...Thorne, you didn't miss it?"
"Yes, I was down and out," replied the cavalryman.
"It's a shame. Greatest stunt I ever seen! Thorne, you're standin'
up pretty fair. How about you? Dick, is he bad hurt?"
"No, he's not. A hard knock on the skull and a scalp wound,"
replied Dick. "Here, Jim, let me help you over this place."
Step by step Gale got the two injured men down the uneven declivity
and then across the narrow lava bridge over the fissure. Here he
bade them rest while he went along the trail on that side to search
for Laddy. Gale found the ranger stretched out, face downward,
a reddened hand clutching a gun. Gale thought he was dead. Upon
examination, however, it was found that Ladd still lived, though he
had many wounds. Gale lifted him and carried him back to the
others.
"He's alive, but that's all," said Dick, as he laid the ranger down.
"Do what you can. Stop the blood. Laddy's tough as cactus, you
know. I'll hurry back for Mercedes and Yaqui."
Gale, like a fleet, sure-footed mountain sheep, ran along the
trail. When he came across the Mexican, Rojas's last ally, Gale
had evidence of the terrible execution of the .405. He did not
pause. On the first part of that descent he made faster time
than had Rojas. But he exercised care along the hard, 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.
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