The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1914-10-10
CHAPTER XXI.

CHAPTER XXI.
On the morning after they nao
laughed at the comic paper and decid-
ed that all the world was fair, Hooker
and Amigo were sQuatting by the fire
and eating a man s-size breakfast.
The creek, swollen by yesterdays
torrential rain, had settled to rivu-
let The wind had not risen and the
sun was just over the hill when, with
a rush and a scramble, Amigo threw
down his cup and was off in a flash for
the rocks.
A moment later two men rode down
the canyon, and then two more, and
two more. It was a column of men,
ali armed with rifles, and they cast
envious eyes at Copper Bottom as they
halted before the camp. AS for Bud,
he saluted gravely, for he knew them
for what they were
These were the lost forces of Ber-
nardo Bravo and Salazar, Rojas and
the other bandit chiefs, and they
marched, as he well knew, upon For
tuna. They marched quietly, and the
great whistle had not blown.
1t would make a rich prize, Fortuna,
if they could take it by surprise! The
ransom for the Spanish haciendados
alone would amount to thousands of
dollars, and the mine-owners could
afford to pay anything in order to save
their works.
A box of dynamite under the giant
concentration and the money would be
produced at once, and yet the scoun-
drels halted at one-man camp to
steal a single horse.
A flicker of scorn passed over Hook
er's face as the leader came dashing
up, but the Texan greeted him with a
slow smile.
"Buenos dias, general!" he said;
you have many men,"
Enough" observed the general
hurriedly, but some in the rear are
on foot. As l suppose>you are in sym
pathy with our great cause, will ask
you for that horse. OF course, will
give you receipt"
He fetched out a blank-book as he
spoke and motiOned to a ragged beg
gar at his heels. Bud checked the
mans rush with look
One mOment!" he said, and as the
soldier turned back his general glanced
up sharply.
Only this, Senior General" an
swered Bud. You are welcome to
anything l have-food, blankets, mon
ey-but l cannot give you that horse. 4"
But, senor!" protested the general,
regarding him with arrogant pig eyes
that glinted wickedly, this poor sol
dier's feet are sore Surely you would
not make him walk. Only name your
price and l will give you a receipt for
him, but my man must have the
horse"
There was pause and men began
to dismount and move in closer. At
a word from their commander any
one of them would draw and kill him,
as Hooker very we'll knew, but his
love for Copper Bottom made him OBJ
durate.
If the man is lame" he said, 81
will give him another horse-but he
cannot have this sorrel"
He stepped quickly over to the cor
raj and turned with his back to the
gate, while the commander spat out
orders in Spanish and. armed men
came running.
Senior" he said, advancing brusque
~ upon the defiant Hooker, Il must
trouble you for that pistol"
No, senor!" answered the cowboy
keeping his hand upon his gun, mo
to you nor no man-and I'll never give
it up to a Mexican!"
"Carai!" exclaimed the officer impa
tiently, you are an Americano-no? 2
m " hot Dr.
ing himself up in his pride, 81 am
Tejano also, and if any man touches
that horse I'll kill him!"
His voice trembled with anger, Blu
his hand was steady and the Mexican
did not deceive themselves.
"Ha, IN Tejano!" murmured tn
men who stood about, and one or tw
who had started to climb the fenc
thought better of it and dropped bacl
to the ground.
Bud knew the fate of several me-
who had proclaimed themselves Amer
leans to the insurrectos-
done, 1t was said to be the quickes
way there was of drawing a Mexical
bullet. But to be a Texan was diffel
ent-somehow the very name SUCCESS
ed trouble to their minds and an Ala
mo fight to the death. Hooker sa,
that he had made an impression, an
ne was not slow to follow it up.
If you need a horse" he said t
the general, "let your man go up the
arroyo and he will find one hobbled o
the fat Then give me your receiE
for two hundred dollars gold and
viii contribute a saddle"
Il was reasonable concession. u