After a long spell of quietude at Alkali Flat things began to brighten up. Horse thieves drove a number of stock away. The men folks organized a posse. Although Ike was not married he, like the others, found the business of chasing horse-thieves rather restful. While the posse was camped in an old riverbed, Zingara, a beautiful gypsy girl, and her father drove their wagon into the camp and were invited to put up there tor the night.
