The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1914-10-29
CHAPTER XXI.

laughed at the comic paper and decid
ed that all the world was fair, Hooker
and Amigo were squatting by the fir,
and eating a man's-size breakfast.
The creek, swollen by yesterday
torrential rain, had settled to a rivu
let. The wind had not risen and tn,
sun was just over the hill when, with
rush and a scramble, Amigo threw
down his cup and was of In n fash fol
the rocks.
A moment later two men rode dowr
the canyon, and then two more, and
two more. II was 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 saluted gravely. for he knew them
for what they were
These we're the lost forces OF Der
nardo Bravo and salazar. Rojas and
the other bandit chiefs. and they
marched. as he well knew, upon For.
tuna They marched quietly. and the
great whistle had not blown.
II would make a rich prize, Fortuna,
II they could take II by surprised The
ransom for the Spanish haciendados
alone would amount to thousands OF
dollars, and the nine.owners could
AFFORD to pay anything In order to save
their works.
A box Of dynamite under the giant
concentration and the money would be
produced at once. and yet the scoun.
drels halted at oneman camp to
steal a single horse.
A flicker OF scorn passed over Hook.
er's face as the leader came dashinR
up, but the Texan greeted him with a
slow smile.
"Buenos dias. generali" he said:
you have many men"
Enough" observed the general"
hurriedly. but some In the rear are
on foot As suppose you are In sym-
pathy with our great cause, I will ask
you for that horse. OF course, | will
give you a receipt"
He fetched out a blank.book as he
spoke and motioned to a ragged beg
gar at his heels. Bud checked the
mans rush with a look.
"One moment" he said. and as the
soldier turned back his general glanced
up sharply.
only this. Senior General" an.
swered Bud. you are welcome to
anything ! have-food, blankets, mon
ey-but ] cannot give you that horse"
But. senor!" protested the general.
regarding him with arrogant pig eyes
that glinted wickedly. this poor SOL
diers feet are sore. Surely you would
not make him walk. Only name your
price and ! will give you receipt for
him. but my man must have the
horse"
There was a pause and men began
to dismount and move in closer. At
word from their commander any
one OF them would draw and kill him.
as Hooker very well knew. but his
love for Copper Bottom made him OBJ
durate.
IF the man is lame" he said, Il
VIII give him another hoBe-but he
cannot have this sorrel"
He stepped quickly over to the cor.
raj and turned with his back to the
gate, while the commander spat out
orders in Spanish and armed men
came running.
Senior" he said. advancing brusque-
iy upon the defiant Hooker, Il must
trouble you for that pistol"
No
keeping his hand upon his gun. mot
10 you nor no mainland Ill never give
Il up to q Mexican!"
"Carai!- exclaimed the officer impar !
dently. you are an Americano-no7"
Not only that" rumbled Bud, draw
ing himself up In his pride. II am .
retano also. and II any man touches
hat horse I'll kill him!"
His voice trembled with anger. but
his hand was steady and the Mexicans
lid not deceive themselves.
"Ha, un Tejanol" murmured the
men who stood about. and one or two
who had started to climb the fence
thought better Of II and dropped back
% the ground.
Bud knew the fats of several men
Who had proclaimed themselves Ameri-
cans to the insurrectos-boastfu
lone. II was said to be the quickest
way there was Of drawing q Mexican
bullet. But to be q Texan was differ
the very name suggest
ID trouble to their minds and an Ala
no night to the death. Hooker saw
hat he had made an impression. and
10 was not slow to follow II up.
IF you need q horse" he said TO
he general. "iet your man 90 up that
arroyo and he will find one hobbled on
he nat Then give me your receipt
'or two hundred dollars gold and
will contribute q saddle"
II was a reasonable concession. un-
Ter the circumstances. and. best Of all.
I saved the generals face. The hid
sous frown with which he had regard
ID the American changed suddenly to
! look Of pompous pride. He jerked
IN imperious head at his ragged TO
amer and drew forth his receipt-book
with q flourish
While he waited for the horse 70 ap-
pear he turned upon his shopping men
md drove them TO their mounts with