The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-09-30

WIN ears LQaL pTlCk6u anu SWiFCioot
and delicate nostrils snufing the Mex
lean faint, he plodded along through
the crossword, divining by some in
stinct his masters need Of care. The
camp was almost behind them, and
Bud had Strengthened up in the sad
die, when suddenly the watchful Cop
per Bottom jumped and a man rose up
from the ground.
Who goes there?" he mumbled,
swaying sleepily above his gun, and
Hooker refined his horse away before
he gave him an answer
None of your business" he growled
impatiently. Il am going to the pass"
And as the sentry stared stupidity after
him he rode on through the bushes,
neither hurrying o hating until he
gained the trail.
Good luck!" he observed to Gracia,
when the camp was far behind. He
took lie for an officer and never saw
you 1T ALL"
"Nt, l 1attened myself on my pony
answered Gracia with a laugh. He
thought you were leading a pack
horse"
Good chuckled Hooker; you did
fine! Now, cont say another word
because thsyI notice a woman's voice
and if we don't run into some more
Of them we'll soon be climbing the
pass"
They had passed through some per-
ilous moments, but Gracia had hardly
realized the danger because Of the as
surance Of Hooker, who was careful
not to brighten her unnecessarily. But
it was an assurance which he had not
felt himself, and he was not yet GER
tain of their safety.
The waning moon came out as they
left the wide valley behind them, and
then it disappeared again as they rode
into, the gloomy shadows Of the can
yon. For an hour Or two they plodded
slowly upward, passing through mar
row defles and into moonlit spaces,
and still they did not mount thu sum-
NIT.
In the east the dawn began to break
and they spurred on in almost a panic.
The Mexican paisanos count them
selves late if they dc not take the trail
at sunuprwhat If they should meet
some struggling party before they
reached the pass?
Bud jumped Copper Bottom up a
series Of cat steps; Gracia's roam came
scrambling behind; and then, just as
the boxed walls ended and they gained
a level spot, they suddenly found them
selves in the midst of a camp Of Mex
icans-men, saddles, packs. and rifles.
all scattered at their feet.
"Buenos dias!" saluted Bud, as the
blinking men rose up from their
blankets. Excuse me, amigos, I am
in a hurry
"A donde va? A donde va?" chal.
lenged a bearded mar as he sprang up
from his brush shelter.
ITO the pass, senor," answered Hook
er, still politely, but m%otioning for
Gracia to ride on ahead. "Adios!"
WHO Is that man." beloved the
bearded leader, turning furiously upon
his followers. + Where is my senti.
mel? Stop, him."
But it was too late to stop him. Bud
laid his quirt across the rump of the
roam and spurred forward in a dash for
cover. They whisked around the point
of a hill as the first scattered shots
rang out; and, as a frightened sentinel
jumped up in their path Bud rode him
down. The man dropped his gun to
escap the fury Of the charge and in
q mad clatter they flung themselves
at a rock-slide and scrambled to the
bench above. The path was rocky.
but they pressed forward at a gallop
until. as the sun came up. they beheld
the summit of the pass.
I'VE win!" cried Bud, as he spurred
up the last incline.
AS he looked yer the top he ex-
ploded in an oath and jerked Copper
Bottom back on his launches. The
leader of a long line of horsemen was
just coming up the other side-there
was no ~escape-and then back at the
frightened girl.
Keep behind me-" he commanded,
and don't shoot. I'm going to hold
EN- up"
He jumped his horse out to one side
and landed %squarely on the rim Of the
ridge. Gracia drew her horse in be-
hind him and reached for the pistol in
her holster; then both together they
drew their guns and Bud threw down
on the first man.
Go on" he ordered, .m%otioning him
forward with his head; "~pr-r-ronto!"
He jerked out his rifle with his left
hand and laid it across his lap.
Hurry up now" he ragged. as the
startled Mexican halted. go on and
keep a going, and the first man that
makes a break I'll shoot him full OF
holes"
He sat like a statue on his shining
horse. his six-shooter balanced to shoot.
and something in his very presence
the bulk Of his body, the forward
thrust of his head. and the burning
hate Of his eyes-quelled the spirits
Of the rebels. They were a rag-tag
army, mounted on horses and donkeys
and mules and with arms of every
known make.
II ~ $780,. ~, ,.ao
overrunning all northern Mexico, such