The Lamar register., 1923-03-07
CHAPTER XVI
Mountain Sheep.

walls and great dry wastes, q matter
calmly accepted as inevitable. So he
Imagined 1t was accepted by the 9TH
ers. Not even Mercedes uttered a
regret. No word was spoken Of home.
If there was thought OF loved ones.
ii was locked deep in their minds.
BY tacit agreement Ladd again be-
came the leader of the party. The
first thing he asked was to have the
store of food that remained spread
out upon a tarpaulin. Assuredly, II
was a slender enough supply. 1t was
impossible to read the gravity of
Ladd's face. for he still looked like
a dead man, but the slow shake Of his
head told Gale much. There was a
grain of hope. however, in the signih-
canoe with which he touched the bags
of salt and said, shore 1t was sense
packin' all that salt!"
Then he turned to face his com
rades.
That's little grub for six starvin'
people corralled In the desert. But
the grub end amt worryin' me. Yaqui
can get sheep up the slopes. Water
That's the beginnin' an middle an
end of our case"
"Luddy, reckon the waterhole here
never goes dry" replied jim.
ASK the Indian"
Upon being questioned Ysqui spoke
Of the dreaded ano seco OF the Mexi'
cans. In dry year this waterhole
failed
''Dick. take a rope an see how much
waters In the hole"
Gale could not hnd bottom with
thirty foot lasso. The water was as
cool, clear, sweet as IL II had been
Kept In a shaded iron receptacle.
Ladd welcomed this information
with surprise and gladness. Let's
see. Last year WAS shore pretty dry.
Mebbe this summer won't be. Mebbe
1ur wonderful good luck1l hold. Ask
Yaqul II ne thinks It'll rain"
Mercedes questioned the Indian.
He says no man can tell surely.
But he thinks the rain will come" she
-eplied.
"Shore It'll rain, you can gamble
On that now" continued Ladd. "h
there's only grass for the hossesi We
Dick. take the Indian an scout down
the arroyo. Today ! seen the bosses
were gettin' fat. Gettin' fat In this
desert But mebbe they've about
grazed up all the grass. Go an see,
Dick. An may you come back with
more good newsl"
Gale found that the arroyo widened
as 1t opened. Near the head, where
Il was narrow. patches Of gray grass
grew everywhere. Gale began TO won
der where the horses were. Finally
the trees and brush thinned out, and
a mile-wide gray plain stretched down
to reddish sand dunes. Over to one
side were the white horses, and here
was grass enough for many: the ar
royo WAS indeed an oasis.
Lndd and the others were awaiting
Gales report and they received II
with calmness yet with joy no less
evident because II was restrained.
Gale. In his keen observation at the
moment. found thar he and his com
rudes turned with glad eyes to the
woman Of the party.
"senor Laddy. you think-you-be-
lltNt-Wt ~Hhll- size lhlNfTfbs hhb
her voice failed.
Mercedes. no white man cnn tell
what'll come to pass out here said
I.u,Id. earnestly shore have hopes
nuw | never dreamed Of ! was pretty
near dead mnn The Indian saved
me Beldin' had 1t right. iaqurs
our godSend. Now, as to the future
I'd like to know mebbe as well as
YOU II were ever to get home. Only
bein' what | am. | say. Cullen sabef
BUT someihin tells me Yaqul knows.
Ask him. Mercedes. Make hlm tell
He's silent Indian, but make him
tell"
Mercedes called To YaquL At her
bidding there was always a suggestion
of hurry which otherwise was never
manifest Ia his actions. She put
hand on his barred muscular arm and
began to speak In Spanish. Her voice
thrilled Gale. though he understood
scarcely word she said He did not
need translation TO know that here
spoke the longing If woman for life.
love. home, the heritage OF woman's
heart.
"Si!" rolled out the Indians reply.
full of power and depth.
Mercedes drew a long breath, and
tier hand sought ThOrne's.
He says yes" she whispered. He
answers he'll save US: he'll take US