Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-05-03
CHAPTER xv.--contInued.


ats all right" cried Gale, in piercing
tones. Mercedes is safe. Yaqui
saved her! Rojas is done for Yaqui
jumped down the wall and drove the
bandit off the ledge Cut him loose
from the wall, foot by foot Land by
hand We've won the fight, Thorne"
For Thorne these were marvellous
strengthening words. The dark hor-
ror left his eyes, and they began to
.dilate. to shine. He stood up, dizzily
but unaided, and he gazed across the
crater. Yaqui had reached the side Of
Mercedes, was bending over her. She
stirred Yaqui lifted her to her feet.
she appeared weak, unable to stand
alone But she faced across the crater
and waved her hand. She was UNI
harmed The Yaqui waved, too, and
Gale saw in the action an urgent
signal.
Hastily taking up canteen and
rifles, Gale put a supporting arm
around Thorne.
Come, old man. Can you walk?
Sure you can walk Lean on me, and
We'll soon get out Of this. Don't look
across. Look where you step. We've
not much time before dark. Oh,
Thorne, I'm afraid Jim has cas,,ed in!
And the last saw of Laddy he was
badly hurt"
Gale was keyed up to a high pitch
of excitement and alertness. He
seemed to be able to do many things.
But once off the ragged notch, lava
dnto the trail he had not such difficulty
with Thorne, and could keep his
keen gaze shifting everywhere for
sight Of enemies.
Listen, Thorne! What's that?"
asked Gale, halting as they came to
place where the trail led down through
rough breaks in the lava. The silence
was broken by strange sound, al
most unbelievable considering the
time and place. A voice was droning !:
s"Turn the lady, turn! Turn the lady,
turn! Alamon left, All swing; turn
the lady, turn p
Hello, JIM" called Gale, dragging
Thorne round the corner of lava.
where are you? Oh, you son Of a
gun! thought you were dead. oh,
I'm glad to see you'll Jim, are you
hurt?"
Jim Lash stood in the trail leaning
over the butt OF his rifle, which evil
IDENTIFY he was utilizing as a crutch
He was pale but smiling. His hands
were bloody. A scarf had been bound
tightly round his left leg just above
the knee. The leg hung limp, and the
foot dragged.
81 reckon I amt injured much" re-
piled Jim. But my leg hurts like
III, if you want to know"
daddy! Oh. where's Laddy?"
He's just across the crack there.
was trying to get to him. We had
it hot an heavy down here. Laddy
was pretty bad shot up before he tried
to head Rojas off the trail. !.
Dick. did you see the Yaqui go after
Rojas?'
did ~" exclaimed Gale, grimly.
'"The finish was all that saved me
from runnin' loco. l reckon our
chances are against findin' T.addy
alive. 1 tell you, boys, Rojas
was h-l-bent. An Mercedes was
game. I saw her shoot him. But
mebbe bullets couldn't stop him then
If l didn't sweat blood when Mercedes
was fghtin' him on the cliff! Then
the finishI Only a Yaqui could have
done that. Thorne, how about
you? Dick, is he bad hurt?''
mo, he's not A hard knock on the
skull and a scalp wound" replied
Dick. "Here, Jim let me help you
over this place."
Step by step Gale got the two in
Jured men down the uneven declivity
and then across the narrow lava bridge
over the f1ssure. Here he babe them
rest while he went along the trail on
that side to search for Lady. Gale
found the ringer stretched out, face
downward, a REDEEMED hand clutching
gun. Gale thought he was dead.
Upon examination, however, it was
found that Ladd still lived, though he
had many wounds Gale lifted him
and carried him back to the others.
"He's alive, but that's all" said
Dick, as he laid the ranger down. "Do
what you can. Stop the blood. Lad
dy's tough as cactus, you know. I'll
hurry back for Mercedes and Yaqui."
Gale, like a fleet, sure-footed noun
tain sheep, ran along the trail He
came upon Mercedes and the Yaqui.
She ran right into Dicks arms, and
then her strength, If not her courage
broke, and she grew lax.
Mercedes, you're safel Thornes
safe. It's all right now"
"Rojas!' she whispered.
"Gone! To the bottom Of the
crater! A Yaqui's vengeance, Mer-
cedes."
He heard tie girl whisper the name
of the Virgin. Then he gathered her
up in his arms
"Come, Yaqui"
The Indian grunted. He had one
hand pressed close over a bloody place
in his shoulder. Gale looked keenIy
az him. Yaqui was inscrutable, as of
old, yet Gale somehow knew that
wound meant little to him. The In
dian followed him.
Gale carried Mercedes up to the
rim and along to the others. Jim Lash
worked awkwardly over Ladd. Thorne
was trying to assist. Ladd, himself,
was conscious, but he was a pallid,
apparently death-stricken man.