Under the Sweetwater Rim (1971) by Louis L'amour Page A

and swung down. "We'd better walk them a way," he said. "It's easy to kill a horse at this altitude."
    Dorsey got down and they walked along, the trail behind them obscured by trees now. The country through which they traveled was still, cool, and beautiful.
    Peaks lifted before them, a thousand feet higher than they now were.
    "Bear more to the right, I think," Dorsey suggested. "We're too far west for Sioux Pass."
    After a while he said, "That's a lot of money we're packin :"
    "Too much."
    "Not if it belongs to you." Dorsey's tone was casual. "Yes, but it doesn't."
    "Ever think what you could buy with that much? Sixty thousandl A man could really have himself a time! Liquor and women . . . anything he wanted. Or he could buy himself a business some place. Be set for life."
    "Well, I doubt if I'll ever have that much,"
    West said. "You've got it now," Dorsey replied, "or half of it."
    Corporal West spoke sharply. "That's not a joking matter, Dorseyl This is government money, and we're taking it back to where it belongs." "That may be your idea."
    "It is." West's voice was crisp. He was not tempted, and he wanted no more of such talk.
    Dorsey stopped. "It ain't mine, West. This here's the first chance I ever had at money like that."
    West turned sharply around, for Dorsey was now right behind him. "I want no more-was His voice broke off, for Dorsey was holding a pistol aimed just above West's belt buckle.
    "You didn't really figure I was goin' to let all that money get away, did you, West?"
    "Don't be a fool, Dorseyl Brian's already not far behind us .... You wouldn't have a chance of getting away."
    "I'll worry about that."
    "Dorsey . . ." West's pistol was on his belt, high on the right side, butt to the fore as was regulation. The flap was buttoned down, and he knew he could never unbutton that flap and get out his gun before Dorsey could shoot ... but would Dorsey shoot? He didn't believe it ....
    He reached for his holster, and Dorsey shot.
    They were in a little open place, a small meadow among the trees. West felt the sharp blow of the bullet, but no pain. "You are a foolish man," he said to Dorsey. "Now you will hang."
    "First, they got to catch me," Dorsey said, and watched West's knees buckle. When he had fallen, Dorsey walked over to him and took the pistol from West's holster and thrust it into his waistband. The echo of the shot died away, and West was muttering, but Dorsey paid no attention. He got into the saddle, gathering the reins of West's horse and the lead rope on the pack horse.
    "Serves you right," Dorsey said, staring down at West. He started off, riding fast. He had two horses now, and he could switch mounts and so make better time.
    Corporal West lay sprawled on the grass, and he knew he was dying. He had been shot through the body, and by the feel the bullet must have lodged against his spine, for his legs seemed to have no feeling. His mind was clear. He saw what a fool he had been, andwitha kind of despair he realized there was small chance he would ever be found. They would think him a thief, too.
    Tugging himself up by pulling on a hummock of grass, he looked slowly around. It was very still. A bee was buzzing around a blue flower. A little distance off some birds were gossiping in the top of a shrub.
    With clumsy fingers he pulled a tuft of grass together and tied a few blades around it to draw attention. In the earth near it he drew an arrow showing the direction in which Dorsey had gone. He lay down then, and the shock wore off and the pain began.
    He must have been unconscious for a time, for when he opened his eyes the sun had moved.
    He was lying there when he heard the pound of hoofs on the earth. Suddenly a horse was looming over him, and Ten Brian was swinging down.
    "Dorsey"-West got the words out clearly-"stole the money. He . . . he . . . is going to . . . Sioux Pass"
    "Take it easy, West." Brian knelt beside him, lifted his head carefully and gave him a swallow from his canteen.
    "I