No. II.
32 Pages.
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A ROMANCE
OF THE PAMPAS.
Published By
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No. II.
32 Pages.
CAMERON & FERGUSON'S.
Stirring Adventure Novels.
One Penny.
A ROMANCE
OF THE PAMPAS.
30
Published By
CAMERON and FERGUSON.
WEST BILE STREET, GLASGOW



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A ROMANCE OF THE PAMPAS;
THE HERMIT OF THE COLORADO HILLS.
OR,
CHAPTER I.
The Pampas-Herds and Herdsmen-The
Panther and Deer.
WHAT a glorious dream of freedom are the
Pampas! Where can mind, heart, lungs-
ay, and the very soul, so drink in a realizing
sense of freedom-so feel the perfect expan-
sion that is typical of what we call the infi-
nite? An earth-sea, with billows of brightest
green, whose crests are foaming with rosy
gold, and the valleys between a changing haze
of emerald.
Morning upon the Pampas! Just where
they lift their grassy slopes up toward the
mountains, that seem stooping down to meet
them, a vast herd of lithe-limbed, graceful,
slender-horned and fiery-eyed cattle of that
sunny clime are browsing. Thousands upon
thousands are rioting in the dewy freshness,
grateful for repose unbroken by the sun, and
the drops of glittering dew hid in each flowery
cup. Mottled, many-coloured, or with sides
shining with raven blackness, they wander in
these God-planted and cultivated gardens
a-maying all their life.
There are watchful eyes upon them. So
much wealth is not to be trusted untended.
Man will watch everywhere that which is the
representative of wealth; so, perched almost
like an eagle's nest upon the side of the
nearest mountain, appeared the hut of the
herdsman, affording a look-out over the wide
expanse of that verdant ocean. From that
point he could mark the wandering of his
four-footed charges, see the approach of
- storm, mark the first gleam of the tropical
sun, and guard against the stampeding Co-
manches.
There are brave hearts beating in those
little eyries; hearts that are as careless of
danger as their tough frames and bowstring-
-like sinews are of fatigue; men stout-limbed,
keen-eyed, and ready with the rifle and the
lariat. Sun-embrowned, and with long hair
and beard streaming to the wind, dressed in
tough deer-skin, and mounted upon but half-
trained mustangs, they are the very picture
of health, muscular beauty, daring and grace,
as they dash headlong among their unbroken
herds.
11
There is no half way with the herdsman.
Blood alone can pay for blood. Generous to
a fault, daring even to rashness, tender-
hearted even to tears, but stern as death itself,
he has made his mark upon the histronic pages
of the south-western border, and written his
name on the battle-fields of Texas and Mexico.
Before a herdsman's hut, early in the morn-
ing of a bright May day, were three men,
alike in stature, dress and station. All were
herdsmen, and all men who laughed danger t
scorn. One was already mounted, one draw
ing still more tightly the rope-girths of his
huge saddle, and the third leaning upon his
rifle.
"I tell yer, Bruce Weaver," said the one
who was still unmounted, though his fiery
mustang stood feeding within reach of his
bridle-arm, addressing the one who was
checking his inore than impatient steed, "I
tell yer, we hain't bin so long left erlone and
in quiet for nothin'."
"I know, Sy Glover, yer allus playin' on
ther same string. It's ther old cry of 'arter
er calm, er storm.""
"Waal, ef I am, you'll find it ter be true.
Them cattle out yender are too temptin' er
bait fer ther red-skins ter long keep ther
hands off of. We'll have er brush before long,
or yer may call me a greaser."
"Let it come then! It's mighty dull out
here, and I'm achin' fer er fandango of some
sort. Now er shot or two at somethin' besides
a thievin' kioter wouldn't set er feller back
none-not ther least grain in ther world I'll
bet an ounce that I kin pick off ther scalp.
lock every time at two hundred yards."
"Good shootin' that," answered the man
who had hitherto been silent. "I've known
yer ter miss ther red spot on er blackbird's
wing, when he warn't more'n half that
distance."
"Waal, you needn't laugh about it, Rob
Hamblin. That war when I had that thar old
rifle, that warn't no better nor er shot-gun."
"It ain't allus ther best gun that makes
ther best shot, I kin tell yer. But thar go
some of ther cattle cavortin' off toward ther
old buffaler lick;" and swinging himself upon


2
A ROMANCE OF THE PAMPAS; OR,
his horse, he dashed down the slope, and was
scon lost in the deep grass of the Pampas.
"Rob is right. I tell yer he is right," con-
tinued Glover.
"Waal, perhaps he is, Sy; but yer ullus er
grumblin' erbout somethin' or nuther."
"You may find that I do not grumble fer
nothin'; arter all. But Rob is true as steel,
and sure as er flint when it comes ter trouble."
"Yes, he's all that; but s'pose yer git done
fixin' yer old saddle, and go along with me
ter help him turn them cattle. I believe ther
gnats and musketers and gallinippers will eat
off their hides erfore they have done with
them-ther blood-thirsty reptiles !"
"Better look arter yer own, ef ther Co-
manches take er notion fer er few horns."
"I wished they would take that thar broad-
horned critter, för, of all ther rampaging
brutes I ever saw, that beats all."
"Ef he hadn't bin er kind er pet of ther
old man's I'd have put er bullet spang through
the curl of his head long ago, and had er good
brile out on his tenderline. He's worse nor
er hull drove of buffalers. But it won't do,
and all ther more beca'se he's er comin' out
here soon."
"Comin' out here ?"
"Yes, of course he is."
"I don't believe it."
H
"L
'Yes, all ready land-but-" and suddenly
springing from his horse, he motioned to ris
comrade, and hid himself behind the trunk
of a giant tree.
1
"Comanches!" whispered the other, as he
sprang to his side, with his rifle ready for
instant use
#
#
"I reckon; but lie low. Hark!"
A rushing in the bushes, a sharp cracking
of dry branches, and, leaping from the tangled
gloom into the sun-light, came a noble buck.
Terror was the incentive of that race, as,
clearing the ground with great leaps, it dashed
on, regardless of its course. .
"Er painter!" whispered Glover as it
passed.
the two herdsmen, raised their weapons and
fired. Even when in mid-air, the twin bullets
reached heart and brain; and, convulsed in
death, it fell and rolled down the mountain
side.
CHAPTER II.
A Ranche-Father and Daughter.
"I tell yer it's true, and I shouldn't wonder.
ef he brought his gal erlong with him."
"Brought out his daughter."
"Yes, yer know she's sotted on it for er
long time."
Pshaw! I kinder reckon it war only fer
ther sake of havin' somethin' to talk erbout."
"No, it war in right down earnest."
NATURE, aided by art and its refinements,
has created many a home of exquisite beauty
in the land of the South, that stands unrivalled
by any in a more changeable and winter-
swept region. Not that the planter builds
castles or towers, piles up huge masses of
stone, or that turret or wall are stained by
time or wrapped in ivy. Such massive struc-
tures would be entirely out of harmony with
the scenes of Nature around. In unison with
her caprices, his house is light, graceful, and
modelled with exquisite taste.
60
Waal, ef he does bring her he's a fool."
"But such a pooty gal would look more
like er angel than er human way out here."
"You may well say that. But what ef ther
Indians should come, as Rob Hamblin allows
they will erfore long ?"
Far up on the Brazos river stood such a
"We'll have somethin' ter fight for then house, surrounded by flowers of every known
worth the saving.
hue and perfume.
Besides our lives. But it's time we war
er lookin' arter them cattle."
"Yes, Rob has more'n his hands full."
"Waal, I'm ready, are you?"
Descended from the heroes who came
thither with Hernando Cortez, the owner of
this mansion was proud of his pure Castilian
blood.
In the room, glittering with the luxuries of
one of the transatlantic climes, sat a young
girl, more than beautiful in all adornments of
nature and art. Young she was in years—
just trembling on that mystic boundary line
that divides girl from womanhood. Through
the transparency of her Castilian complexion,
the warm Southern blood flushed with a deli-
cate crimson. Her eyes were large, changeful,
and intensely black. Her hair, that crowning
gift of beauty in womanhood, was long, silken
and fine, and, like that of all her race, was
black as jet. Her figure was tall and exqui-
sitely moulded, and the daintily-jewelled fin-
gers and slippered feet were sign-manuals of
the purity of blood which was her only parent's
boast. Only for hardly had she opened her
eyes in the regions of enchantment around
her, before heaven called a soul home in
recompense for the new one given to earth.
Leaping with its long, tireless fling, with
blood shot eyes and open jaws, came the lion
of the South west, in eager pursuit of its prey.
Litheas a cat, and sinewy as a face-horse, it
sprang from point to point, and short, indeed,
would have been that woodland race, had not
"It's too bad," said Weaver, "that both on
us fired. Ef we hadn't er done so, we'd er
had some splendid venison. Just look at that
feller now! Two good inches of tat on his
brisket, I'll bet er ounce !
"Ef yer had er, dozen loaded rifles, yer
shouldn't shoot that buck. He had er long
run and er hard one for his life, and no man
should shoot him while I wher er round."
It was a true woodman's tribute to the
most beautiful of all the dwellers of the
forest.
A sharp snort, a swift bound, and the deer
became lost to their sight, dashing down into
the grassy Pampas, to seek its own kind.
66
Come," continued Glover, after both had
reloaded their rifles. "Come, it's time we
whar lendin' er helpin' hand ter Rob," and
flinging himself upon his mustang, he hurried
away in pursuit of the insect-tormented cattle,
closely followed by his companion.
Half reclining, the petted beauty sat
beautiful in mind and person, for she pos-


THE HEAML UF
CUDUMADU Bles.
лаг
sessed all the adornments of a finished edu-
cation, and was heir of all the countless
wealth around her. She kept her languid
position, tired with gazing on the splendour,
and faint with the perfume that stole in on
every side. She dreamily listened to the
songs of the birds, and watched them through
the window.
She was thinking of the glorious days when
mailed men shouted the old battle-cry-when
"Santiago and Spain" rang thundering thro'
the land, and the yellow banner of Castile
and the Cross swept widely over the throne
of the haughty Montezuma, Perchance she
was sighing for the splendours and pomp of
the pictured glories of Ferdinand and Isa-
bella. Perchance-but she cut her reverie
short, and took from a quaintly-caryed table
at her side a tiny bell, and rang it gently.
66
'Quito," she said, and the soft, almost vo-
luptuous Spanish melted upon her lips like
music-"Quito, where is my father?"
A slave, fancifully dressed had entered at
her signal, and stood waiting her commands.
"Quito," she repeated, as he bent before
her, "have you seen my father?"
By motions only was his reply made, and
in them appeared a solution of the strange
sorrow that always rested on his face, except
in her presence. The boy was dumb! Not
so by nature, but by the hand of a brutal
master. For some unknown offence, a mon-
ster in the shape of man had caused his
tongue to be cut off, and, when still suffering
from the fiend-like deed, the mother of his
present mistress had rescued him, and made
him her own attendant. Was there anything
to be wondered at in his blind idolatry-his
total self-abnegation?
"When he returns, good Quito, I want to
see him," she continued. Then the boy with-
drew, and she sunk back upon the silken
cushions to resume her day-dreams.
An hour passed. The mocking-bird poured
forth its rattling rhapsody of notes from the
leafy crest of the cocoa-nut tree, and the
rustle of orange and magnolia leaves, and all
the countless melodies of nature came com-
mingled to her ear, soothing her to forget-
fulness.
A step rang proudly upon the rush-covered
floor of the hall, and, springing to her feet,
she flew into her father's arms to receive his
embrace and kiss for kiss.
"Well, Inez, daughter, were you tired with
watching for your father? My child, it must
be lonely here."
"When you are here, dear father, I am
never lonely."
"Then you should take your horse when I
am too long away, follow, and bring the wan-
derer back."
"Would that be quite maidenly, dear
father?"
"There spake the blood of old Castile!
Well, Inez, what new toy shall I purchase to
gratify my daughter ?"
"I have more beautiful things already than
I wish."
"Do you not want another slave to pet
and spoil?"
"No, no," was the laughing reply.
"Another horse, then?"
"No. De Soto would admit of no rivalry
in his mistress' love; he is a jealous creature."
"But you must have some wish for pearls,
or a larger hoard of precious stones?"
"Still no, dear father."
"What. I have bought you half-a-dozen
opals, rich with light."
Father, you know how little I value such
things! Gems are but stones, more or less
bright."
"Aha! my little one is turning anchorite!
What shall it be then, daughter? Another
hound or bird ?"
66
No, father, none."
"There is but one thing left that a maiden
sighs for."
"And what is that ?"
Why, child, if your books don't tell you,
ask your heart!”
66
61
My heart ?"
"Truly, your heart! Your mother's an-
swered to the question when I first asked it
of her, and found her wish."
66
Found what ?"
A husband, girl."
66
Father, for shame!" and she turned away
to hide her blushes.
"If that's not it, why, I'll have to give it
up. But, I only jest. Thank heaven, you are
heart-whole yet, and he who marries my
daughter must be more than a prince. He
must be a man!"
"Father, you know that I love no man but
you."
Saint Jago, but I believe that! Well,
well, we'll say no more of this. Now, what
will my beauty have ?"
66
"Nothing, except-"
Except? Then there is one thing at
66
least."
"When you are going to the Pampas, dear
father?" and she laid her hand softly on his
arm and looked into his eyes.
"So, so! You wish to hold me to my
foolish promise I made to you long ago.
Well, I don't know; you may be as safe
there as any where."
"Should I not be safer with you, than
here ?"
•
"Possibly; but you little realize the hard-
ships-to say nothing of the dangers."
"I do not fear them."
66
But, suppose the Indians should attack
us ?"
"Still, my father's daughter would not be
afraid."
"So young, and yet so brave! But think,
Inez-
22
"But your promise, father."
"S
'Jose Herera never yet broke his word,
even when jesting. You shall go, my child."
"Thank you, dear father. When shall we
set out?"
"How soon can you be ready ?".
"To-morrow."
"A very short time that for preparation,
But, you will have to curb your impatience."
"Curb it-why ?"
"Do you not recollect, to-morrow?"
"To-morrow-to-morrow! No; nothing
of importance connected with it.”


4
A ROMANCE OF THE PAMPAS; OR,
"You should, my child, for it was yourself
that made the promise."
"Promise?
What promise, father?"
"That the slaves should have a holiday."
"It is true. In my own happiness, I would
have forgotten theirs. See how selfish I am."
"What would they do, if their young mis-
tress deserted them? Who but her should
reward the slave that captured the largest
fish in their evening sport?"
"None, certainly. No, not even for my
own gratification-not for all the pleasure I
anticipate in going to the Pampas-would
I disappoint our faithful servants. Three
days hence, then, let us go, father."
"So shall it be. I will seek Quito, and tell
him of my wishes."
"And so your shadow will follow you there,
Inez ?"
66
Yes, certainly," and with affection's kiss
still lingering on their lips, they separated
more than happy in each other's love.
CHAPTER III.
The Slaves' Holiday-Night
Island-The Lagoon.
Fishing - The
NEGROES, when dressed in their holiday
costume, brightly decorated with ribbons,
turbans, and tinsel jewellery, are always
picturesque sight. When contented and
happy, there is no song that rings so
gaily, or laughter so loud as theirs. Rush-
ing tumultuously into the dance, they keep
time to the music of the violin and banjo,with
an abandon and grace, that their fairer skinned
brothers and sisters vainly strive to imitate.
The lawn that stretched down from the
fairy-like house of Jose Herera, was thickly
lotted with oaks of great size and beauty, and
cleared entirely from underbrush. The luxu-
iant grass was kept carefully shorn and
cended, until it had become a perfect carpet
of velvet. On the soft greensward, the slaves
were accustomed to gather, on their frequent |
holidays, to sing, dance, play, or wander, as
their fitful humour led them.
Early on the morning of their promised day
of pleasure they came thronging hither, arrayed
n their fanciful dresses, with faces gleaming
with anticipations.
Inez Herera, escorted by her father, and
closely followed by her dumb attendant,
passed from circle to circle, giving each a kind
word-promising a trinket here and a ribbon
here. Then, after telling them that she
would reward the victor in the night fishing,
and that they would be supplied from the
house with extra cheer for their afternoon
east, she left them to enjoy themselves unre-
trained.
746 May de Lord bress de missus and 'massa,"
was the fervant prayer of every lip.
"Dey am de flower of de yarth, and de salt
ob de sea," responded the pastor. "And now,
leah brudders and sisters, we will join in a
ittle prayah and hym, before de exercises ob
le day begins."
Kneeling upon the emerald sward, they
oned earnestly to this honest man's un-,
lettered, but warm and impressive words, a
rude people, but strong in faith. When the
amen" had died away, they arose, and every
lip joined in one of the stirring melodies they
love so well.
"6
"And now, my people," continued their
spiritual guide, when the last faint tones were
lost to the ear. "Now, dat we hab rendered
homage unto Him wid de soul and de voice,
we will proceed to enjoy de good things, an'
de pleasures, an' de sports of de yarth."
The sharp twang of the banjo's string, and
the tuning of the violin, almost cut the last
word in twain, for the impulsive nature of the
slaves could not long be restrained by the
strict rules of decorum.
Shades of Terpsicore! Such reels, cotillions,
jigs, polkas and waltzes, were never before
known outside of a negro dance. The bones
rattled, the banjo twanged, the violin squeaked,
and the heels kept time amid shouts of ap-
plause, until at last, snap went a string.
"Miss Lucy, will you gib me a har from
yer auriferous locks, for er nudder E string,"
said the musician to one of the coal-black
beauties.
"Go long wid you now! Tink I'se a-gwine
to luf you hab my har to tune up yer ole
gourd wid ?" was the reply.
And thus the morning passed with the elite,
while the youngsters rolled and tumbled and
shouted upon the grass, and the elders smoked
in solemn conclave, except the matrons, whose
dancing days were over, and who were deep
in the mysteries of cooking. Then came the
joyous peal of the bell that summoned them
to the tables, and each Romeo with his Juliet,
marched proudly off, to take their places at
the liberally furnished board. When due
thanks had been returned to the Giver of all
good, the demolishment began. Began and
continued until but a ruin remained. A
general breaking up followed; and the re-
quisite preparations made for a night's fishing.
Evening came as if in accordance with the
wish expressed during the day, without a
single star or moon. The air was perfectly
clear, and the wind had gone down with the
sun. All was intensely dark.
But soon, as little boat after boat shot out
upon the broad breast of the river, each with
a torch at the bow, and every form standing
glaringly out like pictures from a colourless
back ground, it became strikingly beautiful.
Like huge fire-flies they darted hither and.
thither, with the sable fishermen, armed with
spears and intent upon securing the finny prey,
making strange and fitful motions. Whirling
along with the current, they soon passed the
point where Inez and her father had taken
their stand to watch the sport. A strange
desire seized the girl to be a more close ob-
server of the scene.
"Father," she said, "why may we not cross
to the island, and watch the sport."
"There might be danger, my child."
"Danger? I have been there an hundred
times alone."
→
"Yes, in the daylight, and when the tiver
was unobstructed. Now, it is crowded with
boats, each one filled with men over-anxious
to outdo the other."


