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016 - Chapter 15 With the Waggon Teams · Redskin and Cow-Boy - A Tale of the Western Plains

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Speaker 1: Chapter fifteen of Redskin and Cowboy, A Tale of the
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Speaker 1: Western Plains by G. A. Henty. This LibriVox recording is
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Speaker 1: in the public domain. Chapter fifteen with the wagon teams.
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Speaker 1: Soon after daybreak on the twelfth day, the watch, which
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Speaker 1: had now been carefully kept up for some days, reported
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Speaker 1: that two Indians were galloping at full speed up the valley.
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Speaker 1: A cheer broke from the defenders of the butte, for
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Speaker 1: they doubted not that these brought news of the approach
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Speaker 1: of a relieving party. When the horsemen arrived at the
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Speaker 1: main encampment out on the plane, a stir was immediately visible,
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Speaker 1: and in two or three minutes the Indians were seen
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Speaker 1: running out to the horses grazing on the plane beyond,
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Speaker 1: while loud yells rang through the air. Those who have
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Speaker 1: got rifles had better come to the edge. Long Tom shouted,
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Speaker 1: All these fellows who were here will be scooting out
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Speaker 1: on the plane in a minute. We must stop a
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Speaker 1: few of them. Anyhow, A minute or two later, scores
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Speaker 1: of Indians dashed out from the trees at the foot
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Speaker 1: of the buttes and ran toward their encampment. The whites
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Speaker 1: at once opened fire, but a running man far below
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Speaker 1: is a difficult mark, and not a single shot took effect.
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Speaker 1: Y'all don't call that shooting, Bronco, Harry said, indignantly. It
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Speaker 1: is all very well, Harry Hugh said, But a brown
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Speaker 1: spot three hundred feet below you and as many yards
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Speaker 1: away isn't an easy mark. Wow, Harry said. It can't
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Speaker 1: be helped. Now we will get ready to go out
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Speaker 1: to lend a hand to our friends. Let us have
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Speaker 1: a couple of ropes. We will tie them to the
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Speaker 1: branches one by one and haul them up. There's no
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Speaker 1: fear of an attack. Now look here, Jim, you and
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Speaker 1: your ltted best stop here to guard the women, and
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Speaker 1: we will sally out. There are five of you that
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Speaker 1: will be plenty. The man on watch now gave a shout.
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Speaker 1: I can see them, he said, How many of them?
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Speaker 1: I guess there's about eighty. There's a thick clump in
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Speaker 1: the middle. I reckon that they are the soldiers, and
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Speaker 1: thirty or four riding loose. I allow there cowboys. That
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Speaker 1: is just about the right number, Harry said. If there
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Speaker 1: was more of than, the Indians wouldn't fight. I don't
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Speaker 1: know as they will now, but see it as there
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Speaker 1: must be three hundred of them. I expect they'll try
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Speaker 1: it now. Then up with these branches. In a quarter
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Speaker 1: of an hour, the branches were all of the gap.
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Speaker 1: While this had been going on, the women had given
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Speaker 1: a feed and a good drink of water to the horses,
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Speaker 1: for there was no occasion any longer to husband their resourses.
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Speaker 1: The animals were now saddled and led down through the gap.
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Speaker 1: By this time the Indians were all mounted and were
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Speaker 1: moving in a close body across the plane to meet
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Speaker 1: the advancing foe. Now, Jim Broncho Harry said, you stand
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Speaker 1: on the ledge, and when you see the fight begin,
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Speaker 1: you wave your hand. We can't make a start until
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Speaker 1: they are at it, and we shan't be able to
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Speaker 1: see down below there. The cowboys made their way down
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Speaker 1: through the plane and then mounted. They sat for ten
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Speaker 1: minutes with their eyes fixed upon Jim gatling. Presently, he
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Speaker 1: waved his arm and with a shout, they started at
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Speaker 1: a gallop. As soon as they were fairly out on
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Speaker 1: the plane, they heard the sound of fire arms, and
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Speaker 1: after galloping half a mile, came suddenly in view of
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Speaker 1: the combat. The Indians had boldly closed with the troops
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Speaker 1: and cowboys who were now driven together. A desperate hand
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Speaker 1: to hand conflict was raging. Swords flashing in the sun,
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Speaker 1: waving tomahawks and spears could be seen above the masses.
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Speaker 1: The cracking of revolvers was incessant, and a light smoke
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Speaker 1: hung over the conflict. They are hard at it, boys,
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Speaker 1: long Tom explained, Now don't shout until we're on them.
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Speaker 1: They're too busy to notice us. Keep well together, and
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Speaker 1: we shall go through them like a knife. Not a
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Speaker 1: word was spoken as they galloped down upon the scene
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Speaker 1: of conflict. When they were within one hundred yards, a
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Speaker 1: cry of warning was raised and some of the Indians
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Speaker 1: faced round, but in a moment, with a loud shout,
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Speaker 1: the band of cowboys charged down upon them and cleft
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Speaker 1: their way into the mass. Horse and rider rolling over
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Speaker 1: under the impetus of the onslaught the deadly. Six shooters
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Speaker 1: spoke out while the Indians fell thickly around them, and
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Speaker 1: in a minute they had joined the Whites in the
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Speaker 1: center of the mass. There was a shout of welcome,
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Speaker 1: and then the officer commanding the troops cried, now is
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Speaker 1: your time, lads, Press them hard, give it them hot,
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Speaker 1: and the United Party attacked the Indians with fresh vigor.
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Speaker 1: Up to this time, there had been little advantage on
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Speaker 1: either side. Many more of the Indians had fallen than
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Speaker 1: of the whites, owing to the superiority of the latter's weapons,
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Speaker 1: especially the revolvers of the cowboys section. Still, their great
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Speaker 1: superiority in numbers was telling, and when the six shooters
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Speaker 1: were emptied, the cowboys had no weapons to oppose the
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Speaker 1: spears and tomahawks of the Indians. The sudden attack from
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Speaker 1: the rear, however, had shaken the redskins. In the momentary
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Speaker 1: pause that had ensued, many of the cowboys slipped fresh
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Speaker 1: cartridges into their pistols, and in a short time the
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Speaker 1: Indians began to give ground while the less courageous of
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Speaker 1: them wheeled about their horses heads war Eagle and some
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Speaker 1: of the chiefs fought desperately, but when the former fell
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Speaker 1: cut down by one of the troopers, a panic spread
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Speaker 1: among his followers, and as if by a sudden impulse,
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Speaker 1: they turned and fled. The pursuit was a short one,
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Speaker 1: for the horses of the rescuing force were jaded with
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Speaker 1: the long journey they had performed. Those of the party
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Speaker 1: from the butte were weakened by hunger, while the ponies
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Speaker 1: of the Indians had been doing nothing for days, and
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Speaker 1: speedily left them behind. After hearty congratulations by their rescuers
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Speaker 1: and sincere thanks by those whom they had relieved from
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Speaker 1: their peril, the party returned to the scene of the conflict.
