The Elk Mountain pilot., 1923-03-08

people corralled in the desert. But
the grub end amt worryin' me- Yaqul
can get sheep up the slopes. Water |
That's the beginnin' an middle an
end Of our case"
"Laddy. I reckon the waterhole here
never goes dry" replied Jim.
ASK the Indian"
Upon being questioned, Yaqui spoke
Of the dreaded ano seco Of the Mexi-
cans. In a dry year this waterhole
failed.
'Dick, take rope an see how much
waters in the hole"
Gale could not find bottom with q
thirty-foot lasso. The water was as
cool, clear, sweet as II It had been
kept in shaded iron receptacle.
Ladd welcomed this information
with surprise and gladness. Lets
see. Last year was shore pretty dry.
Mebbe this summer won't be. Mebbe
our wonderful good luck1l hold. Ask
Yaqui II he thinks It'll rain"
Mercedes questioned the Indian.
He says no man can tell surely.
But he thinks the rain will come" she
replied.
"Shore It'll rain, you can gamble
on that now" continued Ladd. "n
there's only grass for the hossesl We
can't get out Of here without hosses.
Dick, take the Indian an scout down
the arroyo. Today seen the hosses
were gettin' fat. Gettin' fat in this
desert But mebbe they've about
grazed up all the grass. Go an see.
Dick. An may you come back with
more good newsi''
Gale found that the arroyo widened
as 1t opened. Near the head, where
1t was narrow, patches of gray grass
grew everywhere. Gale began to won
der where the horses were Finally
the trees and brush thinned out, and
a mile-wide gray plain stretched down
to reddish sand dunes. Over to one
side were the white horses, and here
was grass enough for many; the ar
royo was indeed an oasis.
Ladd and the others were awaiting
Gales report, and they received 1t
with calmness, yet with a joy no less
evident because 1t was restrained.
Gale, in his keen observation at the
moment, found that he and his COM
rades turned with glad eyes to the
woman Of the party. -s.,
"Senor Laddy. you think-you-be-
lieve we. shall" she faitered. and
her voice failed. ! lss W i4i 3
Mercedes, no white man can tell
what'll come to pass out here" said
Ladd. earnestly. "Shore I have hopes
now never dreamed Of was pretty
near a dead man. The Indian saved
me. Beldin' had 1t right. Yaqui's
our godsend. Now. as to the future,
I'd like to know mebbe as well as
you If we're ever to get home. Only
bein' what am. say, Quien sabef
But somethin' tells me Yaqui knows.
Ask him, Mercedes. Make him tell
He's a silent Indian, but make him
tell"
Mercedes called to Yaqui. At her
bidding there was always a suggestion
of hurry. which otherwise was never
manifest in his. actions. She put a
hand ON his barred muscular arm and
began to speak In Spanish. Her voice
thrilled Gale, though he understood
scarcely a word she said. He did not
need translation to know that here
spoke the longing of woman for life
love. home, the heritage Of woman's
heart.
"Siw rolled out the Indians reply,
full Of power and depth.
Mercedes drew a long breath, and
her hand sought Thorne's.
HE says yes," she whispered He
answers he'll save us; he'll take us
all back-he knowsi"
The Indian turned away to his
tasks, and the silence that held the
little group was finally broken by
Ladd.
"Shore said so. Now all we've
got to do II use sense. Friends. I'm
the commissary department Of this
outfit. an what say goes. You all
won't eat except when I tell you.
Mebbe it'll not be so hard to keep our
health. Starved beggars don't get
sick. But there's the heat comm, an
we can all 60 loco. you know. To pass
the timei Lord, that's our problem.
Now. II you all only had hankerIn'
for checkers. Shore TIL make a board
an make you play. Thorne. you're
the luckiest. You've got your girl. an
this can be honeymoon. Now with
few tools an little material see what
gand house you can build for your
wife. Dick. you're lucky. too. You
like to hunt, an up there you'll find
the finest bighorn huntin' In the West
Take Yaqui and the .405. We need
the meat, but while you're gettin' It
have your sport. Rustic now, son.
Get some enthusiasm. For shore you.l
need 1t for yourself an u.s."
Gale climbed the lava slope, away
round to the right Of the arroyo,
along an old trail that Yaqui said the
Papagos had made before his own
people hunted there. From the