a bloody stiletto.

But on the ground, insensible, lay a Mexican woman, and about her stood
seven or eight Greasers, each looking even more dumb, incapable, and
solemn than usual.

The city fathers felt themselves in an awkward position, and Mississip
finally asked, in the meekest of tones:

"What's the matter?"

"She Codago's wife," softly replied a Mexican. "They fight in
Chihuahua--he run away--she follow. She come here now--this minute--she
fall on Codago--she say something, we know not--he scream an' run."

"He's a low-lived scoundrel!" said Chagres Charley, between his teeth.
"Ef _my_ wife thort enough of me to follow me to the diggin's, I
wouldn't do much runnin' away. He's a reg'lar black-hearted,
white-livered--"

"Sh--h--h!" whispered Nappy, the Frenchman. "The lady is recovering, and
she may have a heart."

"_Maria, Madre purissima_!" low wailed the woman. "_Mi nino--mi nino
perdido_!"

"What's she a-sayin'?" asked Lynn Taps, in a whisper.

"She talk about little boy lost," said the Mexican.

"An' her husband gone, too, poor woman!" said Chagres Charley, in the
most sympathizing tones ever heard at Flatfoot Bar. "But a doctor'd be
more good to her jes' now than forty sich husbands as her'n. Where's the
nearest doctor, fellers?" continued Chagres Charley.

"Up to Dutch Hill," said Texas; "an' I'll see he's fetched inside of two
hours."

Saying which, Texas dropped the raw-hide door, and hurried off.

The remaining five strolled slowly back to Chagres Charley's hut.

"Them Greasers hain't never got nothin'," said Mississip, suddenly; "an'
that woman'll lay thar on the bare ground all night 'fore they think of
makin' her comfortable. Who's got an extra blanket?"

"I!" said each of the four others; and Nappy Boney expressed the feeling
of the whole party by exclaiming:

"The blue sky is enough good to cover man when woman needs blankets."

Hastily Mississip collected the four extra blankets and both of his own,
and, as he sped toward the Mexican hut, he stopped several times by the
way to dexterously snatch blankets from sleeping forms.

"Here you be," said he, suddenly entering the Mexican hut, and
startling the inmates into crossing themselves violently. "Make the poor
thing a decent bed, an' we'll hev a doctor here pretty soon."

[Illustration: SUDDENLY, BY THE GLARE OF A FRESH LIGHT, THE BOYS SAW THE
FACE OF A RATHER DIRTY, LARGE-EYED, BROWN SKINNED MEXICAN BABY.]

Mississip had barel