lOSANCElfJ> CO so -< ^HIBRARYOc i g ^^ 'AHvaani^ CO ^^W£UNIVER% ^VOSANCEl^^ 99 >. 3' ^lUBRARYQr ^0FCAIIF0% m ;lOSANC!lfj;> II \y CO > -< Ja3AINfl-3Vlv* ^^ -^lUBRARYQc ^lllBRARYGr^ AWEUNIVERy/A <: OS ^.!/0JnV3JO^ ^OJIIVJiO^ ^3ril33NVS01^ lOSANCEl^^ CO ^OFCAIIFOR^ .^.OFCAIIFO% \f^ <./> .^WEUNIVERy/A 09 50 iH^ CO 55 -^lUBRARYG^ ^U1BRARY(?^ ^OfCAllFORj^ ^OF'CAIIFO^^ ^\WrUNIVER% ^•^ojnvojo^ \^mu^ O I» TJ 3L. ^ K, 'WORKS BY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID. A NEW" EDITION IN TEN VOLS. I. — THE SCALP HUNTETRS. 2. — THE WHITE CHIEF. 3.— THE RIFI^ RANGERS. 4. — THE TIGER HUNTER, S.^THE WAR TRAIL. 6. — THE hunter's feast. 7. — THE WOOD RANGERS. 8.— WILD LIFE. 9. — THE WILD HUNTRESS. 10. — OSCEOLA, THE SEMINOLE. Captain Mayne Reid's works are of an intensely interesting and fascinating character. Nearly all of them being founded upon some historical event, they possess a per- manent value, vi^hile presenting a thrilling, earnest, dashing fiction surpassed by no novel of the day. All published uniform with this volume, at $1.50 each, and Sent by mail, postage free, on receipt of price, by G. TF. CARL-ETON & CO., Publishers, New York. rt ■= .. ••' OJ I' „ ^-. J-'.:- THE '\'' f EIFLE-E^IN'aERS ; OB, I tenluws m jloutforn Mmo* * By CAPTAIN" MAYKE EEID. AUTHOR OF " THE SCALP HUNTERS," — " THE ■WOOD-RANGERS," — " THE TlQEa HUNTER," — "the war TRAIL," — " THE HUNTER'S FEAST," — " THB WHITE CHIEF," — "the QUADROON," — "'THE WILD HUNTRESS, "~ *' WILD LIFE, — "the MAROON," — " THE HEADLESS HORSE- MAN," — " THE WHITE GAUNTLET," ETC., ETC., ETC. 2 < 00 Mb^ NEW YORK: Carleton, Publisher, Madison Square^ LONDON : S. LOW, SON & CO. M DCCC LXXY. John F. Trow & Son. Printers, 205-213 East i2th St., New York: PREFACE. fnx following interesting volume is based npon the various incidentg and personal adventures which befel the author in his travels in the flowery lands of Mexico, whither he had betaken himself on the first demand of his country for volunteers to sustain the supremacy of the stars and stripes — which supremacy was most nobly vindicated in many a bloody field, in all of which the author nobly acquitted himself. The war being ended, our gallant Captain betook himself to the contem- plation of the country and its fair dames, among whom he seems to have been an especial favorite. His attentions to the fair Mexicanas, though generally received with a sparkling eye and graceful smile, in many instances gave umbrage to some proud noble, who scrupled not at any means to remove a formidable rival from his path. To the narration of the bitter and unceasing vengeance of one of these bafiled lovers — Dub rose — and the recital of the hair-breadth escapes of our author from the many deep laid plans for his capture, are we indebted for the volume which we present to the American reader, who we have little doubt will be willing to accord to Captain Reid the same meed of praise as bas 15een vouchsafed to him in England, where the work was first published under auspices as flattering as the results were gratify'ng — ^the book having achieved an immense success. CONTENTS ; CHAPTER I. Aa Adventure among the Creoles of New Orleans . CHAPTER n. A Volunteer Rendezvous • a CHAPTER m. Life on the Island of Lobos • 18 17 . 42 CHAPTER IV. Lieutenant Sibleys' Story of- a Georgia Hotel . . . • -- '25 CHAPTER V. Old Blowhard's Story of the Guyas-Cutis . . . • • •30 CHAPTER VI. Moonlight Scene— A Spy in Camp— A Skeleton Adventure . • • .40 CHAPTER Vn. The Landing at Sacrlficios . . . • • • • • M CHAPTER Vm. The Investment of Vera Cruz ...•••• 61 CHAPTER IX. Major Blossom . . . • « M VIU CONTENTS. rt» CHAPTER X. Going on the Scout ..•••••••60 CHAPTER XI. Adventure witli a CaymaQ •• >•••»* 6i CHAPTER Xn. Don Cosme Rosales ....•:«a«T! CHAPTER Xm. A Mexican Dinner ....*• •••77 CHAPTER XIV. A Subterranean Drawing-room . . ..•••* 83 CHAPTER XV. The Norther • • .89 CHAPTER ZVI. A little Fair Weather again . . . • • ■ • • 93 CHAPTER XVn. fhe Scout continued, with a variety of Reflections . • • , .97 CHAPTER XVm. One way of Taming a BuQ . . . . • • • . 100 CHAPTER XIX. A Brqsh with the Gucrilleros ....•••• 103 CHAPTER XX. 4 Herculean Feat . . . . . . • •.109 CHAPTER XXL Running the Gauntlet ....••••• HI CHAPTER XXn. A. Shor Fight at " Long Shot " . .••••• 117 CONTENTS. IX CHAPTER XXm. Ihe Rescue .,....•••• 125 CHAPTER XXIV. he Cocuyo ,,..... »•• . 12 CHAPTER XXV. iupe and Luz ......»••• 134 CHAPTER XXVI. A Tough Night of It after all . . . . • • • • 138 I CHAPTER XXVn. The Light after the Shade . ' . . . • • • • Wl CHAPTER XXVm, A Disappointment and a new Plan ...•••• 147 CHAPTER XXIX. A Fool-hardy Adventure . . . . . • • • ■ • 151 CHAPTER XXX. Help from Heaven ....••••• 154 CHAPTER XXXI. A Shot in the Dark .....•••• 161 CHAPTER XXXn. Captiirefl by Guerilleros ....•••• 169 - CHAPTER XXX III. IJiind Ride .... . • • . . 17 CHAPTER XXXIV. V Htampede . .....•■■ 174 CHAPTER XXXV. A Drink k la Cheval , . . . • • • .177 X CONTENTS. CHAPTER XXX YI. A D ftdJ -way of Opening a Letter • • P««» • • • • I-OO CHAPTER XXXVn. The Cobra di Capcllo . 184 CHAPTER XXXV ill. Tlie Hacienda • • • • • • 18 CHAPTER XXXTX. The Hcad-qaarters of the Gueirilla c < . 183 Chtiue's Courtship CHAPTER XL. • • • • & . 197 ' CHAPTER XLL The Dance of the Tagaroto . 202 A Kiss in the Dark CHAPTER XLU. . 205 Maria de Merced . CHAl^TER XLin. * • • • • . 210 The Pursuit CHAPTER XLFV. • • • . 214 A new and terrible Enemy CHAPTER XLT. • • . 217 A Rattle with Bloodhounds CHAPTER XLVI. • • • . 2'JO An Indian Rnse CHATTER XLVn • f •22 A Coup tl'Eolair CHAPTER XLVin. • • t » t ^ . iia CONTENTS. 2U CHAPTER XLIX. A Bndgc of Monieys . Padre Jarauta , . A Hang by the Heels . I CHAPTER LI. CHAPTER LH. CHAPTER Lm. A very sliort Trial • • ■. . . ■%.. ^^> f CHAPTER LIY. A Bird's Eye View of a Battle-r^ . . . * • CHAPTER LV. An odd way of Escaping from a Battle Field . ,. • A Wholesale Capture A Duel, with an odd Ending CHAPTER XVI. CHAPTER LVn. • • • • CHAPTER L. he Jarochos ••>..■••• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • P«g« . 228 . 232 . 237 . 243 . 249 . 253 . 257 • • • .261 . 268 CHAPTER LVEEL An Adloa • « « , , 27| THE RIFLE E AN GEES. V CHAPTER I. AN %DVENTDRE AMONG THE CREOLES OP NEW ORLEANS. In the " fell" of 1846, 1 found myself in the city of New Orleans, filling up one of those pauses that occur between the chapters of an eventful life — doing nothing. I have said an eventful life. In the retrospect of ten years, I could not remember as many weeks spent in one place. I had traversed the conti- nent from north to south, and crossed it from sea to sea. My foot had pressed the summits of the Andes, and climbed the Cordilleras of the Sierra Madre. I had steamed it down the Mississippi, and sculled it up the Orinoco. I had hunted buffaloes with the Pawnees of the Platte, and ostriches upon the Pampas of the Plata : to-day shivering in the hut of an Esquimaux — a month after, taking my giesta in an aery concYi under the gossamer frondage of the O^rozo palm. I had eaten raw meat with the trappers of the Rocky Moun tains, and roast monkey among the Mosquito Indians ; and much more, which might weary the reader, and which ought to have made the writer a wiser man. But, I fear, the spirit of adventure — its thipst — is within me slakeless. [ had just returned from a " scurry" among the Comanches of "Western Texas, and the idea of " settling down" was as fiir from my mind as ever. ' What next ? what next ?" thought I. " Ha ! the war with Mexico." The war between the United States and that country had now fairly com 14: THE KIFLE EANGEKS. nienced. My sword, a fine Toledo, taken from a Spanish officer at San J»« cintti, hiinj: over the mantel, rusting ingloriously. Near it were my pistols, a pair of Colt's revolvers, pointing at each other in sullen muteness. A warlike ardor seized upon me ; and clutching, not the sword, but my pen, I wrote to the War-department for a commission, and, summoning all my patience, awaited the answer. But I waited in vain. Every bulletin from Washington exhibited its list ;, but m)^ name appeared pot among them. Epaulettes gleamed upon every §hrfulder. while I. with the anguish c' a Tantalus, was compelled to look idly on. Dispatches came in daily from the seat of war. filleJ with uewly-glorioua naiiies; and steamers, from the same quarter, brought fresh batches of heroes some legless, some armless, and others with a bullet-hole through the cheek, and, perhaps, the loss of a dozen teeth or so ; but all thickly covered with laurels. November came, but no commission. Impatience and ennui bad fairly mastered me. The time hung heavily upon my hands. " How can I best kill it ? I will go to the French theatre, and hear Calvfe."* . Such were my reflections, as I sat one evening in my solitary cnamber. In obedience to this impulse, I repaired to the theatre ; but instead of soothing, the belIico.'?e strains of the opera only heightened my warlike enthusiasm ; and I walked homeward, abusing, as I went, the President and the Secretary of War, and the whole department. " I have ' surely put in strong enough,' far it," thought I to mvself ; " my political cohnection — besides, the govern- ment owes me — " - " Clar out, ye niggers ! what de yer want ?" This was a voice that reached me, as I passed the dark corner of the Fau- bourg Treme.f Then followed some exclamation in French, a scuflBe ensued, a pistol went off, and I heard the same voice again, calling out • " Four till one ! Injuns !— murder ! — help, hyeer !" I ran up. Itrwas very dark, but the glimmer of a distant lamp enabled yie to perceive a man, out in the middle of the street, defending himself agains^ four others. He was a man of giant size, and flourished a bright "weapon which I took to be a bowie knife, while his assailants struck at him on al • The prima donna of a French operatic troupe, then highly popular elected an officer, was fated to shoulder a firelock. It was neck or nothin; then. Lincoln set things in a new light. They were strangers to each other fee affirmed, and my chances would therefore be as good as any man's. " I'll tell yer what it is," said he, " yer kin kum with me ter the rendevObz • Tollow bellies -a name given by Weatena hantera and soldiers of the U. S A. to t^ 18 THE EnrLE KANGEES. an see for yerself ; but if ye'll only jine, and licker freely, I'll lay a pack of beaver agia the skin of a mink, that they'll illect yer captain of the com- pany." " Even a lieutenancy ?" I interposed. " Neer a bit of it, Cap. Go the big figger. 'Taint more ner yer entitled 33. I kin git yer a good heist among some hunters thet's thar ; but th»r's a buffalo drove of them parleyvoos, an a feller among 'em, one of these yeer Oeeholes, thet's been a showin off and fencin with a pair of skewers from uiomin tili night I'd be dog-gene glad to see the starch taken out of that feller." I took my resolution. In half an hour after, I was standing in a large hall or armory. It was the rendezvous cf the volunteers, nearly all of whom were present ; and perhaps a more variegated assemblage was never grouped, together. Every nationality seemed to have its representative ; and for va- riety of language, the company might have rivalled the masons of Babel. Near the head of the room was a table, upon which lay a large parchment, covered with signatures. I added mine to the list. In the act I hid staked my liberty. It was an oath. " These are my rivals ; the candidates for oflBce," thought I, looking at a group who stood near the table. They were men of better appearance than the oi iroXXot. Some of them already affected a half-undress uniform ; and most wore forage caps with glazed covers, and army buttons over tha cars. " Ha ! Clayley !" said I, recognising an old acquaintance. This was a young cotton planter — a free dashing spirit — who had sacrificed a fortune at. the shrines of Momus and Bacchus. " Why, Haller, old fellow ! glad to see you. How have you been ? Think of going with us ?" '' Yes, I have signed. Who is that man ?" " He's a Creole ; his name is Dubrosc." It was a face purely Norman, and one that would halt the wandering eye in any collection. Of oval outline, framed by a profusion of black hair, wavy and perfumed. A round black eye spanned by brows srehing and glossy. Whiskers, that belonged rather to the chin, leaving bare the broad jaw-bone, expressive of firmness and resolve. Firm thin lips, handsomely moustached ; when parted, displaying teeth well set and of dazzling whiteness. A face that might be called beautiful — and yet Us beauty was of that negative order, which we admire in the serpent and the pard. Tlie smile was cynical. The THE KIFLE KANGEE8. 19 eye cold, yet bnght ; but the brightness was altogether animal — more the light of instinct than intellect. A face that presented in its expression s strange admixture of the lovely and the hideous — physically fair, morally dark — beautiful, yet brutal. From some undefinable cause, I at once conceived for this man a strange foeling of dislike. It was he of whom Lincoln had spoken ; and who was likely to be my rival for the captaincy. Was it this that rendered him re- pulsive ? No. There was a cause beyond. In him I recognised one of those abandoned natures, who shrink from all honest labor, and live upon the sacri- ficial fondness of some weak being who has been enslaved by their personal attractions. There are many such. I have met them in the salons of Paris ; in the dance-rooms of London ; in the cafes of Havanna and New Orleans — everywherej in the crowded haunts of the world. I have met them with an instinct of loathing — an instinct of antagonism . " The fellow is likely to be our captain," whispered Clayley, noticing thai I observed the man with more than ordinary attention. " By the way," co»' tinued he "I don't half like it. I believe he's an infernal scoundrel.'