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Speaker 1: Four troopers and two cowboys had fallen, and a score
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Speaker 1: had received wounds more or less serious, while on the
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Speaker 1: part of the Indians, over thirty lay dead. Grapes were
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Speaker 1: dug for the fallen Whites. The wounds of the others
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Speaker 1: were bandaged up, and they then proceeded to the butte,
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Speaker 1: at whose foot the women and the settlers who had
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Speaker 1: been left to guard them had already gathered, they having
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Speaker 1: hurried down as soon as they saw the plane covered
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Speaker 1: with flying Indians. Steve had returned with the rescuing party
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Speaker 1: and had been severely wounded in the fight. A blow
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Speaker 1: from a tomahawk, having cut off one of his ears,
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Speaker 1: wounded his cheek and inflicted a terrible gash on his shoulder.
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Speaker 1: He was, however, in the highest spirits. I shan't look
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Speaker 1: so pretty, my dear, he said to his daughter, who
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Speaker 1: burst into tears at the sight of his injury. But
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Speaker 1: then I was not anything uncommon afore, and I haven't
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Speaker 1: any thought of going courting again. Well, we have given
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Speaker 1: the Engines a smart lesson. When the handshaking and congratulations ceased,
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Speaker 1: the captain commanding the cavalry held a consultation with Steve
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Speaker 1: and some of the cowboys as to the advisability of
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Speaker 1: following up the victory and attacking the Indians in their
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Speaker 1: own villages. I should not feel justified in doing it
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Speaker 1: unless I was pretty certain of success. The commandant of
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Speaker 1: the fort gave me orders to rescue this party, and
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Speaker 1: I've done so, but he said nothing about engaging in
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Speaker 1: a regular campaign with the Indians. I shouldn't try, Captain
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Speaker 1: Steve said, I reckon, they haven't half their force here today,
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Speaker 1: no nor a quarter. For they reckoned to put a
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Speaker 1: thousand fighting men in the field. They didn't guess as
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Speaker 1: any of us had got off to get help, and
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Speaker 1: knew that they had plenty here to keep us caged
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Speaker 1: upon the butte. Another thing is the cowboys with us
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Speaker 1: are all employed on the ranches. And although they came
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Speaker 1: off willing to rescue the women and pay the Engines
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Speaker 1: off of that murdering business at our settlement. I reckon,
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Speaker 1: they will want to be off again of their work.
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Speaker 1: But even with them, we ain't no match for the
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Speaker 1: forces the Redskins can collect. So if you will take
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Speaker 1: my advice, Captain, you won't waste a minute, for there's
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Speaker 1: no saying how soon they will be down on us again.
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Speaker 1: And if they did come, the fight today wouldn't be
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Speaker 1: a circumstance to the next. You are right, the officer said,
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Speaker 1: it would be folly to risk anything by waiting here.
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Speaker 1: I suppose you're all ready to start. I reckon, so,
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Speaker 1: Steve said. The horses have all been brought down from
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Speaker 1: the hill. The officer at once gave orders to mount.
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Speaker 1: While this conversation had been going on, Hugh, who was
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Speaker 1: occupied in giving prints a good feed from the grain
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Speaker 1: the soldiers had brought for their horses, saw one of
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Speaker 1: the troopers staring at him. Hello, luscom, he exclaimed, Who
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Speaker 1: would have thought of seeing you here? I thought I
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Speaker 1: couldn't be mistaken, Hugh, The other exclaimed, as they grasped
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Speaker 1: each other's hands. But you've changed so much, and you
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Speaker 1: widened out so tremendously in the eighteen months since I
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Speaker 1: left you, that for a moment I wasn't sure it
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Speaker 1: was you. Well, this is luck, and it is quite
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Speaker 1: a fluke too. I was getting heartily sick of doing
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Speaker 1: duty at that wretched fort, where one day was just
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Speaker 1: like another, and there was nothing in the world to
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Speaker 1: do except cleaning one's traps. When a letter arrived from
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Speaker 1: the governor. I told you the old boy was sure
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Speaker 1: to give in sooner or later, and he sent me
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Speaker 1: money to get my discharge and take me home. I
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Speaker 1: was just going to the commanding officer to make my
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Speaker 1: application when Rutherford rode into camp. It was evidently something
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Speaker 1: very important, for his horse fell dead as he drew rein.
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Speaker 1: So I waited to hear the news, and found that
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Speaker 1: our troop was ordered to mount instantly to ride to
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Speaker 1: the rescue of a party of settlers and cowboys who
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Speaker 1: were besieged by the Indians. You may guess I dropped
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Speaker 1: my letter into my pocket and said nothing about it.
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Speaker 1: We have done a good deal of scouting and had
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Speaker 1: two or three paltry skirmishes with the Indians, but nothing
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Speaker 1: worth talking about. And this seemed, from what Rutherford said,
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Speaker 1: to be likely to be a regular battle. And so
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Speaker 1: you see here I am it has been a jolly
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Speaker 1: wind up for my soldier, and to think that you
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Speaker 1: should be one of the party. We have ridden something
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Speaker 1: like three hundred miles to rescue you. Now tell me
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Speaker 1: all about yourself. At this moment, the trumpet to saddle sounded.
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Speaker 1: I will tell you as we ride along, Hugh said,
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Speaker 1: I don't suppose there will be any particular order kept
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Speaker 1: on our way back. Five minutes later the whole party
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Speaker 1: were cantering down the valley. They did not draw rain
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Speaker 1: until late in the afternoon, and then halted on the
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Speaker 1: banks of the Canadian. A strong cordon of centuries was
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Speaker 1: posted that night, but there were no signs of Indians,
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Speaker 1: and the next day the party reached one of the
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Speaker 1: ranch stations. During the two days march and at the camp,
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Speaker 1: Hugh and Luscombe had kept together, the latter having obtained
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Speaker 1: permission from his officer to fall out of the ranks
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Speaker 1: upon his telling him that one of the cowboys was
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Speaker 1: an old friend who had come with him from Europe.
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Speaker 1: I shall be off in a month or two, Luscombe said,
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Speaker 1: when they parted that evening. I expect there are formalities
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Speaker 1: to be gone through here, just as there are in England.
