The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1914-10-31
CHAPTER xxIv-continued.

fugitiyes they ran with vengeful eager
ness, racing each other for the higher
ground and the first shot at the reD-
els. First Alvarez on his white horse
would be ahead and then, as they en-
countered rocks, the Yaquis would
surge to the front It was race and
at the same time it was rOut, for,
at the first glimpse of that oncoming
body of warriors. the cOwardly follow
ers of Bernardo Bravo took to their
heels and fed.
But over the rocks no Chihuahuan,
no matter how scared, can hope to out
distance a Yaqui, and the pop, pop Of
rifles told the fate of the first luckless
stragglers For the Yaquis, after
hundred and sixty years of guerrilla
warfare, never waste a shot; and as
savage yeIls and the crash of a sud
den volley drifted down from the rocky
heights the men who had been be-
sieged in Fortuna knew that death was
abroad IN the hills.
Fainter and fainter came the shots
as the pursuit led on to the north and,
as Hooker strained his eyes to follow
a huge form that intuition told him
was Amigo he was wakened suddenly
from his preoccupation by the touch
OF some unseen hand. He was in the
open with people all about him
Spanish refugees, Americans, trium-
plant miners and their wives-but
that touch made him forget the battle
above him and instantly think of
Gracia
He turned and hurried back to the
corral where Copper Bottom was kept,
and there ne found her waiting, with
her roam all saddled, and she chal-
lenged him with her eyes. The sun
cleaned from a pistol that she held
in her hand. and again from her golden
hair, but he saw only her eyes. SO
brave and daring, and the challenge
to mount and ride.
Only for a moment did he stand be-
fore her gaze. and then he caught up
his saddle and spoke soothingly to his
horse They rode out of the corral
together, closing the gates behind
them and passing down a gulch to the
rear. All the town lay silent below
then As they turned toward the west
ern pass.
The time had come. Well he knew
the dangers that lay between them
for him but for her. In the hills and
passes and on the cactus-coVered
plain were thousands of men with
whom she would not be safe for an
instant, and against whom he must
guard her that she might be delivered
safely to Phil And he loved her then
as he had not believed it possible to
love a woman. He loved this woman
that he was attempting to save for
another man, a "pardner" who had
at the best been reckless of every
trust, who had been unfaithful to ev-
- cry promise And across the border
this man was waiting for the woman
Bud Hooker loved. That he take her
to him was a more severe test OF his
manhood than any to which he had
before been subjected. That he be
untrue to the trust she reposed in
him never entered his mind for a mo-
ment With strong mans love for
her he thought only Of how he was to
conduct her safely out Of the dangers
which surrounded her
Soldiers, miners, and refugees. men
women, and children, every soul in
Fortuna was on the hill to see the last
of the battle 1t had been a crude
affair, but braVely ended, and some
thing in the dramatic suddenness OF
this victory had held all eyes to the
close. Bud and Gracia passed out ot
town unnoticed, and as soon as they
had rounded the point they spurred or
till they gained the pass.
Il knew you would comet" saiC
Gracia. smiling radiantly as they
paused at the fork.
"Sure!" answered Hooker with hi:
good-humored smile. Count me In OF
anything-which way does this trai
go; do you knOw?"
ut goes west twelve miles towarC
Arispe." replied Gracia confidently
and then it comes into the main roaC
that leads north to Nogales and Gads
dem
That sounds about right for u.s.
replied Bud. 'Gadsden's the place W,
want to head for, and we want to ge
there mighty quick, too, If them reb
els will let Us. an l guess that's wha
they'll have to do whether they wan
to or not"
They rode on together for some dis
lance, the girl seemingly oblivious O
the dangers which surrounded her
and Hooker watching carefully for eV
cry sign of difficulty.
What is there up here?" inquire
Bud. pointing at a fainter trail tina
led OF toward the north. This couI
try is new to me. Don't know, Ell
Well, If we followed that trail We
run into them rebels, anyway, so "
might as well go to the west Is you
saddle all right? Well hit it up the
-rd like to strike a road befor
dark"
They hurried on. following a vel
marked trail that alternately climbe
ridges and descended into arroyo:
until finally it dropped down into
precipitous canon where a swolle
stream rushed and babbled and, Will
they still watched expectantly for tn
road. the evening quickly passed.
They had no opportunity for CONVEX
sation, for the trail was too marrow
to permit of their riding side by side
Bud was thinking not only of the dan
gers that surrounded them. but OF thi
errand on which he was engaged. an,