The Lamar register., 1923-02-21


favoring his side Then Thorne, com
ing partly to consciousness, engaged
Gales care. The cavalryman stirred
and moaned. called for water. and
then for Mercedes Gale held him
back with strong hand and present
ly he was once more quiet
Suddenly harsh. prolonged yells
brought Gale to his feet Far down
the trails where the crater rims closed
in the deep lissure be saw moving
forms. They we're three in number.
Two of them ran nimbly across the
lava bridge. Tie tltlrd staggered far
behind II wus l.I1d lie appeared
hard hit He DRAGGED ~ the heavy
rifle which he seemed unable to raise
The yclls c4'tnc from him. He was
calling the Yadui.
Gales heart stood Still mOmcntar-
ly Here. t'cu. was The catastrophe
He hardly Jared sweep that fissure
with his glass. The two fleeing ng-
ures halted-turned to fire at Ladd.
Gale recognized the foremost one
small, compact gaudy-Rojas The
bandits arm was outstretched Puffs
out. When Ladd went down ROjas
threw his gun aside and with wild
yell bounded over the lava. His com
panion followed.
A tide of passion. first hot as fire.
then cold as Ice. rushed over Gale
when he saw Rojas take the trail to-
ward Mercedes hiding-place. The
little bandit appeared to have the
sure-footedness of mountain sheep.
The Mexican following was not 50
sure or fast He turned back. Gale
heard the trenchant bark of the .4O5.
Ladd was kneeling. He shot again
again. The retreating bandit seemed
to run full Into an invisible obstacle.
then fell lax, inert, lifeless. Rojas
sped on unmindful of the spurts OF
dust about him. Yaqui. high above
Ledd, was also firing at the bandit.
Then both rifles were emptied Rojas
turned at a high break In the trail.
He shook d defiant hand. and his ex-
ulting yell pealed family to Gales
ears. About him there was something
desperate, magnificent. Then he clam
bered down the trail
gun In hand. he staggered toward the
bridge OF lava. Before he had crossed
II Yaqui came bounding down the
slope, and In one splendid leap he
cleared the fissure He ran beyond
the trail and disappeared on the lava
above. Rojas had not seen this sud
den. darting move OF the Indian.
Gale wondered. fearfully, what had
become Of Lash. Presently. when
Rojas came out of the cracks and
ruts Of lava there might be a chance
Of disabling him by long shot His
progress was now slow. But he was
making straight for Mercedes hiding
place. What was IL leading him there
an eagle eye. or hate, or instinct?
why did he 90 on when there could
be no turning back for him on that
trail? Ladd was slow. heavy. stag
gering on the trail but he was re-
lentless. Only death could stop the
ranger now. Surely Rojas must have
known that when he chose the trail.
From time TO time Gale caught
glimpses OF Yaqui's dark figure steal
Ing along the higher rim of the crater.
ne WIS Hhhlne lot u pOiHt nboNf iht
bandit
Ladd staggered along the trail at
times he crawled The Yaqui gained;
he might have had wings; he leaped
from jagged crust to Jagged crust; his
sure-footedness was wonderful thing
But for Gale the marvel of that
endless period of watching was the
purpose Of the bandit Rojas. He had
now no weapon. Gales glass made
this fact plain. There was death he,
hind him. death below him. death be
fore him, and though he could not
have known IT, death above him. He
never faltered-never made misster
upon the narrow. fiinty trail. When ne
reached the lower end of the level
ledge Gales poignant doubt became
certainty. Roins had seen Mercedes
II was Incredible. vet Gale believed II.
Then. his heart clamped as in an icy
wise Gale threw forward the Reming-
ton. and sinking on one knee. began
to shoot He emptied the magazine.
Puffs Of dust near Rojas did not even
hin, furr