hind the
choyas. First off I thought it was a sheep. But it's the Yaqui!...
Crawlin' swift as a lizard! Can't you see him?"

It was a full moment before Jim's companions could locate the Indian.
Flat as a snake Yaqui wound himself along with incredible rapidity.
His advance was all the more remarkable for the fact that he appeared
to pass directly under the dreaded choyas. Sometimes he paused to lift
his head and look. He was directly in line with a huge whorl of lava
that rose higher than any point on the slope. This spur was a quarter
of a mile from the position of the rangers.

"Shore he's headin' for that high place," said Ladd. "He's goin' slow
now. There, he's stopped behind some choyas. He's gettin' up--no,
he's kneelin'.... Now what the hell!"

"Laddy, take a peek at the side of that lava ridge," sharply called
Jim. "I guess mebbe somethin' ain't comin' off. See! There's Rojas
an' his outfit climbin'. Don't make out no hosses.... Dick, use your
glass an' tell us what's doin'. I'll watch Yaqui an' tell you what his
move means."

Clearly and distinctly, almost as if he could have touched them, Gale
had Rojas and his followers in sight. They were toiling up the rough
lava on foot. They were heavily armed. Spurs, chaps, jackets, scarfs
were not in evidence. Gale saw the lean, swarthy faces, the black,
straggly hair, the ragged, soiled garments which had once been white.

"They're almost up now," Gale was saying. "There! They halt on top.
I see Rojas. He looks wild. By ----! fellows, an Indian!... It's a
Papago. Belding's old herder!... The Indian points--this way--then
down. He's showing Rojas the lay of the trail."

"Boys, Yaqui's in range of that bunch," said Jim, swiftly. "He's
raisin' his rifle slow--Lord, how slow he is!... He's covered some one.
Which one I can't say. But I think he'll pick Rojas."

"The Yaqui can shoot. He'll pick Rojas," added Gale, grimly.

"Rojas--yes--yes!" cried Thorne, in passion of suspense.

"Not on your life!" Ladd's voice cut in with scorn. "Gentlemen, you
can gamble Yaqui 'll kill the Papago. That traitor Indian knows these
sheep haunts. He's tellin' Rojas--"

A sharp rifle shot rang out.

"Laddy's right," called Gale. "The Papago's hit--his arm falls--There,
he tumbles!"

More shots rang out. Yaqui was seen standing erect firing rapidly at
the darting Mexicans. For all Gale could make out no second bullet
took effect. Rojas and his