d　the　crowd　of　frantic　rebels。　One　cowboy　held　two　guns　low　down；　level　in　front　of　him。　　The　other　had　his　gun　raised　and　aimed。　　On　the　instant　it　spouted　red　and　white。　　With　the　crack　came　the　crashing　of　glass；　another　darkening　shade　over　the　room。　　With　a　cry　Gale　slung　the　bleeding　Rojas　from　him。　　The　bandit　struck　a　table；　toppled　over　it；　fell；　and　lay　prone。
  Another　shot　made　the　room　full　of　moving　shadows；　with　light　only　back　of　the　bar。　　A　white…clad　figure　rushed　at　Gale。　　He　tripped　the　man；　but　had　to　kick　hard　to　disengage　himself　from　grasping　hands。　　Another　figure　closed　in　on　Gale。　　This　one　was　dark；　swift。　A　blade　glinteddescribed　a　circle　alot。　　Simultaneously　with　a　close；　red　flash　the　knife　wavered；　the　man　wielding　it　stumbled　backward。　　In　the　din　Gale　did　not　hear　a　report；　but　the　Mexican's　fall　was　significant。　　Then　pandemonium　broke　loose。　　The　din　became　a　roar。　　Gale　heard　shots　that　sounded　like　dull　spats　in　the　distance。　　The　big　lamp　behind　the　bar　seemingly　split；　then　sputtered　and　went　out；　leaving　the　room　in　darkness。
  Gale　leaped　toward　the　restaurant　door；　which　was　outlined　faintly　by　the　yellow　light　within。　　Right　and　left　he　pushed　the　groping　men　who　jostled　with　him。　　He　vaulted　a　pool　table；　sent　tables　and　chairs　flying；　and　gained　the　door；　to　be　the　first　of　a　wedging　mob　to　squeeze　through。　　One　sweep　of　his　arm　knocked　the　restaurant　lamp　from　its　stand；　and　he　ran　out；　leaving　darkness　behind　him。　A　few　bounds　took　him　into　the　parlor。　　It　was　deserted。　　Thorne　had　gotten　away　with　Mercedes。
  It　was　then　Gale　slowed　up。　　For　the　space　of　perhaps　sixty　seconds　he　had　been　moving　with　startling　velocity。　　He　peered　cautiously　out　into　the　plaza。　　The　paths；　the　benches；　the　shady　places　under　the　trees　contained　no　skulking　men。　　He　ran　out；　keeping　to　the　shade；　and　did　not　go　into　the　path　till　he　was　halfway　through　the　plaza。　　Under　a　street　lamp　at　the　far　end　of　the　path　he　thought　he　saw　two　dark　figures。　　He　ran　faster；　and　soon　reached　the　street。　The　uproar　back　in　the　hotel　began　to　diminish；　or　else　he　was　getting　out　of　hearing。　　The　few　people　he　saw　close　at　hand　were　all　coming　his　way；　and　only　the　foremost　showed　any　excitement。　Gale　walked　swiftly；　peering　ahead　for　two　figures。　　Presently　he　saw　themone　tall；　wearing　a　cape；　the　other　slight；　mantled。　　Gale　drew　a　sharp　breath　of　relief。　　Throne　and　Mercedes　were　not　far　ahead。
  From　time　to　time　Thorne　looked　back。　　He　strode　swiftly；　almost　carrying　Mercedes；　who　clung　closely　to　him。　　She；　too；　looked　back。　Once　Gale　saw　her　white　face　flash　in　the　light　of　a　street　lamp。　He　began　to　overhaul　them；　and　soon；　when　the　last　lamp　had　been　passed　and　the　street　was　dark；　he　ventured　a　whistle。　　Thorne　heard　it；　for　he　turned；　whistled　a　low　reply；　and　went　on。　　Not　for　some　distance　beyond；　where　the　street　ended　in　open　country；　did　they　halt　to　wait。　　The　desert　began　here。　　Gale　felt　the　soft　sand　under　his　feet　and　saw　the　grotesque　forms　of　cactus。　　Then　he　came　up　with　the　fugitives。
