Frenchie McGee and Molly McGuire weren't used to riding horseback for long distances, and they were beginning to feel the effects after the first mile. Tracinda wasn't broken in for such a long ride either, and the three women were thinking that they would much rather be back at the Serendipity having a nice leisurely breakfast.The group of adventurers had left Brisbee before sun-up, and the sky was just now beginning to turn a bright pink as the sun peeked over the horizon. Marsh was driving the wagon they had borrowed to carry the gold they expected find, and he was relieved that they were headed away from the bright ball of fire that would soon be beaming down on them. It would be much easier to steer the horses around obstacles without the sun in their eyes. Sourdough hoped that they hadn't aroused the curiosity of the man at the livery stable. Most people had their own horses, and it was unusual to hire so many at one time.
Deadman's Trail followed the route of Ten Mile Creek for quite a stretch, and then it crossed over the creek just before the water became a raging, river-like current as it cascaded over the huge boulders at Snake Bend. The strange caravan was moving along at as rapid a pace as they could muster, but the women were complaining loudly about the hard saddles. Molly, being smaller than the others, wanted to trade horses with Tracinda, who in the rush to get out of town, had wound up on the smallest horse. Sourdough complained about the women bellyaching and being too much like a bunch of greenhorns, and said he would send them all back to Brisbee if they didn't shut up.
They had been on the trail for two hours when Molly yelled for Sourdough to stop. She had seen something by the side of the road. They all got down from their horses and gathered around the pattern of rocks she was pointing to. Marsh grumbled that this trip would take forever if they had to stop every hour, but he reined the team of horses pulling the wagon and joined them.
The stones formed some kind of symbol and they had been purposely embedded in the dirt so that they couldn't easily be moved without dislodging them. They were set in the shape of an arrow, pointing in a westerly direction. Instead of lines indicating feathers, there was a square on one end with the letters AU in the center. Sourdough knew immediately what they stood for. It was the first tangible proof that there was some truth to the stories they had heard for so long, and he knew they were on the right track.
A steely pair of eyes had observed the sleepy group leave Brisbee. Sheriff McAlister had risen very early himself that morning, and had looked for a spot where he could see the back of the boarding house, and the wagon that was loaded and ready to leave. He had also outfitted himself with supplies and had told his deputy that he was going up to Tascosa to bring back a fugitive.
He had been following the party from the Serendipity and had seen them stop. He wondered what they were looking at, but he wouldn't have a chance to see until they had moved farther on ahead of him. He couldn't afford to be seen, and he had to bide his time even though his stomach was churning from anxiety.
Blackjack Boughton and his band of thieves were on the trail early too. They were on their way to Brisbee to confront Sourdough, and to get Blackjack's journal and the map. The sun had just risen above the tops of the trees as they entered the forest. This was an easy part of the trail and they could make good time. The trees blocked the sun as they rode, and they laughed and joked about Kid Hawpe's voice as he sang Oh Susannah. They were moving along at a steady pace, and would reach the junction with Deadman's Trail soon.
