by G. A. Henty
CHAPTER XV.
WITH THE WAGGON TEAMS.
Soon after daybreak on the twelfth day the watch, which had nowbeen carefully kept up for some days, reported that two Indians weregalloping at full speed up the valley. A cheer broke from the defendersof the butte, for they doubted not that these brought news of theapproach of a relieving party. When the horsemen arrived at the mainencampment out on the plain a stir was immediately visible, and intwo or three minutes the Indians were seen running out to the horsesgrazing on the plain beyond, while loud yells rang through the air.
"Those who have got rifles had better come to the edge," Long Tomshouted. "All these fellows who are here will be scooting out on theplain in a minute. We must stop a few of them anyhow."
A minute or two later scores of Indians dashed out from the trees atthe foot of the buttes, and ran towards their encampment. The whites atonce opened fire, but a running man far below is a difficult mark, andnot a single shot took effect.
"You don't call that shooting," Broncho Harry said indignantly.
"It is all very well, Harry," Hugh said, "but a brown spot threehundred feet below you, and as many yards away, isn't an easy mark."
"Waal," Harry said, "it can't be helped. Now we will get ready to goout to lend a hand to our friends. Let us have a couple of ropes; wewill tie them to the branches one by one and haul them up. There is nofear of an attack. Now look here, Jim, you and your lot had best stophere to guard the women, and we will sally out. There are five of you;that will be plenty."
The man on watch now gave a shout. "I can see them," he said.
"How many of them?"
"I guess there is about eighty. There is a thick clump in the middle,I reckon that they are the soldiers, and thirty or forty riding loose;I allow they are cow-boys."
"That is just about the right number," Harry said; "if there was moreof them the Indians wouldn't fight. I don't know as they will now, butseeing as there must be three hundred of them, I expect they will tryit. Now, then, up with these branches."
In a quarter of an hour the branches were all hauled out of the gap.While this had been going on the women had given a feed and a gooddrink of water to the horses, for there was no occasion any longerto husband their resources. The animals were now saddled and led downthrough the gap. By this time the Indians were all mounted, and weremoving in a close body across the plain to meet the advancing foe.
"Now, Jim," Broncho Harry said, "you stand on the edge, and when yousee the fight begin you wave your hand. We can't make a start untilthey are at it, and we sha'n't be able to see down below there."
The cow-boys made their way down to the plain and then mounted. Theysat for ten minutes with their eyes fixed upon Jim Gattling. Presentlyhe waved his arm, and with a shout they started at a gallop. As soon asthey were fairly out on the plain they heard the sound of fire-arms,and after galloping half a mile came suddenly in view of the combat.The Indians had boldly closed with the troops and cow-boys, who werenow driven together. A desperate hand-to-hand conflict was raging.Swords flashing in the sun, waving tomahawks, and spears could be seenabove the mass. The cracking of revolvers was incessant, and a lightsmoke hung over the conflict.
"They are hard at it, boys," Long Tom exclaimed; "now don't shout untilwe are on them. They are too busy to notice us. Keep well together, andwe shall go through them like a knife."
Not a word was spoken as they galloped down upon the scene of conflict.When they were within a hundred yards a cry of warning was raised,and some of the Indians faced round; but in a moment, with a loudshout, the band of cow-boys charged down upon them and cleft their wayinto the mass, horse and rider rolling over under the impetus of theonslaught. The deadly six-shooters spoke out, while the Indians fellthickly around them; and in a minute they had joined the whites in thecentre of the mass. There was a shout of welcome, and then the officercommanding the troops cried:
"Now is your time, lads; press them hard, give it them hot!" and theunited party attacked the Indians with fresh vigour.
Up to this time there had been little advantage on either side.Many more of the Indians had fallen than of the whites, owing to thesuperiority of the latter's weapons, especially the revolvers of thecow-boy section. Still their great superiority in numbers was telling,and when the six-shooters were emptied the cow-boys had no weapons tooppose to the spears and tomahawks of the Indians. The sudden attackfrom the rear, however, had shaken the Red-skins. In the momentarypause that had ensued many of the cow-boys slipped fresh cartridgesinto their pistols, and in a short time the Indians began to giveground, while the less courageous of them wheeled about their horses'heads.
THE COW-BOYS CHARGED DOWN UPON THE INDIANS.]
