The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1914-09-04

!
"One moment" 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 l have-food, blankets, mon
ey-but | cannot give you that horse.
But, senor!" protested the general,
regarding him with arrogant pig eyes
that glinted wickedly, this poor sol
dier's feet 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"
There was 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.
IF the man is lame," he said, 81
Will 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 spat out
orders in Spanish and armed men
came running.
"Senor," he said, advancing brusque-
ly upon the defiant Hooker, Il must
10 ;aty II
mo, senor!" answered the cowboy,
keeping his hand upon his gun, mot
to you nor no mainland I'll never give
it up to a Mexican!"
"Carai!" exclaimed the officer impa-
tiently, you are an Americano-no?'
Not only that" rumbled Bud, draw
ing himself up in his pride, 81 am a
Tejano also, and if 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, I'm Tejano!" 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
who had proclaimed themselves Ameri-
| leans to the insurrectos-boas tfully
done, it was said to be the quickest
way there was of drawing Mexican
bullet. But to be Texan was differ
ent-somehow the very name suggest
| ed trouble to their minds and an Ala
mo fight to the death. Hooker saw
! that he had made an impression, and
he was not slow to follow it up.
''If you need a horse" he said to
the general, "let your man go up that
arroyo and he will find one hobbled on
the fiat. Then give me your receipt
for two hundred dollars gold and l
will contribute a saddle"
It was a reasonable concession, I'M
der the circumstances, and, best of all,
it saved the generals face. The hid
eous frown with which he had regard
ed the American changed suddenly to
look of pompous pride. He jerked
an imperious head at his ragged re-
tainer and drew forth his receipt-book
with a flourish.
While he waited for the horse to ap-
pear he turned upon his shopping men
and drove them to their mounts with
curses. Evidently it was no sinecure
to command in the army of the liber-
alton, and the yelled mutterings of
his followers showed that they were
little better than tigers in leash.
Mounted upon horses, mules, and
i even burros; armed with every con-
ceivable weapon from a musket to
standard repeating rifles, they were
tatterdemalion army, more fit for
treason, stratagems and spoils'' than
the sterner duties of war.
Bud looked them over closely, we'll
satisfied to have his back against a
wall, and when the low-browed re-
tainer came hurrying back with the
horse he quickly took the worthless
receipt and watched them on their
way. Then, as the last camp-follower
disappeared, he ran for his saddle and
rife and within a minute he was
mounted and away.
There were rebels below him-very
likely there were more to come-the
only safe place for Copper Bottom
was over the hills at Fortuna. With
out stopping for path or trail, he head
ed straight northwest over the ridges,
riding as the cowboys do when they
rake the range for cattle. Hardly had
he topped the first high crest when
he came in sight of Amigo, loaded
down with his cartridge-belts and car
rying his heavy Mauser.
In long, shambling trot the Yaqui
was drifting along the hillside with
the free grace Of wild creature, and
when Hooker pulled down his horse
to keep pace with him he laughed and
motioned him on. Taking the lead, he
loped on over hogback and barranca,
picking out the best trail by instinct
and setting such pace that Bud was
hard pressed to keep up with him.
He had heard 1t said that in the
Yaqui country no white man, no mat
ter how well he was mounted, could
outdistance the Indians on foot, and