THE HERMIT OF THE COLORADO HILLS.
5
"They are beyond the island; and, besides,
you could go with me."..
"I have other duties, my darling."
"Then Quito knows how to manage the
boat as well as the oldest hand on the planta-
tion."
"But daughter-"
"But father, dear, you will not deny me
this pleasure?"
66
"No, not if it is a pleasure. But, be care-
ful and-"
66
Come, Quito "-and the gay hearted girl
motioned to her ever ready attendant, and
glided on to where a shell-like boat lay rest-
ing light as a feather upon the tide.
It had often been her amusement to pull
the fairy"Nautilus" about in the shallows,
and even, at times, to not only cross to the
mid-river island, but even to the farther shore.
Without a thought of fear she now ventured,
when the tide was running swiftly, and the
stream was ploughed by an hundred keels.
A shout, louder than usual, from the op-
posite side of the island reached the ears of
Inez, and clapping her hands as a signal to the
slave, she urged him to increase the speed.
'Forward, good Quito. Hasten or we
shall miss the most glorious part of the
sport."
66
The slender oars bent like reeds beneath
the sinewy arms of the black, and the light
bark sped forward like an impatient race
horse.
But a very short distance remained to
traverse. Should she allow the boat to pass
round the island, or by landing, step across
its narrow surface and so be out of danger
from the fishermen, and command the rare
groupings of swarthy forms and flashing
lights? It was but a word, and her wish
could be accomplished. Her active mind
soon determined, the prow was turned, obedi-
ent to her command, and swept up the thickly
shaded waters of a lagoon. On either side it
was a wilderness of floral beauty-a rare
lavishing of tropical flowers, and above
stretched the great arms of the water-loving
trees, thick with luxuriant leaves, and fes-
tooned with rank moss. In the excitement
of the undertaking she had forgotten all else.
Quito Quito! We are in the lagoon!
Back! back for your life!"
66
the negro would have sprang into the dan-
gerous flood, dragged the boat from its fas-
tenings, and guiding it into the deep waters,
assayed to push it before him and swim to a
place of safety. But the blood of old Castile
flowed too purely and swiftly in the veins of
Inez Herera to allow another to sacrifice him-
self for her, when danger was still at a dis-
tance, she laid her hand upon his arm, and
forced him to be seated.
In shuddering whispers she breathed the
words, for she grew faint with the horror of
their situation. In the lagoon, in that frail
cockle shell amid the darkness! Ah! far too
well she knew that if it was a wilderness of
dazzling flowers--if it was an arbour of rare
budding trees, it was also a den where poi-
sonous snakes lay coiled, and amid its slimy
ooze the alligator made its lair! The thought
was madness, and she sprang forward almost
involuntarily, and grasped one of the oars.
But the boat was already whirling round, im-
pelled by the powerful strokes of the negro-
its prow had strack against the trunk of a
fallen tree that projected into the water, and
under their united efforts the oar snapped like
a willow wand, and they were stayed, helpless,
almost, in that vile abode of loathsome rep-
tiles:
14
Brave-hearted, and unthinking of himself,
"Shove off the boat! For Jesu's sake by
quick," she whispered in those strangele
hoarse tones that fall but faintly upon the ear,
and yet thrill every chord of the heart.
"Quick! quick! Sainted Mother!"
Too late! By the very side of the egg shell
bark, a dark, hideous head arose, reaching
almost over the gunwale, and a piteous, help-
less, shriek burst from her blanched lips, and
rang trembling far over the waste of waters.
The negro heard it, and turning, the oar he
held flashed through the air, and was shivered
to atoms upon the head of the monster,
driving him for a time at, least, from his shud-
dering prey. And others heard it, too. It
had risen above the swell of the waters, and
pierced through the dim tree vaults, and even
as the girl fell back, almost insensible, an
hundred lights flashed round the point, and an
hundred negroes with flaming torches came
dashing through the wilderness of tangled
foliage.
"For de Lord, de young missus," came
ringing from every lip. The faithful slaves
had but one thought. The mistress was in
danger, and what was their lives when thrown
into the scale against hers?
In a moment that slimy lagoon was peopled
with dark forms. They cared not for the
pestilential ooze, or its living tide of scaly
death. Rude gladiators they, those swarthy,
toiling sons of Ham, but true as the unyielding
flint to their love, and, like a feather, the boat
was lifted with its precious freight, and floated
home amongst a gay flotilla, a very argosy of
thankfulness upon a tide of happy hearts.
Was there joy in that princely mansion ?
Did Jose Herera bend in tearful thanktulness
over his rescued daughter as she told the story
of her danger? So, also, was there in the
humble cabins of a thousand slaves, and, in
their rude, unlettered prayers they thank the
Lord that he had stretched out His hand to
save, and made them the proud instruments
in preserving their "young mistrus.".
1
CHAPTER IV.
The Herdsmen-The Visit-The Bivouac.
THERE is no more certain proof to a thinking
mind that our good mother Nature intended
that the wilderness should be made the home
of man-that it should yield bountiful stores
of golden grain, and be made to blossom like
the rose, than the fact that she has created a
race of hardy and dauntless men, who, throw-
ing aside the trammels of civilized life, and,
scorning its luxuries, boldly compete for the
honour of primitive pioneership. And equally
true is it that they die unrewarded. BOONE
trod the pathless forests and trackless prairies


A ROMANCE OF THE PAMPAS; OR,
-explored unknown lands, and fought the
savage foeman-for what? An unrequited
life and a name-long after his fetterless spirit
had passed the goal of earthly honours. An
almost unknown grave for years, and then,
when the blush of shame had mantled the face
of a nation-a pompous funeral procession,
vain display, and high-sounding flourishes of
eloquence. The forerunner is forgotten, and
the wealth-seeking followers plant, and build
and scheme, where his lonely bivouac was
made. He the planter, and they the reaper.
"I tell yer Bruce," began the herdsman,
Glover, as they sat enjoying their evening
meal, after a day of more than ordinary hard
toil, "I tell you thar's signs about that I don't
like."
"At it again, are yer, Sy, with yer grum-
bling."
"What is it now, Sy!" asked a third of the
trio, Hamblin, as he threw a half-picked bone
carelessly to the expectant dogs. What
have yer seen ter-day ?"
"Sometimes ther most ornary signs will tell
er feller er good deal," replied Glover, some-
what sullenly.
"We all know that, and any of us can tell
er bars from er turkeys. But what kind of
signs did yer see ?"
66
Injuns."
"Whar?" asked both of his companions, in
a breath, for this kind of information was not
to be made light of, touching, as it did, not
only the safety of the stock under their charge
but their own lives.
66
"Waal, yer know, I left yer down by ther
spring, and started over thar hills ter see ef I
couldn't git er shot at er buck. I did git one
yer know, or yer wouldn't be pickin' ribs er
venison now."
"It was as nice er buck as ever er man put
er tooth in."
"Waal, it whar nothin' else. Er bouncin'
er four point as ever I drawed er sight on."
"But about them ar signs."
"I was er creeping along thur branch-
hidin' kinder, for I knew them anamiles
would come down ter have er swim, and git
clar of ther infernal musketers, when all of er
sudden my eyes fell upon er track."
"Pshaw! 'twas one I made thar yesterday.
I was on ther same trail myself, only I didn't
have no luck-didn't see nary er hoof or
horn."
"Waal, ef it whar yer must have learned
ter walk Injun most mighty arly. I saw yer
track plain enough-couldn't help it when er
man whars boots like great leather trunks, but
no white man's foot ever left that thar mark."
"Drive ahead, then, and tell us about it, ef
it whar Injuns."
"I kinder drew in my horns, I kin tell yer
and hid erway in ther bushes. It whar lucky
that I didn't have none of ther dogs along ter
blow me. Pretty soon I saw er skulkin' devil
peep out from ther other side. Then er nother
and er nother, till twenty of them slipped into
ther stream, and swam across like so many
etarnal big musk rats."
"Whar they Comanches, Sy?"
"Nothin' shorter, and I began ter think
that my har wouldn't never grow much
longer. But I laid low and kept dark, and
ther brutes jist squatted nigh under thar
bank whar I was alyin', and began jabberin'
in thar gibberish about what they whar agoin'
ter do."
"Waal yer could understand that ar kind
of talk."
46
'Maybe I couldn't. I had'nt bein er pris-
oner among them er hull year for nothin'. I
let them talk er way, and made out 'ter learn
that they whar prowlin' around arter some.
body's cattle."
66
'Ours, Sy, ours ?"
"Waal, I sorter reckon they wouldn't be
perticular. But it was er kinder theivin' game
they whar er playin' ginerally,, and so, boys,
we'd better keep er sharp look out for our's,
old broad horns and all."
"I'll take good care of my scalp, yer may
depend. But-"
"By thunder! thar they come, now!" ex-
claimed Bruce, who had allowed the others to
monopolize the conversation, as he sprung to
his feet, and seized his rifle.
"Out with the fire! Throw er blanket over
it, and stamp it out!" commanded Glover, as
he, also, grasped the ever ready weapon-the
best friend of a frontierman.
66
Yes, but they'll miss ther trail this time,
the infernal brutes," and each one sought
shelter behind the nearest tree, resolved to sell
his life as dearly as possible.
A shrill whistle rang from the open Pampas
in front of them, and the dogs that had before
crouched down at their feet in obedience to
their commands, now raised their heads, and
uttered a low whine. Before they could solve
the mystery of this unexpected sound, for it
was one seldom heard in that locality, the step
of a horse-a single one was heard picking its
way up the rocky slope, and a cheery voice
exclaimed "You take to cover quick, boys.
Do you always welcome your friends in that
Indian fashion? Put out your fire, and make
them find their way through tangled plains in
the dark?"
"I ought to know that thar voice," respon-
ded Glover, still keeping himself in ambush.
"If your senses have not gone wool-gather-
ing, you certainly should," was the reply, with
a hearty laugh.
"It's Wilson, ain't it?"
"Yes. Show a light, quick. My horse has
nearly broken his knees and my neck in try-
ing to climb up to your hut."
"All right, boys. It's Jack Wilson, the
head master on ther old man's plantation."
and Glover began to rekindle the fire.
"He'll old man' you, if you don't make a
bright light very quick to guide him here,"
and the speaker stood in a moment by their
side.
"What is he a-comin' ?"
"He and his daughter, too.. What do you
suppose she will think of this kind of a wel-
come after having ridden so far."
"Pile on the brushwood, boys," commanded
Glover, and he dashed down into the Pampas,
and hastened to offer his services as guide.
The flames in an instant flashed high and
cheerily, and soon the planter, with his
daughter and a suite of full twenty, lusty and


THE HERMIT OF THE COLORADO HILLS.
7
well armed negroes were gathered around
them.
"What made you extinguish your light so
suddenly ?" asked Inez of Glover, after the
mutual words of welcome had passed.
“Waal, yer see, Miss, we kinder thought as
how it might be Comanches," replied the
stalworth herdsman.
""
"Comanches? Are there any about here?"
"Yes, Miss, ter-day as I whar-
"Pshaw!" interrupted Herera, holding up
his finger warningly. "It's only a frontiers-
man's fancy with you, Sy. But have you
nothing to offer us to eat? How are you
supplied? Let one of my boys look and see
if he cannot find something to add to the fare
we brought with us." He was very fearful
that his daughter might be alarmed, and so
checked Glover in time.
"Venison, Senor, in plenty, and ef we had
only have known you and Miss Inez whar
agoin' ter come ter-night, we should have
had-"
"Yes, I know a dainty bill of fare. No
matter, a little roughing will not hurt us.
Inez would come to see how you lived, and
she seems to have enjoyed the long ride."
"It has been a glorious one, dear father."
65
Well, I am very glad you have enjoyed it,
and to-morrow you will have an opportunity
to learn all you wish about a herdsman's life.
But see, the boys have unpacked the mules-
so you had better dismount."
66
Let me take your hoss, Miss," said Hamlin
coming bashfully forward as her father as-
sisted her to alight. "It shall have the sweet-
est mouthful of grass that thar grows by thar
branch, ef yer er mind ter trust him ter me."
"Thank you, my good friend, but I am
afraid De Soto will permit no one but Quito
near him."
"I never seed ther hoss yet that I couldn't
manage."
"Well, you are at liberty to try, and I am
not afraid but that you will take care of him."
While this was going on-a sort of by-play
to the main drama-three fires had been
kindled equi-distant. Around one the slaves
were gathered, busily engaged in the myste-
ries of the cusine; at another the herdsmen
with their new comrade, Wilson, and the third
was reserved for the father and daughter,
though their immediate attendants, Quito and
a young female slave, came and went as
occasion required.
66
Come, Glover," said the planter, after the
meal was concluded; now that you have
furnished us with a capital supper, it is but
fair that you should play the kind host still
farther, and show us where we are to sleep.".
'Food is easy enough ter be got, Senor, fer
any body that's woodwise, but yer see it
hain't so easy ter find er place for one like ther
Senorita ter sleep out here," was the reply of
the somewhat puzzled herdsman.
"Pshaw! man, we did not come to the
Pampas to speak of luxury. Besides, we have
enough of luxury at home. Isn't that so
daughter?"
66
Plenty, dear father."
"Waal, Senor, yer see I hadn't fairly
thought how twould be, but I had ther boys
fix up ther hut as nice as it could poseably be,
and perhaps the Senorita may find sleep as
sweet as ef she was at home on the Brazos.".
"No doubt of it, my good fellow."
66
We hunters er allow that we can't sleep
within 'er house without bein' smothered.
But it's nature for us ter be out'er doors, while
the Senorita don't look as ef she could bear
ther cold wind more than er June lilly."
"A pretty compliment to my slenderness,
but not to my powers of endurance," replied
Inez. "But in reality, dear father, I am but
little inclined to sleep as yet."
"No, nor I either," responded the fond
parent. "There is a charm about this scene
that drives all thought of slumber out of my
mind. What do you say to that, Glover ?"
"Waal, Senor, I have bin ter long out inter
ther woods ter think of such kind'er things
now."
"How many years have you been leading
this nomad life?"
"Goin' on twenty, Senor. I began it young
yer see. But I can tell yer it's anythin' but'er
no mad life. Ef thar isn't ernuf ter' make'er
man mad here- what with ther doin's of ther
Injuns, and ther scamperin' about of ther
cattle, I don't know what would make'er man
forgit that he ought'er be er Christian."
"That's certainly a new definition of the
term," replied the planter, "but in your case
I doubt not a very proper one. But Glover
you must have had more than one narrow
escape."
"Narrow escape? Waal, I kinder reckon
I have. A man don't have ter live long in
this here lattertude ter have his scalp in dan-
ger."
"Suppose you tell us a story, then. It will
pass the time away."
"Ef you and ther Senorita would like ter
hear one of the yarns that is common on ther
border, I'll spin it for ye. But I never did
make'er practice of talkin' about myself."
"6
If it is of you, however, my good friend,
that, we would most like to hear," said Inez,
kindly.
66
Waal, ter gratify yer, I 'spose I must do
it," and he told one of the common frontier
stories of a desperate bear fight.
Midnight found all quiet in that lone en-
campment, and sleep fell gently on every eye,
save those of the two herdsmen who kept
"watch and ward," and with them all "it was
well."
CHAPTER V.
The Stampede-The Comanches-The Fight-
The Hut on Fire!
"I TELL yer Bruce," said Glover, as they sat
smoking near the embers of their fire, when
the darkness that precedes the dawn had
gathered thickly around was just breaking
away, "it war er dangerous ondertakin' for er
man ter bring his daughter and 'specially one
like ther Senorita, way out here. It's jest as
much as er man's scalp is worth, let erlone
such er beauty as she is."
"It hain't nothin' shorter, Sy. Ef ther


8
THE PAMPAS; OR,
A ROMANCE OF
cursed red-skins git on her trail, thar'll be
nary er let up ontil she's in thar dirty wig-
""
wams.
66
My scalp shall go fust!"
"Yes, and mine too."
"Ef ever I could fight in any cause 'twould
be fer that gal-ther isn't another like her ter
be found in-waal, I don't believe in the
world. And ter think that he should bring
her way out here with only er parcel of niggers
to guard her. They'd fight about as well as
so many wood-chucks ef ther Injuns should
take er fancy fer some beef."
"Jest erbout, and that would be ter run at
ther fust fire, and-"
"Hark!"
"What did yer think yer heard ?" asked the
other in a whisper.
66
Thar's somethin' among ther cattle."
Don't be er perdictin' evil,
Pshaw, Sy.
46
now."
"I tell you thar is."
"It's only that infernal old broad-horns
stampin' erbout. He's allers er smelling er
cayoter when thar isn't airy one within er
hundred miles."
"I ask yer hark fer er minit."
"It's jest as I told yer, Sy. That broad
horned critter rumagin' eround.
He's never
still any more'n a poplar leaf."
"Go and call ther Senor and Wilson,"
commanded Glover, "but don't wake ther
Senorita, or any of the niggars jest yet.
Thar's trouble er brewin' down ther, and ef
he's on hand we won't have ter bear ther
blame."
Before the planter could be thoroughly
awakened to take his place by the side of
Glover, the entire scene had changed. The
blackness of night had almost passed away.
Thousands upon thousands of cattle ran
madly hither and thither - intermingling,
crossing, while their snorting came up the
mountain swell like the rush and roar of
battle.
-
"By Saint Jago!" exclaimed the owner of
all this surging sea of living madness, as he
stood beside the herdsman, but this is a
glorious sight."
"Glorious? Waal, I'm glad yer think so.
It'll cost yer many er hundred," was the para-
doxical reply.
"Why? What do you mean, man?'
"That ther critters have stampeded, and
are ergoin' ter ther devil across lots."
"Stampeded? I thought they were but
playing-letting out their animal spirits after
a night of rest."
66
Arthem niggars of your'n'worth anythin?".
asked Glover,
"Yes, a thousand dollars apiece. But why
do you ask?"
"Pshaw!" The herdsman could not re-
strain his temper.
But he curbed himself
and continued-
"I mean ter fight."
60
Fight?" and the voice of Herera betrayed
the intense anxiety that took possession of
him as he thought of his daughter.
"Yes, fight! Do yer 'spose cattle stam-
pede jest fer ther fun of ther thing? Ther's
er lot of devilish red skins prowlin' ermong
them, and ef we don't look sharp they will-
By thunder! thar they go now with old
broad-horns at ther head. Go and wake up
ther darkies. Bruce, give ther whistle for
Rob Hamlin. No, yer need'nt, fer thar he is
er streakin' it off towards ther west. He
knows his bisness, that man does.
But jest
yer look, Senor," and he stretched his long
arm away over the Pampas.
"Look!" The eyes of the planter were
turned in the direction indicated, and he saw
a sight that riveted them there-a sight to
which his wildest dreams had been but bar-
ren of excitement. Tearing along, leaping
wildly, snorting, bellowing in fear, were that
almost countless herd. Swaying like the
grass they were trampling down, they yet
kept in a compact body, with few exceptions,
for some had darted wildly away at the very
first alarm. It was a grandly terrible sight.
Quito and the female attendant of Inez, for
a time forgetting their duty-stood dumb and
terror-stricken. The planter, too, was ex-
cited, but not from fear. Glover and Bruce
Weaver were alone calm, and while the for-
mer had stood steadily watching the progress
of events, the latter had saddled Herera's,
his companion's, and his own steed, and stood
bridle in hand awaiting orders.
"In the name of Montezuma, what does
this all mean?" questioned the planter, under
his breath.
"Mean? That ther d-d Injuns have
stampeded yer cattle," was the irreligious
reply of Glover. Mean, cuss them-but thar
they break cover. See! Ther red-skinned
cayoters have shown themselves.
Be ready
ter mount. Here, yer black niggers, git yer
horses and don't stand er gaping thar, as if
yer whar egoin' ter swaller ther drove, horns
and all."
66
A score or more of painted Comanches,
mounted upon their swift-footed and half-wild
horses, were plainly visible crowding upon the
rear of the affrighted cattle, driving them on
with spurs, and sending their sharp, stone-
headed arrows into the deepest of the press.
For a single moment, the mass stood motion-
less-stood as if struck into stony silence, and
then, with a burst like thunder, it parted in
every direction and the herd swept away-a
very avalance of doom to any thing that
should stand in its path.
66
Now mount and ride fer yer lives," shout-
ed Glover, as he threw himself, without the
aid of stirrup or bridle-rein, upon his horse.
"Yer black niggers; ride thar," and making
them follow his directions, he continued, with
a smile upon his face, even at that moment.
"Yer sarvents won't do any good but ter scar
ther red devils, Senor, while, ef yer choose,
we'll head them, and perhaps make a few of
them keel over in the dust."
"For Santiago and Spain! yes," replied
the excited Spaniard, and he mounted, rifle in
hand, and followed swiftly in the rapid path
of Glover, Weaver, and Wilson bringing up
the rear.
•
Kerful, be kerful," shouted Glover, as he
reined in his horse, so as to halt by the side
of the planter. But he might as well have
bidden one of the dashing herd to be careful.


