The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1914-09-18

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 u
hundred and sixty years of guerrilla
warfare, never waste shot; and as
savage yells and the crash Of 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 he found her waiting, with
her roam all saddled, and she chal-
lenged him with her eyes. The sun
cleaned from 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 no 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 gulch to the
rear. All the town lay silent below
them as they turned toward the west
ern pass.
The time had come. Well he knew
the dangers that lay between them
and the American line. Dangers not
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 woman. He loved this woman
I that he was attempting to save for
| another man, "pardner" who had
| at the best been reckless of every
trust, who had been unfaithful to ev-
cry promise. And across the Eorder
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 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
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 Of
town unnoticed, and as soon as they
had rounded the point they spurred on
till they gained the pass.
II knew you would GOMEZ" said
Gracia, smiling radiantly as they
paused at the fork.
"Sure!" answered Hooker with his
good-humored smile. Count me in on
.anything-which way does this trail
go; do you known
TT goes west twelve miles toward
Arispe," replied Gracia confidently,
"and then it comes into the main road
that leads north to Nogales and Gads-
den."
THAT sounds about right for u.s."
replied Bud, "Gadsdens the place we
want to head for, and we want to get
there mighty quick, too, If them reb
els will let us, an guess that's what
they'll have to do whether they want
to or not"
They rode on together for some dis
lance, the girl seemingly oblivious Of
the dangers which surrounded her,
and Hooker watching carefully for ev-
cry sign of difficulty.
What is there up here?" inquired
Bud, pointing at fainter trail that
led off toward the north This coun-
try is new to me. Don't know, Ell?
Well, II we followed that trail we'd
run into them rebels, anyway, so we
might as we'll go to the west. Is your
saddle all right? Well hit it up then
I'D like to strike a road before
dark"
They hurried on, following we'll
marked trail that alternately climbed
ridges and descended into arroyos,
until finally it dropped down into a
precipitous canon where a swollen
stream rushed and babbled and, while
they still watched expectantly for the