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THE PEOPLE. BARNWELL. S. C. CHAPTER XI.—Continued. —12— Tb* Itidlan led off Into one of the (fray notches between the tumbled ■treama of lava. At the apex of the notch, where two streams met, a nar row gully wound and ascended. Yaqul led Diablo Into It. and then began the most laborious and vexatious and ^alfijful of all slow travel. The disintegrating sunface of a lava bed was at once the roughest, the hardest, the meanest, the crudest, the most deceitful kind -of ground to travel. The fugitives made slow progress. They picked a cautious, winding way to and fro In little steps here and there along thi many twists of the trail, up and down the unavoid able depressions, round and round the Roles. At noon, so winding back upon Itself had been their course, |hey ajv p*»ared to have come only a she mrt dis tance up the lava slope. Ir was rough work for them; It was terrible work for the horses. Blanco Diablo refused to to the power of the Taqul. He balked, he plunged, he bit and kicked. He hud t« he pulled and beaten over many placea. Mer cedes' horae times, threw hor. and ■he was put upon Blanc© Sol. The white charger snorted a protest, then, obedient to Gale's stem call, patiently lowered Ida noble head and pawed the lava for a footing that would hold. The lava caused Gale toll end worry end pain, but he heted the cboyaa. He ran* almost to relieve what he hed been! claimed by desert traveler*—that the efeoya was alive and leaped at man or beast. Certain H waa when Gale paaeed one. K he did act put all attention to avoiding U. bo waa hnuked through hie chape and held by barbed lhome. The pain was almost unendurable It waa tfhe no other It burned, along, beat— elmoot seemed te freene It made neelms arm or leg. It made him bite hie tongue to fcer, fro* It mode the eoeot roll made him steg By ZANE GREY Author of Wildfire, Etc. Copyright by Harper A Brothers. and looked till he hurt his eyes. Then he took hta glass out of lbs case on Sol's saddle. Thete appeared to be nothing upon the lava but the innumerable dots of ehoyn shining In the sun. Gale swept his glass slowly forward and back. Then Into a nearer field cf vision crept a long whlfe-nnd-blnck line of horses and men. Without a word he handed the glass to £<arid. The ranger used It, muttering to himself. "They’re on the lava fifteen miles down In an air line " he said, present ly. "Jim, shore they're twice that an’ more accordin’ to the trail.” Jim had his toot: and replied: *T reckon we’re a day au' a night In the lead.” "la It Rojas?” hurst out Thorne with set Jaw. “Yes. Thorne, ft's Rojas and a dozen or more.” replied Gale, and he looked up at Mercedes. Rite was transformed. She might have been a medieval princess em bodying all the Spanish power and passion of that time, breathing re venge. hate, unquenchable spirit of fire. If her beuaty had been wonder ful In her betpleoa and appealing mo menta near, when aba rooked back white-faced and dame-eyed. It waa tranurradent. Gala drew a long, deep breath The mood which hod preuagrd pursuit, write blood on this somber duoeel returned fe him tenfold. Vie uaw Thome a face corded by Mach vrtea. crying ant j ctp.wed Mb* thne* of a off Mm It •wHMg wMf Tbeue rangers, who had coolly risked death many tl Moreover tad as the rhoya was foe | man. It uaa Inlandy wnme far bunM I A Jagged stab ftum this patautasd anr-1 lus »•• the <mly thing lUanco Aol ! no* stand Man* times ibal day. I re he carried M#r*«dm be hed I uttdiy senrird. and then stand I fern- I Ming uhile t«ate pick'd bcwhrn tbuma J Item the me* Mrrreoics had dealt It often, were white as fear m pain could bare made them an the moment. Vagal rained bis hand, not rt—chad or dash led tight hat rarWd rigid Uho an and be aboah It to a luce nMrb nan menacing and terrible It ana the «»aaaa that railed In the tar tags Hut after I tfffRMT af these men And thetr pan put sp>« n»4 Gale j dun la kill and ta save was swrpwmed ta-ta- sure no < The afterwuu h»| a !