The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1914-06-05

1
Good! Pass on, AMIGOS" cried the
beady-eyed little jefe, pasting label
on their pack. "Adios, senior" he
added, returning Phils salute with a
military flourish, and with a scornful
glance at Bud he observed that the
gentleman was muy caballero.
HUH" remarked Bud, as they rode
on through the town, we're in Mexico
all right, all right. Talk with both
hands and get busy with your eye
brows-and holy Joe, look at them
pelones!"
The pelones referred to were a
squad of Mexican federal soldiers, So
called from their heads being shaved,
and they were marching doggedly to
and fro through the thorny mesquit
bushes in response to shouted orders
from an officer. Being from Zacatecas,
where the breed is short, they stood
about as high as their guns; and their
crumpled linen suits and Tapping san
dals detracted sadly from the soldierly
effect.
Big and hulking, and swelling with
the pride of his kind, Hooker looked
them over slowly, and spoke his hid
den thought.
81 WONDER" he said, turning to Phil,
chow many of them l could lick with
| one hand?"
well, they're nothing but lot of
petty convicts, anyway" answered De
Lancey, "but here's some boys ahead
that I'll bet could hold you, man for
man, husky as you are, old fellow"
They were riding past store. now
serving as an improvised barracks,
and romping about in the streets were
a pair of tall Yaqui Indians, each deco
rated with cartridge-belt about his
hips in token of his military service.
Laughing and grabbing for holds, they
frolicked like a couple of boys until
finally they closed in grapple that re-
vealed sudden and pantherlike
strength.
And a group Of others, summing
themselves against the wall, looked up
at the Americans with eyes as fearless
as mountain eagles.
Eyes, that's right" admitted Bud,
returning their friendly greeting, but
we'll never have no trouble with
them"
well, these Nacionales are not SO
bad" defended Phil, as they passed
the state soldiers of Sonora on the
street, "but they're just as friendly as
the Yaquis."
"Sure," jeered Bud, when they're
sober! But you get bunch Of 'em
drunk and ask 'em what they think Of
the gringos! No, you got to show me
I've seen too much of EN-"
"You haven't seen as much Of em
as l have, yet" retorted De Lancey
quickly. 1--WE been all over the repub-
lie, except right here in Sonora, and l
swear these Sonorans here look good
to me. There's no use holding
crouch against them, Bud - they
haven't done us any dirt"
"No, they never had no chance"
grumbled Bud, gazing grimly to the
south. But wait till the hot weather
comes and the revoltosos come out Of
their holes; wait till them Chihuahua
greasers thaw out up in the Sierras
and come down to get some fresh
mounts. Well, I'll tell 'em one thing"
he ended, reaching down to pat his
horse, they'll never get old Copper
Bottom here-not unless they steal
him at night. It's all right to be cheer
full about this, Phil, and you keep right
on being glad, but l got a low-down
bunch that we're going to get in bad"
"Well, I've got just as good hunch,"
came back De Lancey, that we're 60
ing to make killing"
Eyes, and speaking about Killings"
said Bud, you don't want to overlook
that"
He pointed at group Of disman-
tied adobe buildings standing out on
the edge of the town and flanked by
segment of whitewashed wall all spat-
tered and preached with bullet-holes.
There's where these prize Mexicans
Of yourn pulled off the biggest killing
in Sonora. was over here yesterday
with that old prospector and he told
me that that wall is the bull-ring.
After the first big fight they gathered
up three hundred and fifty men, more
or less, and throwed 'em in trench
along by the wall-then they bowed it
over on 'em with few sticks Of dyna-
mite and let 'em pass for buried. Nc
crosses or nothing. Excuse me, If they
ever break loose like that-we might
get planted with the rest!"
"By love, old top" exclaimed De
Lancey, laughing teasingly, you've
certainly got the blues today. Here,
take something out OF this bottle and
see If 1t won't help"
He brought out quart bottle from
his saddle-bags and Bud drank, and
shuddered at the bite Of it.
All right" he said, as he passed it
back, land while we're talking, what's
the matter with cutting 1t out on booze