* " I quite agree with you. But if so, how can he be elected T' " Oh ! no one here knows another 5 and this fellow is a splendid swordsman, like ail the Creoles you know. He has used the trick to advantage, and h&a created an impression. By the bye, now I recollect, you are no slouch at that yourself. What are you up for "?" " Captain." I replied. " Good ! then we must go the whole hog in your favor. I have put in for the first-lieutenancy, so we won't run foul of each pther.^ Let us ' bitch warns !'" ^' ' Wj;i^t.f-^^-fC- ' ^^ju " With all my heart." Said I. /i'^^^^-w*^ . " You cafiie in with that long-bearded hunter. Is he your friend ?" « He is." " Then I can tell you, that among these fellows he's a ' whole team and a cross dog under the wagon' to boot. See him ! he's at it already." 1 had noticed Lincoln in conversation with several leather-lagging gentry like himself, whom I knew from their costume and appearance to be back- woodsmen. All at once, these saturnine characters commecced moving about the room, and entering into conversation with men whom they had not ^dtherto deigned to notice. " They are canvassing." Said Clayley. Lincoln, brushing past, whispered in my ear : " Cap'n, I understan these yeei 20 fHE KIFLE RANGERS. critters better 'n your kin. Yer must mix among 'em — mix and licker, thet*s the idee." '' Good advice," said Cla3dey ; " but if you could only take the shine out of that fellow at fencing, the thing's done at once. By Jove ! I think you mi^ht do it, Haller !" ' "1 have made up ray mind to try, at all events." " Not until the last day ; a few hours before the election." " You are right ; that will be better : very well," and Clayley walked away. During the next three days, the enrolment continued, and the canvass wa8 kept up with energy. The election was to take place on the evening of the fourth. My dislike for my rival had been strengthened by observation ; and, as is always so in such cases, the feeling was reciprocal. On the afternoon of the day in question, we stood before each other, foil in hand, both of us nerved 6y an intense though as yet unspoken, enmity. This had been obsetTed by most of the spectators, who approached, forming a circle around us ; all of them highly interested in the result, which, they knew, would be an index to the election. The room was an armory, and all kinds of weapons for military practice were kept in it. Each had helped himself to his foil. One of the weapons was without a button, and sharp enough to be dangerous in the hands of ao Migry man. I noticed that my antagonist had chosen this one. " Your foil is not in order ; it has lost the button — has it not ?" " Ah ! Monsieur, pardon. I did not perceive that." " A strange oversight," muttered Clayley, with a significant glance. The Frennhmai returned the imperfect foil, and took another. " Have you a choice, Monsieur ?" I inquired *' No thank you ; I am satisfied." By this tiTic every person in the rendezvous had come up, and waited with breathless anxiety. We stood face to face, more like two men about to engage in a deadly duel, than a pair of amateurs with blunt foils. My antagonist was evidently a practised swordsman. I could see that as he came to guard. This exercise had been a foible of my college days, and for years I had not met my match ; but I was out of practise. We commenced unsteadily. Both were excited by unusual emotions, and our first thrusts were neither skilfully aimed nor guarded. We fenced with the energy of anger ; and the sparks crackled from the friction of the grazing steel. For several minutes it was a doubtful contest, but I grew cooler every THE KIFLE KANGEES. 31 instant, while a s ght advantage 1 had gained irritated my adversary. At length, by a lucky hit, I succeded in planting the button of my foil upon hig cheek. A cheer greeted this, and t could hear the voice of Lincoln shouting ut : " Wal done, Cap'n ! whooray !' This added to the exasperation of the Frenchman, causing him to strike wilder than before ; and I found no difficulty in repeating my former thrust. It was now a sure blow ; and, after a few passes, I thrust my adversary for the third time, drawing blood. The cheer rang out louder than before. The Frenchman could no longer conceal his mortification ; and, grasping his foil in both hands, he snapped it over his knee, with an oath. Then muttering some words about better weapons and another opportunity, he strode off among the spectators. Two hours after the combat I was his captain. Clayley wag elected first-lieutenant ; and in a week from that time the company was mus- tered into the service of the United States' Government, and armed and equip- ped as an independent corps of " Rifle Rangers." On the 20th of January, 1847, a noble ship was bearing us over the broad blue water, toward th« shores of a hostile laad. i/i-O-c-CtA. ,c u. ^ CHAPTER III. LIFE ON THE ISLAND OP LOBOS. After calling at Brazos Santiago, wt were ordered to land upon the island of Lobos. fifty miles north of Vera Cruz. This was to be our " drill rendezvous." We soon reached this point. Detachments from several regiments debarked together ; the jungle was attacked ; and, in a few hours, the green grove had disappeared, and in its place stood the white pyramids of canvass with their iloating flags. It was the work of a day. When the moon looked down upon Lobos, it seemed as if a warlike city had sprung suddenly out of the sea, with a navy at anchor in front of its bannered walls 1 In a few days, six full regiments had encamped upon this hitherto unin- nabited isla.id ; and nothing was heard but the voice of war. These regiments were all "raw," anl my duty, with others, consisted in licking them into shape." It was drill, drill, from morning till night ; and by early tatoo I was always glad to crawl into my tent, and go to sleep- such sleep as a man can get among scorpions, centipedes, and soldier-crabs ; /or the little islet seemed to have within its boundaries a specimen of every rspti^e that came safe out of the ark. The 22d being Washington's birthday, I could not get to bed as usual. 1 was compelled to accept an invitation, obtained by Clayley, to the tent of Major Twingj where they were — using Clay ley's own words — ''to have a night of it." After tatoo, we set out for the Major's marquee, which lay near the centra of the islet, in a coppice of caoutchouc trees. We had no difficulty in finding it — guided by the jingling of classes, and the mingling of many voices in loud jtughter. THE KIILE EANGERS. 23 As we came near, we couiU perceive that the marquee had been enlarged. by tucking up the flaps in froitt, with the addition of a fly stretched over an extra ridge-pole. Several pieces of rough plank, spirited away from the ships, resting upon empty bread barrels, formed the table. Upon this might I>o recognised every variety of bottles, glasses and cups. Open boxes of sar dines, piles of ship-biscuits, and segments of cheese, filled the intervening spaces. Freshly drawn corks and glistening fragments, of lead were strewed around, while a number of dark, conical objects under the table told that not a few champagne bottles were already " down among the dead men." On each side of the table was a row of colonels, captains, subalterns, and doctors ; seated without regard to rank or age, according to the order in which they had " dropped in." There was also a sprinkling of strange, haif- sailor-looking men, the skippers of brigs, steamboats, &c.f for Twing was a thorough republican in his entertainments ; besides, the day levelled all dis- tinctions. At th° head of the table was the Major himself — one of those wiry, hard- neaoed, nard-drinkmg devils — who always carried a flask suspended from hia shoulders by a green string ; and without this flask, no one ever saw M?jor Twing. He could not have stuck to it more closely had it been his badge of rank. It was not unusual, on the route, to hear some wearied officer exclaim: "If I only had a pull at old Twing's pewter !" and "equal to Twing's flask," was an expression which stamped the quality of any liquor as superfine. Such was one of the Major's peculiarities, though by no means the only one. As my friend and I made our appearance under the fly, the company was in high glee ; every one enjoying himself with that freedom from restraint of rank peculiar to the American army-service. Clayley was a great favoritt^ irith the Major, and at once caught his eye. " Ha, Clayley ! that you 1 Walk in with your friend. . Find seats there gentlemen," " Captain Haller— Major Twing," said Clayley, introducing me. " Happy to know you, Captain. Can you find seats there 1 No. Coma up this way. Cudjo ! boy ! run over to Colonel Marshall's tent, and steSi a coitple of stools. Adge, twist the neck off that bottle. Where's the screw 1 Hang that screw ! Where is it. any bow ?" " Never mind the screw, Mage," cried the Adjutant ; " I've got a paten aniversal here." So saying, the gentleman held out a champagne bottle in his left hand, and with a down stroke of bis right, cut the neck off as if it ha-'J been filed 1 24 THE RIFLE RANOEK8. " Nate !" ejaculated Hennessy an Irish officer, who sat near ti. jad of tht table. " What we call a Kentucky corkscrew," said the Adi"<;ant, coolly. " It >frer3 a double advantage. It saves time, and you get the wine clear of — " "• My respects, gentlemen ! Captain Ilaller — Mr. Clay ley." '■ Tliank you, Major Twing. To you. Sir !" " Ha ! the stools at last ! Only one ! What the devil, Cudjo ? Come, gentlemen — squeeze yourselves up this way. Here, Clayley, old boy, here's ft cartridge-box. Adge ! up-end that box. So — give us your fist, old fellow } how are you ? Sit down. Captain ; sit down. Cigars, there !" As soon as we had got seated, several voices were heard vociferating " the song ! the song ! round with the song !" and I learnt that the order of the night was '' a song, a story, or half-a-dozen bottles of champagne." " Sibley's turn next !" shouted one. " Sibley ! Sibley !" cried several voices. " Well, gentlemen," said the officer called upon, a young South Carolinian, •' as I make no pretensions to singing, I will endeavor to clear the forfeit bf % story." " Good ! a story, by all means^nothing like variety." " Liftinant, take a trifle of the squeezed lemon before ye begin." * Thank you, Captain Henneasy. Your health, Sir 1" ' CHAPTER IV. LIEUTENANT SIBLEV's STORY OF A GEORGIA HOTEL. " Well, gentlemen, about six months ago, I had occasion to make a jour ney to Pensacola on horseback. My road of course lay through the State of Georgia. " It is well known, gentlemen, that there are large tracts in the territory of our Southern neighbor, that have proved very ungrateful to the Labors of the husbandman. These districts are, in consequence, but sparsely settled and ill -provided with the necessaries of life." Here the Lieutenant looked significantly towards some Georgians who were present. " On the third day of my journey, I had ridden about twenty miles through one of these tracts — a dry pine barren — without having caught the firs, glimpse of a human habitation. I was faint with hunger and thirst ; so wat my horse, who stretched out his neck and moaned piteously. as each new and apparently illimitable prospect of the hot, sandy road opened before us. Ther; no help for it. however ; so we jogged on painfully, both of us keejjing -t sharp look a-head. You cannot fancy my delight, when, on turning a cornet I saw before me a large and substantial log-house, with a pine mast stuck u^ before the door, and a broad swinging sign, upon which was legible, in bol characters, the word ' Hotel.' " I rubbed my eyes, and then shaded them with my hand, to make siir it was not the mirage, which frequently makes its appearence upon these Dandy plains. But no ; it was a house, and, better still, a hotel. " I straightened myself in the saddle. My horse whighered and stepped •at cheerily. ' Come,' said I, patting him on the neck, ' we're through it »<■ 26 THE KIFLE KANGER8. last, olr fellow ; you'll soou be up to your cars in the best of Georgia com. and I — ,' Here the anticipated enjoyment of ham and eggs, fried chicken, strong coffee, hot biscuit and waffles deprived me of the power of speech, and I rode up to the ' hotel' in silence. " As I got nearer the house, it began to look weather-beaten and desolate- like ; and I was growing fearful that it might be uninhabited ; but no, the-ra sat the landlord in the porch, and his two sons. ' It's all right,' thought I ; 80 I rode up, and drew bridle in front of the door. " So far, the three individuals whom I had observed in the porch — three sallow, dry-looking chaps, in their shirt-sleeves — had not moved an inch ! I am not certain that they even changed the direction of their eyes ! A coupla of gaunt, yellow dogs, that lay on the stoop, remained equallj'- motionless ! " ' Come,' thought I, ' this is cool for peo{)le who keep a house of entertain- ment. They ought to know, from the direction in which I have come, that I am likely to put up for the night. They might offer to take one's horse. I should think !' But no one stirred. I began to suspect that the house might not be a tavern, as I had at first supposed ; and I looked up at the sigh. Enough — the word ' hotel' was there in large letters. ^ " ' Can I stop here for the night ?' I inquired at length. " I waited for an answer, but none came. I repeated the question in & louder and more imperious tone. " ' You kin if yer like, strenger,' replied the oldest of the three, but without moving a muscle, except tb^se of his mouth. •' ' Have you got any corn V I inquired, intending to make sure before alighting ; as the house, on a nearer inspection, looked naked and empty. " ' Got any corn V echoed the same speaker as before. ■' - "'Yes,' said I, 'corn.' ;''-.. ; . . ,^ > " ' No, we haint got any,' was the reply. '^ ,?,■ /, „•,• " ' Well, have you got any fodder, then V " « Got any fodder ?' "'Yes— fodder.' " ' No, we haint got any.' " ' This is bad,' thought I, ' my poor horse — I will have to turn him loose j»d I might as well tie him up for that matter,' as, on looking around, ] could not see a blade of grass within the circuit of a mile ! ' I had best hitch him to the post — take a hurried spiock myself, and then ride on to the next house — hut first let me see what they can give 7Me to eat' " All tke time I was occupied with these reflections, the three men r»- I. ■ ^ m ' I i THE KTFLE RANGERS. 