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Speaker 1: You are quite sure there is no chance of your
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Speaker 1: going home with me. Quite sure, I have another three
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Speaker 1: years to stop out here yet, and then I can
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Speaker 1: go back and claim my own. I wrote to Randolph,
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Speaker 1: my trustee, you know, to tell him I am alive
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Speaker 1: and well and very glad that I did not kill
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Speaker 1: that uncle of mine, and saying that I shall return
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Speaker 1: when I am of age, but not before. What do
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Speaker 1: you mean to do, Luscombe? I am going to settle down,
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Speaker 1: Luscomb said, I can tell you a year's work as
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Speaker 1: trooper in one of these Yankee forts is about enough
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Speaker 1: to make a man sick of soldiering. I have eaten
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Speaker 1: the bread of adversity, and very hard bread it is, too,
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Speaker 1: and there is mighty little butter. I'm going in for
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Speaker 1: fat and calf when I go back, and am quite
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Speaker 1: prepared to settle down into a traditional squire, to look
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Speaker 1: after fat beeves, become interested in turnips, and to be
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Speaker 1: a father to my people. Well, anyhow, Hugh, you will
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Speaker 1: let me know when you come back to England. You
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Speaker 1: know my address, And as soon as you have kicked
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Speaker 1: that uncle of yours out and have squared matters generally,
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Speaker 1: you must come straight to me. You will be sure
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Speaker 1: of the heartiest welcome. The governor is a capital old boy,
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Speaker 1: and if he did cut up Rusty, the wonder is
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Speaker 1: he didn't do it long before. My mother is a
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Speaker 1: dear old lady. And the girls there are two of
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Speaker 1: them are first rate girls. And the youngest, by the way,
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Speaker 1: is just about the right age for you. She was
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Speaker 1: fourteen when I came away. Q left. I shall very
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Speaker 1: likely bring home an Indian squaw or a Mexican, so
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Speaker 1: we won't build on that Luscomb. But when I go
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Speaker 1: back to England, you shall hear of me. And I
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Speaker 1: accept the invitation beforehand. On the following morning, the party
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Speaker 1: broke up, the troops started back for the Fort. Steve
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Speaker 1: Rutherford and the cowboys wrote for a time southwest, and
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Speaker 1: then worked their way over the foothills and came down
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Speaker 1: into the plains of Texas, and after a week's travel,
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Speaker 1: returned to the village from which they had started. It
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Speaker 1: had already begun to rise from its ruins. Wagon loads
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Speaker 1: of lumber had been brought up from below, and there
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Speaker 1: was no lack of willing hands from other scattered settlements
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Speaker 1: to aid in the work of rebuilding the houses. Little
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Speaker 1: attention was paid to the party as they rode up
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Speaker 1: from the plains, for it was not on that side
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Speaker 1: that a watch had been kept up for their return,
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Speaker 1: and indeed the eyes of the survivors had almost ceased
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Speaker 1: to turn towards the mountains, for hope had well nigh
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Speaker 1: died out, and it had been regarded as certain that
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Speaker 1: the whole party had been cut off and massacred by
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Speaker 1: the Indians. As soon, however, as the news spread that
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Speaker 1: there were women among the approaching troop, axes, saws and
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Speaker 1: hammers were thrown down, and there was a rush to
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Speaker 1: meet them. The scene was an affecting one, as mothers
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Speaker 1: clasped daughters and women embraced their husbands whom they had
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Speaker 1: never thought to see again. The cowboys were pressed to
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Speaker 1: stay there for the night, but they refused as they
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Speaker 1: were anxious to return to the ranch from which they
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Speaker 1: had been absent more than three weeks. Fortunately, the busy
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Speaker 1: season was almost over when they left, and they knew
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Speaker 1: that there were enough hands on the ranch to look
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Speaker 1: after the cattle during their absence. On the way back,
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Speaker 1: Bronco Harry said to Hugh, I expect, Hugh, a good
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Speaker 1: many of us will be getting our tickets before long.
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Speaker 1: They don't keep on more than half their strength through
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Speaker 1: the winner. What are you thinking of doing? If you
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Speaker 1: would like to stop on, I'll speak to the boss.
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Speaker 1: I reckon. I shall have charge of an outfit this
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Speaker 1: winter and can manage for you and Stumpy. Thank you
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Speaker 1: very much, Bronco. But as I have told you often,
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Speaker 1: I don't want to stop. I have had a season's
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Speaker 1: life as a cowboy, but I have no idea of
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Speaker 1: sticking to it, and mean to have a try at
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Speaker 1: something else. I intend to go back to England when
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Speaker 1: I am twenty one. I have some property there and
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Speaker 1: have no need to work. I got into a scrape
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Speaker 1: at home with the man who is my guardian, and
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Speaker 1: don't care about turning up until he has no longer
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Speaker 1: any authority over me. Well, you know your own business, Latnin'.
12:57
Speaker 1: It is a pity, for in another year you would
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Speaker 1: make one of the best hands on the planes. If
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Speaker 1: I were to stay for another year, I expect I
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Speaker 1: should stay for good, Harry. It is a hard life,
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Speaker 1: a terribly hard life, but it is a grand one.
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Speaker 1: For all that there is nothing like it in the
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Speaker 1: way of excitement, And I don't wonder that men who
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Speaker 1: once take to it find it very difficult to settle
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Speaker 1: down to anything else afterwards. Therefore, you see, it is
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Speaker 1: just as well to stop before one gets too fond
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Speaker 1: of it. I know I shall always look back upon
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Speaker 1: this as the jolliest time of my life, and I
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Speaker 1: am lucky to have gone through it without having been
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Speaker 1: damaged by a cow, or having my neck broken by
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Speaker 1: a bronco, or being shot by an Indian. Royce has
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Speaker 1: made up his mind to go with me, and as
13:39
Speaker 1: soon as we get our discharge, we shall make our
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Speaker 1: way to New Mexico and perhaps down into Arizona, but
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Speaker 1: of course that must depend upon other things. Upon reaching
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Speaker 1: the station, they found that, as Harry had predicted, hands
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Speaker 1: were already being discharged. The manager said, when they went
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Speaker 1: to him and told him that they wished to leave, well,
13:57
Speaker 1: I had intended to keep you both on for the winner,
13:59
Speaker 1: but of course if you wish to go, there is
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Speaker 1: an end of it, and there are so many anxious
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Speaker 1: to be kept on that a man in my position
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Speaker 1: feels almost grateful to those who voluntarily afford vacancies. There
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Speaker 1: were very hearty and jews between Hugh and Royce and Broncoherry,
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Speaker 1: long Tom and the others who had been their close
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Speaker 1: companions for months. Then they mounted and rode off from
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Speaker 1: the station. They had heard from a man who had
14:21
Speaker 1: just arrived that a large wagon train was on the
14:24
Speaker 1: point of starting from Decatur for Santa Fe. It was
14:27
Speaker 1: composed of several parties who had been waiting until a
14:29
Speaker 1: sufficient force was collected to venture across the Indian country.
14:33
Speaker 1: There were several wagon trains going with supplies for the
14:35
Speaker 1: troops stationed at the chain of forts along the line.
14:39
Speaker 1: Others had goods for Santa Fe, while a third was
14:41
Speaker 1: freighted with machinery and stores for mining enterprises farther south
14:44
Speaker 1: in New Mexico. It took Royce and Hughe a week
14:48
Speaker 1: to traverse the country to Decatur, and on arriving there
14:51
Speaker 1: they heard that the teams had started two days before.
14:54
Speaker 1: They waited a day at Decatur to buy a pack
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Speaker 1: horse and the necessary stores for their journey, and then
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Speaker 1: set out. They overtook the train, which consisted of forty wagons.
15:03
Speaker 1: Learning which man had been selected as the leader of
15:05
Speaker 1: the party, they rode up to him. We're going to
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Speaker 1: Santa Fe, Royce said. We are both good shots and hunters,
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Speaker 1: and we propose to travel with you. We are ready
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Speaker 1: to scout and bring in game if you will supply
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Speaker 1: us with other food. That's a bargain, the man said, briefly.