« Khrd him arned like the morn • lading and fatal tag si.<t Hiw*hing along this abandoned trail t«aie son waay n aterbulen maMly dry wune cuntalntng water, all •*f them ruich basin* full *mly after rainy seuwui iJttle ugly b*inchei| bu*be« tl.at Gale •cUfceiy f sa grru iM-«r lb* only by the wild bale which was yet tosa. the unfathomable emotion at a * peon stove Gale marveled at If. , while he IMt Ms whole hetag Cidd and ) lease as be tamed anew more ta fhl . ton to the tmrha at bin laaitam. The fight predicted by ftetdtag was at band What a tight that must be! Itojav gnlar*! b*dr* ; ua* t m vet tag light and fust gaining. He bad bought hi* He waa ■ra with a)»> stuote«l gvessrwoud and prtrhiyT *Mb eatrvvagaM pVWgg i»*r Therr ua* grans and the J ^l* ••»h offer* of the body and Mm-I rh«ya a i.«e duurtshed h> that hard ** ■" artstorfat hateful to thetr kind w ,u , (flatly, there ana the wild, dr aula tr t>arkfvr*« merfrw>k the |■*rly #• tt>e» etiilrm |aggr-.| shallow, others deep, and all red as fire. Yaqul circled close to abysses which yawned sheer from a level sur face, and he appeared always to be turning upon his course to avoid them. The plateau had now a considerable dip to the west. Gale marked the slow heave and ripple of the ocean of lava to the south, where high, rounded peaks marked the center of this volcanic region. The uneven na ture of the slope westward prevented any extended view, until suddenly the fugitives emerged from a rugged break lo come upon a sublime and aw»> Inspiring spectacle. They were upon a high point of the western slope of the plateau. It was strange to Gale, and perhaps to the others, to see their guide lead Diablo Into a smooth and well-worn trail along the rim of the awful crater. Gale looked down Into that red chasm. It resembled an Inferno. The dark cliffs u|M*n the opposite side were eellfd In blue base that seemed like smoke. Here Taqul was at borne. He moved and looked about him aa a man coming at last Into Ma own. Gale aaw him stop and gate oat over that red-ribbed void to the Galf Gala divined that somewhere along this crater of bell tbo Yaqul would make hla flnal stand; and one look Into Ms strange. Inscrutable eyes Imagination plctura a fitting for the pursuing Rojas. CHAPTER XII Thu Ceatoe of Holt. ^•*< ally Gale, upon taming a sharp winder at will. Canteens were filled, a small hag of food was packed, and blankets made Into a bundle. Then Yaqul faced the steep ascent of the lava slope. that and Uii|>*< kr-t a pitfd of water drrp ua<lcr an mrrhanging shelf at lava. It had l-evn a hard day The horse' drank their dll. and then Mend pa tlently with dr«*>ptn* head*. Hunger and ih!r*t were a|»;4-ased. and a warm dr«* cheered th, weary and f««»t*ore fugitive* Yaqul unld. “Bleep.” And »> auotber night |>n»*»-d l‘p*>n the folios Ing morning, ten miles or more up the slow ascending lava elope, Gale su* In the rear of sll the ottier horses. Sit n* to take, for Mercedes’ sake, the advantage of the broken trail. Ynqul was leading IMuhlo, winding around n break. Ills head was bent ns he Stepped slowly and uiuMenly U|ton the lava, dale turned to look back, the first time In several days. He thought, of course, of Rojas in certain pursuit : hut It teemed absurd to look fur him. Yaqul led on. un<J Gale often glanced up from hl.s task to watch the Indian. Presently he saw h»m stop, turn, and look hack. Ladd did likewise, and then Jim and Thorne. Gale found the