Beadle's New York Dime Library, Vol. II, No. 15 — page 30: what you’re looking at

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

ae i ee —_— Saree Se ae ee - Wa WD 2A e 30 two of the travelers had a secret unknown to the third, which weighed upon them, and at which they blushed inwardly. Don Martial and Dona Anita had been led oh their mutual love to commit a fault they bitterly repented ; for we will state here, to prevent our readers cpt oe | an erroneous es- timate of their character, that their hearts were honest, and when, in amoment of imad- ness, they arranyed and carried out their flight, they were far from forcseeing the fatal consequences which this hopeless step would entail. Don Martial, especially after the orders he had viven Cucharés, and the hacienderu’s un- shaken determination of rejoining the Count de Lorailies, clearly comprehended that his position was growing with each moment more difficult, and that he was proceeding along a path that had no outlet. Thus the two lovers, fatally attached by the secret of their flight, still kept hidden from each other the remorse that devoured them ; the felt at each step that the ground on whic they walked was undermined, and that it as suddenly give way beneath their feet. n such a situation life became intolerable as there was no longer a community o thouglit or feeling between these three per- sons. A collision between them was immi- nent, though it happened, perhaps, sooner than was anticipated, through the pressure of the circumstances in which they were en- tangled. After a journey of about a fort- night, during which no noteworthy incident occurred, Don Martial and his companions, ee partly by the trail left by the persons ey were following, at length reached the ruins of the Casa Grande of Moctecuzoma. It was about six in the evening wheu the little party entered the ruins; the sun,already below the horizon, only illumined the earth with those changing beams which glisten for a long while after the planet-king has disap- peared. Marching a short distance from each other, Don Sylva and Don Martial looked searchingly around, advancing anx- iously, and with finger on the rifle-trigger, through this inextricable maze, so favorable for an Indian ambuscade. They at length reached the Casa Grande, and nothing extra- ordinary met their sight. Night had almost set in, and objects began to grow confused in the shadows. Don Martial, who was pre- ring to dismount, suddenly stopped, ut- ring a cry of astonishment, almost of ter- ror. “ What is it ?”” Don (oH asked, quickly, as he walked up to the Tigrero. *‘Look!’’ the latter said, stretching out his arm iu the direction of a clump of stunt- ed trees which stood a short distance from the entrance. The human voice exerts a strange influence over animals—that of in- spiring them with insurmountable fear and respect. To the few words exchanged by the two men hoarse and confused cries re- sponded, and seven or eight savage vultures rose from the center of the clump, and be- gan flying heavily over the travelers’ heads, forming wide circles in the air, and contin- Scan their infernal music. ithout any reply the haciendero pushed on his horse. : ‘*A man hung by the feet!” he uttered, stopping his horse with a gesture of horror and disgust. ‘What can have happened here ?”’ ‘“*Who can say? Itis not a savage—his color and dress do not allow the least doubt on that voint: still he has his scalp, so the Apaches did not kill him. What is the meaning of it?’ ‘*A mutiny, perhaps,’”? the haciendero hazarded. Don Martial became pensive; his eye- brows contracted. ‘“Itis not possible,” he said to himself: but a moment after added “Jet us enter the house; we must not leave Dona Anita any longeralone. Our ab- sence must cia tog her, and might alarm her if prolonged, When the encampment is arranged I will go and look, and I shall be very unlucky if I do not discover the clue to this ill-omened mystery.” The two men retired and joined Dona Anita, who was awaiting them a few paccs off, under the guard of the peons. yhen the travelers had dismounted and crossed the thresbold of the casa, Don Martial light- ed several torches to find their way in the darkness, and guided his companions to the large hall to which we have already intro- duced our readers. It was not the first time Don Martial had visited the ruins: fre- quently during his long hunting expeditions in the prairies, they had offered him a refuge. Thus he knew their most hidden nooks. It was he, too, who had urged his com- nions to proceed to the Casa Grande, for fe was convinced that the count could only find there a safe and sure bivouac for his “troop. The hall, in which a table still stood, presented unmistakable signs of the recent passage of several persons, and a tolerably prolonged stay they had made at the spot. “You see,’’ he said to the haciendero, “that I was not mistaken; the persons we scek stopped here.”’ **Ttis trne. Do you think that they have long left it?” ‘| can not tell you yet; but while supper is being prepared, and you are making your- selves vomfortable, I will take a look ronnd outside. On my return I trust to be more fortunate, and be able to satisfy your curios- itv.” And placing the torch he held in his hand in au iron bracket fastened to the wall, the Tiger-Slayer quitted the house. Dona Anita fell peusively back on toa species of clumsy sofa, accidentally left by the side of the table. Aided by the peons, the haciendero began making preparations for the night. The horses were unsaddled, driven into a species of inclosure, aud had an ample sup- ply of feed placed before them. The trunks were unloaded, the bales carried into the hall, where they were piled up, after one had been opened to take out the requisite pro- visions ; and then an enormous brazier was kindled, over which a quarter of deer-meat was hung. When these various preparations were end- ed the haciendero sat down on a buffalo’s skull, lighted a husk cigarette, and began smoking, while every now and then tery asad glance on his daughter, who was stil plunged in melancholy thought. Don Mar- tial’s absence was rather long, for it lasted nearly two hours. At the end of that time his horse’s hoofs could be heard echoing on the stone flooring of the ruins, and he reap- peared. ‘“ Well?” Don Sylva asked him. ‘¢ Let us sup first,”’ the Tigrero answered, pointing to the girl in a way her father com- prehended. f The meal was short, as might be expected from persons preoccupied and wearied with a long day’s march. Dona Anita only ate a few spoonfuls of tamarind preserve; then after bowing to her friends, she rose and walked into a small room adjoining the hall, where a bed had been made up for her with her father’s wraps, and the entrance to which was closed by hanging up, in place of the absent door, a horse-blanket attached to nails driven in the wall, ‘¢ You fellows,” the Tiger-Slayer said, ad- dressing the peons, ‘*‘ had better keep good watch, if you wish to save your scalps. I warn you that we are in an enemy’s country, and if you go to eleep you will probably pay dearly for it.” The peons assured the Tigrero that they would redouble their vigilance, and went out to execute the orders they had received, The two men remained seated opposite each other. “Well,” Don Sylva began, again asking his companion the question he had already begun, **have you learned any thing ?”’ All that it was possible to learn, Don Sylva,” the Tigrero sharply replied. ‘‘ Were it otherwise Ishould be ascurvy hunter, and the jaguars and tigers would have had the best of ine long ago.”’ ‘*Ts the information you haye obtained favorable ?”’ ‘‘ That depends on your future plans. The French have been here and bivouacked for several days. During their stay in the ruins they were vigorously attucked by the Apaches, whom, however, they succeeded in repulsing. Now it is probable, though I can not assert it, that the troopers revolted for some cause of which I am ignorant, and that poor wretch we saw hanging to the tree like rotten fruit paid for the rest, as generally happens.”’ **T thank you for your information, which aL to me that we were not mistaken, ut followed the right trail. Now, can you complete your information by telling me if the French have long left the ruins, and in what direction they have marched ?” ** Those questions are very casy to answer. The free company left their bivouac yester- day, a few moments after sunrise, and enter- ed the desert,” “The desert!’ the haciendero exclaimed, letting his arms sink in despondency. There was a silence of some moments, during which both men reflected. Atlength Don Sylva took the word. ** It is impossible,” he said. ** Still, it is so.” “But it is an extraordinary act of impru- dence.”’ **T think with you; but it is now an ac- complished fact, which no recriminations of ours can alter; 80, Don Sylva, I believe that the wisest thing is to trouble ourselves no more about them, but let them get out of it as they best can,’ **Is that your notion ?”” “It is,”’ the Tiger-Slayer replied, careless- ly. **T propose to remain here two or three ays, and see if any thing turns up. After that time, if we have seen or heard nothing, we will remount, and return to Guetzalli by / | The New York Library. os the road we came, without stopping to look back, that we mayarrive more speedily, and the sooner quit these horrible regions.” The haciendero shook his head like a man who has just formed an irrevocable deter- mination. “Then you will go alone, Don Martial,’’ he said, dryly. “What! the latter exclaimed, looking him firmly in the face. ** What is yourmean ing ?” “T mean that I shall not turn back on the ath I have hitherto followed; in a word, at I will not fly.” Don Martial was confounded by this an ewer. “ What do you intend doing, then ?” “Can you not guess that? Why did wo come to this place? For what purpose have we been traveling so long?” ‘‘ Excuse me, Don Sylva, but the question is now changed. You will do me the jus- tice to allow that I have followed you with- out any observations—that I have been faithful to you during this journey,” “| do so indeed. Now explain to me your notion.” “Tt is this, Don Sylva. So long as we only wandered about the prairies, at the risk of being devoured by wild beasts, I bowed my head without attempting to op. ose your designs, for I tacitly recognized hat you were acting as you were bod to do. Even now, were you and | alone, I would bow without a murmur belore the de- termination that animates yon, But reflect, that you have yout daughter with you—that you condemn her to undergo nameless tor- tures in this fearful desert, where you force her to follow you, and which will probably swallow up both.” Don Sylva made no reply, so the Tigrero continued; * Our party is weak. Wehave provisivus for only a few days; and you know, onee in the Del Norte, we find no more water or game. If, during our excursion, we are as- sailed by a tempural, we are lost—lost, with- out resources, without hope!” ** All that you tell me is correct, Tain well aware, still, 1 can not follow your advice Listen to me ia your turn, Don Martia: The Count de Lorailles is my friend; he will soon be my son-in-law. I donot say this to vex you, but only that you may thoroughly understand my position with regard to him. It was for my sake, to save me from those whom he supposed to have earricd me off, that, without calculation, and solely urged by his noble heart, he entered the desert. Can Lallow him to perish without trying to bring him succor? Js he not a stranger to Mexico—our guest? It is my duty to save him, and I will attempt it, whatever may happen.”’ ‘*Since matters are so, Don Sylva, I will no lounger try to combata resolution so firm- ly made. I will not tell you that the man to whom you gave your daughter is an ad- venturer, driven from his country Pilly, ill-conduct, and who, in the marriage he seeks to contract, sees only one thing—the immense fortune you possess. All (licse things, and many others, | could supply you with proofs of; but you would not believe me, for you would Only read rivalry in my conduct; so let us say no more on that head. You wish to enter the desert: I will follow you. Whatever may happen, you will find me at your side ready to defend and aid you. But as the hour for frank explana- tions has arrived, I do not wish any cloud to remain between us—that you should thoroughly know the man with whom you are going to attempt the desperate stroke you meditate, so that you may have full and entire contideuce in him.” The haciendero gazed at him with surprise. At this moment the curtain of Dona Anita's room was raised; the young girl came out, walked slowly down the hall, knelt before her father, and turning to the Tigrero: ‘““Now speak, Don Martial,’’ she said. “Perhaps my father will pardon me on see- ing me thus implore bis forgiveness,” ‘Pardon you!” the haciendero said, his eyes wandering from his daughter to the man who was standing before him with blushing brow and downcast eyes. ‘* What is the meaning of this? What fault have you committed ?” , ‘*A fault for which I am alone culpable, Don Sylva, and which I alone must suffer the punishment. I deceived ow disgrace- renee : it was I who carried off your daugh- er ‘‘ What!’ the huciendcro shouted, with an outburst of fury. ‘fl was your plaything, your dupe, then ?””. ‘Passion does not reason, I will only say one word in my defense: I love your daughter! Alas! DonSylva, I now perceive how culpable Lhave been, Reflection, though tardy, has at length arrived, and, like Dona Anita, who is weeping at your feet, 1 hum- ble myself before yca, and say, ‘Pardon met -(E(OLAN El O00) KSC)