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Speaker 1: By no means sorry at the addition of strength to
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Speaker 1: the fighting force. I reckon you are in your grub.
15:25
Speaker 1: They say the engines are on the warpath. They are
15:28
Speaker 1: right enough there. Royce said, we've been engaged in a
15:31
Speaker 1: fight with the band of the Comanches who made a
15:33
Speaker 1: raid down on a little settlement named Gainsford, killed a
15:36
Speaker 1: score of settlers and carried off five women. We got
15:39
Speaker 1: together a band from the ranch we were working on
15:42
Speaker 1: and went after them, and we had some pretty tough
15:43
Speaker 1: fighting before we got through. Well, you will just suit us,
15:47
Speaker 1: the man said. I hear pretty near all the tribes
15:50
Speaker 1: are up, but I doubt whether they will venture to
15:52
Speaker 1: attack a party like this. I don't think they will
15:55
Speaker 1: if we keep together and are cautious. Royce said, you
15:58
Speaker 1: have forty wagons. That two men to a wagon makes eighty.
16:02
Speaker 1: That's so. The other agreed, And what with cooks and
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Speaker 1: bosses and one thing and another, we mount up to
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Speaker 1: pretty nine hundred. And of course every man has got
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Speaker 1: a rifle along with him. That makes a strong party,
16:13
Speaker 1: Royce said, and with the advantage you will have of
16:15
Speaker 1: fighting from the cover of the wagons, I don't think
16:17
Speaker 1: the Redskins would dare to attack you. We've got a
16:20
Speaker 1: pack animal along with us, as you see in our
16:22
Speaker 1: blankets and things. We will hitch him too the tail
16:24
Speaker 1: of one of the wagons. The man nodded. I've got
16:27
Speaker 1: four teams here in my own, he said, and a
16:29
Speaker 1: spare man who cooks and so on for my outfit. See,
16:32
Speaker 1: you may as well join in with that. They are
16:34
Speaker 1: the last four wagons in the line. The journey occupied
16:37
Speaker 1: six weeks. They kept it first up the west fork
16:40
Speaker 1: of the Trinity River, crossing a patch of heavily tempered country.
16:43
Speaker 1: Then they struck the main fork of the Brazos River
16:46
Speaker 1: and followed it for some distance, then took the track
16:49
Speaker 1: across to the Rio Pekos. It led them by a
16:51
Speaker 1: toilsome journey across an elevated and arid country without wood
16:55
Speaker 1: or water, save that which they obtained at the headwaters
16:58
Speaker 1: of the Double Mountain River and from four small streams
17:01
Speaker 1: which united lower down to form the North fork of
17:03
Speaker 1: the Colorado River. From this point until they reached the
17:07
Speaker 1: Pecos a distance of over a hundred miles. There was
17:10
Speaker 1: no water. At ordinary times, caravans would not have followed
17:13
Speaker 1: this route, but would have kept far to the north,
17:16
Speaker 1: but they would have been exposed to attacks by the
17:18
Speaker 1: comanches and utes, so in spite of their strength, they
17:21
Speaker 1: thought it prudent to follow the longer and safer route
17:24
Speaker 1: with a view to this journey across the desert. Each
17:27
Speaker 1: wagon carried an empty hogshead slung behind it. These were
17:30
Speaker 1: filled at the last springs, and the water doled out sparingly,
17:34
Speaker 1: sufficed to enable the men and animals to subsist for
17:36
Speaker 1: the five days the journey occupied, although the allowance was
17:40
Speaker 1: so small that the sufferings of the cattle were severe.
17:43
Speaker 1: Up to this time, Hugh and Royce had succeeded almost
17:46
Speaker 1: daily in bringing a couple of stags into camp, but
17:49
Speaker 1: game was scarce in this parched and arid region, where
17:52
Speaker 1: not only water was wanting, but grass was scanty in
17:55
Speaker 1: the extreme, and the only sustenance for deer was the
17:57
Speaker 1: herbage of the scattered bushes. They therefore rode with the
18:01
Speaker 1: caravan and ate it as far as they could. The wagons,
18:04
Speaker 1: which were of great size, were generally drawn by twelve
18:06
Speaker 1: oxen or mules, and in crossing the deep sand it
18:09
Speaker 1: was sometimes necessary to use the teams of two wagons
18:12
Speaker 1: to drag one over the sand hills. Sometimes even this
18:16
Speaker 1: failed to move them, and the mounted men fastened their
18:18
Speaker 1: ropes to the spokes of the wheels and so helped
18:20
Speaker 1: to get the wagons out of the holes into which
18:22
Speaker 1: they had sunk. I would rather run the risks of
18:25
Speaker 1: a fight with the Indians, Hugh said to Royce on
18:28
Speaker 1: the last day of their journey across the plain, than
18:30
Speaker 1: have to perform this frightful journey. The heat is simply awful,
18:34
Speaker 1: and I feel as if I could drink a bucket
18:36
Speaker 1: of water. You will get plenty of water tonight, Hugh.
18:39
Speaker 1: The Pacas is a good, big river. I believe the
18:42
Speaker 1: animals smell it already. Look how hard they are pulling.
18:45
Speaker 1: The drivers cracked their whips and shout as usual, but
18:47
Speaker 1: the beasts are doing their best without that. We've been
18:50
Speaker 1: very lucky that we've had no sandstorms or anything to
18:52
Speaker 1: delay us and confuse us. As to the track, well,
18:56
Speaker 1: we are over the worst of the journey now. Except
18:58
Speaker 1: the Guadalupe Pass. There ain't much te trubble between the
19:00
Speaker 1: Pacus and al Paso. Once there we are on the
19:03
Speaker 1: Rio Grand all the way up to Santa Fe. Towards
19:06
Speaker 1: the afternoon, the ground became harder, and the animals quickened
19:09
Speaker 1: their pace almost to a trot, straighting at the ropes
19:12
Speaker 1: with heaving flanks, while their tongues hanging out and their
19:15
Speaker 1: bloodshot eyes showed how they were suffering. An hour before sunset,
19:19
Speaker 1: a shout broke from the men, as on ascending a
19:22
Speaker 1: slight rise. The river lay before them the instant they
19:25
Speaker 1: reached its bank, and the animals were loosed. They rushed
19:28
Speaker 1: in a body into the stream and plunged their nostrils
19:31
Speaker 1: deeply into the water, while the men, ascending the banks
19:34
Speaker 1: a short distance, lay down at the edge of the
19:36
Speaker 1: stream and satisfied their thirst. Five minutes later all had
19:40
Speaker 1: stripped and were enjoying a bath. Hugh had been much
19:43
Speaker 1: struck with the difference between the teamsters and the cowboys.