  〃Dick！　　Are　youall　right？〃　panted　Thorne；　grasping　Gale。
  〃I'mout　of　breathbutO。K。；〃　replied　Gale。
  〃Good！　Good！〃　choked　Thorne。　　〃I　was　scaredhelpless。。。。Dick；　it　worked　splendidly。　　We　had　no　trouble。　　What　on　earth　did　you　do？〃
  〃I　made　the　row；　all　right；〃　said　Dick。
  〃Good　Heavens！　　It　was　like　a　row　I　once　heard　made　by　a　mob。　　But　the　shots；　Dickwere　they　at　you？　　They　paralyzed　me。　　Then　the　yells。　　what　happened？　　Those　guards　of　Rojas　ran　round　in　front　at　the　first　shot。　　Tell　me　what　happened。〃
  〃While　I　was　rushing　Rojas　a　couple　of　cowboys　shot　out　the　lamplights。　A　Mexican　who　pulled　a　knife　on　me　got　hurt；　I　guess。　　Then　I　think　there　was　some　shooting　from　the　rebels　after　the　room　was　dark。〃
  〃Rushing　Rojas？〃　queried　Thorne；　leaning　close　to　Dick。　　His　voice　was　thrilling；　exultant；　deep　with　a　joy　that　yet　needed　confirmation。　〃What　did　you　do　to　him？〃
  〃I　handed　him　one　off　side；　tackled；　then　tried　a　forward　pass；〃　replied　Dick；　lightly　speaking　the　football　vernacular　so　familiar　to　Thorne。
  Thorne　leaned　closer；　his　fine　face　showing　fierce　and　corded　in　the　starlight。　　〃Tell　me　straight；〃　he　demanded；　in　thick　voice。
  Gale　then　divined　something　of　the　suffering　Thorne　had　undergone　something　of　the　hot；　wild；　vengeful　passion　of　a　lover　who　must　have　brutal　truth。
  It　stilled　Dick's　lighter　mood；　and　he　was　about　to　reply　when　Mercedes　pressed　close　to　him；　touched　his　hands；　looked　up　into　his　face　with　wonderful　eyes。　　He　thought　he　would　not　soon　forget　their　beautythe　shadow　of　pain　that　had　been；　the　hope　dawning　so　fugitively。
  〃Dear　lady；〃　said　Gale；　with　voice　not　wholly　steady；　〃Rojas　himself　will　hound　you　no　more　to…night；　nor　for　many　nights。〃
  She　seemed　to　shake；　to　thrill；　to　rise　with　the　intelligence。　She　pressed　his　hand　close　over　her　heaving　breast。　　Gale　felt　the　quick　throb　of　her　heart。
  〃Senor！　　Senor　Dick！〃　she　cried。　　Then　her　voice　failed。　　But　her　hands　flew　up；　quick　as　a　flash　she　raised　her　facekissed　him。　　Then　she　turned　and　with　a　sob　fell　into　Thorne's　arms。
  There　ensued　a　silence　broken　only　by　Mercedes'　sobbing。　　Gale　walked　some　paces　away。　　If　he　were　not　stunned；　he　certainly　was　agitated。　　the　strange；　sweet　fire　of　that　girl's　lips　remained　with　him。　　On　the　spur　of　the　moment　he　imagined　he　had　a　jealousy　of　Thorne。　　But　presently　this　passed。　　It　was　only　that　he　had　been　deeply　movedstirred　to　the　depths　during　the　last　hourhad　become　conscious　of　the　awakening　of　a　spirit。　　What　remained　with　him　now　was　the　splendid　glow　of　gladness　that　he　had　been　of　service　to　Thorne。　　And　by　the　intensity　of　Mercedes'　abandon　of　relief　and　gratitude　he　measured　her　agony　of　terror　and　the　fate　he　had　spared　her。
  〃Dick；　Dick；　come　here！〃　called　Thorne　softly。　　〃Let's　pull　ourselves　together　now。　　We've　got　a　problem　yet。　　What　to　do？　　Where　to　go？　How　to　get　any　place？　　We　don't　dare　risk　the　stationthe　corrals　where　Mexicans　hire　out　horses。　　We're　on　gold　old　U。S。　ground　this　minute；　but　we're　not　out　of　danger。〃
