The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1914-09-18
CHAPTER xVi-continued.

CHAPTER xVi-continued.
1 wonder where that logged Ii
dian went to-" he said for the hur
dredth time, as the deep shadow
gathered in the valley "By Joe, Phi
II Amigo comes back I'm going to g
ahead on that mine. ! want to kee]
nina around here, and we might a.
well get out some ore. il it's only TO
grub-stake. Come on-what do 70,
say7 Wen open her up-there's moth
Ing to hide now. Well, I'll do it my
self, then-this setting around is get
ting on my nerves."
His far-seeing eyes, trained from his
boyhood to search the hills for cattle
scanned the tops of the ridges as he
spoke; and while he sat and pondered
they noted every rock.
Then at last he rose up slowly and
gazed at certain spot He waved
his arm, reckoning the distant point
OF blackness to come In, and soon
from around point in the canyon the
Yaqui appeared. bearing heavy Maui
ser rife on his arm.
Across his broad breast hung the
same familiar cartridge.bet, two more
encircled his hips, and he walked
with his head held high. like the war.
rior that he was.
Evidently his flight had led to the
place where his arms had been hid. for
he wore the regulation knife.bayonet
at his hip and around his hat was the
red ribbon Of hi. people, but Bud was
too polite to ask him about his Jour
ney. Since his coming the Yaqui had
always maintained q certain mystery.
and now, though his eyes we're big
with portent and he smiled at the tests
about his gun, he simply waved his
hand to the south and east and muir.
INJURED:
"Muchos revoitoses!"
seguro;" answered Bud jokingly;
but have you killed any?"
mot yeti" returned the Indian. and
ne did not smile at that.
Il wonder what that Indian Is wait.
Ing around here for?" remarked Phil in
English. "He must have his eye on
somebody"
yeah. / bet," agreed Bud, regard.
Ing his savage friend with a specula.
tive interest. Most of them Yaoui
soldiers was farmhands in this conn.
try before they rounded them up. RI
reckon he's looking for the man that
had him deported.
Tired. Amigo?" he inquired in
Spanish, and Ignacio gravely acknowl.
edged that he was, a little.
Then drink plenty coffee" went on
Hooker. Eat lots-tomorrow we "a
to work in the mine"
Tomorrow" repeated the Indian
as II considering his other engage
ments; "good!" He nodded a smiling
assent.
After a month and more of idleness
Bud and Amigo performed prodigiea |
OF labor in the cut, rolling down |
bonlders, lifting them up on the tram
and clearing away the face of the cliff
Their tram was ramshackle. their
track the abandoned rails from older |
workings, and their tools little more |
than their hands. but by noon the last |
broken fragments were heaved aside
and the shattered ledge revealed.
A low cry of wonder escaped the
Yaqui as he gazed at the rich vein of
ore, and as he saw the grim smile on
BUDS rugged countenance he showed
his white teeth in sympathy.
"Que bueno!" he murmured "How
good. gathering the precious frae.
ments IN his handkerchief.
at. the camp they crushed the
picked ore in a~mortar and panned IL
Ia the creek. and for the moment De
Lancey dropped his air of preoccu.
,ancy as he stared at the streak Of
pure gold. Like yellow film it lay
slong the edge OF the last fine tailings
md when skilful washing had left II
,are. it cleaned like jewel in the
ian.
by Jove, Bud!" he cried, that's the
cal stuf--and 1t goes q dollar to the
IAN easy!"
Sure thing!" assented Bud. Lets |
'ound lot of it and wash it as we go /
then wen have some getaway money
1hen things break loose here!" |,
'Pll go you'll" answered Phil, and ,
'ud's heart warmed toward him az he | |
'atched him pound up q piece of ore
nd go TO swirling the dirt in the
an. /,
But alas for the fond haOas he cher. !