Log Cabin Library: The Queen of the Canons — page 13: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

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" agit ‘ oe a a sex .. s o ’ a al She i a ars i <a Bad OD Phe Se Tong = * ' ‘ ae : -_ iy €z - v gr" > rt ee aggre , . 2 ES ES ee a a eee ee, Fim om, a it io ee ~ , : : SESE BEF $ = - — ™ —_ - - . ; = — a > een soot 2 Pe r and @;:awing down the corner of one of his eyes. me “2 ¥E § re ' “But she lub Ae little senor a dused sight more.” ——s *Oh, I understand,” said Markham. “ Well, at any rate, -—s my good fellow, I have to thank you for saving my life, --~— and shall not forget the debt.”’ se EA Seat i **¥ou don’t hab fur to tank me fur nuttin’, cap’, fur it -j)}“ ———_—s-was’t more’n a accident on my part, yer see.” Be = ~—~—S = choose to look at itin a different light, however. -——s Some *over to the camp whenever you feel like it, and Ae ee -_we’ll do our best to treat you well.” DAT ae vy 2 5 “— “Dat I will, massa!” cried Jingo Josh, grinning with es -——s delight; ‘an’ I won’t forget fur to bring along de ole fF — ~—~——s Ags he returned toward the group of huts, Jingo Josh oe ) eee saw his enemy, Brazos Bob, under an evergreen oak, in an apparently helpless state of inebriety, and Juan stand- _ » . ing near him, and casting upon him all the imprecations renee in “the Mexican language, with a fair mixture of others = _ > oO nel na * “\* ; ot . ; b a SOR R Fees besides. © 2 eo “You drunken rascal !” he cried ; ‘‘must you always be pee drunk, and at the very moment when I desire your vil- Bee SS lainous services the most?” He would have said more, had not the approach of the Black Scout caused him to desist. As it was, he ground out another oath from between his clenched teeth, and strode away. “Oh, ho!” soliloquized the negro; “dere am annuder ts row a-brewin, am dere? Fur what kin dat little villain ea > be in sich a hurry fur de services ob dis big rooster fur, eames oe ef dere ain’t new debiltry a-hatchin’ ?” as He moved on to his hut, probably to continue his medita- ee tions with better advantage over his beloved banjo. ie. It was late in the afternoon when Brazos Bob rescued ee _ from alcholic stupor the few wits with which nature had : endowed his moral deformity. He had barely staggered to his feet, and shaken himself together, before his master again approached him. The lat- ter contented himself with roughly reprimanding him for his ill-timed drunkenness, for there was a wicked glitter in the ruffian’s eye, and he had learned from experience that it was dangerous to lay hands upon him. “IT wanted you greatly at an earlier hour, Bob,” said Camargo, ‘‘but still I trust it is not too late.” ‘‘What’s on hand now, my little senor?” was the sleepy query of Bob. Juan then intormed Bob that he had received a message from an Indian called Long Sapling, who wished an in- terview with him. As he did not care to go to the Indian alone he wanted Bob to accompany him. So at the ap- pointed time Juan and Bob met the Indian at the spot se- at _ lected for the conference. bie “The white chieftain has come,” said the Indian, with Ros a wave of his hand; ‘‘but he has not come alone.” He spoke in a species of broken English, which we shall Fe but partially imitate, if at all. | ae : Juan explained that Bob was his bosom friend, was a great buffalo in the chase and war, and Long Sapling signified his satistaction. “Does the white man know why the Long Sapling has honored him with this interview ?” “The white chie(tain thinks so,” said Camargo. “Is he right in deeming that Long Sapling regards the soldier- chief, Markham, as an enemy ?” ~ “Bnemy?” howled Long Sapling; “enemy? If Long wy Sapling had the soldier-chief in his power, he would tear —tear him to pieces!” “But what can the great Long Sapling do alone ?” i a “Nothing; but with the help of the senor much.” Bee “Speak.” ee “The soldier-chief has been sick, and has returned to his men ; is it not so.” th Yes 2” “T have a handful of braves, awaiting my orders, close at hand. But our horses are gone. Had we but horses, . -we might kidnap the soldier-chief, and take him with us. CRs Then—then—the senor will hear of his enemy no more.” ck ae “How are you to get horses ?” ~~—— Phe senor must get them for us. His kinsman has by Tae many in his herds, but we dare not steal them at present.” Aum ph !” nauttered Juan, not exactly relishing, un- --—séprincipled as he was, a role which forced him to steal his Ws ae Ld a ra > 1 One al ‘SF - : ~S of 4 > Fea ie a < * ae (occa A oy Sieh, . “ " ly ae i 2 a \ — a ates 4 2. — . . ‘df . ~ my — | : e“ . 