The Bandera Trail

by Ralph Compton

  Furious, Farias turned, and his hand was on the door handle when his superior spoke.

  “Major Farias,” said Paradez, “I have not dismissed you.”

  Farias struggled to gain control of himself before he again faced the hated General Paradez. His teeth clenched, Farias glared at Paradez, waiting.

  “I am sure you are aware,” said Paradez, “that only twenty-four recruits rode in with me. That means eighteen of your men cannot be rotated. You will remain as the officer in charge, and the men I have chosen to leave with you are those with the least time in grade. You are dismissed, Major.”

  September 12, 1843. South of Matamoros, Tamaulipas.

  Clay and Angelina rode east, positioning themselves on a rise where they could see a great distance to the north.

  “It is much too soon for them to return south,” said Angelina, “but I am concerned that the trail drive is getting so close to Matamoros.”

  “I reckon it’s time to be concerned,” said Clay. “We’re cuttin’ it mighty thin. If a band of soldiers don’t ride out by tomorrow, takin’ the prisoners south, we’ll have to get with Ramon and stop the drive again.”

  “What of the soldiers riding with it?”

  “When I say ‘stop the drive,’ I mean we’ll have to get rid of those soldiers,” said Clay.

  “I liked your plan, taking them far to the south and leaving them afoot,” said Angelina, “but how can we do that until the soldiers leave for Mexico City? We cannot get to the prisoners until they are taken from the jail and marched south.”

  Clay was already considering the possibility that nobody would return to Mexico City until the trail drive reached the outpost at Matamoros. If a high-ranking officer was in charge of the newly arrived soldiers, would he not solve the mystery of the trail drive and the missing soldiers before he departed? It was two hours before sundown when Clay got his answer. Solano rode in, and the information he brought forced a change of plans.

  “Soldado ride,” said Solano, spreading his fingers on both hands. “Uno oro chaqueta, some come.” He pointed south.

  The worst had happened. Ten soldiers were riding south, including the “gold coat”—the officer—who had arrived the day before.

  “It is as I feared,” said Angelina. “They seek the trail drive and its soldier escort. We cannot wait for them to take the captives south, for tomorrow they will reach the herd and all will be lost.”

  “No,” said Clay, “they’ll reach the herd tonight, but not in the way they’re expecting to. Come dark, we’re takin’ these soldados on a long ride south. This new bunch, and their amigos with the trail drive. Solano,” he said, pointing north, “find the soldado camp and return here. Then we will ride south and meet the trail drive.”

  Solano nodded and rode out. Angelina looked at Clay, and he saw the doubt in her eyes.

  “There’s no other way,” he said. “Once it’s dark, one of the night hawks can send Ramon to us, and we’ll plan our attack. When the soldiers with the trail herd have settled down for the night, we’ll take them without firing a shot. We’ll let the Injuns take out the sentries, and then we’ll all go after what’s left. We’ll hog-tie the lot of them, leave some guards, and go after that new bunch Solano’s going to locate for us.”

  “Then you intend to take them all south and leave them afoot.”

  “It’s that,” said Clay, “or shoot them in cold blood. Ramon says some of them are conscripts who won’t resist, who don’t wish to fight. Call me a fool, but I won’t gun a man down in his sleep. Not if there’s another way.”

  “I do not question what you are about to do,” she said. “With the help of Ramon and his riders, I do not doubt that you can capture these soldiers. What I do not understand is how we are to rescue Gil and Van without them—or some of us—being killed.”

  “Once we have these soldiers out of the way, we can take the trail drive on to Matamoros. From there we may have to make it up as we go along. Once this bunch of soldiers is hog-tied, I aim for Ramon and some of the riders to take them as far south as they can by first light. While that’s being done, Solano and me will have a look at that soldier outpost. If we got to bust Gil and Van out of that calaboose, then I need a look at it, to get some idea as to how it can be done.”

  “Tomorrow, then?” she asked.

  “Tomorrow night,” said Clay. “There had to be some soldiers at this post before that bunch brought in Gil and Van. There’s fourteen with the herd, and another ten a few miles north of here. Even without the soldiers we’re about to be rid of, we could still be facing at least forty when we go after this outpost at Matamoros. We need some advantage, an edge, and that’s what Solano and me will be looking for.”

