Part 30 (1/2)

”Rosemary did it all,” Floyd said with a cheerful grin. ”It was just a bluff!” and he told the story.

”Nerviest thing I ever heard of!” complimented Captain Marshall.

”Heap good squaw!” was Buck Tooth's opinion, and that seemed to sum it all up.

The prisoners secured, the dead on both sides buried and the story of the capture and rescue briefly told, arrangements were made for returning to civilization.

The raid of the Yaquis was over, and so severe was the lesson taught them that it was many years before another trick like that was tried.

Rosemary and Floyd, though they had suffered many hards.h.i.+ps, were not physically harmed, except for the youth's wrenched arm, which was painful but not dangerous.

”Oh, but we want some water to wash in!” Rosemary confided to Bud.

”They've kept us so much on the go, ever since they captured us, that I can't bear to think of it. I just _dreamed_ of clean bath tubs filled with white soap suds!”

”We'll soon be at the ranch,” Bud said.

”Oh, but I can't wait until then.”

”Same here!” put in Floyd. ”I don't believe a Yaqui touches water from the time he's born until he dies.”

In order to give everyone a chance to rest, it was decided to camp for a few days in a favorable spot, which was found a few miles from where the Indians had made their last stand--a final stand for many, as more than a dozen were killed.