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eep caverns in the lava； held for Yaqui spirits of the desert； his gods to whom he called。 Perhaps he invoked shadows of his loved ones and his race； calling them in this moment of vengeance。
Gale heardor imagined he heardthat wild； strange Yaqui cry。
Then the Indian stepped close to Rojas； and bent low； keeping out of reach。 How slow were his motions！ Would Yaqui nevernever end it？。。。A wail drifted across the crater to Gale's ears。
Rojas fell backward and plunged sheer。 The bank of white choyas caught him； held him upon their steel spikes。 How long did the dazed Gale sit there watching Rojas wrestling and writhing in convulsive frenzy？ The bandit now seemed mad to win the delayed death。
When he broke free he was a white patched object no longer human； a ball of choya burrs； and he slipped off the bank to shoot down and down into the purple depths of the crater。
XIII
Changes At Forlorn River
The first of March saw the federal occupation of the garrison at Casita。 After a short； decisive engagement the rebels were dispersed into small bands and driven eastward along the boundary line toward Nogales。
It was the destiny of Forlorn River； however； never to return to the slow； sleepy tenor of its former existence。 Belding's predictions came true。 That straggling line of home…seekers was but a forerunner of the real invasion of Altar Valley。 Refugees from Mexico and from Casita spread the word that water and wood and grass and land were to be had at Forlorn River； and as if by magic the white tents and red adobe houses sprang up to glisten in the sun。
Belding was happier than he had been for a long time。 He believed that evil days for Forlorn River； along with the apathy and lack of enterprise； were in the past。 He hired a couple of trustworthy Mexicans to ride the boundary line； and he settled down to think of ranching and irrigation and mining projects。 Every morning he expected to receive some word form Sonoyta or Yuma； telling him that Yaqui had guided his party safely across the desert。
Belding was simple…minded； a man more inclined to action than reflection。 When the complexities of life hemmed him in； he groped his way out； never quite understanding。 His wife had always been a mystery to him。 Nell was sunshine most of the time； but； like the sun…dominated desert； she was subject to strange changes； wilful； stormy； sudden。 It was enough for Belding now to find his wife in a lighter； happier mood； and to see Nell dreamily turning a ring round and round the third finger of her left hand and watching the west。 Every day both mother and daughter appeared farther removed from the past darkly threatening days。 Belding was hearty in his affections； but undemonstrative。 If there was any sentiment in his make…up it had an outlet in his memory of Blanco Diablo and a longing to see him。 Often Belding stopped his work to gaze out over the desert toward the west。 When he thought of his rangers and Thorne and Mercedes he certainly never forgot his horse。 He wondered if Diablo was running； walking； resting； if Yaqui was finding water and grass。
In March； with the short desert winter over； the days began to grow warm。 The noon hours were hot； and seemed to give promise of the white summer blaze and blasting furnace wind soon to come。 No word was received from the rangers。 But this caused Belding no concern； and it seemed to him that his women folk considered no news good news。
Among the many changes coming to pass in Forlorn River were the installing of post…office service and the building of a mescal drinking…house。 Belding had worked hard for the post office； but he did not like the idea of a saloon for Forlorn River。 Still； that was an inevitable evil。 The Mexicans would have mescal。 Belding had kept the little border hamlet free of an establishment for distillation of the fiery cactus drink。 A good many Americans drifted into Forlorn Riverminers； cowboys； prospectors； outlaws； and others of nondescript character； and these men； of course； made the saloon； which was also an inn； their headquarters。 Belding； with Carter and other old residents； saw the need of a sheriff for Forlorn River。
One morning early in this spring month； while Belding was on his way from the house to the corrals； he saw Nell running Blanco Jose' down the road at a gait that amazed him。 She did not take the turn of the road to come in by the gate。 She put Jose' at a four…foot wire fence； and came clattering into the yard。
〃Nell must have another tantrum；〃 said Belding。 〃She's long past due。〃
