100 SADDLE AND CAMP 



thing had happened while he slept. He sprang 

 up and looked about him, to discover that all 

 the horses had disappeared. He roused the 

 others, and a short search disclosed the fact 

 that "rustlers" had stolen the animals. He and 

 his friends were marooned in the desert. 



A consultation was held and it was decided 

 that while the others remained with the outfit 

 at Black Falls and awaited his return, John 

 should trail the horse thieves on foot to the 

 southward, and without delay he began his 

 weary tramp over the sand stretches. He 

 tracked them to the old Wolf's Crossing where 

 the trail crossed the Little Colorado. Here it 

 became evident that his efforts would prove 

 fruitless and, turning back, he reached Black 

 Falls the following evening to find the place 

 abandoned. 



His friends had secured horses somewhere 

 and with the entire outfit had retreated toward 

 Moen Ave. He followed them and the next 

 day, his feet so swollen by the hot sand he could 

 hardly walk, overtook them. It proved that 

 some horsemen had come upon them at Black 

 Falls, and the emigrants, panic stricken, had 

 implored the men to take them back. They 

 were too frightened even to wait for John's 

 return, though they were aware he was with- 



