Why, down in Coconino County--" He went off into a long recital of certain extremely bloody chapters in the history of that famed county as chronicled by one Bud Welch, otherwise known as Big Medicine--and not because of his modesty, you may be sure.
Noon of that day found them plodding across a high, barren mesa under a burning sun.

Since red dawn they had been riding, and the horses showed their need of water.

They lagged often into a heavy-footed walk and their ears drooped dispiritedly.

Even Big Medicine found nothing cheerful to say.

Luck went out of his way to gain the top of every little rise, and to scan the surrounding country through his field glasses.