19:46
Speaker 1: The former did not wear the chaparajos or leather overalls
19:49
Speaker 1: with fringed seams, or the bright silk neck handkerchiefs or
19:53
Speaker 1: flat brimmed hats of the cowboys. Their attire was sober
19:56
Speaker 1: rather than bright. They wore soft hats with slouched breads
20:00
Speaker 1: and great cowhide boots. There was none of that dashing,
20:03
Speaker 1: reckless air that characterized the cowboys, or the quick alertness
20:06
Speaker 1: that showed the readiness to cope with any emergency that
20:09
Speaker 1: might occur. Nor in the camp at night was there
20:12
Speaker 1: any trace of the light hearted gaiety which showed itself
20:14
Speaker 1: in song, laughter and dance. In the gatherings round the
20:17
Speaker 1: cowboys fires. They were, for the most part silent and
20:21
Speaker 1: moody men, as if the dull, monotonous labor in which
20:24
Speaker 1: they were engaged, and the months of solitary journeying with
20:27
Speaker 1: nothing to break the silence save the cracking of the
20:29
Speaker 1: whips and the shouts of encouragement to the animals, had
20:32
Speaker 1: left their mark upon them. Hugh and Royce agreed cordially
20:36
Speaker 1: that with all its dangers and its unmeasured toil, they
20:39
Speaker 1: would infinitely prefer the life of a cowboy, short as
20:42
Speaker 1: it might be, to that of a teamster, even with
20:45
Speaker 1: the prospect of acquiring a competence upon which to settle
20:48
Speaker 1: down an old age. Two days halt was made on
20:50
Speaker 1: the banks of the pakas to rest the footstore animals.
20:54
Speaker 1: Then the journey was recommenced. The river crossed at a
20:56
Speaker 1: shallow ford and its banks followed until after three days journey,
21:00
Speaker 1: a small stream running in from the west was reached.
21:03
Speaker 1: Hence the route lay due west to El Paso. The
21:06
Speaker 1: country was flat until they reached the Guadalupe range of hills,
21:10
Speaker 1: which they crossed by a winding and difficult pass, each
21:13
Speaker 1: wagon being taken up by three teams. Then skirting the
21:16
Speaker 1: Alamos Hills, they crossed the Sierra Jueco by the pass
21:19
Speaker 1: of the same name, which was far easier than that
21:22
Speaker 1: of Guadalupe, and then one long day's march took them
21:25
Speaker 1: down to Fort Bliss, which stands on the Rio Grande,
21:28
Speaker 1: facing the town of El Paso. They had now arrived
21:31
Speaker 1: at the borders of civilization. Mexican villages and towns and
21:35
Speaker 1: United States posts were scattered thickly along the course of
21:37
Speaker 1: the river all the way from El Paso up to
21:40
Speaker 1: Santa Fe. Where do you think it? A de in?
21:42
Speaker 1: Young Veella, the head of the party, asked Hugh, as
21:45
Speaker 1: they sat by the fire of the encampment a short
21:47
Speaker 1: distance out of El Paso. You see we shall kind
21:49
Speaker 1: of break up here. I go with my teams to
21:52
Speaker 1: the forts along the river, and then strike out east
21:54
Speaker 1: to the outlying post. About half my freight is ammunition
21:57
Speaker 1: and such like. Well, then pretty nigh half the wagons
22:00
Speaker 1: go up to the mines. They have powder, tools and machinery.
22:04
Speaker 1: One or two stay here, they bring hardware and store
22:06
Speaker 1: goods of all sorts for this town. The rest go
22:09
Speaker 1: up to Santa Fe. Now, what are you thinking of doing?
22:12
Speaker 1: You can make up your mind to stay here, or
22:14
Speaker 1: you can go up to Santa Fe. You told me
22:16
Speaker 1: you had a fancy for John and some prospecting party
22:18
Speaker 1: and going out west into Arizona. I doubt whether you
22:22
Speaker 1: will find anyone much bent on that job at present,
22:24
Speaker 1: seeing as how the engines is stirring, though I don't
22:27
Speaker 1: know that makes much difference, seeing they as always again
22:30
Speaker 1: anyone going into what they calls their country. Anyhow, the
22:34
Speaker 1: miners will all have to work with a pick in
22:36
Speaker 1: one hand and a rifle in the other. You've got
22:38
Speaker 1: the Apaches here, and they are worse than the Comanches.
22:41
Speaker 1: The Comanches have had to deal with Western hunters and pioneers,
22:44
Speaker 1: and know that there ain't much to be got out
22:46
Speaker 1: of them, but led so beyond stealing cattle. They've gotten
22:49
Speaker 1: too the way of being mostly quiet, though now and
22:52
Speaker 1: again they break out, just as they have at present.
22:55
Speaker 1: Now the Apache has had to deal all along with Mexicans,
22:58
Speaker 1: and he has pretty good reason for them think he
23:00
Speaker 1: is much better fighter than the white men. He has
23:03
Speaker 1: been raiding on the Mexican villages for hundreds of years,
23:06
Speaker 1: burning and killing and carrying off their women and gals,
23:09
Speaker 1: and I guess there is pretty good sprinkling of Mexican
23:11
Speaker 1: blood in his veins, though that don't make him better
23:13
Speaker 1: or worse as far as I know. Still take them together.
23:17
Speaker 1: They are the savagest and hardest tribe of redskins on
23:20
Speaker 1: this continent. However, if you like to go prospecting among
23:24
Speaker 1: our hills and to run the risk of losing your scalp,
23:27
Speaker 1: that is your business. But if you do, this is
23:29
Speaker 1: the place to start from, and not Santa Fe. There's
23:32
Speaker 1: gold pretty nigh everywhere in the valley of the Hila,
23:35
Speaker 1: and that lies a bit to the northwest from here.
23:38
Speaker 1: At any rate, it seems to me that this is
23:39
Speaker 1: the place that you are most likely to fall in
23:41
Speaker 1: with the party starting out. But let me give you
23:44
Speaker 1: a warning, lad, You will find this town is pretty
23:46
Speaker 1: nigh full of gold miners, and you won't find one
23:49
Speaker 1: of them who won't tell you that he knows of
23:51
Speaker 1: some place that's a certain fortune up among the hills. Now,
23:55
Speaker 1: don't you believe them? Don't you go and put your
23:57
Speaker 1: money into any job like that. You find a party
24:00
Speaker 1: being got up and others think it is good enough. John,
24:03
Speaker 1: of course you can chip in, but don't you go
24:06
Speaker 1: and find the money for the whole show. There is
24:08
Speaker 1: no fear of that, you laughed. I had about five
24:12
Speaker 1: and twenty pounds when I went on to the ranch,
24:14
Speaker 1: and I have got that in six months pay in
24:16
Speaker 1: my belt. That won't go far towards fitting out an expedition, No,
24:20
Speaker 1: it won't. The teamster agreed. It will be enough for
24:23
Speaker 1: you to be able to chip in with the others.
