As far as the dam was concerned and the work going on there, things were quiet for the next day or two. But the situation between the United States and Mexico seemed to be growing more and more tense. From the border came of dissatisfaction caused by the presence of American troops on patrol duty and the of Mexicans from the United States back into their country. As these reports multiplied they furnished a topic of discussion for all. The American element feared especially the effects any serious clash might have on the work at the dam and openly discussed the possibility that an attack of some sort might be made on the work itself.
Bob learned that the cattlemen were strongly in favor of having the United States go into Mexico and stay there until things had been settled for keeps. The most of the crowd wanted the United States to conquer and then to Mexico, feeling that it was the only way in which peace could be assured for any length of time. The reason for their feeling was that the ranchers along the border were in constant fear of cattle rustlers, who, once they were in Mexico with their booty, were safe from pursuit. Under Diaz, who had ruled Mexico firmly, there had been no great trouble. In those days raids were few and they were quite as likely to have been made by American as by Mexicans. Besides, Diaz would, wherever it was possible, aid in the return of the stolen property. Since he had lost control things had changed. The constant revolutions that came after him left the border states without law and order. All sorts of robbery and murder were permitted to go unpunished.
Even the builders of the dam often felt that was the only way out of a bad situation. Bob was sure that this unsettled condition was responsible for Mr. Whitney’s being away from the work at a time when matters were in such a condition.
Nothing new had developed in the plot which he felt was being formed between the cattlemen and the Mexicans by means of Jerry. Feather-in-the-Wind had not reported anything further. What worried Bob most was his suspicions regarding Jerry King. Although he was sure that Jerry was not doing what he should, he realized that all he had to go on was circumstantial evidence. He had no real proof!
But he could not trust Jerry, and the feeling worried him. When Sunday came around without the return of Mr. Whitney he to make a last effort to find out just where Jerry stood. He did not dare risk coming out into the open and asking Jerry what his suspicious movements meant. If Jerry were guilty of wrong-doing, he would at once know that Bob was onto something. In that case it was quite possible that Jerry would fire the first gun before Bob was ready to combat it.
There was only one other thing which seemed practicable. Of course it had in it a great element of chance as to his finding out anything of value. But he determined to try it for want of anything better.
On Sunday morning he was up before his room-mate, and when the latter came out the front door of the Quarter-house he was waiting for him.
“Going up river again to-day, Jerry?” asked Bob.
“Thought I would,” answered Jerry shortly, but halting.
“Think I’ll go along then,” stated Bob as as possible. “I’ve never been up that way and I’d like to see the country that the lake will cover.”
Jerry was taken aback and for a moment he hesitated before answering.
“Why—why you never wanted to go before and I—I don’t think I can take you with me to-day.”
“I don’t care where you’re going,” said Bob laughing. “We’ll go exploring, like we did at the .”
“But—but,” Jerry, “I’m going to see somebody. They expect me.”
“Oh, let them wait,” said Bob. “You can go next Sunday. We haven’t been out together for a long time. Come on, be a sport.”
There was nothing to it. Evidently Jerry saw that Bob was determined to go and he was afraid that if he refused it would look funny. Bob saw the hesitancy and continued:
“Besides, I’d like to see a . I’ve never been to one since we came out here. The people you’re going to see won’t mind my coming along, will they?”
Again Jerry hesitated and Bob realized that a struggle was going on within him.
At last Jerry said with forced enthusiasm, “All right, old man, come along. I reckon there’s another for you down at the stables. We’ll go up to old man Holman’s ranch. He asked me to come up for dinner. There’s always an extra place for anyone who stops by.”
Bob was rather elated that his plan had worked so far and they started off mounted on a couple of bronchos that the stable in the lower camp provided.
As they rode along Bob ignored Jerry’s evident , knowing that it was caused by his forced presence. He talked about a thousand things. Jerry tried to answer in a light and casual manner but he made a rather bad attempt at it.
