CHAPTER VIII
SHOOTING STARS
Contrary to what was usual when a band of cowboys, including Bud, Nort,and Dick, started off on the trail, there was very little singing,laughing and joking as they gave their ponies rein to begin pursuitafter the kidnapping Yaquis. Even the lightest-spirited cowpuncherfelt the gravity of the situation, though, save for the three boyranchers, none had ever seen Rosemary and Floyd. And it was so longago that Bud, Nort and Dick had met these western cousins that theyscarcely remembered them.
"But we'd hit the trail for the rescue whether they were our cousins ornot!" declared Bud Merkel, as he kicked his heels against the flanks ofhis pony, and sent that steady-going animal forward with a rush.
"Whoa there, son, whoa there!" advised Snake Purdee who was inleadership of the party.
"That's right," chimed in Yellin' Kid, with his usual strident tones."Take it easy, Bud, We've got a long, hard trail ahead of us, and wehaven't any spare horses."
"I didn't intend to start a race," spoke Bud, as he slowed up andwaited for Nort and Dick. "I was just wishing I could kick some ofthose greasy Mexican Indians, and it must have been a sort of reflexaction on my part that gave Toot a tap in the ribs," and he patted hispony, no very handsome steed, but a sticker on a long trail. Bud hadtaught his pony to run out of the corral at the blowing of a horn,hence the name "Toot."
"I don't know anything about them there reflex actions," observedYellin' Kid, "but I do know that this is no fishin' party! We've gothard work cut out for us if we're to trail them sneakin' Yaquis."
"You delivered an earful that time, my friend," stated Rolling Stone,with a grim smile. "I've had dealings with these imps and while theydon't compare in bloodthirstiness with the worst of our former AmericanIndians, they're bad enough. I know!"
He seemed to gaze afar, into the past, and the boy ranchers hoped hewould some day tell the details of how he had come so to hate theYaquis.
The trailing party, started into action by the receipt of the messageso daringly written by Rosemary, consisted of fifteen cowboys, and inthese I include our three heroes, who certainly are entitled to beclassed with the others. For though not as old, they had hadconsiderable experience now, and were able to rough it with the mostveteran cow puncher.
In addition to Bud, Nort and Dick, there was Snake Purdee, who was invirtual charge, according to instructions from Bud's father. Yellin'Kid, Rolling Stone and several other cowboys made up the remainder ofthe party, which was well armed, and provisioned as fully as waspractical. They expected to replenish their packs of food at variousplaces, and if they passed beyond the pale of civilization they wouldlive off the land, or do their best in this respect.
"It can't be any worse for us than for those Indians," Snake Purdee hadsaid, when the talk was on the food question.
"Yes, but a white man can't live on what those heathen eat," remarkedRolling Stone. "They'll eat lizards and snakes, and think they'restopping at one of the best hotels, with bath an' everything. Or theycan go without eating longer than any human beings I ever saw. In factI don't believe they are human. They're imps, that's what theyare--plain imps! If I had my way I'd--"
Rolling Stone gave a sudden jump, and a grunt, the reason for thisaction being that Snake Purdee had urged his steed to a place next tothat of the speaker and had given him a jolting punch in the ribs.
"Wha-wha--" stuttered Rolling Stone.
In answer Snake pointed toward Bud and his cousins, on whose faces werelooks of grave alarm as the new acquisition to their forces spoke thusof the fierce character of the Yaquis.
"Don't get 'em to worrying too much about that there young lady an'gent what these Indians have carried off," whispered Snake, and it waswell it was he who spoke, and not Yellin' Kid, or our heroes would havesensed what was up. "Keep it dark," advised Snake. "Keep it dark!Don't take the heart out of 'em!"
"Oh!" exclaimed Rolling Stone. "I see!"
"Pity you wouldn't," snapped out the cowboy leader. "You got to have alittle consideration for the young fellers!"
Rolling Stone nodded, and then, as if to make amends for what he hadsaid, he added:
"Course I'm not saying _all_ Yaquis are alike. There may be some halfway, or maybe a quarter way decent. And maybe they've captured thisyoung lady and gentleman just for ransom. In that case they'll takegood care of 'em."
"Do you think so?" asked Bud, for, truth to tell, he had been greatlyalarmed as he thought of the possible fate of Rosemary and her brotherin the hands of the unprincipled Yaquis.
