oney；　no　food；　no　drink；　no　covering；　nothing　except　his　two　hands。　　He　had　absolutely　no　knowledge　of　the　desert；　of　the　direction　or　whereabouts　of　the　boundary　line　between　the　republics；　he　did　not　know　where　to　find　the　railroad；　or　any　road　or　trail；　or　whether　or　not　there　were　towns　near　or　far。　　It　was　a　critical；　desperate　situation。　　He　thought　first　of　the　girl；　and　groaned　in　spirit；　prayed　that　it　would　be　given　him　to　save　her。　　When　he　remembered　himself　it　was　with　the　stunning　consciousness　that　he　could　conceive　of　no　situation　which　he　would　have　exchanged　for　this　onewhere　fortune　had　set　him　a　perilous　task　of　loyalty　to　a　friend；　to　a　helpless　girl。
  〃Senor；　senor！〃　suddenly　whispered　Mercedes；　clinging　to　him。　〃Listen！　　I　hear　horses　coming！〃
  Chapter　III
  A　Flight　Into　The　Desert
  Uneasy　and　startled；　Gale　listened　and；　hearing　nothing；　wondered　if　Mercedes's　fears　had　not　worked　upon　her　imagination。　　He　felt　a　trembling　seize　her；　and　he　held　her　hands　tightly。
  〃You　were　mistaken；　I　guess；〃　he　whispered。
  〃No；　no；　senor。〃
  Dick　turned　his　ear　to　the　soft　wind。　　Presently　he　heard；　or　imagined　he　heard；　low　beats。　　Like　the　first　faint；　far…off　beats　of　a　drumming　grouse；　they　recalled　to　him　the　Illinois　forests　of　his　boyhood。　　In　a　moment　he　was　certain　the　sounds　were　the　padlike　steps　of　hoofs　in　yielding　sand。　　The　regular　tramp　was　not　that　of　grazing　horses。
  On　the　instant；　made　cautious　and　stealthy　by　alarm；　Gale　drew　Mercedes　deeper　into　the　gloom　of　the　shrubbery。　　Sharp　pricks　from　thorns　warned　him　that　he　was　pressing　into　a　cactus　growth；　and　he　protected　Mercedes　as　best　he　could。　　She　was　shaking　as　one　with　a　sever　chill。　　She　breathed　with　little　hurried　pants　and　leaned　upon　him　almost　in　collapse。　　Gale　ground　his　teeth　in　helpless　rage　at　the　girl's　fate。　　If　she　had　not　been　beautiful　she　might　still　have　been　free　and　happy　in　her　home。　　What　a　strange　world　to　live　inhow　unfair　was　fate！
  The　sounds　of　hoofbeats　grew　louder。　　Gale　made　out　a　dark　moving　mass　against　a　background　of　dull　gray。　　There　was　a　line　of　horses。　He　could　not　discern　whether　or　not　all　the　horses　carried　riders。　The　murmur　of　a　voice　struck　his　earthen　a　low　laugh。　　It　made　him　tingle；　for　it　sounded　American。　　Eagerly　he　listened。　　There　was　an　interval　when　only　the　hoofbeats　could　be　heard。
  〃It　shore　was；　Laddy；　it　shore　was；〃　came　a　voice　out　of　the　darkness。　〃Rough　house！　　Laddy；　since　wire　fences　drove　us　out　of　Texas　we　ain't　seen　the　like　of　that。　　An'　we　never　had　such　a　call。〃
  〃Call？　　It　was　a　burnin'　roast；〃　replied　another　voice。　　〃I　felt　low　down。　　He　vamoosed　some　sudden；　an'　I　hope　he　an'　his　friends　shook　the　dust　of　Casita。　　That's　a　rotten　town　Jim。〃
  Gale　jumped　up　in　joy。　　What　luck！　　The　speakers　were　none　other　than　the　two　cowboys　whom　he　had　accosted　in　the　Mexican　hotel。
  〃Hold　on　；　fellows；〃　he　called　out；　and　strode　into　the　road。
