North Carolina Newspapers

THE NEWS-RECORD, MARSHALL, N. C. , 1J I BESERT- Conrrlrht bv Haroar Brother. CHAPTER X Continued. 11 Belding paced up and down the room. Jim and Ladd whispered to gether. Gale walked to the window and looked out at the distant group of bandits, and then turned hia gaze to rest upon Mercedes. She waa con scious now, and her eyes seemed all the larger and blacker for the whlte . ness of her face. No one but Gale saw the Yaqui In the background look ing down upon the Spanish girl. All of Yaqul's looks were trange; but this was singularly so. Gale won dered If the Indian were affected by her loveliness, her helplessness, or her terror. Presently Belding called his rang ers to him, and then Thome. "Listen to this," he snld, earnestly. "I'll go out and have a talk with Ro jas.' I'll try to reason with him; tell him to think a long time before he sheds blood on Uncle Sam's soil. That he's now after an American's wife! I'll not commit myself, nor will I re fuse outright to consider his demands, nor will I show the least fear of him. !'ll play for time. If my bluff goes hrough . . . well and good. . . . After dark the four of you, Laddy, Jim, Dick and Thorne. will take Mercedes and my best white hordes, and, with Yaqul as guide, circle round' through Altar valley to the trail, and hen (I for Yuma. I want you to tuke the Indian, because In a case of this kind he'll be a godsend. If you get headed or lost or have to circle, off the trail, think what It'd menn to have a Yaqul with you. He knows Seniors as no Greaser knows It. lie could hide you, find water and grass, when you would absolutely believe It Impossible. The Indian Is loyal. He has his debt to pay, and he'll pay It, don't mistake me. When you're gone I'll hide Nell so Rojas won't see her If he searches the place. Then I think I could sit down and wait without any particular worry." The rangers approved of Holding's plan, and Thorne went to the side of his wife. "Mercedes, we've planned to outwit Rojas. Will you tell us what he Srote?" "Rojas swore by his saints and his Virgin that If I wasn't given to him In' twenty-four hours he would set fire to the IIlage kill the men car ry off the women hong the children on cactus thorns!" A moment's silence followed her last halting whisper. Then the Yaqul uttered a singular cry. Gale had heard this once before, and now he remembered It was at the Pa pa go well. "Look at the Indian," whispered Bcldlng, hoarsely. "D n If I don't believe he understood every word Mer i cedes said. And, gentlemen, don't mis take me. If he ever gets near Senor Rojas there'll be some gory Aztec knife work." Yaqul had moved close to Mercedes, and' stood beside her as she leaned against her husband. She seemed Im pelled to meet the Indian's gaze, and evidently It was so powerful or hyp notic that It wrought Irresistibly upon her. But she must have seen or di vined what was beyond the others, for she offered him her trembling hand. Yaqul took It and laid . it against his body in a strange motion, and bowed his head. Then he stopped back Into the shadow of the room. Belding went outdoors while the rangers took up their former position at the west window. Each had his own somber thoughts. Gale Imagined, find knew his own were dark enough. He saw Belding halt at the corrals and wave his hand. Then the rebels mounted and came briskly up the road, this time to rein in abreast. Wherever Rojas had kept himself opon the former advance was not . clear; but he certainly was prominent ly In sight now. He jnade a gaudy, almost a dashing figure. Rojas dis mounted and seemed to be listening. Belding made gestures, vehemently bobbed his big head, appeared to talk with his body as much as with his tongue. Then Rojas was seen to reply, and after that it was clear that the talk became painful and difficult. It ended- finally In what appeared to be mutual understanding. Itojas mount ed and rode away with his men, while Belding came tramping back to the house. . 'J As he entered the door his eyes were shining, his. big hands were clenched, and he was , breathing au dibly. ; .'".v.;";' :....".'.;.