  “Am I to…ride with you?”

  “Most of the way,” said Clay, “but not into the outpost. We’ll have to go in afoot, and I want you to stay with the horses.”

  When the newly arrived captives had eaten, they fell into an exhausted sleep. Gil again got up on the bench, so that he could look out the tiny window. He was unable to see the officers’ quarters, because the enlisted mens’ barracks stood in the way. But when Major Farias went to the post commander’s office, he had to come around the enlisted mens’ barracks and pass in front of the guardhouse. Gil watched Farias as he came and, a few minutes later, as he returned.

  “Either tell me what’s so almighty interestin’,” said Van, “or let me look for a while.”

  “I reckon our amigo, Major Farias, has just caught hell,” said Gil. “He left his barracks, was gone a few minutes, and now he’s goin’ back to his barracks. He looks like he’s been throwed and stomped.”

  “Don’t get too happy over Farias gettin’ his tail feathers set afire,” said Van. “It could mean this new officer that just come in aims to have a look at the trail drive. If that’s so, it means we don’t get out of here as slick as Clay’s got it planned. Maybe we don’t get out at all.”

  “Nobody’s going to march these poor devils anywhere for a while,” said Gil. “They’re all dead on their feet.”

  “It was you,” said Long John, looking at Van, “that was bullyraggin’ me about havin’ a keg o’ black powder on me. That might be ’zactly what it’ll take t’ bust us outa this juzgado.”

  Gil didn’t hear Van’s response, if there was one. After drawing nothing but deuces, Long John might have unknowingly grabbed an ace. An idea began to take shape in Gil’s mind. A farfetched idea that depended heavily on Clay Duval, and that little keg of black powder Ramon might still have…

  September 12, 1843. The military outpost near Matamoros, Tamaulipas.

  The area between the guardhouse and the enlisted men’s barracks was for assembly, and so Gil got his first look at the newly arrived General Paradez. Nine soldiers waited, their horses saddled and ready. When Paradez rode in from the officers’ quarters, the waiting men scrambled to their feet.

  “At ease,” said Paradez, returning their salutes. “Column of twos. Prepare to mount.”

  When Paradez gave the order to mount, the nine men swung into their saddles. A sergeant rode beside Paradez, the rest of the soldiers following. Gil eased himself down to a sitting position on the bench. He didn’t wait for the question he knew was coming.

  “The officer that rode in yesterday is ridin’ out,” said Gil, “taking nine soldiers with him.”

  “He aims to find our trail drive,” said Van, “before returning to Mexico City.”

  “Looks that way,” said Gil. I don’t know where else he could be going.”

  “Now whar’s that leavin’ us?” Long John wanted to know.

  “Right here in the juzgado,” said Gil, “until we hear from Clay.”

  “Ye got an almighty lot o’ confidence in that hombre,” said Long John.

  “I know what he can and will do,” said Gil. “By dark he’ll know we’re going to have to change our plans. Before dawn he or Solano will be here to talk to us.”

  When they were within a
mile of the bedded-down longhorns, Solano reined up and dismounted. Clay and Angelina followed. Solano passed his reins to Clay, and without a word vanished into the night.

  “He found the other camp so quickly,” said Angelina, “they must be very close.”

  “That’s why we’re making our move tonight,” said Clay. “Tomorrow they would have run right into the trail drive.”

  Solano returned, a silent shadow in the starlight. He touched Clay’s arm, and Clay leaned close to Angelina.

  “Wait,” he said.

  Clay followed Solano to where Ramon waited, near the bedded-down longhorns. Clay could hear talking and laughing among the soldiers.

  “Soldados no sleep,” said Ramon.

  “Too early,” said Clay, “and we’ll have to wait. It’s pistol or rifle butts. No shooting. How many sentries do the soldados usually have?”

  “Two, t’ree,” said Ramon. “No more.”

