Mexicans. We are sitting tight
here--nothing doing. If some action doesn't come soon, it'll be darned
strange. Things are centering this way. There's scrapping right along,
and people have begun to move. We're still patrolling the line eastward
of Casita. It'll be impossible to keep any tab on the line west of
Casita, for it's too rough. That cactus desert is awful. Cowboys or
rangers with desert-bred horses might keep raiders and smugglers from
crossing. But if cavalrymen could stand that waterless wilderness,
which I doubt much, their horses would drop under them.

If things do quiet down before my commission expires, I'll get leave of
absence, run out to Forlorn River, marry my beautiful Spanish princess,
and take her to a civilized country, where, I opine, every son of a gun
who sees her will lose his head, and drive me mad. It's my great luck,
old pal, that you are a fellow who never seemed to care about pretty
girls. So you won't give me the double cross and run off with
Mercedes--carry her off, like the villain in the play, I mean.

That reminds me of Rojas. Oh, Dick, it was glorious! You didn't do
anything to the Dandy Rebel! Not at all! You merely caressed
him--gently moved him to one side. Dick, harken to these glad words:
Rojas is in the hospital. I was interested to inquire. He had a
smashed finger, a dislocated collar bone, three broken ribs, and a
fearful gash on his face. He'll be in the hospital for a month. Dick,
when I meet that pig-headed dad of yours I'm going to give him the
surprise of his life.

Send me a line whenever any one comes in from F. R., and inclose
Mercedes's letter in yours. Take care of her, Dick, and may the future
hold in store for you some of the sweetness I know now!

Faithfully yours, Thorne.

Dick reread the letter, then folded it and placed it under his pillow.

"Never cared for pretty girls, huh?" he soliloquized. "George, I never
saw any till I struck Southern Arizona! Guess I'd better make up for
lost time."

While he was eating his supper, with appetite rapidly returning to
normal, Ladd and Jim came in, bowing their tall heads to enter the
door. Their friendly advances were singularly welcome to Gale, but he
was still backward. He allowed himself to show that he was glad to see
them, and he listened. Jim Lash had heard from Belding the result of
the mauling given to Rojas by Dick. And Jim talked about what a grand
thing that was. Ladd had a