The sun was hot as they rode and they kept close to the river where there was some vegetation and a few trees that gave a little shelter. After they had covered several miles they came upon crude attempts at irrigation which extended the fertility of the land back some distance from the river.
“These canals were started by the Indians,” said Jerry, “and were made bigger and longer by the white settlers. When we get up to Holman’s you’ll see some real irrigation.”
They did. Bob realized they were approaching the ranch by the sight of broad green fields which were watered by orderly ditches and laterals spreading out from the main canals like the branches of a tree. Here and there were gates which could be used to direct the water down any given canal or ditch.
“I thought Holman was a cattleman,” said Bob. “This looks as if he were a farmer.”
“He is a cattleman, though,” was the answer. “The range is to the north. A branch river flows into the Rio Grande and forms a triangle of green grazing. Holman has put in this irrigation merely to grow crops necessary for house use. It’s taken him years to make this place, and the dam we’re building will wipe it out overnight.”
“That’s tough luck,” said Bob, thinking that if he sympathized Jerry might let something fall which would be useful. But his did not work, for Jerry merely said:
“It is pretty hard, but when the dam is built there’ll be many other fields below the dam. He’ll have to move down there, that’s all.”
There was very little more chance for conversation, as they were rapidly approaching a low, house surrounded by outbuildings which were evidently stables and ’ houses. When they in they were hailed by a bunch of cowboys who were perched on the corral fence. Jerry answered them with a shout and waved his hand but continued to lead the way to the main building. On the porch two men were sitting in chairs up against the wall. Jerry introduced Bob to them.
“This is my friend, Bob Hazard, Mr. Holman,” he said. “Wanted to come and see a ranch. He is a rodman down at the dam.”
“Glad to make your acquaintance,” said the man Jerry had addressed.
He was rather . Humorous eyes twinkled from under bushy brows. “Glad to show ye what we got, though we ain’t goin’ to have it long if you fellows keep on buildin’ that there dam. Meet up with my foreman,” he said turning to the other man.
“Hello, Link,” said Jerry. “I didn’t bring Bob up only to show him the ranch, but to let you give him a square meal for once. If you’ve still got Sing Lee properly trained he’ll get it!”
The man Jerry had addressed as Link got up and gravely extended his hand to Bob.
“I figure you won’t go away hungry,” he said in a voice Bob was surprised to find was cultivated and soft. “The old man here sees to it that we get enough. It won’t be long either. I’ll go and see. I’m sort of as well as foreman around this hang-out. Fine job for a full-grown man.”
With that he disappeared into the house.
“Must be a big help to have Link around, isn’t it, Mr. Holman?” said Jerry.
“You said something, my boy. The only trouble is I can’t keep him around. He’s been with me a dozen times but he always goes away again. Sometimes he ups and leaves overnight and then I’m out a foreman. But he knows he can always come back. When he is here he makes things hum. Besides, he’s the only man who can make the Chink cook a good meal.” Then he turned to Bob. “Soon’s we’ve had something to eat I’ll have one of the boys show you around the place. You must be hungry after your ride, ’specially if you’re not used to riding.”
Bob laughed, “We get enough to do week days on the dam to get up a pretty good appetite. But I won’t deny that I’ll be ready when the dinner bell rings. We’ve got a Mexican cook where we grub and he’s a lot better on quantity than quality.”
“That’s right,” said the rancher; “Greasers are all like that. If they start to off some of our cattle they go in and take a big bunch. Don’t seem to make much difference what sort they lift. They just take the nearest to hand.” He grew serious. “I want to tell you boys it’s getting bad. I had more cattle stole the last two year than ever before. I wish the United States would make up its mind to go into Mexico and clean out that bunch of thieves. It’s the only way we’ll ever get any peace here on the border.”
Bob was interested in this view of the matter.
“Do you think that will help, sir?” he asked.
“I sure do. It’s disgraceful that we ain’t gone in there a’ready. The Greasers are our people and doing everything they can to raise trouble. Why I’d do almost anything myself to get things started down there. I own a bunch of land there that I was planning to use when t............