27 DBotned Btlent and motionless, except when one or the other of them would Dnng bis hand down with a smart slap over his cheek, or along his thigh, of Dehmd his ear, as though one and all of them were afflicted with the i lalady -rf St. Vitus ! " I was at first startled with these demonstrations ; but, upon further ob- I, ervation, I perceived that my saturnine friends were only killing musquitoes " ' Have you got any ham and eggs ?' I asked. " ' Got any ham and eggs V echoed the original speaker, with an emphasia hat clearly betokened surprise. " ' Yes — ham and eggs,' repeated I. " ' No, we haint got any.' " ' A pity ; I am fond of ham and eggs. Have you any chickens, then T « ' Chickens V " ' Yes.' said I, ' chickens.' " ' No, we haint got any chickens — nery chicken.' '' ' Well, have you got any meat V "' Got any meat ?' ^' ' Yes — any sort of meat — beef, pork, mutton or veal. I'm not partico- lar — I'm hungry.' " ' No, we haint got any.' " ' Have you any bread, then ?' " ' Any bread V " ' Yes — bread — a piece of bread aad a glass of water. That to a hungry man is a banquet.' " ' No ; we haint got no bread.' " ' Well, ray friend, have you got anything to eat of acy kind V " Anything to eat of any kind ?' " ' Yes, anything. I'm as hungry as a wolf.' " ' No, we haint got nothing to eat of nery kind.' " ' Can you give my horse some water ? and I'll ride on.' '• ' We haint none drawed, strenger ; but the crick aint more'n a kupple o miles ahead — yer kin git water thar.' " ' Good God !' I ejaculated, involuntarily ; ' no meat, no bread, no cc»Ti, no water, no nothing ! Look here, old fellow ! will you tell me how the devil you do here, anyhow V " Not at all put out by the question, the old chajt- looked up sideways, and replied : " ' Very weU, I thank ye, strenger, how de yer deo yerself?^ 28 THE KIFI.E BANGERS. " I gave a violent wrench at the bridle, which brought my horse round lifcfl a jiivot, and. digging the spurs into his sides, I headed him at the road. Bu the poor beast did not need any driving ; for, whether he had been satisfiec by his o\fn inspection of the place, or whether he had understood the conver sation, he broke into a sort of despairing gallop, and did not stop until we had reached the top of a long hill ! Here I had the curiosity to turn round in the saddle, and look back ; and, to my astonishment, the three men were stil seated just as I had left them ; and I really believe that they are sitt:ng thera to this day ! Captain Hennessy, I'll trouble you again." " With all the pleasure of life — here's at you, Liftinant !" " Fill up, gentlemen ! fill up !" shouted the sharp, hard voice of the Major as soon as the laughter had subsided ; " fill up — there's a basket left." " Ay, and when that's through, Old Blowhard here has another stowed ftway in the lockers of his steamer.' " Ay, a dozen of 'em for such a day as this," said the transport master who was known among the officers at Lobos as " Old Blowhard." " Speaking of the day, allow me, gentlemen,-to propose a sentiment, which, antil now, we have by some accident, overlooked." This came from a tall, grey-haired officer of a venerable aspect. " Sentiment from Colonel Harding !" " Colonel Harding's sentiment !" " Fill up for the Colonel's toast ; pass that champagne." "^ The memory of the immortal vian, whose hirth^day we celebrate."" This toast was drunk standing — all heads uncovered — and in perfect silence The riot that rung but a moment ago through the crowded canvass was hu.shed, out of respect for the memorj'^ of the illustrious dead. The silence was only momentary. Like waves for a while baffled, and back returning, the sounds of revelry again broke forth. Above the din of conversation^ se- veral voices were heard, vociferating : " A story from Old Blowhard ! — A back hit from Georgia I" " Well, gentlemen," responded the old transport-master, a thorough-brecj Georgian ; " I'm ready as soon as you have all filled j I don't like to be inter rupted." " Fill up, gentlemen !" shouted the Major, " Adge out with some corks Cufljo, Where's the screw? Hang that screw! I believe it's sunk into the Band J look out for your purses, gentlemen, if you drop them there, they're gone I've lost several valuable articles in this cursed sand-hole." " Mine is as low, as it can possibly get," cried a voice. THE RIFLE KANOER8. 29 "Never mmd the screw, Adge," said Hillis, the Adjutant, who by this time had broken — Kentucky fashion — the necks of several bottles, and waj paring out their foaming contents. " Now, gentlemen," cried the Georgian, after swallowing a cup of cbam D«^e, " I'm at your service." CHAPTER V. OLD BLOWHARd's STORY OP THE GDYAS-CCTIS. "Mine, gentlemen, is also a travelling story," Here the Georgian lookei iignrficantly towards Sibley. " I was journeying to the City of Washington, in company with a friend— a Georgian boy, like myself. "We went, as thousands have gone before an grace, to try our luck at office-hunting. You are all well aware, gentlemen that the road from Georgia to Washington passes through the Palmetto State ; a State distmguished for the fertility of its soil, as well as for the wealth, chivalry, and intelligence of her sons." Here " Old Blowhard winked know- ingly at the company with one eye while he kept the other fixed upon tha South Carolinian. " I tliought myself a smart traveller, gentlemen ; but compared with my companion. I was as green as a blade of spring grass. He was naturally sharp, but experience had polished his wits to the keenness of a cambric needle His name was Cobb — Wiley Cobb. " We started fiom home on a capital of three hundred dollars. It was all we could rake together. But we had a couple of stout Georgia ponies ; and this, we concluded, would be enough to put us through to Washington and back. . " 'If we're stumped,' said Cobb, 'we can sell the cattle.' ..-^^Y " iinfortunately, before entering the Palmetto State, it was our luck to pai- ^ through the town of Augusta, on the Georgia side, where we halted to feed.^' Augusta had alwa3's been considered a " brisk little place." We found it so. I* it being in a great hurry, we remained over night and the next day. We /^MC^hXt'^ . 'i'HK' RIFLE 1 .ANGERS. 31 had fallen in with some very agreeable acquaintances. We got to playing . at ninepenny ■poker ; then quarter a dollar loc; then brag-; and finally, out Augusta friends introduced us to the interesting game of _/arOi We played all night, and by daybreak on the morning of the second day, had deposited our three hundred dollars in the " bank" where it stayed. " ' What's to be done V said I. '£_ ^flL^^-{J-(Si^vt / " ' I'm thinking,' answered Cobb. " ' Sell the ponies and start back ?' suggested I. " ' No such thing !' sharply responded Cobb. " ' What bettei can we do V I asked. " ' What have you got in your saddle-bags V inquired my friend, without heeding my last interrogatory. *' ' A shirt, a pair of pistols, a plug of tobacco, and a bowie,' was my reply. " ' We must sell the bowie first,' said Cobb ; ' it will pay our tavern bill, and get us out of this infernal hole.' '■ ' And what next 1 On to Washington ?' I inquired. " ' Of course,' said Cobb, ' we would look wise turning back : we would be the standing joke of the county,' added he. " ' But how can we travel without funds V L asked. " ' That we will have to find out,' said Cobb, wiih a look as cheerful and happy as if he had had relays of horses all along to Washington, and his bill paid at every tavern upon the road. " ' I have an acquaintance,' continued he, ' at the end of the first stage from here ; we can stop all night with him, that won't cost anything ; beyond that, we must trust to the hospitality of the farmers. I think we can get through South Carolina handsomely ; good, generous fellows, the South Carolinians. Here Blowhard again looked significantly across the table. ' The danger is. we may stick in the Turpentine State. We must travel through it on tha proceeds of your pistols. But come, let us first dispose of the bowie, and get out of this sharper's nest.' ''As Cobb was my senior, and in my estimation a great genius, I of course acquiesced. He sold the bowie-knife to one of our gambling friends, for six dollars ; the tavern bill Was liquidated, leaving a few shillings in our joiui purse ; and with this we took the road through South Carolina.. " At the end of the first day, we stopped with Cobb's friend and were hos« pitably entertained. Cobb felt a strong inclination to borrow from him, buf could not bring himself to confess the cause of our necessity. " We left his friend's house, therefore, after an excellent breakfast, our horses well fed and curried, but without any increase to our finances. On the 32 ' THE KIFLK KAKGEIJS. contrary, we had given a shilling to the ' darkle' who had saddled our poi.iea " "We were now fairly en roule, travelling through, to both cf us, a terra incognita. " That night we stopped at a planter's house. I do not know what Cobb told the owner, as we were preparing to leave in the morning ; but I heard the latter remark somewhat snceringly, as we got into our saddles, ' It aint usual for folks to travel thiough these parts without money,' and then there was half-stifled, angry-like ejaculation, followed by a hissing through his teeth if words, which would have sounded badly in polite ears. " ' Rather an inhospitable sort of a chap,', whispered I, as we rode off. " ' Cursed inhospitable !' said Cobb, ' especially for a South Carolinian But he's an exception, I guess.' " And he was an exception ; for the next place we stopped at, they turned to, and blackguarded us outright, calling us 'impostors,' and "Georgia Yan kees ;' and the next after that, the landlord of the house, which was a tavern threateaed to levy upon omr saddle-bags. This he certainly would have done but Cobb told him very significantly, that they contained only a pair of pistols and that these were loaded, and might go off. Saying this, Cobb took out the pistols, and handed one of them to me ; then, cocking his own, he told the landlord he ' might have the saddle-bags now, as they were empty.' " But Cobb was six feet two, with a pair of fierce whiskers, and an eye as black as a coal ; and the landlord concluded to let the bags hang where they were : so we leaped into our saddles, and rode off. " ' This will never do, Uarry,' said Cobb, as we jogged leisurely along. " ' Never,' said I. " ' We must hit apon some plan to raise the wind,' continued he. " * I wish we could,' said I. « ' Think,' said he. " * I'll try,' said I ; and I commenced turning over in my mind every plan 1 could think of, that would be likely to relieve us from our difficulty. " But ' raising the wind' by the mere process of thought, is an achievemeni which has puzzled ..^harper intellects than mine ; and I was about abandoning he twentieth project, when Cobb, who was riding some distance in advance suddenly checked his horse, and, wheeling round in the saddle, with a tri amphant gesture, shouted out : ** ' Harry, I have it !' « ' Good !' cried I. •* 'I've tree'd the varmint !' continued he. ^>t/^ ^ %<«Xi^ THE Rifle kangkrs. 33 " You have 1' said T. '^ ' ' ' ' ' ^/<- /,^h^ ^ / •' ' Like a kuife !' said he, /-/C^t^ jQAJ- ^ .- ^, v " ' I'm glad of it,' said I j- ' but how ?' ^-i-^-irr-*^ { :^t^' ,a " ' Never mind, I'll tell you at night. I haven't got the thing straightened out yet. How far do you suppose we are from Columbia ?' inquired he. " ' About twenty milesl I should think. We have come five, and they said il was twenty-five from the tavern.' " ' Well, then, ride slowly,' said Cobb. ' We mast not reach Columbia befora dark. What sized place is it ?' -ivC** ' ' I haven't an idea,' replied I. ' It ought to be a good chunk of a place though — it's the State capital.' " ' So it is — you're right — it'll do,' said he ; and we rode on in silence, Cobb buried in prcjfound meditation, maturing his plans, and I dying with curios- ity to know them. " About half an hour after dark, we entered the town, and rode up tlie streets, Cobb looking inquiringly into the different stores, as we passed. " ' Here's the thing !' ejaculated he, pulling up in front of a shoe-shop, and getting off his horse. " He entered the shop. I could see, by his gesticulations to the owner of the establishment, that he was in treaty for a large empty box, which stood in the middle of the store. All that I could hear was the following : " After you have made the hole, you may nail down the lid, and paint the letters upon it. Here they are.' " Saying this, he took up a scrap of paper, and writing some words upon it. handed it to the storekeeper. " ' I'll send a dray for it in half-an-hour,' continued he. He then paid for the box ; and, bidding the man good night, we continued our way to the prin- cipal hotel, where we drew up and rLsmounted. " ' I'll be back in an hour, Harry,' said Cobb, throwing me his bridle ; ' in the meantime, take your supper, engage a snug room, and wait for me. Don't register till I come-r-I'll attend to that.' So saying, he disappeared down the street. " Agreeably to his instructions, I ate supper — and heartily too, for we had not tasted victuals since morning. I was then shown to my room, wherie I waited patiently for about two hours. I was still ignorant how the supper wag to be paid for, when the door opened, and Cobb entered. A couple of darkies' followed at his heels, carrying the box that I had seen him par «Jt4se, upon the lid of which was painted in lurge bold .etiers : n - - ■ ■r.