The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1914-10-09
CHAPTER XXI.


On the morning after they ha,
laughed at the comic paper and deeid
cd that all the world was fair, Hooke
and Amigo were sQuatting by the fir
and eating q man's-slze breakfast.
The creek. swollen by yesterdays
torrential rain. had settled to rivu
let. The wind had not risen and the
sun was just over the hill when, with
a rush and scramble. Amigo threw
down his cup and was of In flash for
the rocka
A moment later two men rode down
the canyon, and then two more, and
two more. It was a column of men,
all armed with rifles, and they cast
enyious eyes at Copper Bottom as they
halted before the camp. As for Bud,
he saluted gravely. Cor he knew them
for what they were.
These were tho lost forces of Ber-
nardo Bravo and Salazar, Rojas and
the other bandit chiefs, and they
marched. as he we'll knew, upon For.
tuna. They marched quietly, and the
great whistle had not blown.
1t would make q rich prize, Fortuna,
IL they could take 1t 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 save
their works.
a box Of dynamite under the giant
concentration and the money would be
produced at once, and yet the scoun.
drels halted at a one-man camp to
steal q single horse.
a flicker Of scorn passed over Hook.
ers face as the leader came dashing
up, but the Texan greeted him with a
slow smile.
Buenos dias. general" he said;
you have many men,"
hnough!" observed the general"
huzTiedly, but some in the rear are
on root. AS suppose you are In sym.
pakhy with our great cause, I will ask
you Tor that horse. OF course. I will
give you q receipt"
He fetched out a blank-book a. he
SPOKE and motioned to a ragged bep.
gar at his heels. Bud checked the
mans rush with q look,
One moment" he said, and "a the
So'oier turned back his general glanced
up sharply.
"oaly this.s Senior General" an
swefed Bud. "You are welcome to
anything l have-food, blankets. mon.
es-Dut cannot give you that horse )"
Sut, senor!" protested the general
regarding him with arrogant pig eyes
tnat glinted wickedly, this DOOR col.
aeTs feet are sore. Surely you would
NOT make him walk. Only name your
price and will give you a recent for
asm' but my man must have the
horse"
Inefe was pause and men began
TO dismount and move in closer Az
q word from their commander anv
one or them would draw and kill him
as Hooker very we'll knew, but his
love for Copper Bottom made him oh.
durate.
II the man Is lame," he said. 81
viii give him another -hr. =.
cannot have this sorrel."
He stepped quickly over to the cor.
raj and turned with his back to the
gate, while the commander spat ont
orders in Spanish and armed men
came running.
senor." he said, advancing brusoue-
" upon the defiant Hooker, 81 must
trouble you for that pistol"
No, senor!" answered the cowboy
keeping his hand upon his gun, mot
TO you nor no man--and I'll never give
1t up to a Mexican!"
"Carai!" exclaimed the officer imna.
nently. you are an Americano-no ?"
Not only that" rumbled Bud, draw.
Ing himself up in his pride, 81 am a
Ie1ano also, and If any man touches
hat horse I'll kill him!"
His voice trembled with anger. but
lis hand was steady and the Mexicans
lid not deceive themselves.
Ha, I'm Tejano!" murmured the
nen who stood about, and one or two
Fho had started to climb the fence
aought better Of 1t and dropped back
O the ground.
BUD knew the fate of several me9