THE HERMIT OF THE COLORADO HILLS.
9
66
Kerful! kerful!" again shouted both
Glover and Weaver in a breath.
66
By heaven!" exclaimed Glover, "but
he'll be er mong ther Injuns before he knows
it, and then-"
"Er way goes his scalp! interrupted
Weaver, finishing the sentence according to
his own ideas.
Bang! Far away they heard the report
and saw the smoke of a rifle. Well knew the
herdsmen that it was the weapon of Hamlin,
but not so the Spaniard, and he checked his
foaming horse, and paused as if uncertain how
to act. In a moment the herdsmen were by
his side, and saw that he had not stopped too
soon for his safety, for the fleeing Indians,
sceing that there was but one in pursuit, had
turned from their arrowy course, formed a
crescent, and were sweeping down upon him.
Sweeping down, with every human form con-
cealed by being thrown on the opposite side
of the horse, where, hanging by one leg only,
they peered from beneath the neck, and held
their bows ready to launch the stone-headed
arrows without being themselves exposed.
They came furiously on.
"Ther infernal reperbates," said Glover,
between his clenched teeth, "ef they'll only
come er few rods nearer, I'll let daylight
through hoss and all."
But it was not to be. The savages, far too
wily and watchful to place themselves in dan-
ger, disappeared.
66
That whar er narrer escape yer had,
Senor," began Glover, as the Comanches dis-
appeared over the crest of the hill. "Ef it
had not er been fer Bruce and me, I reckon
yer scalp would have bin er swinging from
some red-skin's belt by this time."
"Yes, it was a narrow escape, indeed. I
thought it was but a drove of wild horses,"
was the response of the planter.
"It's an old Injun trick. I have often
practised it myself. Thar are no more cunnin'
varments than yer true red-skins, I kin tell
yer, Senor."
"You did not shoot, snd yet I am sure I
heard the report of a gun."
"Oh! that ar whar Rob I'amlin's. I'd
know it among er thousand, and ef thar isn't
one less Comanche er cavortin' er 'round, I'll
lose my reckonin', that's all."
'What are we to do now, Glover? Surely
these plunderers are not to be allowed to es-
cape unpunished."
"6
Waal, as ter that, it's not so easy ter tell
what would be best. It must be cunnin'
again cunnin'."
"
"But you will certainly follow them ?"
"And perhaps, jest poke our heads inter er
ambush like er wolf inter er trap. But hark!
As I'm er livin' sinner, ther niggers and ther
red devils ar havin' er tussle. Bang! bang!
how ther guns go! I didn't think thar whar
any more fight in yer blacks, than thar whar
in er possum."
"They are no cowards. But, let us ride
down that way. Very likely we may be of
service. At any rate, my presence will en-
courage them."
66
Waal, yes, it's allers best ter have er Cap-
tiu', when thar ar tremblin' hearts in ther
company, and I want ter see what sort of er
fight darkies will make, anyhow," and he
rapidly led the way toward a belt of timber,
from whence the fire proceeded.
But they arrived too late. Either their
approach, or the guns of the slaves, had put
the Indians to flight.
Half frightened out of their senses, the ne-
groes had huddled together in the thick tim-
ber, keeping themselves well covered and
firing at random, without either receiving or
inflicting any serious injury.
"Bress de Lord, massa, but we whar nearly
dun gone, dat time," exclaimed many, in a
breath.
"Pshaw! There were as many of you, as
them, and you ought to have shot every one,"
replied Herera, with a smile.
"Dar whar more'n er thousand, massa.
Dar whar tens ov thousands, and da rode like
de wind."
"Brave men, them, fer yer ter bring ter
guard yer on ther Pampas," interrupted
Glover.
"I believe the very thoughts of Indians has
frightened them to death. And yet I have
seen them leap boldly into the river, when
swarming with alligators."
"I'se redder fight all der 'gators in der rib-
ber, den one ov den scalpers. De Lord be
marciful to dem dat meet," answerd old
Gumbo, a genuine specimen of the unadulte-
rated Congo negro, whose parents had been
Fetich worshippers.
"Waal, ther whar of some use," said Wea-
ver, "they drove off ther Injuns, any how,
but ef ther red-skins had only er known that
they whar niggers, I reckon thar wouldn't er
bin er wooly scalp left in ther hull concern."
1
"That's true, Bruce," replied Glover," and
now, Senor, ef they know any thin' erbout
drivin' cattle, jest let them go and gather in
all the cretters they kin."
"Yes, they are better at that than fightin',
I'll be bound," and the planter, after having
assured them that there was no danger from
the Indians, gave the necessary directions as
dictated by the herdsman, and all departed
except Quito, and the female attendant of
Inez.
"You here," he continued, almost fiercely,
as his eyes rested upon them. "You here,.
and none left to guard my daughter! By
Saint Jago! but we have all been carried
away by the excitement, and left her alone
and asleep. May the Holy Mother guard her
until we return, and-"
"Look" almost whispered Glover.
"Look, where ?"
"Thar," and his arm was outstretched in
the direction of the hut."
"De hut am on fire! Oh! de Lord! de
Lord!" exclaimed the negress.
"Now, may God indeed have her in His
holy keeping," burst from the ashy lips of the
planter. My daughter! Oh, heavens, my
daughter!"
66
But Glover and Weaver had not paused to
hear his words. Not swifter does the arrow
spring from the strongly strained bow-string,
than the horses of the herdsmen when they
saw the dense, murky smoke of the burning


10
A ROMANCE OF THE PAMPAS; OR,
hut staining the now sun-lit air of morning.
With them, it was a race for life. They
understood that the Indians had divided their
party into two bands, and while one stam-
peded the cattle and so led them away, the
other had swept down from the heights above
for plunder, and finding the girl there, had
carried her away and set fire to the hut in
spirit of savage bravado.
"Saint Jago. To the rescue!" shouted the
planter, as he followed, Quito and the ne-
gress vainly endeavouring to keep pace with
him in his whirlwind flight.
But even he failed to gain upon Glover and
his companion, although mounted on a rare
specimen of the Andalusian stock. In his
track followed the servants, helpless, almost,
now in their terrible fear.
"Blood will tell,' will it? Yes, where the
smoothed race-track woos the flying hoofs,
but not here, where no plow has ever turned
a furrow."
"Ter ther right and take ther path,"
shouted Glover, as he checked his horse upon
the brow of the hill."Yer hoss kin never
crowd through ther grass."
A slight motion of the rein-a few bounds,
and trembling upon a well defined and open
path, stood that gallant horse, but only for a
single instant to refill his lungs after the great
struggle he had just passed through, then ans-
wering the voice and spur, he shot upward,
with one of those mighty bursts of speed that
have made the name of his race famous in
both worlds.
By the embers of the hut, the glowing re-
mains of the herdsmen's home, stood Glover
and Weaver, dismounted, and leaning with
bowed heads upon their rifles. This much,
Jose Herera saw at a glance. But this was
all he saw! His darling, idolized daughter
-where was she?
With a fain cry bursting from his lips-a
half uttered prayer to Mary Mother," he
fell from his horse like one suddenly struck
down by the hand of death. A strong man
stricken down-a father mourning for a
daughter, that for him truly was not."
#6
CHAPTER VI
Lost in the Mountains.
INEZ HERERA was slumbering soundly, when
she was so suddenly left alone in the herds-
man's little hut.
A hoarse murmur rises from the Pampas,
and the golden visions flit rapidly away. The
loud report of fire-arms-the shrieking of the
savages-the cries of the herdsmen, and the
snorting of the maddened cattle come mingled
to her ears, and she springs to her feet per-
fectly awake and conscious to all around.
Quick witted and brave hearted as she was,
she saw and understood all at a glance. Such
minds drink in ideas, as if by intuition.
"Father! dear father!" burst from her lips
with all the intensity of fear.
Hark! That sound did not arise from the
Pampas. It is nearer-it is coming up the
very path she is travelling! She cowers in
the thick undergrowth. Man or beast she
cannot fly from them, and her only chance of
safety is in quiet. A band of savage warriors
urge their horses up the rocky path towards
the little hut she has just left. Like a whirl-
wind they pass, a half a score of grotesquely
painted forms arrayed in all the pomp of
savage war-dress. Up they sweep, intent only
upon rapine and plunder. What would have
become of her if she had remained sleeping in
that doomed cabin ?
At scarce a rifle-shot distance, the trail
branches in all directions, and she pauses be-
wildered-doubtful which way to proceed. If
there is any such thing as chance in this world,
that must be her guide now. It is all the
same-she must rush on blindly or perish.
The sound of running water falls upon her
ear. At once she determined. By that
stream her horse must have been tethered,
how her heart bounds at the thought of once
more mounting and feeling the free play of
his sinewy limbs, as he spurns the earth and
carries her away. Joy! joy! to le again up-
on his back and feel him speeding on like the
wind, and bearing her to her father and to
safety.
She hears the rushing of the Indians as
they hurry from their work of devastation,
but the dense foliage that walls her in, cuts off
all sight. For a moment she again seeks
shelter in the bushes, and then, when all is
still, proceeds. The path is a winding-often a
steep and dangerous one. Down-down, far
as the eye can see, nothing but sharp, jagged
rocks, with vultures sailing on their black
wings through the dense mist, and making the
air hideous with their harsh croakings.
Stricken down with the plummet of agony
deeply sunk into her soul, she turns again.
Turns but to find the same confusion, of inter-
lacing paths, and a new horror flashes upon
her brain that makes her sink unnerved to the
ground, hopeless, heartless, despairing.
SHE IS LOST IN THE MOUNTAINS!
Lost, and without the slightest chance of
escape! Yet for a moment only she sinks-
for a moment only gives way to her fears, and
then became calm and renewed her search.
Again chance assumed the reins. Fate led
her blindly on, and destiny stood waiting be-
fore. Selecting the path that appeared the
most open and easy to be travelled, that brave
girl proceeded with a still firm step. She had
determined to trace it to the end, and come
what might, there was no other course left for
her. She thought of the agony of her father
when he discovered her loss, forgetting phy-
sical sufferings.
But noon came hot and stifling. Faint
from thirst and hunger-worn out in body and
and tortured in mind, Inez Herera still stag-
gered on, hoping against hope-straining her
eyes to see and her ears to hear. But the
necessity of husbanding her strength forced
itself upon her, and when at length she came
to where a little stream trickled from the rock,
she threw herself by its side and drunk a
draught of sweet refreshment.


THE HERMIT OF THE COLORADO HILLS.
11
CHAPTER VII.
The Search-The Hermit of Colorado Hills-
A Familiar Spirit.
VIOLENT fires soon burn out, and firm natures,
like that of Jose Herera, are prompt to re-
cover from a sudden shock, when there is any
demand for action. He bowed, heart-stricken,
but to rise superior to the harsh decrees of
fate, and find in action relief from the tortures
that wrung his soul. His first thought, that
his darling child had perished in the flames
was soon dispelled by the words of the herds-
man, Glover, then from the chaos of his soul
sprang, silverwinged, the angel of hope. His
daughter was alive, human energy might yet
save her.
"Glover! Glover! in God's name what
shall we do?" burst from the bereaved father,
in the intensity of his agony.
"Do, Senor? Thar is but one thing ter do,
and that is to foller."
"Follow? There is not the slightest ap-
pearance of a trail."
"Waal, we must do ther best we kin. Yer
overseer, Wilson, and ther niggers kin stay
here and tend ther cattle, while you and me
go on ther search."
"But Wilson has not arrived yet, and I
suppose is already at the task of collecting
them."
"Waal, Bruce can ride that thar way, and
jest let him know, and then-"
"Had he better not stay and direct mat-
ters ?"
"Jest as yer honour thinks best. Ef I can't
find ther traill thar will be no use of any other
man's er goin', I can tell yer. Yes, Bruce,
s'pose yer stay. Ther niggers hain't no good
any way, and it'll need some one used ter
these Pampas, to keep them thar critters in
order."
So it was settled, and the planter and
Glover separated, striking at once in the di-
rection of the Colorado Hills. The planter
had changed horses with Bruce Weaver, so as
to have one comparatively fresh and ac-
customed to the rough roads and tangled grass,
and they rapidly passed over the miles, but
without gaining the slightest clue to the
object they had undertaken.
..
Er mighty hard ride we've had, Senor,"
said Glover, as he paused by the side of a
brook, and allowed his horse to drink freely.
"It has been so, indeed, Glover, and all for
what? As yet, we have found no trace of
my dear one."
"It haint ter be reckoned, that thar red-
skins would stop short of ther hills, no how.'
I allowed that we should find some sort of er
trail here about, and-what in the name of
thunder is that ?"
The eyes of the planter followed the direct-
ing finger of the herdsman, and saw a human
figure.
66
Heaven and arth, it is the HERMIT OF THE
COLORADO HILLS !" whispered Glover, with
visible emotion.
"Hermit or devil, I do not fear him," re-
plied the planter.
"Don't yer go-don't yer go! He is ther
devil, sure enough. I've hern tell of him
often, though I never saw him erfore," and
the herdsman laid his strong hand on the
Spaniard's bridle-rein, and forced the horse
to stop.
There was something in the attire and
position of the sudden apparition, that might
have aroused the suspicions of even a more
educated man than Glover. The figure ap-
peared unnaturally tall, long hair, swept
backward by the breeze, and a long beard of
snowy whiteness drifted upon the bosom. The
dress was entirely of skins, still retaining their
fur. The face, as far as the beard allowed it
to be seen, and the uncovered hands, were
those of a white man, though bronzed by ex-
posure to sun and wind, nearly to the colour
of an Indian. Glover, almost involuntarily,
drew his rifle to his shoulder, and would have
fired had not the planter struck it down.
"Put up your weapon," commanded the
stranger, in a deep undertone, and singularly
sweet voice-singular when contrasted with
his appearance, which was that of a man pre-
maturely old, for neither form or face corres-
ponded with his white hair and beard.
"Who are you?" asked the planter, in
Spanish, the same language used by the
stranger.
"A man, like yourself!"
"A devil!" whispered Glover, edging
away.
?
"But," continued the unknown, without
noticing the remark of the herdsman, "why
do you come hither? Is it my poor life you
seek? Take it! My last word will be a
prayer for the man who frees me."
"Nay," resumed the Hermit, "you need
not inform me why you came. I know it
already."
"I knew he whar ther devil,' again whis-
pered Glover.
"You came to seek a lost daughter-the
one beautiful child of your hearth-stone on
the Brazos, whom you foolishly allowed to
accompany you hither."
"Then you have seen her-you know where
she is? Oh! tell me," burst from the lips of
the planter.
"I-do-not-know !"
"Then how do you-can you tell that I
have lost her?"
"No mortal man has ever crossed the
threshold of my habitation, and I have wished
that none ever should, for has not man- but
sorrow is holy. Come, and you, also, herds-
man, I am but mortal like yourself, even
though I live alone in these wild solitudes,
and desire no companionship. Come, you are
both tired and hungry."
"Where would you lead us, strange man?
Who are-what are you?"
"As your companion has said, I am the
Hermit of the Colorada Hills," answered the
man, smiling.
"But that is very vague and unsatisfac-
tory."
"Yet it must answer for the present. You
certainly can have no fear of me."
Lead on. Come Glover. Rest
and food we certainly must have," and they
followed the singular being by a winding and
"Not I.


12
THE PAMPAS; OR,
A ROMANCE OF
easy path far up into the mountains, after
having unsaddled their horses and tethered
them among the sweet grass by the margin of
the waters.
"Here is my home," said their guide, sud-
denly pausing as they turned an abrupt mass
of hoary rocks, and pointing to a narrow
opening. "I offer you such hospitality as is
in my power. Enter, if you like, or sit here
on this broad rock, while I bring you some-
thing to eat.
In compliance with the suggestion, Herera,
and the herdsman took their places in front
of the cave. Their host kindled a fire, and
with ready and skilful hands, prepared a
hearty meal of various kinds of game.
46
You asked me, Senor," began the Hermit,
"how I knew that you had lost a daughter, and
yet did not know where she was."
66
Certainly, it appeared very strange to
me," replied Herera.
"My means of information I do not think
proper to disclose, yet I tell you the truth.
And farther, the Indians that set fire to the
little cabin on the hill-side did not carry her
off, for they knew nothing of her presence."
"In heaven's name, then, strange man,
what has become of her? If she is not the
captive of the red-men, where is she?"
"I can give you no further information."
"And I sit calmly here, to remain thus in
uncertainty? I can not endure it. Come,
Glover, dark as it is, we will again take to our
horses."
"Whither would you go, Senor? A storm
is gathering. Hark! you can hear the
thunder muttering in the mountain tops. Is
this not true, herdsman ?"
"Ther Hermit tells no lies, Senor," replied
Glover, "be he man or be he er devil, he
hasn't spoken nary er thing but Gospel truth."
"But I can not endure this dreadful sus-
pense," responded Herera, "It will drive me
to madness."
"It would be madness to think of stirring,"
continued the Hermit. "The clouds are
inky-black, and the wind is hurling them
fiercely about. Soon the rain will fall in a
deluge. I tell you, Senor, no living thing can
track the Pampas.'
""
"But think of my situation. If you were
a father, you would realize the despair that
is settling upon me."
"I do realize and feel it, though I have
lived in this situation till I thought my heart
would never know pity again, but-" and he
checked himself, as he always did, when his
listeners were prepared to hear some solution
to the mystery of his situation, and continued,
with his voice changing to its accustomed
sweetness. "Senor, when your cattle were
running madly around, and when the cabin of
the herdsmen was bursting into flames, a horde
of savage warriors swept away. I marked
their coming, and stopped them in their flight
by a power I possess. What that power is, or
how acquired, is one of my secrets. It is,
therefore, enough for you to know that there
is not a single one in the entire tribe of the
Comanches that dare go counter to my will.
With them, I am a Great Medicine."
Yes," interrupted Glover, "waal yes.
لمان
I've often hern ther red devils tell of er white
medicine that lived in these ar mountings and
could-"
"I easily ascertained that your daughter's
presence was unknown to them, although I
knew it from the hour she first entered the
Pampas."
"How? Is that a secret also ?" inquired
Herera.
"No; for the same means must be used to
recover her. Of one thing you may be cer-
tain. Had she been in the power of the Co-
manches, she would have passed into my
hands, and been now seated by your side."
"From what you have told me, I do not
doubt it. I would not pry into your myste-
ries, and yet I would gladly know how you
gained a knowledge of our coming."
"Our friend the herdsman, has called me a
wizard, not to use the stronger term, and if so,
would it be strange it I had familiar spirits
who attend upon me?"
"Certainly not.
Whatever others may do,
I have no fear."
"Education dispels these brain-phantoms,
even as the light of morning does the heavy
mists of night. You wonder at my words.
Well, I was"-but again he checked his
speech, and applying a whistle to his lips made
the woods resound with the shrill, quavering
notes.
"By heaven!" exclaimed Glover, springing
to his feet, and preparing his rifle and knife
for immediate service, "by heaven! but I've
heard that ar sound many er time before, and
couldn't fer ther life of me make out what it
whar."
A slight smile played for a moment over
the bronzed features of the Hermit, though
scarcely visible by the light of the fire, for all
around was now inky darkness, but without
deigning a reply he repeated the call after
motioning the herdsman to be seated again.
This done, he threw an armful of dry brush
upon the embers, and as the flames sprang
luridly up and revealed all around, both
Herera and Glover started with astonish-
ment to find a brawny, war-painted Indian
standing by their side. Whence or how he
came they could not determine, for no sound
of footsteps or rustle of garment had betrayed
his approach.
"Here," said the Hermit, when their aston-
ishment had somewhat subsided, "here is
the source of my information and my aathor-
ity."
"A Comanche, by all that's wonderful,"
exclaimed Glover, still clutching his wea.
pons nervously. "As much like one of ther
scalawags that stampeded ther cattle as one
nigger is like er nother."
"Kaw-wa-gas-hi, or the Great Bear, as he
is known among his tribe, is above plunder."
"Then, by thunder, he's ther fust Injun
that ever wouldn't steal, I kin tell yer Mr.
Hermit."
Either the "Great Bear" did not under-
stand the taunt contained in his words, or it
fell uncared for upon him, for he remained
impassible as bronze. "Ask him," requested
Herera, "if he knows anything concerning
the fate of my daughter."


