A month of weary waiting followed that day of days in Fortuna, and
still there was no word from Phil. Bernardo Bravo and his rebel raiders
passed through the mountains to the east, and news came of heavy
fighting in Chihuahua. Don Cipriano Aragon moved his family back to his
hacienda and Gracia became only a dream.
Then, one day, as Hooker and the Yaqui were industriously pounding out
gold, a messenger came out from town with a telegram in his hand.
Am in Gadsden. No chance to hold mine. Kruger says quit.--P.
"No, I'll be 'sarned if I do!" muttered Bud. Then he sat down to think.
"Amigo," he said to the Yaqui, "are you a Mexican citizen? Can you get
title to mine?"
"Me a Mexican?" repeated Amigo, tapping himself proudly on the chest.
"No, _señor_! _Seguro que no!_"
"All right then," observed Bud bitterly, "here goes nothing--nowhere!
I'll turn Mexican myself!"
He passed the messenger on the way to town, took out his first papers
as a citizen, picked up the mineral agent's expert on the way back, and
located the Eagle Tail in his own name. Before riding back to camp he
wired to Kruger:
Have turned Mex and relocated claim.