Marble Hill press., 1914-10-29
CHAPTER XXI.

On the morning after they had
tuehed at the connie paper and decid
ID that all the World was fair. HOOKER
and AnliEo were sQuatting by the hre
and eating a man 's-size breakfast
The creek. swollen by yesterdays
oriental rain. had settled to TlVn'
.st. The wind had not risen and the
IN was Just over the hill when. with
= rush and a scramble, Amigo threw
~i1wn his cup and was off In flash for .
she rocks
4 moment later two men rode down
she CANYON and then two more, ana
40 more II was column OF men, /
nil armed with rifles, and they cast
env.ous eyes at Copper Bottom as trey
halted before the camp. As for sud-
ne saIuted gravely, for he knew them
for what they were.
These were the lost forces ot Der
roardo Bravo and SalaSar. Rojas and
the other bandit chiefs, and they
erarched as he we'll knew, upon FOR
tuna. They marched quietly, ard the
great whistle had not blown.
II would make rich prize, Fortuna,
sf they could take 1t by surprise Inc
ransom for the Spanish hac'endados
alone would amount to thousands ot
dollars. aud the mtne-oNners coulc
afford TO pay anything In order to save
their works.
A box Of dynamite under the grant
~-oncentrator and the money would be
produced at once, and yet the scoan'
drels halted at a oueman camp to
steal single horse.
A flicker Of scoru passed over HOOK
.e,r's face as the leader came dashing
ua. but the Texan greeted him with a
slow smile.
-Ruenos dias, general" he said
you have many men.
Enough" observed the general
hurriedly. but some In the rear arr
ON foot. As suppose you are in sym
pathy with our great cause, | will asl
you for that horse. OF course, l vii
give you a receipt"
He fetched out a blank-book as h
spoke and motioned to a ragged bes
gar at his heels Bud checked tn
man's rush with a look.
soldier turned back his general glance
gp sharply.
Only this, Senor General" al
@wered Bud you are welcome I
anything have-food. blankets, mol
~ but cannot give you that horse
But, senor!" protested the genera
xcrarding him with arrogant pig eyt
ahat glinted wickedly. this poor sc
dier's feet are sore, Surely you wou
.aot make him walk. Only name yo'
price and will give you a receipt Il
.aim, but my man must have II
Slcrse."
There was a pause and men begs
90 dismount and move in closer.
q vord from their commander al
me Of them would draw and Kill hill
sx Hooker very well knew, but b
love for Copper Bottom made him c
siurate
IF the man is lame" be said.
win give him another hose-but
cannot have this sorrel
He stepped quickly over to the c.
raI and turned with his back to {
.Gate. while the commander spat c
orders in Spanish and armed m
came running.
"Senor." he said, advancing hruso'
Iy upon the defiant Hooker. 4 mt
trouble you for that pistol"
No, senor!" answered the cowe'
keeping his hand upon his gun. I
10 you nor no man--and I'll never g.
~ up to a Nexioan!"
"Caraii" exclaimed the officer i'm
<iently, you are an Americano--nS
Not only that" rumeled Bud, dr'
sng himself up tn his pride. i an
Tejano also, and II any man toaei
that horse III kill hint"
His voice trembled with anger.
ne hand wss steady and the Mesie'
,tit not deceive themselves.
ia. un Teisno:" murmured
su~eS who stood about. and one OF
No had started to climb the fe
,.haash, better Of IL and dropped b
sss the ground.
BID kss~ the fate ef several