War Eagle and some of the chiefs fought desperately; but when theformer fell, cut down by one of the troopers, a panic spread amonghis followers, and as if by a sudden impulse they turned and fled.The pursuit was a short one, for the horses of the rescuing forcewere jaded with the long journey they had performed; those of theparty from the butte were weakened by hunger, while the ponies of theIndians had been doing nothing for days, and speedily left them behind.After hearty congratulations by the rescuers, and sincere thanks bythose whom they had relieved from their peril, the party returned tothe scene of conflict. Four troopers and two cow-boys had fallen, anda score had received wounds more or less serious; while on the partof the Indians over thirty lay dead. Graves were dug for the fallenwhites, the wounds of the others were bandaged up, and they thenproceeded to the butte, at whose foot the women, and the settlers whohad been left to guard them, had already gathered, they having hurrieddown as soon as they saw the plain covered with flying Indians.
Steve had returned with the rescuing party, and had been severelywounded in the fight, a blow from a tomahawk having cut off one of hisears, wounded his cheek, and inflicted a terrible gash on his shoulder.He was, however, in the highest spirits.
"I sha'n't look so purty, my dear," he said to his daughter, who burstinto tears at the sight of his injury, "but then I was not anythinguncommon afore, and I haven't any thought of going courting again.Waal, we have given the Injuns a smart lesson."
When the handshaking and congratulations ceased, the captain commandingthe cavalry held a consultation with Steve and some of the cow-boysas to the advisability of following up the victory and attacking theIndians in their own villages.
"I should not feel justified in doing it unless I was pretty certainof success. The commandant of the fort gave me orders to rescue thisparty, and I have done so; but he said nothing about engaging in aregular campaign with the Indians."
"I shouldn't try, captain," Steve said. "I reckon they haven't halftheir force here to-day--no, nor a quarter--for they reckon to puta thousand fighting men in the field. They didn't guess as any of ushad got off to get help, and knew that they had plenty here to keep uscaged upon the butte. Another thing is, the cow-boys with us air allemployed on the ranches, and although they came off willing to rescuethe women, and pay the Injuns off for that murdering business at oursettlement, I reckon they will want to be off again to their work.But even with them we ain't no match for the forces the Red-skins cancollect, so if you will take my advice, captain, you won't waste aminute, for thar is no saying how soon they will be down on us again,and if they did come the fight to-day wouldn't be a sarcumstance to thenext."
"You are right," the officer said; "it would be folly to risk anythingby waiting here. I suppose you are all ready to start."
"I reckon so," Steve said; "the horses have all been brought down fromthe hill."
The officer at once gave orders to mount.
While this conversation had been going on, Hugh, who was occupied ingiving Prince a good feed from the grain the soldiers had brought fortheir horses, saw one of the troopers staring at him.
"Hullo, Luscombe!" he exclaimed, "who would have thought of seeing youhere!"
"I thought I couldn't be mistaken, Hugh," the other exclaimed a
s theygrasped each other's hands; "but you have changed so much, and widenedout so tremendously in the eighteen months since I left you, that for amoment I wasn't sure it was you. Well, this is luck, and it is quite afluke too. I was getting heartily sick of doing duty at that wretchedfort, where one day was just like another, and there was nothing inthe world to do except cleaning one's traps, when a letter arrivedfrom the governor. I told you the old boy was sure to give in sooneror later, and he sent me money to get my discharge and take me home.I was just going to the commanding officer to make my application whenRutherford rode into camp. It was evidently something very important,for his horse fell dead as he drew rein. So I waited to hear the news,and found that our troop was ordered to mount instantly to ride to therescue of a party of settlers and cow-boys who were besieged by theIndians.
"You may guess I dropped my letter into my pocket and said nothingabout it. We have done a good deal of scouting, and had two or threepaltry skirmishes with the Indians, but nothing worth talking about;and this seemed, from what Rutherford said, to be likely to be aregular battle, and so, you see, here I am. It has been a jolly wind-upfor my soldiering. And to think that you should be one of the party wehave ridden something like three hundred miles to rescue! Now tell meall about yourself."
At this moment the trumpet to saddle sounded.
"I will tell you as we ride along," Hugh said. "I don't suppose therewill be any particular order kept on our way back."
Five minutes later the whole party were cantering down the valley.They did not draw rein until late in the afternoon, and then halted onthe banks of the Canadian. A strong cordon of sentries was posted thatnight, but there were no signs of Indians, and the next day the partyreached one of the ranche stations.
During the two days' march and at the camp Hugh and Luscombe had kepttogether, the latter having obtained permission from his officer tofall out of the ranks, upon his telling him that one of the cow-boyswas an old friend who had come with him from Europe.
"I shall be off in a month or two," Luscombe said when they parted thatevening. "I expect there are formalities to be gone through here justas there are in England. You are quite sure there is no chance of yourgoing home with me?"