^ j^ THK RIFLE RANGERS. "'THE WONDERFUL GU Y AS-CUTIS!' Underneath was an oblong hole, or slit, newly chiselled in the wood ! "Oobb held in his hand a broad sheet of paper. This, as soon as the dai* ties had gone out of the room, he spread upon the table, and, pointing to i^ triumphantly exclaimed : ** ' There, now, Harry, that's it !' * • What the devil is it V asked I. " 'Read for yourself old fellow !' cried he. " I commenced reading : "'THE WONDERFUL GUYAS-CUTIS! * ' Caught in tJie Wilds of Oregon ! near the Boundary ofb\° 4(y ! I " This was in large capitals. Then followed the description in smaller letters : " ' This remarkable animal, hitherto unknown, to the naturalists, possesses all the intelli,!i;er.ce of the human, combined with the ferocity of the tiger, and the agility of the ourang-oulang ! He is of a bright sky-blue color, with eleven stripes upon his body, and one more round his nose, which makes the even dozen ; and ne'er a one of them alike ! ! " 'In his rage, he has been known to carry Indians up to the tops of the hijrhest trees, and there leave them to perish with hunger, thirst, and cald ; wliich accounts satisfactorily for the imcivilized nature of the red man ! ! " ' 'J'h" highly-intelligent citizens of Cohmibia are respectfully informed that this wonderful quadruped has arrived among them, and will be exhibited this evcming. Tuesday, at tlie Minerva Rooms, at the hour of eight o'clock. Ad- mittance 25 cents !' " ' But,' said I, ' my dear Wiley,' now, for the first time, catching the idea of C'jbb's project, ' you don't intend — ' " ' But I do, though.' interrupted he ; ' and I will — that's as certain as mj name's AViley Cobb of the state of Georgia.' " ' But you do not really think you can gull the intelligent people — V " ' Bah ! intelligent people ! it's plam, Harry, you don't know the world, Baid Cobb, contemptuously. " ' And what do you expect me to do ?' I asked. " Nothing but stay in this room to-morrow, and see that nobody peeps la to that bov.' ••'But, at night?' " ' At night you will stand at the door, take the money, and when yott . ,; . ■ ( r < ^ ^y : '"•■ • ■ /0>*» e .-\ 'I ' TUE KIFLE RANGEK8. 35 hear me frroan and shake the chain, run in behind the screen — that's all.' ' Beginning to look upon the thing as a good joke, I promised faithfully tw follow Cobb's instructions ; not without some disagreeable anticipations, that both he and I would spend the following night in the Columbia jail. " Next morning, Cobb was up at an early hour ; and, after moaning pites. ously, and groaning in the most hideous and frightful manner, and talking at intervals into the box, as — ' be still Guy !' ' down Guy, down !' he left th4 room, bidding me keep a sharp look out. " As soon as he had gone, I heard a considerable shuffling and whispering outside the door, and presently a darkle looked in, and asked me if I wanted anything. " ' Not anything,' said I ; don't come in !' " The darkie drew back his head, with a look of ten"or, and pulled to thw door. " Shortly after, the whispering re-commenced, and the door again opened. This time it was the landlord of the hotel, whose curiosity had brought him up to see the elephant.' '• ' It's a fierce critter, that^' said he, putting his head inside the door, but still holding on to the handle. " ' Dreadful !' said I. " ' Could I not have a peep ?' inquired he. " ' It's against the rules,' answered I, ' besides a stranger makes him savage P " ' Oh, it does V said he, apologizingly. " ' Terrible !' said I. *' ' You'll have a good house, I think,' said he, after a short pause. " ' I hope so,' said I. " ' The bills is out. Mr. Van Amburgh was about putty early this moinin' ' " ' Mr. Van Amburgh !' ejaculated I. " ' Yes ; Mr. Van Amburgh — your partner.' " ' Oh ! — yes ; Mr. Van Amburgh. mj' partner,' I chimed in, as I saw th&j this must be the new title of my friend, Cobb. ' But Mr. Van Amburgh did not put out the bills himself ?' " I said this to cover the mistake I had made. " ' Oh — no ; of coorse not,' replied the landlord : ' he hired a boy.' " ' Certainly — that was r'ight,' I added. •' ' Breakfast '11 be ready in a minute ; /e'll come down V " Oh ! of course.' •' At this, Boniface took himself off, to my great satisfaction. •' Cobb new returned, bringing with him about six feet of a log-ohain, doiw up in paper. og TEE KIFLE KAKGERS. " After repeating his groaning and growling, we descended to breakfast— Cobb first carefully locking the door, and putting the key in his pocket. " We were evidently objects of great interest at the breakfast-table— Cobb !-,amng me ' Mr. Wolfe,' and I addressing him as ' Mr. Van Amburgh.' The >crvants waited upon us with delighted attention. •' After breakfast, we returned to the room, when Cobb again went througg le groaning rehearsal, and shortly after left me. " This he repeated at intervals during the day ; upon each succeeding occar ion, louder and more terrific than before ! " Night came at length, and with our box, covered up in one of the land ;>rd's qnilts, we started for the Minerva rooms, which I found fitted up with ■>. running screen, and brilliantly lighwd with candlas. Cobb had the box and hain carried behind the screen, while I remained at the door to look after ;.e treasury. We had no tickets, each one paying his or her " quarter," and i-assing in. •'In a short time, the room was full of ladies, gentlemen, and children— 'tradesmen and their wives ; merchants and their families ; young bucks and cbeir sweethearts, and even a number of the intelligent members of the Stata Assembly! Expectation was on tip-toe to see the 'Wonderful Guyas-Cutis. •■' At length, a low moaning was heard behind the screen " ' Down Guy, down ! Still dog, still !' cried a voice in hoarse commanding accents. '■ The people had now all arrived, and beg^Ji to stamp and clap their bands, *nd exhibit the usual symptoms of impa'.ience, crying out at intervals The i;uyas-Cutis! the Guyas-Cutis!' "' Bring him out, Mr. Showman ; tr^t him out !' " ' Let us see the savage varmint !' " The Guyas-Cutis growled fearfully. " ' Give him a bone !' cried one. " * Go it, old fifty-four forty !' exclaimed a'uother , ^ ^ " ' The whole, or none !' shouted a third. . ■ r / '^ j / ^ " ' Fifty-four fort}', or fight !' cried a fourth. / U--Ls tcgether. "If they be spies, I have taken the worst plan to catch them. I niny as well go through now. I cannot be distant from the rear of the camp. Ugh ! how dismal !" • Th» village of Tuspan is nearly opposite Lobos, on t'iie mainland. 42 THE riflp: rangers. I pushed on, climbing over fallen trunks, and twining myself through th« viny corclafre. The creepers clung to my neck — thorns penetrated my skin— the m.ez(/uile slapped me in the face, drawing blood ! I laid my hand upon a pendant limb ; a clarani}'- object struggled under my touch, with a terrified yet spiteful violence, and freeing itself, sprang over my shoulder, and scamp- ered off among the fallen leaves. I felt its fetid breath, as the cold sealca bruslied against my cheek. It was the hideous Iguana ! A huge bat flapped its sail-like wing in my face, and returned again and again, breathing a mephitic odor that caused me to gasp ! Twice I struck at it with my sword, cutting only the empty air. A third time my blade waa caught in the trellis of parasites. It was horrible ; I felt terrified with such strange enemies. At length, after a continued struggle, an opening appeared before me — a glade ! I rushed to the welcome spot. " What a relief!" I ejaculated, emerging from the leafy darkness. Suddenly, i started back with a cry of horror ; my limbs refused to aci j the sword fell from my grasp ; and I stood palsied and transfixed, as if by a bolt from heaven I Befoi-e me, and not over three paces distant, the image of death itself rose out 0." the earth, and stretched forth his skeleton arms to clutch me ! It was no phant( m. There was the white naked skull, with its e3-eless sockets ; the long fleshless limbs ; the open, serrated ribs ; the long jointed fingers of doatb itself! As my bewildered brain took in these objects, I heard a noise in the bushes, as of persons engaged in an angr}'- struggle. " Emile ! Emile !" cried a female voice, " you shall not murder him — joti shall notV' " Off! off! Marie, let me go !" was shouted in the rough accents of a man. *' Oh, no !" continued the female, " you shall not — no- — no — no !" " Curses on the woman ! there ! let me go now !" There was a sound as of some one struck with violence — a scream ; and, at the same moment, a human figure rushed out of the bushes, and, confronting me, exclaimed: "Ha! Monsieur le Capitaine! coup pour coup !" T heard no more ; a heavy blow descending upon my temples, deprived m« of all power and I fell senseless to the earth AVhen I returned to consciousness, the first objects I saw" were the huge brown whiskers of Lincoln ; then Lincoln himself— then the pale face of the boy .Jack ; and finally, the forms of several soldiers of my company. I saw that I was in my own tent, and stretched upon my camp-bed. THE EltLE KANGER8. 43 " What ? how ? what's the matter ?— what's this ?" I said, faising my hauds to the bandage of wet linen that bound my temples. " Keep still, Cap'n !" said Bob. taking my hand from the fillet, and placing it by my side. '' Och ! by my sowl, he's over it ; thank the Lord for his goodness !" said Chane, an Irish soldier. " Over what ? what has happened to me ?" I inquired. " Och, Captin, ycr honnor. you've been nearly murthered, and all by thiia Frinch schoundrels ; bad luck to their dirty frog-atin picthers !" " Murdered ! French scoundrels ! Bob, what is it ?" " Why, yer see, Cap'n, ye've had a cut yeer over the head ; and we think It's them Frenchmen." " Oh ! I repember now ; a blow — ^but the death ? — the death ?" I started up from the bed, as the phantom of my night adventure returned to my imagination. " The death, Cap'n ? — what do yer mean ?" inquired Lincoln, holding mc bi his strong arms. " Oh ! the Cap'n manes the skilleton, may be," said Chane. " What skeleton ?" I demanded. " Why, an owld skilleton'* the boys found in the chapparil, yer honncr. They hung it to a three ; and we found yer honner there, with the skilleton swinging over yez like a sign. Och ! the Frinch bastes !" I made no further inquiries about the " death." '• But where are the Frenchmen ?" asked I, after a moment. " Clane gone, yer honner," replied Chane. "Gone?" " Yes, Cap'n ; thet's so as he sez it," answered Lincoln. " Gone ! — what do you mean ?" I inquired. "Desarted, Cap'n." " How do you know that ?" " Because the yaint here." « On the island ?" " Sarched it all, every bush." * But who ? which of the French ?" • Lohos was a noted resort of the West Indian pirates. Many ftmvenirs of theet fentrj were found upon the island : a human skeleton, also ; but whether some n» tlitt of the freebooters, ct not, is left to the speculations of the curioua §4 tup: KIFLE KANGEB3. ' Dubrosc and that ere boy that was always with him ; both desarted." ' Ay. and the devil go wid them ! He'll niver hive his own till ho gets » hoult ov Misther Dubrosc ; bad 'cess to him !" " You are sure they are missing ?" " Looked high and low, Cap'n. Gravenitz seed Dubrosc steal into the chapparil with his musket. Shortly afterwards weheern a shot ; but thou/jht nothin' of it till this mornin', when one of the sodgers foun' a Spanish sora- brary out thar ; and Nath hcern some'dy say the shot passed through Major Twing's marke}\ Besides, we foun' this yeer butcher-knife where yer was layin'." Lincoln here held up a species of Mexican sword called a machete.* '• Ka !— well ?" " That's all, Cap'n ; only it's my belief, there was Mexikins on this island, and them Frenchmen's gone with th«m." After Lincoln left me, I lay musing on this still somewhat mysterious af- fair. My memory, however, gradually grew clearer ; and the events of the preceding night, soon became linker^ together, and formed a complete cham. The shot that passed so near my head in Twing's tent — the boat — the French words I had heard before I received the blow — and the exclamation, •' coup pour coup !" all convinced me, that Lincoln's conjectures were right. Dubrosc had fired the shot, and struck the blow that had left me senseless. But who could the woman be, whose voice I had heard pleading in my be- half? My thoughts reverted to the boy, who had gone oflT with Dubrosc ; and whom I had observed often in the company of the latter. A strange attach- •Bent appeared to exist between them ; in which the boy seemed to be the devoted slave of the strong fierce Frenchman — Could this be a woman 1 I recollected having been struck with his delicate features, the softness ot his voice and the smallness of his hands. There were other points besides, in the tonmure of the boy's figure, that had appeared singular to me. I had frequently observed the eyes of this lad bent upon me, when Dubrosc was not present, with a strange and unaccountable expression! Many other peculiarities connected with the boy and Dubrosc, which at the time had passed unnoticed and unheeded, now presented themselves to my recollection, all tending to prove the identity of the boy with the woman whose voice I had heard in the thicket. * The Maclett is a half-sword— half-knife. (it -<'- „ ... i THE RIFLE RANGEKS. 