Blanco Jose； like the other white horses； was big of frame and heavy； and thunder rolled from under his great hoofs。 Nell pulled him up； and as he pounded and slid to a halt in a cloud of dust she swung lightly down。
It did not take more than half an eye for Belding to see that she was furious。
〃Nell； what's come off now？〃 asked Belding。
〃I'm not going to tell you；〃 she replied； and started away； leading Jose toward the corral。
Belding leisurely followed。 She went into the corral； removed Jose's bridle； and led him to the watering…trough。 Belding came up； and without saying anything began to unbuckle Jose's saddle girths。 But he ventured a look at Nell。 The red had gone from her face； and he was surprised to see her eyes brimming with tears。 Most assuredly this was not one of Nell's tantrums。 While taking off Jose's saddle and hanging it in the shed Belding pondered in his slow way。 When he came back to the corral Nell had her face against the bars； and she was crying。 He slipped a big arm around her and waited。 Although it was not often expressed； there was a strong attachment between them。
〃Dad； I don't want you to think me aa baby any more；〃 she said。 〃I've been insulted。〃
With a specific fact to make clear thought in Belding's mind he was never slow。
〃I knew something unusual had come off。 I guess you'd better tell me。〃
〃Dad； I will； if you promise。〃
〃What？〃
〃Not to mention it to mother； not to pack a gun down there； and never； never tell Dick。〃
Belding was silent。 Seldom did he make promises readily。
〃Nell； sure something must have come off； for you to ask all that。〃
〃If you don't promise I'll never tell； that's all；〃 she declared； firmly。
Belding deliberated a little longer。 He knew the girl。
〃Well； I promise not to tell mother；〃 he said； presently； 〃and seeing you're here safe and well； I guess I won't go packing a gun down there； wherever that is。 But I won't promise to keep anything from Dick that perhaps he ought to know。〃
〃Dad； what would Dick do ifif he were here and I were to tell him I'dI'd been horribly insulted？〃
〃I guess that 'd depend。 Mostly； you know； Dick does what you want。 But you couldn't stop himnobody couldif there was reason； a man's reason； to get started。 Remember what he did to Rojas！。。。Nell； tell me what's happened。〃
Nell； regaining her composure； wiped her eyes and smoothed back her hair。
〃The other day； Wednesday；〃 she began； 〃I was coming home； and in front of that mescal drinking…place there was a crowd。 It was a noisy crowd。 I didn't want to walk out into the street or seem afraid。 But I had to do both。 There were several young men； and if they weren't drunk they certainly were rude。 I never saw them before； but I think they must belong to the mining company that was run out of Sonora by rebels。 Mrs。 Carter was telling me。 Anyway； these young fellows were Americans。 They stretched themselves across the walk and smiled at me。 I had to go out in the road。 One of them； the rudest； followed me。 He was a big fellow； red…faced； with prominent eyes and a bold look。 He came up beside me and spoke to me。 I ran home。 And as I ran I heard his companions jeering。
〃Well； to…day； just now； when I was riding up the valley road I came upon the same fellows。 They had instruments and were surveying。 Remembering Dick； and how he always wished for an instrument to help work out his plan for irrigation； I was certainly surprised to see these strangers surveyingand surveying upon Laddy's plot of land。 It was a sandy road there； and Jose happened to be walking。 So I reined in and asked these engineers what they were doing。 The leader； who was that same bold fellow who had followed me； seemed much pleased at being addressed。 He was swaggeringtoo friendly； not my idea of a gentleman at all。 He said he was glad to tell me he was going to run water all over Altar Valley。 Dad； you can bet that made me wild。 That was Dick's plan； his discovery； and here were surveyors on Laddy's claim。
〃Then I told him that he was working on private land and he'd better get off。 He seemed to forget his flirty proclivities in amazement。 Then he looked cunning。 I read his mind。 It was news to him that all the land along the valley had been taken up。
〃He said something about not seeing any squatters on the land； and then he shut up tight on that score。 But he began to be flirty again。 He got hold of Jose's bridle； and before I could catch my breath he said I was a peach； and that he wanted to make a date with me； that his name was Chase； that he owned a gold mine in Mexico。 He said a lot more I didn't gather； but when