He crossed the irrigating ditch and gained the trail--the short cut over into Los Muertos, by way of Hooven's.

It led south and west into the low ground overgrown by grey-green willows by Broderson Creek, at this time of the rainy season a stream of considerable volume, farther on dipping sharply to pass underneath the Long Trestle of the railroad.

On the other side of the right of way, Annixter was obliged to open the gate in Derrick's line fence.

He managed this without dismounting, swearing at the horse the while, and spurring him continually.

But once inside the gate he cantered forward briskly.
This part of Los Muertos was Hooven's holding, some five hundred acres enclosed between the irrigating ditch and Broderson Creek, and half the way across, Annixter came up with Hooven himself, busily at work replacing a broken washer in his seeder.