d. On top of one of the jagged rocks,
behind which they had conducted the defense that had failed, stood a
ragged Yaqui Indian. To and fro, on the end of his gun, he waved not
exactly a white flag, but a dirty rag that once might have been white.
Objects of this hue did not long remain like the driven snow among the
Yaquis.

"Cease firing!" blared the bugle, and the spiteful rattle of the
soldiers' guns stopped abruptly.

"Cover the beggar, some of you," ordered Captain Marshall, "and a few
of you get ready in case this is a trick and they try a rush. I'll
look into this."

"Let me go!" pleaded Lieutenant Snow eagerly. "I can sling their lingo
a bit, Captain."

"Very well," assented the commander. "But watch yourself, Mart. I
don't trust the devils, though if they try any of their tricks we'll
wipe out the whole band. I wish I had a rapid fire gun. We made a
mistake coming off without it. But we had to leave in a hurry."

During this brief talk, during which none of the soldiers or cowboys
exposed themselves, the figure of the Indian continued to stand in full
view and easy shot, waving the flag that told of a desire to surrender.

Or did it? Was it but a trick? That remained to be seen.

Seeing that his men were in readiness for quick work, Captain Marshall,
himself holding his carbine where he could easily get at it, signalled
to Lieutenant Stone to advance, under the flag of truce, to listen to
the capitulation of the Yaquis. A trooper went with the lieutenant,
carrying one of the company guidons, which, while not exactly a flag of
truce served the purpose well enough. Besides the outfit from the fort
and Diamond X were not surrendering.

"Had enough, Yaqui?" asked the lieutenant, as the Indian came down from
his perch, and advanced to a point midway between the hidden Mexicans
and the equally concealed troopers. In the rear was another band of
soldiers, so, if it had been necessary, the Indians could have been
withered by a cross fire.

"We stop," grunted the Yaqui.

It was the giving up.

Then followed a talk between the officer and the representative of the
Indians. This was not Paz, who probably was too cowardly to trust
himself in the open under the guns of his rightful enemies.

"Unconditional surrender, lay down every gun you have, march out and be
made prisoners!" was the ultimatum of Lieutenant Snow.

It was the only terms that could be offered the treacherous band that
had br