Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1923-06-30

jim LASH. III SeelH Teu, ten you
Well, pore as my eyes are they
had It right. Rojas an his outfit have
left the trail Laddy, I'll be DANCED
If the Greaser bunch hasn't vamoosed.
Gone out Of sight Right there not a
half mile away, the whole eahoodle-
gonei"
"Shore they're behind crust or
have gone down Into a rut" suggested
Laid. They'll show again in a min
ute. Look sharp, boys, for I'm fig
germ Rojas II spread his men,"
From time to time the rangers
looked inquirlngly at Gale The field
glass, however, like the naked sight,
could not catch the slightest moving
object out there upon the lava. A
long hour Of slow, mounting suspense
i wore on.
"Shore It's all goin' to be as queer
, as the Yaqul" said Ladd.
Indeed, the strange mien, the silent
action the sOmber character of the
Indian had not been without effect
upon the minds of the men. Then the,
weird, desolate, tragic scene added to
the vague sense Of mystery. And now
the disappearance of Rojas' band, the
long wait In the silence, the bOding
certainty of invisible foes crawling,
circling closer and closer. lent to the
situation a final touch that made it
unreal.
I'm reckonin' there's mind be-
hind them Greasers," replied Jim. "Or
mebbe we amt done Rojas credit.
If somethin' would only come
orr
That Lash, the coolest, the most
proyokingly nonchalant of men in
times of peril, should begin to show
a nervous strain was all the more In
dlcative of subtle pervadlng UNI
reality.
Boys, look sharpp suddenly called
Lash. Low down to the left-mebbe
three hundred yards. See, along by
them seams Of lava-behind the cho-
vas. First off l thought 1t was a
sheep. But it's the YaquiI i
Crawlin' swift as a lizard Can't you
see him?p
II was a full moment before Jlm's |
companions could locate the Indian. |
Flat as a snake, Yaqui wound him
self along with incredible rapldity. !
able for the fact that he appeared to
pass directly under the dreaded cho-
vas Sometimes he paused to lift his
head and look.
"Shore he's headin' for that high
place." said Ladd. He's going slow
now. There. he's stopped behind some
choyas. He's gettin up-no, he's
kneelln'. -. Now what the h-l"
daddy, take a peek at the side of
that lava RIDGE sharply called Jim.
II guess mebbe somethin' amt comm
on Seel There's Rojas an his outfit
elimbln' Don't make out no bosses.
Dick, use your glass an tell
us what's DOM. I'll watch Yaqui an
tell you what his move means"
Clearly and distinctly, almost as If
be could have touched them, Gale had
Rojas and his followers in sight. They
we're toiling up the rough lava on
foot.
They're almost up now" Gale was
saying. iTherel They halt on top.
| see Rojas. He looks Wild BY -i
fellows. an Indlanl It's a Papago.
nelding's old herderl . The In
liam pelnts-this way-then down.
He's showing Rojas the lay of the
rail"
Boys, Yaqui's in range of that
1unch," said Jim, swiftly. Hes
-alsin' his rifle slow--Lord, how slow
le isl He's covered someone.
Which one 1 can't say. But l think
lell pick Rojas."
"The YaQui can shoot He'll pick
Rojas," added Gale, grimly
"Rojas-yes-yes !" cried Thorne, in
passion Of suspense.
"Not on your Iife" Ladd's voice
ut in with scorn. "Gentlemen, you
an gamble Yaqui'll kill the Papago.
That traitor Indian knows these sheep
launts. He's tellln' Rojas-"
A sharp rifle shot rang out.
'Laddy's right" called Gale. The
oapago's hit--his arm falls. There.
he tumbles."
More shots rang out. Yaqui was {
seen standing erect firing rapidly at
he darling Mexicans. For all Gale
,ould make out no second bullet took {
,ffect Rojas and his men vanished
,ehind the bulge of lava. The Yaqui
backed away from his po-
ition. He made no effort to run or I
tide. Presently he turned and came '
itraight toward the position of the
'angers, sheered Off perhaps a hun l
lfed PAGES below 1t, and disappeared {
n a crevice. Plainly his intention
vas to draw pursuers within rifle shot.
Another wait set in then. and judg- {
ng by the more direct rays of the q
un and a receding of the little shad-
rvs cast by the choyas, Gale was of !