The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1914-11-14

necks, not to cast a silhouette against
the sky, and let Copper Bottom pick
the trail
With ears that pricked and swiveled.
and delicate nostrils snuffng the Mex
lean faint, he pIodded 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. 81 am going to the pass"
And as the sentry stared stupidity after
him he rode on through the bushes,
neither hurrying nor hating until he
gained the trail.
Good Iuck!" he observed to Gracia,
when the camp was far behind. He
took me for an officer and never saw
you at ALL
No, nattened myself on my pony"
answered Gracia with laugh. He
thought you were leading a pack
horse"
Good" chuckled Hooker; you did
fine! Now, don't say another word
because they'll notice a woman's voice
and if we don't run into some more
of them we'1 soon be climbing the
pass"
They had passed through some per-
flous 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 defiles and into moonlit spaces.
and still they did not mount the 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 do not take the trail
at sunup-what 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 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, 1 am
in hurry!
"a donde va? A donde va?" chal-
lenged a bearded man as he sprang I'D
from his brush shelter.
ITO the pass, senor," answered Hook
er, still politely, but motioning for
Gracia to ride on ahead. "Adios!"
who is that man?" beloved the
bearded leader, turning furiously upon
his followers. Where is my sentt
mel? Stop hint"
But it was too late to stop him. Bud
roam and spurred forward in a dash foI
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 hin
| down. The man dropped his gun tc
! escape the fury of the charge and In
a 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 gallon
until, as the sun came up, they behelC
the summit of the pass.
I'VE win!" cried Bud. as he spurreC
up the last incline.
AS he looked over the top he ex
pIoded In an oath and jerked Cope
Bottom back on his launches. TIL,
leader Of long line of horsemen wa
just coming up the other side-ther
was no escape-and then back at tn
frightened girl.
Keep behind me-" he commanded
J "and don't shoot. I'm going to hoI
'em up!"
He jumped his horse out to one sid
and landed squarely on the rim Of tn
!, ridge. Gracia drew her horse in be
, hind him and reached for the pistol
her holster; then both together the
drew their guns and Bud threw dow
: on the first man.
) Go oni" he ordered, motioning hi1
forward with his head; ''pr-r-rontol
He jerked out his rifle with his lei
hand and laid it across his lap.
Hurry up now" he ragged, as tn
/ startled Mexican halted. Go on an
| keep a going, and the first man ths
makes a break I'll shoot him full {
t holesi"
? He sat like a statue on his shinin
horse. his six-shooter balanced to shoe
! and something in his very presence
: the bulk of his body. the forwar
thrust of his head. and the burnin
t hate of his eyes-quelled the spirit
: of the rebels. They were a rag-ta
army, mounted on horses and donkey
: and mules and with arms Of ever
: known make.
It was just such an army as wa
: overrunning all northern Mexico, sue
an army as had been levying tribut
on the land for century. They sprea
! terror throughout ell that great eouI
! | fry south 0f fbe American hOrdar