desire Irresistible. Thereafter he often rested Blanco So|, and looked luick the while. He had hhG fleW- glass, but did not choose to use It. "Rojas will follow," said Mercedes. Gale regarded her iu amaze. The tone of her voice and been indefinable, if there were fear then he failed to detect It. She was gazing hack down the colored slope, and something nlumt -her, perhaps the steady, falcon gaze of her magnificent eves, reminded him newl, ■ tortured wlhlerwe** of tova and l«mHy. nerve aad repetteat world, a stage rwuut •nn.berly ami fittingly for a supreme straggle be- fw wa* utterly smated |* the spilt to the lava si aped widened late aa am»fw. It green aad anft and hew at If al to all the aagry. cwnturted red aaimondlng that Gale rwnhl aravewtr rredti pis sight lUatav Md whistled Ma wet came tn (he amwf at water. Then Gate *■ w a grunt hale, a ptt to the •May lava, a dark. ewui. shady wall There waa estdrnrw at the fart that at flood ■maena water had aa ■utlet lato the array a The anil appeared la he a hue aaad. to wMeh a reddish ttoge preitomiaaied; aad H waa ahead sally covered with a hmg ersaa. actll partly greea Me*qwtte* and pa la vurde* datted the urrwye aad grada- aily riaaed la thlcfeeta that <4>*tru< led the v taw ~)t|i«re It ad heats me.” ct< (aimed I add “A hat a place ta h»«l» ap tot We mold have hid here for ■ long time HeMta* wa* ■hare right ahnat the ladtaa Aa* I ma *ee Rnj.e’ The trail he followed led up on the right side of the fissure, opposite to the one he had come down. It was a steep climb, and encumbered as the men were they made but slow prog ress. At length the rims widened out and the red, smoky crater yawned be neath. .Yaqul left the trail add began clambering down over the rough and twisted convolutions of lava which formed the rim. It was with extreme difficulty that the party followed him. The choya was there to hinder pas sage. Finally the Indian halted upon a narrow bench of flat, smooth lava, and his followers worked with exceed ing care and effort down to his posi tion. At the back of this bench, between hunches of choya, was a niche, a shal low cave with floor lined apparently with mold. Yaqul spread blankets Inside, left the canteen and the sack of food, and with a gesture at once humble, yet that of a chief, he In vited Mercedes to enter. A few more gestures and fewer words disclosed his plan. In this Inaccessible nook Mercedes was to be hidden. The men were to go around upon the opposite rim. and block the trail leading down to the waterbole. Ladd chose the smallest gun In the party and gave It to Merredea. •"Shore It's best to go the limit on bein' ready.” be said, simply, *Tbr chances ore you'll never need It. But If you do—" He left uff tberu. and bis break was significant Merredea answered bim with a fuarleo* and ludumltaMe flash of eyes. Thom# was tbu only one srbo •bowed any shaken nerve Ilia leave taking at bln wife was alerting and bsrrted Then be and the rangers carefully stepped In (be tracks of tbe tnqul He strede an up tbe trail "Lemme that glsss,” suddenly said Jim Lash. Tin seeln’ red, 1 tell yott. ; . . Well, pore as my eyes are they had,U right. Rojas an’ his outfit have left the trail.' Laddy, I’ll be danged If the Greaser bunch hasn’t vgmoosed. Gone out of sight! Right there not a half mile away, the whole caboodle- gone !” “Shore they’re behind m crust or have gone down Into a rut,” suggested Ladd. "They'll show again in a min ute. Look sharp, boys, for I’m flg- gerln* Rojai ’ll spread hi* men.” From time to time the rangers looked Inquiringly at Gale. The field glass, however, like the naked sight, could not catch the slightest moving object out there upon the lava. A long hour of slow, mounting suspense wore