THE HERMIT OF THE COLORADO HILLS.
13
"What he knows I know," replied the
Hermit, and then he addressed the Indian for
a moment in his native tongue, but changing
rapidly to the Spanish, he bade them look
towards the mountain tops, and see the com-
ing storm. They turned that way, but when
they again looked around them the red man
had vanished from sight! Silent as had been
his coming so was his departure.
"The Great Bear will watch your horses
while you slumber. With the first dawn of
morning you can proceed on your search, and
God be with you," continued the Hermit.
"And you, mysterious man ?" asked He-
rera.
"Will keep watch and ward near by you.
Come, the rain is begining to fall. Soon the
very windows of heaven will be opened-well,
the thirsty earth wants refreshment. Come,
the cave of the Hermit will protect you from
the storm, and his couch, though rude and
hard, will woo you to slumber,"
"But my daughter? oh, merciful heaven,
oh Virgin Mother, be thou her shield and
safety."
"Amen and amen," repeated the Hermit
reverently, and led the way into the cavern,
where, lighting a torch of inflammable and
resinous wood, he revealed the entire contents
of his abode.
A simple large excavation in the rocks, a
rude table and stools-piles of furs in either
corner arranged for beds, various weapons
and cooking utensils, were all they saw. If
he had other wealth it was hidden.
Herera readily accepted of one of the
primitive coucher, and Glover the other,
although vowing to himself that he would
remain awake and watch, while the Hermit
seated himself near the door as if to guard
against intrusion. But the watchfulness of
the herdsman soon ceased. Nature asserted
her right and his heavy breathing told of
sound slumber. Not so, however, was it with
the anxious planter. Sleep for a long time
fled from him, and when at last he passed the
portals of dreamland, it was but to be tortured
as in his waking hours.
Light was just beginning to break upon the
eastern horizon, when the Hermit summoned
them to breakfast.
"The Great Bear," he said, has already
taken the trail. He will neither know rest or
sleep until he has found your lost daughter."
"And what are we to do?" asked Herera.
"It is to you I must look for advice. Tell me,
and name your reward. I have gold-much
gold, and-"
"Gold? If every particle of the yellow dust
of earth was melted into one ingot, and that
iugot mine, I'd hurl it into the deepest cavern
of the ocean and bid it sink." He then rushed
back into the cavern.
66
Thar!" exclaimed Glover, "ther game is
up now. Yer ukered on er lone hand Senor,
and the devil has shown himself, hoof, horns,
tail and all. It's er gettin' too hot here for me,'
and he began to descend.
دو
For a moment the planter stood lost in aston-
ishment at the wild speech and demeanour of
his Host, and then quickly followed the herds-
man. When they reached the little lake by
which they had left their horses the previous
night, they found the Hermit already there.
All traces of excitement had vanished from
his countenance, and he was as calm, appa-
rently, as if nothing had happened to ruffle his
temper.
"Here," said he, handing them a deer-skin
pouch of ample dimensions, "Here is food-
you may need it. It is a blind trail you are
going on, and may be a long one.
daughter is not between these hills and your
camp I know, but where she is God only can
tell."
That your
66
Thanks, thanks."
"Heaven and airth!" burst from the lips of
Glover, "but he has disappeared, vanished,
snuffed out like a candle. Senor, ther quicker
we git erway from this place ther better. I
thought he whar the devil himself, and now
I know it," and mounting his horse, he spurred
headlong into the Pampas, leaving the planter
to follow.
CHAPTER VIII.
The Comanches-The Hermit-Advice.
THE ride of the thieving, but disappointed
Comanches was a rapid one, and they were
soon harboured safely in one of the many fast-
nesses of the mountains, or more strictly speak-
ing Colorado Hills. Baffled as they had been,
it was not in their nature to calmly give up
the chance of plunder. Many were the plans
talked of for another sortie, and they only
waited for an increase of their number to again
sweep forth and carry all before them. Very
soon their band was augmented to a size that
they felt in their savage hearts would crush
all opposition. An hundred dark-browed
strong-limbed and fiery-souled warriors had
gathered, and sat gorging themselves over the
ready meal, preparatory to another attempt to
possess themselves of the vast herds of the
white man. There was a fearless recklessness
in their manner and discussion.
"The pale-faces shall be swept away! Their
death-shrieks shall make pleasant music in
the ears of the Great Spirit, and their throb-`
bing hearts broil and quiver on the seething
coals," said one of the most savage chiefs of
the group.
"Ugh! Good! Yes!" responded the war-
riors in a deep, guttural chorus.
66
They shall be swept away as the wind of
Autumn scatters the dry leaves. They shall
be-"
"Hist!" came sharply from many lips.
"The Black Wolf never pauses in his speech
for anything of earth or-'
""
"The Hermit! The Great Medicine of the
Mountains!" again interrupted him, and every
finger was pointed warningly upward.
The warrior's words were stayed as suddenly
as if death had seized upon him, as turning
his gaze upward towards a lone cliff that over-
hung the encampment, they rested upon the
tall figure of the Hermit standing motionless
there. A deep hush settled upon the before
noisy assembly, and each retained his place
until the new-comer strode into their midst,


14
THE PAMPAS; OR,
A ROMANCE OF
every gesture revealing excitement of no ordi-
nary character.
"Black-hearted thieves!" were his first
words. "Has not the Great Spirit given you
well-stocked mountains and plains, and
streams, that you must attempt to rob the
stranger, and stain your hands in his blood ?"
Not a word was spoken, and he continued:
"It is well you are dumb! Had ye a spark
of shame in your vile hearts ye would hide
your heads like the sheep-stealing dog. But
to whom do I talk of shame?
As well might
I preach to the lamb-strangling wolf of mercy,
as to teach your black souls generosity."
"The white man's cattle tread down our
hunting-grounds, and drive-" began the Co-
manche Chief in reply, but the Hermit
silenced him with a gesture, and proceeded:
"Your words are false. But, beware! The
evil spirit will not fail to punish.
"The red-man trusts in the pale-faced
Medicine, and he will intercede for them when
the Matcha Manitou is angry," said an aged
chief, humbly.
"I? Perchance, if ye obey me- but you
dare not do otherwise! Up from your sloth.
Do one good deed, and strive to save your-
selves from the deep-rolling thunders and the
red, forked lightning that is mustering for
your punishment."
"What would the Great Medicine who holds
in hand the-"
64 Hush! What I am must not be whis-
pered even to the winds."
"But what would he have the red men do ?"
ked another of the elders.
Listen, and let not the words fall as the
dry leaf to the ground, to be swept away by the
first breach of the stormy wind"
".
Like the soft pipe clay shall the hearts of
the warriors receive it. Let our brother
speak the words that are good for them to
hear."
"It is well. Not often do you hear my
voice save when ye come trembling to my
home in the rocks to seek safety from the
fiends of sickness. Not often do I set my
mocassins within the limits of your wigwams."
"They are ever open, and-"
"Pshaw! Why do I prate thus when each
minute may be worth a day and each day a
lifetime. Listen. When your prowling band
had been driven back, ye crept through the
woods and in the littleness of your revenge,
burned the poor hut of the herdsmen."
"It was but-"
"Back with the lie to your black heart be-
fore it blisters your lips and pollutes the
purity of God's sunshine! Poor as was your
revenge, yet the Good Spirit watched over it,
and robbed you of your plunder."
"The warriors of the-"
"Peace. The Good Spirit I say watched
over it, and the little bird that had nestled
there, and sung itself to sleep."
"A bird!" repeated all in astonishment.
"Its head was under its wing, and it was
dreaming of bright flowers and sunshine when
your yells awoke it."
"The red-man did not know that-"
"It spread its pinions and flew away, and
itself in the thick bushes, so that even
your keen eyes knew not that it was trembling
there. So it escaped you, and well for you
that it did!"
Do you
"The red-man would have-"
Peace! Interrupt me not.
think I came but to tell you of this? Peace,
and listen. Well for you it is that it did
escape, for if but one of your fingers had been
laid upon it, I would have cursed you until
you howled in fear!"
60
"A white bird! A pale face girl !"
"The only daughter of the man ye would
have robbed and murdered, for your fiendish
hearts can pause at nothing short of blood."
"The warriors of the Comanches battle not
with weakly girls," said Black Wolf, proudly.
"Don't you, ye wolf's whelp, that would
strangle your own dam!"
"What would the pale Medicine have the
red-man do?" again asked one of the elders.
"Do?"
"His brothers await his bidding."
"As the buzzard awaits the shot of the
hunter, to feast on the slain deer! Do? Go
search and find her."
"Where shall the trail begin, and whither
shall it lead ?"
"Ye are keen enough when your tongues
would lap the stream of life, or your souls glut
themselves with food. Away! Pause not
upon the trail. Ye shall obey me! Dare not
to do otherwise, for ye know me and my pow-
er."
"But whither ?"
"On the mountain where ye burned the
hut."
"But-"
'Be gone? And yet to satisfy your sordid
souls, he who first brings me tidings of her
safety shall have gold-gold-handsful of
gold. Be gone! Not another word."
There was a short conversation in an
under tone among the Indians, and then
separating into little bands, they rushed to
their horses. Quickly, in all directions they
dispersed without waiting or caring for orders,
while the Hermit stood, apparently as one in
a dream, until every sound was hushed in the
distance. Then he aroused himself a smile
curled his lip for a moment, and he muttered-
"There they go, the black-hearted fiends!
They fear me, and I will use my power.
But why should I? Long years ago I cut
myself loose from my kind-tore every ves-
tige of feeling, as I thought, from my heart,
and now? For a girl-a vain, foolish doll-
face beauty, I doubt not. I am to become
again a slave to the senseless forms of society.
Is this my sturdy independence? This my
scorn-hatred of those who drove me from
civilization and-But this young creature shall
not become the slave of these savage de-
mons! No, no! I'll save her-send her
back to flaunt like a butterfly-find how false
the world is, and curse me for my kindness
perchance! Well, so let it be. But now?”
His shrill whistle rang, and creeping from
behind a rock where he had been hidden,
came the shadow of the master, the ever at-
tendant Indian, Kaw-wa-gas-hi.
"The wolves have gone on the trail of the
lost doe. Go, track them. It is not in their


THE HERMIT OF THE COLORADO HILLS.
15
nature to be true; but, by the light of heaven,
if they wrong a single hair of her head, they
shall rue it! Kaw-wa-gas-hi, you have seen
her? Tell me of her."
"The eye of the Great Bear has seen no
one like her."
"Is she so beautiful ?"
"As the morning sun."
"And false! But you say she is beautiful?"
"Eyes like the star-step like the wind-
form like the mottled doe-hair fine as the
silk of the maize, and voice like the sweet
singing birds of the orange groves."
"Had you been a white man and a lover,
you would have sung sweet nonsense into
willing ears! But the more beautiful she is,
the less fitted for a home in a roving devil's
hut. She must be saved. Away! Be swift
as death and silent as the grave."
"The trail shall be twisted that shall tire
the mocassins of Kaw-wa-gas-hi," and the
Indian disappeared.
66
Cunning shall baffle craft," muttered the
Hermit, "white intelligence prove the superior
of red-handed and black-hearted murder,"
and he again ascended the rocky cliff.
Seated there, he drew forth a glass and
scanned the scene. It was one a poet's eye
would have lingered long and lovingly upon;
but he regarded its beauties with a heavy
heart,
Short was his reverie.
He had learned discretion in his dangerous
life, and rising again he hastily returned to
his accustomed home.
Once there, he changed his dress-armed
himself, and mounting a horse that came at
his call, dashed down the mountain, the very
picture of a roving Comanche.
A ride of an hour brought him to the side
of the distressed father, and the herdsman,
Glover, who were wandering hopelessly among
the hills. The rifles of both were raised, and
their keen eyes were glancing along the
slender tubes threatening instant death; but
the steed of the Hermit continued his rapid
course until, drawing his rein suddenly and
throwing him upon his haunches, he shouted:
"Put up your weapons, Signor, drop your
rifle, man. Would you harm a friend ?"
"By Jerico, ef it hain't ther Hermit! I
should'nt have known yer ef it hadn't er bin
fer yer beard," shouted Glover in reply.
66
Well, what of it, herdsman ?"
"Ef I didn't take yer fer er red devil, yer
may jest up and shoot me."
"There are enough of them on the Pampas
already without any counterfeits."
66
But yer are dressed jest like one, and-"
And of course have my reason for it.
Don't trouble yourself with my secrets."
"Ef I do may I be blessed! No, no, I
hain't fool ernough yet ter meddle with er
man that hain't more'n half human, no how."
"But," interrupted the anxions parent,
"have you heard anything of my lost child?
Tell me, strange man, if you have any news
of her ?"
66
of eyes are engaged in the search, and you
will hear good tidings soon."
"My heart aches with this continued
anxiety. Oh! that I had never been tempted
to bring her with me."
"Well, indeed, would it have been. The
foot that presses and the heart, that dares the
pathways of the Pampas, should be strong
and bold."
Strange man? Yes, I must look so in
your eyes. And yet if you knew all-if you
knew that. No, I have heard - have seen
nothing. Yet fear nothing. An hundred pair
"True, too true, and now-”
"By thunder thar goes another red-skin-
er skulkin' on his devil's errand erloug ther
mounting slope," interrupted Glover, whose
restless eyes were constantly watching every
point around them, and his ready rifle was
brought to bear upon the crouching figure.
"Stay your hand," rep ied the Hermit.
"Will I? I'll send er bullet arter him that
will save him one long journey, and send him
on er longer one."
"What would you do, man? Is your heart
bent on cold-blooded murder ?"
"Pshaw, it haint no murder ter kill er red-
skin."
"Down with your weapon, man!" and he
struck it rudely to the earth, applied his
whistle to his lips, and blew a shrill blast.
The Indian stopped suddenly, when he
heard the sound. He raised his crouched
form, motioned for a moment with his hands
raised above his head, and then sinking down
again was lost to sight.
"Who was it?" demanded Glover, with
his usual abruptness.
""
"A man!"
"An Injun, I know,”
"A far better man than many that boast
of a white skin."
"Waal, we won't dispute that point, but
what did he say?"
The Hermit gave no answer, but dismount-
ing, sat calmly down upon a barren rock and
appeared lost in thought. At length, when
Glover had become completely outraged at
what he considered his supreme indifference,
and was about to depart, an arrow quivered
through the air above their heads, and des-
cending, stuck upright in the sod, almost at
their feet.
"The Great Bear has found-" began the
Hermit.
"Then it whar your Injun that we saw ?"
demanded Glover.
"He has found the trail of the lost girl."
66
God bless him and you," burst from the
lips of the planter.
"He has found the trail," continued the
Hermit, as he stooped and picked up the
slender shaft, and unrolled a thin piece of
bark that had been cunningly fastened around
it.
"Where? Oh! tell me where and how ?"
"He will follow the trail, and she will be
saved."
66
'Ef yerself didn't say it, Hermit, I'd never
believe it of any Injun that ever wore a scalp-
lock," said Glover
"My words are not like the smoke that the
wind drifts hither and thither. I said she
should be saved, and she shall."
"And you ?" questioned the planter.
"To watch and direct."


16
A ROMANCE OF THE PAMPAS; OR,
"And we ?"
"Back to your late camping-ground. Back
to your herds and your companions."
"Ef I do, I'll be-! Ef I leave ther sarch
fer Miss Inez before I see her safe, may I be
rode upon er rail and have er complete dressin'
out of tar and feathers," angrily replied the
herdsman.
"By Saint Jago! but that can never be,"
exclaimed Herera. almost in the same breath.
"But it must, Senor. Forgive me for what
I say, but it must be so."
"It is simply impossible. What? Remain
idle when my dear child is-Oh! Holy Mo-
ther, who can tell where ?"
"I know how you feel. I know what a
father's anxiety must be, Senor, but your
search would be useless."
"Still I must go."
Senor, listen to reason.
Reason, at such a time?"
66 You know little of the trail."
"I do not care if it leads into the very jaws gain it.
of death, I will go."
"It cannot be.
66
"Words are useless, and-"
"I shan't stay, any how-that's flat," put
in Glover.
"You, herdsman, must return to your
charge."
"I shan't."
"Then I must compel you to do that which
your safety requires," and whistling to his
horse, he threw himself upon his back, and
was lost in a moment among the winding
trails.
Herera and Glover had fastened theirs at
some little distance, and when the hastened
to untie them found the bridles knotted in a
manner that it took them long to untangle.
"By ther heavens," cursed Glover, "but
that ar Injun of the Hermit has did this thing.
But how he managed it without my hearing
it, is more'n I kin tell."
At length they freed their steeds, and set
out again on their almost hopeless search.
with his fingers as the girl could be with her
tongue.
66 If you wish to see your daughter again, Hamlin, jest come this way, will yer, Rob."
respect my words."
"Waal, what is it, Bruce? What do you
want now ?"
"This poor, dumb creature thinks ther Se-
norita would be likely ter try and find her
horse, and-"
CHAPTER IX.
Hamlin and Quito-The Indians, and the Power
of the Hermit.
"That's somethin' in that dumb feller's
head," said Weaver to the overseer, as he
stood watching him. "He's jest like er good
dog that has lost his mistress, and he's er
thinkin' of some plan ter find her."
"Yes," was the reply. "Quito worships
Miss Inez more than he does anything else,'
and he proceeded to tell the story of his
mutilation.
THE negroes, under the direction of the
herdsmen, Weaver and Hamlin, soon gathered
Imost of the wandering cattle. Then, super-
vised by the overseer, Wilson, they proceeded
to rebuild the hut that had been wantonly
destroyed. Thus employed, they forgot in a
great measure the loss of their young mistress
and the continued absence of their master,
With merry song and laughter they piled the
huge logs that in future should prove a safe
place of retreat in the hour of danger. But
two of the men only appeared to remember
that it was not a holiday. And there too, the
mute boy, Quito, and the girl, Rosa, sat apart,
straining their eyes in a vain search for the
And long they sat thus, now and
on conversing, for the boy was as nimble
t one.
"Cut out his tongue, did he, ther infernal
brute! Ef I whar ter git hold of him, I'd—
but call ther boy, and let's know what he am
er thinkin of any how."
At a signal from Wilson the black mute
came, and soon made known by signs that
he thought if they could find the horse
his mistress rode, it might lead to finding
her, as she would probably endeavour to re-
"Er bright thought that, fer er wooly
head!" replied the herdsman, and then con-
tinued, calling to his companion. Here,
66
"By mighty, and that ar er fact, and we
whar fools not to've thought of it erfore."
"Whar did yer leave him?"
"Down on ther Big Buck branch. You
know ther spot, whar thar is er little kind of
prerarer."
"Yes, yes, but she would'nt find him thar
in er lifetime."
"Tain't likely, but I'll jest go and bring
him up here, fer if the redskins should happen
ter find the critter, she'd never see him ergain,"
and shouldering his rifle, he started, closely
followed by the dumb boy.
Carefully he examined every foot of the
ground, but it gave no assurance that the
light footsteps of Inez had pressed it in
passing. By winding and well-hidden ways
he descended and approached a little brook
that babbled ceaselessly on its course. He at
length came to a jutting point of rock that
overhung the mimic meadow he had spoken
of. Together he and the negro pulled aside
the little bushes that fringed its top, and
looked below. There was the good steed of
the lost girl carelessly feeding, and the herds-
man was just about to give a shout of rejoic-
ing, when Quito laid his hand upon his arm
and pointed to the opposite side of the stream
that walled in the grassy valley. Hamlin
looked up and saw standing on the very brink,
a tall forin, clad in the dress of an Indian, but
with a white beard that swept down upon his
breast.
"What Injun devil is that, I wonder," he
muttered to himself. "I never saw one of
them with er beard. You jest keep back, and
I'll let daylight through him in less nor no
time. The man raised his rifle and fired.
The report rang loudly, but when the smoke
cleared away, there stood that strange form,
immovable as a statue of cast iron.
Scarcely twenty rods distance-er fair
(6