45 I could not help smiling at the night's adventures ; determined, howerer, to conceal that part which related to the skeleton. In a few days, my strength was restored. The cut T had received was not deep, thanks to my forage cap, ar'^ the dullness of the Frenchman's weapoo. CHAPTER VIT. THE LANDING AT SACRIFICIOS. Early in the month of March, the troops at Lobos were re-embarked, and dropped down to the roadstead of Anton Lizardo.* The American fleet waa Rlready at anchor there, and in a few days above a hundred sail had joined it . There is no city, no village, hardly a habitation upon this half-desert coast The aspect is a series of hirsute hills, rendered picturesque by the plumed frondage of the palm tree. We dared not go ashore, although the smooth, white beach, tempted ufl strongly. A large body of the enemy was encamped behind the adjacent hills ; and patrols could be seen, at intervals, gallopping along the shore. I could not help fancying what must have been the feeling of the inhabitants in regard to our ships—a strange sight upon this desert coast, and not a pleas- ing one to them, knowing that within those dark hulls were concealed the hosts of their armed invaders. Laocoon looked not with more dread upon the huge ribs of the Danaic horse, than did the simple peasant of Anahuac upon this fleet of " oak Leviathans," that lay within so short a distance of hia shores. To us the scene possessed an interest of a far different character. We looked proudly upon these magnificant models of naval architecture — upon their size, their number and their admirable adaptation. We viewed with a changing cheek, and a kindling eye this noble exhibition of a free people's strength ; and as the broad banner of our country swung out upon the breeze of th» * As aueborage thirteen miles froiu Vera Cnu, down the ooui. THE EIFLE RANGERS. 47 tjopicfr. we could not help exulting in the glory of that great nation wl.ose uniform we wore around our bodies. It was no dream. "We saw the burnished gun and the bright epaulette— the gleaming button, and the glancing ba3^onet. "We heard the startling trumpet, the stirring drum, and the shrill and thrilling fife ; and our souls drank in all those glorious sights and sounds that form at once the spirit and the witchery of war ! The landing was to take place on the 9th ; and the point of debarkation fixed upon was the beach opposite the island of Sacrificios, just out of range of the guns of "Vera Cruz. The 9th of March rose like a dream, bright, balmy, and beautiful. The sea was scarce stirred by the gentlest breeze of tne tropics ; but this breeze, light as it was, blew directly in our favor. At an early hour, I observed a strange movement among the ships com- posing the tleet. Signals were changing in quick succession ; and boats glid ing rapidly to and fro. Before daybreak the huge surf-boats had been drawn down from theii moorings ; and with long hempen hawsers attached to the ships and steamers. The descent was about to be made. The ominous cloud which had hung dark and threatening over the shores of Mexico was about to burst upon that devoted land ! But where 1 The enemy could not tell, and were preparing to receive us on the adjacent shore ! The black cylinder began to smoke, and the murky cloud rolled down iipon the water, half obscuring the fleet. Here and there a broad sail, freshly un furled, hung stiffly from the yard ; the canvass escaping from its gasket fast- enings, had not yet been braced round to the breeze. Soldiers were seen standing along the decks; some in full equipments clutching the bright barrels of their muskets — while others were buckling on their white belts, or cramming their cartouche boxes. Officers, in sash and sword, paced the polished quarter-decks, or talked earnestly in groups, or watched, with eager eyes, the motions of the various Rhips. Unusua' sounds were heard on all sides. The deep-toned chorus of the Bailor — the creaking of the capstan, and the clanking of the iron cogs — the " heave-ho ." at the windlass, and the grating of the huge anchor-chain, as iink after link rasped through the rusty ring — Bounds that warned us to make ready for a change. In the midst of these came the brisk rolling of a drum. It was answered by another, and another, and still another, until all voices were drowned by 48 THE KIFLK RANOKUS. the deafening noise. Tlion followcfl the mingling shouts of command — t lushing over the decks — and streams of hlue-clad men poured down the dark r.ides, and seated themselves in the surf-boats. These were filled in a twink- ling, and all was silent as before. Every voice was hushed m expectation, and every eye bent upon the little black steamer, which carried the com mandcr-in-chicf. Suddenly a cloud of smoke roso up from her quarter ; a sheet of flame shot out horizontally ; and the report of a heavy gun shook the atmosphere like an earthquake. Before its echoes had subsided, a deafening cheer ran simulta- neously through the fleet; and the ships, all together, as if impelled by some hidden and supernatural power, broke from their moorings, and dashed through the water with the velocity of the wind ! Away to the north-west, in an exciting race ; away for the isle of Sacrilicios ! On struggled the ships, bending to the breeze, and cleaving the crystal waves with their bold bows ; on the steamers, beating the blue water into a milky-way, and dragging laden boats in their foamy track I On followed the boats through the hissing and frothy cauldron ! Loud rolled the drum, loud brayed the bugle, and loud huzzas echoed from the adjacent shores ! Already the foe was alarmed and alert. Light horsemen with streaming haste gallopped up the coast. Lancers. \. ith gay trappings and long pennons, aj)peared through the openings of the hills. Foaming, prancing steeds flew, with light artillery over the naked ridges, dashing madly down deep detilea nod crushing the cactus with their whirling wheels. " Andela ! Audela ^"* was their cry. In vain, they urged tlieir horses — in vain, they drove the spur deep and bloody in their smoking sides. The elements were against them, and in favor of their foes. The earth and the water were their impediments, while the air and the water were the allies of their enemies. They clung and sweltered through the hot and yielding sand, or sank in the marshy borders of the Maudinga and the Medellin, while steam and the wind drove the ships of their adver- saries like arrows through the water ! The alarm spread up the coast. Bugles were sounding, and horsemen gallopped through the s'trects of Vera Cruz. The alarm-drum beat in the piazza, and the long roll echoed in every cuartel ! Signal rockets shot up from San Juan, and were answered by others from Santiago and Concepcion ! Thousands of dark forms clustered upon the roofs of the city and the ram • A charging shout, Bynonyiuou.' with our " Forward I" THE KIFLE KANGKRS. 49 parts ol the castle ; and thousands of pale lips whispered in accents of terror. " Tliey come ! they come !" As yet they knew not how the attack was to be made, or where to look for the descent. They imagined that we we were about to bombard their proud fortress of San Juan ; and expected soon to see the ships of tliese rash invaders shattered and sunk before its walls. The fleet was almost within long range — the black buoyant hulls boundinsi fearlessly over th° water. The eager crowd thickened upon the walls. The artillerists of Santiago had gathered around their guns, silent and waiting orders. Already the burning fuse was sending forth its sulphurous smell, and the dry powder lay tempting on the touch, when a quick, sharp cry was beard along th^ walls and battlements — a cry of mingled rage, disappointment, and dismay ! The foremost ship had swerved suddenly from the track ; and bearing eliarpl)^ to the left, under the inanige of a skilful helmsman, was running down under the shelter of Sacrificios ! The next ship followed her guide, and the next, and the next ; and. before the astonished multitude recovered from their surprise, the whole fleet had come to, within pistol-shot of the island ! The enemy now, for the first time, perceived the ruse, and began to calculate its results. Those giant ships, that but a moment ago seemed rushing to de- struction, had rounded to at a safe distance, and were preparing, with ths speed and skilfulness of a perfect discipline, to pour a hostile host upon the defenceless shores. In vain the cavalry-bugle called their horseman to the saddle ; in vain the artillery-car rattled along the streets ; both would be toe late! ^Meanwhile, the ships let fall their anchors with a plunge, and a rasping, and & rattle. The sails came down upon the yards ; and sailors swung themselvee hito the great boats, and mixed with the soldiers, and seized the oars. Then the blades w ere suddenly and simultaneously dropped oa the surface of the wave — a naval officer in each boat, directing the movements o! the oarsmen.. And the boats pulled out nearer the shore ; a.id, bj-^ an echellon movement took their places in line. Lip;hi ships of war were thrown upon our flanks, to cover the descent by a cross fire. No enemy had yet appeared, and all eyes were turned landward with fiery expectation. Bounding hearts waited impatiently for the signal. The report of a single gun was at length heard from the ship of tho com- 50 THE RIFLE RANGERS. mander-in-chief; and, as if by one impulse, a thousand oars struck the water and flung up the spray upon their broad blades. A hundred boats leaped forward simultaneously, The powerful stroke was repeated, and propelled them with lightning speed. Now was the exciting race — the regatta of war ! The Dardan rowers would have been distanced here. On . on ! with the velocity of the wind, over the blue waves, through th* snowy surf— on ! And now we neared the shore, and officers sprang to their feet, and stood with their swords drawn ; and soldiers half state, half crouched, clutching their muskets. And the keels gritted upon the gravelly bed ; and, at the Bignal, a thousand men, in one plunge, flung themselves into the water, and dashed wildly through the surf! Thousands followed, holding their cartridges breast-high ; and blades were glancing, and bayonets gleaming, and banners waving ; and, under glancing blades, and gleaming bayonets and waving ban- ners, the dark mass rushed high upon the beach ! Then arose a cheer — loud, long, and exulting. It pealed along the whole line, uttered from five thousand throats, and answered by twice that number from the anchored ships. It echoed along the shores, and back from the dis- tant battlements. A color-sergeant, springing forward, rushed up the steep sides of a sand- hUl, and planted his flag upon its snowy ridge. As the well-known banner swung out upon the breeze, another cheer, wild and thrilling, ran along the line ; a hundred answering flags were hauled up through the fleet; the ships of war saluted with full broadsides, and the guna of San Juan, now for the first time waking from their lethargic silence, poured forth their loudest thunder ! The sun was just setting, as our column commenced its advance inward, Aftei winding, for a short distance, through the defiles of the hills, we halted for the night — our left wing resting upon the beach. The soldiers bivouacked without tents — sleeping upon their arms, with tho Toft sand for their couch, and a cartridge-box for their pillow •• CHAPTER VIII. THE INVESTMENT OF VERA CRUZ. At break of day on the 10th, the army took up its line of march, througli hlls of sand-drifk Division lapped upon division, regiment upon regiment, extending the circle of investment by an irregular echellon. Foot-rifles and light infantry drove the enemy from ridge to ridge, and through the dark mazes of the chapparal gorge. The column continued its tortuous track, winding through deep defiles, and over hot white hills, like a bristling snake. It moved within range of the guns of the city, screened by intervcHing heights. Now and then, the loud cannon of Santiago opened upon it, as soma regiment displayed, crossing a defile, or pushing over the spur of a sand-hill. The constant rattling of rifles and musketry told that our skirmishers were busy in the advance. The Arsenal was carried^ by a brilliant charge, and the American flag waved over the ruins of the convent Malibran. On the. 11th, the Orizava road was crossed, and the light troops of the enemy were brushed from the neighboring hills. They retired sullenly under shelter of their heavy guns, and within the walls of the city. On the morning of the 12th, the investment was complete. Vera Cruz lay within a semi-circle, around its centre. The circumference was a chain of hos'.ile regiments that embraced the city in their concave arc. The right of the chain pitched its tents opposite the isle Sacrificios ; while, five miles off, to the north, its left rested upon the hamlet, Vergara, The sea covered the complement of this circle, guarded by a fleet of