Under the Sweetwater Rim (1971) Read Online Free

to be in command of those renegades?"
    "I have suggested no such thing, Lieutenant.
    However, there are questions to be answered. Brian was in Julesburg when he was believed to be elsewhere.
    He is now with the ambulance in which my daughter is riding. There is no explanation for his presence there. It alone evaded the massacre. One might believe that he had led the ambulance away deliberately before the massacre took place. That would imply prior knowl- edge.
    "Furthermore, he is proceeding westward, he has overstayed his leave, and is making no effort to return to duty. That could imply intent to desert."
    "But thafs all supposition, sir," Cahill protested. "There could be other explanations"
    "Of course. I shall be prepared to hear them. I believe you will admit that other explanations would be doubtful, to say the least."
    He glanced at the sun. "Give them five minutes more, Lieutenant, then move them out."
    "Ten Brian is my friend, sir. I cannot believe he would do anything dishonorable."
    "Your loyalty does you credit. I hope he is worthy of it. Nonetheless, Lieutenant, if we come upon Lieutenant Brian he is to be put under arrest." "Yes, sir. Is it necessary, sir?"
    "It will be necessary. You will obey orders."
    Cahill flushed. "Of course."
    Devereaux watched Cahill walk away.
    Whatever else might be said of Brian, he thought, he inspired a unique kind of loyalty.
    There probably was not a man in the command who would not speak for him, or fight for him if necessary.
    Mark Devereaux was not a man who took much for granted, not even with himself. Stern he might be, and a stickler for the letter of the law, but he was always questioning himself, and he wondered now how much of his suspicion was justified. Was he jealous?
    Deliberately, he avoided thoughts of Mary.
    He must be clear-headed, and be in a position to judge fairly. Doubt, fear, and emotion could cloud his judgment.
    He led off at a fast walk, and after half a mile, to a trot. There was so little time.
    When the ambulance was hi. In within the mouth of the gully, and the horses returned from water, Ten Brian went out to do what he could to obliterate the tracks.
    He had no illusions of escaping from the renegades or Indians. He knew his enemies too well to underrate their skill. What he did hope to do was keep from being discovered or captured until Major Devereaux's command came within marching distance.
    At the same time he knew their chances were best to strike for Fort Bridger and safety. There was a limit beyond which Devereaux could not go, and the ambulance had nearly reached that limit now. So they must find a position from which they could observe the trail to the south and east, and if after a reasonable time they did not sight Devereaux's troops, they must make a run for it for Fort Bridger, roughly a hundred miles to the west. Day had just come when Brian returned to the ambulance. Belle Renick was waiting for him.
    "Is it all right to make coffee? The men are worn out, Lieu- tenant."
    "By all means. Ironhide will make you a fire. Nothing must go into the flames that will cause smoke, and the fire must be put out as soon as breakfast is over."
    It was a risk, he knew, but coffee and a hot meal were a morale factor he dared not omit.
    Ironhide was a Cherokee, and he could be depended on as to the fire.
    He started to turn away but her voice stopped him. "Lieutenant, I don't understand this at all.
    Why, if there was danger, did you take us away from the safety of the wagon train?"
    "There was no safety there, Mrs. Renick. As I have said, you must trust me."
    "But where are you taking us?"
    Corporal West had come up with an armful of dry wood, and now he stood listening.
    "I am trying to save your lives. The wagon train is gone . . . wiped out." "You mean ... all those people? They've been killed? Oh, no!"
    "Mrs. Renick, I am as sure of it as if I had been there. I tried to warn them. I asked them to stop, to take up a strong position and wait for