"Quite sure. I have another three years to stop out here yet, and thenI can go back and claim my own. I wrote to Randolph, my trustee youknow, to tell him I am alive and well, and very glad that I did notkill that uncle of mine, and saying that I shall return when I am ofage, but not before. What do you mean to do, Luscombe?"
"I am going to settle down," Luscombe said. "I can tell you a year'swork as trooper in one of these Yankee forts is about enough to makea man sick of soldiering. I have eaten the bread of adversity, andvery hard bread it is too, and there is mighty little butter on it. Iam going in for fatted calf when I go back, and am quite prepared tosettle down into a traditional squire, to look after fat beeves, becomeinterested in turnips, and to be a father to my people. Well, anyhow,Hugh, you will let me know when you come back to England. You know myaddress; and as soon as you have kicked that uncle of yours out, andhave squared matters generally, you must come straight to me. You willbe sure of the heartiest welcome. The governor is a capital old boy,and if he did cut up rusty, the wonder is he didn't do it long before.My mother is a dear old lady, and the girls--there are two of them--arefirst-rate girls; and the youngest, by the way, is just about the rightage for you. She was fourteen when I came away."
Hugh laughed.
"I shall very likely bring home an Indian squaw or a Mexican, so wewon't build on that, Luscombe; but when I go back to England you shallhear of me, and I accept the invitation beforehand."
On the following morning the party broke up. The troops startedback for the fort. Steve Rutherford and the cow-boys rode for a timesouth-west, and then worked their way over the foot-hills and came downinto the plains of Texas, and after a week's travel returned to thevillage from which they had started. It had already begun to rise fromits ruins. Waggon-loads of lumber had been brought up from below, andthere was no lack of willing hands from other scattered settlements toaid in the work of rebuilding the houses. Little attention was paid tothe party as they rode up from the plains, for it was not on that sidethat a watch had been kept up for their return, and indeed the eyes ofthe survivors had almost ceased to turn towards the mountains, for hopehad well-nigh died out, and it had been regarded as certain that thewhole party had been cut off and massacred by the Indians.
As soon, however, as the news spread that there were women among theapproaching troop, axes, saws, and hammers were thrown down, and therewas a rush to meet them. The scene was an affecting one, as mothersclasped daughters and women embraced their husbands, whom they hadnever thought to see again. The cow-boys were pressed to stay therefor the night, but they refused as they were anxious to return tothe ranche, from which they had been absent more than three weeks.Fortunately, the busy season was almost over when they left, and theyknew that there were enough hands on the ranche to look after thecattle during their absence. On the way back Broncho Harry said toHugh:
"I expect, Hugh, a good many of us will be getting our tickets beforelong. They don't keep on more than half their strength through thewinter. What are you thinking of doing? If you would like to stop on Iwill speak to the boss. I reckon I shall have charge of an outfit thiswinter, and can manage for you and Stumpy."
"Thank you very much, Broncho, but, as I have told you often, I don'twant to stop. I have had a season's life as a cow-boy, but I have noidea of sticking to it, and mean to have a try at something else. Iintend to go back to England when I am twenty-one. I have some propertythere, and have no need to work. I got into a scrape at home with theman who is my guardian, and don't care about turning up until he has nolonger any authority over me."
"Waal, you know your own business, Lightning. It is a pity, for inanother year you would make one of the best hands on the plains."
"If I were to stay for another year I expect I should stay for good,Harry. It is a hard life, a terribly hard life; but it is a grand onefor all that. There is nothing like it in the way of excitement, andI don't wonder that men who once take to it find it very difficult tosettle down to anything else afterwards. Therefore, you see, it is justas well to stop before one gets too fond of it. I know I shall alwayslook back upon this as the jolliest time of my life, and I am lucky tohave gone through it without having been damaged by a cow, or havingmy neck broken by a broncho, or being shot by an Indian. Royce hasmade up his mind to go with me, and as soon as we get our discharge weshall make our way to New Mexico, and perhaps down into Arizona; but ofcourse that must depend upon other things."
Upon reaching the station they found that, as Harry had predicted,hands were already being discharged. The manager said, when they wentto him and told him that they wished to leave, "Well, I had intended tokeep you both on for the winter; but of course if you wish to go, thereis an end of it, and there are so many anxious to be kept on that a manin my position feels almost grateful to those who voluntarily affordvacancies."
