The Argosy, November 1908 — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

588 I could not help smiling as I saw the face of Hernandez. Wounded, losing all that he had come for, he lay like a dog, compelled to do whatever I commanded. ‘“Now, Pedro,” I said to Bonilla’s man, ‘‘ we'll lift the sefer to the wagon.” We carried Hernandez out and I placed him on the bed I had made, and ‘covered him with a blanket, for the evenings were cool. “Niow,” I said, ‘I will give you a bottle of whisky. Do not, however, give it to Senor Hernandez indiscriminately. If he feels faint, while on the way, it will brace him up. But if he has much fever do not permit him to have any. Wait till you reach a spring, and give him some water, and not too much of that. And now, good day, seaor.” He looked at me in the gloaming with an expression that was indescribable. Suspicion, hate, malice, mingled with what seemed to be a peculiar desire to say something friendly. He settled it by saying nothing. He climbed onto the seat with his man, the latter took the reins, and they drove off. I stood in the road till they had en- tirely gone beyond my view, and then I went into the house. “How do you feel?’”’ I asked Sam. “Better, since you gave him the bluff,” said Sam. “ What a straight face you kept. And your voice didn’t tremble. Ah, he bit hard!” “T told him nothing but the truth. Now I’m going after the girl.” “So. Then we'll have company to- night.” ‘Well, if she'll come. She’s a very decided young lady, and may prefer that place where Namona put her.” “ Where did Namona hide her?” “Under a rubbish heap at the old mission.” He burst out laughing. “Here! None of that. You'll be bleeding again. Keep quiet till I come back.” I whistled for Bones, and started off. It was quite dark by the time I reached old San Miguel, and I had to pick my way across more than one rubbish heap to where the girl was buried. . “Miss Bonilla!’ I called. THE ARGOSY. ‘““ Here, senor!” “All is safe. I did not bring your supper. I came for you. We will eat our bacon and sage-hen like Christians.” ‘Has Hernandez gone, then?” “Yes. When I returned to the house, after discovering where you were, I found your father there.” ‘““My father? Was he angry?” ‘I didn’t notice any signs of extreme joy about his manner.’ ““No, I suppose not,” she said. “I don’t suppose Hernandez will give him the share in the mine now.” “It wasn’t your father’s ran away.” “That makes no difference. If you promise to sell a man a horse and the horse runs away, the man doesn’t pay you, just the same, does he?” I laughed. Truly I had an interest- ing refugee. I was removing the blocks of adobe while we were talking, and some of them were so heavy I wondered how Namona had managed to lift them. “Oh, I helped her with: some,” ex- plained Miss Bonilla when I spoke of this. I soon had her free, and she shook her dress with a laugh. ‘“T suppose I’m a sight,’”’ she said. ‘But we did give them the slip nicely. Oh, what an escape! I was to be mar- ried to-night. To-night/ Well, thank Heaven, this is not my wedding night! Isn't it dark? I wish it was moonlight.” “Why? What difference does it make?’ I asked. ““My feet are numb. I'll stumble.” “The road is pretty level. We'll walk slowly till your blood circulates again.” She was taller than I supposed, and we walked along at a good rate, keeping up a lively conversation. She did not seem at all embarrassed, yet she was modest, and after the first few minutes out of her prison she was rather shy in her manner. “I wonder what some of the girls would say to this adventure?” she said. “Of course, it would almost kill a full Mexican or Spanish girl. But my mother is American, you know, and my education is American.” “So is your nerve,” She laughed. She petted Bones, who made friends conmiclhooks.c Com fault that you I said.