BORDER SEARCH 31

all along the trail north they were seeing discarded items. del remarked he didnt see any one carrying any thing that was burdonsome. a couple of miles further on from where the altercationhad taken place a horseman rode out of the brush. he was tall and thin, a gray goatee and mustach but his his clothes were dirty and diseveled. del realized who he was immediatly. the old mans saddle bags were bulging. the horse while not the quality he had been seen on earlier was a good mount. no weapon was in sight. andy pulled the team to a halt. del told maxine to stay with the wagon and rode foreward. "buenos dias senor." del spoke first. the old man stared at him then nodded. "where do you travel to?" he asked. "tucson, for saftey sake would you wish to travel with us? there are many bandits on this road."del tried to be cordial. " i come from tucson. i wish to return to my home." his voice was raspy and broken, not the demanding tone del had heard before. "ime afraid your home is no more. i have seen smoke down that way. the villaistas are there still. ruby is empty. everyone has left for fear of the rurales and the banditos. we just had a altercation with the rurales." del explained. " and you survived?" hector asked. " we are here, but i know a band of bandits roam along the border.your lucky you havent been acosted". del almost felt sorry for the old ranchero. hector looked past del and the group at the wagon, smoke was raiseing from the ruby town sight. was it the bandits or the revolutionists?" i would pay you well to accompany me back to my home. i was born there and lived there all my life." del looked to his fellow travelers and didnt see any sign of agreement" ime afraid if you or us return there our lives would end. the revolutionist already gave me a free passage once, i dont think he would be that generous again.i believe we will travel on.but thank you for the offer." hector smacked his lips" do you have water to spare? i thirst." del took the old mans water bag and rode back to the wagon and handed it to harry. he went to the water barrel and began filling it. andy leaned out of his seat and said in a low tone" wonder what he is carrying?" del looked at him" its none of our business. to tell the truth it all looks like trouble to me." andy sat back up and nodded.harry handed the bag back to del who rode back to hector and handed it to him. the old man took a long drink, water dribbling down his chin." thank you. i wish you safe travels." he picked up his bridle reins and rode around del and passed the wagon with the extra horses tied behind. when he saw maxine he stoped and sat there a moment the rattled his feet in the stirrups and rode on. maxine had a cold chill from his look. "lets go now!" as she rode past the wagon and team she lashed the team with a peice of rope to start them. "i dont like the way he looked at me! i hope the bandits find him!" she blurted to del as she rode up.