by J. T. Edson
‘Perhaps he’s pointing out what a fine, upstanding figure of a man I am,’ Ole Devil suggested, turning his gaze to the girl. ‘And how they should take me as an example and smarten themselves up so they’ll be a credit to us when we take them to join the Texas Light Cavalry.’
‘Oh sure!’ Di snorted derisively. ‘And if my Grandmammy Brindley’s stood up, ’stead of squatting, when she was having a pee, it’d’ve been her ’n’ not Grandpappy Ewart’s took lead back there.’
‘I didn’t know your grandmother was with us,’ Ole Devil remarked and gave the impression that he was going to resume watching Prays Loudly, Sometimes.
‘God damn it, Fancy Pants!’ the girl began, employing a name for him which she had not used since early in their acquaintance. ‘That son-of-a-bitch’s up—!’
‘Pull your horns in, Miss Charlotte,’ Ole Devil interrupted, his tone causing Di to stop as she was on the point of gesturing towards the subject of their conversation and bringing her full attention back to him.
‘What the—?’ the girl spluttered.
‘I don’t claim to be real smart like you,’ Ole Devil put in, with as much calm as Di was displaying indignation. ‘So I can’t see what benefit—if any—there’d be in rushing over and saying, “Excuse me, Major von Lowenbrau, sir, we haven’t noticed that you might be up to some shenanigans, but if you are, perhaps you’d be good enough to let us in on them.”’
Finding that he was no longer the center of attraction, the Tejas packer was watching and listening. Even though he spoke only a little English, he was aware that Di took very strenuous exception to being addressed by any of her Christian names. That Diablo Viejo could do so in such a manner, indeed employing the one she hated most, without her landing her fist in his mouth was, in the opinion of Prays Loudly, Sometimes, further evidence of his capability.
‘Ancient Nipponese saying—’ commenced Tommy Okasi’s polite voice from behind the girl.
‘Which you’ve just made up,’ Di groaned, her attitude changing so that she directed a look of mock exasperation at the speaker. ‘That’s all I son-of-a-bitching need right now.’
To give Di her due, despite her quick temper, she was always willing to listen to sound advice when it was given by someone for whom she had respect. The young Texian and the little Oriental rated highly in her estimation. Having already seen that the former was making good sense and did not take the situation as lightly as his first comment suggested, she welcomed the latter’s intervention as it allowed her to yield without openly surrendering.
‘Woman’s place is in home, or geisha teahouse,’ Tommy continued. ‘Not trying to tell men what to do.’
‘It’s a pity your mammy ever went home,’ Di answered.
‘She never left it,’ the little Oriental countered blandly. ‘Nipponese woman—’
‘What do you reckon von Lowenbrau’s up to, Devil?’ the girl asked, turning her back on Tommy.
‘His duty, maybe,’ the Texian replied.
‘Who for?’ Di demanded, restraining her impulse to look at the man in question as both her companions were apparently ignoring him.
‘There are some who might say the best way to find out is to go over and ask,’ Ole Devil stated. ‘Shall I do just that, Tommy?’
‘Humble self considers it would be best,’ the little Oriental agreed.
‘Now just you hold hard there for a teensy minute!’ Di ordered. ‘Leave us not forget’s how you’ve sent off half of your boys to help get Grandpappy Ewart and them other wounded fellers’ hurts tended to. Top of that, all of Tom Wolf’s scouts didn’t go with ’em are standing guard too far off to get back ’n’ help us very quick.’
Having questioned the mozos xxvii of two Mexican officers who had been taken prisoner during the fighting, Ole Devil had learned that the remaining seven companies of the Arizona Hopi Activos Regiment were camped about two days’ ride to the south awaiting their colonel’s return. Which had meant that they would be unable to put in an appearance for some considerable time.
