The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser., 1914-07-24
CHAPTER xl-contInued.

had said, when rebuked for serving
under the hated flag of Mexico, ito Kill
Mexicans. And" he added grimly, the
federals at this time seem best able
to give US guns for that purpose"
But it had been a year now since
Bule had passed his word and, though
they had battled valiantly, their land
had not been given back to them. The
wild Yaquis, the irreconcilables who
never came down from the hills, had
gone on the warpath again, but Bule
and his men still served.
Only in two things did they disobey
their officers-they would not stack
their arms, and they would not retreat
while there were still more Mexicans
to be killed Otherwise they were
very good soldiers.
But now, after the long campaign in
Chihuahua and a winter of idleness at
Aqua Negra, they were marching
south toward their native land and, in
spite of the stern glances Of their lead
ers, they burst forth In weird Yaqui
songs which, If their words had been
Mexican officers some slight uneasi-
ness.
1t was, in fact, only question of
days, months, or years until the entire
Yaqui contingent would desert, taking
their arms and ammunition with them.
Gee, what a bunch of men!" ex-
claimed Bud, as he stood off and ad-
mired their stark forms.
There's some genuine fighters for
you," he observed to Phil; and giant
Yaqui, standing near, returned his
praise with smile.
wy, hello there, Amigo!" hailed
Bud, jerking mis- head in friendly sa-
Iute That's a feller l was making
signs to up in Aqua Negra," he ex-
planned. "Dogged If l amt stuck on
these Yaquis-they're all men, believe
mel"
Good workers, all right" conceded
De Lancey, "but I'd hate to have 'em
get after me with those guns. They
say they've killed a lot Of Americans,
one time and another"
We'll, if they did it way or being
caught in bad company, id Hooker.
I'D take chance with @em any time
but if you go into their country
with a Mexican escort they'll kill you
on general principles. Say" he cried
impuisively, I'm going over to talk
with Amigo!"
With broad grin on his honest face
he advanced toward the giant Yaqui
and shook hands tremendously
Where you go?" he inquired in
Spanish, at the same time rolling a
cigarette and asking by sign for a
match.
"Moctezuma," answered the Indian
gravely. Then. as Bud offered him the
makings, he. too, rolled cigarette
and they smoked for a minute in
silence.
"You live here?" inquired the Yaqui
at last
Come here" corrected Bud. 81
have mine-ten miles-over there
He pointed with the fiat of his hand,
Indian fashion, and Amigo nodded un-
derstandingly.
He was a fine figure OF man, stand
ing six feet or better in his well-cut
sandals and handling his heavy Mau-
ser as a child would swing stick.
Across his broad chest he wore full
cartridge belt, and around his waist
he had two more, filled to the last
hole with cartridges and loaded clips.
At his feet lay his blanket, bound into
a tight roll, and a canteen and coffee
cup completed his outfit, which, so far
as impedimenta were concerned. was
simplicity itself.
But instead of the cheap linen uni
form of the federals he was dressed
in good American clothes-a striped
shirt, overalls, and a sombrero banded
with a bright ribbon-and in place of
the beaten, hunted look of those poor
conscripts he had the steady gaze of
a free man.
They stood and smoked for a few
moments, talking briefly, and then, as
the Yaquis closed up their ranks and
marched off to make camp for the
night, Bud presented his strange
friend with the sack Of tobacco and
went back to join his pardner.
That evening the plaza was filled
with the widest rumors, and another
train arrived during the night, but
through it all Bud and Phil remained
unimpressed. In the morning the sol
diers went marching off down the trail,
leaving a great silence where all had
been bugle-calla and excitement, and
then the first fugitive came in from
down below.
He was an old Mexican with trem-
bling beard and staring eyes, and he
told tale of outrage that made their
blood run cold. The red-faggers had
come to his house at night; they had
killed his wife and son, left him upon
the, ground for dead, and carried off
his daughter. prisoner.
But later, when the comisario ques-
toned him sharply, it developed that
he lived not far away, had no daugh-