Beadle's New York Dime Library, Vol. II, No. 15 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

JO The New York Library. — ‘ shadows, still distant, rushing at full speed succeeded in mastering his horse; hereturn- | fully, “is this the way yon allow people to toward him, By this time the count had ed in all haste to the scene of action, the | be assassinated before your doors, without reached the Rancho. Reassured by the vi- two men so furiously engaged not noticing | proceeding to their assistance ?” cinity of houses, and not caring to fly from it; then, thinking it time to put an end to | “Oh, oh!” the pulquero said, sharply; @ perhaps imaginary danger, he turned back, the duel, he raised his reata and lassoed the | “jg any one dead ?” } : h | drew his horse across the road, took a pis- count. | “No, thanks to Heaven!” the count re- i tol in cach hand, and waited. The strangers So soon as he saw his enemy on the ground, | lied; ‘* but I had a narrow escape of being ; were still pressing on without checking the unknown leaped from his horse and ran illed.”” & the speed of their horses, and were soon up to him. His first care was to free the | “ Oh!”? the ulquero said, with grest within twenty yards of the count. Frenchman from the slip-knot that stran- | nonchalance, “if we were to trouble our- 1: * Who goes there ?’’ he shouted, in a loud gled him, and then tried te restore him his | gelyes-about all who shout for help at night, and firm voice. »| senses, which was not a lengthy task. we should have enough to do.” The unknown made no reply, and appear- “Ah! the count said, with a bitter | — The count shrugged his shoulders and F ed to redouble their speed, smile, as he rose and crossed his arms onhis j walked in, leading his horse after him. The f ‘“Who’s there?’ the count repeated, chest, ‘‘ that is what you call fair fighting.” door was closed again immediately. h “Stop, or [ tire!” “You are alone to blame for what has i He uttered these words with such a deter- happened,”’ the other said, quietly, ‘fag you j mined accent, his countenance was 80 intre- would not agree to my propusitions.” ‘ q pic, mae ge on moments’ hesitation, The Frenchman dieshined any clacpenton. CHAPTER VIII. e strangers stopped, He contented himself with shruggin There were two of them. The day, just shoulders contemptuously. eens THE DEPARTURE. feebly breaking, permitted the count to dis- ‘‘Your life belongs to me,’ his adversary As Don Sylva had announced to his daugh- f tinguish them perfectly. They were dress- continued. ter, by Aaypresk all was ready for the start. i ed in Mexican costume; but, strangely ‘Yes, through a piece of treachery; but In Mexico, and especially in Sonora, where | enough in this country, where, under simi- no matter—assassinate me, and finish the af- roads are mainly remarkable for their ab- i lar circumstances, the bandits care very lit- fair.’? sence, the only means of transport known le about showing their faces, the strangers ‘‘ J do not wish to kill you.” and practiced is on horseback. | ere masked, 4 “What do you want, then ?” Beds, tents, provisions, and water before ** Hold, my masters | , the count shouted, *‘ Count de Lorailles, your arrival in this all, must be carried on mule-back. Without i | ‘What means this obstinate pursuit ? country has caused the unhappiness of two i these indispensable precautions you would a “That we probably have an interest in persons,” Pe way, dying from bunger or thirst, ' catching you up,” @ voice sarcastically re- ‘Nonsense! You are jesting with me.”’ ee, sleeping in the open air. i. lied. e “T speak pinment N Don Sylva de Torrés You must also be provided with a con- i « Then you really are after me ? has promised you his daughiter’s hand.” siderable aud well-armed escort, in order to | “Yes, if you are the stranger known as “Tt is true, Why should I conceal it ?” repulse the attacks of wild beasts, Indians, 5 the Count de Lorailles.” “Dona Anita does not love you.” and especially robbers, with whom all the i ‘‘{ am he,” he said, without any hesita- “How do you know that?’ the count | roads of Mexicoswarm, owing to the anarch tion. asked, with a mocking smile. in which this unhappy country is plunged. ‘“Very good; then we can come to an un- “I know it; I know, too, that she loves Hence it is easy to comprehend the lively | derstanding.’” another.’ desire Don Sylva felt to quit Guaymas at as hy | ‘*T ask nothing better, though, from your ‘Only think of that!” early an hour as possible. ! suspicious conduct, you appear to me to be “ And that the other loves her.’’ The court of the house resembled a hos- bandits. If you want my purse, take it, and ‘* All the worse for him; for IL sawear that telry. Fifteen mules laden with bales were be off, for I am in a hurry,’ I will not surrender her.” waiting while the palanquin in which Dona i | ‘‘ Keep your purse, caballero ; we want to “You are mistaken, sefior conde. You Anita was to travel was being got ready. i take your life, and not your eo will surrender her or die.” Some forty steeds, saddled, bridled, with | ‘Ah, abt 'tis, then, a trap, followed by ‘Neither one nor the other,” the im- musquetoons attached to the troussequins, t an assassination.” petuous Frenchman shouted, now perfectly and pistols in the holsters, were fastened to i “You are mistaken, I offer you a fair recovered from his stunning fall. “I repeat rings in the wall, while a peon held in hand | fight.” : that I will marry Dona Anita. If she does a splendid stallion, magniticently harnessed, “Hum!” the count said, “a fair fight: not love me, well, that is unfortunate. I | which stamped and champed its silver bit, iv two against one—that is rather dispropor- hope that she will presently alter her opinion which it covered with foam. } tionate.”’ of me. The marriage suits me, and no one In the street a crowd of peel> amon ‘You would be correct if matters were as will succeed in breaking it off.” whom were Don Martial and Cucharés, al- \f you assume,” the man haughtily replied, The unknown listened, a prey to violent ready returned from their expedition to the i who had hitherto taken the word; but my emotion. His eyes flashed lightning, and Rancho, were curiously regarding this de- } companion will content himself with look- | he stamped his foot furiously; still he made parture. i ing on and taking no part in the duel.’’ an effort to master the feeling which agita- Among all these people, collected by acci- i The count reflected, ted him, and replied in a slow, firm voice: dent or through curiosity, was a man, evi- i | ‘*Pardieu |’’ he said at last, “it isan ex- “Take care of what you do, caballero, I dently an Indian, who, leaning eurelessly i traordinary affyir! A duel in Mexico, and have sworn tu warn you, and have done so ayainst the wall, never took his eyes off the 4 | with a Mexican! Such a thing as that has honestly. Heaven grant that my words find door of Don Sylva’s house, and followed H never been heard of before.” an echo in your heart, and that you follow with evident interest all the movements of i | ‘It is true, caballero; but all things must the:counesi i give youl The first time ac- the haciendero’s numerous servants, | h have a beginning.” cident brings us together again one uf us This man, still young, appeared to be an a “Enough of jesting. I ask nothing bet- will die.” Hiaqui Indian, although an observer, after a i ter than to fight, and I hope to prove to you ‘I will take my precautions, be assured ; close inspection, would have asserted the t that I ama resolute man; but before ac- but you are wrong not to profit by the contrary; for there was in the man’s wide 7 cepting your proposition, I should not be present ovcasion to kill me, for it will not brow, in his eyes, whose glitter he tried in i sorry to know why you force me to fight oceur again.” vain to moderate, in the hanghty mouth, Ht ou.”’ : The two strangers had by this time re- and, above all, in the native elegance of als i ‘‘It will be enough for you to know that mounted. vigorous limbs, which seemed carved on the : Ihate you, Time is flying and we have had ‘t Count de Lorailles,”’ the unknown said model of the Greek Hercules, somethin i sufficient discussion,”’ ain, as he bent over the Frenchman, ‘‘for proud, resolute, and independent, whic i! .. “Well, my master, if that is the case, get the last time, take care, for I have a great rather denoted the proud Comanche or fe- | | ready. J warn you that Iintend to take you | advantage over you. [know you, and you | rociousApache than the stupid Hiaqui; but Hf both. A Frenchman would never have any do not know me. It will be an easy thin in this crowd no one dreamed of troubling i difficulty in holding bis own against two | for mé to reach you whenever I please. We himself about the Indian, who, for his part, | Mexican bandits.” are the sons of Indians and Spaniards. We was careful to attract as little attention as i ‘* As you please. tee] a