dark and warlike ships. The diameter hourly grew shorter. The lines of circumvallation lapped doser and closerj around the devoted city, until the American pickets appeared 52 THE EIFLE RANGERS. along the i-idges of the nearest hills, and within range of the guns of Sattiago Conccpcion, and Ulloa. Fort Concepcion defends the city on the north, Santiago on the south. The celebrated castle of San Juan de Ulloa stands out in the water at half-a- mile's distance from the mole. ,\ A smooth sand-plain, only a mile in width, lay between the besiegers and the walls of the besieged. After tatoo-beat, on the night of the 12th, with a party of my brother officers, I ascended the high hill around which winds the road leading to Orizava. This hill overlooks the city of Vera, Cruz. Vera Cruz stands oh the beach, on a smooth table of sand that runs bwck for nearly a mile, where it ends in high ridges of drift sand. The plain itself IS perfectly naked, and often, during high tides, and " northers," the city becomes nearly , Msulated with the overflow of the sea. The back coun '•y, for miles inland, is a continuation of sandy spurs and I dges, more or less covered with chapparal. There are but few " settle- mente." — llere and there the "rancho" of a peasant or herdsman, and iKJcasionally a *' hacienda," or a small hamlet. It is thus up to the mountains. with some exceptions, as around Jalapa, or in the tobacco country' of Cordova and Orizava. After dragging ourselves wearily through the soft yielding sand, we reached the summit, and halted on a projecting ridge. With the exception of a variety of exclamations expressing surprise and delight, not a word for a while was uttered by any of 6ur party ; each indi- vidual being wrapped up in the contemplation of a scene of surpassing interest. It was moonlight, and sufBciently clear to distinguish the minutest objects on the picture, that ]3ij rolled out before us like a map. Below our position, and seeming ahuost within reach of the hand, lay the '' City of the True Cross," rising out of the white plain, and outlined upon the blue background of the sea. The dark grey towers, and painted domes ; the gothic turret, and MoorisA minaret, impressed us with an idea of the antique ; while here and there tha tamarind nourished on some azotea* or the fringed leaves of the palm-tre?, drooping over the notched parapet, lent to the city an aspect at once southern and picturesque. Domes, spires and cupolas rose over the old grey walls, crowned with * The name given to the flat roofs of Spanish houses. THE KIFLB KANGEKS. 53 floatirg banners — the consular flags of France, and Spain, and Britain, waving alongside the eagle of the Aztecs. Beyond, the blue waters of the gulf rippled lightly against the sea-washed battlements of San Juan, whose brilliant lights glistened along the combing of the surf. To the south, we could distinguish the isles of Sacrificios, and the dark hulls that slept silently under the shelter of its coral reef. Outside the fortified wall, which girt the city with its cincture of grey rock a sm:)oth plain stretched rearward to the foot of the hill, on which we stood and right and left, along the crest of the ridge from Punta Hornos to Vergara, ranged a line of dark forms — the pitket sentries of the American out-posts as they stood, knee-deep, in the soft yielding sand-drift. " j The view bf Vera Cruz from the sand-ridges in the rear, is indeed, a picture of .surpassing interest. The city looks as if it had been built to make a picture — so fine is the arrangement of its turrets and roofs, tied into a compact body by the wall that girdles it. It reminds one of the engravings we used to dream over, in Goldsmith's epitome of geography. It was a picture of surpassing interest, and, as we stood gazing upon it, the moon suddenly disappeared behind a bank of clouds ; and the lamps of the city, heretofore eclipsed by her brighter beam, now burned up and glistened along the walls. Bells rung merrily from church-towers ; and bugles sounded through the echoing streets. At intervals, we could hear the shrill cries of the guard. ' Centinela alerte /" and the sharp challenge " Quien vivo, ?" Then the sound of sweet niusic, mingled with the soft voices of women, was wafted to our ears, and with beating heaits, we fancied we could hear the light tread of silken feet, as they brushed over the polished floor of the ball-room ! It was a tantalizing moment, and wistful glances were cast on the be- leaguered town ; while more than one of our party was heard impatiently muttering a wish, that it might be carri«5d by assault. • As we continued gazing, a bright jet of iiame shot out horizontally from Ihe parapet over Puerto Nuevo. " Look out !" cried Twing, at the same instant flinging his wiry little carcass squat under the brow of a sand- wreath. Several of the party followed his example; but, before. all had housed themselves, a shot came singing pas+.j along with the loud report of a twenty-four. 54: THE RIFLE BANGERS. The shot struck the comb of the ridge, within several yards of the groap, and ricochettod off into the distant hills. '■ Try it again !" cried one. " That fellow has lost a champagne supper !" said Twing. " More likely he has had it, or his aim would be more steady," suggested an officer. " Oysters, too— only think of it !" said Clayley. " Howld your tongue, Clayley, or by my sowl, I'll charge down upon the town !" This came from Hennessy, upon whose imagination the contrast between champagne and oysters, and the gi'tty pork and biscuit he had been feeding upon for several days past, acted like a shock. "Thcic again!" cried Twing, whose quick eye caught the blaze upon the parapet. " A shell, by the powers !" exclaimed Hennessy. " Let it dhrop first, or it may dhrop on yez !" he continued, as several officers were about to fling themselves on their faces. ^ The bomb shot up with a hissing, hurtling sound. A little spark could be seen, as it traced its graceful curves through the dark heavens. The report echoed from the walls, and at the same instant was heard a didl sound, as the shell buried itself in the sand-drift. It fell close to one of the picket sentinels, who was standing upon his post within a few paces of the group. The man appeared to be either asleep or Btupcfied, as he remained stock still. Perhaps he had mistaken it for the ri- 30chet of a round shot. '• It's big shooting for them to hit the hill !" exclaimed a young officer. The words were scarce passed, when a loud crash, like the bursting of a cannon, was heard under our feet — the ground opened like an earthquake j and, amidst the whistling of the fragments, the sand was dashed into our faces ! A cloud of dust hung for a moment above the spot. The moon, at this instant, re-appeared ; and, as the dust slowly settled away, the mutilated body of the soldier was seen upon the brow of the hill, at th« Sfitance of twenty paces from his post A low Acer reached us from Conccpcion — the fort whence the shell had be«n projected. Chagrined at the occurrence, and mortified that it had been caused by our imprudence, we were turning to leave the hill, when the '• whish " of a rocke* attracted our attention THE KIFLE RANGERS. 6ft It rose from the chapi>aral, about a quarter of a mile in rear of the camp ; wid, before it had reached its culminating point, an answering signal shot up trom the Puerto Nuevo. At the same instant, a horseman dashed out of the thicket and headed his horse at the steep sand-hills. After three or four desperate plunges, the fiery mustang gained the crest of the ridge upon which lay the remains of the dead soldier. Here the rider, seeing our party, suddenly reined up, balancmg for a mo- ment, as if uncertain whether to advance or retreat. We, on the other hand, taking him for some officer of our own, and won- dering who it could be galloppiug about at such an hour, stood silent and waiting. " By heavefas, that's a Mexican !" whispered Twing, as the ranchero dress became apparent under a brighter beam of the moon. Before any one could reply, the strange horseman wheeled sharply to the left, and, drawing a pistol, fired into our midst. Then spurring his wild horse, he gallopped off into a deep defile of the hills ! " You're a set of Yankee fools !" he shouted back, as he reached the bottom of the dell. flalf-a-dozen shots replied to the taunting speech ; but the retreating object was beyond pistol range, before our astonished party had recovered from theii surprise at such an act of daring audacity ! In a few minutes we could see the horseman — a speck on the white plain below — and shortly after we heard the grating hinges of the Puerto NuevOi as the huge gate swung open to receive him. No one was hit by the shot of his pistol. Seveial could be heard gritting their teeth with mortification, as we commenced descendmg the hill. Did you know that voice Captain ?" whispered Clayley to me, as we re* turned to camp. " Yes." " You think it wus— r* " Dubrosc'" 7 CHAPTER XI. MAJOR BLOSSOM. On rea-:hing the camp, I found a mounzed orderly in front of my tent. *' From the General," said the soldier, touching his cap, and handing loe ■ealed note. The orderly, without waiting a reply, leaped into his saddle and rode off. I broke the seal, and read with delight : " Sir — You will report with fifty men, to Major Blossom at 4 a. M. to- morrow. By order, (Signed) A. A. A. G." Captain Hallkh, Commauding Co. Kifle Kangers. " Old Bios, eh ? quarter-master scouting I hope," said Clayley, looking over the coutcu ts of the note. " Anything but the trenches ; I am sick of them." " Had it been anybody else but Blossom — fightmg Daniels for instance — we might have reckoned on a comfortable bit of duty ; but the old whale can hardly climb into his saddle — it does look bad." I will not remain long in doubt. Order the sergeant to warn the men for four." I walked through th-j camp in search of Blossom's marquee, which I found n an arbutus grove, and out of range of the heaviest metal in Vera Cruz. The Major himself was seated in a large campeachy* chair, that had been ' bor- • A chair of a peculiar fashion, with a concave seat mrde of raw-hide, or Jeather. Th»y •n to bf found in Mexico in almost every respectable house THE RIFLE RANGEK8. 5? rowed" from some neighboring ranche, and perhaps it was never so well filled, as by its present occupant. It would be useless to attempt an elaborate description of Major Blossom. That would require an entire chapter. Perhaps the best that can be done to give the reader an idea of him, is to say, that he was a great, fat. red man, and known among his brother officers as the •' swearing major." If any one in the army loved good living, it was Major Blossom, and if any one hateii hard living, that man was Major George Blossom. He hated Mexicans, too, and mosquitoes, and scorpions, and snakes, and sand-flies, and all enemies to his rest and comfort ; and the manner in which he swore at these natural foes, would have entitled him to a high com- mission in the celebrated army of Flanders. Major Blossom was a quarter-master in more senses than one ; as he occu- pied more quarters than any two men in the army, not excepting the Gencral- m-cliief; and, when many a braver and better officer was cut down to '' twenty-five pounds of baggage " the private lumber of Major Blossom, including himself, occupied a string of wagons like a siege train. As T entered the tent, he was seated at supper. The viands before him ^ere in strikmg contrast to the food, upon which the army was then subsist- ing. There was no gravel gritting between the ?iIajor's teeth as he masti- cated mess-pork or mouldy biscuit. He found no debris of sand and small rocks at the bottom of his coffee-cup No ; quite the contrary. A dish of pickled salmon, a side of cold turkey, several plates of sliced iongue, with a fine Virginia ham. were the striking features of the Major's supper ; while a handsome French coffee-urn, containing the essence of Mocha, simmered upon the table. Out of this the Major, from time to time, replen- ished his silver cup. A bottle of eau-de-vie that stood near his right hand, assisted him likewise in swallowing his ample ration. '' Major Blossom, I presume 1" said T. ' My name," ejaculated the Major, between two swallows, so stort and quick, that the phrase sounded like a monosyllable. "I have received orders to report to you, sir." " Ah ! bad business ! bad business !" exclaimed the Major qualifying the badness of the business with an energeti . oath. " How, sir ?" " Atrocious business — dangerous service — can't see why they sent me. '• I came. Major, to inquire the natuiie of the service, so that I may have my lueii in order for it." 5g THE RIFLE RANGEK8. " Horrid^ dangerous service !" « It is ?" " Infernal cut-throats, thousands of 'em in the bushes — bore a man through without as much as a wink: i Those yellow monsters are worse than—" and a"-ain the swearing Major wound up with an exclamation not proper to be r^cated." ^/ 'c - ■ i. -';.