Chapter 52

           Phelim’ssecondslumberwasdestinedtoendureforamoreprotractedtermthanhisfirst.Itwasnearlynoonwhenheawokefromit;andthenonlyonreceivingabucketofcoldwaterfullinhisface,thatsoberedhimalmostasquicklyasthesightofthesavages.

           ItwasZebStumpwhoadministeredthedouche.

           AfterpartingfromtheprecinctsofCasadelCorvo,theoldhunterhadtakentheroad,orrathertrail,whichheknewtobethemostdirectoneleadingtotheheadwatersoftheNueces.

           Withoutstayingtonoticetracksorother"sign,"herodestraightacrosstheprairie,andintotheavenuealreadymentioned.

           PromwhatLouisePoindexterhadtoldhim—fromaknowledgeofthepeoplewhocomposedthepartyofsearchers—heknewthatMauriceGeraldwasindanger.

           HencehishastetoreachtheAlamobeforethem—coupledwithcautiontokeepoutoftheirway.

           HeknewthatifhecameupwiththeRegulators,equivocationwouldbeadangerousgame;and,nolensvolens,heshouldbecompelledtoguidethemtothedwellingofthesuspectedmurderer.

           Onturningtheangleoftheavenue,hehadthechagrintoseethesearchersdirectlybeforehim,clumpedupinacrowd,andapparentlyengagedintheexaminationof"sign."

           Atthesametimehehadthesatisfactiontoknowthathiscautionwasrewarded,byhimselfremainingunseen.

           "Durnthem!"hemuttered,withbitteremphasis."Imoutaknow’dthey’dabinhyur.Imustgobackanroun’thetotherway.It’lldeelaymebetter’nahour.Come,olemaar!Thisairanobstruckshunyou,won’tlike.