Argosy, Vol. 1 (December 9, 1882) — page 254: what you’re looking at

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

THE QUEEN’S BODY GUARD. 247 ‘“ Taming him,” suggested Henry drily. Cavara stared hard at him for a few seconds. “The more I see of you the more I respect you,” he said shortly. “ Now send one of my men to me, and from now on you shall be a member of Don Cavara’s band!” and the chief dismissed him with:a curt nod. Cottrell was glad the Spaniard had taken it for granted that he would will- ingly join his forces. It saved him considerable lying, and the American, no matter how excusable the circumstances, had a natural distaste for anything underhand. | Fifteen minutes later a fleet footed messenger was on his Way to the imagi- nary rendezvous Cottrell had named, and the American breathed a sigh of re- lief as he saw him depart. It would be at least a week before he could return with the news of the fraud, and that was as good as a lifetime to Cottrell in effecting the escape of his sweetheart. No one took any particular notice of him as he wandered around the exte- rior of the castle. The position of the stronghold was impregnable. No body of foot soldiers could ever storm it, and as for artillery, it would have been the work of months to have cleared the way and build a road for the transporta- tion of heavy guns. “No wonder Don Cavara feels a veritable monarch of all he surveys!” thought the Yankee gloomily. His one hope now was that something would occur to require the absence of Cavara and most of his band; that, and that alone, would give him the shadow of a chance to accomplish what he had come so far to bring about. If he had not had so much to engross his thoughts, it might have struck him as decidedly strange that Cavara should have sought his services, and that, too, without knowing what manner of man he was. Cottrell did indeed give the matter a passing thought, but put it out of his mind with the reflection that it was simply a whim of a very eccentric charac- ter. Little did he dream what a deep and diabolical design was behind it all! ‘Making a survey?” inquired a voice in his ear, and there was Cavara himself gazing intently at him with his great gloomy eyes, though he smiled with his lips. Cottrell did not like the effect, for there was certainly nothing of mirth in his expression. | “Yes,” replied Cottrell quietly, ‘“ I was interested in tracing the source of your water supply.” “Indeed?” returned the other smoothly ; “ sometimes there is a drought, but at present, I am glad to say, the supply is most abundant. By the way, what is your name?” “ Call me Juan, sefior.” “Ah! Well, Juan, as you are now one of us, it may interest you to see something of the castle. The original occupant of this place had a strange use for that mountain brook you note yonder. How bright and fresh and harm- less it looks, does it not, Juan, as it comes tumbling down over those rocks above us? If I may use a simile, it is like a merry dancing maiden on a May morning! ” and Cavara, who had spoken in a dry, bantering tone, looked at his GONG OOO UN ceo