r own now. My message ought to
reach some one."

"I hope it does, Rosemary. But who's this coming up?"

The talk of brother and sister had attracted the attention of the
Indians, and there had been muttered comments. Following this one of
the knot of guards around the two captives had spurred ahead to where
Paz rode. Then back with the messenger came riding an Indian better
mounted and equipped than most of the members of the band.

He forced his horse between the steeds of Rosemary and Floyd, and gave
each of them a grin he may have intended to be friendly.

"What's the idea--Mike?" asked Floyd.

"Mike? Why do you call him that?" asked Rosemary.

"Because he looks friendly enough to be an Irishman," was the answer.
"See, he has a turned up nose, I verily believe he has Irish blood in
him. Let's call him Mike."

"Mike" grinned, though doubtless he understood nothing of what was said.

"He does look Irish," agreed Rosemary. "But I don't see how."

The explanation probably was that some wandering, adventuring Irishman
had married an Indian woman. The Yaquis, like many other Indian or
native tribes often intermarried. In fact it was this that in a
measure led to their downfall. For they lost the ideals of their race,
disease crept in and to-day many a band of what was once a noble people
is but a dragged-out remnant, steeped in crime.

The Yaquis were once among the best of the Mexican Indian tribes.
Though not large in numbers they were clean-living and of high
character. The Spanish conquest of Mexico marked the beginning of the
end for them, as it did many another Mexican race.

There was once a great civilization existing in the narrow strip of
land connecting North and South America. Now only the faintest traces
remain.

Once the Indian tribes flourished, they may even have had a written
language, of which now only a few idiograms remain. The men and women
were skilled in basketry, pottery and the making of gold and silver
ornaments.

But they fell upon evil days, or evil days came to them, it matters
little which, and they began to go down. Today there are only a few
thousands of the Yaquis left, and they have degenerated into train
robbers along the Southern Pacific line. They live like beasts, they
have mingled with negroes, degenerate Spaniards and Mexicans until it
is almost an insult to apply the name "Indian" to them.

And it was a band of such natives as this that had captured R