Beadle's New York Dime Library, Vol. II, No. 15 — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

ir ora you have finished now, 1 sup- ‘Not yet. After the meeting at the Ran- cho you proceeded to your hacienda, ac- companied by your future father-in-law and wife. Even then, without leaving you a mo- ment’s rest, the hatred of Dona Anita’s lover pursued you: the Apaches attacked u “ Well?” “Well, need I give you further explana- tion? Can not you understand that this man was in league with the red-skins ?”’ * And Dona Anita knew it?” **T will not affirm that positively, but it is probable.” The count bit his lips till the blood began flow. omunal you know who carried Dona Anita ri I do.” “It was not the red-skins ?”’ “ No.” ** That man, then ?”’ “ Yes.” “ But her father was carried off too !’’ “T know it; but it was not at all with his will, Tassure you.”’ ** Where is Don Sylva now ?” * Quietly at home at Guaymas.” “Is his daughter with him ?”’ ‘t) No.” “She is with that man, I suppose y" ~ “You are a perfect sorcerer, * And you know where they are?” ? 1) do.” Quick as lightning the count bounded on the stranger, seized him by the collar with his left hund, and, placing a pistol against his breast, shouted in a voice hoarse with ssion: **Now, villain, you will tell me where they are!” “Is that the fame we are playing?” the stranger said. Well, as you please, cabal- lero,’ Then, throwing back his cloak quickly, he aimed at the count two pistols which he held in either hand. The stranger's move- ment had been so rapid that the count was unable to prevent it. Besides, a sudden idea occurred to him at thatmoment, Low- ering his pistol, and thrusting it back in his girdle, he muttered: ““f was mad: pardon that angry move- ‘ment.’’ ““Most heartily,” the unknown replied, laying his pistols on the table within reach. ‘““Pardon me again. Now that I reflect on what you haye just told me, I see that your object was to be of service to me.” The stranger made a gesture of affirma- on. **But Ican not understand how you know all these details.” “That's easily explained. Two men at- tacked you at the Rancho,” 4s Yes.”’ “Tam he who pulled you off your horse, In a word, my name is Cucharés! I ama lepero; that ts to say, I like the sun better tlian the shade, rest than work, and would soouer steb a man, when properly paid for It, than do a good action which brings in no- thing. Do you comprehend me?’, - Perfect! ye" “Then we can come to an understand- ” **T think so.”’ “Well, so did I, and that is the reason I have come to you,” ** At this moment you are betraying your friends ?”’ “ly “whor’ “ The persons you have hitherto served.” ° “A man like myself, caballero, bas no friends, only customers.” “Friends or customers, you are betraying them.”’ ‘Pooh! we have settled our accounts. They owe me nothing, nor Ithem. Weare uits. Look ye, caballero; in every business ere are two sides, which a skillful man can work equal! well. I have drawn all 1 could from the first, so lam going to try the other now.”’ The count heard the lepero develop this strange theory with an amazement mingled with terror. “We will agree, then, come to do me a service,’ The lepero smiled. that you have ‘‘ Let us understand one another,’’ he con- tinued. “I said so, not to startle the con- sciences of the gentlemen who were present. on my entrance; but, between ourselves, I will be more frank.” “Which means?” “That I have come to sell it to you.” “Be it so!”’ wi *¢ No matter, if it is worth it.” “Come,” the lepero exclaimed, “you are ae the man I expect you. Well, you can trust in me.” “T must do so, IT suppose,” _ * “*T shall want Bed pay.” 4, - \ Lhe Tiger-Slayer. ‘‘What would you? itis the way of the world. To-day my turn, to-morrow yours, Bah! you will have no cause to regret a few thousand piastres.’’ ‘First, then, my rival’s name,” “It will cost you fifty ounces, and you can not think it dear.”’ ** Here they are,” the count said, arranging them on the table. The lepero made them disappear in a second in his large pockets, ‘*The name of your rival, caballero, is a Martial. He is a tiger-hunter, and very rich.’ ‘“*] fancy that I have heard Don Sylva men- tion that name.” ‘It is probable. Don Sylva can not en- dure Don Martial, especially since he saved Dona Anita's life.” “i remember that circumstance too: Don Sylva frequently mentioned it to me. And now, how did Don Martial carry the girl off ?” ‘** Very easily, the more so as she wished nothing better than to follow him. During your fight with the Apaches he placed Dona Anita in a canoe, into which I had already thrown her father, gagged and tied; then we went off, all fourofus. All through the night we kept to the river so as to leave no traces of our flight, and by daybreak had covered fifleen leagnes. No longer fearin discovery, we landed. Indios Mansos sol us some horses. Don Martial ordered me to take the young girl’s father to Guaymas, and I fulfilled this difficult commission with all honor. Don Sylva was unwilling to follow me; but at last I maviged to get him into his own house, where [ left him, and went back to Don Martial, who had requested me to bring him certain things, and was await- ing me at a spot agreed on between us.”’ **Ah !”’ the count suid, ‘‘ and how did you come to leave him ?”’ ““Good gracious! caballero, we separated, as 60 often happens to the best of friends, consequence of a slight misunderstand- ng.” “Very good! He turned you off?” ** Nearly so, I am obliged to confess.” “Have you left him long ?”’ The lepero winked his right eye. ** No,”” he answered, **“Can you lead me to the spot where he now is?” “Yes, whenever you please.” “Very good! Is it far?” **No; but pardon me, caballero, let us set- tle matters at once. Are you agreeable?” ** Let us see,” * How much will ov give me to learn at what spot Don Martial and Dona Anita are concealed ?” “Two hundred ounces,” ** Hand them over,”’ ** Here they are,” The count took some handfuls of money from an iron box ina corner of the room, and gave them to the lepero. ‘There is a pleasure in dealing with you,” Cucharés said, as he sent these ounces to join the othets with admirable celerity. “Thus you see I was quite right when J told you I was going to do you a service.” “Tt is true, and I thank you, Where are Don Martial and the Dona?” **At the mission of Don Francisco. Bu‘ now I must ask permission to leave you.’ 4s Not yet,” “ Why not?” “For two reasons; the first, because, in ins of all the confidence I have in you, no- thing has yet proved to me that you have told the truth. ‘* Oh!” the lepero said, with a gesture of denial. ‘“*I know very well IT am mistaken; but what would you have? Iam naturally sus- picious.”’ “Good! I will remain. But now for your second reason,”’ This is it. I have in my turn a service to ask of you.” “*To be paid for?” “Of course.” **T am listening.” *“*T will give you one hundred ounces to lead me to my rival.” **Canarios!” the lepero exclaimed. “‘A hundred ounces,” the count repeated. “‘T understand you. One hundred ounces —afinesum, But look ye, sir count: I am a coaster, and a lepero in the bargain. This desert life does not suit my temperament, and injures my health. I have taken an oath to have no more of it. The road from here to the mission is difficult. We shall have to cross the desert. No, taking all things into consideration, it is impossible.” “That is unlucky,” the count coldly re- ni It is.” ** Because,” he continued, ‘I would haye given yon not one, but two hundred ounces,” “Eh?” the other said, cocking his ears. “But as you refuse—you do so, I think ?— : 4 aa — 25 a ee ee ~e - — —- e e + -- I shall be obli, ed, to my great regret, to have you shot.’* ** What do you say?’ the lepero exclaim- ed, with a movement of terror, ‘By’r Lady!’ the count said, simply, ‘my dear fellow, you are su clever in busi- ness matters that, having found two sides of a question, Iam terribly frightened lest you should 4nd a third.” And before Cucharés could prevent him he scized the pistols that lay on the table, The lepero turned livid. “Pardon me, pardon me!’’ he said, in an fll-assured -voice. ‘‘As you desire it 80 eagerly, I must please you to the best of m power. I accept the two hundred ounces, “Very good!” the count exclaimed. ‘1 thought, too, that we should come toan un- derstanding.” He went tu fetch the money from the iron chest; but, as he turned his back on the lepero, he could not see the singular smile that curved his lips. Had he done s0, he would not have chanted his victory 8o loudly CHAPTER XVIIL. IN WHICH THE STORY GOES BACK. Tue lepero’s story, true in its foundation, was utterly false and erroneous in its details. Perhaps, however, he had an interest in deceiving the Count de Lorailles, which the reader will be able to judge of better after reading the following chapter. After escaping so miraculously from the hands of the Apaches, into whose powor he had fallen, Cucharés dived and sought the center of the river, On mounting to the surface again to take breath, he looked around him: he wasalone. The lepero sti- fied a cry of joy, and, after a moment’s re- flection, swam vigorous! in the direction of the mangroves, where Don Martial, warned by the sigual he had been compelled to give, had doubtless been awaiting him some time. With a few strokes he reached the trecs, beneath whose shade he disappeared. But another piece of good luck awaited him there: the canoe, abandoned to itself, had floated up against the trunk of a tree, and remained stationary, Cucharés, leaving the water, soon succeed- ed in emptying the canoe and making it float again. ‘These boats are so light that they cun be easily emptied, for in these regions they are made of birch bark, which the In- dians strip from the tree by means of boil- anne e had searcely landed ere a shadow bent over him and muttered in his ear; ** You have been a long time.”’ The lepero gave a start of terror; but he recugnized Don Martial. In very few words he explained to him all that had happened. ‘*Itis all the better, as you have come here,”’ the Tiger-Slayer said. ‘ Hide your- self in the mangroves, and do not stir under any pretext until f return,” And he rapidly retired. Cucharés obeyed with more zeal because he heard at no great distance from him the sound of the obsati- nate contest going on at that moment be- tween the French and Apaches. Don Mar- tial, dagger in hand, in readiness for any event, had glided like a phantom up to a clump of floripondins, where Dona Anita awaited him trembling. Just as he was yo- ing to pull back the branches that separated him from the young girl, he stopped with panting breast and frowning brow. She was not alone. Her voice, quivering with emotion or anger, was harsh and imperious. Whom could she be ee to? Who was it that had succeeded in discovering her in this retired spot, where she fancied her- self 80 well concealed, and who, it seemed, wus trying to force her to follow him? The Tigrero listened. Soon he made a gesture of anger and menace. He had recognized the voice of the man with whom Dona Anita was esi it was her father. All was lost! The haciendero was trying to lead his daughter in the direction of the buildings, while employing the most convincing rca- sons. He did notappear to suspect the mo- tive which had brought his daughter to that spot. Dona Anita refused to yo away, al- leging the danger of being met by an In- dian marauder, and thus full into the danger she so earnestly wished to avoid, Don Martial struck his brow; a singular smile played on his lips; his eyes flashed fire, and he noiselessly slipped back to the river-bank. Still the combat was going on ; at times it appeared to draw nearer—oaths and yells cou!? ‘2 distinguished; at others, flashes lit - the scene, and ashower of bul- lets whizzed through the air with that sharp, hissing sound which territies novices iu war- “In the name of Heaven, my beloved daughter,” Don Sylva urged, ‘come!’ We have not a moment to lose; in afew eeconds Ebooks Cc 0 i Oe