The Lamar register., 1923-02-07


two rangers do2ed beside the fire.
Gale shared the Iaqul'> watch. At
the end of three hours the rangers
grew active. Mercedes was awak-
pncd; and soon th" party faced west
ward their long shadows moving be-
fore rhem. Taqu led with Blanco
Eiahln in long. easy lupe. The
heated air lifted, and incoming cur
rents from the west swept low ami
hard Over the barren earth. In the
distance all aroUnt the horizon, accu-
mutations of duSt seemed like ranging,
mushroOming yellow clouds.
Yaqui was tie only one Of the fu-
sitiyeS who never looked back Gale
had conviction that when Yaqui
.ized bncl; toward the well and the
shining plain beyond, there would be-
reason for it. But when the sun lost
is heat and the wind died down Yaqui
rnok long and careful surveys west
ward from the high points OF the
rail Sunset was not far OF. and
there In bare. spotted valley lay
t'Oyote tanks the only Waterloo" he
tween Papagu well and the SonOyta
oasis Gale used his glass told iaqui
there was no smoke. no sign Of life
stll the indian fixed his falcon eyes
IN distant spots and looked long. No
further advance was undertaken. The
Yauui beaded south and Travelled
slowly. climbing to the brow NJ II 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 necessary
speech IN desert travel meant few
greetings. a few words to make real
the fact of human coInpanionship, q
! few short, terse terms for the bust
ness of the day or night and perhaps
a stern order or N soft call to q 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.
"Maloi" exclaimed the YaquL
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 snythingr' asked
Ladd
Nope but I reckon he can"
Then Ladd suddenly Strengthened
! up, turned TO his horse. and muttered
( low under his breath.
IL reckon ST." said Lash, and for
once his easy. good-natured tone was
not in evidence. His voice was
harsh.
{ Gales eyes. keen as they were, were
last of the rangers TO see tiny needle
points OF light Just family perceptible
In the blackness.
'Laddy. Campfres?" he asked.
quickly
shores you're born. my boy"
How many"
Ladd did not reply: hut Yaqui held
up his hand his fingers wide. Five
. fhInITrt- \ ~IfbliE IbI'F b1 ftUtis
or raiders or som. other desert troop
was cnmplng NJ Coyote tanks.
Yaqui sat his horse for a moment
mOtlonleSs as stone his dark face i'm
mutable and impIssiye Then he
stretched his right arm in the direc-
tlon of No Name mountains. now los
Ing their last faint traces Of the after
glow. and he shooL hiS head He
made the same Impressive gesture
toward the Sonoyta oasis with the
same sOmber nesatlnn
Thereppon he turned Diablo's head
tn the south and started down the
slope HIS manner had been decisive
even stern. Lash lid not question II.
nor did Ladd. Both rangers hesitated.
however, and showed u Strnnge. almost
n ~ullett reluctance which Gale had
never seen In them before Raiders
werr one thin. Rojas was another;
Canine del Dinblo still another: hut
that vast and desulate and unwatered
waste ~ cactus and lava. the Sonora
desert. might appAll the stoutest
heart Gale felt his own sinlI-felt
himself finch.
ooh where is he going?" cried MPr-
cedeS Her poignant voice seemed
to break spell.
shore. lady. Yaqul's goln' home" 4"
a -