Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1914-12-25
CHAPTER XXI.


laughed at the comic paper and decid-
cd that all the world was fair. Hooker
and Amigo were squatting by the fire
and eating a man's.si ze breakfast.
The creek. swollen by yesterdays
'oorrential rain, had settled to a rfvu-
Aet. The wind had not risen and the
sun was Just over the hill when. with
q rush and a scramble, Amigo threw
down his cup and was off in a fash for
the rocks,
A moment later two men rode down
Ghe canyon, and Their two more, and
two more. 1t wac a column Of men.
all armed with rifles, and they cast
@nvious eyes at Copper Bottom as they
halted before the camp. AS for Bud.
be saluted gravely, for he knew them
Cor what they were.
These we're the lost forces OF Ber-
nnrd0 Bravo and Salazar, Rojas and
che other bandit chiefs, and they
marched, as he well knew, upon For.
1Ina. They marched quietly. and the
great whistle had not blown.
IL would make a rich prize, Fortuna,
Or they could take It 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 saw
their works.
A box Of dynamite under the giant
concentration and the money would be
produced at once, and yet the scoun-
6rels halted at a one-man camp to
steal a single horse.
A flicker OF scorn passed over Hook
0r's face as the leader came dashing
mp. 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, or course, | will
give you a receipt"
He fetched out a handbook ms 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
mp sharply.
only this, Senior General" an
-@wered Bud. you are welcome to
anything | have-food, blankets, mon
'ey-but l cannot give you that horse
But ~senor!" protested the general
segardlng him with arrogant pig eyes
chat siinted %wickedly. this poor sol
dfer's feet are sore. Surely you woult
mot make him walk. Only name your
price and | will give you a receipt fol
MIN. but my man must have tn,
1sorse."
There was a pause and men begar
rAo dismount and move In closer. A
q word from their commander an!
one Of them would draw and kill him
a. Hooker very we'll knew, but hi
Eove for Copper Bottom made him oh
<7urate.
IF the man Is lame,' he said, :"
twi1 give him another horse-but h
cannot have this sorrel."
He stepped quickly over to the col
raj and turned with his back to tn,
gate. while the commander spat ou
orders In Spanish and armed me,
came running.
"Senor." he said, advancing brusQut
~ upon the defiant Hooker, Il mus
&rOuble you for that pistol"
mo, senor!" answered the cowboy
Seeping his hand upon his gun. nc
90 you nor no man-and III never Civ
N up to a Mexican!"
~Carai!" exclaimed the officer imp'
&1ently, you are an Americano-no?
mot only that" rumbled Bud, draw
ting himself UP in his pride. 81 am
Teiano also. and II any man touche
CHAT horse I'll kill him!"
His voice trembled with anger, b,
Ms hand wal steady and the Mexican
ed not deceive themselves.
"Ha, I'm Tejano!" murmured tt
&nen who stood about, and one or tS
who had started to climb the fenc
Thought better OF 1t and dropped bac
10 the ground
Rud knew the fate OF several me