THE GRAVE 4

two days later shug left the rock house on the ridge. his pack mule loaded and packed high with pelts and every thing from the cabin. the trap line had proved empty. he was done here. he was headed down hill to town and to sell the pelts and maybe figure his next move. he still hadent made up his mind. when he crossed the san pedro river and pointed his horse south he found a cow bogged in the quick sand of the river. tying the mule he took down his saddle rope and threw a loop on the cows hornes then dallying it to the saddle horn he turned the horse away and drug the cow onto the bank. she was weak and just lay there . shug got down and removed his rope and useing the cows tail as a rudder rolled her to her belly and got her settled. when he did he saw the brand on her hip was a figggure 4. she belonged to the foure ranch over on the west side of the dragoon mountains.he had to pass that way so he decided he would let them know about this cow. hr collected his mule and rode onif that cow didnt get up soon the coyotes would eat her alive right where she lay. at the foure ranch he met billy foure. there he told him about the old cow at the river. billy noticed all the pelts on the pack horse and asked where shug operated . whe shug explained his situation billy had asked him to come back and trap his country along the dragoons. the varmits were thick he explained. shug told him he would consider it as shug rode along he kept seeing cattle with the 4 brand and thought there was worse ways to make a liveing. it preyed on his mind all the way to town. he rode into the outskirts of toown right at dark he stopped at the livery and put his horses up for the night. he stacked his gear and pelts in the corner of one of the stalls. he planed to sleep there this night but first he wanted something to eat. he started up the street toward the emporium. some canned goods would do fine. he knew being indian he wouldnt be welcome in the sho fly resteraunt. midway up the street he saw a knot men on the board walk laughing and shoveing a woman around. he shook his head and started to walk on by. but then he realized the woman was the one his father had befriended. he turned and walked quietly up behing the ruffians. as he approached he saw they were man handling the young woman being rough about it. " are these men being abusive miss.?" he asked as he got near. " they wont leave me alone. i just want to go home."the girl almost yelled. " you boys need to let her be, go find some other form of fun \." shug pushed two of them to one side out of the way. " hey war whoop, this is none of your business, just butt out." one of the men said. he started to push shug away. but he suddenly stopped. shug held a long knife under his chin, "i said to leave her alone. do i have to make a point of it?"shug spoke evenly but the knife was still there. the men backed away. shug took the girl by the arm and started walking up the street.