The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-06-01
CHAPTER xv.-continusd.

ks all rlgntF crled Gale, In piercing
tones. Mercedes is safe! Yaqui
saved herl Rojas Is done forl Yaqui
jumped down the wall and drove the
bandit off the ledge. Cut him loose
from the wall, foot by foot, land by
hand We've won the fight, Thorne."
For Thorne these were marvellous
strengthening words. The dark hor-
ror left his eyes. and they began 10
dilate, to shine. He stood up, dizzily
but unaided. and he gazed across the
crater. Yaqui had reached the side of
Mercedes, was bending over her. She
stirred Yaqul lifted her to her feet.
She appeared weak, unable to stand
alone. Bet she faced across the crater
and waved her hand. She was un-
harased. The Yaqul waved, too, and
Gale saw in the action an urgent
signal
Hastily taking, up canteen and
rides, Gale put supporting arm
around Thorne.
"Come, old man. Can you walk?
Sure you can walk! Lean on me, and
ven soon get out of this. Don't look
across, Look where you step. We've
not much time before dark. Oh,
Thorne, I'm afraid jim has cashed In
And the last saw of Laddy he was
bsdly hurt"
Gale was keyed up to high pitch
OF excitement and alertness. He
seemed TO be able TO do many things.
But once off the ragged notched lava
into the trail he had not such difficulty
with Thorne, and could keep his
keen gaze shifting everywhere for
sight OF enemies.
Listen. Thorne What's thatT
asked Gale, halting as they came to
place where the trail led down through
rough breaks In the lava. The silence
was broken by a strange sound, al
most unbelievable considering the
time and place. A voice was droning:
Turn the lady, turnl Turn the lady,
turn! Alamon left. All swing; turn
the lady, turnI"
Hello, jim" called Gale dragging
Thorne round the corner of lava.
Where are you? Oh, you son of
gun / thought you were dead. oh,
I'm glad to see you! Jim, are you
hurtT
Jim Lash stood in the trail leaning
over the butt of his rifle. which evil
IDENTIFY he was utilizing as crutch.
He was pale but smiling. His hands
were bloody. A scarf had been bound
tightly round his left leg just above
the knee. The leg hung limp, and the
foot dragged.
II reckon / amt injured much" re-
piled jim. "But my leg hurts like
HI, II you want to know"
'Laddy! Oh. where's Laddy"
"He's just across the crack there.
was trying to get TO him. We had
II hot an heavy down here Laddy
was pretty bad shot up before he tried
70 head Rojas off the, trail.
Dick. did you see the Yaqui go after
RojasY
"Did IT exclaimed Gale, grimly.
"The finish was all that saved me
from runnin' loco. reckon our
chances are against flndln' Laddy
alive. tell you. boys, Rojas
was h-l-bent. An Mercedes was
game. saw her shoot him. But
mebbe bullets couldn't stop him then.
II didn't sweat blood when Mercedes
was hghtin' him on the clifrl Then
the fnishl Only Yaqui could have
done that. Thorne, how about
you7 Dick, Is he bad hurtT
"No, he's not. A hard knock on the
skull and scalp wound" replied
Dick. "Here, Jim let me help you
over this place"
Step by step Gale got the two In
tured men down the uneven declivity
and then across the narrow lava bridge
ever the fssure. Here he bade them
rest while he went along the trail on
that side to search for Laddy. Gale
found the ranger stretched out, face
downward. a redeemed hand clutching
q gun. Gale thought he was dead.
Upon examination, however, II was
found that Ladd still lived. though he
had many wounds. Gale lifted him
and carried him back to the others.
"He's alive, but that's ALL" said
Dick, as he laid the ranger down. do
what you can. Stop the blood. Lad
dy's tough as cactus, you know. I'll
hurry back for Mercedes and Yaqui."
Gale, like a feet, sure footed noun
tsin sheep, ran along the trail. He
came upon Mercedes and the Yaqui.
She ran right into Dicks arms, and
then her strength, II not her courage,
broke. and she grew lax.
Mercedes. you're safel Thorne's
cafe. It's all right now"
"Rojasi" she whispered.
"Gonei To the bottom Of the
craterI A Yaqui's vengeance. Mer-
esdes."
He heard tie girl whisper the name
q the Virgin. Then he gathered her
sp IN his arma
p"Come, Yaqui."
The Indian gruHted. He had one
hand pressed close over q bloody place
tr his shoulder. Gale looked keenly
a. him. Yaqui was inscrutable. as OF
old. vet Gale somehow knew that
wound meant little to him. The In
1fan followed him.
= |.. = ... H.