Beadle's Dime Library, No. 149 — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

Ay . ‘ -s nr We Cd ~ ae - - "4 ree Fae 4 *, Piet a ’ oP ae a. Gee i] ia ee hae 4 ihe 4, i ae ~*) ve *, é « r i ~~ iD 5 es 1 ~ tO 7? ry Fee ‘ “ants, eb ? p ’ * accept it, for mat : ieee _ Dona Carmela, after taking a scrutinizing glan at ated eonsoeg wo honest look and ge of. his offer, earing, as she aid, that sbe an ght fall, in the dark- n am the Indian bands which were dou ‘ptesiing the roads, and to which her ignorance of localities would have inevitably made her a prey. The maiden and her guide set out therefore at once for the hacienda, but affected by numerous appre- hensions, the gallop of the half-breed’s horse made them believe a arty of the enemy ahead of them, “> hence they had ept far enough behind to be able e to turn and fly at the slightest suspicious movement en the part of their supposed enemies. This explanation did away with aJl alarm, and Car- mela and Lanzi were delighted at having met again thus providentially. While the half-breed was telling his young mistress in what way he had disposed of the Apaches, the hunter, like a prudent man, had taken the horses by the bridle and led them into a thick coppice, where he carefully hid them. He then returned to his new friends, who had seated themselves on the ground, to enjoy a few moments of welcome rest. ro this moment, when the hunter returned, Lanzi was saying to his mistress: se Why, senorita, should you fatigue yourself fur- ther this night? Our new friend and I will build you with a few ax strokes a jacal under which you will be SENB YY sheltered; you will sleep till sunrise, and then we cau start again for the hacienda, For the present you have no danger to fear, as you are pro- tected by two men who will not hesitate to sacrifice their lives for you, if necessary.”’ you, my good Lanzi,’’ the young lady answered; “your devotion is known to me, and I could not hesitate to trust to you if | were at this mo- ment affected by fear of the Apaches. Believe me that the thought of the perils | may have to incur from those.pagans goes for nothing in my determi- nation to start again immediately.’ ‘* What more important consideration can compel by then, senorita?’’ the half-breed asked, in sur- prise. ; . oY Dek. rd friend, is an affair between my father and myself; it is sufficient for you to know that I must see and speak to him this very night.” * Be it so, as you wish it, senorita, I consent,’ the half-breed said, with a shake of his head; ‘still, you must allow that it is a very st:...ge caprice on your , No, my good Lanzi,”’ she answered, sadly, *‘it is not a@ caprice; when you know the reasons that cause me to act, I am convinced you will applaud me. “That is possible; but if that is the case, why not tell me them at once?’ ** Because that is impossible.” “Silence! the hunter interfered, quickly; ‘ any _ discussion is unnecessary, for we must start as soon as we can, . : ‘What do you mean?” they exclaimed, with a start of terror, “The Apaches have found our trail; they are coming up quickly, and will be here within twenty minutes. time there is no mistake; they are the men.” _ There was a lengthened silence. Dona Carmela and Lanzi listened attentively. i waged nothing,’’ the half-breed said, presently. “Nor I,”’ the maiden whispered. The hunter smiled softly. “You can hear nothi yet,” he said, ‘‘for your ears are not irceateanai ke mine, to catch the slightest sounds from the desert. Put faith in my words, trust toan experience which was never mis- taken; your enemies are approaching." What is to be done?’’ Dona Carmela murmured. “ry, the half-breed exclaimed. * Listen,” the hunter said, reg & “the Apaches are numerous, they are cunning, but we can only - conquer them by cunning. If we try to resist we are lost; if we fly all three together, sooner or later we shall fall into their hands. While I remain here you will fly with senorita, but be careful to muffle your horses’ hoofs so as to dull the sound.”’ **But you?” the maiden exclaimed qplekiy. _“ Havel not told you? I shall remain here.” ‘Oh, in that case you will fall into the hands of the s, and be inevitably massacred.” = ps so,”’ he replied, with an indescribable on of ess; *‘ but at any rate my death 4 oe of some service, as it will save you.”’ “Very well,” said Lanzi; ‘I thank you, ro; paterplly. I cannot, an ters must not turn thus. I began the affair, and insist on ending it in own way. Go away with the senorita, deliver her into her fa- ther’s hands, and if you do not see me again, and he asks what has happened to me, tell him simply for your offer, will not, a that I kept my promise, and laid down my life for _“*T will never consent,’’ Dona Carmela exclaimed, en etically. we ce!’ the half-breed hastily interrupted her, * be off, you have not a moment to lose.”’ In spite of the young lady’s resistance, he raised ee his museular arms, and ran off with her into t. Carmela understood that nothing could change the half-breed’s resolution, so she yielded to him. The hunter accepted Lanzi’s devotion as simply as he had offered his own, for the half-breed’s con- duct appeared to him peatemey natural; he there- fore made not the slightest objection, but busied himseif with getting the horses ready, “Now begone,” the half-breed said, as soon as the iy and the maiden had mounted; “go, and may Heaven be merciful to you!”’ _“ And you, my friend?’’ Dona Carmela remarked “Ty” he answered with a careless toss of his head: _ “the red devils have not got me yet. Come, be off.”’ To cut short the conversation, the half-breed roughly lashed the horses with his chicote; the no- ble animals on ed at a gallop, and soon disappeared his * cat ope as he was alone, the poor fellow gave vent to a sigh. Hum! he muttered sadly; “this time I am very much afraid that it is all up with ; no mat- ter, Canarios, I will fight to the last, and if the pa- gans catch me, it will cost them dearly,” After fo g this heroic resolution, which is Bo ni Py “pret eee pr rooe - / JJ Ade de V. Jie mounted his horse and p epal action. enn Apaches dashed up with a noise resembling under, The black outlines could already be distinguished through the darkness. Lanzi took the bridle between his teeth, seized a pistol in either hand, and when he judged the mo- ee gine ee he dug his spurs into his horse, dashed out in front of the red-skins, and crossed their front diagonally. When within range, he fired his pistols into the group, ave a yell of defiance, and continued his oN with redoubled gee hat the half-breed expected, reall peppened. His shots had told, and two Apaches fell with their chests pierced through and through, The Indians, furious at this audacious attack, which they were far from expecting from a single man, uttered a ery of fury, and dashed after him, This was exactly what Lanzi wanted. ) “There,”’ he said on seeing the success of his scheme; “ they are all together now, and there is no fear of their scattering; the others are saved, As for me—bah, who knows?” Dona Carmela and the hunter only escaped from the Apaches to fall in with the jaguars. We have seen how they were saved, thanks to Tranquil. CHAPTER XX. THE CONFESSION, TRANQUIL attentively listened to the girl’s story with drooping head and frowning brows; when she had finished, he looked at her for a moment inquir- ingly. “Ts that all?’’ he asked her. ‘ All,” she answered timidly. A yis 4, Lanzi, my poor Lanzi, have you no news of m?”’ ‘*None. We heard two shots, the furious gal- loping of several horses, the war-cry of the Apaches, and then all became silent again.”’ ‘What can have become of him?” the Tigrero muttered sadly. “He is resolute, and seems to be conversant with desert. life,’’ Loyal Heart said. “ Yes,”’ Tranquil replied, ‘‘ but he is alone.” “That is true,” said the hunter; ‘alone against fifty, perhaps.”’ ve) 1, I would give ten years of my life,” the Cana- dian exclaimed, **‘to have some news of him.” ‘**Carrai, gossip,’ a merry voice replied; ‘‘I have brought you some all fresh, and shall charge you nothing for them.” The hearers started involuntarily at the sound of this voice, and turned qnickly to the side where they heard it. The branches parted, and a man appeared. It was Lanzi. The half-breed seemed as calm and composed as if nothing extraordinary had happened to him; but his face, usually so cold, now had an indescribable expression of cunning joy, his eyes sparkled, and a symp | smile played about his lips. “By Jove! cur friend,’’ Tranquil said as he offered him: a hand; “you are a thousand times welcome, for our anxiety about you was great.” “Thank you, gossip; but, luckily for me, the danger was not so imminent as might be.supposed, and I very easily succeeded in getting rid of those demons of Apaches.”’ ; ‘All the better; no matter how you contrived to escape, here you are safe and sound, so all is for the best; now that we have met again, they may come if their heart tells them to do so, and they will find somebody to talk to them.” “They will not do it; besides, they have something else on hand at this moment.”’ ** Do you think so?” “Tam sure of it; they perceived the bivouac of Mexican soldiers escorting a conducta de plata, and are naturally trying to get hold of it; it was partly to that fortuitous circumstance I owe my safety.” ‘On my. word! all the worse for the Mexicans,”’ the Canadian said carelessly; ‘‘every man for him- self; let them settle matters as they think proper, their affairs do not interest us.”’ ‘That is my opinion too.” ‘* We have still three hours of night; let us profit by them to rest, in order to be ready to start for the hacienda at sunrise.” “ The advice is good, and should be followed,” said Lanzi, who immediately lay down with his feet to Sg fire, wrapped himself in his zarape, and closcd eyes. Loyal Heart, who doubtless shared his opinion, fol- lowed his example. _As for Quoniam, after conscientiously flayin tigers and their cubs, he lay down in front of the fire, and for the last two hours had been sleeping with that careless indifference so characteristic of the black race. Tranquil then turned to Carmela. The maiden was seated a few paces from him; she was gazing into the fire pensively, and tears stood in her eyes. ‘* Well, daughter mine,’’ the Canadian said to her softly, ‘‘ what are you doing there? you must be ex- hausted with fatigue, so why not try to get a few minutes’ rest?” * For what good?” she asked sorrowfully. ‘* What do you mean?” the Tigrero asked sharply, though the girl’s accent made him start; *‘ why, to regain your strength of course,”’ ‘*Let me remain awake, father: I could not sleep, semeret tired | might feel; sleep will fly my eye- a."" The Canadian examined her for a moment with the greatest attention. ‘* What is the meaning of this?’’ he asked, shaking his head, meditatively. f “Nothing, father,” she replied, as she tried to force a smile. “Girl, girl,” he muttered, “all this is not quite clear; 1 am only a poor hunter, very ignorant of matters of the world, and my mind is simple; but I love you, child, and my heart tells me you are ie ‘“‘T?” she exclaimed in denial; but all at once she burst into tears, and falling on the hunter’s manly chest, she hid her face in bosom, and rhurmured inac voice— ‘Oh, father, father, Iam so wretched.” Tranquil, at this exclamation, torn from her by the force of pain, started as if a serpent had stung 7 lee nema ove, and compelled her with gentle con- look him in the face. ) ‘Wretched? you, Carmela’ he exclaimed, anx- iously. ‘‘ Great Heaven, what has happened then?” By a supreme effort, the maiden succeeded in calming herself; her features reassumed their or- dinary tranquillity, she wiped away her tears, and smiled at the hunter, who anxiously watched her. ‘*Pardon me, father,” she said in an insinuating voice, ‘I am mad.” ‘‘ No, no,” he replied, shaking his head twice or thrice; “‘you are not mad, my child, but are. con- cealing something from me,” ‘Father!’ she said with a blush, and looked down in confusion, ‘** Be frank with me, child, foram I not your best friend ?”’ **That is true,”’ she stammered. ‘*‘Have I ever refused to satisfy the slightest of your wishes?”’ ** Oh, never!” ‘* Have you ever found me severe to you?” ** Oh, no!” _ “Well, then, why not confess to me frankly what is troubling you?” ‘* Because—’’ she murmured in hesitation. - ‘* What?” he answered, affectionately, “I dare not.” aie must be very difficult to say, then.”’ “ Tes,”’ “Nonsense! go on, girl; where will you find a con- fessor so indulgent as I am?” ‘“ Nowhere, I know.” . “Speak, then,”’ “Tam afraid of vexing you.” ‘You will vex me a great deal more by obstinate- ly remaining silent.” t But—” ‘* Listen, Carmela; while telliug us a little while back what har penee to-day at the venta, you con- fessed yourself that you wished to find me, no mat- ter where I was, this very night; is that so?” *Yes, father.” ‘* Well, here Lam; Iam listening to you; besides, if what you have to say to me is so important, as ns? led .me to suppose, you will do well to make as e.”” : , The maiden started; she gave a glance at the sky, where the gloom was beginning to be intersected by white stripes; all the hesitation disappeared from her face, ‘You are right, father,’ she said, in a firm yoice, “T have to speak with you about an affair of the greatons importance, and perhaps I have deferred it oo long for it is a question of life and,death.” _. ** You startle me.”’ see ** Listen to me,”’ , , “Speak, child, speak, without fear, and reckon on my affection for you.,”’ ‘I do so, my kind father, so you shall know aill.”” “Tt is well.’ | Dona Comele seemed to collect herself for a moment, then, letting her dainty hand fall into her father’s rough and large one, while her long, silken lashes drooped timidly, to serve as a yail to her eyes, she began in a weak voice at first, which, however, soon became more firm and distinct. ‘*Lanzi told you that meeting with a conducta de ee encamped a short distance from here, helped im to escape from the pursuit of the pagans. Father, this conducta spent last night at the venta and the captain who commands the escort is one 0 the most distinguished officers in the Mexican army ; you have h him spoken of before now in terms of on and I even think you are personally ac- uainted with him; his name is Don Juan Melendez e Gongora.”’ ** Ah!” said Tranquil. The maiden stopped all palpitating, “*Go on,”’ the Canadian said, gently. Carmela gave him a side glance; as the tigrero was smniling, she resolved to continue, ‘* Already accident has brought the captain sever- al times to the venta; he is a true caballero—gentle, polite, honorable, and we have never had the slight- eet ground of complaint against him, as Lanzi will ou,”’ “lam convinced of it, my child, for Captain Me- lendez is exactly what you describe him.” ‘Is he noty” she quickly asked. | “Yes, he is a true caballero; unfortunately, there ere not many officers like him in the Mexican army.” , 7 This morning the conducta set out escorted by the captain; two ill-looking fellows, who remained paternal Tov sparkled, he aeve the girl a poe os of ‘at the venta, watched the soldiers depart with a the | cunning smile, then sat duwn, began drinking and saying to me things a girl ought not to hear, until at last ney even threatened me.”’ “ARI” ee interrupted her, with a frown, ‘*do you know the scoundrels?" “No, father, they are border ruffians, like those of _ whom there are too many about here; but, though I have seen them several times, I do not know their names.” ‘No matter, I will discover them, you may feel assured. ‘*Oh, father you would do wrong to trouble your- self about that.” “Very well, that is my business.” ‘‘Fortunately for me, while this was occurring, a horseman arrived, whose presence was sufficient, to impose silence on these men, and force them to become what they should always have been, that is to oy, polite and respectful to me.” oan (’ course,”’ the Canadian remarked, laughingly, “this caballero, who arrived so fortunately, was a friend of yours,” “Only an acquaintance, father,” she said, with a slight blush, * Ah! very good,” “ But he is a great friend of yours—at least, I sup- pose so.’ “Hum! and child?” ‘* Of course,” she replied, quickly. . “ And what is it, may I ask, if you have no objec- tion to tell me?” 4 “None at all; he is called the J. As “Oh, oh!’ the hunter continued, with a frown, “what could he have todo at the venta?” '*ITdo not know, father; but he said a few words in alow voice to the men of whom I have told you, f pray do you know //s name, my ' (E GOMmIcbooKs 4 A oe a“