The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1914-10-15


miners in Sonora, and that is all
know about him"
"A Mexican?" repeated Del Rey
arching his eyebrows Excuse me
sir, but II is my business to know
every man in this district, and he is
no Mexican, but a Yaqui. Moreover,
he is fugitive and an outlaw, and II
he had not been enlisted with the fed.
erals should have arrested him when
he passed through Fortuna. SO l warn
you, sir, not to hide him, or you will
be liable to the law"
I'm not hiding him." protested
Hooker scornfully. I'm Just hiring
him as a miner, and any time you want
him you can come and get him. He's
up in the rocks there somewhere
now"
Sol" exclaimed the captain, glanc.
ing uneasily at the hillside. 81 did not
think-but many thanks. senior, an.
other time will do as we'll"
He refined his horse away as he
spoke and, with a jerk of the head to
Aragon, rode rapidly down the can
yon. Aragon fingered to retrieve his
fallen gun-belt and then, seeming to
think better OF his desire to speak, he
made a single vindictive gesture and
set spurs to his champing horse.
II was mrely fling of the hand. as
/ spontaneous as a sigh or a frown, but
/ in it Hooker read the last evaporation
| of the Spaniard and his declaration of
{ war TO the knife. lie barred his strong
teeth in reply and Kissed out a blight.
| ing curse, and then Apagon was gone.
That evening. as the darkness came
on and the canyon became hushed and
SIN Bud built big fire and stood be-
fore 1t, his rugged form silhouetted
against the flames. And soon. as quiet
as fox, the Yaqui appeared from the
gloom.
Did he come for me?" he asked.
advancing warily into the freight,
that captain"
Yes" answered Bud, "and for me.
too. But you must have known him
before, Amigo-he seems to be afraid
OF you"
A smile OF satisfaction passed over
the swarthy face OF the Indian at this.
and then the lines became grim again.
His eyes glowed with the light OF some
great purpose. and for the first time
since he had been with Bud he drew
aside the veil from his past.
Yes" he said. nodding significantly,
"the rural is afraid. He knows | have
come to kill him."
out cup of coffee, still brooding over
his thoughts-then, with a swift ges-
ture, he laid open his shirt and pointed
to a scar along the ribs.
Gle shot me there" he said.
And so you have come to kill him?"
YES" answered Amigo; but not
now. Tomorrow | go to my people
| must take them nay money first"
Have you got a wife," asked Hook.
er. forgetting for once his accustomed
reserve.
NO" grumbled Amiga. shaking his
head sadly. mo wife"
"Oh, you take your money to your
father and mother"
mo. No father-no mother-nadie!
He threw up his open hands to sig
nifty that all were gone. and Hooker
said no more. For three months and
more he had worked alongside this
giant, silent Yaqui and only once had
he sensed his past That was when
Amigo had torn his shirt In lifting,
and across the ripping muscles OF his
back there had been shown the long
white vale OF a whip.
II was the mark of his former
slavery when, with the rest of his peo-
pie, he had been deported to the hene-
quen fields of Yucatan and logged by
the oveHeer's ashland Amigo was
ashamed of 1t. But now that he was
about to go. Bud made bold to ask him
one more question. to set his mind at
rest.
Perhaps this captain killed your
peopleY
mo. senor." answered Amigo quiet
ly; they died"
He spoke the words simply, but
tucTc WdS bOmeIulHB III MS NOlCo tndI
brought up images OF the past-of
peaceful Yaquis, seized at every ranch
in Sonora on certain night; OF long
marches overland. prodded on by
rurales and guards; OF the crowded
prison-ships from which the most an.
guished buried themselves into the
sea; and then the awful years of
slavery in the poisoned tropics, untn
only the hardest were left.
Amigo had seen 1t all. as the scars
on his broad back proyed-but he
withdrew DOW into silence and left his
thoughts uusaid As he sat there by
the fire, one long, black hand held out
TO keep the CLEAN from his eyes, he
made a noble figure, but the Yaquq
songs which he had crooBed on other
nights we're forgotten, and he held
himself tense and still. Then at last
he rose and gazed at Bud.
"You pay me my money" he said.
Il go now"
Sure" answered Bud, and after he
had weighed out the equivalent in
gold on his scales he tipped in some