"My gracious, Don Felipe," he cried, "you don't know how sorry I was to see you in jail, but the captain's orders were that no one should go near you--and in Mexico we obey the _rurales_, you know. Otherwise we are placed against a wall and shot. "But have you heard the news from down below? Ah, what terrible times they are having there--ranches raided, women stolen, rich men held for ransom! Yes, it is worse than ever! Already I am receiving telegrams to prepare rooms for the refugees, and the people are coming in crowds. "Our friend, the Señor Luna, and his son Feliz have been taken by Bernardo Bravo! Only by an enormous ransom was he able to save his wife and daughters, and his friends must now pay for him. "At the ranch of the rich Spaniard, Alvarez, there has been a great battle in which the red-flaggers were defeated with losses. Now Bernardo Bravo swears he will avenge his men, and Alvarez has armed his Yaqui workmen. "He is a brave man, this Colonel Alvarez, and his Yaquis are all warriors from the hills; but Bernardo has gathered all the _insurrectos_ in the country together--Campos, Rojas, the brothers Escaboza--and they may crush him with their numbers. But now there is other news--that they are marching upon Fortuna and El Tigre, to seize the mines and mills and hold the rich American companies up for ransom. "No, _señores_, you must not return to your camp. Remain here, and you shall still have your room, though Spanish gentlemen sleep on the floors. No, allow me, Don Felipe! I wish to show you how highly I value your friendship! Only because we cannot disobey the _rurales_ did I suffer you to lie in jail; but now you shall be my guest, you shall--" "Nope," answered Bud; "we're safer out at the mine." He glanced at De Lancey, in whose mind rosy visions were beginning to gather, and he, too, declined--with a sigh. "Make it a bed for the night," he said. "I've got to get out of this town before I tangle with Del Rey again and find myself back in jail. And now lead me to it--I'm perishing for a bath and a sleep!" They retired early and got up early--for Bud was haunted by fears. But as they passed through Old Fortuna the worst happened to him--they met Gracia, mounted on a prancing horse and followed by a _rural_ guard, and she smote him to the heart with a smile. It was not a smile for Phil, gone astray and wounding by chance; it was a dazzling, admiring smile for Bud alone, and he sat straighter in his saddle. But Phil uttered a groan and struck his horse with the quirt. "She cut me!" he moaned. "Aw, forget it!" growled Bud, and they rode on their way in silence. XVI At their camp by the Eagle Tail mine, even though they held it still and were heirs to half its gold, the two pardners were glum and sorrowful. The treacheries which Bud had forgiven in a moment of exaltation came back to him now as he brooded; and he eyed his friend askance, as if wondering what he would do next.