THE HERMIT OF THE
17
COLORADO HILLS.
mark, and Rob Hamlin missed it," growled he
between his firmly set teeth. He hastily re-
loaded and fired.
Again the echoes reverberated, the smoke
wreaths lifted, and the eyes of Hamlin looked
for his mark. But nothing was to be seen!
Hamlin was certain that no human being
could thus twice escape his rifle, and it was
with strange feelings of uneasiness that he
saw the same figure standing below him in the
little valley, smoothing the long mane of the
very horse he had come in search of. He was
proof against leaden bullets, and when, a
moment after, he looked up and motioned the
herdsman to descend, the latter was fain to fly,
rather than to venture near one who could not
be of earth.
"Come," said the strange figure, seeing
that he hesitated, "come and take the good
horse you were searching for, though his
mistress has not been here."
"How could he have known what I whar
arter," thought Hamlin. "Yes, he must be
the devil, and no mistake, and I don't know
erbout puttin' myself in his clutches."
"Come," again was repeated from the valley.
"Come, you and the dumb boy, also."
"Thar it is ergain! He knows that thar
is er boy along with me, and he has'nt seen
hide or hair of him. And that he can't speak
either! Waal, waal, ef he be ther devil, I
can't get out of his way by runnin', no how.
So here goes," and having consoled himself by
this philosophical conclusion, he began to
descend.
"Come!" and this time the invitation was
a command, uttered with something like im-
patience.
"Jest have a little patience. You'll get
hold of my soul quick ernuff in all conscience,
and-"
"Have done! I have not time to linger
here."
"I s'pose not, fer I reckon you're generally
pretty busy," and by this time he stood upon
the opposite side of the horse.
"What do you take me for?"
"Fer er-er-dev-I beg pardon-but one
that rifle balls go through jest as easy as they
do smoke, and without leavin' any marks,
must be ther-waal, you know best what yer
ar."
"No bullet has gone through me, friend.
Your aim was unsteady."
66
Waal, perhaps it did.
湛
​"Will you still cling to such foolish
thoughts? See ?" and he held up a little
rustic cross and kissed it fervently. "Such
as you take me for, flee from this holy sign,"
he continued, with a sad smile, as he returned
it to his bosom. "And now that you should
be satisfied, you came her in search of the
horse of the lost girl, and hoping to find her
trail."
"Yes, sartinly, but how did you know it ?"
"No matter. I know it, and would assist
you."
"Don't know about travelin' in your com-
pany."
66
66
"But you are no Injun ?"
"No, my skin is as white as your own."
"And you live hereabouts ?"
"Yes."
Then, by thunder, I hern tell of you
erfore You're ther man ther Injuns call ther
Hermit."
"It is true, now listen."
"Waal, seein' yer only a man, go on."
"The girl whom ye seek is lost in the
mountains."
Then may
"Lost in ther mountings!
heaven have mercy on her."
Notwithstanding the symbolic cross ?"
Sartinly not, until I know who you are?"
My name is no matter what."
•
"Amen, and amen to that."
In ther mountings! In ther den of snakes
and the home of prowling beasts! Heaven,
and she so young, tender, and beautiful."
"But she may yet be saved."
"How? Tell me quick-how ?"
"Go back to where the hut once stood.
Break up the company into little parties, and
Scour every inch of the ground in all direc-
tions."
"But ther cattle ?"
"Let them go. If every hoof was lost, it
would be but little when thrown into the
---
scale against human soul. Go, let the
black boy take the horse. Here it might not
be safe.'
"I'd rather think not, ef ther redskins
should come prowlin' erbout."
"I did not think of them-but the beasts.
No fear of the Indians. They will not harm
-they dare not-but hist!" and he bent his
ear to the ground and listened attentively.
"Thar they come, and-"
"To cover, and mind that you obey me, if
you value your life."
They were hardly out of sight before the
rocky walls of the little canon were covered
on either side by a crowd of savages.
Inveterate was the hate of Hamlin to the
Indians, and hard was it to control his temper.
He raised his rifle, and was about to fire,
when the Hermit pressed it down and whis-
pered-
"On your life, do not fire! One drop of
blood spilled, and not only your scalp would
pay the forfeit, but all hopes of recovering
the girl be lost. Keep still as death and
watch."
For some time the Indians remained as if
uncertain how to act. In their search for the
lost daughter of the planter, they had come
by accident upon the little valley, and dis-
covered her horse.
"Hugh! Pale-face !" said one, as he lifted
up a foot of the steed, and pointed to the iron
shoe.
Again the rifle of the herdsman was raised,
and the form of the negro became agitated.
But again the Hermit ordered them to keep
silent, and remain where they were until he
returned. Auxiously they obeyed him, and
looking in the direction of the sound, saw him
standing on the very spot but lately occupied
by the Indians.
The effect upon the red men was startling.
All shrunk back from the horse and stood
irresolute. A wave of the hand from the
Hermit and they disappeared.
"This beats all the deviltry I ever saw,"


18
A ROMANCE OF THE PAMPAS; OR,
whispered Hamlin to the negro, "and yer
don't catch me in such company any longer
than-"
"Get the horse now, and hasten back to
your friends," was whipered in his ear.
"How ther devil did yer come here ?" he
stammered, in astonishment, not unmixed
with fear.
"No matter. He who knows the mountains,
can find many a trail that the stranger knows
nothing of. Do as I tell you. But be careful.
Go, and-hark-"
Another whistled call, totally unlike his
own arrested his words. Thrice it was re-
peated, and then he continued.
64
Go, I am called. Yet stay," and he an-
swered the signal.
There was a flutter in the air-something
like the flight of a bird, and a tiny slipper
fell at their feet, standing as they then did in
the open ground. Quick as thought the negro
had picked it up and hid it in his bosom.
"It is ther slipper of ther Senorita," ex-
claimed the herdsman.
"It is "
"But how came it here ?"
Do as you have been
"That matters not.
told. Go, we shall meet again," and he
quickly departed.
"By thunder," was the exclamation of the
herdsman, "I would't trust myself erlone
with that thar man in the dark, fer all ther
gold in the world. Come, boy, I'm going ter
git out of this, jest as quick as possible."
Hastening on the homeward trail, they had
nearly reached the hat, when, in passing
through a dense thicket, a band of Indians
sprang upon them, and before they had time
to make the slightest defence, they were bound
and rapidly led away.
+
1
"Here are yer imps ergain!" shouted
Hamlin. "Ef yer have any power, jest un-
bind my hands, and let me have a dash at
ther red rascals."
"How long will you tempt my anger?
How long will you dare disobey my will?
Once more and I will call down the curses
of the great Manitou!" thundered the Her-
mit, but his words were apparently lost upon
the air, for no sooner had he appeared
than the Indians slunk away like whipped
dogs.
"Once more go," continued he to the herds-
"I'd give er dollar jest now fer that ar
Hermit, even though he whar ther devil,"
whispered Hamlin to poor Quito, who was
trembling in every limb.
As if his words had power to call up
spirits, the wish had scarcely been uttered,
before standing in their very path, he saw
the Hermit with his tall form drawn to its
utmost height, and his hands waving threat-gathered, and upon the glowing coals was
epingly.
broiling the flesh of a deer, the remnant of
whose carcass hung upon a tree near at hand.
Without daring to stir, she sank into the con-
cealment of the bushes.
man.
"And may I not send er bullet after ther
skulkin' thieves?"
"No! When the hour comes, they will
find a power to punish far more potent than
lead or steel. Go, and let your friends take
the trail."
"In the hour of your greatest danger I will
be near, and-"
"Thar goes that ar whistle again."
"Remember!" and once more the Hermit
disappeared, and Hamlin, followed by Quito
leading the horse of Inez, hastened to the hut-
"But ef ther red devils should come
crgain."
CHAPTER X.
In the Mountains!
LONG Inez Herera lay insensible in the dense
thickets of the mountains. The shadows
were thick, and the night air heavy when she
fell exhausted and lost to everything around.
It was early morning when she awoke from
her strange rest, and wild troubled dreams.
Dimly could she see around. Weakened by
exertion, faint from hunger, and excited by
fear, she saw in every object something to
dread. What should she do? A groan es-
caped her, and then she breathed fervent as-
pirations to Him who holds the thunderbolt
in His hands, and tempers the wind to the
shorn lamb.
It was now fast growing light. God's
blessed sunshine had driven away all the
phantoms engendered by night, and her mind
calmly reflected upon her situation.
X
"Water-food," cried out nature in accents
that could not be misunderstood. These two
things she must have-and at once! If she
failed in procuring them-what then? Heart,
soul, brain gave back the fearful answer in the
single word-Death!
Up and away, nerved by despair, she starts,
ready almost to brave the fury of the wild
beasts, and find an end alike to torture, and to
life among the jagged rocks, or the foaming
waters below. Faint and foot-sore, for now
her remaining slipper was lost, she staggers
But suddenly she saw a sight that
caused all the hopeful blood in her heart to
flow back again, and become cold as ice, and
bitter as gall. Seated there, were more than
dozen savages-war-painted and fully
armed! Around a little fire they were
on.
a
At liberty once more, by their departure, to
proceed, Inez Herera soon was satisfying her
hunger in a manner that but a few days before
her delicate nature would have revolted at. A
broken knife left by the Indians-a slice of
venison cut from the haunch-a bed of glow-
ing coals-ashes for seasoning-great flakes
of lucent honey-comb for dessert, and a
draught of cool water, made the most de-
licious meal her lips ever tasted. When her
meal was finished, the bright plumed angel of
hope again nestled in her heart, and folded
ite silver pinions as if it would never wander
more.
A short time given to resta hasty pre-
paration of a small supply of food to carry
with her a binding up of her delicate feet as
well as it was possible with a portion of her
dress cut off for that purpose, and again she


THE HERMIT OF THE COLORADO HILLS.
19
•
prepared to depart. But with the resolution
came the startling and ever-returning ques-
tion-whither?
Hark! That is surely a familiar sound-a
sound bringing with it almost home music.
No beast or bird ever uttered that. It is the
lowing of cattle-lowing as they ever do when
returning at night, either for milking or herd-
ing.
A ringing shout-a long echoing yell rises
from the heights above, and her resolve is
taken and acted upon in an instant. Rather
tempt unknown dangers than long protracted
torture. At once she passes over the 'slight
distinguishing line, flees from the mountains,
and is lost in the high and tangled grass of
the Pampas.
CHAPTER XI,
Surprises.
HERERA, the almost despairing and heart-
broken planter, accompanied by his faithful
herdsman, Glover, attempted to follow the
trail of the Hermit when he suddenly left
them but soon found it impossible.
"Thar is but one way, Signor, that I kin
think of, and that is ter go back ergin ter
whar ther hut stood-see if we can larn any
thing, and take er new start," counselled
Glover.
"It may be, but how can I consent to turn
back when my darling child is still lost ?" was
the sorrowful reply.
"It is er hard case that ar er fact, but what
else is thar left for us to do ?"
"Nothing-alas, nothing!"
"Yer see, we can't foller that ar Hermit, no
more than yer could ther trail of er mole
under ground, and so-"
"You are right. We will go. God in his
mercy, grant that we may hear some news of
my daughter," and he spurred his now jaded
horse more rapidly forward.
In silence they rode for a time, as men ever
do, when on a desperate errand. An hour
passed thus, when the horse of the herdsman,
with his long, swinging gallop, suddenly
pressed down a small hill into the open ground
round a wooded point and into the Pampas.
"Thar ar ther cattle!" shouted he; "and
thar, as I'm a sinner, is ther point whar ther
hut stood-and-and, ef I'm not mad as er
March hare, thar is er larger cabin standin'
now."
"Your eyes do not deceive you. I can 'see
it plainly see a number of men about it-
see even the smoke, and-"
——
May I be
"One of them is er woman!
shot, scalped, and hung up ter dry, ef one of
them is not er woman!"
"Yes-but-"
"Keep er little more this way out of ther
long grass, or yer horse will be down. Here's
ther cattle path, and now whip and spur,
Signor, and you'll soon see yer daughter agin."
"I pray, heaven, that it may be so."
"Look sharp how yer ride then, for ther
trail turns quick as er snake, and goes through
ther bushes. It's only er short distance
though, and then we shall have plain sailin'.
But heaven and airth, what is that?
Even at the entrance of the little wood
they were about to pass through, stood an
Indian, clad in his war dress and fiercely
painted.
"Don't fire, Signor-don't fire, fer yer life.
Be he red-skin or be he devil, he comes in
peace and may be er friend."
"How do you know that?" and still the
weapon was kept poised.
"Don't yer see that he keeps ther inside of
his hand toward us?"
'Yes;
but what does that signify?"
"Waal, jest this, that he haint er goin' ter
use any weapons, and that he would speak
ter us in er friendly manner. It's er sort er
Injun flag er truce."
But, be upon
"Let us meet him, then.
your guard."
"That I allers am, when dealin' with such
critters, fer it's pretty much like handlin' er
sarpent. Yer don't know when they'll try
and bite yer.
But see, thar's no use in bein'
so sarcumspect. It's ther Hermit's red-skin,
ther Great Bar."
"Then haste," and the horses leaping under
the spur, in a moment brought them to where
the waiting red man stood.
"What tiding, Bar?" shouted Glover, even
before he had checked his panting horse.
"Tell us, and be quick erbout it, have ye
found ther gal? Is that her up yender, by
ther cabin?"
"Kaw-wa-gas-hi brings the written talk of
the pale-face," was the answer of the Indian,
and he slowly drew a piece of white bark
from his wampum girdle, and handed it to the
planter.
"Great God!" he exclaimed, in agony of
spirit, "can this be true? My poor lost
child! Jesu Maria! pity and protect her."
"Ef I mought be so bold, Signor, I'd jest
like ter know what that ar writin' am erbout.
Herera handed it to the herdsman, but he
only shook his head, and without touching it,
continued:
""Tain no use-not ther least grain in ther
world fer me ter look at it, fer I don't know
one letter from ernother any more'n er yearlin'
calf. Ef her feller had ter be hung, and I
whar 'pinted ter read thar sentence, I reckon
thar'd be no use in even plantin' hemp fer
ther rope. But jest tell us, Signor, if yer
hain't no objections."
"None. It is a note from the man who
styles himself the Hermit, saying that my
poor dear child is not in the mountains-that
every foot has been searched, and that-"
66
Then, by heaven, she must have got inter
ther Pampas!".
"Yes-but-but-" and the voice of the
strong man told how fearful the question was
to him, "but, may she not have fallen a prey
to the wild beasts?"
"No fear of that!" was the cheering reply.
"No fear of that, fer ther redskins would have
found something-part of her dress, perhaps,
ter have told about her. No, no, Signor, I'd
bet my rifle ergin er willer whistle that it
hain't so. But, is that all ther writin' says
erbout it ?"


20
A ROMANCE OF THE PAMPAS; OR,
"All! She has wandered into the Pampas,
and-"
"Ther Bar here kin tell us more erbout it,
I reckon. Bar-Bar, I say. Whar in the
name of thunder has he got ter! I'd swar he
whar er standin' thar er minit ergo !"
"Truly, he was, but now he has disap-
peared."
"
Diserpered? Sunk inter ther earth.
Waal, it does beat all natur whar he could
have got ter!" and he began looking around
to discover some hole through which he had
descended.
"What are you looking for, Glover?"
asked the planter, who, notwithstanding his
intense anxiety, could not repress a smile.
"Lookin' fer ?"
"Certainly. What do you expect to find ?"
"Waal, I don't see any hole or smell any
brimstone! But it's ther queerest thing whar
he could have gone ter."
"Come, we had better push on to the camp.
It is growing late, and, God pity her, but my
dear child may have to stay out another
night."
"Yes, go, and ther quicker ther better.
Any place er way from whar red-devils come
and go quicker nor er flash of lightning."
And, urging on their horses; they soon passed
the little belt of timber and came in sight of
the newly erected cabin.
"By Saint Jago!" the favourite expletive
of the planter, burst from his lips, "but there
is my dear child's horse! lie, at least, is
found, and my darling-"
66
May be also! Now, ef she whar er
herdsman, I'd bet high on it. Bet all ther
ounces I had, fer they'r never far erway from
such er horse as is wrapped up in that ar
hide," and he shook his bridle, gave a whoop
that startled the men gathered around the
hut, and, dashing forward, soon was in their
midst, asking countless questions in a breath.
With the exception of the story of Hamlin
-how he and Quito had seen the Hermit, and
been rescued by him from the Indians-he
could learn nothing.
"Then to the Pampas!" was his command.
Every one to the search, except Quito and
Rosa."
66
"That's well thought on, Signor," replied
Glover. "Thar's nothin' like havin' er land
mark in er dark night."
"But ther cattle ?" questioned Weaver.
"The cattle, man! If every hoof was of
solid gold, you think I would value them now?
Do you think cattle, gold, any thing that can
weigh against my daughter's safety? Give
me a horse, and—”
"Better rest er little, Signor, and git some-
thin' ter eat erfore you start."
"Rest? Food? Are you all determined
to drive me mad? You may, in the cravings
of hunger forget that we are searching for my
child-but a father-never!"
"I wasn't thinkin' of myself, but you, Sig-
nor. Bruce Weaver's nerves and stomach
hain't none of ther delicate kind, I kin tell yer.
But you hain't used ter this kind of life."
"Not used to it? True, but I will not stop
for any thing, until I am assured of my dear
child's safety. Not used to it? To horse,
men!" and he turned away to give instruc-
tions to Quito and the young negress.
66
Bruce," said Glover, ef ther old man don't
find ther gal pooty soon, he'll be as mad as er
bear in er hornet's nest."
"Waal, he hain't fur from it now! Jest
think of his goin' ter hunt through ther Pam-
pas in ther night! Why er cayoter kin
hardly find his theivin' way."
"I don't like ther job, much, that ar er fact,
and if it whar er man that whar lost instead
of such a pooty, delicate gal, I'd see him—"
"Come, men, are you ready?" interrupted
the planter. "The boy and girl will keep a
good fire, and I have arranged signals in case
they should learn any thing of my darling
one.'
,,
"Larn! How can they?"
"You forget the Hermit, Glover."
"Yes, I did, that ar er fact, and his devil's
imp, ther Great Bar, too. But it hain't best
ter be er talking about them, fur you never
kin know how cluss ther ole one or his sar-
vent may be ter yer."
"Get these follies out of your head. Both
he and the Indian are simply men. All that
appears strange to you, could be easily ex-
plained, and-"
"What do you think of that?" was the
sudden question, as a whistle rang from one
side of them, and was immediately answered
from every point around.
64
Tis the call of the Hermit, repeated by
the echoes."
"Echers be-but no matter. I hain't er-
feared ter go whar any other man dare, and
ef he be thar devil, he-"
66
Hain't no devil," interrupted Hamlin,
"for be wars er cross, and I seed him kiss
it."
"A cross! The holy symbol of our faith !"
answered the planter, in astonishment.
"Don't know nothin' erbout symbles, but
I do know that he has er little cross made out
of two pieces of wood, and-but your tongue-
less darkey thar, kin tell yer more erbout it."
By signs, the dumb boy related what had
passed, and the planter and Glover were more
astonished than ever at this new phase in the
Hermit's character.
"What can one bearing about him the
emblem of monastic life be doing in the midst
of this wilderness?" was the thought of the
planter.
"I wonder ef ther devil don't sometimes
play ther saint, as well as ther saint the
devil?" was the characteristic one of the
herdsman.
Both were cut short in their surmises by
the rapid dashing of the horse of Inez down
the slope and into the deep grass of the Pam-
pas. Without any apparent cause, he had
broken from Quito, who was petting him, and
in a moment bounded out of sight.
"Waal, now ther devil is up fer sartin!"
continued Glover.
"Why? What do you suppose is the cause
of this strange movement ?" asked the plan-
ter.
"Think? S'pose? Nothin', 'xcept thar
is er snake in ther grass, even if thar isn't er
hull nest of them !"