  The　horses　snorted　and　stamped。　　Then　followed　swift　rustling　soundsa　clinking　of　spurs；　then　silence。　　The　figures　loomed　clearer　in　the　gloom。。　Gale　saw　five　or　six　horses；　two　with　riders；　and　one　other；　at　least；　carrying　a　pack。　　When　Gale　got　within　fifteen　feet　of　the　group　the　foremost　horseman　said：
  〃I　reckon　that's　close　enough；　stranger。〃
  Something　in　the　cowboy's　hand　glinted　darkly　bright　in　the　starlight。
  〃You'd　recognize　me；　if　it　wasn't　so　dark；〃　replied　Gale；　halting。　〃I　spoke　to　you　a　little　while　agoin　the　saloon　back　there。〃
  〃Come　over　an'　let's　see　you；〃　said　the　cowboy　curtly。
  Gale　advanced　till　he　was　close　to　the　horse。　　The　cowboy　leaned　over　the　saddle　and　peered　into　Gale's　face。　　Then；　without　a　word；　he　sheathed　the　gun　and　held　out　his　hand。　　Gale　met　a　grip　of　steel　that　warmed　his　blood。　　The　other　cowboy　got　off　his　nervous；　spirited　horse　and　threw　the　bridle。　　He；　too；　peered　closely　into　Gale's　face。
  〃My　name's　Ladd；〃　he　said。　　〃Reckon　I'm　some　glad　to　meet　you　again。？
  Gale　felt　another　grip　as　hard　and　strong　as　the　other　had　been。　　He　realized　he　had　found　friends　who　belonged　to　a　class　of　men　whom　he　had　despaired　of　ever　knowing。
  〃GaleDick　Gale　is　my　name；〃　he　began；　swiftly。　　〃I　dropped　into　Casita　to…night　hardly　knowing　where　I　was。　　A　boy　took　me　to　that　hotel。　　There　I　met　an　old　friend　whom　I　had　not　seen　for　years。　He　belongs　to　the　cavalry　stationed　here。　　He　had　befriended　a　Spanish　girlfallen　in　love　with　her。　　Rojas　had　killed　this　girl's　fathertried　to　abduct　her。。。。You　know　what　took　place　at　the　hotel。　Gentlemen；　if　it's　ever　possible；　I'll　show　you　how　I　appreciate　what　you　did　for　me　there。　　I　got　away；　found　my　friend　with　the　girl。　　We　hurried　out　here　beyond　the　edge　of　town。　　Then　Thorne　had　to　make　a　break　for　camp。　　We　heard　bugle　calls；　shots；　and　he　was　away　without　leave。　　That　left　the　girl　with　me。　　I　don't　know　what　to　do。　　Thorne　swears　Casita　is　no　place　for　Mercedes　at　night。〃
  〃The　girl　ain't　no　peon；　no　common　Greaser？〃　interrupted　Ladd。
  〃No。　　Her　name　is　Castaneda。　　She　belongs　to　an　old　Spanish　family；　once　rich　and　influential。〃
  〃Reckoned　as　much；〃　replied　the　cowboy。　　〃There's　more　than　Rojas's　wantin'　to　kidnap　a　pretty　girl。　　Shore　he　does　that　every　day　or　so。　Must　be　somethin'　political　or　feelin'　against　class。　　Well；　Casita　ain't　no　place　for　your　friend's　girl　at　night　or　day；　or　any　time。　Shore；　there's　Americans　who'd　take　her　in　an'　fight　for　her；　if　necessary。　　But　it　ain't　wise　to　risk　that。　　Lash；　what　do　you　say？〃
  〃It's　been　gettin'　hotter　round　this　Greaser　corral　for　some　weeks；〃　replied　the　other　cowboy。　　〃If　that　two…bit　of　a　garrison　surrenders；　there's　no　tellin'　what'll　happen。　　Orozco　is　headin'　west　from　Agua　Prieta　with　his　guerrillas。　　Campo　is　burnin'　bridges　an'　tearin'　up　the　railroad　south　of　Nogales。　　Then　there's　all　these　bandits　callin'　themselves　revolutionists　just　for　an　excuse　to　steal；　burn；　kill；　an'　ride　off　with　women。　　It's　plain　facts；　Laddy；　an'　bein'　across　the　U。S。　line　a　few　inches　or　so　don't　make　no　hell　of　a　difference。　　My　advice　is；　don't　let　Miss　Castaneda　ever　set　foot　in　Casita　again。〃
