, 1923-02-28
CHAPTER xv.--continued.

,'h>N 80 -,
tones. Mercedes is safei YaquI
saved herl Rojas is lone 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
dtlate, to shine. He stood up. dizzily
but unaided. and he gazed across the
crater. Yaqul had reached the side of
Mercedes, WIS beading 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 I'M
Harmed. The Yaqui waved, too. and
Gale saw In the action an urgent
signal.
Hastily taking up canteen and
rifles, Gale put n supporting arm
around Thorne.
Come. old man. Can you walk?
Sure you ran walk Lean on me, and
we'll sooI, get ont of this. Don't look
ecross. Look where you step. We've
not muca time before dark. oh,
Thorne, I'm afraid Jim has cashed in!
And the last I 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 notched lava
Into 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 a
place where the trail led down through
rough breaks In the lava. The silence
was broken by a strange sound, al
most unbelievable considering the
time n place. A voice was droning:
Turn the lady turn Turn the lady,
turn Alamon left. All swing; turn
the lady, turn !"
Hello. jim" called Gale, dragging
Thorne round the corner of lava.
Where are you? oh, you son of n
gunl ! thought you were dead. Oh,
Tn 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 ms g crutch.
He was pale but smiling. His hands
were bloody. A scarf nat been bound
tightly round his left leg just above
The knee. The leg hung limp. and the
DOT dragged.
IL reckon ] ain't injured much" re-
piled Jim. But my leg hurts like
III. II you want to know"
daddy! oh, where's Laddy?"
Hes just across the crack there.
was trying to get to him. We had
II hot an heavy down here. Laddy
was pretty bad shot up before he tried
to head RoJas of the trail. .
Dick. did you see the Yaqui go after
Rojrs7''
"Dld II" exclaimed Gale, grimly.
1.-THE finish was all that saved me
from runnin' loco. 1 reckon our
alive. I 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.
II didn't sweat blood when Mercedes
was fightin' him on the cliff Then
the finlshl Only n Yaqui could have
done that. . . . Thorne. how about
you? Dick, Is he bad hurtf"
"No. he's not. A hard knock on the
skull and n 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 decflvity
and then across the narrow lava bridge
over the assure. Here he bnde them
rest while he went along the trail on
fhnt ella IN son rgh for InIlv Gala
found the ranger stretched out, face
downward. n Redeemed hand clutchlng
n gun. Gale thought he was dead.
, Upon examination. however. Il was
found that Lndd still lived. though he
had many wounds Gale lifted him
md carried him back TO the others.
"ue's alive. but that's nll." said
Dick. as he laid the ranger down. do
what you can. Stop the blood. Lad
dy's tough ms cactus. You know. I'll
hurry back for Mercedes and Yaqui."
Gale. like n fleet. sure-footed noun
tain sheep. ran along the trail. He
came upon Mercedes and the Yaqui.
She ran right into Dicks arms, Inc
then her strength. n not her courage,
broke. and she grew lax.
Mercedes. you're snfei Thorne's
snfe. It's Nil right now"
"Rolns Z" she whispered.
"Gonel To the bottom OF the
crnterl A Ynqui's vengeance, Mcr.
eedes."
He heard tie girl whisper the name
Of the Virgin. Then he gathered her
up In his nrms.
Come. Yaqul."
The Indian grunted. He had one
hand pressed close over n bloody place
In his shoulder. Gale looked kccnly
n him. Ynqul was lnscrutnhle. MS Of
old. yet Gale somehow knew that
wound meant little 10 him. The In.
ainn followed him.