  “Go, Ramon,” said Clay, “before you’re missed. Solano and me will wait here until you return. Once we know where the sentries are, and the rest of them are asleep, we’ll make our move. Be sure and tell the men no shooting. Our aim is to knock this bunch senseless, just long enough to hog-tie them. Then, a few miles up the trail, we’ll have to do the same thing all over again.”

  Clay and Solano waited. It was taking so long, Clay almost went back to reassure Angelina. But he had told her to wait, and wait she would, however long it might be. It was a good two hours before the camp settled down, and even Clay had begun to begrudge the time. Every minute it took to subdue these soldiers and those to the north lessened the distance they’d be able to take these men before turning them loose afoot. When Ramon returned, he had with him Estanzio and Mariposa.

  “No guardia,” said Ramon. “Estanzio and Mariposa take.”

  The four night hawks had been watching for Ramon. They dismounted. For this they would gladly leave the herd for a while. To a man, they were fed up with the domination of the soldiers. Led by Ramon, they silently made their way to the sleeping camp. Joined by their three waiting comrades, they were a dozen strong. There were twelve sleeping soldiers, and the task was finished quickly. Every soldier was bound hand and foot.

  “Now,” said Clay, “strip them of every weapon and all ammunition. Take their rifles from their saddle boots, and any ammunition you find in their packs or saddlebags.”

  The first of the bound soldiers to regain his senses was Sergeant Aguilla. He bellowed like a fresh-cut bull, and when he ran out of obscenities, he started over.

  “Ramon,” said Clay, “shut him up.”

  Ramon took a yard-long strip from a soldier’s saddle blanket and proceeded to accomplish what he had yearned to do since the abusive Sergeant Aguilla had forced himself upon them.

  “Ramon,” said Clay, “I’ll need five men to ride with Solano and me. When I send them back to you, they’ll have ten more soldados, all hog-tied just like Aguilla and his men. Solano and me will ride on to Matamoros, but we’ll be back here before dawn. Once you have these ten soldados I’ll be sending you, add them to the bunch you already got. Mount the lot of them, tie them up, take them south at least fifty miles. Turn them loose, but bring their horses and saddles back with you.”

  “We do,” said Ramon. “Take Estanzio, Mariposa, Manuel, Pedro, and Bola. Vaya con Dios, amigo.”

  Clay and Solano led out, followed by the five riders Ramon had chosen.

  “I have been frightened out of my wits,” said Angelina when they stopped for her. “You were gone so long, and I could hear nothing, except someone cursing.”

  Clay laughed. “Sergeant Aguilla. Ramon had the honor of tying a piece of saddle blanket across his big mouth.”

  Solano, knowing the location of the soldier camp, took the lead. When he reined up and dismounted, the others followed. Silently, he chose Mariposa and Estanzio to accompany him, and the three faded into the darkness. By the Big Dipper, Clay decided it was close to midnight. The Indian trio returned as silently as they had departed.

  “Uno guardia,” said Solano softly, but he extended three fingers in the starlight. They had disposed of three men, leaving seven.

  Mariposa, Estanzio, and Solano led the way, followed by Clay, Manuel, Bola, and Pedro. They moved swiftly and soon had their captives bound hand and foot. They had been stripped of weapons and ammunition, and the spoils were heaped on a blanket.

  “Bola,” said Clay, “distribute the weapons and ammunition among you. We will need some or all of it. The five of you get these soldados back to Ramon as quickly as you can.”

  They had to release the feet of the soldiers so they could mount. Once in the saddle, their ankles were tied together by a rope passed under the bellies of the horses. The soldier with the gold braid on his coat—the officer—suddenly spoke in careful English.

  “You, senor, the gringo. Do you not know who I am?”

  “I know you’re not that coyote, Santa Anna,” said Clay, “or you’d have got more than a pistol butt alongside your head. I’d have gut-shot you.”

  “I am General Paradez, and for this atrocity I will see that you rot in prison.”

  “General,” said Clay grimly, “I’ve been to your prison once, and there ain’t enough soldiers in Mexico to put me there again. When I’m done, it may be you that’ll rot in your stinking dungeon.”

