Fifteen Western Tales, March 1954 — page 16: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

= = FIFTEEN WESTERN TALES > 16 a | DON’T know why I bother with you, Thacher,’’ Ramsey shouted, his neck thick with blood. “You allus had it easy. Too young to go to war and I don’t recall you raisin’ your hand in anger once, up to the other night. I don’t know why I go to all this trouble. Hell, I could be back in town now, ’stead of babyin’ you along, dyin’ of thirst and waitin’ for the posse to catch up.” “T know, sorry, Ram.”’ “Hit that damn horse,’ Ram _ ordered. “He’s goin’ in four directions at once.” “He’s tired, Ram. And thirsty.” “Hit him! Hit him, I said. Damn it— do as I say!” ‘Thacher looked at his brother and saw the madness in his eye and knew that Ram meant it. He’d always obeyed Ram because Ram had been to war and he’d returned a hero. He was strong and he'd always given the orders. But hitting this poor damn horse. ... “Ram,” he said weakly. “ Please—I don’t want to...” “You'll do it,’”” Ramsey bawled furiously. “You'll do it or I'll turn around and go back. Don’t facé up to me, boy—you know Pll do what I say.” Thacher felt the hot tears in his eyes and hotter words on his lips. But after all, Ram was watching after him. He was just hot and thirsty and maybe a little out of his head with worry. He leaned back, fighting the tears, and sharply slapped his horse’s rump. The ani- ” Thacher . whispered. “I’m ‘mal quivered tiredly and his gait steadied for a few yards. But he was tired close to not caring. Tired close to death. “Hit him again,” Ram ordered. Thacher obeyed. | Again.” Thacher lifted his arm but did not bring it down. Instead, he turned to Ramsey and said quietly, “No, Ram, I won't.” Ramsey started to speak sharply but something in the boy’s face made him shrug instead and face forward toward the: Hat horizon. I never disobeyed him before, Thacher realized with surprise. That was the first time. An hour before sundown, the horizon lost its flat, endless look. When Thacher spot- ted the first pucker and lift of rolling hill far in front of them, he snapped out of thé listless, sun-dazed stupor that had cloaked the brothers for hours. *“Ram,” he croaked. ahead? Is it real?” His brother’s face had puffed and turned yellow-white. Thacher watched his eyes come to life exultantly in the tortured flesh. ‘“Yeah—yeah, kid, like I figgered—we’d be out of this by night.” “There’s water there, Rar ?” “There’s water.” Thacher began to laugh, weakly, with hysteria. ‘Water,’ he whispered finally. “T’m gonna float in it face down and let my whole body drink. I feel like every part of me has a dry throat.”’ “They expected to find our. bones out here,”” Ramsey shouted, the cords in his neck standing out. “They knew we left without water and they probably laughed | themselves sick thinkin’ how we’d die out here.” “How far behind do = figger = are, Ram ?”’ . “Makes no difference now—we’ve beat ‘em. Once we hit the hill country, they’ll never catch us. We'll be clean to California before they figger which way we headed.” Thacher nodded. Ram had done it. He’d saved their lives. He was still thinking of — it when his horse gasped, faltered and went “Vou see that, _ down. Thacher jumped clear, rolled and hauled himself to his knees. Ramsey had already dismounted and was furiously kicking the fallen animal’s belly, his face terrible with anger. “Get up!” he screamed. “You damned — bag of bones—get on your feet.” _ | 7-GOMIEboo 5 : oo —— 5 <>< ee cn - a Re er) ag Es ee Pah : 2 Sts eee eS —e — Se a ee ae - -* - e < ~ Sas