Faced with the possibility of further trouble and dissension between the two outfits, Ole Devil had seen how the information would allow him to prevent it. Selecting the hotheads from Company C, he had sent them under Lieutenant Mannen Blaze to escort the wounded as far as Washington-on-the-Brazos. A protesting Beauregard Rassendyll had been dispatched with the others, along with four of the Tejas Indians who were serving as scouts for the mule train. This had solved one problem. However, even counting the packers, the force at his command and upon which he could certainly depend was now smaller than the Company of Dragoons.
‘I haven’t forgotten,’ Ole Devil said quietly. ‘But I was hoping that von Lowenbrau might have.’
Chapter Four – I’m Assuming Command, Captain Hardin
Major Ludwig von Lowenbrau scanned the faces of the Red River Volunteer Dragoons’ contingent as he addressed them, and sought for signs as to how they were receiving his comments. All in all, their response was about what he had anticipated.
Knowing his subordinates to be typical of the kind of men who had joined Colonel Frank Johnson’s enterprise, the Prussian had selected arguments which he believed would appeal to them. Like himself, the majority were hard bitten opportunists and regarded the proposed invasion as a chance to obtain loot while they were with the Republic of Texas’s main body. So he reminded them of the wealthy seaports which were their objectives on their march south along the coast road. The rest of the men were similar in nature and attitude to the participant of the previous day’s knife fight, who was still resentful over his treatment at Ole Devil Hardin’s hands. Fiercely patriotic in a misguided way, made over confident by the Texians’ earlier victories, they regarded General Samuel Houston’s strategic withdrawal as a cowardly and needless flight.
By playing upon the greed of the opportunists, and the desire for more positive action on behalf of the patriots, von Lowenbrau hoped that he would sway them to his purpose. However, being a fair judge of human nature, he was aware that there could be one major obstacle to achieving control of the consignment. Having anticipated it, he had also taken steps to circumvent it.
‘Talking about Hardin—major,’ Sergeant Otis remarked, at the conclusion of his superior’s reminder that the Dragoons and not the men of the Texas Light Cavalry had been placed in the position of greatest danger during the fighting. ‘What’ll he do when you tell him’s you’re fixing to take the rifles?’
‘Do?’ von Lowenbrau repeated, scowling at the interruption and its maker’s somewhat mocking demeanor. ‘What can he do?’
‘Could be we’ll soon find out,’ the non-com declared, before the Prussian could repeat an earlier reminder that he was not only the senior officer present but also had the greater number of men to enforce his orders. ‘He’s headed this way right now.’
Letting out a short, savage hiss, von Lowenbrau stiffened slightly. For a moment, controlling his anger with an effort, he glared at Otis’s surly features. Then he directed a quick glance around at the faces of the other Dragoons, confirming something which he had envisaged from the beginning.
Silently promising himself that he would repay the non-com’s disrespectful actions later, the Prussian turned almost as smartly as if he was on a parade ground. He gave the ramrod straight figure who was approaching only a brief look before sweeping the surrounding area with his gaze. From all appearances, Hardin had not attached any special significance to the Dragoons assembling. Standing with her back to the Prussian, Di Brindley was talking to the mule packer Hardin had been watching. Although the little ‘Chinaman’ was walking away, it was not in the direction of the cavalrymen who were making preparations to move out. Instead, he appeared to be heading for the fire around which the girl, both officers, and he had slept the previous night.
Returning his attention to the Satanic-faced young Texian, von Lowenbrau could find nothing to suggest his motives might have been suspected. Hardin advanced with the somewhat Gasconadi
ng swagger which characterized his normal movements. He still had the cloak-coat hanging from his shoulders. Satisfied with what he saw, the Prussian dipped his right hand into his jacket’s pocket and it emerged holding a large key.
Although noticing von Lowenbrau’s action, Ole Devil was more interested in the men behind him. They had gathered in three closely packed ranks. Every one of them held his rifle, but the weapons were neither in positions of threat nor even readiness. Instead, the Dragoons lounged in attitudes of those awaiting developments.
‘Di says her men will be ready to move out in fifteen minutes, major,’ Ole Devil announced as he came to a halt about twenty feet in front of the Prussian.