-•- ^ ' ^ -"-^ • ' " - -"^ - ^^^ ■ " Can't see why they picked Tne out ; there's Myers, and "Wayne, and "Wood not half my size, and that thin scare-the-crows. Allen— but no ; the General wants me killed. Die soon enough in this infernal nest of centipedes without being shot in the chapparal ! I wish the chapparal was—" and again the Major's unmentionable words came pouring forth in a volley. I saw that it was useless to interrupt him until the first burst was over From his frequent anathemas on the " bushes" and the " chapparal," I could gather that the service I was called upon to perform lay at some distance from the camp ; but beyond this I could learn nothing, until the Major had Bvvorn himself into a degree of composure, which, after some minutes, he accom- plished. I then re-stated the object of my visit. " "We're going into the country for mules," replied the Major ; " mules, indeed ! Heaven knows there is'nt a mule within ten miles, unless with a yellow Mexican on his back ! and such mules we don't want, not a bit of it The volunteers — " and here came another of the Major's anathemas, " have geared everything to the mountains ; not a stick of celery, nor an onion to be had. at any price." " How long do you think we will be gone ?" I inquired. " Long 1 Only a day ! If I stay over night in the chapparal, may a wolf eat me ! Oh, nc ! If the mules don't turn up soon, somebody else may go fetch 'em. that's all !" " I may ration, them, for one day V said 1. " Two — two ; your fellow '11 be hungry. Roberts, of the Rifles, who's been out in the country, tells me there isn't enough forage to feed a cat. So you'd better take two days' biscuit ; I suppose we'll meet with beef enough ©n the hoof; though I'd rather have a rumpsteak out of the Philadelphia market than all the beef in Mexico. Hang their beef! it's as tough as tan leather." " At four o'clock, then. Major, I'll be with you," said I, preparing to take my leave. '■ ^lake it a little later. Captain ; I get no sleep with these cursed gallinip" pcrs and things — but stay ; how many men have you got ?" '' In my company eij;hty ; but my order is to take only tiity." "There again ! I told you so; want me killed, they want old Bios killed. THE KIFLE RANGKKS. 59 Fifly men, when a thousand of them leather-skinned devils have been seen, not ten miles off! Fifty men ! great heavens ; fifty men ! There's an escort to take the chapparal with !" "But they are fifty men worth a hundred, I promise you." " And if they were worth five hundred, it wouldn't be enough ; I tell you the chapparal's full — full as — " (a certain place of torment familiar to th Major's lips). " We will have to proceed with the more caution," I rejoined. " Caution !" and caution was summarily sentenced to the same regions. •' Bring all, every son of a gun, drummer and all !" " But that. Major, would be contrary to the General's orders." " Hang the General's orders ! Obey some General's orders in this army, ind you wouli do queer things. Bring them all, take my advice. I tell you, tf you don't our lives may answer for it. Fifty men !" I was about to depart, when the Major stopped me with a loud " hilloa !" " "Why," cried he, '• I have lost my senses — your pardon, Captain. This tnlucky thing has driven me crazy. They must pick upon me ! What will 70U drink 1 Here's some good brandy — infernal good — sorry I can't say ai much for the water." I mixed a glass of brandy and water. The Major did the same, and, pled(^ Big each other, we bade " good night," and separated. CHAPTER X. GOING ON THE SCOUT. Before daybreak, a head appeared between the flaps of my tent. It wai that of Sergeant Bob Lincoln. " The men er under arms, Cap'n." " Very well," cried I, leaping from my bed, and hastily buckling on my accoutrements. I looked forth. The moon was still brightly shining, and I could see a number of uniformed men standing upon the company parade, in double rank, directly in front of my tent, a small boy was saddling a rerj small horse. The boy was " Little Jack," as the soldiers called him ; and the horse was Little Jack's mustang, •' Twidget." Jack wore a tight-fitting green jacket, trimmed with yellow lace, and but- toned 'Jp to the throat ; pantaloons of light green, straight cut and striped along the seams ; a forage cap set jauntily upon a profusion of bright curls ; a sabre with a blade of eighteen inches, and a pair of clinking Mexican spurs. Besides these, he carried the smallest of all rifles. Thus armed and accoutred, ho presented the appearance of a miniature ranger. Twidget had his peculiarities. Pie was a tight, wiry, little animal, that rould live upon mezquite beans, or maguey leaves, for an indefinite time ; and liis abstemiousness was often put to the test. On one occasion, during the ••attles in the valley of ^Mexico, Jack and Twidget had .somehow got separated, it which time the mustang had been shut up for four days in the cellar of. a ruined convent with no other food than stones and mortar ! How Twidget rame by his name is not clear. Perhaps it was some waif of the rider's own Uncy. TIIK KIFLE RANGERS. 61 AS T appeared at the entrance of my tent, Jack had just finished strapping on his Mexican saddle , and seeing rae he ran to assist in serving my break- fast. This was hastily despatched, and we took the route in silence throiigh the sleeping camp. Shortly after, we were joined by the INfajor. mounted on a tall, raw-looking horse ; while a darkie, whom the iMajor addressed as " Doc." rode a snug looking cob. and carried a basket. This last contained the Major's commissariat. We came out on the Orizava Road, the Major ati Jack riding in tho advance. I could not help smiling at the contrast between these two equosti-i- ans ; the former with his great gaunt horse, looming up in the uncei'tuin light of the morning like some huge centaur ; while Jack and Twidget appeared like two representatives of the kingdom of Lilliput ! On turnirjg an angle of the forest, a horseman appeared at some distance along the road. The Major gradually slackened his pace, until he was square with the head of the column, and then fell back into the rear. This manoeuvre was executed in the most natural manner, but I could plainly see that the mounted Mexican had caused the Major no small degree of alarm. The horseman proved to be a zambo* in pursuit of some cattle that had escaped from a neighboring corral. The zambo pointed to the south, saying, in Spanish, that mules were plenty in that direction. '• Hay n'Mchos, muchissimos P^ (there are many) said he, as he indicated a road which led through a sti'ip of woods on our left. Following his direction, I struck into the new path, which soon narrowed into a bridle road, or trail. The men were thrown into single file, and marched d Vlndienne. The road darkened, passing ander thick-leaved trees that met and twined over our heads. At times, the hanging limbs and joining parasites, caused the M.ijor to flatten his huge body upon the horn of the saddle ; and once or twice he was obli"-ed to alight, and walk under the light branches of the thorny acacia. Our journey continued without noise ; silence being interrupted only by an occasional oath from the Major, uttered, however, in a low tone, as we wer« now fairly " in the woods." The road, at length, opened upon a small prairie, or glade, near the borders of which rose a high " butte,"* covered with thickets of nopal. * A cross of tho negrc and mestize. Tharo are many of this race along. tbo loast «rf Ute Tierra Calicnte 'KnoU. gwj THE KIFLE RANGERS. Lcavinf my mcu in ambuscade below, I ascended the butte, to obtain 9 view of tlie surrounding country. The day had now fairly broke, and the sun was just rising over the blue waters of the gulf. His rays, priukling over the waves, caused them to dance and sparkle with a metallic brightness ; and, it was only after shading my eyes, that I could distinguish the tall masts of ships and the burnished towers of the city. To the south and west stretched a wide expanse of champaign country glowing in all the brilliance of tropical vegetation. Fields of green, and forests of darker green, here and there patches of yellow, and belts of olive-colored leaves ; at intervals, a sheet of silver — the reflection from a placid lake, or the bend of some silent stream — was visible upon the imposing picture at my feet. A broad belt of forest, dotted with the life-hke frondage of the palm,t swept ap to the foot of the hill. Beyond this lay an open tract of meadow, or prairie, upon which were browsing thousands of cattle. The distance was too great to distinguish their species, but the slender forms of some of them con- vinced me that the object of our search would be found in this direetion. The meadow, then, was the point to be reached. The belt of forest already mentioned nmst be crossed ; and, to effect this I struck into a trail, which seemed to lead in the direction of the meadow. The trail became lighter as wa entered the heavy timber. Some distance further on, we reached a stream. Here the trail entirely disappeared. No " signs" could be found on the opposite bank. The underwood was thick, and vines, with broad green leaves and huge clusters of scarlet flowers, barred up the path like a wall. It was strange ! the path had evidently led to this point, but where beyond 1 Seveial men were detached across the stream to find an opening. After a search of several minutes, a short exclamation from Lincoln pro- claimed success. I crossed over, and found the hunter standing near the bank, holding back a huge screen of boughs and vine-leaves, beyond which a narrow, but plain track was easily distinguished, leadmg on into the forest. Tlie trellis closed like a gate; and it seemed as if art had lent a hand to the concealment of the track. The foot-prints of several horses were plainly visible in the sandy bottom of the road. The men entered in single file. With some difficulty. Major Blossom and his great horse squeezed themselves under, and we moved on through the daik and silent woods. 1 I have Doon struck with this peculiainty of the palm-tree. Ae it rise* over the jun- gle, the roguliirity of its structure imparls the idea of something aaimated, or bolonglnf Ut a kingdoui of nature different from that of ita forest compauioas. THE KIFLE EANGEKS. 63 After a march of several miles, fording numerous streams, and working ou« way through tangled thickets of nopal and wild maguey,* an opening suddenly appeared through the trees. Emerging from the forest, a brilliant scene burst upon us. A large clearing, evi(Jently once cultivated, but now in a state of neglect, stretched out before us. Broad fields, covered with flowers of every hue — thickets of blooming rose-trees — belts of the yellow helianthus — an patches of half-wild plantains, formed a picture singular and beautiful. On one side, and close to the border of the forest, could be seen the roof of a house, peering above groves of glistening trees, and thither we marched. "We entered a lane, with its guardarai/asj; of orange trees planted in rowa upon each side, and meeting overhead. The sunlight fell through this leafy screen with a mellowed and delicioua softness, and> the perfumes of a thousand flowers were wafted on the air. The rich music of birds was around us ; and the loveliness of the scene ~ was heightened by the wild neglect which had stamped itself on every object. On approaching the house we halted, and charging the men to remain silent, I advanced alone to reconnoitre. * The maguoy spoken of in these sketches is not the celebrated plant from which yvdqiu is ertracted, but a species of aloes (agave) that flourishes in the tierra caliente. The other — the pulque — is only found upon the uplands — the tierra templada — whers it is ex« tensively cultivated for the refreshing beverage which it produces. Its leaves are inva- riably of a dark, uniform green, while those of the wild species are mottled with a bright toarlet. These are, besides, more slender and thorny. The wild maguey produces a epecies of fiery whiskey — the mezcal of travellers. t Lanes shaded with tropical trees, such aa palms, caymetes, shaddocks, are so oaltotj . by the Spanish- Americans CHAPTER XL ADVENTURE WITH A CAYMAN. Tbe lane suddenlj opened upon a pasture, but within this a thick hedgi of jessamines, forming a circle, barred the view, In this circle was the house, whose roof only could be seen from without. Not finding any opening through the jessamines, I parted the leaves witb iny Land, and looked through. The picture was dream-like. So strange, 1 ■;ould scarce credit thy senses. " Was it real ?" On the crest of the little hillock stood a house of rare construction— unique and unlike any thing I had ever seen. The sides were formed of bamboos, closely picketed, and laced together bj strips of the palmilla. The roof— a thatch of palm-leaves — projected far ovei the eaves, rising to a cone, and terminating in a small wooden cupola, with a cross. There were no windows. The walls themselves were translucent ', nnd articles of furniture could be distinguished through the interstices of tl'O bamboos. The houses of the tierra cabents are frail structures, similar to the one described, though generally ruder In the forests clothing the sides of mountains, you meet with the log cabin, somewhat resemblmg that of th€ United States. On the elevated plains, you come to the endless adobes, or Bun-dried bricks. Cottages of this material are nothing better than mud- ciliins. such as appear in various parts of Ireland and other countries. A curtain of green barege, sunpoiled by a rod and rings, formed the door. This was drawn, discovering an ottoman near the entrance, pnd an eli'gant huip. *V^ . fHE KIFLE KANGKRS- 65 ^ •/ ... r ♦; The whole structure presented the coup cPceil of a huge bird-cage^ with ita rWires of gold ! The grounds were in keeping with the house. In these, the evidence of neglect, which had been noticed without, existed no longer. Every object appeared to be under the training of a watchful solicitude. A thick grove of olives, with their gnarled and spreading branches, and ark green leaves, stretched rearward, forming a back-ground to the picture. Right and left grew clumps of orange and lime