on. "Shore It’s all goln’ to be as queer as the Yaqul,” said Ladd. , Indeed, the strange mien, the silent action, the somber character of the Indian had not been without effect upon the minds of the men. Then the weird, desolate, tragic scene added to the vague sense of mystery. And now the disappearance of Rojas’ band, the long wait In the silence, the boding certainty of invisible foes crawling, circling closer and closer. lent to the situation a final touch that made It unreal. “I’m reckonin’ there’s a mind be hind them Greasers.” replied Jim. “Or mebhe we ain’t done Rojas credit. . . . If somethin’ would only come off!” That Lash, the coolest, the most provoklngly nonchalant of men tn times of peril, should begin to show a nerv ous strain was all the more In dicative of a subtle pervading nn- renltty. “Boy*, look sharp?” suddenly culled Ijiah. "Low down to tbe left mebbs three bundrtd yard* Bee. slung by them seams of lavs—behind the rbo ys*. First off I thought u ••* ■ sheep But It's tbe Yaqul I . *. Oawtta* swift as a litardl C*a*V yen see hlmr It was a fall moment before Jlm'k i ampnntana runld lento tbe Indian. Flat aa • snake. Yaqul wwnad Mae self along uHb lm ndlbl» rnpAdlty. HELP FOR GIRLS WHO WORK c Mr*. Lodie fell* How Lydia liable E. Pmkh&m’fi Vegetaoie ' Compound Helped Her ble Compound had his wife, helped his wife, to my husband bought me » bottle because I was so run-down* had s nervous week- bom. no strength ia my body and poms fn my left side bo bad that I could hardly do my work. Before I was mar ried I used to work Main the factory, and I* the same then as I have isd since I have done my housework. I would not be without a bottle in the had pains Just since l bs’ house now. It has stopped the pains all ad ou right and I have found out that it is a wonderful body builder, as it has made me well and strong. It is going to be the 4 old reliable 4 with me hereafter, and I am always willing to tell other women how it has helped roe. You can oae this letter aa you wish sa I can boo- estiv my that my word* are true. 44 — Mrs. M. Lome, R.F.D. No. i, Box 40, Tyrone, Pa. * Latter* like this bring out the merit of Lydia E. Ptokham'a Vegetable Corn- pound. They tell of the relief from such pains and oilmen ta after taking Lydia L. TYnkham’a i'oinp»un-l. SLOW DEATH f, a culty In urinating, toward a higher point, where prow refly Me dart figure mend w tlswlewa against tbe sky Tbe rangers and Theme selected a deep Aepeeaetam. ewt at wMcb tod enverel rate deep eeewffk fee ee«er Hem tbe men told dwern sad gwes end rew»~»»e tk4-lr ivy mrtrtdpe belt a eel tied d*een Jim l-a*h creeled tote ■ little atrip at •Bede end Mated tbe time tranquilly tndd wee rvwileae end Mepeftent end watchfol. every little etote rising In (wok ep the far reaching slope, end then tn the right, n hem YsqoT■ dark flgum el and ant from s high jodt at the rim Thorne grew silent end seemed >"»«tv*utned by S stow, swltew rage Gem was neither retm nnr fme at s gnening —turnse nor at e welt (tig wrath But s* beet be c*mM be put the pmdtng action out of mind It come over Mm ell wf e st*d>tew that be bed ant grasped tbe siepm- _ . dews nature nf tbls MHff tH£ rhoya. ■ ; finish numewhem ep et*mg that awful Them was the m*eswrtlrss red slnpr hell hole." its tower ridges finally stnhtag late ramp was mode on a lemt spot * bite send denes toward the Mee set Ysqul took tbe horses to water, aodd Tbe cold, spark (leg light, tbe white thee turned them tonse la the arveyo Bet the pur- Ysqul looked heck looked hark ns other looknl and the time came Gale saw the creeping line of •oers w,,h **** A h-v**l Une shove marked the rim of the plutmu. Sand began to show In Ihe Utile lava pit's. 1>n and upward tolled the