-". "Yon ican rope; me If I'm not lo coed!" he burst out "I went out to conciliate a red-handed little mur derer, and, d n me If 1 didn't meet a a well. I've no suitable name handy.- I started my bluff and got along pretty well, but I forgot to men tion that Mercedes was Thome's wife. And what do you think Rojaa swore he loved Mercedes swore he'd marry her right here In Forlorn' River swore he would give up robbing and killing people, and take her away from Mexico. ' ' He has gold Jewels. He swore If' bp didn't get her noth ing mattered. 'He'd die anyway with out her. ,- . . And here's the strange thing. I believe him I He was cold e Ir. end a3 b I Isilde. Nevar aaw I Author of Riders of the Purple minim wwm iiii a Greaser like him. Anyway, without my asking he said for me to think It over for a day and then we'd talk again." "Shore we're born lucky J" ejacu; lated Ladd. "I reckon Rojaa'll be smart enough to string his outfit across the few trails out of Forlorn River," remarked Jim. "That needn't worry us. All we want Is dark to come," replied Bel ding. "Yaqul will slip through. If we thank any lucky stars let It be for the Indian. You may go to Yuma In six days and maybe In six weeks. You may have a big fight. Laddy, take the .405. Dick will pack his Reming ton. All of you go gunned heavy. But the main thing Is a pack that'll be light enough for swift travel, yet one that'll keep you from starving on the desert." The rest of that dny passed swiftly. The sun set. twilight fell, then night closed down, fortunately a night slightly overcast. Gale saw the white horses pass his door like silent ghosts. Even Blanco Diablo made no sound, and that fact was Indeed a tribute to the Yaqul. Gale went out "If I Coma Back No When I Come Back, Will You Marry Me?" to put his saddle on Blanco Sol. The horse rubbed a soft nose against his shoulder. Then Gale returned to the sitting room. There was nothing more to do but wait and say good-by. Mer cedes came clad In leather chaps and coat, a slim stripling of a cowboy, her dark eyes flashing. Her beauty could not be hidden, and now hope and courage had fired her blood. Gale drew Nell Into his arras. "Dearest, I'm going soon. . . . And maybe I'll never" "Dick, do don't say It," sobbed Nell, with her head on his breast . "I might never come back," he went on, steadily. "I love you I've loved you ever since the first moment I saw you. Do you love me?" "Yes, yes. Oh, I love you sol I never knew It till now. I love you so. Dick, 111 be safe and I'll Walt and hope and pray for your return." "If I come back no when I come back, will you marry me?" "I I oh yes!" she whispered, and returned his kiss. Belding was In the room speaking softly. ; ": "Nell, darling, I must go," said Dick. . "I'm a selfish little coward," cried Nell. "It's so splendid of you all. - I ought to glory In it, but I can't. . . , Fight if you must, Dick. Fight for that lovely persecuted girl. , I'll love you the more. . . ,, , Oh 1 Good by! Goodby!" With a wrench that shook him. Gale let her go. He heard Beldlng's soft voice. ' : .:. , ' " "Yaqul says the early hour's the best. Trust him, Laddy. Remember what I say Yaqul's a godsend." Then they were all outside In the pate gloom under the trees. Yaqul mounted Blanco Diablo ; ; Mercedes was Htted upon White Woman ; Thorne Tllmbed astride Qneen ; Jim Lash was already upon his horse, which was as white as the others but bore no name; Ladd mounted the stair Hon Blanco Torres, and gathered up the long halters pf the two pack horses; Gale came last with Blanco Soi,-:,. "".'.'-. r W-.'.: - ' : As he toed the stirrup, hand on mane and pommel, Gale took one more look In at the door. .: Nell stood In' the gleam of light, her hair shining, face I'lre ashes, her eyes dark, her Hps parted, her arms outstretched. That sweet and tragic picture etched Its cruel outlines into Gale's heart. He waved his hand and . theb fiercely leaped Into the saddle. ' Blanco Sol stepped ont ' Before Gale stretched a line of mov ing horses, ' white against dark shad ows. He could not see the head of that column ', he scarcely beard a soft hoofbeat. A single star shone out of a rift In thin clouds. There was i" ' .it . ill GOLB by Zone Grey no wind. The air was cold. The dark space of desert seemed to yawn. Tc the left across