value of money. I haven't yet discovered any earning capacity in
me. I seem to be unable to do anything with my hands. That's the
trouble. But I'm at the end of my tether now. And I'm going to
punch cattle or be a miner, or do some real stunt--like joining
the rebels."

"Aha! I thought you'd spring that last one on me," declared Thorne,
wagging his head. "Well, you just forget it. Say, old boy, there's
something doing in Mexico. The United States in general doesn't
realize it. But across that line there are crazy revolutionists,
ill-paid soldiers, guerrilla leaders, raiders, robbers, outlaws,
bandits galore, starving peons by the thousand, girls and women
in terror. Mexico is like some of her volcanoes--ready to erupt
fire and hell! Don't make the awful mistake of joining rebel
forces. Americans are hated by Mexicans of the lower class--
the fighting class, both rebel and federal. Half the time
these crazy Greasers are on one side, then on the other.
If you didn't starve or get shot in ambush, or die of thirst,
some Greaser would knife you in the back for you belt buckle
or boots. There are a good many Americans with the rebels
eastward toward Agua, Prieta and Juarez. Orozco is operating in
Chihuahua, and I guess he has some idea of warfare. But this is Sonora,
a mountainous desert, the home of the slave and the Yaqui. There's
unorganized revolt everywhere. The American miners and ranchers,
those who could get away, have fled across into the States, leaving
property. Those who couldn't or wouldn't come must fight for their
lives, are fighting now."

"That's bad," said Gale. "It's news to me. Why doesn't the government
take action, do something?"