The Mystery of Barranca

..not even a twig stirred in the darkness below. He caught only the distant whooping which told that Billy had heard, and as this drew nearer with astonishing quickness Seyd rose and went back to his mule. "Coming downhill hell for leather!" he mut tered. "If I don t hurry he ll break his neck. " CHAPTER VII ONE^ afternoon about a week later Mr. William Thornton was to be seen mixing mortar for the bricks he was laying on the smelter foundation. Rising almost sheer from the edge of the bench behind him, the Barranca wall shut off the western breeze, and from its face the fierce sunblaze was reflected in quivering waves of heat. Coming out from an early lunch he had noted that the thermometer registered ninety in the shade, and he was now ready to swear that with one more degree he himself would be able to supply all the moisture required for the operation. While working he cast occasional glances toward the house; and when, the mortar being mixed, he began to lay brick he used the trowel...