Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1923-02-23
CHAPTER x-continued.

booked out at the distant group
~ Gandlts, and then turned his gaze
- rost upon Mercedes. She was con-
Ge1ous now. and her eyes seemed all
IL larger and blacker for the white
neoB Of her face. No one but Gale
saw the Yaqul In the background look
ing down upon the Spanish girl. All
Of Yaqufs looks were strange; but
this vas singularly so. Gale won
dered II the Indian were affected by
her loveliness, her helplessness, or her
fogrof.
Presently Bedding called his rang
err to him, and then Thorne.
Listen TO this" he said. earnestly.
s I'll 90 out and have talk with Ro-
& Jas I'll try to reason with him; tell
him to think a long time before he
sheds blood on Uncle Sans soil. That
he's now after an Americans wife,
I'll not commit myself, nor will l re-
fuse outright to consider his demands.
nor viii show the least fear of him.
I'll play for time. If my bluff goes
through well and good.
Dick and Thorne. will take Mercedes
and my best white horses. and. with
Ysqui as guide, circle round through
Altar valley to the trail. and head for
Yuma. l want you to take the Indian.
because In a case of this kind he'll
~ godsend II you get headed or
lost or have to circle of the trail,
think what it'd mean to have a Yaqui
with you. He knows Sonora as no
Greaser knows It. He could hide you,
md water and grass, when you would
absolutely believe 1t impossible. The
Indian Is loyal He has his debt to
pay, and he'll pay it. don't mistake me.
When you're gone I'll hide Nell SO
s1o5ns won't see her If he searches the
place. Then think I could sit down
and wait without any particular
4Weesy."
The rangers approved of Belongs
PIN, End Thorne went to the side Of
Nj wife.
Mercedes, we've planned to outwit
Rojas. VIII you tell us what he
Hrote?"
"Rojas swore-by his saints and his
X1rgin-that If l wasn't given-to him
sin twenty-four hours-he would set
Slre to the village-kilI the men2car-
~ on the women-hane the children
an cactus thornsl"
s A moments silence followed her
1Ast hating whisper.
Then the Yaqui uttered q singular
cry. Gale had heard this once before.
and now he remembered II was at the
Papago we'll
) Look at the Indian" whispered
Bedding. hoarsely On II DOM
4elieve he understood every word Mer-
cedes said. And, gentlemen, don't mis-
1ake me. II he ever gets near Senior
lRojas there'H be some CORY Aztec
tnife work"
Yaqui had moved close to Mercedes,
and stood beside her as she leaned
against her husband. She seemed i'm
Yelled to meet the Indians gaze. and
evidently 1t was so powerful or hyp-
ootic that 1t wrought irresistibly upon
her. But she must have seen or d. |
|
Dor she offered him her trembling
land. Yaqui took it and laid II
against his body in strange motion.
and bowed his head. Then he stepped |
lack into the shadow of the room.
Bedding went outdoors while the |
tangers took up their former position
u the west window. Each had his |
own somber thoughts. Gale imagined. |
and knew his own were dark enough. |
He saw Bedding halt at the corrals
and wave his hand. Then the rebels
and came brIskly up the
road. this time to rein In abreast.
Wherever Rojas had kept himself
ppon the former advance was not
clear; but he certainly was prominent
" In sight now. He made n gaudy.
almost a dashing figure. Rojas dis
mounted and seemed to be listening.
Bedding made gestures. vehemenfly
bobbed his big head. appeared 10 talk
With his body rs much as with his
|Dngue. Then Rojas was seen 10 reply.
md after that II Was clear that the
|alk became painful and difficult. In
Pnded finally In what appeared 10 be
MUTUAL understanding. Rojas mount
ID and rode away with his men.
shile Bedding came trnmp.ng bach 10
he house.
A he catered the door his eyes
we're shining, his big hands were
'isnehed, sad be was breathing su.
|ibiy.
"foe snp rope ms n i'm nof 10.
esoF hs bussi out u sent QUA 10
oneiilats fsa,bsnaaa illls mur.
lsssf, sna ds ae II ! didn't neel
. "s'i, Ife 40 suitable nalne
'aAay' s's''aa my blpa aad g,a
lops Dfass} ssil nssf fofhoi 10 s,en
lpp ihai Mefesdss Ma Ibognes M
10 Nhai 40 }Ap shlph1 lfolas aNufs
y loved Aefefds sNafs 100 ,nasg3
~ flsH heff W iofl0ln nlsff
Hef M fo4lI slsf np Iollblug ana /
UNA pfesle hnd ialf Nel Huat