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get these rifles.”
    “Think I could have a rifle?” I asked.
    “Sure. I could use a couple extra rifles myself. Why don’t you dig us out a few, and also pull out all that ammunition. We’ll pack these two horses down with it.”
    We got to work. I did as I was told, and Kinrich prepared the wagon.
    “All right, Button, lead them horses over there by them cottonwood trees and wait for me,” Kinrich said when we had finished.
    “How ’bout them?” I nodded towards the two dead men.
    “I ain’t burying ’em,” was Kinrich’s reply.
    I nodded, and then I grabbed the lead ropes and took off. I reached the edge of the cottonwoods and waited.
    Nothing happened, and I started to get anxious. But then I saw a flame, and it wasn’t long until the entire wagon was on fire.
    Even in the dark I could see the smoke boiling up, and the flames went up at least forty feet.
    From out of nowhere Kinrich appeared beside me. He took one of the horses and turned away.
    “Come on, let’s be going. That fire will be seen for miles.”
    I stumbled after him, and soon we were back with our horses. We untied them, mounted up, and rode out. Kinrich led one of the pack horses while I led the other.
    Kinrich wanted to put some distance between us and the fire, so we rode on through the night. Come daylight we holed up in a gully, and while I unsaddled the horses Kinrich backtracked a ways to make sure we weren’t being followed.
    Kinrich came back satisfied. Soon after, I stretched out and fell to sleep.
    I slept hard until Kinrich woke me, and I sat up groggily. The sun was directly over us, so I figured it was near noon.
    Kinrich had cooked us something to eat.
    “Best hurry up and eat,” Kinrich told me.
    “What’s the hurry?” I wanted to know.
    “While you was sleeping I took a look around,” Kinrich explained. “I found Mr. Jones’ tracks a little ways to the south. He’s going due west.”
    “How do you know the tracks are his?” I asked curiously.
    “I just do,” Kinrich shrugged.
    “And we’re going after him?”
    “Yep.”
    “Why?” I wanted to know. “He ain’t got no more rifles.”
    “But he can get more,” was Kinrich’s reply.
    I didn’t waste any more time talking. I gulped down some food, and then we saddled up and rode out.
    At first Kinrich pushed hard, but after a while the two pack horses started slowing us down. Kinrich got frustrated, but there was just nothing we could about it.
    We trailed Mr. Jones for three days, and we lost him the fourth day. Mr. Jones’ tracks went into a deep creek, but Kinrich couldn’t find where he’d come out. We spent all day riding up and down the bank, and as it was getting dark Kinrich finally gave up.
    Kinrich was in a foul mood, and it was a somber camp.
    Kinrich just sat there beside the fire rolling cigarettes and drinking coffee. He ignored me completely, and I sat there not knowing what to do.
    But the next morning Kinrich was all smiles. We ate breakfast, and as we were saddling our horses Kinrich looked at me.
    “Well, Button, we did our best. Reckon we’ll go to my valley now.”
    We mounted up and rode back east, and I was sure glad.   
     
     

Chapter eighteen
     
     
    “Your education is starting now, Button,” Kinrich said as we rode along. “Remember everything I say, ’cause I ain’t going to repeat it. See that cactus over there?”
    I looked to where he was pointing, and nodded.
    “That there is a desert cactus. It’s got some right mean thorns, but if you’re real careful and cut out the top you can squeeze the inside pulp and get water. It don’t taste the best, but it can sure save your life if you run out of water holes.”
    Kinrich rode on, and I followed. 
    All throughout the day Kinrich would suddenly stop and point out things, and I began to realize if a feller really knew the country he was in that he could live off it with ease. In one way or another the land offered food, water, and even medicine if you only