There were very hearty adieus between Hugh and Royce and BronchoHarry, Long Tom, and the others who had been their close companionsfor months. Then they mounted and rode off from the station. They hadheard from a man who had just arrived that a large waggon-train wason the point of starting from Decatur for Santa Fe. It was composedof several parties who had been waiting until a sufficient force wascollected to venture across the Indian country. There were severalwaggon-trains going with supplies for the troops stationed at the chainof forts along the line. Others had goods for Santa Fe; while a thirdwas freighted with machinery and stores for mining enterprises farthersouth in New Mexico.
It took Royce and Hugh a week to traverse the country to Decatur,and on arriving there they heard that the teams had started two daysbefore. They waited a day at Decatur to buy a pack-horse and thenecessary stores for their journey, and then set out. In two days theyovertook the train, which consisted of forty waggons. Learning w
hichman had been selected as the leader of the party they rode up to him.
"We are going to Santa Fe," Royce said. "We are both good shots andhunters, and we propose to travel with you. We are ready to scout andbring in game, if you will supply us with other food."
"That's a bargain," the man said briefly, by no means sorry at theaddition of strength to the fighting force. "I reckon you will earnyour grub. They say the Injuns air on the war-path."
"They are right enough there," Royce said. "We have been engaged ina fight with a band of the Comanches who made a raid down on a littlesettlement named Gainsford, killed a score of settlers, and carried offfive women. We got together a band from the ranche we were working onand went after them, and we had some pretty tough fighting before wegot through."
"Waal, you will just suit us," the man said. "I hear pretty near allthe tribes are up, but I doubt whether they will venture to attack aparty like this."
"I don't think they will if we keep together and are cautious," Roycesaid. "You have forty waggons; that, at two men to a waggon, makeseighty."
"That's so," the other agreed; "and what with cooks and bosses and onething and another, we mount up to pretty nigh a hundred, and of courseevery man has got a rifle along with him."
"That makes a strong party," Royce said, "and with the advantage youwill have of fighting from the cover of the waggons, I don't think theRed-skins would dare to attack you. We have got a pack animal alongwith us, as you see, with our blankets and things. We will hitch him tothe tail of one of the waggons."
The man nodded.
"I have got four teams here of my own," he said, "and a spare man whocooks and so on for my outfit, so you may as well jine in with that.They air the last four waggons in the line."
The journey occupied six weeks. They kept at first up the west fork ofthe Trinity River, crossing a patch of heavily timbered country. Thenthey struck the main fork of Brazos River and followed it for somedistance; then took the track across to the Rio Pecos. It led them bya toilsome journey across an elevated and arid country without wood orwater, save that which they obtained at the head-waters of the DoubleMountain River and from four small streams which united lower down toform the north fork of the Colorado River.
From this point until they reached the Pecos, a distance of over ahundred miles, there was no water. At ordinary times caravans wouldnot have followed this route, but would have kept far to the north. Butthey would have been exposed to attacks by the Comanches and Utes, soin spite of their strength they thought it prudent to follow the longerand safer route. With a view to this journey across the desert eachwaggon carried an empty hogshead slung behind it. These were filledat the last springs, and the water, doled out sparingly, sufficed toenable the men and animals to subsist for the five days the journeyoccupied, although the allowance was so small that the sufferings ofthe cattle were severe. Up to this time Hugh and Royce had succeededalmost daily in bringing a couple of stags into camp, but game wasscarce in this parched and arid region, where not only water waswanting, but grass was scanty in the extreme, and the only sustenancefor deer was the herbage of the scattered bushes.
They therefore rode with the caravan, and aided it as far as theycould. The waggons, which were of great size, were generally drawn bytwelve oxen or mules, and in crossing the deep sand it was sometimesnecessary to use the teams of two waggons to drag one over thesand-hills. Sometimes even this failed to move them, and the mountedmen fastened their ropes to the spokes of the wheels, and so helped toget the waggons out of the holes into which they had sunk.
"I would rather run the risks of a fight with the Indians," Hugh saidto Royce on the last day of their journey across the plain, "than haveto perform this frightful journey. The heat is simply awful, and I feelas if I could drink a bucket of water."
"You will get plenty of water to-night, Hugh. The Pecos is a good bigriver. I believe the animals smell it already. Look how hard they arepulling. The drivers crack their whips and shout as usual, but thebeasts are doing their best without that. We have been very lucky thatwe have had no sand-storms or anything to delay us and confuse us as tothe track. Waal, we are over the worst of the journey now; except theGuadalupe Pass there ain't much trouble between the Pecos and El Paso.Once there we are on the Rio Grande all the way up to Santa Fe."
