ily,
once rich and influential."

"Reckoned as much," replied the cowboy. "There's more than Rojas's
wantin' to kidnap a pretty girl. Shore he does that every day or so.
Must be somethin' political or feelin' against class. Well, Casita
ain't no place for your friend's girl at night or day, or any time.
Shore, there's Americans who'd take her in an' fight for her, if
necessary. But it ain't wise to risk that. Lash, what do you say?"

"It's been gettin' hotter round this Greaser corral for some weeks,"
replied the other cowboy. "If that two-bit of a garrison surrenders,
there's no tellin' what'll happen. Orozco is headin' west from Agua
Prieta with his guerrillas. Campo is burnin' bridges an' tearin' up
the railroad south of Nogales. Then there's all these bandits callin'
themselves revolutionists just for an excuse to steal, burn, kill, an'
ride off with women. It's plain facts, Laddy, an' bein' across the
U.S. line a few inches or so don't make no hell of a difference. My
advice is, don't let Miss Castaneda ever set foot in Casita again."

"Looks like you've shore spoke sense," said Ladd. "I reckon, Gale, you
an' the girl ought to come with us. Casita shore would be a little
warm for us to-morrow. We didn't kill anybody, but I shot a Greaser's
arm off, an' Lash strained friendly relations by destroyin' property.
We know people who'll take care of the senorita till your friend can
come for her."

Dick warmly spoke his gratefulness, and, inexpressibly relieved and
happy for Mercedes, he went toward the clump of cactus where he had
left her. She stood erect, waiting, and, dark as it was, he could tell
she had lost the terror that had so shaken her.

"Senor Gale, you are my good angel," she said, tremulously.

"I've been lucky to fall in with these men, and I'm glad with all my
heart," he replied. "Come."

He led her into the road up to the cowboys, who now stood bareheaded in
the starlight. They seemed shy, and Lash was silent while Ladd made
embarrassed, unintelligible reply to Mercedes's thanks.

There were five horses--two saddled, two packed, and the remaining one
carried only a blanket. Ladd shortened the stirrups on his mount, and
helped Mercedes up into the saddle. From the way she settled herself
and took the few restive prances of the mettlesome horse Gale judged
that she could ride. Lash urged Gale to take his horse. But this Gale
refused to do.

"I'll walk," he said. "I'm used t