the river flickered s few campflres. The chill night, silent and mystical, seemed to close in upon Gale; and be faced the wide, quiver ing, black level with keen eyes and grim Intent, and an awakening of that wild rapture which came- like a spell to him In the open desert, CHAPTER XI Across Cactus and Lava. At the far corner of the field Yaqul halted, and slowly the line of white horses merged Into a compact mass. Yaqul slipped' out of his saddle. He ran his bond over Dlablo's nose and spoke low, and repeated this action for each of the other horses. Gale had long censed to question the strange Indian's behavior. There was no explaining or understanding many of his maneuvers. But the results of them were always thought-provoking. Gale had never seen horses stand so silently as In this Instance; no stomp no champ of bit no toss of head no shake of saddle or pack no heave or snort 1 It seemed they had become Imbued with the spirit of the Indian. Yaqul moved away Into the shadows as noiselessly as if be were one of them. The darkness swallowed him. He bad taken a direction parallel with the trail. Gale wondered If Yaqul 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, a blanket and a Mexican lying face down. The Yaqul had stolen upon this sentinel like a silent wind of death. Once under the dark lee of the river bank Toqul 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 It all the night the silence the flight nnd the wonderful Indian' stealing with the slow Inev ltableness 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, nnd, presumably, on the pale sand under 1 cactus, there lay a blanketed form, prone, out stretched, a carbine clutched In one hand, a cigarette, still burning, In the other. The cavalcade of white horses passed within five hundred yards of campflres, around which dark forms moved in plain sight. The lights dis appeared from time to time, grew dimmer, more flickering, and at. last they vanished altogether, Beldlng's fleet and tireless, steeds were out in front; the desert opened ahead wide, dark, vast. Itojas and his rebels were behind, eating, drinking, careless. The somber shadow lifted from Gale's heart. He held now an unquenchable faith In the Yaqul. Belding would be listening bnck 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 of toll, blood and agony In this desert journey, so he believed In Mercedes' ultimate freedom and happiness, and bis own return to the girl who had grown dearer than life. '..-'. , ' , ' A cold, gray dawn was fleeing be fore a rosy sun when Yaqui .halted the inarch at Papago well. The horses were taken to water, then led down the arroyo Into the grass. Here packs were, slipped, saddles removed. Jim Lash remarked how cleverly they had fooled the rebels. "Shore they 'll be com In' along," re plied Ladd. ; . They built a fire, cooked and 'ate. The Yaqui spoke only one ' word : "Sleep." Blankets were spread. Mer cedes dropped Into a deep slumber, her head on, Thorne'a shoulder. Ex citement, "kept Thorne awake. The two rangers dozed beside the fire. Gale shared the Yaqul's watch. At the end of three hours the rangers grew active, Mercedes was awak ened; and eoon the party faced west ward, their long shadows moving be fore them. Yaqul led with Blanco Diablo In a long, easy lope. The heated air lifted,' and Incoming cur rents from the west swept low and hard over the. barren earth. In the distance, all around the horizon, accu mulations of dust seemed like ranging; mushrooming yellow clouds. , Yaqui was the only one of the fu gitives who never looked back. : Gale had a conviction that , when Yaqui gazed back toward the well and the shining- plain beyond, there would be reason for It. But when the sun lost Its heat and the wind died down Yaqul look long and careful surveys west ward from the high points on . the trail. Sunset was not far off, nnd there in a bare, spotted valley Iny Coyote tanks, the only water hole be tween Papago well and the Soaoytaj Sage, , Wildfire, Etc. oasis. Gale used his glass, told Yaqul there was no smoke, no sign of life; still the Indian fixed his falcon eyes on distant snots and looked long. No further advance was undertaken. -The Yaqul headed south and traveled