THE HERMIT OF THE COLORADO HILLS.
21
"Don't speak in riddles, man. This is
neither the time nor place for such things,"
said the planter, sternly.
66
Then, if you can't understand er hint,
er'll soon git somethin' harder-ye'll git er
kick, far it's ther-"
accounted for. But the Indians deeming
themselves safe from the Hermit, and but
little fearing his power when at a distance,
now that all search for Inez appeared hope-
less, and the promised reward consequently
lost, determined again to satisfy their lust for
look-plunder, and having first robbed the planter
and his party of their horses, to stampede the
cattle and drive them rapidly away.
And while they stood confounded on the
brink of that leafy ocean, the poor, wander-
ing girl was becoming still more hopelessly
lost in its labyrinths and beyond the help,
almost, of human hands. Weary and weak
she sank once more upon the ground, feeling
that the last bitter hour was drawing near.
Sleep came, and lost to all her surroundings, the
dark hours flitted like ill-omened birds over
her head.
"Indians!" echoed every lip, and on
ing around, they found themselves, surround-
ed on every side by armed Comanches.
"Now, for the blood of Castile, charge
them home!" shouted the planter.
"To cover!" was the counter-command of
all the herdsmen, and rapidly was it obeyed.
Even the planter, brave, somewhat headstrong
and unused to being dictated to as he was,
felt the force of this, and secured a safe re-
treat, just as a shower of arrows whistled over
his head. One of the arrows arrested on its
way, fell at the very feet of Glover, who, after
picking it up and noticing that it was a head-
less one-such as boys shoot in sport, and not
stone armed, shouted with the full force of
his lungs:
"Look to ther horses, boys! Look ter ther
horses! Shoot-cut down ther red-devils,
but save them!"
But the advice came too late! Already
every horse had been loosened and was
sweeping toward the hiding places of the
Pampas, with only the foot of an Indian visi-
ble over its back. To shoot, therefore, was
not to be thought of, and all, as if by one im-
pulse, stood still until Glover, as ever fore-
most, dropped his rifle to the ground with a
bitter oath, and exclaimed:
"Boys, ther game is up! We've been
caught in er trap is er stinkin' mush-rat,
and ukered on er lone hand!"
3
"No matter for the horses!" replied the
planter. "Let them go along with the cattle.
All I ask is my daughter. if I can but find
her again, I care for nothing else. Saint
Marie, Holy Mother, shall I never find her!
My child! Oh, my child!" and he leaned
his head against a tree, and for the first time,
the hot, bitter tears of manhood flooded his
eyes.
Signor," replied the herdsman, "ef you
think-"
Stop! This is no time for words, but
action! Come!" and he was hastening alone
in the track of the Indians, when again the
orm of the Hermit arose from the thick
bushes, and warued him back both with hand
and voice.
CHAPTER XII.
Darkness and Light - The Slave of the Ring.
WILDLY the night set in, and the darkness
lowered around the head of the poor lost girl.
Had Inez been less rapid in her movements
she would have been found by the searching
Indians. Once upon her path they followed
as swiftly as was possible until it was lost in the
Pampas. From them the Indian follower of
the Hermit, the Great Bear, had learned the
fact, and his master from him, and knowing
all the secret paths and short cuts in the
mountains, their presence, that had appeared
so supernatural to Glover, could be readily |
Sunlight and a morning of glorious promise
did come.
She had survived to see another
day. In the very midst of the inhospitable
Pampas she had closed her eyes - closed them,
as she had almost hoped, in death; and now
a far different scene was around her. Lying
on a soft, though rude couch of skins, she
looked upon the narrow walls of a wigwam.
Food and drink were placed by her side.
But the slight noise she had made in stir-
ring, had reached listening ears, and before
she had time to compose herself, the curtains
of the lodge were drawn aside, and the
Hermit of the Mountains, clad in his usual
strange dress, entered. With a shriek for
mercy, she sprang up, and threw herself at his
feet. "Spare me! Oh! spare me for the
sake of the blessed Mother!" burst from her
ashy lips.
"My poor child have no fear. The hunger-
forced red man would be safe if he crossed
this threshold, and why should not one of my
own kind?" was the deep, almost solemn-
toned answer, as he lifted her gently again
upon the couch of skins.
"Then you are not-" she could not frame
her fears into words, and hastily paused.
"Have no fear. I am an outcast, but not a
savage-but eat-drink;" stepping to the
other side of the wigwam, he took a flask of
wine from a nitche in the rock, filled a cup
curiously carved from the horns of the buffalo,
and placed it in her trembling hands.
.
Drink," he repeated, "it will bring back
life to you heart."
"An outcast!" repeated the girl, shrinking
back from his proffered refreshment.
"Forget the word, lady. I swear by the
cross you wear, by this one," and he pulled
the little rustic emblem from his bosom and
pressed it to his lips, "that no harm shall
come to you. Drink."
"By that holy sign I trust you. And yet
where am I? Who are you?"
"No matter, now. Drink, eat. I will soon
return," and fearful that his presence might
keep her from following his advice, he passed
out of sight.
After a time, becoming more calm, she
forced herself to comply, and gaining strength,
took a more hopeful view of her situation.
She again was startled by the entrance of the
Hermit.


22
A ROMANCE OF THE PAMPAS; OR,
"It is well!" was his somewhat strange
salutation.
"Inez Herera," he said again, addressing
her, and this time in her mother tongue,
"Inez Herera," you were-
"9
"How do you know my name?"
"It matters not, now. I do know it; more
than that, I know everything connected with
your wanderings."
"And my father, strange man, oh! tell me
is he well, is he alive ?"
"Can it be that there is one human heart
that beats thus truly? Can it be that there
is a love that will survive the passage of an
hour?" almost whispered the Hermit, as if
unconscious of her presence.
"Oh! why do you not answer me? He is
not here, you have murdered him!" and her
breast heaved with emotion, and her eyes
filled with tears.
圈
​"He lives, and I-"
"Forgive me, I scarcely knew what I said.
Forgive me, pardon me.'
"Years ago, girl, I turned my back on my
home, and swore never to befriend one of my
people, even if he were dying at my door. I
have broken my vow, and am justly pun-
ished by your suspicion."
"Surely, you will not be angry at the
words of a weak, almost distracted girl.
God help me! I am motherless, and my
father is all I have left to love."
"Motherless ?" and the voice of the strong
man trembled, his face lost its colour, and he
bowed his head upon his hands.
"Mother? My dear, dear mother, did you
ever know her ?"
"I, too, have lost a mother," was the
evasive reply, as commanding himself, he
again raised his head with all emotion ban-
ished from his countenance.
"But you started so at the word that I
thought-"
"We were talking of your father."
"Of him, then, as you know nothing of my
dear mother, pray tell me. Is he living and
well ?"
"He is."
"
And near? Oh! let me go to him."
"It is thus with us all," said the Hermit,
his conversation changing rapidly, to almost
bitter soliloquy. "We are never satisfied
with what we have. I thought once that all
I desired was in my grasp. I thought I was
happy-beloved, that I was-but you were
speaking of your father."
In vain for a moment the girl strove to
reply. Shuddering, almost, Inez Herera
turned away, and then, as if fascinated, lured
by some stronger power than her own will,
answered:
"Tell me, strange man, about my father.
It was my request, and yet, as when I spoke
of my dear, lost mother"
"Do not speak to me of your mother again,
or I shall-"
The application of the whistle to his lips
closed the sentence, and before the sound had
ceased to ring in their ears, the Indian stood
before them.
This to the pale-faced Chief," he resumed,
addressing the Great Bear in the language of
his tribe, and handing him a letter, "You know
the trail, and your horse is swift and strong."
"Kaw-wa-gas-hi will bear the written
talk," and be back again-"
"Before the Manitou of night has hidden
the bright-eyed sun behind his thick blanket,
yet stay," and turning to Inez, and changing
from the Indian to the Spanish tongue, he
continued, "has the daughter no token to
send to her father ?"
66
Yes, this," and she drew from her slender
fingers a brilliant of rare size and lustre, and
placed it in his hands.
"This, this!" and he dropped it as if he
had been serpent-stung!
"It was my mother's!"
"Ever that word! mother-I will not be
haunted thus! Great Bear begone!" and he
dashed out of the wigwam.
For long and weary hours Inez was left
alone. Much as she longed to question him
concerning her father, she feared to do so.
At length, when the Hermit again entered,
nerving herself, she said almost in a whisper:
"You have been very kind to me, will you
not be so yet farther."
"When I found you lost in insensibility-
dying in the grassy wilderness of the Pampas,
my heart yearned toward you, as it had done
towards no creature of the human kind. I
vowed, though it was the breaking of an old
vow, to take upon myself a new-that I
would save you. I have done it so far."
"Then, it was you that rescued me? May
heaven bless you for it. Oh, if you could
but know how I have suffered, you might
feel, in some degree, how my heart thanks
you."
"Human thanks are but air, and words but
breath."
"Then, you do not believe that I am thank-
ful-very thankful for my almost Providen-
tial rescue ?"
"Yes, I believe you feel so now, but-"
"But will soon forget it? Is not that what
you would have said ?"
"It might have been, but no matter. And
if it should be the case, what difference would
it make with me ?"
"Tell me how, and when you found me,"
continued Inez, suddenly changing the sub-
ject, as she saw the dark shadows begining to
mantle over his face, foretelling another out-
burst of bitterness. "You found me in the
wild Pampas, alone, and—”
"Dying!" interrupted the Hermit, so-
lemnly.
66
'It is too true. And you saved me?"
"The blessed Virgin be thanked. I did."
Yes, to that holy one our thanks are due,
But you-"
"C
"Were a humble instrument in her hands."
"But tell me all."
In a few brief words the Hermit related his
having found her insensible. That he had
carried her to the wigwam-that he and the
Indian had administered such restoratives as
they possessed. The story was simple, and
Inez, in turn, told of her wanderings.
"Gold is purified by fire, and the human
heart by trial and suffering," said the Hermit,
when she had concluded, in a tender voice.


THE HERMIT OF THE COLORADO HILLS.
£3
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3.
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2
{
A mutual confidence was being established
between them. A feeling somewhat similar
to that existing between a father and daugh-
ter, when, as he was about to take her hand
in his own, the ring that had before so started
him, flashed before his eyes, and springing to
his feet, he flung the hand rudely away, ex-
claiming:
"Is there, can there be no rest even here?
Will the devil within me never be exorcised?
Put that ring away! Let me never see it
again, or I might-Good God! what would I
have said? There is no peace for my poor,
troubled soul on earth! Will there be any
in heaven ?"
"Let thy sins be laid at the foot of the
cross," answered Inez, almost unconscious of
what she uttered. "Let thy crimes be con-
fessed, and-"?!
t
"Crimes crimes! My crimes?" repeated
the Hermit, savagely. "My crimes? Now,
may God cur-
23
The fury she had unwittingly and inno-
cently raised, was stayed by the tramp of
horses rushing up the rocky slope.
"Banish all fear from your face and dry
your eyes," continued the Hermit, in a sub-
dued voice" prepare to meet your father as
a daughter should, with great joy and
thankfulness, and, taking her by the hand,
he led her gently from the wigwam.
"Father! dear, dear, father!" and she fell
into the open arms of her parent.
"May I never kill any er buck ergin, as
long as I live, ef this hain't ther happiest day
of my life," shouted Glover, as he jumped
from his panting mustang and wrung the
hand of the Hermit with a grasp of iron.
"Old man, yer ar er trump! I'd rayther
have yer word than ther best man's note in
Orleans! Give us ernother grip of yer paw,
and call Sy Glover er true friend fer life!"
2
CHAPTER XIII.
Consultation-A Word of Fear!
"WHERE are the cattle ?" demanded the
Hermit, when he had led the herdsman and
the Indian out of sight and hearing of the
lanter and his daughter. He felt that their
meeting was a scene far too holy for rude
eyes to gaze upon.
"Gone ter ther devil, erlong with ther
blasted red-skins," replied Glover.
"And the men ?"
·66
'Waal, as fer that, it's pooty hard ter say.
Ther niggers ar huddled tergether like er
flock of black sheep, and Hamlin and his
partner scouting round somewhar. I kinder
pitty any Injun that they draw er sight on
with ther rifles arter this, the thievin', crit-
ter-stampedin' brutes."
"Which way have the cattle been driven ?"
questioned the Hermit of the Great Bear.
"Toward the setting sun," was the brief
reply.
"To ther secret den on Comanche Peak,
They must be overtaken !"
"Show me the path, and I'll follow them
erlone!" interrupted the herdsman.
"Your single arm would do little against
their numbers. The power I possess over
them is worth more than an hundred armed
99
men.
06
Waal, I s'pose yer ar right, though I'll-
be hanged ef I understand how yer manage
the critters."
66
It would be better that you stay here and
assist your master, in case trouble should
come.
99
1
"Not I! Efthar is er goin ter be er fracas,
Sy Glover is er goin ter have er hand in,
that's all."
"But, think of the young lady."
"Ther Signorita? Waal, she is ther pooti-
est thing I ever set eyes on in all my born
days, and I'll be cut inter inch pieces and fed
ter ther dogs, before any harm should come
to her."
"And yet you will not stay and guard
her?"
"It hain't in ther natural order of things,
that I should. No, no! my place is arter
ther yeller-skins that stole ther cattle, and my
fingers itch ter have er scrimmage with
them."
"But it is your duty to remain."
"Dooty? My dooty is ter take care of
ther hoofs, hides and horns, so thar's no more
use in talking erbout it."
"Yet your presence might defeat the very
object we have in view. The Indians fear
me when alone, but the presence of a stranger
might make them question my power."
"Now, yer jest look er here, ole man, will
yer? Ther long and ther short of ther story
is, that yer don't want me ter go er long with
you, hain't it?"
64
Certainly; I do not think it is for the
best."
"Then yer jest go yer own gait, and I'll
go mine.
It won't be ther fust time I've fol-
lowed red-skins alone, nor ther last either, I
hope, so I'll pack up my duds an be off.
"If you must go at all, it would be better
that you went with us."
A
"It hain't no kinder use trying ter smooth
ther matter over, and palaver me like er law-
yer. Sy Glover isn't ther one ter force him-
self upon any man. You and ther Injin kin
jest go to ther devil er cross lots, for all I
care. I kin fish and cut bait both, ef it ar
necessary," replied Glover, becoming angry.
"It can not be. We must all go together."
"Waal, make yer own game, and see ef I
don't knock down as many pins as any on
yer, when we go er bowlin' ergin ther red-
skins."
"You need food and rest first."
"Somethin' ter eat, yes; but I kin take
that in ther saddle, jest as well as any whar,
but as for restin', it hain't no use er talkin'
erbout it. I'm tough as er baffaler bull."
"The Great Bear will see that you have
food, while I go and speak to the planter."
"Come erlong, Bar," and the twain de-
parted, and the Hermit returned to the wig-
wam.
60
Thanks, thanks," exclaimed Inez, spring-
ing up from her father's side, and meeting him
at the entrance. "Oh! how much I owe you,
my dear father told me," and she placed both
her hands in his.


24
A ROMANCE OF THE PAMPAS; OR,
"It is but little I have done-little I have
been able to do," he replied.
"But more
remains to be done."
66
What remains?" questioned Herera. "Is
not my dear one found?"
"Heaven has truly been kind to you in this
regard, but all, as yet, is not found."
"And what can remain ?"
"Your cattle. Signor."
"Pshaw! If they numbered ten times as
many, do you dream I would think of it in
such an hour as this ?"
"Certainly not. They could never be
weighed in the balance against the fair one by
your side.
"Let them go! Let the savages gorge
themselves on their ill-gotten gains. They
are welcome, now that my lost one is found."
"Still they must be found, and compelled
to return the herd."
"Who says so?
Who dares to question
my will in the matter?" and the eyes of the
planter flashed with their old and wonted
fires when thwarted.
"I do!" was the calm reply.
"You? I say the Indians may have every
hoof and horn, and how dare you to gainsay
it ?"
"I say they shall have none, if we except
those they have already devoured."
"By Saint Jago!" began the planter, when
Inez stepped in between them, and whis-
pered:
"Father! Think to whom you are talk-
ing."
I
"I neither know, Inez, nor do I care.
am Jose Herera, and
""
"I am the Hermit of the Colorado Hills!
Your will may be, and of right is, law, within
the limits of your own' plantation. Here it is
as feeble as the bleat of a kid. The cattle
must be retaken and the stampeders punished."
"Must!"
66 Aye, must."
66
Father," again pleaded Inez; "he has
earned the right to do as he pleases. Think
of all he has ventured and done for us.
Think of my safety, and-"
"You are in the right, child. Forgive me,
Signor, and do as you please, though I had
judged you differently from one who would so
value a few head of cattle."
餐
​"If every hoof and horn was of solid gold,
I would care no more for them than you do
for the thistle down, that the wind whirls
through the air."
"I thought it could not be that you were
so sordid. But, if not for that reason, what
then ?"
"It is that my power may remain unques-
tioned."
46
'Then go, and God be with you."
"Amen, to that."
"You will not long be absent."
"I think a few short hours will see my re-
turn."
"And what are we to do until then?"
"It was for the purpose of seeing you on
the subject that I came here. Your herds-
man insists on going with me, and-"
"So he should. He has a brave heart and
a strong arm."
"I thought it best that he should remain
and guard you
""
"Not so! We shall be in no danger, and,
if we should, wo betide the man that crosses
swords with Jose Herera, when fighting for
his daughter."
"But, is there-can there be any fear?"
asked Inez, all the timidity of her nature
aroused.
"None. I think none," answered the
Hermit. "Not one of these wandering Co-
manches, dare set a foot here. There are
none others to molest you, and of other dan-
gers I know nothing."
"Then we are safe, dear father ?"
"I trust so, yes. But you will not depart
to-night? See, it is already growing dark!"
"Yes; and it is time we were on the trail.
The iron should be beaten when it is at white
heat and the red-man found and punished,
when rioting in his spoils."
"Let me implore you not to risk your life,"
said Inez, laying her hand gently on his arm.
"For the sake of what they have stolen, no.
To make them feel my power, if it should be-
come necessary, yes! But fear not. See!"
and stepping outside of the wigwam, he
pointed to a light gleaming afar off.
"What is it?" asked Herera.
"I see
nothing."
"Do you not see that light ?"
"A bright planet on the verge of the sky ?"
""Tis the fire of the Comanches. They are
gorging themselves with half-cooked meat,
and becoming drunk with hot blood. By
heaven! but they shall rue the day they dared
to run counter to my will! But forgive me,"
and changing the subject, he informed the
planter where he would find food and water,
and then, departed and returned to the herds-
man and the Indian.
The tramp of the starting horses soon came
to the ears of the father and daughter (who
had stepped out from the wigwam and stood
upon the rocky point on which it had been
builded.) In the darkness they searched in
vain for the Hermit. Certainly, those who
were hastening away were two Indians,, and
the herdsman, whose tall and sinewy form,
could not be mistaken.
66
Father," said Inez, "that strang man is
not with them."
66
Strange man, my child? Who do you
mean ?"
"He, who calls himself the Hermit."
66
He is strange, indeed, and I doubt if we
have yet seen him in all his disguises. I have
before seen him in the dress, and acting the
part of an Indian."
"Sometimes his looks and actions terrify
me," and then she related the episode of the
ring, ending with a question as to whether he
knew any thing concerning it.
"No, my child, I do not. It was upon
your mother's finger when I first saw her.
She wore it until she died. I kept it both for
her sake and yours, and when you became old
enough, I gave it to you, as of right, I should."
"But why should he start so wildly-why
show so much of emotion at the sight of it,
father?"
"I do not know. It is very strange,


