Mexico Missouri message., 1914-10-15
CHAPTER xxIV-continued.

AuklliNtH lIeg ran win NNhbtANA NotSSa
ness. racing each other for the higher
ground and the first shot at the reb-
els. First Alvarez on his white horse
would be ahead and then. az they en-
countered rocks, the Yaquis would
surge TO the front. II was a race and
at the same time 1t was a rout, for,
at the first glimpse Of that oncoming
body OF warriors. the cowardly follow
ers OF Bernardo Bravo took 10 their
heels and fed.
But over the rocks no Chihuahuan,
no matter how scared, can hope to out
distance a Yaqui, and the pop. pop OF
rifles told the fate OF the first luckless
stragglers. For the Yaquls. after a
hundred and sixty years of guerrilla
warfare. never waste a shot; and as
savage yells and the crash OF sud
den volley drifted down from the rocky
heights the men who had been be-
sieged in Fortuna knew that death was
abroad In the hills
Fainter and fainter came the shots
az the pursuit led on to the north and.
as Hooker strained his eyes to follow
huge form that intuition told him
was Amigo, he was wakened suddenly
from his preoccupatlon by the touch
of some unseen hand. He was In the
open with people all about him
Spanish refugees, Americans, trium-
plant miners and their wives-but
that touch made him forget the battle
above him and instantly think of
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-
ienged him with her eyes. The sun
cleaned from pistol that she held
In her hand, and again from her golden
hair. but he saw only her eyes. SO
brave and daring. and the challenge
10 mount and ride.
Only for a moment did he stand be-
fore 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 a gulch to the
rear. All the town lay silent below
them as they turned toward the west.
ern pass
The time had come. Well he knew
the dangers that lay between them
and the American line. Dangers not
for him but for her. In the hills and
passes and on the cactus-coyered
plain were thousands of men with
whom she would not be safe for an
instant, and against whom he must
guard her that she might be delivered
safely to Phil. And he loved her then
"a he had not believed 1t possible to
love woman. He loved this woman
chat he was attempting to save for
another man. a 'pardner" who had
at the best been reckless OF every
trust, who had been unfaithful to ev-
cry promise. And across the border
this man was waiting for the woman
Bud Hooker loved That he take her
TO him was more severe test of his
manhood than any to which he had
before been subjected That he be
untrue to the trust she reposed in
him never entered his mind for a mo-
ment. With strong mans love for
her he thought only of how he was to
conduct her safely out OF the dangers
which surrounded her
! Soldiers. miners, and refugees, men
women, and children, every soul in
Fortuna was on the hill to see the last
of the battle. It had been a crude
affair. but bravely ended. and some
thing in the dramatic suddenness of
this victory had held all eyes to the
close. Bud and Gracia passed out OF
town unnoticeh. and as soon as they
had rounded the point they spurred on
till they gained the pass.
Il knew you would GOMEZ" said
sGracia, smiling radiantly as they
paused at the fork.
"Sure!" answered Hooker with his
good-humored smile. Count me in Oh
unything-which way does this trai
20; do you known
1T goes west twelve miles TOWARD
Arispe," replied Gracia confidently
-and then it comes into the main roaC
that leads north to Nogales and Gads
den"
That sounds about right for US, :
ItplIbu qua. bd1SQen the place We
want to head for, and we want to ge
there mighty quick. too, II them reb
els will let US, an | guess that's wha
they'll have to do whether they wan
10 OF not"
They rode on together for some dis
lance, the girl seemingly oblivious o
the dangers which surrounded her
and Hooker watching carefully for ey
cry sign Of difficulty.
What is there up here?" inquire
Bud. pointing at fainter trail tina
led off toward the north. This couI
Try is new 10 me Don't know, Ell
Well, if We followed that trail we
run into them rebels, anyway. so W
might as well go to the west. Is you
saddle all right? Wen hit it up the
I'd like 10 strike road befor
dark"
They hurried on, following a vel
marked trail that alternately climbe