it you:--a knife in the back is what they fear for
him, or poison in his cup. He is hated by strong haters, also he makes
them know fear. I hearing all that in the patio at Palomitas, and old
Tio Polonio is often saying all saviors are crucified. How you
think?"

Rhodes replied vaguely as to the wisdom of Tio Polonio, for the girl
was giving him the point of view of the peon, longing for freedom, yet
fatalistic as the desert born ever are. And she had known the rebel
leader, Ramon Rotil, all the time!

He had no doubt but that she was right. Her statement explained the
familiar appearance of the man he had not met before, though he had
seen pictures in newspapers or magazines. Then he fell to wondering
what Ramon Rotil was doing in a territory so far from the troops,
and----

"Don Jose is one of the strong men who are hating him much," confided
the child. "Also Don Jose comes not north alone ever anymore, always
the soldiers are his guard. Tio Polonio tells things of these
soldiers."

"What kind of things?"

"They are killing boys like rabbits in Canannea,--pacifico boys who
could grow to Calendrista soldiers. Such is done by the guard of Don
Jose and all the friends of the Deliverer are killed with a quickness.
That is how the men of Don Jose Perez please him most, and in the
south there are great generals who work also with him, and his hand is
made strong, also heavy, and that is what Tio Polonio is telling us
often."

When they reached the mouth of the little canon of the Yaqui well
where the trails divide, Pike shook hands and climbed into the saddle
of Pardner.

"It's the first time I ever took the easy way out, and left the fight
alone to a chum,--but I'll do it, Bub, because you could not make a
quick get-away with me tagging along. Things look murkier in this
territory every minute. You'll either have the time of your life, or
a headstone early in the game. Billie and I will put it up though we
won't know where you're planted. I don't like it, but the minutes and
water for the trail are both precious. Come out quick as you can. So
long!"

Pardner, refreshed by cooling drink and an hour's standing in wet mud
of the well drainage, stepped off briskly toward the north, while
Rhodes lifted Tula to the back of the pack mule, and Miguel unheeding
all plans or changes, drooped with closed eyes on the back of the
little burro. The manager of the reorganized gold-search syndicate
strode along in the blindin