But he exercised care along the hard Louis Vuitton Belem MM, slippery, ragged slope leading to the ledge Presently he came upon Mercedes and the Yaqui She ran right into Dick's arms, and there her strength, if not her courage, broke, and she grew lax.
"Mercedes, you're safe Thorne's safe It's all right now".
"Rojas" she whispered.
"Gone To the bottom of the crater A Yaqui's vengeance, Mercedes".
He heard the girl whisper the name of the Virgin Then he gathered her up in his arms.
"Come, Yaqui".
The Indian grunted He had one hand pressed close over a bloody place in his shoulder Gale looked keenly at him Yaqui was inscrutable, as of old, yet Gale somehow knew that wound meant little to him The Indian followed him.
Without pausing, moving slowly in some places, very carefully in others, and swiftly on the smooth part of the trail, Gale carried Mercedes up to the rim and along to the the others Jim Lash worked awkardly over Ladd Thorne was trying to assist Ladd, himself, was conscious, but he was a pallid, apparently a death-stricken man The greeting between Mercedes and Thorne was calm--strangely so, it seemed to Gale But he was calm himself Ladd smiled at him, and evidently would have spoken had he the power Yaqui then joined the group, and his piercing eyes roved from one to the other, lingering longest over Ladd.
"Dick, I'm figger'n hard," said Jim, faintly "In a minute it 'll be up to you an' Mercedes I've about shot my boltReckon you'll do-- best by bringin' up blankets--water--salt--firewood Laddy's got--one chance--in a hundred Fix him up--first Use hot salt water If my leg's broke--set it best you can That hole in Yaqui--only 'll bother him a day Thorne's bad hurtNow rustle--Dick, old--boy".
Lash's voice died away in a husky whisper, and he quietly lay back, stretching out all but the crippled leg Gale examined it, assured himself the bones had not been broken, and then rose ready to go down the trail.
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