The Lamar register., 1923-02-14
CONTINUED from Page Two)

the RINGERS stretched out, rect 10 tne
fire. Gale found that he could not
sleep. His eyes were weary. but they
would not stay shut; his body ached
for rest. vet he could not lie still.
The Ynqui sat like an image carved
nut of lava. The others lay prone and
quiet. Would another night see any
OF them lie that way, quiet forever?
Gale sat up after while and again
watched the fire. Nell's sweet face
fioated like wrath in the pale
smoke ElOwed and flushed and
smiled In the emhers. Other faces
shone there-his sister's-that Of his
mother. GIle shook on the tender
memories. This deSolate wilderness
with its fOrbidding silence. ami its
dark promise Of hell on the morrow
this was not the place To unnerve "ue-
self with thoughts of love and home.
Toward dawn Gale managed Ia get
some sleep. Then the morning broke
with the sun hidden back Of the uplift
of the plateau. The horses tronpei
up the arroyo and sn0rted for wafer.
After hurried breakfast the packs
were hidden in holes In the lnya. The
and the horses allowed to gruze and
wander at will. Canteens wer'' flied.
a small bag of food was packed, and
blankets made into bundle. Then
Yaqui faced the steep ascent Of the
lava slope.
The trail he followed led up nu the
right side of the fissure. opposite 4"
the one lie had come down. II was
steep climb. and encumbered as tn"
men were they made but SLOW prog
ress. At length the rims widened out
and the red, smoky crater yawned be
meath. Ysqui left the trail and began
clambering down over the rough and
twisted convolutions of lava which
formed the rim. II was with extreme
difficulty that the party followed him.
The choya was there to hinder pas
sage. Finally the Indian halted upon
a narrow bench OF fat, smooth lava.
and his followers worked with exceed
Ing care and effort down to his posi-
tion.
At the back Of this bench, between
lunches Of choya. was niche, n shat
low cave with floor lined apparently
with mold. Yaqui spread blankets
inside, left the cantern and the sack
of food. and with gesture at once
humble vet that Of chief he in
vited Mercedes TO enter. A few more
gestures and fewer words disclosed
his plan. In this inaccessible nook
Mercedes was to he hidden. The men
were to go around upon the opposite
rim, and block the trail leading down
TO the waterhole.
Ladd chose the smallest gun in the
party and gave It to Mercedes
ashore IT'S best 10 20 the limit on
helm ready" he said. simply. THE
chances are you'll never need II. But
II you do"
He left on there. and his break was
significant Mercedes answered him
with a fearless and lndomltable fash
of eyes. Thorne was the only one VII"
showed any shaken nerve. His leave
taking of his wife was affecting and
hurried. Then ne and the rangers
carefully stepped in the tracks OF the
Yaqul. He strode on up the trail
toward a higher point. where pres
emily his dark figure stood motionless
against the sky. The rangers and
llOrnt Seltcteu II utep urIt tHsiph oui
of which led several ruts deep enough
for cover Here the men laid down
rifles and guns. and. removing their
heavy cartridge belts. settled down
10 walt
Jim Lash crawled into a little strip
II shade and hlded the time TRANQUILITY.
Iadd was restless and impatient and
watchful. every little while rising to
look up the far-reaching slope. and
then to the right, where Yaquis dark
figure stood out from high point Of
the rim Thorne grew silent. and
seemed consumed by slow. sullen
rage. Gale was neither calm nor free
II gnawing suspense nor of wait
ing wrath But MS hest he could h
put the pending action out Of mind.
II came over him all Of sudden
that he had not grasped the stupen-
,lous nature OF this desert setting,
There was the measureless red slope,
its lower ridges finally sinking into
white sand dunes toward the blue sea.
The cold. sparkling light. the white
sun. the deep azure of sky. the feeling
nf houndless expsnse all around him
these meant high altitude. South
ward the barren red simply merged