"Not a sign. He says these Yaquis didn't have any captives," Bud answered.
"How do you account for that?" Dick wanted to know, while rather a grim silence fell on the others.
"Well, this may have been another party of Indians. Very likely was,"
Bud declared.
"That's right!" chimed in Snake. "The ones that captured Rosemary and
Floyd could hardly have gotten so far north as the ones were that gave
Buck Tooth that little reminder in the shoulder."
This opinion, coming from one who could reason out the matter, made everyone feel less apprehensive.
"There must be two or three bodies of these Yaquis," went on Snake Purdee. "They always split up after a raid. One party has Rosemary and Floyd, and another engaged in a little set-to with Buck Tooth. Being one of them he knew their fighting tricks and he left his marks on 'em."
"It's queer one Indian would turn against the others of the same tribe," spoke Nort.
"No, not in Buck Tooth's case," declared Bud. "He's a good Indian, if ever there was one. And, as he says, these Yaquis may be a lot of half-breeds, or a part of the tribe that is outlawed from the others. I'm not standing up for the Yaquis," he hastened to add, "for I know they've done a lot of dirty work. But this bunch may be worse than the others. Anyhow Buck Tooth says so. And I'm glad he's with us. I felt sorry after I left him back at the ranch."
"Yes, he'll be of service I reckon," asserted Snake, and Yellin' Kid nodded in agreement.
The Indian's wound, which he had not troubled himself to dress, was looked after with rough and ready, but effective cowboy skill and then, a good camping place near a water hole having been reached, saddles were taken off the weary steeds who began to roll about in welcome relief.