THE HERMIT OF THE COLORADO ´HILLS.
"I shall never wear it again in his pres-
""
ence
"It is best, after what has passed, that you
should not. It is of peculiar shape-peculiar
in the arrangement of the jewels, and, once
seen, could neither be forgotten nor mistaken."
"I never saw one like it."
"I doubt if there is its mate in the world.
But, I can not understand where the Hermit
could have seen it, and, yet more, why it
should awaken such bitterness in his heart."
"Oh how I should love to know his his-
tory."
"It must be a wild and eventful one. Evi-
dently, he is a man of education, even refine-
ment. With you, my daughter, I would like
to know something of his life. Some day
when we become better acquainted, I will
question him about it."
"Better not, dear father. I feel that there
is some pain in his breast that had better not
be disturbed."
"A woman's fear, Inez."
"But women's eyes often read more deeply
the heart of man than they are given credit
for. Believe me, dear father, the misanthropic
and mysterious have a charm for our sex, such
as yours never know. But, I wish he had ex-
plained the connection between the ring and
my dear, lost mother."
"By Saint Jago! but he shall, child."
"Father," and she crept nearer to him, and
whispered the words in his ears, "Father,
might he not have loved her, and-"
"Be still, child! The night air grows cold.
No words you to your couch, and sleep,
while I keep watch."
Watch! He could not have slept if he
would, for through the dark hours the woods
kept ringing in his ears, "he might have loved
her!"
CHAPTER XIV.
The Carnival of Gluttony-The Power of the
Hermit A Strange Murder.
WILD was the revel of the Comanches, when,
having driven off the cattle of Herera, and
safely corraled them at the foot of the high
peak named after their tribe, they gave them-
selves up to enjoyment. The hot blood, as it
spirted from the cut throats, was caught in
rude cups, and quaffed, steaming and curdling
as it was.
In their savage rejoicings they had neglect-
ed to take any precautions against surprise,
and a handful of resolute men could have
slaughtered them like sheep in the shambles.
Cautiously leading the way, and closely
followed by the herdsman and the Indian,
came the Hermit. Stealthly they crept along,
having left their horses at the base of the hill.
Their moccasins gave back no sound that
would have betrayed their approach, even if
the screams of the almost devilish revel had
been stilled.
"6
There," whispered the leader to Glover,
when they had reached a point above the
Indians, there is a more perfect fac-simile of
06
incarnate fiends and hell upon earth than
civilized eyes ever rested upon."
"I'd give er hull handful of dubloons ef my
mates whar only here with thar rifles,"
answered the herdsman.
"They would regard them as little as they
do the black buzzards that are croaking
above. They are drunk with blood, and ripe
for murder.
"Waal, I rayther reckon 'twould be jest
the same as ef you war ter throw er lamb inter
er den of starvin' cayoters, ther blood lovin',
stealin', murderin' brutes!"
"Look!" interrupted the Great Bear in his
sententious manner, pointing to where the
smoke partially obscured the scene.
"What is it?" asked the Hermit.
"Prisoner!"
"Er prisoner! By heaven! but ther Bar
tells ther truth. I kin see him, now that the
smoke has lifted, jest as plain as daylight,"
broke in the herdsman. Come, men, let's
give them ther bullets, and then ther knife
and hatchet."
66
"Are you mad," questioned the Hermit, as
he held him as with a grasp of iron.
"Mad, did yer say? Waal, I reckon I am,
and who wouldn't be, ter see ther red-devils
er goin' ter roast er man atter they have done
with ther brutes. But jest. yer let go of my
arm fer I'd as lief have it in er vice. By
thunder!" he added, when his request had
been complied with, "who would have thought
the old man could have had such er grip.
I'll bet thar haint er grizzly in ther moun-
tings that could have squeezed me tighter,"
and he rubbed the compressed member to re-
store the circulation.
"Who is it ?" asked the Hermit of the In-
dian," white or red-skin."
"The blood of the pale face, nor that of
warriors runs in his veins."
"Neither white or red. Then he must be-"
"Er nigger!" again broke in Glover.
Waal, they haint of much ercount anyway,
and yet-" -1
"He must and shall be saved. But Bear,
do you know him."
"The eyes of Kaw-wa-gas-hi .saw him
waiting on the snowy lily of the pale-face."
"What! the dumb boy?"
"What! that poor black devil, Quito, that
had his tongue cut out on his head by some
infernal brute ?" added the herdsman.
The Indian only replied by a nod of his
head, and a motion of his hand, and then, at
a sign from him he ever followed, crawled
down the ragged side of the cliff, and disap-
peared.
66
Waal, Signor, what are we ergoin ter do
now ?" said Glover, fretting at not being
allowed to shoot into the frantically rioting
demons beneath him. "See, as I live and
breathe ef they ar not ergoing ter begin tortur-
in' ther poor, tongueless nigger," and he
raised his rifle and prepared to fire when the
Hermit struck it to the earth, and whispered
sternly in his ears-
"Leave all to me! You would come,
against my will, and now you must obey. I
am master here, and must be obeyed.
The iron grip he had felt, added to the


26
A ROMANCE OF THE PAMPAS; OR,
commanding figure, and flashing eyes of the
Hermit, exercised a control over the herds-
man that he dared not attempt to break, and
choking down his anger as best he might, he
listened in silence.
“Herdsman, you must remain on this spot.
From it you can see all that passes, but as you
live-as you have any hopes of seeing yon
poor captive set free, put down your rifle."
"And you?"
"Time must determine. But I have never
failed before, and, I think, will not now," and
he slipped off his Indian trappings, hastily put
on the long hair and flowing beard of the
Hermit, and with the single word "remember,"
disappeared in an opposite direction from
that taken by the Great Bear.
Ill at ease and restless, the herdsman yet
forced himself to remain, and watched.
A circle of dark warriors with all the fury
of their nature lashed into foam, were dancing
around the poor, bound and helpless Quito.
Pinioned closely to a tree, and half dead from
fear, he was completely at their mercy.
"Fire! Fire! The torture of fire! rang
from every lip as they rushed forward to seize
him.
reply.
46 We will do all the Great Medicine bids
us."
"You? Did you not know when you laid
your murderous and blood-stained hands on
yon captive, that he was one whom the
Great Manitou protects ? Did you not know
that his tongue was torn from his mouth, and
that he could neither sing the song of victory
or the whoop of defiance ?"
"Kaw. No!" and they shrank back still
farther in abject fear, for they believed that
any one thus mutilated was protected by the
Great Spirit..
"By ther Heavens, but he's jest as bad as
ther rest of them! Ef they are not all tar'd
with the same stick, and goin' to ther devil in
ther same boat, may I be hung for er sheep-
stealin' dog."
"Hold!" and starting back in dismay, they
saw the Hermit arising as if out of the earth.
"The Hermit!" was echoed from all sides.
"Is it thus you obey me! And, not con-
tent with robbery, you would add murder!
By the holy cross and the Great Manitou,
curses shall fall upon your tribe."
The mystic circles completed, the Hermit
bent himself low to the earth-arose, threw
his hands wildly about, and uttered some
words of hidden import, and strange sound to
all; then, drawing a vial from his bosom, he
threw the contents upon the coals. There
was a loud explosion, and sudden flashes of
blue flame-there was a suffocating smoke
"We will unbind the captive. We will set
him free. We will return the cattle," was the
meek answer of many tongues.
66
You will do all this ?" was the sneering arose, and then, as the wind rolled the clouds
away, all was silence and blackness.
"Er born devil," muttered the herdsman
again," and yer don't catch me any longer in
his company!"
"Hark!" continued the Hermit, after a
brief pause.
"Hark! the same hand that
freed this poor slave has also broken down
the walls of the corral! The cattle are at
liberty. You can hear the thundering of
their hoofs as they dash away from the sick-
ening stench of your orgie.”
"Lies! All lies! Your black hearts
would scruple at nothing to gratify your in-
fernal passion."
"Let us unbind him! The Manitou will
be angry with us," plead the warriors
humbly, and were hastening to execute their
self-imposed task, when the Hermit again
waved them back.
the bellowing thunder, can set the captive
free."
"Forbear! vultures, blood-lapping wolves!
Lay but a finger on him if you dare!"
"But the Great Spirit," they began→
"Will protect his own. Quito, boy, come
hither!" and, unfettered and free, the poor
slave staggered forward, and throwing himself
at the feet of the Hermit, kissed them in the
excess of his joy.
"See!" continued the Hermit, raising the
poor mute to his feet, "see how the Manitou
can loose the bonds. See, how fe who whip-
pere in the winds and speaks, when angry, in
Then one of the bravest, and, perchance,
least guilty and debauched of the warriors,
tremblingly advanced, and said—
"The cattle !"
"Strange!" replied the Hermit, as one sud-
denly aroused from a dream, "strange, that
man can thus war upon his fellow-man!
"The Medicine is talking to the Great
Spirit," the warriors whispered one to
another, for his thoughts had been uttered in
English.
"The same power that freed the captive
from his bonds," he continued, "will set the
herds of the pale-face at liberty. See! I but
weave the charm, and they will have the
whole of the Pampas for a pasture-ground."
Gazing with wondering eyes, the Indians
saw him go thrice around the fire, and Glover,
who, also, was watching every motion, and
listening to every word with astonishment, if
not fear, could not refrain from muttering be-
tween his clenched teeth.
"And the anger of the Manitou," still asked
the warriors, fearful that the impending curse
had not yet passed away.
"Three days hence you will know all.
Swift as was your cunning, let your return be,
to your dens in the Colorado Hills. No
pausing, and no turning aside from the trail.
Let fasting follow feasting, and repentance,
if such a thing can find its way into your
brutal hearts, of your sin. Begone! Out of
my sight, ye worse than wolves! Go!or-"
Co
"They are gone, and my power is con-
firmed! Long years I toiled for this-long
years practiced deception. May the good
Virgin be thanked, it was for a good end, and
when I am no more may it balance in some
degree the great and fiendish-How now,
boy !"
The dumb slave had raised himself up at
the departure of the Indians-had crawled as
it were, up to the form of the Hermit, and
was now peering intensely into his face, and
drinking in every sound of his voice. Abashed


THE HERMIT OF THE COLORADO HILLS.
27
f not afraid, the negro shrank back again up-
on the earth, and crawled away. Was he
looking for something upon the ground, that
he proceeded thus slowly and examined it
iuch by inch?
"Herdsman !" shouted the Hermit, as soon
as he was freed from the negro. "Herdsman,
come! Great Bear, I want you."
In a few minutes the former had crawled
down the rocks, and stood by his side, while
the Indian arose at the very instant from the
tangled brushwood at his feet.
66
Now," continued the Hermit, "That we
are free from these demons, we must hasten
back to the Signor and his daughter."
"Waal," replied the herdsman, edging
away as the other came near him, "Waal, ef
he only saw what I have seen ter night, he'd
never have anything to do with yer, I kin tell
yer."
"Why, man, what do you take me for ?"
"Own cousin ef not twin brother, or it may
be ther devil his own self!"
"Pshaw! I little thought that you would
have been imposed upon by such simple
means."
"Waal, it may be I'm simple and mean
both, but curse me ef I either like or under-
stand such doings, that's all. But what in
thunder is that thar black rascal erbout now ?"
he added, seeing Quito busy in rebuilding the
nearly extinguished fire. "I should have
thought that he had come near ernuff ter
roasting jest now, without kindlin' er fire for
himself."
The attention of the Hermit thus called to
the fact, hastened to extinguish it.
"What are you doing boy ?" he asked.
"Do you want to bring another band of sav.
ages upon us? Have you not been near
enough to death without tempting it again?"
and he stooped down to cast the branches
aside.
The action revealed both his face and form
fully, and the flames as they leaped upwards,
catching in his long hair and waving beard
he threw them off, and thus exposed his
features, as they had never before been seen
by Quito. Quick as thought the negro was
by his side. His large eyes were fixed upon
his face for a moment, and then with a sound
like the howl of a wild beast-a horrible,
half-strangled, inarticulate moan, he sprang
upon and buried a knife hilt-deep in his
breast!
The poor, speechless slave had found what
he had been searching for, as he crawled
along the ground, and the knife of the Indian
had found a bloody sheath! But what the
motive? What the provocation?
CHAPTER XV.
The Shadows of Death.
WITH a deep groan the Hermit fell backward,
and the Indian rushing upon the slave, would
have slain him in a moment, had not the
herdsman interfered and protected him.
"No yer don't," shouted Glover. "Yer
don't touch him, so long as I am alive. I
don't understand why ther nigger should have
done it arter the Hermit's saving his life, but
I'll bet, that he had ergood reason for it. So
put up yer hatchet and look arter yer master.
Bear er hand, man, and I'll help yer stop ther
blood-"
Doubtful, indeed, would have been the is-
sue-doubtful, whether the Indian would
have rested until his vengeance on the one
who had thus wounded his master had been
fully satisfied, if the Hermit had not sum-
moned him in his native language to his side.
The moment he turned away, the herdsman
grasped the arm of the negro and hurried him
towards the woods, whispering in his ear:
"I don't know what yer meant, boy-I
can't fer ther life of me see what yer did it
fer, but I do know ther only chance fer yer
neck is to run like ther devil, while that ar
Injun hain't er lookin'. Ef ever he gits on
yer trail, yer ar er goner surer than a speared
sucker, and all ther saltpeter in ther world
wouldn't save you. So come erlong, ef yer
don't want ter loose yer scalp," and he drag-
ged him forward, almost on a run.
Vain was the resistance Quito made to the
herdsman, for he, with his vast strength, and,
excited as he was, would have made light of
a much stronger and more bulky man.
"It whar er cussed mean, cowardly deed,"
he muttered to himself, "and I would'nt have
done it ter my worst enemy. But I s'pose
thar whar er reason fer it that I don't know
of. Ef they had bin any thing like an equil
match now, ther Injun and ther nigger, I
rayther think I'd have let them fight it out,
aneway, fer it would only have bin. dog eat
dog, arter all," and then, observing, for the
first time, the bloody knife still in the hands
of the slave, he continued:
"Jest yer drop that ar scalper as quick as
ever yer kin! Throw it away, or by heaven
I'll play Injun myself, and let er little day-
light inter yer ugly carcase, quicker nor er
flash. What! yer won't, hay ?" and he bore
it from his grasp, and sent it whirling into
the bushes.
With tightly clenched hands and sullen
face, the negro stood as if pondering the
chances of resisting the insult.
"What ther thunder is ther matter with
yer, man?" questioned the herdsman, as he
saw the fearful expression of his face. "Have
yer got ther hydrerphoby ?" And he held
him off at arms length.
Why don't yer tell
me what's the matter with yer, and what yer
stabbed the poor Hermit fer, ye miserable
nigger that ye ar! But I forgot that yer ar
jest as dum as er door nail. Ye kin make
motions, anyhow. What! yer won't? Then
ye shall go ter yer master and young mistress,
and see ef they can't bring yer out of ther
kinks," and again he dragged him relentlessly
on.
66
The horses were soon found the negro
placed upon the back of the one that had been
ridden by Glover, and the herdsman pointing
the way as well as he was able, through the
half-light of early morning, bade him be off.
"Ride like yer devil, ye black cut-throat,
for ye are one of his imps, anyhow," he said,
"and tell the planter what ye have bin er


28
THE PAMPAS; OR,
A ROMANCE OF
doin'. Mind yer don't stop on ther way, or
try ter get back and give that poor old chap
ernother cut with ther scalpin'-knife, fer ef
yer do, cuss me, ef I don't let ther Injun have
his own way," and he gave the fiery mustang
a blow that sent him dashing headlong on
the way.
Stretched at full length upon the ground,
and with his head supported by the Indian,
Great Bear, the herdsman saw the wounded
man, on his return to the spot where he had
left him. The usually flushed face was pale,
his lips destitute of their firmness and decision.
Had the blood flowed freely after the keen-
edged steel had penetrated, there might have
been some hope. But the hemorrhage was
entirely internal, and death must follow. It
was simply a question of time.
"The blasted nigger struck yer home,
that's fer sartin," was the comment of the herds-
man, as knelt down by the side of the Hermit,
with more of gentleness than would have been
supposed to be possible from one so rude and
uncouth, both in speech and manner. "It
whar er cowardly blow, and ef I hadn't er
thought ther black skunk was kinder crazy, I
don't know but what I'd er given him er good
choking, myself. But, how do yer feel now?"
"My days, my hours are numbered. The
knife was sharp and keen, the arm strong, and
nerved by intense hatred, that drove it home,"
was the faint reply.
"Then yer hain't no kinder chance fer ter
live ?"
"None. Where has the negro gone?"
"I sent him off arter ther planter and his
daughter. I thought that, perhaps yer might
have somethin' ter say ter them that you
wouldn't like ter say ter er poor unedercated
devil like me. Still, ef thar's anythin' on yer
mind-anythin' yer would like ter have done,
jest you say ther word, and, ef I don't do it,
may I never go ter glory, that's all."
"It is well. I would see Jose Herara and
his daughter again before I die. And yet,
how can I control myself? When in perfect
health and strength, I sought but vainly to do
so, and, can I hope to be more successful now
that my end is drawing near ?"
"But, what did the nigger try ter murder
ver fer? That's what sticks in my crop, and,
I'd like ter know ef you have no reason fer
not telling it."
"Man! man! Why do you ask?" replied
the other, suddenly starting up, and glaring
wildly around him.
"Waal, I didn't want to rile yer up, and, ef
it is er secret, Sy Glover hain't ther man ter
pry inter it."
"Oh! that I could forget the past. That
I could bury it beneath the eternal moun-
tains-that I could sleep forgetful and for
ever!"
66
Waal, I hain't no kin of er parson, and I
couldn't think of er prayer, ef it whar ter save
my own life."
"Prayer? Have I not bowed myself in
prayer for this many a long, dreary year.
But, what has it availed me? I had thought
I was forgiven. Thought that I could die in
peace, trusting to the glory that glistened
above the cross. But, this negro-"
"Whar is he?" and Glover sprung to his
feet, expecting to see Quito standing bodily
before him. "Don't be erfeard! He shan't
come near yer."
"He had good reason for his.vengeance,"
continued the Hermit, without noticing the
interruption, "for did I not-Oh, God! the
fearful agony of the moment when I awoke
from my insane passion, and fully realized
what I had done-realized that I-" and he
checked himself suddenly, and motioned to
the anxiously watching Indian.
"What is it yer want?" asked the herds-
man. "Ther Injun is er good one and true
as steel, I have no kind er manner of doubt
accordin' ter his colour, and will do ther best
he can, but it would be more mannerly fer
yer ter be waited on by a white man."
"Water!" came in feeble accents from the
lips of the suffering man.
"Water! For
the love of the holy Virgin, water!"
"Ef thar is any within er dozen miles, ye
shall not ask twice for it. Ef I whar only
near my old ranche, now, you should have
ther best that ever sprung out er the rocks
and ran through green moss. But yer see,
I'm kind of strange here, and don't know
whar ter look fer it."
"Let the pale-face take his brother in his
arms," whispered the Great Bear, sadly.
"The red-man knows where the spring leaps
from its home in the rocks, pure, cool, and
sweet."
"Waal, I reckon that will be the best plan,
and yet-" he glanced timidly down at the
pale-face, fevered lips, and closed and hollow
eyes, and then checked himself, as he saw the
thin lips of the Indian curl with scorn, and
refrained from telling that he was afraid to
remain alone with, and hold the head of a
dying-it might be a dead man.
66
'Kaw-wa-gas-hi will be swift as the wood-
pigeon flies," was the remark of the Indian,
as he turned and disappeared.
"Water!" again came from the lips of the
Hermit.
"As I live, ef I haven't lost my flask!"
muttered Glover. Ef I only had er drop of
speerit, now, who knows but it might-"
"Water! Will you give me a drink? I
am dying with thirst."
"Jest hold on er minit, and I'll git yer
some, ef I die for it," and Glover laid his
head gently down and followed the footsteps
of the Indian.
He had gone, however, but a few upward
steps along the rocky trail, before he saw a
sight that made him forget the object of his
mission, and caused him sudddenly to pause.
From one side of the little clearing on which
the fire had been built and the savage feast
held, he saw the dumb negro, Quito, (whom
he had sent after his master and deemed far
on his way, if not already returning,) crawl-
ing stealthily along. So serpent-like were his
movements, that one, unless very intently
watching, would have failed to discover that
he was gifted with life at all. But other eyes
than those of the herdsman were upon him.
The Great Bear was also creeping, and with
equal caution, from the opposite side, and
Glover readily perceived that his presence was