  〃Looks　like　you've　shore　spoke　sense；〃　said　Ladd。　　〃I　reckon；　Gale；　you　an'　the　girl　ought　to　come　with　us。　　Casita　shore　would　be　a　little　warm　for　us　to…morrow。　　We　didn't　kill　anybody；　but　I　shot　a　Greaser's　arm　off；　an'　Lash　strained　friendly　relations　by　destroyin'　property。　　We　know　people　who'll　take　care　of　the　senorita　till　your　friend　can　come　for　her。〃
  Dick　warmly　spoke　his　gratefulness；　and；　inexpressibly　relieved　and　happy　for　Mercedes；　he　went　toward　the　clump　of　cactus　where　he　had　left　her。　　She　stood　erect；　waiting；　and；　dark　as　it　was；　he　could　tell　she　had　lost　the　terror　that　had　so　shaken　her。
  〃Senor　Gale；　you　are　my　good　angel；〃　she　said；　tremulously。
  〃I've　been　lucky　to　fall　in　with　these　men；　and　I'm　glad　with　all　my　heart；〃　he　replied。　　〃Come。〃
  He　led　her　into　the　road　up　to　the　cowboys；　who　now　stood　bareheaded　in　the　starlight。　　The　seemed　shy；　and　Lash　was　silent　while　Ladd　made　embarrassed；　unintelligible　reply　to　Mercedes's's　thanks。
  There　were　five　horsestwo　saddled；　two　packed；　and　the　remaining　one　carried　only　a　blanket。　　Ladd　shortened　the　stirrups　on　his　mount；　and　helped　Mercedes　up　into　the　saddle。　　From　the　way　she　settled　herself　and　took　the　few　restive　prances　of　the　mettlesome　horse　Gale　judged　that　she　could　ride。　　Lash　urged　Gale　to　take　his　horse。　　But　his　Gale　refused　to　do。
  〃I'll　walk；〃　he　said。　　〃I'm　used　to　walking。　　I　know　cowboys　are　not。〃
  They　tried　again　to　persuade　him；　without　avail。　　Then　Ladd　started　off；　riding　bareback。　　Mercedes　fell　in　behind；　with　Gale　walking　beside　her。　The　two　pack　animals　came　next；　and　Lash　brought　up　the　rear。
  Once　started　with　protection　assured　for　the　girl　and　a　real　objective　point　in　view；　Gale　relaxed　from　the　tense　strain　he　had　been　laboring　under。　　How　glad　he　would　have　been　to　acquaint　Thorne　with　their　good　fortune！　　Later；　of　course；　there　would　be　some　way　to　get　word　to　the　cavalryman。　　But　till　then　what　torments　his　friend　would　suffer！
  It　seemed　to　Dick　that　a　very　long　time　had　elapsed　since　he　stepped　off　the　train；　and　one　by　one　he　went　over　every　detail　of　incident　which　had　occurred　between　that　arrival　and　the　present　moment。　　Strange　as　the　facts　were；　he　had　no　doubts。　　He　realized　that　before　that　night　he　had　never　known　the　deeps　of　wrath　undisturbed　in　him；　he　had　never　conceived　even　a　passing　idea　that　it　was　possible　for　him　to　try　to　kill　a　man。　　His　right　hand　was　swollen　stiff；　so　sore　that　he　could　scarcely　close　it。　　His　knuckles　were　bruised　and　bleeding；　and　ached　with　a　sharp　pain。　　Considering　the　thickness　of　his　heavy　glove；　Gale　was　of　the　opinion　that　so　to　bruise　his　hand　he　must　have　struck　Rojas　a　powerful　blow。　　He　remembered　that　for　him　to　give　or　take　a　blow　had　been　nothing。　　This　blow　to　Rojas；　however；　had　been　a　different　matter。　　The　hot　wrath　which　had　been　his　motive　was　not　puzzling；　but　the　effect　on　him　after　he　had　cooled　off；　a　subtle　difference；　something　puzzled　and　eluded　him。　The　more　it　baffled　him　the　more　he　pondered。　　All　those　wandering　months　of　his　had　been　filled　with　dissatisfaction；　ye