The Trail-Hunter: A Tale of the Far West

by Gustave Aimard

  CHAPTER I.

  EL RANCHO DEL COYOTE.

  About a month after the events we have described in the first part ofthis veracious history, two horsemen, well mounted, and carefullyenwrapped in their cloaks, entered at a smart trot the town of Santa Febetween three and four o'clock in the afternoon.

  Santa Fe, the capital of New Mexico, is a pretty town, built in themidst of a laughing and fertile plain. One of its sides occupies theangle formed by a small stream: it is surrounded by the _adobe_ walls ofthe houses by which it is bordered. The entrance of each street isclosed by stakes in the form of palisades; and like the majority oftowns in Spanish America, the houses, built only one story high inconsequence of the earthquakes, are covered with terraces of well-beatenearth, called _azoteas,_ which are a sufficient protection in thisglorious climate, where the sky is constantly pure.

  In the time of the Castilian rule Santa Fe enjoyed a certain importance,owing to its strategic position, which allowed an easy defence againstthe incursions of the Indians; but since the emancipation of Mexico thiscity, like all the other centres of population in his unhappy country,has seen its splendour vanish forever, and despite the fertility of itssoil and the magnificence of its climate, it has entered into such astate of decadence that the day is at hand when it will be only anuninhabited ruin. In a word, this city, which fifty years back containedmore than ten thousand inhabitants, has now scarcely three thousand,eaten up by fevers and the utmost wretchedness.

  Still during the last few weeks Santa Fe had appeared to emerge, as ifby magic from the lethargy into which it is ordinarily plunged; acertain degree of animation prevailed in its usually deserted streets;in short, a new life circulated in the veins of this population, towhom, however, all must appear a matter of indifference. The fact wasthat an event of immense importance had recently taken place in thistown. The two leaders of the conspiracy lately attempted had beentransferred to safe keeping at Santa Fe.

  The Mexicans, ordinarily so slow when justice has to be dealt, are themost expeditious people in the world when a conspiracy has to bepunished. Don Miguel and General Ibanez had not pined long in prison. Acourt martial, hurriedly convened, had assembled under the presidency ofthe governor, and the two conspirators were unanimously condemned to beshot.

  The hacendero, through his name and his position, and especially onaccount of his fortune, had numerous partisans in the province: hencethe announcement of the verdict had caused a profound stupor, whichalmost immediately changed into anger, among the rich land owners andthe Indians of New Mexico. A dull agitation prevailed throughout thecountry; and the governor, who felt too weak to hold head against thestorm that threatened him, and regretted that he had carried matters sofar, was temporising, and trying to evade the peril of his positionuntil a regiment of dragoons he had asked of the Government arrived, andgave strength to the law. The condemned men, whom the governor had notyet dared to place in _capilla_, were still provisionally detained inthe prison.

  The two men of whom we have spoken, rode without stopping through thestreets of the town, deserted at this hour, when everybody is at homeenjoying his siesta, and proceeded toward an unpretending rancho, builton the banks of the stream, at the opposite end of the town from that bywhich they entered.

  "Well," one of the horsemen said, addressing his comrade, "was I notright? You see everyone is asleep: there is nobody to watch us. We havearrived at a capital moment."

  "Bah!" the other answered in a rough voice, "Do you believe that? Intowns there is always somebody watching to see what does not concernhim, and report it after his fashion."

  "That is possible," the first said, shrugging his shouldersdisdainfully. "I care about it as little as I do for a stringhalthorse."

  "And I, too," the other said sharply. "Do you imagine that I care morethan you do for the gossips? But stay; I fancy we have reached therancho of Andres Garote. This must be the filthy tenement, unless I ammistaken."

  "It is the house. I only hope the scamp has not forgotten, the meeting Igave him. Wait a minute, senor padre; I will give the agreed-on signal."

  "It is not worth while, Red Cedar. You know that I am always at yourexcellency's orders when you may please to give them," a mocking voicesaid from inside the rancho, the door of which immediately opened togive admission to the newcomers, and allowed a glimpse of the tallfigure and intelligent face of Andres Garote himself.

  "_Ave Maria purisima!_" the travellers said, as they dismounted andentered the rancho.

  "_Sin pecado concebida!_" Andres replied, as he took the bridles of thehorses and led them to the corral, where he unsaddled them and gave eacha truss of alfalfa.

  The travellers, fatigued by a long journey, sat down on butacas arrangedagainst the wall, and awaited the host's return, while wiping their dankforeheads and twisting a maize cigarette between their fingers. The roomin which they were had nothing extremely attractive about it. It was alarge chamber with two windows, protected by iron bars, the greasy panesallowing but a doubtful light to pass. The naked and smoky walls werecovered with clumsily-painted pictures, representing various holyobjects. The furniture only consisted of three or four halting tables,the same number of benches, and a few butacas, the torn and harshleather of which evinced lengthened use. As for the floor, it was merelyof beaten earth, but rendered uneven by the mud incessantly brought inupon the feet of visitors. A door carefully closed led to an inner room,in which the ranchero slept. Another door was opposite to it, andthrough this Andres speedily entered after giving the horses theirprovender.

  "I did not expect you yet," he said as he entered; "but you are welcome.Is there anything new?"

  "My faith, I know nothing but the affair that brings us. It is ratherserious, I fancy, and prevents us attending to anything else," Red Cedarremarked.

  "_Caspita_! what vivacity, compadre!" Andres exclaimed. "But, beforetalking, I hope you will take some refreshment at any rate. There isnothing like a cup of mezcal or pulque to clear the brain."