‘That’s good!’ von Lowenbrau replied, tapping the key against his left palm as if doing so was nothing more than a nervous habit. ‘I am assuming command, Captain Hardin. You will consider yourself under my orders.’
‘I see,’ Ole Devil drawled, his eyes on the Prussian’s face. ‘And what might your orders be?’
‘They are those which brought me here,’ von Lowenbrau answered, searching the other’s face in the hope of learning the thoughts behind it. ‘To take the consignment of arms to where they will be most usefully employed.’
‘Where would that be?’ Ole Devil challenged.
‘In the hands of men who are willing and ready to fight against the enemy,’ the Prussian stated, pitching his voice so it reached the men to his rear as well as the slim young Texian. ‘Not being carried by an Army which is running away and may discard them if pressed too hard.’
‘I thought that you’d decided to do your duty to Texas and join General Houston?’ Ole Devil remarked, showing no emotion at what had obviously been an insult.
‘I might have considered it until I saw how you placed my men’s life in jeopardy to save casualties among your own,’ von Lowenbrau replied, once again hoping to prod the Texian into a hostile response. ‘That is the kind of action which one might expect from an officer who is willing to run instead of stand and fight.’
‘With respect, major, I hardly think you’re in a position to judge my conduct in action,’ Ole Devil countered and his attitude was still one of deadly calm. ‘Your injury occurred too early in the action for you to have been able to form any opinion of how I comported myself under fire.’
‘That is neither here nor there!’ von Lowenbrau barked, glaring in an attempt to stare the Texian down. ‘I am taking charge of the consignment!’
There were, as the Prussian appreciated, disadvantages in continuing a discussion on the previous day’s attack. He had made the insulting comments with the object of producing a response which would justify the measures he was contemplating. However, the answer he had received could cost him more than he might gain. Despite his reminders of how they had been placed in the forefront of the battle, he knew his men were still impressed by its successful outcome. So he had no wish to let them hear further references about how he had been incapacitated shortly after the commencement of hostilities, while Hardin had taken a prominent part from the beginning to the end.
‘On whose authority?’ Ole Devil challenged, using tones of icy politeness and meeting the other’s eyes without flinching.
‘On the authority granted by my commission as a major in the Army of the Republic of Texas,’ von Lowenbrau explained, grateful for the opportunity to establish that he had what could be regarded as a legitimate right to make the demand. ‘Which makes me your superior in rank. What is more, Captain Hardin, as you have seen fit to send off more than half of your Company, my men form the bulk of the escort and that places the responsibility for the consignment’s safe delivery on their shoulders.’ He paused for a few seconds to let the Dragoons absorb his words and wished he could look back to find out how they were being received. ‘You can have a choice, captain. Come with us and play a part in carrying the war to the enemy, or take your men and join General Houston in his flight.’
‘Leaving the caplocks with you?’
‘Of course!’
‘You realize that they were purchased by our supporters in the United States to help us establish our right to form an independent republic?’
‘I do,’ von Lowenbrau admitted. ‘And I’m sure that our supporters will want them put to the purpose for which they were intended, used to fight against the enemy and not given to men who are running away. Colonel Johnson—’
‘Is acting contrary to General Houston’s orders,’ Ole Devil interrupted. ‘If you wish to continue serving him, that is your affair. But I intend to carry out the duty to which I’ve been assigned and deliver the consignment.’
‘Do you know the consequences of refusing to obey the orders of a lawfully appointed superior whilst on active service?’ von Lowenbrau demanded, stepping two militarily smart paces nearer to the Texian and keeping all his attention upon him.
‘I do,’ Ole Devil admitted, standing as motionless as if he was made of stone.
‘You know that you can be shot, without the need for a court martial to pronounce sentence, if you refuse to obey?’
‘Yes.’
‘Then, Captain Hardin!’ the Prussian barked, standing at a rigid brace so that his right hand—holding the bulky key with its oval grip on his palm and its stem between the first and second fingers—was pointing to the ground. ‘By the authority granted from my commission as a major of the Republic of Texas, I order you to place yourself and the consignment of arms under my command.’
