Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1923-02-23
CHAPTER XII
Across Cactus and Lava.

At the far corner of the field faqui
halted and slowly the line OF white
horses merged into a compact mass
Yaqui slipped out of his saddle. he
ran his hand over Diablo's nose ana
spoke low. and repeated this action
for each of the other horses. Gale
had long ceased to question the
strange Indians behavior. There was
no explaining or understanding many
of his maneuvers. But the results OF
them were always thought-prOyoking
Gale had never seen horses stand so
silently as In this instance; no stamp
no champ of bit-no toss of head
no shake of saddle or pack-no heaye
or snort 1t seemed they had become
lmbued with the spirit of the Indian
YaquI moved away into the shadows
as noiselessy as If he were one of
them The darkness swallowed him.
He had taken a direction parallel with
the trail. Gale wondered If Yaqui
meant to try to lead his string OF
horses by the rebel sentinels-
The Indian appeared as he had van
ished. He might have been part of
the shadows. But he was there He
started off down the trail leading
Diablo. Again the white line stretched
slowly out. Gale fell in behind Peer
ing low with keen eyes, he made out
three objects-a white sombrero,
blanket and a Mexican lying face
down. The Yaqui had stolen upon this
sentinel like silent wind of DEATH
Once under the dark lee of the river
bank Yaqui caused another halt. and
he disappeared as before. Moments
passed. The horses held heads up,
looked toward the glimmering camp
fires and listened. Gale thrilled with
the meaning of 1t all-the nlght-the
silence-the Highland the wonderful
Indian stealing with the slow inev-
ftableness of doom upon another SEN
tinel.
Suddenly the Indian stalked out Of
the gloom. He mounted Diablo and
headed across the river. Once more
the line Of moving white shadows
stretched out Gale peered sharply
along the trail. and. presumably. on
the pale sand under a cactus. there
lay a blanketed form. prone. out
stretched, a carbine clutched In one
hand. a cigarette, still burning, in the
other.
The cavaicade of white horses
passed within FIVE hundred yards OF
campfires, around which dark forms
moved In plain sight. The lights dis
appeared from time to time. grew
DINNER. more pickering. and at last
they vanished altogether. Belongs
fleet and tireless steeds were out in
front; the desert opened ahead wide,
dark. vast Rojas and his rebels were
behind. eating. drinking. careless. The |
somher shadow lifted from Gales |
heart. He held now an unquenchable !
faith In the Yaqul. Bedding would be |
listening hack there along the river. |
He would know of the escape. He |
would tell Nell. and then hide her
safely. AS Gale had accepted a |
strange and fatalistic foreshadowing |
nj toll. blood and agony In this desert |
journey. so he believed In Mercedes
ultimate freedom and happiness, and
his own return to the girl who had
grown denrer than life.
cold. gray dawn was fleeing be-
fore rosy sun when Yaqui halted
the march at Papago well. The horses
we're taken to water. then led down
The arroyo into the grass. Here packs
we're slipped. saddles removed. Jim
ash remarked how cleverly they had
cooled the rebels.
"Shore they'll be comm along" re-
,lled Ladd.
They built q fire. cooked and are.
rhe yaqui spoke only one word
Sleep" Blankets were spread Mer
edes dropped into deep slumber
ier head on Thorne's shoulder Ex.
ilement Kept Th0rne awake. The
wo rangers dozed beside the Ere
;ale shared the faqui's watch. AZ
he end OF three hours the ranEers
rev active. Mercedes Was awak-
ned and soon the party faced Nesl
ara. their long shadows moving be-
ore them, faqDl led with hlancu
'iablo Ia long. easy Hope. Tbs
saled air iifted, ana lnc0mlng cor
snis from ths Nesi svepi los pnd
ard ofes ihe barren eaglh. IA fhf
lslance pu agopnd inc horizon. afcu
lnlailons ~ dust seemed llkp ranging
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