Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1914-10-24
CHAPTER XXI.

On the morning after they haC
laughed at the comic paper and decid
ed that all the world was fair, Hooker
and Amigo were squatting by the fir'
and eating man's-size breakfast.
The creek. swollen by yesterday
torrential rain, had settled to a rivu
let. The wind had not risen and the
sun was just over the hill when, with
a rush and scramble. Amigo threw
down his cup and was off In a fash fol
the rocks.
A moment later two men rode dowr
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 saluted gravely, for he knew them
for what they we're.
These were the lost forces OF Der
nardo Bravo and Salazar. Rojas and
the other bandit chiefs, and they
marched, as he we'll knew, upon For.
tuna. They marched quietly. and the
great whistle had not blown.
II would make rich prize, Fortuna,
II they could take II by surprise! The
ransom for the Spanish haciendados
alone would amount to thousands of
dollars, and the mine-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 a one-man camp to
steal a single horse.
A flicker of scorn passed over Hook
er's face as the leader came dashing
up, but the Texan greeted him with a
slow smile.
"Buenos dias. general" 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.
patty with our great cause. will ask
you for that horse OF curse, / will
give you 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 momentl" 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
tnat glinted wickedly, this poor SOL
dlers ieet are sore. Surely you would
not make him walk. Only name your
price and ] will give you a receipt for
him. but my man must have the
horse"
Ihere 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 we'll knew. but his
love for Copper Bottom made him OBJ
durate.
III the man is lame" he said. 81
VIII give him another horse-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 snat ont
orders In Spanish and armed men
came running.
senior, he said, advancing brusque-
iy upon the defiant Hooker. 81 must
trouble you for that pistol"
NO. senor!" answered the cowboy.
keeping his hand upon his gun, mot
10 you nor no man-and I'll never give
IL up to a Mexican!"
'Carai!" exclaimed the officer impa,
tientiy, you are an Americano-no? ?"
Not only that" rumbled Bud. draw
Ing himself up in his pride, 81 am
Te1ano also, and IL any man touches
that horse I'll kill him!"
His voice trembled with anger. but
his hand was steady and the Mexicans
did 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 It and dropped back |
to the ground.
Bud knew the fate OF several men
VINO had proclaimed themselves Ameri-
leans to the insurrectos-boastf
done. It was said to be the quickest
way there was OF drawing a Mexican
bullet But to be Texan was differ.
Pnt-somehow the very name suggest
ID trouble to their minds and an Ala
mo light to the death. Hooker saw
hat he had made an impression. and
he was not slow to follow Il M
q you need Z horse.s he ala 20 |
~ esne let your man 50 up that
y ~: AZ YIN nnd one hoboled On
e4 GIvo ne your rocolpt
(clIoFo ga M I