The Lone Ranch - Mayne Reid (korean novels in english txt) š
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āI tolt ye so,ā says Walt. āSee! yonnerās the skunk himself astride oā a mule at the tail oā the gang.ā
Hamersley directs his eyes to the rear of the outstretched rank. There, sure enough, is a man on muleback, dressed differently from the troopers. The coarse woollen tilma, and straw hat, he remembers as having been worn by one of Miranderās male domestics. He does not identify the man. But Waltās recollection of his rival is clearer, and he has no doubt that he on the mule is Manuel. Nor, for that matter, has Hamersley. The peonās presence is something to assist in the explanation. It clears up everything.
Hamersley breathes hard as the dark shadows sweep through his soul. For a long time absorbed in thought, he utters scarce an ejaculation. Only after the lancer troop has passed, its rearmost files just clearing the alignment of the copse, he gasps out, in a voice husky as that of one in the act of being strangled,ā
āTheyāre going straight for the place. O God!ā
āYes,ā rejoins the ex-Ranger, in a tone like despondent, āThar bounā thar for sartint. The darned creeturās been tempted by the blood-money set on Kumel Mirandaās head, anā air too like to git it. Theyāll grup him, sure; anās like as not gie him the garota. Poor gentleman! He air the noblest Mexikin I iver sot eyes on, anā desarves a better fate. As for the ole doc, he may get off arter sarvinā a spell in prison, anā the saynoritaāā
A groan from Hamersley interrupts the remark. His comrade, perceiving how much he is pained, modifies what he meant to say.
āTharās no need to be so much afeard oā what may happen to her. She aināt goinā to be rubbed out, anyhow; anā if she hasnāt no brother to purtect her, I reckon sheās got a frienā in you, Frank. Anā hyarās another oā the same, as they say in the Psalms oā Davit.ā
Waltās words have a hopeful sound. Hamersley is cheered by them, but replies not. He only presses the hand of his comrade in silent and grateful grasp.
āYis,ā continues the ex-Ranger with increased emphasis, āIād lay down my life to save that young lady from harum, as I know youād lay down yourn. Anā thet air to say nothinā oā my own gurl. This chile aināt niver been much guv to runninā arter white wheemen, anā war genārally content to put up wiā a squaw. But sech as them! As for yourn, I donāt wonder yur heart beats like a chased rabbitās; myen air doinā the same for Concheeter. Wal, niver fear! Ef tharās a hair oā eyther oā thar heads teched, youāll hear the crack oā Walt Wilderās rifle, and see its bullet go into the breast oā him as harms āem. I donāt care who or what he air, or whar he be. Nor I donāt care a durnānot the valley of a dried buffler-chipāwhat may come arterāhanginā, garrotinā, or shootinā. At all risks, them two sweet creeturs air bound to be protected from harum; an ef it comes, they shall be reevenged. I swar that, by the Eturnal!ā
āI join you in the oath,ā pronounces Hamersley, with emphatic fervour, once more exchanging a hand-squeeze with his companion. āYes, Walt; the brave Miranda may be sacrificedāI fear it must be so. But for his sister, there is still a hope that we may save her; and surely heaven will help us. If not, I shall be ready to die. Ah! death would be easier to bear than the loss of Adela!ā
āAnā for this chile the same, rayther than he shed lose Concheeter.ā
No need saying that the cavalcade seen passing the copse is the lancer troop of Colonel Uraga.
Some thirty hours before, they ascended to the Staked Plain, and are now nearly across it. Guided by the traitor, they had no need to grope their way, and have made quick time. In a few hours more they will pounce upon the prey for which they have swooped so far.
The two men concealed in the grove expect them to ride on without stopping, till out of sight. Instead, they see them draw up at a few miles distance, though all remain mounted. Two separate from the rest keep on a couple of hundred yards ahead, then also halt.
These are Uraga himself, with his adjutant Roblez.
āTis only a temporary pause to exchange counsel about the plan of proceedingāas a falcon expands itself in the air before its last flight towards the quarry it has selected.
Before separating from his followers, Uraga has summoned to his side the youngest commissioned officer of the troop, saying,ā
āAlferes! go back to that Indian! Send the brute on to the front here.ā
Manuel is the individual thus coarsely indicated.
Told that he is wanted, the peon spurs his mule forward, and places himself by the side of the commanding officer, who has meanwhile dismounted.
In the countenance of the Indian there is an expression of conscious guilt, such as may appear in that of one not hardened by habitual crime. There is even something like compunction for what he is about to do, with remorse for what he has already done. Now that he is drawing near the scene, where those betrayed by him must suffer, his reflections are anything but pleasant. Rather are they tinged with regret. Don Valerian Miranda has been an indulgent master to him, and the Dona Adela a kind mistress. On both he is bringing destruction.
And what is to be his reward? From the time of his betraying them, the moment he parted with the secret of their hiding-place, he has lost control of it.
