Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 218 — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

2 “here is one who could,” I replied; ‘‘ one who ceuld follow a feebler trail than ours.”’ “What! Arastreador among these Judios/ Who, cavallero?” ‘* Their father!” I whispered the reply, so that neither of the girls should overhear it. : : ‘Oh, true,’ muttered the Mexican—‘‘the father ef the huntress—a hunter himself! Ourrai! that’s like enough. But nomatter. I can take you up the gorge in such fashion, that the most skilled rast- yeador of the prairies would never suspect we had passed through. Fortunately, the ground is favor- able. The bottom of the little canyon is covered with cut rocks. Tae hoof will leave no mark upon these.” ‘* Remember that some of our horses are shod; the iron will betray us?” “No, senor, we shall muffle them; 2% vamos con los pies en medias |” (Let us travelin 8 1) The idea was not new to me; and without further hesitation, we proceeded to carry it into execution. With pieces of blankets, and strips cut from our buckskin garments, we muffled the hoofs of our shod horses; and after following the wagon-trail, till we found a proper place for parting: from it, we di- verged in an oblique direction, toward the bluff that formed the northern boundary of the pass. Along this bluff we followed the guide in silence; and, af- ter g for a quarter of a mile further, we had the satisfaction to see him turn to the left, and suddenly disa from our sight—as if he had ridden into the face of the solid rock! We might have felt astonishment; but a dark chasm at the same in- stant came under our eyes, and we knew it was the ravine of which our guide had spoken. Without ex- changing a word, we turned our horses’ heads, and rode up into the cleft. There was water running among the shingle, over which our steeds trampled; but it was shallow, and did not hinder their ad- vance. It would further aid in concealing their tracks—should our pursuers succeed in tracing us from the main route. But we had little apprehension of their doing this; so carefully had we concealed our trail on separating from that of the wagons. On reaching the little val/on, we no longer thought of danger: but, riding on to its upper end, dismount- ed, and made the best arrangements that cireum- tances would permit of for passing the remainder of the night. rapped in biffalo-robes, and a little apart from the rest of our party, the sisters reclined side by side under the canopy of a cottonwood tree. Long while had it been since these beautiful forms had reposed so near each other; and the soft, low murmur of their voices, heard above the sighing of the breeze, and the rippling sound of the mountain rills, admonished us that each was confiding to the other the sweet secret of her bosom! CHAPTER LXVIL. UN PARAISO, We ceme to the closing act of our drama, To understand it fully, it is necessary that the setting of the stage—the m/se-en-scene—be described with a certain degree of minuteness. The little valley-plain, or naVor, in which we had cached ourselves, Was not over three hundred yards in ae ee and of an elliptical form, But for this form, it might have resembled some ancient crater scooped out of the mountain, that on all sides swept upward around it. The sides of this mountain, trending up from the level of the plain, rose not with a gentle acclivity, but with Wigren. ab- ruptness. At no point, however, did it assume the character of a cliff. It might have been sealed with difficulty by a man on foot, especially should he avail himself of the assistance of the trees—pines and trailing junipers —that grew over the steep so thickly as to conceal the greater portion of its rocky fucad’., Here and there only a bare spot might be observed, a little buttress of white lamin- ated gypsum, mingled with sparkling selenite; while at other places a miniature torrent, leaping over the rocks, and dancing among the dark , pre- sented a very similar appearance. These little tor- rents, plashing down to the plain, formed bumerous crystal rills that traversed the va’lon. Like the branches of a silver candelabrum, all unifed near its center, and there formed a pellucid stream that, sweeping onward, discharged itself through the ravine into Robideau’s Pass. . The effect of this abundance of water hod been to produce within the vallona proportionate luxuriance of vegetation, though it had not assumed the form of a forest. A few handsome cottonwoods, stand- ing thinly over it, were the only trees; but the sur- face exhibited a verdure of emerald brightness enameled by many a gay corolla—born to blush unseen within this sweet, secluded