en at Happy Valley ever since that venture had been
under way, and in that time Bud and the old native had come to
understand one another very well. Buck Tooth, it will be remembered,
was of aid to Bud and his cousins when the fight over the water rights
and the dam was under way, and the Indian helped fight Del Pinzo's gang.

"It's this way," Bud translated to the others, having finished
questioning the Indian. "He got sort of lonesome after we left the
ranch, and though I told him he must stay, he hiked off on his own hook
to join us. He took a roundabout trail so he wouldn't meet up with us
too soon and get sent back.

"Then, it appears, yesterday, he ran into a bunch of Yaquis, and they
fired at him. He got in among some rocks and fired back, and he says
he did for two or three. Maybe he wounded 'em, or maybe he made 'em
candidates for the Happy Hunting Grounds. Anyhow, after the fight he
managed to get on our trail, and here he is."

"But did he see anything of Rosemary and Floyd?" asked Nort.

"Not a sign. He says these Yaquis didn't have any captives," Bud
answered.

"How do you account for that?" Dick wanted to know, while rather a grim
silence fell on the others.

"Well, this may have been another party of Indians. Very likely was,"
Bud declared.

"That's right!" chimed in Snake. "The ones that captured Rosemary and
Floyd could hardly have gotten so far north as the ones were that gave
Buck Tooth that little reminder in the shoulder."

This opinion, coming from one who could reason out the matter, made
everyone feel less apprehensive.

"There must be two or three bodies of these Yaquis," went on Snake
Purdee. "They always split up after a raid. One party has Rosemary
and Floyd, and another engaged in a little set-to with Buck Tooth.
Being one of them he knew their fighting tricks and he left his marks
on 'em."

"It's queer one Indian would turn against the others of the same
tribe," spoke Nort.

"No, not in Buck Tooth's case," declared Bud. "He's a good Indian, if
ever there was one. And, as he says, these Yaquis may be a lot of
half-breeds, or a part of the tribe that is outlawed from the others.
I'm not standing up for the Yaquis," he hastened to add, "for I know
they've done a lot of dirty work. But this bunch may be worse than the
others. Anyhow Buck Tooth says so. And I'm glad he's with us. I felt
sorry after I left him back at the ranch."

"Yes, he'll be of service I recko