24:25
Speaker 1: But as you say, not to stand the whole racket. Well,
24:28
Speaker 1: what do you think. I am very much obliged to
24:31
Speaker 1: you for your advice, you said, and I think we
24:33
Speaker 1: can't do better than stay about here for a bit
24:36
Speaker 1: at any rate. What do you say, Royce? It is
24:39
Speaker 1: all one to me, Royce replied. But there's no doubt
24:42
Speaker 1: that El Paso is as good a place as any,
24:44
Speaker 1: if not better for looking around. Then that is settled, Bill,
24:47
Speaker 1: And to tell you the truth, I have had pretty
24:49
Speaker 1: nigh enough writing for the present, and shamty sorry for
24:52
Speaker 1: a fortnight's rest. Same here, Bill said, I feel as
24:56
Speaker 1: if I was getting part of the horse and should
24:58
Speaker 1: like to get about on foot for a bit, so
25:00
Speaker 1: so to feel that I hadn't quite lost the use
25:02
Speaker 1: of my legs. Accordingly, the next morning they bade goodbye
25:05
Speaker 1: to their comrades at the last two months, and mounting,
25:08
Speaker 1: rode into El Paso. It was a town of some
25:11
Speaker 1: size and purely Mexican, and its features and appearance the
25:15
Speaker 1: inhabitants almost all belonged to that nationality, but in the
25:18
Speaker 1: street were a considerable number of red shirted miners and teamsters.
25:22
Speaker 1: Hugh and his companions rode up to one of the
25:24
Speaker 1: principal haciendas and handed over the three horses to a
25:27
Speaker 1: lounging Mexican. They have been fed this morning, Royce said,
25:31
Speaker 1: we will come in and give them some porn in
25:33
Speaker 1: two hours. I will see after Prince Hughes said, patting
25:36
Speaker 1: his horse's neck. Don't you be afraid that I Am
25:39
Speaker 1: going to leave you to the care of strangers. We
25:41
Speaker 1: have been together too long for that old boy. They
25:44
Speaker 1: then went into the hotel and ordered a room and breakfast.
25:47
Speaker 1: I don't care much for this Mexican stuff, with its
25:49
Speaker 1: oil and garlic, Royce said, as they had finished the meal.
25:53
Speaker 1: Don't you I call it first rate? After living on
25:56
Speaker 1: fried beef and broiled beef for over a year, it
25:58
Speaker 1: is a comfort to get hold of vetchea. These beans
26:01
Speaker 1: were delicious, and the coffee is a treat. It isn't
26:04
Speaker 1: bad for one meal, Royce admitted reluctantly, But you'll get
26:07
Speaker 1: pretty sick of Mexican cookery after a bit, and long
26:10
Speaker 1: for a chunk of plain beef hot from the fire.
26:13
Speaker 1: Perhaps I shall, you laughed, but I think it will
26:16
Speaker 1: be some little time. First. Now, let us take a
26:18
Speaker 1: stroll round the town. It was all new to Hugh.
26:22
Speaker 1: He had seen the Mexican women in their native dress
26:24
Speaker 1: in the villages among the hills, but here they indulged
26:27
Speaker 1: in much more finery than the peasant girls. The Poblennas
26:30
Speaker 1: were all dressed in gay colors, with a scarf or
26:33
Speaker 1: ribbezo over their heads, with gold pins and ornaments in
26:36
Speaker 1: their glossy black hair, and with earrings, necklaces, and generally
26:39
Speaker 1: bracelets of the same metal. No small share of a
26:42
Speaker 1: peasant's wealth is exhibited on the persons of his womankind.
26:46
Speaker 1: They wore short skirts, generally of red or green, trimmed
26:49
Speaker 1: with rows of black braid, while a snow white petticoat
26:52
Speaker 1: below and a white chimney set partly hidden by a
26:55
Speaker 1: gay handkerchief over the shoulders, completed the costume. They were
26:59
Speaker 1: almost all barefoot, but Hugh observed that their feet and
27:02
Speaker 1: ankles were exceedingly small and well formed, as were their
27:05
Speaker 1: hands and plump brown arms. Here and there were a
27:08
Speaker 1: good many of the upper class, half shrouded in black mantles,
27:11
Speaker 1: wearing the Spanish mantilla, worn so as partly to conceal
27:14
Speaker 1: the face, though it needed but the slightest movement to
27:17
Speaker 1: draw it aside when they wished to recognize anyone they met.
27:20
Speaker 1: Most of these were on their way to a church
27:22
Speaker 1: whose bell was peeling out a summons, and carried their
27:25
Speaker 1: mass book in one hand and a fan in the other.
27:28
Speaker 1: Many a look of admiration was bestowed by the merry
27:30
Speaker 1: peasant girls upon Hugh as he walked along. He was
27:33
Speaker 1: now eighteen and had attained his full height, and his
27:36
Speaker 1: life on horseback gave an easy and lissome appearance to
27:39
Speaker 1: his tall, powerful figure. His work among the cattle had
27:43
Speaker 1: given to his face something of the keen, watchful expression
27:46
Speaker 1: that characterizes the cowboys, but not to a sufficient extent
27:50
Speaker 1: to materially affect the frank, pleasant look that was his
27:52
Speaker 1: chief characteristic. His gray eyes and the light brown hair
27:56
Speaker 1: with the slightest tinge of gold in it, typical of
27:59
Speaker 1: the hardy Norse country race, were very attractive to the
28:02
Speaker 1: dark skinned Mexicans. He and his companions had both donned
28:06
Speaker 1: their best attire before leaving camp, and this differed but
28:09
Speaker 1: slightly from that of the Mexican vacaros, and though sufficiently
28:12
Speaker 1: gay to attract general attention elsewhere, passed unnoticed at El Paso.
28:17
Speaker 1: The western cowboy was not an unusual figure there, for
28:20
Speaker 1: many of those discharged during the winter were in the
28:22
Speaker 1: habit of working down upon the new Mexican ranches and
28:25
Speaker 1: taking temporary employment with the native cattle raisers, by whom
28:29
Speaker 1: their services were much valued, especially where the ranches were
28:32
Speaker 1: in the neighborhood of those worked by white cowboys. These,
28:35
Speaker 1: in any disputes as to cattle with The Mexican vocaros
28:38
Speaker 1: were accustomed to carry matters with the high hand, but
28:41
Speaker 1: the white cowboys in Mexican service were just as ready
28:44
Speaker 1: to fight for their employer's rights as were those on
28:47
Speaker 1: the American ranches, and the herds were safe from depredation
28:50
Speaker 1: when under their charge. There were many priests in the streets,
28:54
Speaker 1: and numerous as they were, they were always saluted with
28:56
Speaker 1: the deepest respect by the peasant women. It is one
29:00
Speaker 1: wonderful how much women think of their priests, Royce observed philosophically.
29:04
Speaker 1: Back east. It used to make me pretty well sick
29:06
Speaker 1: when I was a young chap to hear them go
29:08
Speaker 1: on about their ministers. But these Mexican women go a
29:11
Speaker 1: lot farther. There is nothing they wouldn't do for these
29:14
Speaker 1: fat padres. No, but they are not all fat, Royce
29:17
Speaker 1: Hughes said, I acknowledge they look, for the most part,
29:20
Speaker 1: plump and well fed, and upon the best of terms
29:23
Speaker 1: with themselves as well. They may be, seeing how much
29:26
Speaker 1: they are respected, they have got a pretty easy life,
29:29
Speaker 1: I reckon, Royce said contemptuously. They've gotten to say Mass
29:33
Speaker 1: two or three times a day, sit in a box
29:35
Speaker 1: listening to the women's confessions and fatten upon their gifts
29:38
Speaker 1: and offerings at any rate. Royce, the people here are religious.