glen. Along the of the rivulet, large water-plants projected their broad leaves languidly over the stream; and where the little cascades came down from the rocks, —_ The Wild RE + —— + — oo ee ee ee —— nee ee LL LC LLL LL LL LL LLL ALLL ALLE IE natural we should seek to rescue ourselves from a disguise that the eye of woman could not look upon otherwise than with degout. It was natural, too, we should desire those clasped hands to come asunder rienane maiden forms to be separated from one an- other? Fortune was pleased to respond to our wishes. A flower hanging from the branch of a tree at that moment mies the eye of Lilian; and, dropping her sister's hand, she hastened to gather it. earl who cared less for flowers, did not follow her. Per- haps her inclination bem pted her the other way? But one did follow the fair Lilian, unable to resist the oh, pe me for free converse, the only one that had offered since that first sweet interview. How my heart bounded when I beheld the blossom of the bignonia, for it was that which hung drooping from the branch of the cottonwood, round which its bright leaves were amorously entwining. How it swelled with a triumphant joy when 1 saw those tiny fingers extend toward the flower, gently pluck it from the stem and panes it upon my bosom! Talk of bliss, if it be not this! Westrayed on through the straggling trees, along the banks of the stream, by the ges of the little rills. We wandered around the vallon and stood by the torrents that fell foam. ing from the rocks. e mingled our voices with the waters, whose low murmurings aj sponges to repeat the sentiment so endeared to us, “I think of thee!” ** And you will, Lilian—you will always thus think of me?” | ** Yes, Edward !—for ever and ever!” Was the kiss unhallowed that could seal such | promise? No—it was sacred— Down to Earth’s profound, And up to Heaven! Thus benighted with the sweet hallucination of love, bow could we dream that on earth there existed an alloy? How suspect thatintothat er garden the dread serpent could ever intrude himself? Alas! he was at that moment approaching it—he was al- ready near! —— ——— The place we had chosen for our temporary bivouac —and where we had passed the night—was at the upper extremity of the little valley, and close in to the cliff. We had selected this spot from the ground being a little more elevated than the general surface and in consequence drier. Several cottonwooc trees shaded it, and it was further sheltered by a num- ber of la bowlders of reck, that, having fallen from the cliff above, lay near its base. Bebind these bowlders the men of our party had a ay not from any idea of the greater security afforded by them, but simply from a delicate motive—being thus sep- arated from the chamber occupied by our fair prv- leqees. Tt had never occurred to us that our place of con- cealment could be discovered in the nh and, even long after the day had arisen, so confident did we continue in our fancied security, that we had taken | | on the vommel of his saddle, and sat gazing toward no precautions — neither to reconnoiter the cliffs in search of a way of retreat, nor to adopt any means | of defense in the event of our being assailed. As far as Wingrove and I were concerned, 1 have explained this negligence, for it was megligence of the most imprudent character. The Mexican, feeling quite certain that he had succeeded in blinding our trail, was perhaps less cautious than he might otherwise have been, and Sure-shot equally trusted to his new comrade, for whose skill the ex-ranger had con- | ceived an exalted opinion. I could see witha some apprehension. He had buckled on his arti- ficial leg, the real one having become fatigued by pressing too long on the stirrup; and, as he hobbled over the ground, I noticed that from time to time he | | horse half around, and dropped to his feet upon the cast er anoles glances down the valley. Observing these signs of impatience more than once, I begante grow uneasy. Prudence required that even that sweet scene | should be interrupted—only temporarily, I hoped— until some plan should be adop us more secure i discovered, Wit away from the sweet whisperings of the cascade, and was facing to the upper end of the va/en, when | allat onee I observed a strange maneuver on the part of ** Peg-leg.”’ The trapper had thrown himself flat upon the grass, and with his ear placed close to the ground, appeared to listen! cant not to attract the attention of everybody. My companion was the only one who did not compre- | hend it; but she observed that it had powerfully af- fected all the others, and an ejaculation of alarm es- caped her as she saw them hastening up to the place oecupied by the prostrate trapper. But before we could arrive on the spot the man had sprung back into an erect attitude; and, as he __-- —— ee eee that Archilete was not without | that would render | the contingency of our being | my fair companion 1 had turned | _ yards wi’ you” The movement was too signifi- | NE ee ——— | ep aint for Holt could have detained him, and iz likelihood would have Gone so? Still less probable did it appear, as we watcheé the movements of the dog himself. Instead of stay- ing by Marian, and continuing to receive her ca- resses, we noticed that at short intervals he ran off again, making demonstration in the direction he had come—as if in os aden of some one who was fol- lowing at his heels. The slight mn we had conceived was quickly and rudely crushed, by the confirmation of this fact. The voices of men, echoing hearsely through the gorge, confirmed it! Beyond doubt, they were our guided by the dog—who little compre-! ended the danger he was thus conducting toward the object of his instinctive affections, CHAPTER LXVITI. AN UNEXPECTED DEFECTION. ALMosT as soon as we heard the voices, we saw those who were giving utterance to them. A horse- man appeared issuing from the jaws of the chasm— another, and another—until eight had filed into the open ground! They were all armed men—armed with guns, pistols an] knives.. He in the lead was at once identified, The colossal stature, the green blanket coat, red shirt, and. kerchief turban, pro- claimed that the foremost of our pursuers was Holt himself. _IImmediately behind him rode Stebbins; while those following in file were the executive myr- midons of the Mormon faith—the Destroying Angels f On entering the open ground, Holt alone kept on without slackeni: is speed. Stebbins followed but more cautiously and at a distance of several lengths of his horse. The Danites at sight of our animals, and ourselves too—for they could not fail to see our faces over the rocks—rew up; not suddenly, but one after the other—as if irresolute whether to advance, or re- main where they were. Even Stebbins, though moving on after the squatter, did so with evident reluctance. He saw the barrels of our rifles gleam- ing above the bowlders; and, when within about fifty of our postion, he too reined in—keeping the r of Holt between himself and our guns. e squatter continued to advance, without the slightest show of fear. So near had he got to us, that we could note the expression upon his features, though it was difficult to understand it, It was one that bespoke reckless determination—no doubt a. de- termination to recover his child from the savages who had stolen her; for as yet he had no reason,to think otherwise than that we were Indians, Of course, none of us thought of firing upon Holt; | but, had Stebbins at the moment advanced only a step nearer, there was more than one rifle ready to | give out its deadly detonation. Holt approached rapidly, his horse going a trot. He held his long gun obliquely in front of him, ont ' grasped in both hands—as if ready to fire on the in- stant, All at once, he checked his horse, dropped the gun us with a look of bewildered surprise. Wih-te faces appearing over the rocks instead of ve ones, had caused this sudden change in his de- , neaenor. Before he had time to give utterance to his as- tonishment, Lilian glided from behind the bowlder, and standing with arms extended, cried out: ‘*Oh father! they are not Indians! It is Marian? it is At the same instant her sister appeared by her.side. ‘Marian alive!” cried Holt, recognizing his long- lost daughter, “‘My child Marian yet livin’! God be praised! Thur’s one weight off o’ my poor soul— ' an’ now to eeze it o’ another!” As he uttered the last words, he wrenched his nearer side. Then, quickly resting his rifle over the hollow of the saddle, he brought its barrel to bear upon the breast of Stebbins—who still sat upon DARSERACE. scarce twenty paces distant from its muzzie, ‘*Now, Josh Stebbins!’ cried the squatter in a. voice of thunder, ‘“‘the time’s come to squar’ the “What. do you mean, Holi?’ mechanically in- uired the Mormon, in trembling surprise. ‘‘ What do you mean by thatr” — “T mean, you infernal skunk, that afore ye leave- tais greun’, ye ve got to make a clean breast 0” it, and cl’ar me o° the crime 0° murder,” “ Wes murder?” inquired Stebbins, prevarica- tingly. | “Oh! you know what I'm talkin’ about! “Twa‘n't no murder. “Twar only a suicide; an’ Ged knows it. broke my own heart.”’ Holt’s voice was husky with emotion. He continued after a pause: “For all o° that, appearances wur a jn’ MG; an = — ———— a . oe ———— ae > —— a oe —_— Sta ae (os BS all 7 eS SS. . , iin 26 oe o_ ‘ ~~ - er ee ae s 7 . - ve _ you invented proofs that w'u'd ‘a’ st ood among the flowers of beautiful orchids, and other rare | lawyers, thongh thur as false as y ‘ur own black heart, stamped his timber leg with violence upon the le a 7 - epiphytes, were seen sparkling under the spray— ground, was heard to exclaim: many of them clinging to the coniferw, and thus ** Cuprambo, camarados! The curs are upon our | Ye've kep’ *m over me for years, to sarve yer ras- {1 uniting almost the extreme types of the botanical | trail! Oiga los?—el perro—el perro!’ (You hear | cally pp ES But thur’s neither law nor lawyers ie world! them ?’—the dog—the dog!) _hyur to help you any longer. Thur’s witnesses o” ;’ Such lovely landscape was presented to our eyes in the * bolson” into which our trapper-cuide had ducted us. Jt io er lovely as we first beheld it, under the blue light of davn; but lovelier far when the sun began to tinge the summits of the Mojada Mountains that encircled it, and scatter his The words were scarcely out of his mouth when their interpretation was given in the sound that came pealing up the e valley. Borne upon the sighing breene, it was heard above the rushing noise of the waters—easily heard,andas | 1 , finished, The easily understood, It was the bay of a dog who ran There was a | both sides— y"ur own beauties down yander; an” some hyur o° a better sort, I reck’r , call on ye to declar’ that yur proofs wur false, an” that I’m innocent o’ the crime 0’ murder!” rofound silence when the speaver “ve and unexpected nature of Afore them, f empurpled roses on the snowy peaks of the Wa-to- | srowltng along the trail! Its deep tone was even | the demand, held every one in hreathless surprise. yah, just visible through the gorge. identified. The huntress recognize1 it in the first | Even the armed men at the bottom of the eallon « Asta un Paraiso |” (itisa Paradise!) exclaimed the Mexican, warming with the poetry of his race. “Hn verdad un Pwraiso! Even better peopled than the Paradise of old. M/éra/ cavsieros / continued he. “Behold! not one Eve, but two! each, I dare say, as beautiful as the mother of mankind!” As the trapper spoke, he pointed to the young girls, who, hand-in-hand, were returning from the stream. The spots of allerria had disappeared from the cheeks of Marian, that now gleamed in al] their crimson picturesqueness. . It was for Wingrove to admire these. My own eyes were riveted upon the roseate blonde; , ng upon her face, I - could not help echoing the sentiment of the enthnu- siastic speaker: ‘‘ Beautiful as the mother of man- ee ee note that fell upon her ear, as was evidenced by her quick exclamation; © Wolf! my dog Wolf!” The speech had scarcely escaped her before the dog himself made his appearance, convincing us all of his identity. The animal, seeing us, ran no longer by the scent, but with raised snout came galloping across the valley and bounded forward to receive the caresses of his mistress. We rushed to our weapons; and having grasped them, ran behind the bowlders of rock. It would have been idle to have taken to_ our horses. If our pursuers were following the dog, and and ed by him, they would already be near enough to intercept our retreat from the vallon. - tered eaid nota word; and perceiving that, by the defee- against advancing to the protection of their apostolic leader. The latter appeared for a moment to vacillate. The fear depicted wpon his features was blended | tion of Hclt,; there was almost them, they showed no s Ss 0 cun for | with an expression of the most vindictive bitterness, as that of a tyrant forced to vield up some despotic rivile } ttle to him now. but, for all t which he has long wielded. True, it The intended victims of tis vile contrivanve—whatever it may have been—were likely to Sage ee from his control i lat, he seemed loth to the shadow of his former influence. He was not allowed much time for retiectjon> ‘mat- another way - art with even kind!” 4 Perhaps they were at that moment in the gorge? | scarce the igh Boktinnyd to look round upon his Dan- | Wingrove and I had been to the /aratory before | We had but one hope; and that was, that the dog | ites, which, however, he did—glancing back as if them, and had succeeded toa extent in scour- | might be alone. Missing Marian at the camp, he | desirous of retreating toward them. ing our skins clear of the : bedaubment. | might have struck upon her trail, and been running “Stan’ y’ur groun’,” shouted the squatter in a. In the anticipation of this pleasant interview, it was ' upon it throughoutthe night? This seemed scarcely | tone of menace; “stan’ your groun’! Don’t dar | im (GO (C 6)(6)(6) S) (€()