Towards the afternoon the ground became harder, and the animalsquickened their pace almost to a trot, straining at the ropes withheaving flanks, while their tongues hanging out and their blood-shoteyes showed how they were suffering. An hour before sunset a shoutbroke from the men as, on ascending a slight rise, the river lay beforethem. The instant they reached its bank and the animals were loosed,they rushed in a body into the stream and plunged their nostrils deeplyinto the water, while the men, ascending the banks a short distance,lay down at the edge of the stream and satisfied their thirst. Fiveminutes later all had stripped and were enjoying a bath.
Hugh had been much struck with the difference between the teamstersand the cow-boys; the former did not wear the chaperajos or leatheroveralls with fringed seams, or the bright silk neck handkerchiefs orflat-brimmed hats of the cow-boys. Their attire was sober rather thanbright. They wore soft hats, with slouched brims, and great cow-hideboots. There was none of that dashing, reckless air that characterizedthe cow-boys, or the quick alertness that showed the readiness tocope with any emergency that might occur. Nor in the camp at nightwas there any trace of the light-hearted gaiety which showed itselfin song, laughter, and dance in the gatherings round the cow-boys'fires. They were for the most part silent and moody men, as if thedull and monotonous labour in which they were engaged, and the monthsof solitary journeying, with nothing to break the silence save thecracking of the whips and the shouts of encouragement to the animals,had left their mark upon them. Hugh and Royce agreed cordially that,with all its dangers and its unmeasured toil, they would infinitelyprefer the life of a cow-boy, short as it might be, to that of ateamster, even with the prospect of acquiring a competence upon whichto settle down in old age.
Two days' halt was made on the banks of the Pecos to rest the foot-soreanimals. Then the journey was recommenced, the river crossed at ashallow ford, and its banks followed until, after three days' journey,a small stream running in from the west was reached. Hence the routelay due west to El Paso. The country was flat until they reached theGuadalupe range of hills, which they crossed by a winding and difficultpass, each waggon being taken up by three teams. Then skirting theAlimos Hills they crossed the Sierra Hueco by the pass of the samename, which was far easier than that of Guadalupe, and then one longday's march took them down to Fort Bliss, which stands on the RioGrande, facing the town of El Paso. They had now arrived at the bordersof civilization. Mexican villages and towns, and United States postswere scattered thickly along the course of the river all the way fromEl Paso up to Santa Fe.
"What air you thinking of doing, young fellow?" the head of the partyasked Hugh as they sat by the fire of the encampment a short distanceout of El Paso. "You see we shall kinder break up here. I go with myteams to the forts along the river, and then strike out east to theoutlying posts. About half my freight is ammunition and such like.Waal, then, pretty nigh half the waggons go up to the mines. They havepowder, tools, and machinery. One or two stay here. They bring hardwareand store goods of all sorts for this town; the rest go up to SantaFe. Now what air you thinking of doing? You can make up your mind tostay here, or you kin go up to Santa Fe. You told me you had a fancyfor jinin' some prospecting party and going out west into Arizona. Idoubt whether you will find anyone much bent on that job at present,seeing as how the Injuns is stirring, though I don't know that makesmuch difference, seeing they is always agin anyone going into what theycalls their country.
"Anyhow, the miners will all have to work with a pick in one hand anda rifle in the other. You have got the Apaches here, and they air wussthan the Comanches. The Comanches have had to deal with western huntersand pioneers, and know that there ain't much to be got o
ut of thembut lead, so beyond stealing cattle they've got into the way of beingmostly quiet, though now and agin they break out, just as they have atpresent. Now the Apache has had to deal all along with Mexicans, and hehas pretty good reason for thinking that he is a much better fighterthan the white man. He has been raiding on the Mexican villages forhundreds of years, burning and killing and carrying off their women andgals, and I guess thar is a pretty good sprinkling of Mexican blood inhis veins, though that don't make him better or wuss, as far as I know.Still, take them altogether, they air the savagest and hardest tribe ofRed-skins on this continent.
"However, if you like to go prospecting among thar hills and to runthe risk of losing your scalp, that is your business; but if you do,this is the place to start from, and not Santa Fe. There is gold prettynigh everywhere in the valley of the Gila, and that lies a bit to thenorth-west from here. At any rate, it seems to me that this is theplace that you are most likely to fall in with parties starting out.But let me give you a warning, lad. You will find this town is prettynigh full of gold-miners, and you won't find one of them who won't tellyou that he knows of some place that's a sartin fortune up among thehills. Now, don't you believe them. Don't you go and put your moneyinto any job like that. If you find a party being got up, and othersthink it good enough to jine, of course you can chip in, but don't yougo and find the money for the whole show."
"There is no fear of that," Hugh laughed. "I had about five-and-twentypounds when I went on to the ranche, and I have got that and sixmonths' pay in my belt. That won't go far towards fitting out anexpedition."
