“We ain't got them. In fact, it's more like they got us if we go up after them. If we can wait them out, down on the other side of the creek, maybe then we got them. The last time someone thought they had them, they got themselves killed. All they had to do was march on up to that cabin and haul them in. Now they're all dead. It don't seem such a good idea now, considering. I believe we should just wait them out, just like the others should have.”

“They's eight of us. Three of them.”

“Eight's a good number, but every step we take closer to where they's holed up, they's going to be less of us.”

“But we can pin them down.”

“And what then? Who's going to know we got them pinned?”

“We can send someone back. It don't seem all that hard to me.”

“I believe Custer said much the same. If those is their horses down there, they'll be coming down for them sooner or later. We got food, we got water. I don't know what they got, but I'll bet it's less. Waiting is a lot safer than going up after them. Up there, they got all the advantage. We got it down here.”

“If there's enough of us, we can take them.”

“That's what the last bunch thought. They're dead. We go up after them, it's all bound for glory for us. You want to end up perforated, you just be my guest.”

“There's cover for us up there.”

“Yes, there's cover all right. But we won't get to it. You feel rifle sights on you yet? Because I'm starting to feel them on me. I ain't going up there.”

“Well, hell. I ain't going up without you and a bunch of others. Let's send someone back to get the others. We'll wait here and then go up after them.”

“All right, then.”

Tom heard them talk and then didn't hear them anymore. He was still crouched between the rocks, the .45 in his hand. He stayed still until the birds and other sounds started up again. Likely, the talkers had moved back. He couldn't stay there much longer. His legs were cramping, and Thems was sending for reinforcements. He had to move. He rose up uneasily, slid the gun into his belt, and gathered up the water bags. There wasn't a lot of time left.

“This all the water you got?” John asked.

“That's it. They're here. They found the horses.”

“Damn.”

“We got to go. They're sending for the others. I heard them.”

“But the horses.”

“No horses. They're gone. We're going that way.” He indicated the taller spires of granite behind them. “We got to get south of here and then cut across the range at night.”

“On foot?”

“Yes. On foot.”

“And if we make it across the range, what are we going to do about the Chiricahuas?”