  As　he　paused；　evidently　hoping　for　a　suggestion　from　Gale；　the　silence　was　broken　by　the　clear；　ringing　peal　of　a　bugle。　　Thorne　gave　a
  violent　start。　　Then　he　bent　over；　listening。　　The　beautiful　notes　of　the　bugle　floated　out　of　the　darkness；　clearer；　sharper；　faster。
  〃It's　a　call；　Dick！　　It's　a　call！〃　he　cried。
  Gale　had　no　answer　to　make。　　Mercedes　stood　as　if　stricken。　　The　bugle　call　ended。　　From　a　distance　another　faintly　pealed。　　There　were　other　sounds　too　remote　to　recognize。　　Then　scattering　shots　rattled　out。
  〃Dick；　the　rebels　are　fighting　somebody；〃　burst　out
  Thorne；　excitedly。　　〃The　little　federal　garrison　still　holds　its　stand。　　Perhaps　it　is　attacked　again。　　Anyway；　there's　something　doing　over　the　line。　　Maybe　the　crazy　Greasers　are　firing　on　our　camp。　　We've　feared　itin　the　dark。。。。And　here　I　am；　away　without　leavepractically　a　deserter！〃
  〃Go　back！　　Go　back；　before　you're　too　late！〃　cried　Mercedes。
  〃Better　make　tracks；　Thorne；〃　added　Gale。　　〃It　can't　help　our　predicament　for　you　to　be　arrested。　　I'll　take　care　of　Mercedes。〃
  〃No；　no；　no；〃　replied　Thorne。　　〃I　can　get　awayavoid　arrest。〃
  〃That'd　be　all　right　for　the　immediate　present。　　But　it's　not　best　for　the　future。　　George；　a　deserter　is　a　deserter！。。。Better　hurry。　Leave　the　girl　to　me　till　tomorrow。〃
  Mercedes　embraced　her　lover；　begged　him　to　go。　　Thorne　wavered。
  〃Dick；　I'm　up　against　it；〃　he　said。　　〃You're　right。　　If　only　I　can　get　back　in　time。　　but；　oh；　I　hate　to　leave　her！　　Old　fellow；　you've　saved　her！　　I　already　owe　you　everlasting　gratitude。　　Keep　out　of　Casita；　Dick。　　The　U。S。　side　might　be　safe；　but　I'm　afraid　to　trust　it　at　night。　　Go　out　in　the　desert；　up　in　the　mountains；　in　some　safe　place。　　Then　come　to　me　in　camp。　　We'll　plan。　　I'll　have　to　confide　in　Colonel　Weede。　　Maybe　he'll　help　us。　　Hide　her　from　the　rebelsthat's　all。〃
  He　wrung　Dick's　hand；　clasped　Mercedes　tightly　in　his　arms；　kissed　her；　and　murmured　low　over　her；　then　released　her　to　rush　off　into　the　darkness。　　He　disappeared　in　the　gloom。　　The　sound　of　his　dull　footfalls　gradually　died　away。
  For　a　moment　the　desert　silence　oppressed　Gale。　　He　was　unaccustomed　to　such　strange　stillness。　　There　was　a　low　stir　of　sand；　a　rustle　of　stiff　leaves　in　the　wind。　　How　white　the　stars　burned！　　Then　a　coyote　barked；　to　be　bayed　by　a　dog。　　Gale　realized　that　he　was　between　the　edge　of　an　unknown　desert　and　the　edge　of　a　hostile　town。　He　had　to　choose　the　desert；　because；　though　he　had　no　doubt　that　in　Casita　there　were　many　Americans　who　might　befriend　him；　he　could　not　chance　the　risks　of　seeking　them　at　night。
  He　felt　a　slight　touch　on　his　arm；　felt　it　move　down；　felt　Mercedes　slip　a　trembling　cold　little　hand　into　his。　　Dick　looked　at　her。　She　seemed　a　white…faced　girl　now；　with　staring；　frightened　black　eyes　that　flashed　up　at　him。　　If　the　loneliness；　the　silence；　the　desert；　the　unknown　dangers　of　the　night　affected　him；　what　must　they　be　to　this　hunted；　driven　girl？　　Gale's　heart　swelled。　　He　was　alone　with　her。　　He　had　no　weapon；　no　money；　no　food；　no　drink；　no　covering；　nothing　except　his　two　hands。　　He　had　absolutely　no　knowledge