The Argosy, November 1908 — page 34: what you’re looking at

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

600 If the thing had to happen, the spot was a fortunate chance. Here there were trees, not only at the bottom, but growing out of what soil there was on the sides. These broke my fall, but the crashing through branches was not pleasant, and I am not sure whether that or the land- ing on the bottom caused my conscious- ness to leave me. When I woke again to the pleasures of life in the Yaqui country, I was lying half in a stream of water that flowed at the bottom of the ravine, sometimes in a torrent, and sometimes in broader and more sluggish fashion. I came slowly to a realization of what had occurred, and remember that I was much surprised when I found myself able to sit up. Then I felt to see if any bones were broken. My joy was great when I dis- covered none, although I didn’t possess one that didn’t feel sore. My face and hands were terribly scratched, but otherwise, except for a great shaking up, I was uninjured. And my rifle, fortunately, had not been bro- ken, and lay near me. But where were the Yaquis? I knew enough of all Indian nature to be sure. they would not abandon the pursuit and go quietly home. They would probably want me, even if it was only my dead body, to carry back to their village in triumph. There was no trace of them, however. Of course, I knew they would not at- tempt to ride down the steep side of the ravine, but there must be, I knew, some way for them to get down on foot. I picked up my rifle, and began to think of what was best for me to do. There were hiding-places now, but I was not so sure I wanted to hide. It was a splendid spot for cave bears, and a cave would be the only hiding-place. I did not know how far the ravine extended in either direction. It had, I knew, a winding, crooked course, and the flow of the stream was back appar- ently toward the hill I had left. I knew that it didn’t run up the hill, and thought probably the gorge made a wide turn. I had no great admiration for that part of the country, but I remembered THE ARGOSY. that Billy Barefoot had said the rubies were found on the shore of a lake, and this stream very likely ran into that lake. Ait was only a chance guess, but it was to the lake I wanted to go. I knew that Hernandez and Bonilla were there with Consuelo and Namona, and that it would be near the lake where I would be most likely to meet with Billy Barefoot and his men. I had not gone very far along the stream when I heard voices. I stopped, and sank down behind a big rock. Men were coming, talking a jargon that was unintelligible to me, and they were evidently much excited. And at last I saw them. There were five of them now. Apparently they had done the same as my Moquis—left one to mind the horses while the others con- tinued the pursuit on foot. And they were going about it in a manner so thorough as to cause my blood to chill again. ‘They spread out across the bottom, and were prying into every nook and cranny. One, a miserable specimen of human- ity, looking ugly and fierce enough to kill any man on sight, was coming di- rectly toward the rock behind which I was crouching. In another moment it was certain that he would see me. CHAPTER XIII. IN CLOSE TOUCH WITH BRUIN. I pip not, in this dire extremity, lose time in stupefied inactivity, as I had when I saw the Yaquis coming up the hill. I fired. But the fellow had already discovered me, and our two rifles barked their venom almost at the same instant. Whether I was the better marksman, or had fired first, the shots were too close together to enable me to determine. But he fell, and I was not touched. But now quick and incessant action was imperative. I knew enough about the nature of the Yaquis, and I still had four to deal with. Swinging toward them, as_ they whirled toward me at the sound of the firing, I dropped down again behind the big stone. COMMICOOKS. Cor