29:43
Speaker 1: See there are as many peasants as peasant women going
29:45
Speaker 1: into that church. Whatever may be said about it, religion
29:49
Speaker 1: goes for a good deal more in a Catholic country
29:51
Speaker 1: than in a Protestant. It is a pity there is
29:53
Speaker 1: not more religion among the cowboys. How are we to
29:56
Speaker 1: get it? Royce protested once or twice a year of
29:59
Speaker 1: minister may rive at a camp and preach, but that's
30:01
Speaker 1: about all. We always give him a fair show, and
30:04
Speaker 1: if any fellow were to make a musk, it would
30:06
Speaker 1: be worse for him. I don't say as cowboys don't
30:08
Speaker 1: use pretty hard language among themselves, but I will say
30:11
Speaker 1: this that if a minister or a woman comes to camp,
30:14
Speaker 1: they will never hear a swear word if they stop
30:16
Speaker 1: there a week, No, sir, cowboys know how to behave
30:19
Speaker 1: when they like, and a woman might go through the
30:22
Speaker 1: ranches from end to end in Texas without being insulted.
30:25
Speaker 1: I know that's Royce. The point is, if they can
30:28
Speaker 1: go without using what you call swear words when a
30:31
Speaker 1: woman is among them, why can't they always do so.
30:34
Speaker 1: It is all very fine to talk to you, but
30:36
Speaker 1: when you get on a buck and bronco that sends
30:38
Speaker 1: you flight about ten yards through the air and you
30:40
Speaker 1: come down ker plump. I never seed a man yet
30:43
Speaker 1: as would pick himself up and speak as if he
30:45
Speaker 1: were in a church. No, sir, it's not in human nature.
30:49
Speaker 1: When they got back to the hotel, Hugh observed that
30:51
Speaker 1: questioning glances were cast at them by several men who
30:54
Speaker 1: were lounging about the steps. Royce observed it also, what
30:58
Speaker 1: have those fellows gotten their heads? I wonder? He said?
31:01
Speaker 1: Do they reckon we are two bad, bold men who
31:04
Speaker 1: have been holding up some Mexican village, or do they
31:06
Speaker 1: take us for horse thieves? There's something wrong you, you bet?
31:10
Speaker 1: They certainly didn't look friendly Royce, though I am sure
31:13
Speaker 1: I don't know what it is about. You haven't been
31:16
Speaker 1: waking at any of their women? Have you? Goar along
31:18
Speaker 1: with your bryce left? As if any of them would
31:21
Speaker 1: look at a little chap like me while I am
31:23
Speaker 1: walking along of you. If there has been any wink,
31:25
Speaker 1: and it's you as has done it, I am quite innocent, Royce.
31:29
Speaker 1: I assure you still there is something wrong, well, let
31:32
Speaker 1: us go and see that the horses are fed. There
31:35
Speaker 1: were five or six men in the yard. They were
31:37
Speaker 1: talking excitedly together when Hugh and his companion came out
31:40
Speaker 1: of the hotel. But they were at once silent and
31:42
Speaker 1: stood looking at them as they crossed the yard and
31:44
Speaker 1: went into the stable. There's something wrong, Royce repeated. If
31:49
Speaker 1: my horse were as good as yours, Hugh, I should say,
31:51
Speaker 1: let's settle up quietly and ride out and make a bolt.
31:53
Speaker 1: But they would overtake me in no time. That would
31:56
Speaker 1: never do, Royce. I don't know what their suspicions are,
31:59
Speaker 1: but they would be confirmed if we were to try
32:01
Speaker 1: to escape, And if they overtook us, the chances are
32:03
Speaker 1: they wouldn't give us much time for explanations. You are
32:06
Speaker 1: right there, Hugh. The Mexicans hates the whites. They know
32:10
Speaker 1: that one of us could lick any three of them,
32:11
Speaker 1: and it rills them pretty considerable. They don't give a
32:14
Speaker 1: white man much show if they get their hands on him. Well,
32:17
Speaker 1: it is no use worrying about it, Royce. I suppose
32:20
Speaker 1: we shall hear sooner or later what it is all about.
32:23
Speaker 1: Passing through the hotel, they took their seats at some
32:25
Speaker 1: tables placed in the shade in front of the house,
32:27
Speaker 1: and they're sat smoking and talking for some time. If
32:31
Speaker 1: those fellows round the door keep on looking at us
32:33
Speaker 1: much longer, roy said, I shall get up and ask
32:35
Speaker 1: him what they mean. Don't do that, Royce, it would
32:38
Speaker 1: only bring on a fight that is no use here. Wow,
32:42
Speaker 1: roy said doggedly. I haven't got to sit here to
32:45
Speaker 1: be stared at, and some of them fellas is going
32:47
Speaker 1: to get wiped out if they go on at it.
32:49
Speaker 1: We are sure to hear before long, Royce. See there
32:52
Speaker 1: is a knot of four or five fellows in uniform
32:54
Speaker 1: at the other end of the square. I suppose that
32:56
Speaker 1: they are a sort of policeman. I have seen them
32:59
Speaker 1: looking this way. You will see they are going to
33:01
Speaker 1: arrest us presently, and then I suppose we shall hear
33:03
Speaker 1: all about it. I wish we had Broncho Harry and
33:07
Speaker 1: the rest of our outfit here. Roy said, we would
33:09
Speaker 1: clear out the whole town. Half an hour later, there
33:12
Speaker 1: was a clatter of horses hoofs, and two gentlemen, followed
33:15
Speaker 1: by half a dozen Mexican vocaros, rode into the square
33:18
Speaker 1: and made straight for the hotel. Simultaneously, the guardians of
33:22
Speaker 1: the peace moved across the square, and there was a
33:24
Speaker 1: stir among the loungers at the entrance to the hotel.
33:28
Speaker 1: The affair is coming to a crisis, Royce. One of
33:31
Speaker 1: the Mexicans was an elderly man, the other a lad
33:34
Speaker 1: seventeen or eighteen years old. The latter dismounted and entered
33:37
Speaker 1: the hotel. In two minutes he reappeared and spoke to
33:40
Speaker 1: the other, who also dismounted, And, after a word or
33:43
Speaker 1: two with one of the men belonging to the hotel,
33:45
Speaker 1: and a short conversation with the leader of the party
33:47
Speaker 1: of civil guards, advanced to the table at which Hugh
33:50
Speaker 1: and Royce were sitting. He saluted them as they rose
33:53
Speaker 1: to their feet. Hugh returned the salutation, Signors, he said, courteously,
33:58
Speaker 1: in very fair English, you have, I understand, just arrived
34:02
Speaker 1: here having accompanied a wagon train across the deserts from Texas.
