Beadle's Dime Library, No. 149 — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

-_-- , mounted their ho makin ho immediately left the tal rses, and started at a gallop ¥ out making the slightest re k. i : 43 That is strange,” the Canadian muttered. There was a rather lengthened silence; Tranquil was deep in thought, and was evidently seeking the solution of a PN em, which appeared to him very difficult to solve. At length he raised his head. ‘Is that all you have to tell me?’’ he asked the girl; ‘“‘up tothe present I see nothing very extra- ordinary in all you have told me.” ‘* Wait a while,” she said. ‘*Then you have not finished yet?”’ ‘** Not yet.” “Very good—go on.” “Although the Jaguar spoke in a low voice with these men, through some words I overheard, with- out wishing to do so, I assure Phd father—”’ . ‘‘T am fully persuaded of that. What did you guess from these few words?’’ ‘‘T mean, I fancied I understood—”’ ‘“‘TItis the same thing; go on.” “T fancied I understood, I say, that they were speaking of the conducta,”’ ‘* And very naturally of Captain Melendez, eh?”’ ‘‘T am certain that they mentioned his name.”’ “That is it, Then you supposed that the Jaguar intended to attack the conducta, and possibly kill the captain, eh?” ‘I do not say that,” the maiden stammered, in ex- treme embarrassment, “No, but you fear it.” ‘ ‘*Good Heavens, father!’ she went On,in a tone of vexation, “is it not natural that I should take an interest in a brave officer who—” ‘‘Tt is most natural, my child, and I do not blame you; even more, I fancy that your suppositions are very near the truth,” ‘*Do you think so, father?’ she exclaimed, as she clasped her hands in terror. ‘It is probable,’ the Canadian seg! answered ; ** but reassure yourself, my child,” he add ‘| The natural consequence of which was fresh fury, wilder and more insane than the first. Ye The young man oped on thus fora long time, apparently following no settled direction; still at long intervals he stopped, rose in his stirrups, ex- | plored the plain with an eagle glance, and then | ed again at full speed. . At about three in the afternoon he passed the con- ducta de plata, but as he perceived it a long way off, it was easy for him to avoid it by swerving slightly _ to the right, and entering a thick wood of pine trees, which rendered him invisible long enough for him not to fear discovery from the scouts sent on ahead. { About an hour before sunset, the young man, who had perhaps stopped a hundred times to explore the neighborhood, uttered a suppressed cry of joy; he had at length come up to the persons he was so anx- ious to join. Not five hundred yards from the spot where the | Jaguar had halted, a band of thirty to five and ed, kindly: | ‘although you have perhaps delayed too longin | speaking to me,1 may yet manage to avert the danger which is now suspended over the head of the man in whom you take such interest.” ‘*Oh do so, father, [implore you.” ‘“‘T will try at any rate, my child, that is all I can promise you for the present; but what do youpur- | pose doing?” 6+ Tg? ‘* Yes, while my comrades and I are trying to save the captain!" **T will follow you, father, if you will let me.” **T think that is the most pecnent course; but you must feel a great affection for the captain, that you so ardently desire to save him.”’* “T, father?” she replied with the most perfect frankness, ‘‘ not the least; ic only seems to me terri- ble that so brave an officer should be killed, when there is a chance of saving him.” “Then you hate the Jaguar of course?” ‘**Not at all, father; in spite of his violent charac- ter, he seems to me a noble-hearted man—the more so, because he possesses your esteem, which is the most powerful reason with me; still it grieves me to see twe men opposed who, I feel convinced, if the knew each other, would become fast friends, and do not wish blood to be shed between them.” These words were uttered by the maiden with such simple frankness, that for some moments the Cana- dian remained completely stunned; the slight gleam of light he fancied he had found suddenly deserted him again, though it was impossible for him to say | in what manner it had disappeared; he neither un- derstood Dona Carmela’s behayior, nor the motives on which she acted—the more so, because he had no reason to doubt the good faith in all she had told him, After looking attentively at the maiden for some minutes, he shook his head twice or thrice like a man completely at sea, and without adding a word, proceeded to arouse his comrades. Tranquil was one of the most experienced wood- rangers in North Americe all the secrets of the | desert were known to him, but he wasignorant of the first word of that mystery which is ed a woman’s heart. A mystery the more difficult to fathom, be- cause women themselves are nearly always igno- rant of it; for they only act under the impression of the moment, under the influence of passion, and without premeditation. , In a few words the Canadian explained bis plans to his comrades, The latter, as he anticipa did not offer the slightest objection, but prepared to follow him. Ten minutes later they mounted and left their bi- vouac under the guidance of Lanzi. At the moment when they disappeared in the for- est, the owl uttered its matutinal cry, the precursor of sunrise. ‘‘Oh, Heavens!’ the maiden murmured in agony; ‘*shall we arrive in time?” CHAPTER XXI. THE JAGUAR. Tae Jaguar, when he left the the Venta del Potre- ro, Was suffering from extreme agitation; the maiden’s words buzzed in his ears, with a mocking and ironical accent; the last look she had given him pursued like a remorse, The young man was angry with himself for having so hastily broken off the interview with Dona Clara, and dissatisfied with the way in which he had responded to her en- treaties; in short, he was in the best possible temper to commit one of those acts of cruelty into which the violence of his character only too often led him, which had inflicted a disgraceful stigma on his repu- tation, and which he always bitterly regretted hav- we aime, oe when it was too late, e rode at full speed across the prairie, lacerating the sides of his horse, which roared with pain, utter- ing stifled maledictions, and casting around the fero- cious glance of a wild beast in search of préy. For a moment he entertained the idea of returning to the venta, throwing himcelf at the maiden’s feet, and repairing the fault which his growing Tis yam had forced him to commit, by abjuring all his hopes, and placing himself at Dona Carmela’s service, to do whatever she might please to order. . But, like most good resolutions, this one lasted no longer than a lightning flash. The Jaguar reflected, and with reflection doubt and jealousy returned, ' clear! | | ———— o | horsemen | | thirty horsemen was following the track compli- mented with the name of road, that led across the prairie. This band, entirely composed of white men, as could be easily seen from their costume, appeared to assume something of a military air, and were fully equipped with arms of every description: At the beginning of this story we mentioned some ust disappearing on the horizon; these were the men the reed had just perceived. The young man placed his open hands to his mouth in the shape of a speaking trumpet, and twice gave a sharp, shrill, and prolonged cry. Although the troop was some distance off at the moment, still at this signal the riders stopped as if the feet of their horses had suddenly become imbed- ded in the ground. The Jaguar had bent over his saddle, leaped his horse over the bushes, and in a few minutes joined the men who had ope So for him, I The Jaguar was hailed with shouts of joy, and all pressed round him with marks of deepest interest. ‘Thanks, my friends,’’ he said, *‘ thanks for the roofs of sympathy you give me; but I must ask you o give me a moment's attention, for time presses.” Silence was re-established, as if by enchantment, but the flashing glances fixed on the young man said that sympathy, though dumb, was not the less vivid. ‘You were not mistaken, Master .John,”’ the Jaguar said, addressing one of the persons nearest to him; “the conducta is just behind us} we are not more than three or four hours’ march ahead of it; as you warned me, it is escorted, and in proof that reat importance is attached to its safety, the escort is commanded by Captain Melendez.”’ His audience gave a start of disappointment at these news. ‘* Patience,” the Jaguar went on, with a sarcastic smile; ‘“‘ when force is not sufficient, stratagem re- mains; Captain Melendez is brave and experienced, grant you, but are we not also brave men? is not the cause we defend grand enough to excite us to out our enterprise at all hazards?” ‘Yes, yes, hurrah, hurrah!’ all the hearers shouted, as they brandished their weapons enthusi- astically. ‘*Master John, you have already entered into re- lations with the captain; he knows you, so you will remain here with another of our friends. Allow yourselves to be arrested. Llintrust to you the duty of removing the suspicions that may exist'in the captain’s mind.” ‘I will do it, you may be certain. “Very good, but play close with him; for you have a ok 2 ee agra ‘**Do you think so?” ‘Yes. Do you kn@w who accompanies him?”’ ‘*On my word, no.” ‘** El Padre Antonio.”’ ‘What's t you say? by Jove, you did right to warn me.”’ ‘**T thought so,”’ ‘Oh, oh! does that accursed monk wish to poach on our manor?” ‘I fear it. This man, as you know, is affiliated with all the scamps, no matter of what color, who prowl about the desert; he is even reported to be one of their chiefs; the idea of seizing the conducta may easily have occurred to him.”’ ‘By Heaven, I will watch him; trust to me, I know him too tho hly and too long for him to care to oppose me; if ta dared to attempt it, I could reduce him to impotence.” “That is all right. When you have obtained all the information we require to act, lose not a moment in informing us, for we shall count the minutes while waiting for you.” “That is settled. I suppose we meet at the Bar- ranca del Gyante,”’ ca Bl ‘One word more.” ‘Make haste.” ‘“ What about Blue-fox?” " oe | it! I forgot all about him,” ‘** Shall I wait for him?” ‘** Certainly.” _ Shall I treat with him? You know but little re- liance is to be placed in the word of an Apache.” ‘That is true,’ the young man answered, thought-: fully; “still, our position is at this moment most difficult. We are left to our own resources; our friends hesitate, and dare not yet decide in our woth i vied cae ore hand, our ne ee are raising thelr heads, regaining courage, and prepar- ing to attack us vigorously. Althou h my heart heaves nst such an alliance, it is still evident to me, that if the Apaches consent frankly to help us, their assistance will be very useful to us.” “You are ht. our present situation, out- lawed by society, and tracked like wild beasts, it would, perhaps, be imprudent to reject the alliance of the red-skins. ‘*Well, my friend, I give you full liberty, and events must guide you. I trust entirely to your in- telligence and devotion," € f shall not deceive your expectations.” ‘*Let us part now; and luck be with you.” ‘*Good-by, till we meet again.” ‘* Good-by, till to-morrow.” The Jaguar gave a parting nod to his friend or ac- complice, whichever the reader pleases to call him placed himself at the head of the band, and started at a gallop. This John was no other than John Davis, the slave-dealer, whom the reader probably remembers to have come across in the earlier chapters of this story. How it is we find him again in T form- ing ae of a of outlaws, become the pur- sued instead of the pursuer, would be too long to explain at this moment. Let us purpose eventually to give the reader full satisfaction on