The Elbert County tribune., 1914-08-28

about the mine. gloating over 1t In
secret. laughing back and forth, sing
ing gay songs-then, as the ecstasy
passed and the weariness of waiting
set in. they went two ways Some
fascination. unexplained to Bud, drew
De Lancey to the town He left In the
morning and came back at night. but
Hooker stayed at the mine.
Day and night, weekdays and Sun
days. he watched 1t jealousy, lest
someone should slip in and surprise
their secret-and for company he had
his pet horse. Copper Bottom. and the
Yaqui Indian, Amigo.
Ignacio was the Indians real name.
for the Yaquis are all good Catholics
and named uniformly after the saints;
but Bud had started to call him Amigo.
or friend. and Ignacio had conferred
the same name on him.
Poor Ignacio! His four-dollar-a-day
job had gone glimmering in half a
day, but when the Mexican iaborers
departed he fingered around the camp.
doing odd jobs. until he won a place
for himself.
At night he slept up in the rocks,
! where no treachery could take him
unaware, but at the first peep of dawn
It was always Amigo who arose and
lit the fire.
Then, II no one got up, he cooked a
breakfast after his own ideas. boiling
! the coffee until 1t was as strong as
lye. broiling meat on sticks. and went
to turn out the horses.
With the memory of many envious
glances cast at Copper Bottom, Hooker
had built stout corral. where he kept
the horses up at night, allowing them
to Craze close-hobbled in the daytime
A Mexican insurrecto on foot is
contradiction of terms, If there are
any horses or mules in the country.
and several bands of examiners from
Fortuna had gone through their camp
in that condition, with new rifles in
their hands. But If they had any de-
signs on the Eagle Tail live stock they
speedily gave them up; for. while he
would feed them and even listen to
their false tales of patriotism. Bud
had no respect for numbers when 1t
came to admiring his horse.
Even with the Yaqui. much as he
trusted him, he had reservations about
Copper Bottom; and once, when he
found him petting him and stroking
his nose. he shook his head forbid
dinghy. And from that day on, though
he watered Copper Bottom and cared
for his wants. Amigo was careful
never to caress him.
But in all other matters, even to
lending him his gun. Bud trusted the
Yaqui absolutely. 1t was about a week
/ l..
sighted deer, and when Bud loaned
him his rifle he killed 1t with single
shot
Soon afterward he came Looping back
| from a scouting trip and made signs
for the gun again, and this time he
brought In young peccary, which he
roasted in pit. Indian style. After
that, when the meat was low, Bud sent
him out to hunt. and each time he
brought back wild hog or a deer for
every cartridge.
The one cross under which the
Yaqui suffered was the apparent fail
ure of the mine, and, after slipping up
into the cut few times. he finally
came back radiant
"Mira!" he said, holding out piece
OF rock; and when Hooker gazed at
the chunk of quartz he pointed to the
specks of gold and grunted. "Oro!"
'Seguro!" answered Bud. and going
down into his pocket. he produced an
other like 1t. At this the Yaqui cooked
his head to one side and regarded him
strangely.
why you no dig gold?" he asked
at last, and then Bud told him the
story.
I'VE have an enemy" he said, who
might steal it from us. So now we
wait for papers. When we get them
we dig!"
"Ah!" breathed Amigo. his face sud
denly clearing up; land can / work
for you then?"
"Si," answered Bud. for four dol
lars a day. But now you help me
watch. so nobody comes"
"Stawanoi" exclaimed the Indian,
we'll satisfied. and after that he spent
hours on the hilltop. his black head
thrust out over the crest like chuck
awalla lizard as he couned the land
below.
So the days went by until three
weeks had passed, and still no papers
came AS his anxiety increased Phil
fell into the habit of staying in town
overnight and finally he was gone for
two days. The third day was drawing
to close. and Bud was getting rest
less, when suddenly he beheld the
Yaqui bounding down the hill in great
leaps and making signs down the
canyon.
Two men!" he called. dashing up to
the tent; zone of them a rural!"
why rural?" asked Bud. mysti-
fed.
ITO take mel" cried Amigo. striking