“You can rope me if I’m not locoed!” he burst out.  “I went out to conciliate a red-handed little murderer, and damn me if I didn’t meet a—­a—­well, I’ve not suitable name handy.  I started my bluff and got along pretty well, but I forgot to mention that Mercedes was Thorne’s wife.  And what do you think?  Rojas swore he loved Mercedes—­ swore he’d marry her right here in Forlorn River—­swore he would give up robbing and killing people, and take her away from Mexico.  He has gold—­jewels.  He swore if he didn’t get her nothing mattered.  He’d die anyway without her....And here’s the strange thing.  I believe him!  He was cold as ice, and all hell inside.  Never saw a Greaser like him.  Well, I pretended to be greatly impressed.  We got to talking friendly, I suppose, though I didn’t understand half he said, and I imagine he gathered less what I said.  Anyway, without my asking he said for me to think it over for a day and then we’d talk again.”

“Shore we’re born lucky!” ejaculated Ladd.

“I reckon Rojas’ll be smart enough to string his outfit across the few trails leadin’ out of Forlorn River,” remarked Jim.

“That needn’t worry us.  All we want is dark to come,” replied Belding.  “Yaqui will slip through.  If we thank any lucky stars let it be for the Indian....Now, boys, put on your thinking caps.  You’ll take eight horses, the pick of my bunch.  You must pack all that’s needed for a possible long trip.  Mind, Yaqui may lead you down into some wild Sonora valley and give Rojas the slip.  You may get to Yuma in six days, and maybe in six weeks.  Yet you’ve got to pack light—­a small pack in saddles—­larger ones on the two free horses.  You may have a big fight.  Laddy, take the .405.  Dick will pack his Remington.  All of you go gunned heavy.  But the main thing is a pack that ’ll be light enough for swift travel, yet one that ’ll keep you from starving on the desert.”

The rest of that day passed swiftly.  Dick had scarcely a word with Nell, and all the time, as he chose and deliberated and worked over his little pack, there was a dull pain in his heart.

The sun set, twilight fell, then night closed down fortunately a night slightly overcast.  Gale saw the white horses pass his door like silent ghosts.  Even Blanco Diablo made no sound, and that fact was indeed a tribute to the Yaqui.  Gale went out to put his saddle on Blanco Sol.  The horse rubbed a soft nose against his shoulder.  Then Gale returned to the sitting-room.  There was nothing more to do but wait and say good-by.  Mercedes came clad in leather chaps and coat, a slim stripling of a cowboy, her dark eyes flashing.  Her beauty could not be hidden, and now hope and courage had fired her blood.

Gale drew Nell off into the shadow of the room.  She was trembling, and as she leaned toward him she was very different from the coy girl who had so long held him aloof.  He took her into his arms.