ed over the border from Mexico, to make
raids by which they gathered in cattle, ponies and weapons, were not of
this class.

"It's like making an attack on a bunch of Greasers!" declared Nort, in
some disgust, as the fight opened.

But just then a bullet sang uncomfortably close to his head, and as he
ducked down--too late of course had the shot been true--Bud laughed and
said:

"Don't lose sight of the fact that they can shoot!"

Indeed the Yaquis, thus forced to make a stand and fight, were not
going to give up easily. The soldiers, the outfit from Diamond X and
the boy ranchers were to have no easy time of it.

It was inspiring to witness the manner in which the troopers went about
the business of rounding up the renegade Yaquis. At the first
intimation that there was to be serious fighting, when the band had
gotten close enough for effective work, the horses were sent back to be
out of danger from the bullets. The animals belonging to Bud, Nort,
Dick and their friends were taken in charge by some of the troopers.
For it was vitally necessary that means of retreat or of advance be
preserved. And of course there was no thought of retreat on the part
of our friends.

Buck Tooth, the old Indian, slid from his pony with a sigh of relief.
He did not care for riding. He liked an automobile, but he was too fat
to sit in comfort on a rangy cow pony.

"Keep head down!" he advised Nort, as he saw the lad apparently duck a
bullet.

"Guess that's good advice," admitted the lad with a sharp intaking of
his breath.

"Do same like soldiers," went on Buck Tooth.

And, as I have said, the example of the troopers was one to be
followed. This was not the first time they had been in Indian fights,
and against more worthy foes of the redman type. Each trooper picked
out such natural shelter as was available, and then began looking over
or around it for a sight of some human target at which to aim.

This sort of warfare would be carried on until there was a chance to
rush the Yaquis, when the horses could be brought up for this purpose,
or the charge made on foot. The Indians, exercising as great care for
their steeds as had the white men, had also sent the ponies to the rear.

The place of the fight was about the middle of a small valley, closed
in at either end by broken hills of rock, while rocks and great
boulders were scattered over the floor of the vale, thus affording
natural shelter for both sides. The ris