"No, it won't," the teamster agreed. "It will be enough for you tobe able to chip in with the others, but, as you say, not to stand thewhole racket. Waal, what do you think?"
"I am very much obliged to you for your advice," Hugh said, "and Ithink we can't do better than stay about here for a bit at any rate.What do you say, Royce?"
"It is all one to me," Royce replied; "but there is no doubt that ElPaso is as good a place as any, if not better, for looking round."
"Then that is settled, Bill; and to tell you the truth, I have hadpretty nigh enough riding for the present, and sha'n't be sorry for afortnight's rest."
"Same here," Bill said. "I feel as if I was getting part of the horse,and should like to get about on foot for a bit so as to feel that Ihadn't quite lost the use of my legs."
Accordingly the next morning they bade good-bye to their comrades ofthe last two months, and mounting, rode into El Paso.
It was a town of some size, and purely Mexican in its features andappearance. The inhabitants almost all belonged to that nationality,but in the street were a considerable number of red-shirted minersand teamsters. Hugh and his companions rode to one of the principalhaciendas, and handed over the three horses to a lounging Mexican.
"They have been fed this morning," Royce said. "We will come in andgive them some corn in two hours."
"I will see after Prince," Hugh said, patting his horse's neck. "Don'tyou be afraid that I am going to leave you to the care of strangers. Wehave been together too long for that, old boy."
They then went into the hotel, and ordered a room and breakfast.
"I don't care much for this Mexican stuff with its oil and garlic,"Royce said as they had finished the meal.
"Don't you? I call it first-rate. After living on fried beefand broiled beef for over a year, it is a comfort to get hold ofvegetables. These beans were delicious, and the coffee is a treat."
"It isn't bad for one meal," Royce admitted reluctantly, "but you'llget pretty sick of Mexican cookery after a bit, and long for a chunk ofplain beef hot from the fire."
"Perhaps I shall," Hugh laughed, "but I think it will be some littletime first. Now let us take a stroll round the town."
It was all new to Hugh. He had seen the Mexican women in their nativedress in the villages among the hills, but here they indulged in muchmore finery than the peasant girls. The poblanas were all dressedin gay colours, with a scarf or rebozo over their heads, with goldpins and ornaments in their glossy black hair, and with earrings,necklaces, and generally bracelets of the same metal. No small shareof a peasant's wealth is exhibited on the persons of his womankind.They wore short skirts, generally of red or green, trimmed with rows ofblack braid, while a snow-white petticoat below and a white chemisettepartly hidden by a gay handkerchief over the shoulders completed thecostume. They were almost all barefooted, but Hugh observed that theirfeet and ankles were exceedingly small and well formed, as were theirhands and plump brown arms.
Here and there were a good many of the upper class half shrouded inblack mantles, wearing the Spanish mantilla, worn so as partly toconceal the face, though it needed but the slightest movement to drawit aside when they wished to recognize anyone they met. Most of thesewere on their way to a church, whose bell was pealing out a summons,and carried their mass-book in one hand and a fan in the other. Many alook of admiration was bestowed by the merry peasant girls upon Hughas he walked along. He was now eighteen and had attained his fullheight, and his life on horseback gave an easy and lissom appearanceto his tall, powerful figure. His work among the cattle had given tohis face something of the keen, watchful expression that characterizesthe cow-boys, but not to a sufficient extent to materially affect thefrank, pleasant look that was his chief characteristic.
His gray eyes, and the light-brown hair with the slight tinge of goldin it, typical of the hardy north-country race, were very attractiveto the dark-skinned Mexicans. He and his companions had both donnedtheir best attire before leaving camp, and this differed but slightlyfrom that of the Mexican vaqueros, and though sufficiently gay toattract general attention elsewhere, passed unnoticed at El Paso. Thewestern cow-boy was not an unusual figure there, for many of thosedischarged during the winter were in the habit of working down upon theNew Mexican ranches and taking temporary employment with the nativecattle-raisers, by whom their services were much valued, especiallywhere the ranches were in the neighbourhood of those worked by whitecow-boys. These in any disputes as to cattle with the Mexican vaqueroswere accustomed to carry matters with a high hand. But the whitecow-boys in Mexican service were just as ready to fight for theiremployers' rights as were those on the American ranches, and the herdswere safe from depredation when under their charge.
There were many priests in the streets, and, numerous as they were,they were always saluted with the deepest respect by the peasant women.