the point. ohn and his comrades let themselves be appre- hended by Captain Melendez’s scouts, without offer- ing the slightest wef eee We have already de- scribed how they behaved in the Mexican camp, so we will follow the Jaguar at olga The young man seemed to be, and really was, the chief of the horsemen at whose head he rode. These individuals all belonged to the Anglo-Saxon race, and to a man were North Americans, What trade were they carrying on? Surely a very simple one. For the moment they were insurgents; most of them came to Texas at the period when the Mexican overnment authorized. American immigration. hey had settled in the country, colonized it, and cleared it; in a word, they ended by regarding it as a new country. When the Mexican government inaugurated that "ae of vexations, which it never gave up again, these worthy fellows laid down the pick and the spade to take up the Kentucky rifle, mounted their horses, and broke out in overt insurrection against - oppressor who wished to ruin and dispossess them. ~ Several bands of insurgents were thus hastily formed omvarious points ef the Texan territory, fighting bravely against the Mexicans wherever they met with them. Unfortunately for them, how- ever, these bands were isolated; no tie existed among them to form a compact and dangerous whole; | they obeyed chiefs, independent one of the. other, who all wished to command, without bowing their own will to a supreme and. single will, which would have been the only way of obtaining tangible results, and conquering that independence which, owing to this hapless dissension, was still regarded as a Utopia by the most enlightened men of the country. The horsemen we have brought on the stage were. laced under the orders of the Jaguar, whose repu- tion for courage, skill and prudence was too firmly established in the country for his name not to inspire terror in the enemies whom chance might bring The sequel will that, in choosing their chief e sequel w ove , in choosing their chiefs, the od had avon no mistake about him. The Jaguar was just the chief these men required. He was young, handsome, and gifted with that fas- cination which improvises kingdoms; he spoke little, but each of his words left a reminiscence. He understood what his comrades expected of him, and had achieved prodigies; for, as ever hap- pens with a man born for great things, who rises proportionately and ever remains on a level with. events, his position, by extending, had, as it were, enlarged his intellect; his glance had hecome in- fallible, his will of iron; he identified himself so thoroughly with his new position, that he no longer allowed himself to be mastered by any human feel- ing. His face seemed of marble, both in joy and — sorrow. The enthusiasm of his comrades could pro- duce neither flame nor smile on his countenance, The Jaguar was not an ordinary ambitious man; he was grieved by the disagreement among the insur- gents; he most heartily desired a fusion, which had become indispensable, and labored with all his might to effect it; in a word, the young man had faith; he believed, for, in spite of the innumerable faults com- mitted since the beginning of the insurrection by the Texans, he found such vitality in the work of libert hitherto so badly managed, that he learned at le . that in every human question there is some more powerful than force, than courage, even than enius, and that this. something is the idea whose ime has come, whose hour has struck by the clock of Deity. Hence he forgot all his annoyances in looking for a certaiu future. : In order to neutralize, as far as possible, the isola- tion in which his band was left, the Ja had in- augurated certain tactics which had hitherto proved. successful. What he wanted was to gain time, and — perpetuate the war, even though waging an unequal contest. For this purpose he was obliged to envelop his weakness in mystery, show himself everywhere, stop nowhere, inclose the foe in a network of invisi- — ble adversaries, force him to stand constantly on — pears, with his eyes vainly fixed on all points of the orizon, and incessantly harassed, en never really and seriously attacked by respectable fo . Such was the plan the Jaguar inaugurated the Mexicans, whom he enervated thus by this fever of expectation and the unknown, the most terrible of all maladies for the strong. Hence the Jaguar and the fifty or horsemen he commanded were more feared by the Mexican perme rg. than all the other insurgents put to- ether. , An extraordinary prestige attached to the terrible chief of these unsiegeable men; a superstitious fear receded them, and their mere approach produced isorder among the troops sent to fight them. e The Jaguar cleverly profited by his rev i to attempt the most hazardous enterprises the most daring strokes. The one he meditated at this moment was one of the boldest he had hitherto con- ceived, for it was nothing less than to carry off, the conducta de plata and make a prisoner of tain Melendez, an officer whom he justly conside one of his most dangerous adversaries, and with whom he, for that very reason, longed to measure himself, | for he foresaw the light such a victory would shed over the insurrection, and the partizans it would im- mediately attract to.him. ; After leaving John Davis behind him, the J rapidly advanced toward a thick forest, whose outline stood out on the horizon, and in which he prepared to bivouac for the night, as he could not — reach the Baranca del Gigante till late the following day. Moreover, he wished to remain near the two men he had detached as scouts, in order the sooner to learn the result of their operations. A little after sunset, the insurgents reached the forest, and instantaneously disap under cover. ) On re iene top of a small hill which com- | manded the landscape, the Jaguar halted, and. 6r- dered his men to dismount and prepare to camp, IOO