Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1923-06-16

faith in the YaQut. Bedding would ~
listening back there along the river
He would know of the escape. HI
would tell Nell, and then hide hel
safely. AS Gale had accepted q
strange and fatalistic foreshadowinl
of toll, blood and agony I'm this desert
journey, so he believed in Mercedes
ultimate freedom and happiness, and
his own return to the girl who had
grown dearer than life.
A cold, gray dawn was fleeing be,
! fore rosy sun when Yaqui halted
the march at Papago well. The horses
were taken TO water, then led down
the arroyo into the grass. Here packs
were slipped, saddles removed. Jim
Lash remarked how cleverly they had
fooled the rebels.
ashore they'll be comm along" re-
piled Ladd.
They built a fire. cooked and ate.
The Yaqui spoke only one word !:
Sleep" Blankets were spread, Mer-
cedes dropped into deep slumber,
element kept Thorne awake. The
two rangers dOzed beside the fire
Gale shared the Yaqui's watch. At
the end of three hours the rangers
grew active, Mercedes was awak-
ened; and soon the party faced west
ward, their long shadows moving be-
fore them. Yaqul led with Blanco
Diablo in a long, easy lope. The
heated air lifted, and incoming cur
rents from the west swept low and
hard over the barren earth. In the
distance, all around the horizon, accu-
mutations of dust seemed like ranging,
mushrooming yellow clouds.
Yaqui was the only one Of the fu-
gltives who never looked back. Gale
had conviction that when Yaqui
gazed back toward the well and the
shining plain beyond, there would be
reason for IT, But when the sun lost
its heat and the wind died down Yaqui
took long and careful surveys west
ward from the high points on the
trail. Sunset was not far Off, and
there In a bare, spotted valley lay
Coyote tanks. the only waterhole be-
tween Papago well and the Sonoyta
oasis. Gale used his glass, told Yaqui
there was no smoke, no sign of life
still the Indian fixed his falcon eyes
on distant spots and looked long No
further advance was undertaken. The
Yaqu headed south and travelled
slowly climbing to the brow of bold
height of weathered mesa. There he
sat his horse and waited. No one
questioned him. The rangers dis
mounted to stretch their legs, and
Mercedes was lifted to rock, where
she rested. ThOrne had gradually
yielded TO the deserts influence for
silence. He spoke once or twice TO
Gale, and occasionally whispered to
Mercedes Gale fancied his friend
would soon learn that necessar!
speech IN desert travel meant a few
greetings, a few words to make real
the fact of human companionship, a
few short, terse terms for the bust |
ness Of the day or night, and perhaps |
stern order or soft call to horse. |
The sun went down, and the golden, |
rosy wells turned to blue and shaded |
darker till twilight was there in the
valley. Darkness approached, and the
clear peaks faded. The horses stamped
to be on the move.
"Malo" exclaimed the Yaqui.
He did not point with arm, but his
falcon head was outstretched, and his
piercing eyes gazed at the blurring
spot which marked the location of
Coyote tanks.
"Jim, can you see anythingT asked
Laid.
Nope, but reckon he can"
Then Ladd suddenly Strengthened
up, turned to his horse, and muttered
ow under his breath
81 reckon So" said Lash, and for
)nce his easy, gOod-natured tone was
lot in evidence. His voice was
harsh.
Gales eyes, keen as they we're, were
asst OF the rangers to see tiny needle
points of light just family perceptlble
n the blackness
"Laddyl CampfresT he asked,
quickly.
Shores you're born, my boy"
"How many3
Ladd did not reply; but Yaqui held
Up his hand, his fingers wide. Five
ampfres A strong force Of rebels
II raiders or some other desert troop
vas camping at Coyote tanks.
Yaqui sat his horse for a moment
notionless as stone, his dark face Inn 1
nutable and impasslve. Then he
tretched his right arm in the dIrec-
ion Of No Name mountains, now los {
NJ their last faint traces Of the after
low, and he shook his head. He
lade the same impressive gesture
oward the Sonoyta oasis with the
anne somber negatlon.
TO BE CONTINUED