THE HERMIT OF THE COLORADO HILLS.
29
I
3
unknown to the negro. The distance either
had to pass over was about equal, and would
require about the same time. The purpose of
the negro in thus returning could not be other
than an hostile one, and that of the Indian,
protection. Glover drew nearer and watched,
himself, unseen, the result of that strange en-
counter.
he
For a moment the black man paused, and
slowly raising his head, gazed cautiously
around, revealing his eyes still flashing wildly
and blood-shot, and the blade of a long knife
firmly clutched between his teeth. As if satis-
fied that the coast was clear, he resumed is
recumbent posture, and moved more rapidly
forward. He neared the dying man-
raised himself upon his knees beside him, and
the instrument of death was flashing in the air
and already descending to let out the little that
remained of life, when he was hurled back-
ward, and the Great Bear stood over him
with his tomahawk whirling above his unpro-
tected skull. It was a moment of terrible
danger to the negro and anxiety to the herds-
man, and his foot was already lifted to rush
forward, and his lips parted to forbid the deed
of death, whenthe dying man suddenly raised
himself with a mighty effort upon his elbow,
and applying his whistle to his lips, rang forth
the shrill call that the Indian never heard but
to obey.
"Forbear! Touch him not !" he said, when
the Indian, whom he had called, knelt again
by his side. He must be sacred from your
le revenge. His wrongs have been great, and
I-I-water! water!"
66
"You infernal black rascal!" shouted
Glover, as he came rushing up and laid his
strong grasp on the negro. You'd stab er
dyin' man, would you, ye cussed blood-thirsty
brute. Ef I didn't think that thar whar
somethin' more about it than I kin under-
stand, I'd soon teach yer er lesson that you
wouldn't forget in er hurry." and he shook
him, as if he had been a dog.
Implicitly as the Indian had been accus-
tomed to obey the will of the Hermit, who
held him by some strange power, yet, it was
with extreme difficulty that he was restrained,
when Glover dragged the negro to the side of
dying man and perfectly within his grasp.
"None of that Bar!" shouted the herds-
man, as he saw him standing with every
sinew braced like a tiger crouched for its
spring. "None of that, fer it can't be did.
Ther Hermit said he warn't ter be teched,
and he shan't, that's flat! So jest put up
yer weepon, or you'll find it is er game in
which thar's nary er lone hand!".
"Let the negro be unharmed," again whis-
pered the victim of his savage passion. "Let
no one lay a finger on him to injure him.
But, keep him safe, so that he may not do
any more mischief."
"But what ther devil did he stab yer fer?
That's what I want to know."
tense satisfaction, and his lips part with a
smile that revealed the white teeth within.
"In other days-years ago, I give me a
drink. I feel as if there was a fire within me,
drying up my heart's blood."
"What ar yer grinning erbout, yer mur-
derin' reptyle?" asked Glover, as he saw the
face of the negro glowing with the most in-
"By ther heaven's, but I think yer ar as
dangerous as er caged rattle-snake, and only
ar er waitin' for er good chance ter bite.
Come er long with me Bar, and we'll tie him
so tight, that it will take more'n er nother in-
terposition of yer Great Manitou ter git him
loose. But none of yer knife work, fer it won't
do. Yes, that's it. We'll bind him and keep
him till we see ther Signor and his pooty
daughter. They'll straiten him out jest as
easy as a string. That's it," he added, as the
Indian, with ready skill, fettered every limb
of the unresisting prisoner. "That's it. You
understand ther game, and have had er hand
in it erfore. And now, Mr. Nigger, you'll
jest have ter keep still as er rat in er trap,
while we wait on yer betters, ye black pirate."
"The Great Medicine will soon be in the
happy hunting-grounds of the Spirit land,"
whispered the Indian to his companion, as,
they returned.
"That ar er fact, and I wish we could do
somethin' fer ther poor man. Now I hain't
much of er medicine, myself, Bar, but you,
bein' er red-skin, oughter have some of ther
gifts."
"The Great Manitou alone can save him."
"But, can't yer guess what ther blasted
nigger tried ter murder him fer?"
"The young years of the White Medicine
are as hidden to Kaw-wa-gas-hi, as the stars,
when the spirit of the storm has let down his
black mantle between them and the earth."
"Who knows but ther stabbin' scamp might
have thought that he had done some wrong
ter his young mistress? Yes, that is it, I'll
bet er hat full of ounces. But come, Bar, we
must do all fer ther poor man, we kin. It is
er Christian dooty. Ef I could only think of
er little prayer now. But, my edercation was
neglected on that point when I whar little, and
I hain't had time to larn any since," and he
knelt by the Hermit and took hold of his
hands, while the Indian lifted his head
into his lap and gently brushed back the
damp hair-damp with the dew of death, from
his forehead.
"The planter, Jose Herera, his daughter,
and" came breathed almost like a moan
from his lips, after he had with great diffi-
culty swallowed a portion of the water the
herdsman held to him. There was another
name, also, he would have uttered, but failed
to do so.
66
They hain't come yet, Signor, though, ef
that ar nigger had only done as I told him,
they would have been here long ergo, cuss
him !"
"I wished to see him before I died. To tell
them that-that-but it is too late now," and
he closed his eyes again.
66
Waal, you know yer own mind ther best,
but, ef you have er notion ter tell me what
you whar ergoin' to say, I'll tell it ter them
agin, word for word, jest as near as ever I
kin."
""
"You would not know-you would not
understand," murmured the dying man, and
then continued in an almost inaudible whis-
per, and in, to them, a strange tongue.


30
A ROMANCE OF THE PAMPAS; OR,
"He is talking to the Great Spirit," said
the Indian, bowing his head earnestly.
"He is er sayin' his prayers," answered
the herdsman, "but, what is he feelin' in his
breast fer?"
The Indian gently guided the blindly grop-
ing hand, and when the fingers closed upon
the little cross he ever wore about him, and
he had drawn it forth and pressed it to his lips,
a great calm rested upon his face. Let his
faith have been right or wrong, the emblem
that all Christians revere, brought a solace to
his heart in that hour of deepest trial, and
who dare question that angels attended that
parting soul, just as much as if he had wor-
shipped at the same shrine, and knelt at the
same altar with us.
Calmed by his communion with the God he
worshipped, he opened his eyes.
"Hark!" said the Hermit, with strange
and startling distinctness. "Hark! I hear
the sound of horses feet. They are coming-
coming at a swift galop!"
"The Great Medicine is right," replied the
Indian, after he had listened for a moment.
They are coming, the horses of the pale-
face."
66
"How do you know that, Bar?" asked
Glover. "How do you know that they hain't
Injuns ?"
"They have iron upon their hoofs, and the
sharp bit has taught them a shorter lope than
the free mouthed horses of the red-man."
"By heaven! you are right, Bar. It is ther
Signor and his daughter. I kin see them
99
now.
"Jose Herera and his child ?" questioned
the Hermit.
"Jest as sure as you ar er livin' man."
"God be thanked," and the dying man
looked in the direction of the sound.
"Yes,
God and the Holy Virgin be thanked, I shall
see them again, and live to tell them-tell
them-that-that-" and he fell exhausted
backward, just as the planter and his daughter
came upon the little clearing.
CHAPTER XVI.
Last Scene of All.
"GOOD heavens! what can be the matter?"
was the exclamation and question of the
planter, as he hastened to the side of the
dying man.
"Murder!" answered the herdsman, in his
usual bluff manner.
"Murder! Oh! who could have done the
horrible deed!" whispered Inez, with a true
woman's love.
"Who der yer think but that thar nigger
of your'n. Thar he is tied ter ther tree, the
miserable reptyle."
"What, Quito ? It cannot be. There must
be some mistake."
"Waal, begging your pardon, I saw him
when he did it, and so did thar Injun."
"By Saint Jago! but he shall die for it,"
exclaimed the planter, "yes, my child, if he
were twenty times your pet slave, his life
Herdsman, untie
should pay for this deed.
him and bring him hither."
"I don't know, Signor, but what you are
right, and that it'll be justice ter make ther
brute stretch hemp, but yer see ther poor man
that's er dyin' says it mustn't be so. But I'll
go and fetch him," and he soon led Quito for-
ward.
Quick as sunlight flashing through dark
clouds, the expression on the face of the negro
changed. AH of sullen apathy, and ill-grati-
fied passion faded from it, and with a look of
intense satisfaction, he threw himself at the
feet of his young mistress.
66
Quito," she said, "Oh, tell me if you
have steeped your hands in blood, and stained
your soul with murder?"
The expressive action of the negro was a
most perfect confirmation of the truth of
Glover's words. There was no attempt at con-
cealment or prevarication. The planter, in
the excitement of the moment, would have
struck him to the earth, had not his daughter
interfered, and turned aside the blow.
"Father, dear father," she plead, "control
yourself-control your anger, just though it
may be, until I learn more of the matter.
There is some mystery here. Poor Quito has
always been so kind and gentle that I cannot
understand how he could raise his hand
against any man, much less to take the life of
one who had befriended him
29.
"That's jest what I told him," broke in
Glover, "and I have bin er tryin' to find out
what it could have meant. Yes, I reckon
thar's er mystery somewhar."
"It matters not," answered the planter,
"what his provocation has been, he shall die,
by heaven !"
"Signed, sealed and sworn ter, Signor."
"But father, you will not-you cannot be
so unjust."
"Out of my sight with him, then. First
we must attend to this poor man, and then
the negro shall meet his deserts. See to it,
herdsman, that he does not escape," and he
turned again to the fast expiring Hermit.
But Inez, followed by the negro, as obedient
to her every word as a spaniel, and the herds-
man, whose curiosity was far too great to
allow him to rest until it was satisfied, stepped
a little apart. That Quito would much sooner
have been alone with his mistress when he
told the reason of his attempted murder, was
evident from his actions. But he dared not
question her will, and when she had demand-
ed an explanation for the third time, he knelt
before her, pointed to the Hermit, made ges-
tures as of one cutting with a knife, and
opening his mouth revealed the remains of his
mutilated tongue.
霎
​"By ther great heavens !" shouted Glover,
"and so he whar ther man that cut your
tongue out, whar he? May I be scalped and
tortured ef I don't think I'd have done the
same thing. Cuss me ef I ever heard of a
more devilish job in my life! And yet it ar
er hard matter ter strike er man in cold blood."
A deep groan from the lips of the dying
man interrupted them, and the voice of the
planter called Inez and the herdsman to his
side.


With
VMV-VA-
CA
LA
"Yes, I am glad that you have coc.," re-
sumed the Hermit, "come while breath is left
me to tell you that-that-"
66
"Oh, God!" burst from the lips of the
planter, spare him until the mystery is
solved."
"Holy Mother," prayed Inez, "grant him
strength to tell me of my dear, lost mother."
As if the prayer had been heard and
answered, the dying man, assisted by the In-
dian, slowly raised himself up, and continued.
The words breaking from his ghastly lips in
1 scarcely audible whispers, and thrilling on the
ears of his auditors, as he told the tale of fear.
RO
"Yes, God and the Holy Virgin will give
me strength. But listen, for my time is short.
Death is clutching at my heart-strings, and
what is said must be said very quickly. Inez
Herera, hear and then curse me, if you will."
"Even if you wronged my mother, nothing
but prayers could pass my lips in such an
hour as this."
IN
སྐ
.
Wi
قانه
PR
"Where is she?" came struggling from the
marble lips. "Where is Inez Herera, the
chief of Oh! God! that it should be too
late."
"I am here-here by your side," and she
pressed his hand to her lips.
But the action met with no response, and
the herdsman first broke the stillness with:
"By heaven, ef he hain't gone!"
"Holy and blessed Mother have pity and
spare him," prayed Inez.
"We have, indeed, come too late," added
the planter. "Oh! that he had lived long
enough to explain the mystery that I feel is
deeply connected with ourselves."
"See!" whispered the Hermit, as he drew
his hands feebly over his eyes, as if to clear
his vision. "See! she is coming-my-my.
Oh, God! my brain is whirling. Must I
perish thus, Holy Mother. Perish before I
have told-told-that-that-"
"I-loved-your-mother!"
The words
were uttered slowly and fitfully, as if the heart
was throbbing itself out with them.
"Go on !",
"As man never loved woman I worshipped
her. Beautiful as a dream was she, and II
-it matters not now, but I was her equal in
rank and wealth. Well, for a time I thought
I could win her, though she never gave me
any encouragement. It was folly-madness!
One night-oh God, that pang! one night we
met beneath the orange trees on the Brazos.
I told her of my love, and-and-why did I
not die then-and-was- - discarded."
"Water!" gasped Inez. "Give him water,
for Christ's sake."
It was brought the parched lips and fever
dried throat moistened, and again he re-
sumed:
"Yes, I-the son of-no, no, the name shall
Derish with me, for I am the last of my race.
But I was discarded, and all my wild love
turned in an instant into devilish hate. Your
mother wore a miniature of herself. I strug-
gled to obtain it, but was frustrated by the
coming of others. With an impious oath that
both she and that should be mine, I departed,
and-and-"
"God forgive him, he is dead."
"No, the vultures of death are tearing at
my vitals, but I must live yet. My money
hired bravos. In a body we sought the house
of her parents. It was night, and my will was
law to the cut-throats. Blood was their trade,
and I knew they would scruple at nothing. In
the darkness and silence, I entered the cham-
ber where your mother slept. She was pray-
ing, but, God forgive me, what did I think of
that? I tore her from her knees-I-I—
Another pang like that, and all will be over."
"But tell me that you wronged her not,
and then give your thoughts to God."
"I lifted her in my strong arms-I was
bearing her to the window. A fleet horse
was waiting-I stifled her shrieks.
She was
mine-mine! A dark form sprang to her res-
cue. I struck him to the floor-lifted and
hurled him into the midst-I gave an order
for his punishment-one that would effectu-
ally silence him-oh! heaven forgive me, it
was too literally obeyed. But I was mad-
mad, and knew not what I said. The shrieks
of your mother were renewed-I tore the
miniature from her throat-the ring you wore
was upon her hand-I would have possessed
myself of it, also, but dared not stay-I sprang
to the ground-my fleet horse bore me away
-and-and your mother became an angel,
and I-"
The effort was too great for him and he
sank back and closed his eyes for the last
time. The blood accumulating within was
drowning out all of pulsation from the heart,
and beginning to flow in a crimson steam
over the parted lips. And yet he struggled to
tell the great secret that he had so long lock-
ed fast in his heart. But every sound was
forced through bloody lips, and strangled al-
most in the utterance. A confused mass of
sound without clearness or individuality, alone
fell upon the ears of the listners as they bent
solemnly around. His breast heaved and
struggled his eyes stared wildly open-his
fingers were clutched in the death-agony-his
jaw dropped-the gurgling flow of the heart's
blood was checked and curdled in his throat,
and the Hermit of the Colorado Hills had
passed to the land that lies on the thither
shore of time. Ah! it is true that there is
but a beat of the heart, and a throb of the
pulse between this world and the next, and
from the dream of life he had been awakened
to the reality of an endless eternity.
|
Inez Herera was on her knees with bowed
head and tearful eyes, while she held the little
cross to the lips of the dying man. Her father
had buried his face in his hands, and even the
rude and reckless herdsman betrayed intense
emotion.
The negro who had been the cause of
all, stood in the background, while the In-
dian still held the head of the suffering one,
outwardly unmoved, until all was over. Then
he arose, and after composing the limbs as
decently as was possible, and closing the eyes,
he motioned to the herdsman, and the twain,
disappeared in the woods.
An hour passed, and then they returned,
and lifted the body without a word-bore it
into a dense thicket- and laid it in the nar-
row grave they had prepared. And there,


บม
MARAVE
VE
after Inez had poured out her heart in prayer
-a sad, simple, and touching funeral service,
the departed one was left to his final rest. A
little mound was raised, and huge stones
piled upon it to keep the wild beasts from dis-
turbing the remains, and then they turned
sorrowing away. It was almost like burying
one in the wide waste of ocean, and they felt
deeply that he would be truly left alone with
God.
"Here," whispered Glover to Inez, hoarse-
ly, when they had passed out of sight of the
grave, "here is something we found hung by
er ribbon round ther neck of ther poor man.
Perhaps you may make something out of it,
though I cant," and he handed her a locket.
"Father! father!" she asked in accents of
66
fear and agony. Father, look at this face,
and tell me truly if it was-
"It was your mother's, child!" and he
turned away to avoid farther questioning.
"It's er pooty face, anyhow," broke in
Glover, "and-
39
"Hush!" and she pressed the picture to her
lips, and they concealed it in her bosom.
There was a feeling of unrest springing up
within her heart-a fearful surmise that
would not be quieted, and yet she could not
bear that any one should gaze on the sweet
face she had worshipped so long with all of a
true daughter's affection.
ML
▲ 63 614A LAKI
"Thank God for that, my mother, my dear
mother."
"I wonder whar that ar Injun has got ter,"
asked the herdsman, suddenly looking around,
and noticing that he had left them. "Now,
jest as we want him ter guide us back ergin,
he's off like er shot, and be blamed ter hin."
"And where is poor Quito ?" and Inez
called him without avail.
"Ef he faint run erway, I'll soon find him,"
and the herdsman departed on the search.
At a little distance he stumbled over the
prostrate form of the negro, lying mostly hid
in the thick bushes. Was he dead, also, that
he neither roused at his voice, or resented the
kick given to him?
"Won't yer git up yer brute ?" and Glover
turned him rudely over, so as to obtain a
view of his face, for he laid with it buried in
the leaves.
A single glance told the entire story. The
knife of the Indian, Great Bear, was still in
his side, and sudden and noiseless had been
his death. The red-man, true to his nature,
had revenged the murder of the Hermit, and
both were sent suddenly into the presence of
their God and Judge.
"Inez," said her father, "it is time we were
making preparations to return home. Time
that we should turn our backs on these fatal
Pampas."
Another grave was prepared, and the
tongueless slave deposited therein. Just as all
was finished, and they were turning away, the
comrades of the herdsman, and the slaves of
the planter came upon the scene. The In-
dian, after his silent and sudden vengeance
upon poor Quito, had hastened to meet and |
direct them. Then he had disappeared in the
direction of the Colorado Hills, never again
to be seen, even by the herdsmen, though
they remained guarding the vast droves amid
the wilderness of the Pampas.
"But, dear father, why this mystery? It
cannot, cannot be that my mother was- -Oh,
God! the thought will drive me mad."
"Your mother was as good and pure as
yourself, child, and is an angel now. Where
that strange man ever saw her-how he came
by her miniature-what his mystery I cannot
understand. He might have loved and been
disappointed. Whatever it was, it has died
with him, and all our surmises are vain, nay,
worse, even useless. But we will talk about
it another time."
Both father and daughter had seen enough
of frontier life, never again to be tempted
from their beautiful home on the Brazos
River. The strange words-the unexplained
meaning of the Hermit left a shadow on their
hearts that could not be driven away, but
Inez satisfied that (no matter what might
have been the mystery,) her dear and sainted
"And my mother? Oh! tell me again mother was sinless, waited until angel lips
that she was-"
should tell the story that earthly ones had
failed to reveal.
"Was stainless as the snow."
THE END.

38