slowly, climbing to the brow of a bold height of weathered mesa. There he sat his horse and waited. No one questioned him. The rangers dis mounted to stretch their legs, and Mercedes war lifted to a rock, where she rested. Thorne had gradually yielded to the desert's Influence for silence. He spoke once or twice to Gale, and occasionally whispered to Mercedes. Cale fancied his friend would soon learn that necessary speech In desert travel meant a few greetings, a few words to make real the fact of human companionship, a few short, terse terms for the busi ness of the day or night, and perhaps a stern order or a soft call to a horse. The sun went down, and the golden, rosy veils turned to blue and shaded darker till twilight was there In the valley. Darkness approached, and the clear peaks faded. The horses stamped to be on the move. "Malo!" exclaimed the Ynqui. He did not point with arm, but his falcon head was outstretched, and his piercing eyes gazed at the "blurring spot which marked the location of Coyote tanks. "Jim, can you see anything?" asked Ladd., "Nope, but I reckon he can." Then Ladd suddenly straightened up, turned to his horse, and muttered low under his breath. "I reckon so," said Lash, and for once his easy, good-natured tone was not In evidence. His voice was harsh. Gale's eyes, keen as they were, were last offihe rangers to see tiny needle points of light Just faintly perceptible In the blackness. "Laddy! Campflres?" he asked, quickly. "Shore's you're born, my boy." s "How many?" Ladd did not reply; but Yaqul held up his band, his Angers wide. Five campflres! A strong force of rebels or raiders or some other desert troop was camping at Coyote tanks. Yaqul sat his horse for a moment motionless as stone, his dark face Im mutable and Impassive. Then he stretched his right ami In the direc tion of No Name mountains, now los ing their last faint traces of the after glow, and he shook his head. He made the same Impressive gesture toward the Sonoyta oasis with the same somber negation. Thereupon he turned Dlablo's head to the south and started down the slope. His manner had been decisive, even stern. Lash did not question It, nor did Ladd. Both rangers hesitated, however, and showed a strange, almost a sullen reluctance which Gale had never seen In them before. Raiders were one thing, Rojas was another; Camlno del Diablo still another; but that vast and desolate and unwatered waste of cactus and lava, the Sonoru desert, might appall the stoutest heart. , Gale felt his own sink felt himself flinch. "Oh, where Is he going?" cried Mer cedes. Her poignant voice seemed to breac a spell. "Shore, lady,' Yaqul's goln home.'' replied Ladd gently. "An' conslderln' our troubles, I reckon we ought to thank God he knows the way."- They mounted -and rode down the slope toward the darkening south. Not until night travel was obstruct ed by a wall of cactus did the Indian halt to make a dry camp. Water and grass for the horses and fire to cook by were not to be had. Mercedes bore up surprisingly; but she fell asleep almost the instant her thirst had been allayed. Thorne laid her npon a blan ket and covered her. The men ate and drank. Gale lay down weary of limb and1 eye. He heard the soft thump of hoofs, the sough of wind In the cactus then no more. Day dawned with the fugitives In the saddle. . A picketed wall of cac tus hedged them In, yet the Yaqul made a tortuous path, that, zigzag as It might, In the main always headed south, - .'-. . I ' The. Yaqul. If not at fault, was yet uncertain. HI falcon eyes searched and roved, and became fixed at length at the southwest and toward this he turned his horse. The great, fluted enguaros, fifty, slxt, feet high, raised colnmnal forms, and their branching limbs and curving lines added a grace to the desert. It was the low-bushed cactus that made the toll and PRln of travel. - Yet these thorny forms were beautiful. ..' , In the basins between the ridges, to right and left along the floor .of low plains the mirage glistened,-wavered, faded, vanished lakes and trees and clouds. Inverted mountains hung suspended hi the lilac air and faint tracery, of whlte-walled cities. At noon Yaqul halted the cavalcade. He had