  Once the ten captives were mounted and their ankles roped together, Clay, Solano, and Angelina watched Ramon’s five riders depart, each with two of the soldier horses on lead ropes.

  “The easy part’s over,” said Clay. “Now we ride to that soldier outpost at Matamoros and try to figure some way to free our amigos.”

  “Last night,” said Angelina, “I did not truly believe you could do this. I still do not know how you will free your friends and get us all to Texas alive, but of this one thing I am sure: if there is a way, Clay Duval, you will find it.”

  “Querida,” said Clay, “this time tomorrow night we’ll be on our way to Texas. I ain’t exactly sure how, but by the Almighty, we’re going!”

  22

  Gil was awake until past midnight, expecting Clay or Solano. Finally he slumped down on the bench and slept. But when the signal came, so soft it might have been imagination, he was instantly awake.

  “Here,” whispered Gil, mounting the bench.

  “Tomorrow night, pard,” said Clay softly.

  “Soldiers?” Gil asked.

  “We hog-tied that bunch with the trail drive,” said Clay, “and the ten that rode out yesterday. By dawn they’ll be halfway to Tampico, afoot. Who’s in there with you?”

  “Van and Long John Coons,” said Gil. “The ten men they threw in here yesterday are in bad shape. Can we take them with us?”

  “I aim to,” said Clay. “Was Angelina and me that freed ’em from the dungeon. We’ll have horses and guns for them. Trouble is, gettin’ the lot of you out of there won’t be easy. I’d say there’s maybe forty soldiers still here, but we can divert their attention from you long enough to bust you out. I still got to figure how I’m goin’ to do that.”

  “No sentries here?” Gil asked.

  “None,” said Clay. “They’re almighty sure of this place. I won’t have a chance to see this juzgado in daylight; are there any weak points that you can see?”

  “Nothing weak about it,” said Gil. “Vulnerable maybe, but only the outside walls and the roof, and you’d have to blast them away.”

  “I’ve used black powder,” said Clay, “but we got none.”

  “Maybe we have,” said Gil. “Before we set out with the trail drive, Ramon sent to Zacatecas for supplies. There was no ammunition available, but we got a keg of black powder. Maybe Ramon still has it.”

  “We could burn all our powder,” said Clay, “and not put a dent in these log walls. A charge under each corner of the roof will bring it down, but there’ll be some risk. Except for the bars dividin’ the cells, there won’t be a thing to keep it from comin’ down on your heads.
”

  “It’s a risk we’ll have to take,” said Gil. “If we know when the blow’s coming, we can back up against the outside walls, and it shouldn’t fall directly on us. It’s the only chance we have. We never see the keys to these cells. They slide the grub under the barred doors. If Ramon has the powder, set the charges and blow the roof.”

  “I’ll talk to Ramon,” said Clay. “I’ll set the charges, and right on the heels of the blast there’ll be men here with horses and guns. Just don’t stop to rest while you’re fightin’ your way through the rubble. I can buy you a little time, but not much.”

  “With the soldiers’ barracks just beyond the assembly ground, I wasn’t expecting much,” said Gil. “Soldiers will be all over us before the smoke clears.”

  “I reckon they won’t,” said Clay, “when there’ll be five thousand hard-running longhorns between us and them, followed by a horse herd. Right on the heels of that, some of our riders will be throwin’ some lead. It’ll be a hard drive, gettin’ the herds here in time, but whatever happens, I’ll be here tomorrow at midnight.”

  Then he was gone.

  “I couldn’t hear Clay’s side of that,” said Van from the darkness.

  “Me neither,” said Long John.

  Quietly as possible, Gil explained the situation to them. Suddenly a sleepy voice spoke from one of the cells across the corridor.

  “What is it? What’s goin’ on over there?”

  “Pardner,” said Gil quietly, “we’ll talk to you tomorrow. For now, get what sleep you can. You’re going to need it.”

  Clay and Solano returned on foot to where Angelina waited with the horses. The three of them mounted and rode south, and when they were well away from the military outpost, Angelina had a question.

  “You have decided how to free them?”

  “Maybe,” said Clay, and explained Gil’s proposed use of the black powder.