"I give my word, Buck, an' I'm here to say I never broke it yet.

Lay low, an' look fer me back quick." With that he spurred his horse and rode out of the mesquites toward the town.

At that distance, about a quarter of a mile, Mercer appeared to be a cluster of low adobe houses set in a grove of cottonwoods.

Pastures of alfalfa were dotted by horses and cattle.

Duane saw a sheep-herder driving in a meager flock.
Presently Stevens rode out of sight into the town.