‘I refuse,’ Ole Devil answered, with no greater show of emotion than if he had been involved in a casual and innocuous conversation.
‘Got you!’ von Lowenbrau thought exultantly and, without taking his gaze from the Mephistophelian features, he started to raise his right hand.
Considering himself an excellent tactician, the Prussian was delighted at the way he had led his victim into his trap. He had realized from the beginning that talk alone would not gain the Dragoons’ support. In fact, he had appreciated that he must deal with the other officer before he could hope to achieve his ends. So he had conceived his strategy accordingly. Killing Hardin would present the Dragoons with fait accompli. They would be even more willing to back him up against the cavalrymen now he had established, at least to their satisfaction, that he had the authority and legal right to carry out the ‘execution’.
The means by which von Lowenbrau intended to implement his plan had served him most satisfactorily on four previous occasions. Made by a master firearms’ manufacturer in Germany, the device was a refinement on the key-pistols of earlier generations; which had been produced for jailers and others who might require a dual purpose, unsuspected weapon. Designed to operate on the percussion system, it was more compact than its predecessors and was lethal at the distance which separated him from his victim. What was more, as he had not shown it to anybody who was present, he felt sure that he alone appreciated its deadly purpose.
Unfortunately for the Prussian, Ole Devil had come across references to key-pistols in various books about firearms he had read. So he had guessed what the other had in mind when he had seen the device emerging from the pocket. In addition, the trend taken by the conversation had suggested how von Lowenbrau was meaning to kill him. With the safety of the consignment as an added inducement, he had decided how he would counter the attempt.
Just as the Prussian had not been required to produce the disguised weapon during the battle with the Hopis, there had been no cause for Ole Devil to demonstrate a fighting technique which he had developed. Even before he had come to Texas, he had considered that the defensive qualities of a pistol were not being fully utilized by the accepted methods of the day. So, after considerable thought and experimentation, he had found a means by which such a weapon could be carried upon the person, then produced and fired with considerable speed.
Realizing that his refusal would present von Lowenbrau with an excuse to use the key-pistol, Ole Devil did not need to watch for it being elevated in his direction. Instead, an in
stant after he had spoken, he sprang to his left. Simultaneously, his right hand turned palm outwards and enfolded the butt of the Manton pistol. Then, employing similar actions to those which would be used by a later generation of gunfighters when performing a high cavalry-twist draw, xxviii he started to slide the barrel from the retaining loop of his belt.
With the key-pistol rising into alignment, the Prussian became aware that his would-be victim was moving aside. Furious over the discovery that he had been overconfident, he tried to correct his aim. However, he was unable to halt the pressure he had begun to exert upon the stud on the back of the grip which served as a trigger. There was a sharp crack and a .41 caliber round lead ball passed through the disguised weapon’s short barrel.
In spite of having made the correct deductions, Ole Devil had almost left his evasion too late. Von Lowenbrau’s ball passed through the material of his cloak-coat beneath the bent right arm as it was turning the muzzle of the Manton outwards. Despite feeling the slight tug, he refused to let himself become flustered by the narrow escape. Already his left hand was crossing to hook over and draw the hammer.
Held at waist level, aimed by instinct and without the need to look along the sights, the pistol bellowed almost as soon as Ole Devil landed from the leap that had saved his life. For all that, guided by the skill acquired through long hours of practice, the heavy bullet flew true. Rising, it entered beneath the Prussian’s jaw and retained sufficient power to smash its way out of the top of his skull. Foiled instantly, the key-pistol slipped from his grasp. The men behind him jumped hurriedly out of the way as he crashed backwards to the ground.
Startled exclamations burst from the Dragoons. Even when they had seen Ole Devil approaching without showing any signs of suspecting the purpose of their gathering, none of them had expected that he would yield to von Lowenbrau’s commands. Nor had they anticipated how the Prussian was meaning to terminate the affair. So the sudden eruption of violence caught them unawares.