2 Ba 4 ea em Send Stn 2 : 4: a “A Vy Gas a oe oe 2 \ eet he aie ae bt > wa é ta ~~ = ’ ° : _ * 7 . ¢ - . Sex ter le at ‘fo »! eas 4 e's - . ty RO . , oe + Lae Kd ; a ugly - ~¢ = >. ae - ; ~ : a” ¢ = + -. , ewe — Pin Saey wapes | < Yo ao cap" set eS. ory oie AA Xena A *: ie ae fang PN to < . ia ee ra ME a3 teense Sy, ) _ « - 3 horses, how are you going to get the captain apart from ; '’ - ; his men so as to effect his capture ?” uncle’s property. “Well, suppose you are provided with a “That must also be contrived by thesenor,” said Long ~ Sapling, complacently. This remark provoked an exclamation of surprise from Camargo; but suddenly a happy thought struck him. Markham and Bertie, lover-like would hardly have separ- ated without making arrangements for future meetings. Would not a forged message from her at any time induce the captain to go to almost any appointed place, and alone ? “Yes, I can manage that part of it also,” said Camargo. “How many horses do you require?” “Bleven,” replied Long Sapling, slowly enumerating upon the fingers of both hands. “Seven braves, besides Long Sapling and his squaw, and two’ more horses for nothing.” From this, Juan concluded that nine horses were wanted for Indian riders, and two extra steeds probably for the use of prisoners. “Very good,” said Juan. “I will endeavor to let you shave the horses to-morrow night. Then we will have to | | wait until the night after that before I can promise to lure the captain away from his camp.” é This appeared to be exceedingly satisfactory to Long Sapling, and Juan, accompanied by Bob, soon afterward set out on their return to the camp. “How is you goin’ to run off the stock, senor?” asked Bob. “Have you stolen so few horses that you must ask such a question ?” “Still, I don’t much like the business, senor,” CHAPTER X. Se THE CHLOROFORMED HANDKERCHIEF. The following day at Red Ranch was a dull and heavy ‘one for Bertie at least. She sang and played till she was tired, tried to read with but little success, and at last gained some consolation by going upon the roof of the ranch, whence she could catch a glimpse of the military encampment among the chaparral, far down upon the river-bank. She could see the cavalrymen going through their movements on the open plain, and in vain wished that her lover had left his field-glass behind, so that she might distinguish his form ‘among the rest. After the heat of the day, as the cool south wind began to sweep through the canons and over the savannas, Ber- tie could endure her restlessness no longer, but seizing a rod and line strolled out to the river and began to fish. A plump, gleaming trout rewarded her first cast. Another speedily followed, and she was becoming flushed and interested in the sport, when a low voice close at hand ‘startled her. “ Misits Bertie.” “Oh! is it you, Josh?” she exclaimed, as the Black Scout approached her crouchingly through the chaparral. “Why do you startle me in that way, you silly fellow? Look at these two fish in the basket. Aren’t they beau- ‘ties ? Hush, now. Ha! there’s another !” | And her clear laugh rang abroad as she whipped another writhing sparkler from the stream, while Jingo Josh grinned with delight as he bared and rebaited the hook for her. “Now, mistis, will yer allow de ole mana few mo- mentums ob yer bootiful attention afore "you murder a nuder fish,” said he. “Fur you see,” he continued, as she nodded assent, “dem ere little fish as wags dere leetle tails so friskly in de mountain stream, an’ looks so purty In de fryin’-pan, dem ere little fish’ll keep, an’ perhaps what dis ole coon’s got ter say won't. D’ye see, mistis?” “Yes, but why don’t you say what you came to say?” laughed Bertie, whose curiosity was, nevertheless, begin- ning to deepen. 3 ‘ You must know, Mistis Bertie,” said he, lowering his voice, and wagging his woolly head mysteriously, “dat dere’s a heap ob debbiltry abroad. It am in the air like de hum-bum obaJune bug. Las’ night I seed Massa ’ . - a7 a .