DENTON CROUCH 12

will was struggling. i had hoped to catch up with the outlaws before this. he wasnt prepared for this steep climb he hadnt even brought his canteen. but when he had come up on the outlaws it had been a surprise to both sides. the ensueing fire fight had done nothing more than drive the bad men from their horsesone of them had stayed back as a rear guard until the others had climbed to a point they could cover their man as he approached. this put will way behind. he had to be extra caustious. if he exposed himself while crossing open ground they could kill him. but he wasnt about to quit the chase being this close. he looked up the slope of the mountain he was still half way in his climb to the top. he had no idea where the outlaws were. but as desperate as he was they were no better. he had fought them away from their camp. he felt sure they had left their supplys behind. he knew somewhere ahead braxton starrs rustler park ranch lay. there was a cabin there stocked with food stuff. will was hopeing the bad men wernt aware of it.will climbed the slope a few yards to one side of the trail left by the outlaws. had he been following their trail he would see the slashes of blood left on the rocks. he had no idea he had wounded one of them. two of the outlaws held their friend between them as they climbed the slope . ahead they could see and smell the pine forest. they were nearing the upper reaches of the mountain. the wounded out law was about done. he had bled large amounts from the wound in his thigh. his friends refused to leave him. their fourth member had hung back watching for pursuit during the climb. the two supporting theirr friened were constantly bickering about rideing into the dead end canyon and getting trapped there. but the truth was none of the group knew anything about the chirichua mountain.all they knew was that pursuit was not letting up. as they stumbled into the first fringe of pine trees and cooler temps they almost collapsed. they carefully laid their friend down on a mat of pine needles. the rear guard charlie chase came up on them.." i havent seen that sherrif in a while . maybe he quit and went back." the wounded cowboy was laying back" let me rest a bit. why dont you all scount around for some water. ime dry." two of the cowboys went into the forest searching for water or something to eat. charlie leaned against a pine tree watching the back trail below a couple hundred yards will was nestled down in a blow down of big trees. he was about done. he needed water. he knew braxtons cow camp couldnt be to much farther. but he needed rest and hoped the fugitives wernt aware of it. he dozed off. denton and slaughter with chuy rode back into san bernadino just aws good dark sat in. slaughters age was showing he was past the point of makeing long hard rides. chuy had been horse back for almost 48 hours. with out a word denton caught a fresh horse. he turnned to chuy,," when come day light follow me to the starr camp." chuy nodded and helped slaughter toward his house. denton rode off into the dark on the trail up the south end of the mountain.