mvalradr. still very sh»wly advancing. At lost Yaqul reached Ihe rim. lie stood with hla hand on Rlaoco Dlaldo; und both werq silhou etted against Ihe sky. That was the outlook for a Ynqul. And hls great Mee> i It waa a tired aad somber group that of Ynqul. Many times during the ensuing hour the Indian faced about, and always hls followers did likewise.git was high noon, with the sun heating hot and the lava radiating hent, when Yaqul halted for n rest. The horses bunched and drooped their heads. The rangers were about to slip the packs and re move saddles when Yaqul restrained them. -*■ He fixed a changeless, gleaming gaze on the slow descent; but did not secin to look afar. Suddenly he uttered hla strange cry—tbe one Gale considered Involun tary. or else significant of some tribe 1 trait or fueling. Taqul pointed down tbe lava slope.'jmlnring with finger and arm and • heck and head—Me te bare bee* ani That Was the Outlook for a Ysqul. horse, datztlngly white In the suit Hgbt, with heed wildly and proudly mane and till flying In the erect mane end toll flying wind, made a magnificent picture. Tbe others totted eo an i upward, and at toil Gale tod Bianco Bel ever tbe rim. ail tooled dawn tbe red set down ta eat. Merced** «■« calm, but her greet dark eyes burned ia her white fare. Yaqul watched her. The el Her* looked si her with unspoken pride. I*resently Th**rt*e wrapped her In hls blankets, and site seemed Jo fall asleep at oikv*. Little of Yaqul'e purpose or plan coul«J he elicited from him. The ranger* and Thorne, however, talked In low tones. It was absolutely tin- poswlhle for Rojos and hi* men to reach the waterhole before noon of the next day. And long before that time tbe fugitive* would have (levhied on a plan of defense.- "What stuns me is that Rojas stuck, to our trail,” said Thorne, his lined and haggard face expressive of dark passion. “He has followed us into this fearful desert. He’ll lose men, horses, perhaps hls life. He’s only a bandit, and he stands to win no gold. All for a poor little helpless woman— Just a woman! I can’t understand it.” “Short 1 —just a woman,” replied Ladd, solemnly nodding his head. Then there was a long silence, dur ing which the men gazed Into the fire. Those were cold, hard, grim faces upon which* the light flickered. "Sleep,’’ said Yaqul. Thorne rolled in his blanket close beside Mercedes. Then one by one the rangers stretched out, feet to the fire. Gale found that he* could not sleep. His eyes were weary, but they would not stay shut; hls body ached tun tbe deep store of sky. tbe feeling of bound lews ripens* all around him —the*# meant high altitude, towjtb- wartl the barret) red simply merged Into distance. The field of renter* roe* In high, dark wheels toward the dominating peaks. Wh#n Gale with drew hi* gnr# from the magnitinle of these spaces and height* the crater beneath him seemed dwarfed. Yet while he gazed It spread and deep ened and multiplied Ita ragged lines. No. he could not gm«p the meaning of site or d.stanr* here. There wa* too much to sum the sight. But the mood In. which nataure had created thl* convulsed world seized hold upon him. The hours passed. As the sun climbed the clear sky. steely lights van ished. the blue hazes deepened, and slowly the glistening surfaces of lava turned redder. Ladd was concerned to discover that Yaqul was missing from his outlook upon the high point. Jim Lash came out of the shady crev ice, und stood up to buckle on hls car- qqU>ME4|» ^ MAAMiCM oil "Ne'e Rs<**e* Hie Rifle Blew. Hew Blew He lei* Lerfi, HU advance wa* all tbe more remark- trhlge belt^ Hls narrow, gray glance slowly roved from the height of lava down Along the slope, paused In doubt, and then swept on to resurvey the