It was almost four o'clock when Sourdough and Tracinda finished telling McAlister what he wanted to hear. He had been thumbing through Blackjack's journal as they told their story and when he came to the page with the symbols he stopped. He began to question the five dispirited people seated before him. He wanted to know if they had any ideas as to the meaning of the strange marks. He pressured Sourdough to tell him about the map. He must remember something from the map that would be a clue to the gold. Sourdough looked to the others for an indication of what to do, but they stared back with blank faces.McAlister's conscience had started to bug him. He had thought he could move in and take the gold for himself, but now, as he watched the faces of the others and heard the sound of defeat in Sourdough's voice, he knew he couldn't. He began to rationalize that if the stories he had heard were true, there would be more than enough gold to go around. He also knew that when Blackjack reached Brisbee and found them all gone, he would be hot on their trail in no time. It was well known that while Runaway and Stampede were losers as cattle-rustlers, they were two of the best trackers around. McAlister reasoned that if he joined forces with the former cook and his crowd, he would certainly stand a better chance of finding the gold, and he figured they could hold their own against Blackjack and his gang if they had to.
He decided on a give and take approach. They could all work together to find the gold, or he would take the journal AND their guns and leave them with nothing except a way back to town. Sourdough and Marsh were not happy with the proposition. They didn't know about trusting the wayward sheriff after what had just taken place, but what choice did they have? Frenchie, Molly, and Tracinda agreed that the sheriff would be an asset to their enterprise, and so, though Sourdough was opposed to disclosing any more information, he went along with the women and reluctantly told the insistent sheriff about the arrow they had seen on the trail. With that they all sat on the ground around the journal, and went to work to unscramble the key to a fortune in gold.
After an hour or so of discussing what the symbols could mean, the tired puzzlers hadn't made much headway. They had thought that the horse's head might have something to do with Horsethief Basin, but then there was another possibility. There was also a drop-off along the trail called Mare's Leap. They were fairly positive that the snake meant Snake Bend, the place on Ten Mile Creek where the rapids started, but what did the goat mean? The Capricorn? What would the saloon have to do with anything?
It was getting too late to worry about it any more at that point. They had to try to get to a place where Blackjack would have a hard time finding them, and it would be dark soon. They did everything they could to erase any trace of themselves, rounded up their horses, and followed McAlister's lead.
He led them down a path that paralleled Deadman's Trail, and which was almost impossible for Marsh and the wagon. After they forded the creek the route became easier as they made their way to the north of Snake Bend, and to the drover's camp, which was well into the forest. When they arrived at the camp they were too exhausted and saddle-sore to eat, and the women barely had energy enough to get their bedding from the wagon. McAlister decided to stay up for awhile anyway ... just in case, and to make sure that nothing happened to the journal should he happen to fall asleep. He tucked the worn book inside his shirt and buttoned his vest all the way to the top.
The moon was well into its journey across the heavens, and Marsh looked up to enjoy the view. His eyes panned across the opening in the tops of the trees, and suddenly he saw it! Clearly outlined by the shining orb lighting the night-sky ....
a huge boulder.Its shape was the head of a goat!
