CHAPTER X.
THE STRANGER.
They were fortunate in getting away without being seen by any of thebandits, and at dawn they were well up into the mountains, whereBushnell found a secluded place for them to camp and rest, as rest wassomething of which they all sorely stood in need.
Bushnell prepared breakfast, and Frank insisted that Professor Scotchshould explain how he escaped from Pacheco's gang.
"Don't ask me," sighed the little man, fondling his red whiskers. "Ican't explain it--really I can't."
"Why not?"
"Well, you see, I don't know how I happened to do it. They forced me towrite that letter against my will, two of them standing over me withdrawn daggers while I was writing, and prodding me a bit whenever Irefused to put down the words Pacheco ordered written."
"Then Pacheco speaks English?"
"As well as I do."
"What does he look like?"
"I don't know."
"How is that?"
"He kept his face concealed with his serape quite up to his eyes."
"Thar's a mystery about Pacheco," broke in Bushnell. "No one seems terknow jest what ther varmint looks like."
"Go on, professor," urged Frank; "tell us just how you escaped."
"I tell you I do not know myself. All I know is that they tied me to ahorse, and brought me across a plain of burning sand, where I nearlyperished for want of water, and was nearly sawed in two by the backboneof the horse I rode. I believed it was a case of gone goose with me. Atlast they camped in a wild spot, and I was so badly used up that I couldscarcely eat or do anything but lay around and groan. They seemed tothink there was no need of watching me very closely, and I noticed thatI was alone sometimes. Then, feeling utterly reckless, I began to watchfor a chance to sneak away. I didn't care if I were shot, or if Iescaped and perished from hunger and thirst. I was bound to make theattempt. Last night I made it. A saddleless horse strayed along where Iwas, and I made a jump for the animal. Before they knew what I wasdoing, I was on the beast's back and yelling into its ears like amaniac. The horse scooted out of the camp, and I clung on. The banditspursued me, and everything else is a haze till I heard Frank calling forme to jump off. I recognized his voice and fell off the horse, althoughI had not the least idea in the world where I was."
"Wa'al," chuckled Bushnell, "thet's w'at I call dead fool luck, beggin'yer pardon fer speakin' so open like, at which I means no harmwhatever."
"Oh, ye needn't beg my pardon," quickly said Professor Scotch. "I don'twant any credit for getting away. It wasn't a case of brains at all."
Breakfast was prepared, and they ate heartily, after which Frank, Hans,and the professor lay down to sleep, while Bushnell smoked a black pipe.
But even Bushnell was not made of iron, and the pipe soothed him toslumber, so the entire party slept, with no one to guard.
All at once, some hours later, they were awakened by an exclamation fromFrank, who sat up and stared at the form of a stranger, the latter beingquietly squatting in their midst, calmly puffing at a cigarette, whilehis poncho was wrapped about him to his hips.
Frank's exclamation awakened Bushnell like an electric shock, and, evenas his eyes opened, his hand shot out, the fingers grasping the butt ofa revolver that was pointed straight at the stranger.
"Stiddy, thar!" called the Westerner. "I hev ther drop on yer, an' I'llsock yer full of lead ef yer wiggle a toenail! You hear me chirp!"
The stranger continued smoking, his coal-black eyes being the only partof him to move, for all of the threatening revolver.
Hans sat up, gasping:
"Shimminy Gristmas! Der pandits haf caught us alretty soon!"
At this Professor Scotch gave a groan of dismay, faintly gurgling:
"Then I'm a goner!"
That the stranger was a half-blood could be seen at a glance.
"Drap thet cigaroot, an' give an account of yerself instanter rightoff!" ordered Bushnell, threateningly. "Who in blazes be yer?"
The cigarette fell from the man's lips, and he answered:
"I am Rodeo."
"Wa'al, who is Rodeo?"
"The brother of Pacheco."
"Don't I toldt you dot!" panted the Dutch boy.
Professor Scotch groaned again, and rolled a little farther from thehalf-blood, but still made no effort to sit up.
"Wa'al, dern your skin!" cried Bushnell. "You've got a nerve to comehyar! I s'pose Pacheco an' his gang of onery varmints is within whoopin'distance?"
"I am alone; there is no one within call."
"Wa'al, w'at be yer hyar fer, thet's what I wants ter know?"
"I found you asleep, and I came to warn you."
"Of what?"
"Danger. The ladrones are on your trail already. Before the sun sinksbehind the mountains they will be here. If you are not gone, you mustall fall into their hands."
Bushnell looked doubtful and suspicious, while a puzzled expression cameinto his bronzed face.
"Look hyar," he said; "you're up ter some game, an' I'm derned ef I knowwhat she am, but yer wants ter understand yer can't monkey with this oldcoon none whatever. I hold the drop on yer, Old Socks, an' I may take afancy ter bore yer once jest fer fun, so ye'd best talk straight an'squar', an' be lively about it."
"Yah," nodded Hans, threateningly, "you petter peen in a plamed pighurry apoudt dot talking pusiness."
"What do you wish me to say, senors?"
"Explain why you're hyar ter warn us."
"Because I'm the brother of Pacheco."
"Thet don't go down with this old coon. Pacheco is ther leader of therbandits."
"He was the leader of the bandits."
"Was the leader?"
"Si, senor."
"An' ain't he now?"
"No, senor."
"How long since?"
"At least one month."
"Oh, say, thet thar won't do--I tells yer it won't, fer we know erblamed sight better! Rodeo, lying is dangerous with me 'round."
"Senor, I do not lie; I tell you the truth. One month ago Pacheco wasthe leader of the band; now he is dead, and another is in his place.This other killed him in a battle, and by that he won the right to beleader of the band. He has taken my brother's name, and he calls himselfPacheco. Senors, I swear to you I speak the truth--I swear by all thesaints! My brother is dead, and there is an impostor in his place."
Frank was impressed, and his hand fell on Bushnell's arm.
"I believe the fellow really speaks the truth," he said. "He seemssincere, and his eyes are square and steady."
"Yer can't tell about ther skunks," muttered the Westerner; "but stillthis one does seem ter be layin' a straight trail."
"I have taken my oath," continued the half-blood, a red light in hisdark eyes--"I have sworn to kill the murderer of my brother, and I willkeep the oath. That's why I am here. I have been watching the band fortwo weeks; I know every move they will make. I know when you leaveHuejugilla el Alto, and I know they will follow. I make sure of that,and then, with my heart full of joy, I ride fast in advance. At last--atlast they go to my country in the mountains! My people are there--myother brothers, my cousins, my relatives. They will all stand by me, andthey will be ready to avenge Pacheco. The wrath of my people shall fallon the head of the impostor! You wonder why I warn you? I will explain.You are bound far in the mountains, and the false Pacheco will follow.If you are captured, he may turn back. I want him to follow you--I wantyou to lead him into the snare. That is why I am here, and that is why Ihave warned you, senors. It is done, and now I will go."
He arose to his feet, heedless of Bushnell's command to "keep still,"and strode toward the horses. They saw an extra animal was there, and,in a moment, he had flung himself on the creature's back.
"_Buenos dias, senores._"
A clatter of hoofs, the flutter of a poncho, and a crimson serape, andRodeo's horse was galloping up the ravine that still led deeper into themountains. Man and horse soon vanished from view.
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