Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1923-03-09
By ZANE GREY
Author of
Riders Of the Purple Sage,
Wildfire, Etc.

Gale recognized the foremost one
small. compact, gaudy-Rojasl The
bandits arm was outstretched. Puts
Of white smoke rose, and shots raped
out. When Ladd went down Rojas
threw his gun aside and with a wild
yell bounded over the lava. dis COM
panion followed
A tide Of passion, first hot as fire,
then cold as Ice, rushed over Gale
when he saw Rojas take the trail to-
ward Mercedes hiding-place. The
little bandit appeared to have the
sure-footedness of a mountain sheep
The Mexican following was not SO
sure or fast. He turned back. Gale
heard the trenchant bark Of the 400.
Laid was kneeling He shot again
again. The retreating bandit seemed
to run full into an invisible obstacle,
then fell lax, inert, lifeless. Rojas
sped on unmindful Of the spurts OF
dust about him. YaQui, high above
Ladd, was also firing at the bandit
Then both rifles were emptied. Rojas
turned at a high break In the trail.
He shook q defiant hand, and his ex-
ulting yell pealed family to Gales
ears. About him there was something
desperate, magnificent. Then he clam
bered down the trail.
Ladd dropped the .405, and rising.
gun in hand. he staggered toward the
bridge of lava. Before he had crossed
it Yaqui came bounding down the
slope, and in one splendid leap he
cleared the assure. He ran beyond
the trail and disappeared on the lava
above. Rojas had not seen this sud
den, darting move Of the Indian.
Gale wondered, fearfully, what had
become Of Lash. Presently, when
Rojas came out of the cracks and
ruts of lava there might be a chance
of disabling him by long shot. His
progress was now slow. But he was
making Straight for Mercedes hiding
place. What was it leading him there
an eagle eye, or hate, or instinct?
Why did he go on when there could
be no turning back for him on that
trail? Ladd was slow, heavy, stag
gering on the trail; but he was re-
lentless. Only death could stop the
ranger now. Surely Rojas must have
known that when he chose the trail.
From time to time Gale caught
glimpses of Yaqui's dark figure steal
ing along the higher rim of the crater.
He was making for a point above the
bandit.
Ladd staggered along the trail; at
times he crawled. The Yaqul gained;
he might have had wings; he leaped
from jagged crust to Jagged crust; his
sure-footedness was wonderful thing.
But for Gale the marvel of that
endless period of watching was the
purpose Of the bandit Rojas. He had
now no weapon. Gales glass made
this fact plain. There was death be-
hind him. death below him, death be-
fore him. and though he could not
have known It, death above him. He
never faltered-never made a misstep |
upon the narrow, fiInty trail. When he |
reached the lower end of the level |
ledge Gales poignant doubt became |
a certainty. Rojas had seen Mercedes. |
II was incredible, yet Gale believed 1t.
Then, his heart clamped as In an Icy |
wise, Gale threw forward the Reming-
ton, and sinking on one knee, began
to shoot. He emptIed the magazine.
Puffs Of dust near Rojas did not even
make him turn.
Gale wheeled, rigid now, steeling
himself to one last forlorn hope-that
Mercedes could defend herself. She
had a gun. He doubted not at all that
she would use 1t. But, remembering
her terror of this savage, he feared
'or her. Rojas reached the level Of
he ledge. He halted. He crouched
L was the act OF a panther Mani
'estly he saw Mercedes within the
ave. Then faint shots patted the air.
,roke in quick e,ho. Rojas went
Town as II struck by a heavy blow
lie was hit But even as Gale yelled
n sheer madness the bandit leaped
rect. He seemed too quick, too sup
lie to be badly wounded. A slight.
lark figure flashed out Of the cave.
fercedes She backed against the
rall Gale saw a puff of white
card report. But the bandit
unged at her. Mercedes ran, not to
ry to pass him, but straight for the
recipice. Her intention was plain. |
tut RoJns outstripped her, even as
he reached the verge. Then a pierre
* scream pealed across the crater
scream Of despair.
Gale closed his eyes. He could not
ear 10 sec more.
Tborne echoed Mercedes scream. Z
ale looked round just In time TO lesp
nj catch the csysirymsn ms he stag. /
erred, apparently for the steep slope.
nd then, az Gale dragged him back,
9th fell Gale saved his friend, bur
3 plunged into . eh0ya. lie drew b
ID hands ssay full OF the great glis- :
ming eonas ~ fL0ps. d
"F0s Coos sake, Gale, shoot >
boot kill bssi Nh herr b