The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1923-08-31
A Romance
By Zane Grey
Copyright by Harper and Brothers

uation. 81 might run, but I'll never
scream" said Helen. With that Am
brOse had to be content to let her stay.
However, he found her place some
what farther back from Madeline's po-
sition, where he said there was less
danger of her being seen. Then he
sternly bound her to silence. tarried n
moment to comfort Christine. his wife,
acting as maid to the ladies, and re-
turned to where Madeline lay con-
cealed. He had been there scarcely a
moment when he whispered:
81 hear bosses. The guerrillas are
comm"
Madeline's hiding place was well
protected from possible discovery from
below. She could peep over kind of
parapet, through an opening in the
tips of the pines that reached up to
the cliff, and obtain commanding view
of the camp circle and its immediate
surroundings. She could not, however,
see far either to right or left of the
camp, owing to the obstructing foliage.
Presently the sound of horses hoOfs
quickened the beat of her pulse and
caused her to turn keener gaze upon
the cowboys below.
Although she had some inkling of
the course Stewart and his men were
TO pursue, she was not by any means
prepared for the Indifference she saw.
Frank was asleep or pretended to be.
Three cowboys were laZily and uncon-
cernedly attending to campfire duties,
such as baking biscuits, watching the
ovens, and washing tins and pots. The
elaborate set of aluminium plates, cups,
ETC., together with the other camp fix
lures that had done service for Made
lines party. had disappeared. Nick
Steele sat with his back to log, smok-
ing his pipe. Another cowboy had just
brought the horses closer into camp,
where they stood waiting to be sad
died. Nels appeared to be fussing over
a pack. Stewart was rolling Gig
arctic. Monty had apparently nothing
to do for the present except whistle,
which he was doing much more loudly
than melodiously. The whole ensem-
bic gave an impression of careless in
difference
The sound of horses hoofs grew
louder and slowed its beat. One of the
cowboys pointed down the trail. toward
which several of his comrades turned
their head for a moment, then went
on with their occupations.
Presently shaggy, dusty horse
bearing lean, ragged. dark rider rode
into the camp and halted. Another
followed, and another Horses with
Mexican riders came in single file and
stopped behind the leader.
"Buenos dias, senor," tremendously
said the foremost guerrilla.
By straining her ears Madeline
heard that voice, and she recognized
II as belonging to Don Carlos. S.ewar.
answered the greeting in Spanish, and,
waving his hand toward the campfire,
added in English, Get down and eat"
The guerrillas were anything but
slow in complying. They crowded to
the fire, then spread in a little circle
and squatted upon the ground, laying
their weapons beside them The cow
boys were not cordial in their receJ,-
ton of this visit, but they were hos
pitable. The law of the desert had
always been to give food and drink TO
wayfaring men, whether lost or hunted
or hunting.
'"They appear to be friendly enough"
whispered Madeline. Ambrose, tell
me-eXplain TO me-the real thing"
"Sure. Gene thinks they're after
you ladies-to carry you off. But
Gene Oh, Genes some highfalutin
in his ideas lately. Most of us boys
think the guerrillas are out to rob
that's ALL"
Whatever might have been the Sc
cret motive of Don Carlos and his men,
they did not allow it to interfere with
a hearty appreciation of a generous
amount of food. Then, as each and
every one began to roll and smoke the
inevitable cigarette of the Mexican,
there was a subtle change In manner.
They smoked and looked about the
camp, off into the woods, up at the
crags, and back at the leisurely cow
boys. They had the air of men waiting
for something.
"Senor," began Don Carlos, address
ing Stewart. AS he spoke he swept
circle.
Madeline could not distinguish his
words, but his gesture plainly indi-
Gated question in regard to the rest
of the camping party. Stewards reply
and the wave of his hand down the
trail meant that his party had gone
home. Stewart turned to some task,
and the guerrilla leader quietly
smoked He looked cunning and
thoughtful. Presently big-boned man
with a bullet head and a blistered red
face of evil coarseness got up and
American.
Hey, GULL" he called in loud voice,
"ain't We goin' to cough up drink?"
"My boys don't carry liquor on the
TRAIL" replied Stewart.
"Haw, haw l heerd over in Rodeo
lHel We was SitIih W NC SnOTe SOME
fer temperance" said this fellow. 81
hate to drink water, but l guess I've
gotter do it,"
He went to the spring. sprawled
down to drink, and all of sudden he
thrust his arm down In the water to
bring forth a basket. The cowboys in
the hurry of packing had neglected to
remove this basket; and 1t contained
bottles Of wine and liquors for Made
merged In the spring to keep them
cold. The guerrilla fumbled with the
lid, opened it, and then got up, uttering
loud roar of delight.
Stewart made an almost impercept-