34:07
Speaker 1: It is perfectly true, Signor Hugh replied, is there anything
34:10
Speaker 1: unusual in our doing so? By no means, the Mexican said,
34:15
Speaker 1: The matter that concerns me is that one of you
34:17
Speaker 1: is riding a horse which belonged to my son don
34:20
Speaker 1: Estefan peralas you mean the bay, the Mexican made a
34:24
Speaker 1: gesture of a scent. I purchased that horse at McKinney,
34:27
Speaker 1: a small town northeast of Texas. May I ask who
34:31
Speaker 1: you purchased it from. Certainly, signor, it must have passed
34:34
Speaker 1: from the hands of your son before it was offered
34:36
Speaker 1: for sale to me. I bought it from two men
34:38
Speaker 1: whom I had never seen before. A little crowd had
34:41
Speaker 1: gathered behind the Mexican, and at this answered there were
34:44
Speaker 1: exclamations of a likely story, that and death to the
34:48
Speaker 1: horse thieves. Two men in mining costume, the one a tall,
34:52
Speaker 1: powerfully built man some fifty years old, the other small
34:55
Speaker 1: and of slight figure with snow white hair, who had
34:58
Speaker 1: just strolled up, separated the themselves from the rest, and
35:01
Speaker 1: ranged themselves by Hughes's side, the big man, saying in
35:04
Speaker 1: Mexican softly, signors softly, you ain't neither judges nor jury
35:10
Speaker 1: on this case, and me and my maid is going
35:12
Speaker 1: to see fair play. There is no intention, signor of
35:16
Speaker 1: doing anything unfair. The Mexican said. The matter is a
35:19
Speaker 1: simple one. These strangers have just ridden in here with
35:23
Speaker 1: a horse, belonging to my son. He started from here
35:26
Speaker 1: with three servants and a party going to Texas. This
35:29
Speaker 1: was upwards of eighteen months ago. He had business at
35:32
Speaker 1: New York. His intention was to spend a few weeks
35:35
Speaker 1: in Texas hunting, then to proceed to the nearest railway
35:38
Speaker 1: station and take the train to New York. From the
35:41
Speaker 1: time he started we have never heard from him. Some
35:44
Speaker 1: members of the party he accompanied have long since returned.
35:47
Speaker 1: It seems that he accompanied them until they had passed
35:50
Speaker 1: the bad lands, and then left them to carry out
35:53
Speaker 1: his intention of hunting. We have never heard of him since.
35:56
Speaker 1: He certainly has never arrived at New York. And now
36:00
Speaker 1: that these strangers arrive here with his horse, which was
36:03
Speaker 1: recognized as soon as it entered the stables, I have
36:06
Speaker 1: a right to inquire how they obtained it. Surely, Signor
36:10
Speaker 1: Hugh said, the men from whom I bought it were,
36:13
Speaker 1: as I said, strangers. They were two very doubtful looking characters.
36:17
Speaker 1: And as they appeared very anxious to sell the horse,
36:19
Speaker 1: and were willing to part with it considerably under its value,
36:23
Speaker 1: my opinion was that undoubtedly they had not become possessed
36:26
Speaker 1: of it. Honestly, my friend here was with me at
36:28
Speaker 1: the time, and the only terms upon which I would
36:30
Speaker 1: purchase it and a pack horse they also had to sell,
36:33
Speaker 1: were that they should give me a formal receipt, signed
36:36
Speaker 1: in the presence of the sheriff and judge, in order
36:38
Speaker 1: that should I at any time come across the owner
36:40
Speaker 1: of the animal, I should be in a position to
36:42
Speaker 1: prove that I at least had come by it honestly.
36:45
Speaker 1: That receipt I have here, and taking a small leather
36:48
Speaker 1: case from his pocket, he produced the receipt. These are
36:52
Speaker 1: the signatures, Signor, and the official stamps of the writers,
36:55
Speaker 1: and you will see that they testify also to their
36:57
Speaker 1: personal knowledge of me as a resident of the TWA.
37:00
Speaker 1: I may add that it is certain that had I
37:02
Speaker 1: been an accomplice of the thieves, I should have taken
37:05
Speaker 1: good care not to bring the horse to a locality
37:07
Speaker 1: where he would be at once recognized. The Mexican glanced
37:11
Speaker 1: through the paper. That is perfectly satisfactory, Signor, and I
37:15
Speaker 1: must apologize for having, for a moment entertained suspicions of you.
37:19
Speaker 1: Explain this, Carlos, He said to his son, I would
37:22
Speaker 1: have further talk with these gentlemen. The young Mexican translated
37:26
Speaker 1: in his own language the effect of what had passed,
37:28
Speaker 1: and the little crowd speedily dispersed, several having walked away
37:32
Speaker 1: as soon as the two miners sided with the accused,
37:35
Speaker 1: as a fray with four determined men armed with revolvers
37:38
Speaker 1: was not to be lightly entered upon. The miners were
37:41
Speaker 1: also turning away. What Hugh said to the Mexican excuse
37:44
Speaker 1: me a moment, signor thank you greatly, he went on,
37:48
Speaker 1: turning to the miners for siding with us. We are
37:51
Speaker 1: strangers here. Will you let us see you again and
37:53
Speaker 1: have a talk with you at present? As you see
37:56
Speaker 1: this gentleman who has lost his son, who has most
37:59
Speaker 1: probably been murdered by these horse thieves, wants to question me,
38:03
Speaker 1: do me the favor to come in this evening and
38:05
Speaker 1: drink a bottle of wine with us when we can
38:07
Speaker 1: again thank you for your aid. There are no thanks do.
38:10
Speaker 1: The bigger of the two men said, me and my
38:13
Speaker 1: mate know nothing of the affair, but seeing two of
38:15
Speaker 1: our own color facing a lot of these Mexicans, we
38:18
Speaker 1: naturally ranged up alongside of you to see fair play.
38:21
Speaker 1: But as you are strangers and we have nothing particular
38:23
Speaker 1: to do. I don't mind if we come in and
38:25
Speaker 1: have a talk this evening, a mate. The little man nodded,
38:29
Speaker 1: and the two walked off together. Hugh then turned to
38:31
Speaker 1: the Mexican. Now, Signor, we are at your service, Signors,
38:36
Speaker 1: he said, courteously, my name is Don Ramon Perles. Mahacienda
38:41
Speaker 1: lies three miles away. This is scarcely a place for
38:44
Speaker 1: quiet conversation. I am anxious to learn all particulars that
38:47
Speaker 1: you can give me. As to the men from whom
38:49
Speaker 1: you bought the horse, may I ask if you would
38:52
Speaker 1: mount your horses and ride back with me with pleasure?
38:55
Speaker 1: Signor Hugh said, our time is entirely our own, and
38:59
Speaker 1: I can readily underst stand your anxiety to hear all
39:01
Speaker 1: you can about this matter. End of Chapter fifteen, read
39:05
Speaker 1: by Dorry Smith.