The Boy Ranchers Among the Indians | Page 6

came here
in an auto, from California. They give it out they were on their way to
Diamond X. But they hadn't more than reached town than the Yaquis
came in and shot things up.
"'The Indians took this young couple, and it was owing to the pluck of
the girl that we knew what happened.'"
"Good for Rosemary!" cried Nell. "How did it happen?"
"I'm coming to it," her father said, having paused to get his breath. It
was dry work, talking so much and under the stress of excitement, and
Nell had broken in on him.
"'As the Indians were riding away, with this young lady and her
brother,'" the message went on, "'she managed to scribble something on
a piece of paper she tore from a note book. She tossed it to one of the
cowboys who was shot in fighting the Yaquis. He brought the girl's
message to me after the fight, when I'd sent some of my men to trail the
devils. This is what the message said, and I'm sending the actual

message to you by mail. "Get word to my uncle, Henry Merkel,
Diamond X Ranch, that Floyd and I are taken. Ask him to send help."
That's what the message said and I'm doing as requested. I've sent all
the help I can, but the Yaquis got the start on us, owing to the fact that I
was out of town with a posse after rustlers. But we'll get that girl and
boy back or bust every leg we've got, Mr. Merkel. And you can send on
help if you want to and join us.'"
The lengthy message was signed with the name "Hank Fowler," and
when the reading was finished, Mr. Merkel glanced around at his
listeners.
"These young folks are some kin of yours, I take it?" asked Old Billee
Dobb.
"Sure," assented the ranchman. "More of my wife's than mine, but it's
all the same. They were coming here on a visit, coming all the way
from California by auto. I thought it was rather risky when they first
wrote of it, but my wife says Rosemary is a good driver, and Floyd
almost as good."
"Is he a Westerner?" asked Yellin' Kid.
"Not born and raised here," said Mr. Merkel, "but Floyd is no
tenderfoot, and as for Rosemary--"
"She's a whole can of peaches! That's what she is!" cried Bud. "To have
the nerve to stop and scribble a message to dad when the Yaquis had
her and her brother. Clear grit I call that!"
"Sure thing!" assented Nort.
"Gee! I wish I'd been there!" sighed Dick.
"What! To be captured by the Indians and made into sausage meat?"
joked Mr. Merkel, for at times they poked a bit of fun at Dick on
account of his plumpness. Though, truth to tell, he was now not too
stout, and the life of the west had greatly hardened him.

"They wouldn't have caught me without a fight!" he bruskly declared.
"That's right! A fight!" cried Bud. "What are we going to do about this,
Dad? We can't let our cousins be carried off this way; can we,
fellows?" he demanded of his boy rancher companions.
"I should say not!" was the instant response, duet fashion.
"No, it wouldn't be right for us to sit back and do nothing," agreed Mr.
Merkel. "There aren't any too many men available to help out the
sheriff. We've got to do our share. Get ready boys!" and he looked at
his son and nephews, his glance also roving over his own aggregation
of cowboys, most of whom were now gathered in front of the main
ranch building of Diamond X.
"Where are we going?" asked Dick.
"On the trail of the Yaquis!" answered his uncle. "We can spare most of
the bunch, now that the round-up is over. You don't need many out at
your ranch, Bud. Call in all you can spare, and we'll hit the trail!"
"Whoo-pee!" shouted Nort, whirling his horse about and setting it at a
gallop down through the corrals.
"This is news!" yelled his brother, following the lead of Nort.
"I only hope we aren't too late!" remarked Bud, when his cousins came
back to join him.
"Too late? What do you mean!" asked Nort.
"I mean to save Rosemary--and Floyd. Those Yaquis--they're regular
devils when they get on the war path! Oh, I hope we aren't too late!"
It was a hope the others shared.
Rapid action replaced the comparative quiet that reigned during the
reading of the telegram. Cowboys rode to and fro, and Bud and his
cousins prepared to depart for Diamond X Second to arrange for taking

the trail against the Yaquis.
As the boy ranchers rode off down the trail, promising to return as