whole vast eastern dip of the plateau. “I reckon my eyes are pore,” lie said. “Mebbq It’s this d—n red glare. Any way, ^what’s them creepin’ spots up there?” i able for tbe fact that be appeared te I pern directly under the dreaded cho re* Hornet I me* he paused to lift his heed and look. "Shore he’s headin’ for that high place.” ►aid Lndd "He’* going alow now. There, he’* stnp|»*d behind some choya*. lie's gettln' up—no. he’s kneelln'. . . Now what the h—I!” "Ijiddy. take a peek at the aide of that lava ridge,” sharply called Jim. “I guess mebhe somethin' ain’t cornin’ off. See! There’s Rojas an’ hls outfit climbin'. Don't make out no hosse*. . . . Dick, use your glass an’ tell us what’s dotn*. 1*11 watch Yaqul an 4 tell you what hls move means.” Clearly and distinctly, almost a* If he could have touched them. Gale had Rojas and his followers In sight. They were tolling up the rough lava on foot. “They’re almost up now.” Gale was saying. “There! They halt on top. I sco Rojas. He looks wild. By ! fellows, an Indian! It’s a Papago. Beldlng’s old herder! . . . The In- Thcre arc Korct of rea*onf why rifwwksts” BmmSswsi JeBf aA*eM k* •rwwSsd • BsessOeM MHe***f A few at the** o#s kmwe. s*e*sv MeSswc warn k #—*s la k*»Uss-e*eB4reg- f«t* ssd gseeest ••»#•• i •ntssecv.a w**i ••ctvsmn) ce Vaseline togllSGtoOf PETROLEUM JELLY “Shore I seen * them. Mountain sheep,” replied Ladd. K “Guess again, Laddy. Dick, I reckon you’d better flush the glass up for rest, yet he could, not lie still, the slope : ... ! The Ynqul’ sat like an Image carved out of lava. The others lay prone and quiet. Would another night see any of them lie that way. quiet" foreverT presently the glass became stationary. Gale sat up after a while and again watched the fire. Nell's sweet face floated like a wraith In the pale smoke — glowed aad flushed and smiled In the ember*. Other faces Rhone there—his sfsteffa—that of hls mother. Gale shook off the tender memories. This desolate wilderness with Its forbidding silence. and Ua dark promise of hell on the morrow— this was not tbe place to unnerve noe •elf with thoughts ot love sad home. . Toward dawn Gele meaeged to get with tbe sen hidden beet of tbe Gale adjusted the field glass and he el gnn to search the lava, beginning eiose at hand and working away from him. “I see half a dozen small animals, brown In color. They look like sheep. But I couldn’t distinguish mountain sheep from antelope.’*’ . “Shore they’re bighorn,” said Laddy. ”f reckon If you'll pull around to the east an’ search under that long wall ot lava—there—you’ll flee.wbat I ■ee,” added Jim. Th# glass climbed and ^etrete^-^ga- vered ap Instant, then fixed •feedT as a reck. There was k breathless ■Hence. two pecked — without rider*, tome/ I Cuticura Soap Is Ideal for The Complexion Sssg 25c, Oietemt 25 saJ 50c, Ttksa 25c. dlan points—this way—then down. He’s showing Rojas the lay of the trail.” “Boys. Ynqui’s dn-range of-that bunch.” said Jim. swiftlj r . -“He’s raisin’ his rifle slow—Lord, how slow he Is! . . . He’s covered someone. Which onp I can’t say. But I think he’ll pick Rojas.” . “The Yaqul can shoot. He’ll pick Rojas.” added Gale, grimly. "Rojas—yes—yes!” cried Thorne, In passion of suspense. "Not on your life!’ 4 Ladd’s voice cut In with scorn. “Gentlemen, you can gamble Yaqui’ll kill the Papago. That traitor Indian know* these sheep haunts. He’s tellln' Rojas—” A sharp rifle shot rang out. “Laddy’s right." called <W Tbe- Papago’* hit—hls arm faHflT ’ There, be turn Met," " ► (ro om coATiMMRn Artesian Well Seven Csnturigs Old. Tbe oldest arteetos wett to Europe to found at IJUeru. France Freni h* mouth water bee fluwoi If tor mere thee 730 rear* GOOD CIGARETTES GENUINE “BULL" DURHAM TOBACCO