burning hatred ; so take care,” possible. M “Forwar ” After bowing ironically to the count he The Hiaquis are accustomed to come to i ‘* Forward ! burst into a mocking laugh, spurred his Guaymas, and let themselves out as work- it The three horsemen spurred their horses, horse, and started at headlong speed, fol- men or servants; hence the presence of an : and charged. When they met they exchang- lowed by his silent companion. The count Indian there is not at all extraordinary, and | ed pistol-shots, and then drew their sabers. watched them disappear with a peasive air. is not noticed. BY The fight was brief but obstinate. One When they were lost in the obscurity he At last, at about eight o’clock, Don i of the strangers, slightly wounded, was car- tossed his head several times, as if to shake Sylva, giving his hand to his daughter, who it ried away by his horse and disappeared in @ | off the gloomy thoughts that oppressed him was dressed in a charming traveling cos- Ht} cloud of dust. The count, grazed bya Dell, in spite of himself, then picked up his saber tume, appeared beneath the portico of the iif felt-his anger changed to fury, and redouble and pistols, took his horse by the bridle, and house. Dona Anita was pale as a ghost. if his efforts to master his foe; but he had be- walked slowly toward the pulqueria, near Her haggard features, her swollen eyes, tes- ti fore him a rude adversary, a man of sur- which the fight had taken place. tified to the sufferings of the night, and the 4 prising skill, and of strength at least equal The light which filtered through the bad- restraint she was forced to place on herself, Hi his own. ly-jointed planks of the door, the songs and even at this moment, to prevent bursting i This man, whose eyes he saw gleaming laughter that resounded trom the interior, into tears in the presence of all. At the | like live coals through the holes in his mask, afforded a reasonable prospect of obtaining sight of the young lady, Don Martial and i whirled round him with extraordinary rapid- u Praca f shelter in this house, 'Cucharés exchanged a rapid ylance, while a ity, making his horse perform the boldest ** Hum!” he muttered to himself, as he | smile of indefinable expression played round curvets, attacking him incessantly with the walked along, “that bandit is right. He the lips of the Indian to whom we have al- point or acon ot ns saber, while bounding knows me, and I have no way of recognizin luded. out of reach of the counter-blows. him. By Jupiter, I have a good sou On the haciendero’s appearance silence wae i The count exhausted himself in vain hatred on my shoulders! But, nonsense!” reéstablished, as if by enchantment; the i against this indefatigableenemy. His move- he added. “I was too happy. I wanted an peons ran to the heads of their mules; the 1 ments began to lose their elasticity—his enemy. On my soul, let him do as he will! servants, armed to the teeth, mounted; sight grew troubled—the perspiration stood Even if Hades combined against me, I swear and Don Sylva, after assuring himself by a in beads on. his forehead, His silent adver- that nothing will induce me to resign the ene that all was ready, and that his orders gary increased the rapidity of his attacks: hand of Dona Anita.” ad been Leprienar' executed, placed his - == -_ —_— ; the issue of the combat was no longer At this moment he found himself in front daughter in the nquin, where she at i doubtfal, when the Frenchman suddenly of the pulqueria, at the door of which he once nestled like a humming-bird among H felt a slip-knot fallon his shoulder, Before rapped. Naturally lrapasieat, angered, too, rose leaves. if he could eyen dream of loosening it he was by the accident which had happened to him, At a sign from the haciendero, the mules, 1 roughly lifted from his saddle, and hurled and the tremendous struggle he had been _ fastened to each other by the tails, ‘began He to the ground so violently that he almost engaged in, the count was about to carry | to leave the house behind the nana, whose st fainted, and found it impossible to make an out his threat of beating in the door, when __ bells they followed, and escorted by ns. 1) effort to. rise, The second stranger, after a it was opened. | Before mounting his horse Don Sylva Cited i} mud course of a few moments, had at length “ Valga me Dios!” he exclaimed wrath- to an old servant, who, straw hat in hand, (Ee) a ee ha Mo. (oan ical exere)| <s Yr “ " oe em ne rm i ge es ee ig i