The Arvada enterprise., 1914-12-24
CHAPTER XXI.


laughed at the comic paper and decid.
ed that all the world was fair. Hooker
and Amigo were sQuatting by the fire
and eating man's-size breakfast.
The creek. swollen by yesterdays
torrentiai rain, had settled to a rivu-
let The wind had not risen and the
sun was just over the hill when. with
q rush and . scramble, Amigo threw
down his cup and was of In flash for
the rocks.
A moment later two men rode down
the canyon. and then two more. and
two more. II was a column OF men.
all armed with rifles. and they cast
envious eyes at Copper Bottom as they
halted before the camp. As for Bud.
he salr.ted gravely. for he knew them
Tor what they were.
These were the lost forces OF Ber.
hardc Bravo and Salazar. Rojas and
the other bandit chiefs. and they
mar:hed. ms he well knew. upon For
tuna. They marched quietly. and tho
great whistle had not blown.
II would make n rich prize. Fortuna.
II they could take It by surprise! The
rnusom for the Spanish haciendados
alone would amount to thousands Of
dollars. and the mineowners could
afford to pay anything In order to save
their works.
A box Of dynamite under the giant
concentration and tho money would be
produced at once. and yet the scoun-
drels halted at one mau camp to
steal single horse.
A flicker Of scOrn passed over Hook
er's face M the leader came dashinE
up. but the Texan greeted him with Q
slow smile
"Buenos dins. general" he said;
you have many men,"
Enough" observed the general"
hurriedly. but some In the rear arc
IN foot A l suppose you are In sym.
pathy with our great cause. I will ask
you for that horse or course. I will
give you receipt"
He fetched out a blank.book AS he
spoke and motioned to q ragged beg
gar at his heels. Bud checked the
mans rush with a look.
"One moment" he said, and AZ the
soldier turned back his general glanced
pp sharply.
Only thiA Senior General" an.
swered Bud. You are welcome to
anything I hAvs-food. blankets. mon.
ey-but cannot give you that horse. %
But. senor!" protested the general.
regarding him with arrogant pig eyes
that glin,ed wickedly. this poor sol.
dicr's feet ARE sore. Surely you would
not make him walk. Only name your
price and will give you n receipt for
him. but my man must have the
horse"
There was . pause aud men began
70 dismount and move In closer. AZ
. word from their commander my
ono Of them would draw and kill him,
~ Hooker very well knew. but his
love for Copper Bottom made him OBJ.
durntc.
''lf the man IL lame" he said, II
viii give him another hor~e-but he
cannot have this sorrci."
He stepped quickly over To the cor.
raj and turned with his back to tho
gate. while tho commander spat out
orders In Spanish and armed men
came running.
'Scnor." ho said. advancing brusauc.
~ upon tho defiant Hooker. Il must
trouble you Ar that pistol"
mo. senor!" answered tho cowboy
Keeping his hand upon his gun. mot
70 you nor no mnn--and III never give
Il up TO u Mcxicun!"
CARAT" exclaimed the cfiicer inpa
Gently. you arc an Americano-no''
Not only that" runblcd Bud. draw
ing himself up In his pride. Il am a
Tejano also. and n any man touches
that horse IN XIII him!"
His voice trembled with anger. but
BIZ hand was steady and tho Mcxicani
1id not deceive themselves.
"Ha. I'm Tejano!" murmured the
men who stood about. and one or two
sho had started 70 climb the sencs
thought better Of Y and dropped bach
" The sroun0
~ tssv ~ eals q ssvseN msl