Abbeville progress., 1914-11-14
CHAPTER xxIV-continued.

Up along the hillside and after the
fugittves they ran with vengeful eager
ness. racing each other for the hlgner
ground and the first shot at the reb-
els. First Alvarez on his white horse
would be ahead, and then. as they en- |
oountered rocks, the Yaquis would
surge TO the front. 1t was race ano
at the same time 1t was a rout, for'
st the first glimpse Of that oncoming
body Of warriors, the cowardly follow
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 q YaQui, and the pop, pop OF
rifles told the fate of the first luckless
straRgiers. For the Yaquis, after
hundred and sixty years OF guerrllla
warfare, never waste a shot; and as
savage yells and the crash OF a sud
den voIiey drifted down from the rocky
heigh,s re men who had been De-
stee ortuna knew that death was
abro. he hills.
Fain. nd fainter came the shots
as the pursuit led on to the north and.
ss Hooker strained his eyes to follow
q 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-
-Sent miners and their wives-but
at touch made him forget the battle
rr tIxy thfpE IF
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 a pistol that she held
in her hand, and again from her golden
hair, but he saw only her eyes. 30
brave and daring, and the challenge
70 mount and ride.
Only for q moment did he stand be
tore 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 q gulch to the
rear. All the town lay silent below
them a. they turned toward the west
srn pass.
The time had come. Well he knew
the dangers that hay between them
md the American line. DangerS moi
lor him but for her. In the hills and
passes and on the cactus covsre<
plain were thousands Of man VIII
whom she would not b safe for n
Instant, and ,eainst whom he mus
guard her that she might b delivsrst
safely to Phil. a\nd he loved her thsI
- he had not b >lievsd It possible Il
love . woman hs loved this womal
lthst he was Attempting TO save 10
another man. . ~pardner who ha'
as the best bean reckless Of ever,
trust, who had been unfaithful to Q,
cry promise And acFoss the borde
this man was waiting for the woma.
Bud Hooker loved. That he take he
10 him was q more severe test Of hi
manhood than any to which he In
bsfore been subjected. That he b
untrue to the trust abe reposed !
him never entered his mind for MI
msnt With q strong mans love fc
lhsr he thought only Of how he was
conduct her safely out Of the danger
y which surrounded her.
Soldiers, m 70, and refugees. me-
women, and ch dren. every soul
Fortuna was on tie hill to see the -
OF the battle. II had been q crut
n6air. but bravely ended. and som
ttinS In the dramatic suddenness
tfsis victory had held all eyes 70 Il
close. Bud and Gracia passed out
town unnoticed. and as soon a. th'
had rounded the point they spurred {
km they gained the pass.
Il knew you would comei" -
0rscia. smiling radiantly as tn
paused at the fork
.Sure!" answered Hookef With
aood-humored smile. Count me In
anythins-which way does this IN
%; do you knowr
TT goes west twelve miles iowa
Axispe." replied Gracia confident
'and then II comes into the main TO
that leads north to Nogales and ca
dan"
THAT sounds about right for VI
replied Bud. "Gadsden's the place '
want to head for, and we want to G
there mighty quick. too. II them n
els win let US, an guess that's wh
they'll have to do whether they wa
TO or not"
They rode on together for some d
lance, the girl seemingly oblivious
the dangers which surrounded b
and Hooker watching carefully for I
cry sign of difficulty.
What Is there up heref" inQuil
Bud. pointing at fainter trail Il
led OF toward the north. This col
try is new to me. Don't know. Z
Well. II we followed that trail "
run into them rebels, anyway. so
might as well 90 to the west Is u
saddle all right! Wen hit It up II
I'D like to strike . road bef
dark"
They hurried on. following W
marked trail that alternately climl
ridges and descended into arroy
until finally 1t dropped down into
precipitous canon where q swol
stream rushed and babbled and. wi
they stin watched expectantiy for
road. the evening quickly passed.