selected a field of blsnagl cac tus fpr the place of rest Presently his reason became obvious. "With long, heavy knife he cut off the tops of these barrel-shaped . plants. . He scooped out soft pulp, and With stone and hand then began to pound the deeper pulp Into a juicy mass. Vieo , m he threw this out there was a little water left, sweet, cold water which man and horse shared eagerly. Thus he made even the desert's fiercest growths minister to their needs. But he did opt halt long. Miles of gray-green spiked waits lay between him and that line of ragged, red lava which manifestly he must reach be fore dark. The travel became faster, stralghter. And the glistening thorns clutched . and clung to leather and cloth and flesh. The horses reared, snorted, balked, leaped but they were sent on. Only Blanco Sol, the patient, the plodding,, the Indomitable, needed no goad or spur. Mercedes reeled in her saddle. Thorne bade her drink, bathed her face, supported her, and then gave way to Ladd, who took the girl with him on Torres' broad back. The middle of the after noon saw Thorne reeling In his saddle, and then,' wherever possible, Gale's powerful arm lent him strength to hold his seat ,The fugitives were entering a des late, buVned-out world. The .waste of Hand began to yield to cinders. The horses sank to their fetlocks as they tolled on. A fine, choking dust blew back from the leaders, and men coughed and horses snorted. But the sun was now behind the hills. In be tween ran the stream of lava. It was broken, sharp, dull rust color, full of cracks and caves and crevices, and everywhere upon Its Jagged surface grew the whlte-thorned choya. Again twilight encompassed the travelers. But there was still light enough for Gale to see the constricted passage open into a wide, deep space where the dull. color was relieved by the gray of gnarled and dwarfed mes quite. Blanco Sol, keenest of scent, whistled his welcome herald of water. The other horses answered, quickened their gait. Gale.smelled it, too, sweet, cool, damp on the dry air. Yaqul turned the corner of a pocket In the lava wall. The file of white horses rounded the corner after him. And Gale, coming , last, saw the pale, glancing gleam of a pool of water beautiful In the twilight. j Next day the Yaqul's relentless driving demand on the horses was no longer In evidence. He lost no time, but he did not hasten. His course wound between low cinder dunes which limited their view of the sur rounding country. These dunes finally sank down to, a black floor as hard as flint, with tongues of lava to the left, and to the right the slow descent Into the cactus plain. Yaqul was now traveling due west It was Gale's Idea that the Indian was skirting the first sharp-toothed slope of a vast vol canic plateau which formed the west ern half of the Sonora desert and .-ex- tnniliul In tha fliilf rt Pnltfni-nln m Travel was slow, but not exhausting for rider or beast Thirty miles of easy stages brought the fugitives to another waterhoTe, a little round pocket under the heaved up edge of lava.' There was spare. Mercedes Must Ride; but the Others Must Walk. short, bleached grass for the horses, but no wood, for a fire. This1 night there were question and reply, con jecture, doubt, opinion and conviction expressed by the men ' of the party. But the Indian, who alone could have told where they were, where they were, golng.swhat chance they had to escape, maintained his stoical silence. Gale' took the early watch, Ladd the midnight one, and Lash that of the morning. . The day broke rosy, glort ous, cold as Ice. Action was neces sary to make Useful benumbed hands and feet Mercedes, was fed while yet wrapped Jn blankets. . , . It was a significant Index to the day's travel that Yaqul should keep a blanket from the pack and tear It Into strips to bind the legs of the horses. It meant the dreaded cheya and the knife-edged lava. That Yaqul did not mount Diablo was still more significant. 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' I item Slmr. t'f f I W. lit ft.. l..J, J mart or; -.iffxa, It.::-J. 1 -i or "iu ' I,', . 'a, . . '. i i r . . . L , ..J e.":..'.':il. IvtH: . I -.tar tor '- t 1 Ires. 7t Lj- I i. : r ...4 l, i v4