  "Not to forget," Fray Ambrosio said, "that it is infernally hot, and mytongue is glued to my palate, as I have swallowed so much dust."

  "_Cuerpo de Dios_!" Andres said as he went to look for a bottle amongseveral others arranged on a sort of bar, and placed it before thetravellers. "Pay attention to that, senor padre; for it is serious, andyou run a risk of death, _caray!_"

  "Give me the remedy, then, chatterer," the monk replied as he held outhis glass.

  The mezcal, liberally poured out, was swallowed at a draught by thethree men, who put back their glasses on the table with a "hum" ofsatisfaction, and that clinking of the tongue peculiar to topers whenthey are swallowing anything that tickles the throat.

  "And now suppose we talk seriously," Red Cedar said.

  "At your orders, senores caballeros," Andres replied. "Still, if youprefer a hand at monte, you know that I have cards at your service."

  "Presently, senor Andres, presently. Everything will have its turn. Letus first settle our little business," Fray Ambrosio judiciouslyobserved.

  Andres Garote bowed his head in resignation, while thrusting back intohis pocket the pack of cards he had already half drawn out. The threemen made themselves as comfortable as they could, and Red Cedar, aftercasting a suspicious glance around him, at length took the word.

  "You know, caballeros," he said, "how, when we thought we had nothing todo but proceed straight to Apacheria, the sudden desertion of nearly allour gambusinos checked us. The position was most critical for us, andthe abduction of Dona Clara compelled us to take the utmostprecautions."

  "That is true," Andres Garote observed with an air of conviction.

  "Although certain influential persons protect us under the rose," RedCedar continued, "we are compelled to keep in the shade as far as wecan. I therefore sought to remedy the gravest points in the business. Inthe first place, the girl was hidden in an inaccessible retreat, andthen I began looking for comrades to take the place of those whoabandoned us so suddenly."

/>   "Well?" the two men interrupted him sharply.

  "At this moment," Red Cedar calmly continued, "when the placers ofCalifornia call away all the men belonging to the profession, it wascertainly no easy task to collect one hundred men of the sort we want,the more so as we shall have to fight the Indios Bravos in ourexpedition. I did not care to enlist novices, who at the sight of thefirst Apache or Comanche savages, would bolt in terror, and leave us inthe lurch on the prairies. What I wanted were resolute men, whom nofatigue would disgust, and who, once attached to our enterprise, wouldfollow it out to the end. I have, therefore, during the past month, beenrunning about to all the frontier presidios; and the devil has come tomy help tolerably well, for the evil is now repaired, and the bandcomplete."

  "I hope, Red Cedar," Fray Ambrosio asked, "that you have not spokenabout the placer to your men?"

  "Do you take me for a fool! No, padre," the squatter answered sharply,"no, no. A hundred thousand reasons urge us to be prudent, and keep theexpedition secret. In the first place, I do not wish to make the fortuneof the Government while making our own. An indiscretion would ruin usnow, when the whole world only dreams of mines and placers, and Europesends us a mob of lean and starving vagabonds, greedy to grow fat at ourexpense."

  "Famously reasoned," said Andres.

  "No, no, trust to me. I have assembled the finest collection of picarosever brought together for an expedition, all food for the gallows,ruined by monte, who do not care for hard blows, and on whom I can fullycount, while being very careful not to drop a word that can enlightenthem as to the spot whither we propose leading them; for, in that case,I know as well as you do that they would abandon us without theslightest scruples, or, as is even more probable, assassinate us to gainpossession of the immense treasures we covet."

  "Nothing can be more just," Fray Ambrosio answered. "I am quite of youropinion, Red Cedar. Now what have you resolved on?"

  "We have not an instant to lose," the squatter continued. "This veryevening, or tomorrow at the latest, we must set out. Who knows whetherwe have not already delayed our start too long? Perhaps one of thoseEuropean vagabonds may have discovered our placer, for those scoundrelshave a peculiar scent for gold."

  Fray Ambrosio cast a suspicious glance at his partner.

  "Hum!" he muttered, "that would be very unlucky, for hitherto thebusiness has been well managed."

  "For that reason," Red Cedar hastened to add, "I only suggest a doubt--nothing more."

  "Come, Red Cedar," the monk said, "you have yourself narrated all theembarrassments of our position, and the countless difficulties we shallhave to surmount before reaching our object. Why, then, complicate thegravity of our situation still more, and create fresh enemiesneedlessly?"

  "I do not understand you, senor padre. Be good enough to explainyourself more clearly."

  "I allude to the young girl you carried off."

  "Ah, ah!" Red Cedar said with a grin, "Is that where the shoe pinchesyou, comrade? I am vexed at it; but I will not answer your question. IfI carried off that woman, it was because I had pressing reasons to doso. These reasons still exist; that is all I can tell you. All thebetter if these explanations are sufficient for you; if not, you mustput up with them, for you will get no others."

  "Still it appears to me that, regarding the terms on which we stand toeach other--"

  "What can there be in common between the abduction of Dona Clara and thediscovery of a placer in the heart of Apacheria? Come, you are mad, FrayAmbrosio; the mezcal is getting to your head."

  "Still--" the monk insisted.

  "Enough of that!" Red Cedar shouted as he roughly smote the table withhis clenched fist. "I will not hear another word on the subject."

  At this moment two smart blows were heard on the carefully-bolted door.

  The three men started, and Red Cedar broke off.

  "Shall I open?" Andres asked.

  "Yes," Fray Ambrosio answered: "hesitation or refusal might give analarm. We must foresee everything."

  Red Cedar consented with a toss of his head, and the ranchero went withan ill grace toward the door, which was being struck as if about to bebeaten in.