He is no longer treated with the slightest respect. On the contrary, he to whom he communicated it behaves to him as conqueror to conquered, master to slave, forcing him forward with sword pointed at his breast, or pistol aimed at his head.
If a guide, he is no longer looked upon as a voluntary one. Nor would he be this, but for a thought that inspires, while keeping him true to his treasonous intent. When he thinks of Conchitaāof that scene in the cotton-wood groveāof the Texan kissing herāholding her in his fond embraceāwhen the Indian recalls all this, torturing his soul afresh, then no more remorse, not a spark of regret, not a ray of repentance!
No; perish the duenoāthe duena too! Let die the good doctor, if need beāall whom his vengeance has devoted!
āSirrah! are those the two peaks you spoke of?ā
It is Uraga who puts this interrogatory, pointing to a pair of twin summits seen rising above the horizon to eastward.
āSi SeƱor Coronel; they are the same.ā
āAnd you say the path leads down between them?ā
āGoes down through a gulch, after keeping round the cliff.ā
āAnd thereās no other by which the valley may be entered?ā
āYour excellency, I did not say that. There is another entrance, but not from the upper plain here. A stream runs through, and cuts it way out beyond. Following its channel through the caƱon, the place can be reached from below; but not after itās been raining. Then the flood fills its bed, and thereās no path along the edge. As it hasnāt rained lately, the banks will be above water.ā
āAnd anyone could pass out below?ā
āThey could, SeƱor Coronel.ā
āWe require to observe caution, Roblez,ā says Uraga, addressing himself to the adjutant; āelse we may have made our long journey for nothing. āTwill never do to enter the cage and find the birds flown. How far is it to the point where the river runs below?ā
The question is put to the peon.
āCinco leguas, SeƱor; not less. Itās a long way to get round, after going down the cliff.ā
āFive leagues there, and five back up the canon of the streamāquite a dayās journey. If we send a detachment round ātwill take all of that. Shall we do it?ā
āI donāt think thereās the slightest need for wasting so much time,ā counsels the adjutant.
āBut the Indian says any one going down the defile between those hills can be seen from the house. Supposing they should see us, and retreat by the opening below?ā
āNo need to let them see us. We can stay above till night, then descend in the darkness. As theyāre not likely to be expecting visitors, there should be no great difficulty in approaching this grand mansion unannounced. Let us make our call after the hour of midnight, when, doubtless, the fair Adela will be dreaming ofāā
āEnough!ā exclaims Uraga, a cloud suddenly coming over his countenance, as if the words of his subordinate recalled some unpleasant souvenir. āWe shall do as you say, ayadante. Give orders for the men to dismount. We shall halt here till sunset. Meanwhile, see that this copper-skin is closely kept. To make safe, you may as well clap the manacles on him.ā
In obedience, Roblez takes the Indian back to the halted troop, directs him to be shackled; then gives the order for dismounting.
But not for a night camp, only for a temporary bivouac; and this without fires, or even unsaddling of the horses. The troopers are to stay by the stirrup, ready at any moment to remount.
There stay they; no longer in formation, but, as commanded, silent and motionless; only such stir as is made by snatching a morsel from their haversacks or smoking their corn-husk cigarritos.
Thus till near sundown, when, remounting, they move on.
The spot upon which the lancer troop had halted was less than a league from the grove that gave shelter to the two Americans. In the translucent atmosphere of the tableland it looked scarce a mile. The individual forms of troopers could be distinguished, and the two who had taken themselves apart. The taller of these was easily identified as the commanding officer of the troop.
āIf theyād only keep thar till arter sundown,ā mutters Wilder, āespecially him on yur hoss, I ked settle the hul bizness. This hyar gun the doc presented to me air ābout as good a shootinā-iron as Iād care to shet my claws on, an āmost equal to my own ole rifle. Iāve gin it all sorts oā trials, tharfor I know itās good for plum center at a hundred anā fifty paces. Ef yonner two squattinā out from the rest āill jest stay thur till the shades oā night gie me a chance oā stealinā clost enuf, tharās one oā āem will never see daylight again.ā
āAh!ā exclaimed Hamersley, with a sigh of despair, and yet half hopeful, āif they would but remain there till night, we might still head them into the valley, time enough to get our friends away.ā
āDonāt you have any sech hopes, Frank; tharās no chance oā that I kin see what the party air arter. Theyāve made up thar mind not to ātempt goinā inter the gully till they hev a trifle oā shadder arounā them. They think that ef theyāre seen afore they git up to the house their victims might āscape āem. Tharfor they purpiss approachinā the shanty unobserved, and makinā a surround oā it. Thatās thar game. Cunninā oā them, too, for Mexikins.ā
āYes, that is what they intend doingāno doubt of it. Oh, heavens! only to think we are so near, and yet cannot give Miranda a word of warning!ā
āCanāt be helped. We must put our trust in Him as hes an eye on
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