"Oh, sure!" asserted Rolling Stone, with more conviction than he felt."They're after money, these Indians are, or what money will buy. Andthey like good U.S. money instead of Mex. dollars which are worth aboutfourteen and a half cents a pound just now. So it's to their intereststo treat their captives well, so they'll bring a good price in themarket."
"Good price?" exclaimed Nort. "Do they put them up at auction?"
"No, I didn't mean just that," Rolling Stone hastened to add. "I meanif they ask a ransom they're bound to keep the prisoners in good shapefor if they don't produce 'em in that same fashion they're likely toslip up on the reward."
"Then they won't harm Rosemary or Floyd?" asked Dick, whose vividimagination had pictured his cousins as being subject to the torturesof the burning stake.
"Well, of course they won't have feather beds to sleep on," spokeRolling Stone slowly, "but I take it your cousins are used to roughingit, and it will be no worse than a scouting trip for them."
"Yes, I s'pose Floyd is used to camping out," admitted Bud. "But asfor Rosemary--"
"Don't worry, son," advised Snake. "Rosemary is a western girl and youknow what your sister is."
"That's right!" and Bud visibly brightened. "Nell could look afterherself if given half a chance. And maybe we'll catch up to theseYaquis before very long."
"Sure we will!" asserted Snake, but he and the other cowboys, moreexperienced in matters of this sort than our heroes, felt that therewas a grim terror between them and those whom they pursued.
However they had started, and were making as good time as possible.Messages had passed between Mr. Merkel and those in authority at LaNogalique, and the probable route of the kidnapping Yaquis wasindicated as well as could be. This saved a long trip to the border inorder to get on the trail of the Indians from the time they had takenRosemary and Floyd.
Well armed, with righteous indignation burning in their hearts, used toroughing it, and with men who knew almost every foot of the country,the expedition from Diamond X was well equipped for the work in hand.
At first after they started out there was eager talk, and speculationas to where the Indians would be met with, and what the probableoutcome would be of the fight that was sure to follow.
"Unless they run off when they see us and leave Rosemary and Floyd forus to bring back," spoke Dick, almost afraid lest this outcome shouldprevent a fight.
"Don't worry. They won't run! They'll stand and give us as good or asbad as we can send," declared Rolling Stone.
"We'll wipe out the band if we get half a chance!" declared Bud, and itwas not said in a bloodthirsty or boastful spirit. It was calmretribution that actuated our friends.
Along the trail they traveled--a trail they were destined to follow forweary days and nights. This was only the beginning. They must makeall the speed they could, and yet spare the horses all that waspossible. There was a chance of getting new mounts at several places,but it was only a chance and could not be depended on. They must savewhat they had, both in the way of horseflesh and rations.
Night found them well on their way, and though the boys were eager tocontinue, Snake insisted on a halt being made not only for supper butto give men and horses a needed rest.
"The Indians will have to stop just as we do," said the older cowboy."They can't keep on continually; they have to stop and rest."
"Yes, I suppose so," granted Bud.
So the night camp
was made, and when the horses had been turned out tograze, hobbled so they would not stray, and when the evening meal wasover, the party sat about the fires, talking of but one topic--whatwould happen when they came up with the Yaquis.
As they were in friendly country, not after cattle rustlers and had nofear of Del Pinzo and his gang, there was felt to be no need ofstanding guard. But for all this Bud, Nort and Dick were a bitrestless, and did not sleep as soundly as the others.
In fact along toward morning, though while it was yet very dark, Nort,thinking he heard suspicious noises, unrolled from his blanket andstood up.
"What's the matter?" came in a hoarse whisper from his brother.
"I don't know," answered Nort, in the same hoarse tones. "I thought Iheard something."
"So did I," and Dick scrambled out to stand beside his brother. "Arethe horses all right?"
"I hope so. We're lost without them. Let's take a look and--"
Nort stopped suddenly and pointed to the northern sky. Above thehorizon shone some red sparkles of light skimming and shimmeringthrough the dark night.
"Shooting stars!" remarked Dick, in a whisper.
"Shooting nothing!" cried Nort, and his voice was loud. "Those aresignals from the Yaquis! Snake! Wake up! We're right close to theIndians!" he yelled.