"It is wonderful how much women think of their priests," Royce observedphilosophically. "Back east it used to make me pretty well sick, when Iwas a young chap, to hear them go on about their ministers; but theseMexican women go a lot farther. There is nothing they wouldn't do forthese fat padres."
"No. But they are not all fat, Royce," Hugh said. "I acknowledgethey look for the most part plump and well-fed, and upon the best ofterms with themselves, as well they may be, seeing how much they arerespected."
"They have got a pretty easy life, I reckon," Royce saidcontemptuously. "They have to say mass two or three times a day, sit ina box listening to the women's confessions, and fatten upon their giftsand offerings."
"At any rate, Royce, the people here are religious. See, there are asmany peasants as peasant women going into that church. Whatever may besaid about it, religion goes for a good deal more in a Catholic countrythan in a Protestant. It is a pity there is not more religion among thecow-boys."
"How are we to get it?" Royce protested. "Once or twice a year aminister may arrive at a camp and preach, but that is about all. Wealways give him a fair show, and if any fellow wur to make a muss itwould be worse for him. I don't say as cow-boys don't use pretty hardlanguage among themselves, but I will say this, that if a minister ora woman comes to camp they will never hear a swear word if they stopthere a week. No, sir. Cow-boys know how to behave when they like, anda woman might go through the ranches from end to end in Texas withoutbeing insulted."
"I know that, Royce. The point is, if they can go without
using whatyou call swear words when a woman is among them, why can't they alwaysdo so?"
"It is all very fine to talk, Hugh; but when you get on a buckingbroncho that sends you flying about ten yards through the air, and youcome down kerplump, I never seed a man yet as would pick himself up andspeak as if he wur in a church. No, sir; it's not in human nature."
When they got back to the hotel Hugh observed that questioning glanceswere cast at them by several men who were lounging about the steps.Royce observed it also.
"What have those fellows got in their heads, I wonder?" he said."Do they reckon we are two bad, bold men who have been holding upsome Mexican village, or do they take us for horse-thieves? There issomething wrong, Hugh, you bet."
"They certainly didn't look friendly, Royce, though I am sure I don'tknow what it is about. You haven't been winking at any of their women,have you?"
"G'ar long with yer!" Royce laughed. "As if any of them would look at alittle chap like me while I am walking along of you. If there has beenany winking it's you as has done it."
"I am quite innocent, Royce, I assure you. Still there is somethingwrong. Well, let us go and see that the horses are fed."
There were five or six men in the yard. They were talking excitedlytogether when Hugh and his companion came out of the hotel, but theywere at once silent, and stood looking at them as they crossed the yardand went into the stable.
"Thar's something wrong," Royce repeated. "If my horse wur as good asyours, Hugh, I should say let's settle up quietly and ride out and makea bolt; but they would overtake me in no time."
"That would never do, Royce. I don't know what their suspicionsare, but they would be confirmed if we were to try to escape, and ifthey overtook us the chances are they wouldn't give us much time forexplanations."
"You are right there, Hugh. The Mexicans hates the whites. They knowthat one of us can lick any three of them, and it riles them prettyconsiderable. They don't give a white man much show if they get theirhands on him."
"Well, it is no use worrying about it, Royce. I suppose we shall hearsooner or later what it is all about."
Passing through the hotel they took their seats at some tables placedin the shade in front of the house, and there sat smoking and talkingfor some time.
"If those fellows round the door keep on looking at us much longer,"Royce said, "I shall get up and ask them what they mean."
"Don't do that, Royce. It would only bring on a fight; that is no usehere."
"Waal," Royce said doggedly, "I haven't got to sit here to be staredat, and some of them fellows is going to get wiped out if they go on atit."
"We are sure to hear before long, Royce. See, there is a knot of fouror five fellows in uniform at the other end of the square. I supposethat they are a sort of policemen. I have seen them looking thisway. You will see they are going to arrest us presently, and then, Isuppose, we shall hear all about it."
"I wish we had Broncho Harry and the rest of our outfit here," Roycesaid. "We would clear out the whole town."
Half an hour later there was a clatter of horses' hoofs, and twogentlemen, followed by half a dozen Mexican vaqueros, rode into thesquare and made straight for the hotel. Simultaneously the guardiansof the peace moved across the square, and there was a stir among theloungers at the entrance to the hotel.
"The affair is coming to a crisis, Royce!"
One of the Mexicans was an elderly man, the other a lad seventeen oreighteen years old. The latter dismounted and entered the hotel. Intwo minutes he reappeared and spoke to the other, who also dismounted,and after a word or two with one of the men belonging to the hotel,and a short conversation with the leader of the party of civil guards,advanced to the table at which Hugh and Royce were sitting. He salutedthem as they rose to their feet. Hugh returned the salutation.
