacation. Until last

night I had not seen him since he left home. I was a child of

seven then."

The Texan looked down at the ruffian under his feet.

"Do you know the road to Mexico by the Arivaca cut-off?"

"Yes."

"Then climb into my rig and hit the trail hard--burn it up till

you've crossed the line."