The Argosy, November 1908 — page 15: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

BY BULLET As a matter of fact, there was no rea- son why he should remain. He had con- vinced himself that the girl was not in the house. Everything seemed to point to a de- parture, when, as bad luck would have it. Namona came marching in. “ Ha!” exclaimed Hernandez, almost screaming. “So your Indian woman re- turned quickly from her people in the San Jacinto hills.” ‘“T did not say when she started,” I replied. ‘““Vou lie! She has not been away. She is not dressed for riding.” The handsome black eyes of Namona flashed at him in dancing triumph. A smile of sarcasm wreathed her mouth. “By Heaven! I'll find that girl!” roared Hernandez. He was outside now, standing near his horse, and several of his Yaquis had gathered near him. Sam Tamarko stood with his rifle in his hand glaring at the Mexican Indians, for whom he had imbibed a hatred from one of his parents, I didn’t know which. Namona, still grinning at the enraged Hernandez, came out and stood with her bare arms akimbo. When she saw the Yaquis her grin turned to a sneer. ‘“ Vaquis,” she said, turning to Sam. ‘ Moqui woman,’ said one of the Mexican Indians. He rode to where she stood, and, leaning over, grabbed her by the arm. There came a curse from Sam. Be- fore I could stop him he had raised his rifle and fired. The Yaqui fell from his horse, dead. CHAPTER III. AFTER THE BATTLE, For a moment everybody, myself in- cluded. stood there as if we were stunned. Then Hernandez. rousing him- self, leaped to his feet. ‘“Vour man began this,” he said, am not responsible.” The Yaquis were so stupefied by the sudden act of Tamarko that before they could shoot, he had seized Namona and whisked her inside the house. I could see that trouble was at hand, and hur- ried inside myself and slammed the door, =e PERSUASION, bel “You've brought disaster on us, Sam.” I said reproachfully. “ You should not have fired.” ‘Yaqui! He touched my wife.” There was no time for further re- proaches. A dark face loomed up out- side the window. A quick glance, a rifle-shot, and it was gone again. Fortunately, the bullet did no greater harm than break a mirror. I am not superstitious about the breaking of mirrors. But certainly that was the forerunner of bad luck. Sam ran to the window and fired into a group. Then, outside, there began the most demoniac yelling I had ever heard in my life. The Yaquis rode round and round the house, firing in through every window, whether they saw anybody or not. And then I heard the voice of Her- nandez trying to stop them. But it was no use. And, fearing that they would kill Sam and his wife, not to speak of myself, against whom they probably felt no real hatred, I began firing too. This enraged Hernandez, and a regular battle began. ‘“T can shoot,’’ said Namona, and she brought another rifle. And she could shoot. She stood with her husband, and their rifles cracked simultaneously. ‘Give up the girl,’ I heard Hernan- dez shout, ‘and I will call away my men.” I did not answer. Whatever happened now, I was detemined that I would not give up the girl to this enraged Mexican. The fighting was furious for so small a lot of combatants. Sam was so fran- tic with rage that he exposed himself unnecessarily. ‘Hal? -<theard* him=¢ry. =“ Fe 4s down.” I knew he meant Hernandez. The next minute a bullet came in through a window, and Sam fell to the floor. Then a long howl of rage rose from the Yaquis. They rushed at the door, the lock of which was not particularly strong, as I was not in a hostile coun- try, and half a dozen of them burst in. I shot one dead, but with loud cries the others, some of whom were evident- ly wounded, snatched Namona from the conmicloooks.conn