exactly. But wait. I'll read it so you may all hear," said Mr.
Merkel, taking the missive from his wife's trembling hand. "Old Hank
Fowler didn't try to get it all in ten words so we have a pretty fair
idea of what went on. Reckon he knew he didn't have to pay for that
message. It come out of the county funds I take it. Listen to this,
boys!"

Mr. Merkel read:

"'I regret to inform you that some relatives of yours were carried off
in the last raid of the Yaquis here. The Indians came over the border
from Mexico and shot up this place (La Nogalique). I was away, but
some of the boys give them a fight, and drove them off. But they took
with them some guns, cattle, what money they could steal and a young
lady and gentleman who claim to know you. The way it happened was
this. This young lady, named Rosemary Boyd, and her brother Floyd,
came here in an auto, from California. They give it out they were on
their way to Diamond X. But they hadn't more than reached town than
the Yaquis came in and shot things up.

"'The Indians took this young couple, and it was owing to the pluck of
the girl that we knew what happened.'"

"Good for Rosemary!" cried Nell. "How did it happen?"

"I'm coming to it," her father said, having paused to get his breath.
It was dry work, talking so much and under the stress of excitement,
and Nell had broken in on him.

"'As the Indians were riding away, with this young lady and her
brother,'" the message went on, "'she managed to scribble something on
a piece of paper she tore from a note book. She tossed it to one of
the cowboys who was shot in fighting the Yaquis. He brought the girl's
message to me after the fight, when I'd sent some of my men to trail
the devils. This is what the message said, and I'm sending the actual
message to you by mail. "Get word to my uncle, Henry Merkel, Diamond X
Ranch, that Floyd and I are taken. Ask him to send help." That's what
the message said and I'm doing as requested. I've sent all the help I
can, but the Yaquis got the start on us, owing to the fact that I was
out of town with a posse after rustlers. But we'll get that girl and
boy back or bust every leg we've got, Mr. Merkel. And you can send on
help if you want to and join us.'"

The lengthy message was signed with the name "Hank Fowler," and when
the reading was finished, Mr. Merkel glanced around at his listeners.

"These young folks are some kin of yours, I take it?" asked Old