"Senors," he said courteously, in very fair English, "you have, Iunderstand, just arrived here, having accompanied a waggon-train acrossthe deserts from Texas."
"It is perfectly true, senor," Hugh replied. "Is there anything unusualin our doing so?"
"By no means," the Mexican said. "The matter that concerns me is thatone of you is riding a horse which belonged to my son, Don EstafanPerales."
"You mean the bay?"
The Mexican made a gesture of assent.
"I purchased that horse at M'Kinney, a small town in the north-east ofTexas."
"May I ask who you purchased it from?"
"Certainly, senor. It must have passed from the hands of your sonbefore it was offered for sale to me. I bought it from two men whom Ihad never seen before."
A little crowd had gathered behind the Mexican, and at this answerthere were exclamations of "A likely story that!" and "Death tothe horse-thieves!" Two men in mining costume, the one a tall,powerfully-built man some fifty years old, the other small andof slight figure, with snow-white hair, who had just strolled up,separated themselves from the rest and ranged themselves by Hugh'sside, the big man saying in Mexican:
"Softly, senores, softly. You ain't neither judges nor jury on thiscase, and me and my mate is going to see fair-play."
"There is no intention, senor, of doing anything unfair," the Mexicansaid. "The matter is a simple one. These strangers have just riddenin here with a horse belonging to my son. He started from herewith three servants and a party going to Texas. This was upwards ofeighteen months ago. He had business at New York. His intention wasto spend a few weeks in Texas hunting, then to proceed to the nearestrailway-station and take train to New York. From the time he startedwe have never heard from him. Some members of the party he accompaniedhave long since returned. It seems that he accompanied them until theyhad passed the Bad Lands, and then left them to carry out his intentionof hunting. We have never heard of him since. He certainly has neverarrived at New York. And now that these strangers arrive here with hishorse, which was recognized as soon as it entered the stables, I havea right to inquire how they obtained it."
"Surely, senor," Hugh said. "The men from whom I bought it were, asI said, strangers. They were two very doubtful-looking characters,and as they appeared very anxious to sell the horse, and were willingto part with it considerably under its value, my opinion was thatundoubtedly they had not become possessed of it honestly. My friendhere was with me at the time, and the only terms upon which I wouldpurchase it and a pack-horse they had also to sell, were that theyshould give me a formal receipt signed in the presence of the sheriffand judge, in order that, should I at any time come across the ownerof the animal, I should be in a position to prove that I at least hadcome by it honestly. That receipt I have here;" and taking a smallleather letter-case from his pocket he produced the receipt. "There arethe signatures, senor, and the official stamps of the writers, and youwill see that they testify also to their personal knowledge of me as aresident of the town. I may add that it is certain that had I been anaccomplice of the thieves I should have taken good care not to bringthe horse to a locality where he would be at once recognized."
The Mexican glanced through the paper. "That is perfectly satisfactory,senor, and I must apologize for having for a moment entertainedsuspicions of you. Explain this, Carlos," he said to his son. "I wouldhave further talk with these gentlemen."
The young Mexican translated in his own language the effect of what hadpassed, and the little crowd speedily dispersed, several having walkedaway as soon as the two miners sided with the accused, as a fray withfour determined men armed with revolvers was not to be lightly enteredupon. The miners were also turning away when Hugh said to the Mexican,"Excuse me a moment, senor."
"Thank you greatly," he went on, turning to the miners, "for sidingwith us. We are strangers here. Will you let us see you again, and havea talk with you? At present, as you see, this gentleman, who has losthis son, who has most probably been murdered by these horse-thieves,wants to question me. Do me the favour to come in this evening anddrink a bottle of wine with us, when we can again thank you for youraid."
"There are no thanks
due," the bigger of the two men said. "Me andmy mate know nothing of the affair, but seeing two of our own colourfacing a lot of these Mexikins we naturally ranged up alongside ofyou to see fair-play. But as you are strangers, and we have nothingparticular to do, I don't mind if we come in and have a talk thisevening. Eh, mate?"
The little man nodded, and the two walked off together. Hugh thenturned to the Mexican.
"Now, senor, we are at your service."
"Senors," he said courteously, "my name is Don Ramon Perales. Myhacienda lies three miles away; this is scarcely a place for quietconversation. I am anxious to learn all particulars that you can giveme as to the men from whom you bought the horse. May I ask if you wouldmount your horses and ride back with me?"
"With pleasure, senor," Hugh said. "Our time is entirely our own, andI can readily understand your anxiety to hear all you can about thismatter."