trees. Golden fruit and flowers of bi-illiant hues nj'ogled with their yellow leaves. Spring and autumn blended upon the same branches ! Rare shrubs — exotics — grew out of large vessels of japanned earthenware whose brilliant tints added to the voluptuous coloring of the scene. A jet (TeaiJ, crystalline, rose to the height of twenty feet, and returning in a shower of prismatic globules, stole away through a bed of water-lilies and other aquatic plants, losing itself in a grove of lofty plain tain trees. These growing from the cool watery bed, flung out their broad glistening leaves to , the length of twenty feet. No signs of human life met the eye. The birds alone seemed to revel in the luxuriance of this tropical paradise. A brace of peafowl stalked over the parterre is ^1 the pride of their rain bow plumage. >^/~J6 the fountain appeared the tall form of a flamingo: his scarlet plumage contrasting with the green leaves of the water-lily. Songsters were trilling in every tree. The mock-bird perched upon the highest limb, was mimicking the monot- onous tones of the parrot. The grakle and gold-bird flashed from grove to grove, or balanced their bodies under the spray of the jet (Veau; while the humming-bird hung upon the leaves of some honeyed blossom, or prinkled over the parterre like a straying sunbeam ! I was running my eye over this dreamlike picture, in search of a human figure, when the soft metallic accents of a female voice reached me from the grove of plaintains. It was a burst of laughter— clear and ringing. Then followed another, with short exclamations and the sound of water, as if dashed and sprinkled with a light hand. What must be the Eve of a Paradise like this 1 The silvery tones were full of promise. It was the first female voice that had gnueted my ears for a month, and chords long slumbering vibrated under the exquisite tovich. My heart bounded. My first impulse was '' forward," which I obeyed by (Jfi THE RIFLE EANGEKS.' lL^'^""'''^ ^S ftprinjrinjr through the jessamines. But the fear of mtrudin** c?pon a scene 4 ia Diane changed my determination and my next thought was to make a quiet retreat. I was preparing to return, and had thrust one leg back through the hedge. when a harsh voice — apparently that of a man — mingled with the silvery tones. ' \nda — anda — hace mucho calor. Vamos a volver.^' (" Ha&ten — it is hot. Let us return.") " Ah, no ! Pepe ; un ratito mas.'''' (" Ah, no ! Pepe ; a little while longer.") " Vaya, carramho .'" (" Quick, then !") Again the clear laughter rang out, mingled with the clapping of hands, and short exclamations of delight. " Come," thought I, once more entering the parterre, " as there appears to be one of my own sex here already,, it cannot be very mal-d-propos to take a peep at this amusement, whatever it be." I approached the row of plantain-trees, whose leaves screened the speakers from view. " Lnpe ! Ijiipe ! mira ! que bonito ,'" ('• Lupe, Lupe ! look here ! What a pretty thing!") " Ah. pohrecito ! echalo, Imz, echalo .'" (" Ah ! poor little thing I fling it back, Luz !") « Voy luego .'" (" Presently !") I stooped down, and silently parted the broad silken leaves. The sight was divine ! Within lay a circular tank, or basin, of crystal water, sevaral rods in diam- eter, and walled in on all sides by the high screen of glossy plantains, whose giant leaves stretching out horizontally, sheltered it from the rays of the noon- day sun. A low parapet of mason- work ran around, forming the circumference of the circle. This was japanned with a species of porcelain — whose deep coloring of blue, and green, and yellow, was displayed in a variety of grotesque figures. A strong jet boiled up in the centre, by the refraction of whoso ripples the gold and red fish seemed multiplied into myriads. At a distant point a bed of water-lilies hung out from the parapet ; and the long, thin neck of a swan rose gracefully over the leaves. Another, hia mate, stood upon the bank, drying her snowy pinions in the sun. THE KIFLE KANGERS. 67 A different object attracted me, depriving mCj for awhile, of the power of fcction. In the water, and near the jet, were two beautiful girls, clothed in a' sort of sleeveless green tunic,] loosely girdled. They were immersed to the waist. So pellucid was the water, that their little feet were distinctly visible at the bot- tom, shining like gold. ! .■ '; V ■•'"■'■' ,vr '•..'' ="<^ < J i' •! Luxuriant hair fell down in broad flakes, partially shrouding the snowj development of their arms^feind shoulders.. Their forms were strikingly similiar, Ta'J graceful, 'ully developed, and characterized by that elliptical line of beauty that in the female form, more than any other earthly object illustrAtes the far-famed curve of Hogarth. Their features, too, were alike. " Sisters !" one would exclaim, and yet their complexions Were strikmgly dissimilar. The blood mantling darker in the reins of one, lent an olive tinge to the soft and wax-like surface of her skin; while the red upon her checks and lips presented an admixture of purple. Her hair, too, was;;'|black ; and aldark shadm'g along the upper lip] soft and silken js the tracery of a crayon, contrasted^ with the dazzling whiteness of her teeth, xler eyes were black, large, and almond-shaped — with that expression which ^ooks over one ; and her whole appearance formed a type of that beauty which we associate with the Abencerrage and the Alhambra, This was evidently tbo elder. The other was the type of a distinct class of beauty — the golden- haired blonde. Her eyes were large, globular, and blue as turquoise. Her hair of a chastened yellow, long and luxuriant ; while her skin, less soft and waxen than that of her sister, presented an effusion of roseate blushes, that extended along the snowy whiteness of her arms. These, in the sun, appeared as bloodless and transparent as the tiny goldfish that quivered in her uplifted hand ! I was rivetted to the spot. My first impulse was to retire, silently and modestly, but the power of a strange fascination for a moment prevented me. Was it a dream ? " Ah ! que barbara ! pobrecito — ito — ito .'" (Ah ! what a barbarian you we ! poor little thing !) " Comer pmosP (We will eat it.) " Por dies ! no ! echalo, Luz, a tirare la agua en siis ojos de F," (Good ness ! no ! fling it in, Luz, or I will throw water in your eyes,) And th« speaker stooped, as if to execute the threat, " Ya — no." (Now I will not,) said Luz, resolutely. " Guarda tc /" (Look out.) 03 THE KIFLE KANGEK8. The brunette placed her little hands close together, terming with their mi ted palms a concave surface, and commenced dashing water upon thepervers* blonde. The latter instantly dropped the goldfish, and retaliated. An exciting and animated contest ensued. The bright globules flew around heir lieads. and rolled down their glistening tresses, as from the pinions of a wan; while their clear laughter rang out at intervals, as one or the other appeared victorious. A hoarse voice drew my attention from tliis interesting spectacle. Looking whence it came, my eye rested upon a huge negress, stretched under a cocoa tree, who had raised herself on on^. arm, and was laughing at the contest. It was her voice, then, 1 had mistaken for that of a man ! "Becoming sensible of my intrusive position, I turned to retreat, when a shrill cry reached me from the pond. The swan>j. with a frightened energy, sliricked and flspped over the surface-* the goldfish shot to and fro, like sunbeams, and leaped out of tin; wster (juiv ering and terrified— and the birds on all side.H screamed and chattered. I sprang forward to ascertain the cause of this strange coiu.iiotion. My eye fell upon the negress, who had risen, and running out upon the parapet with uplifted arms, shouted in terrified accents : " Val^ninte (lios—ninas 7 El cayman ! el cayman .'" I looked across to the otlier side of the pond. A fearful object met my eyes— the cayman of Mexico ! The hideous monster was slowly crawling over tho 'ow wall, di-agging his lengthened body from a bed of aquatic plants. Already his short fore-arms, squammy and corrugated, rested upon the mner edge of the parapet— his shoulders projecting as if in the act to spring ! His scale-covered back, with its long serrated ridge, glittered with a slippery moistness ; and his eyes, usually dull, gleamed fierce and lurid from their pro- minent sockets. I had brought with me a light rifle. It was but the work of a moment to unsling and level it. The sharp crack followed, and the ball impinged harm- lessly between the monster's eyes, glancing from its hard skull as though i\ had been a plate of steel. The shot was an idle one — perhaps worse — for, stung to madness with the stunning shock, the reptile sprang far out into the water, and made directly for his victims. The girls, who had long since given over their mirthful contest, seemed to have lost all pre.^ence of mind, and, instead of making for the bank stood locked m each other's arms terrified and trembhng. THE KIFLE RANGERS 09 Their symmetrical forms fell into an agonized embrace, and their rouudeii arms, olive and roseate, laced each other, and twined across their quivering bodies. Their faces were turned to Haven, as though they expected succor from above — a group that rivalled the Laocoon ! With a spnng I cleared the para- pet^ and drawing mj"- sword, dashed madly across the basin. The girls were near the centre; but the cayman had got the start of me^ and the water, three feet deep, impeded my progress. The bottom of the tank.. too, was slippery, and I fell once or twice on my hands. I rose again, and with frantic energy plunged forward — all the while calling upon the bathera to make for the parapet. Notwithstary:ling ray shouts, the terrified girls made no effort to save them* selves. They were incapable from terror. On came the cayman with the velocity of vengeance. It was a fearful mo- ment. Already, at the distance of less than six paces from his prey, his long snout projected from the water, his gaunt jaws displaying their quadruple rows of sharp glistening teeth. I shouted despairingly. I was baffled by the deep water. I had nearly twice the distance before I could interpose myself between the monster and his victims. " I shall be too late ?" Suddenly I saw that the cayman had swerved. In his eagerness he had struck a subaqueous pipe of the jet ! It delayed him only a moment, but in that moment I had passed the statue- like group, and stood ready to receive his attack. "i4 la orilla — a la orilkiP' To the bank, to the bank!/ T shouted, pushing the terrifibd girls with- one hand, while with the othei I held my sword at arm's length in the face of the advancing reptile. The girls now, for the first time, awaking from their lethargy of terror, mshed toward the bank. On came the monster, gnashing his teeth in the fury of disappointiuent, and nttenng fearful human-like cries. As soon as he had got within reach, I aimed a blow at his head ; but the light sabre glinted from the fleshless skull with the ringing of steel to steel. The blow, however, turned him out of his course, and, missing his aim, ha passed rae like an arrow. I looked around with a feeling of despair. " Thank Ueaven, they are safe !" I felt the clammy scales rub against my thigh ; and I leaped aside to avoi*? the stroke of his tail, as it lashed the water into foam. 70 THE RIFLE KANGEKS. Again the monster turned, and came on as before. This time I did not attempt to cut, but thrust the sabre directly for his throat. The cold blade snapped between his teeth. Hke an icicle ! Not above twelve inches remained with the hilt ; and with this I hacked n'l fought with the energy of despair My situation had now grown critical indeed. The girls had reached the bank, and stood screaming upon the parapet. At length, the elder seized upon a pole, and, lifting it with all her might, leaped back into the basin, and was hastening to my rescue, when a stream of fire was poured through the leaves of the plantains — a sharp crack — the short humming whiz of a bullet ; and alarge form, followed by half a dozen others, emerged from the grove, and, rushing over the^ wall, plunged into the pond. A loud plashing in the water — the shouts of men — the clashing of bayo nets — and the reptile rolled over, pierced by a doaen wounda ! ^0 CHAPTER XII. DON COSMB ROSALES. " Yer safe Cap-n. - It was Lincoln's voice. Around me sto3d a dozec of the men, up to their waists. Little Jack, too, (his head and forage cap just appearing over the surface of the water) stood with his eighteen inches of steel buried in the carcass of the dead reptile ! I could not help smiling at the ludicrous picture. " Yes, safe," answered I, panting for breath, " safe— you came in good time though." " We heern yer shot, Cap'n," said Lincoln, " an we guessed yer didn't shoot 'ithout a somethin ter shoot for ; so I tuk a half a dozen flies, and kim up." ' You acted right, sergeant ; but where — i" , y I was looking toward the edge of the tank, whea-e I had last seen the giri& r/\ They had disappeared. ^%J ' " If yez maue the faymales, answered Chane, " they're zamnsed through ^^ the threes. Be Saint Patrick, the black one's a thrump, any how I She looki fy for all the world like them bewtiful crayoles of Dimmcrary." . sj/^j' Saying this, he turned suddenly round, and commenced driving his bayonet jJ- ' furio'usly into the dead cayman, exclaiming between the thrusts. ' 3^ " Och ! ye divil ! bad luck to yer ugly carcase ! You're a nate looking V )aste, to interfere with a pair of illigen'. craythers ! By the crass ! he's all ^ < shill, boys ! Oh ! mother o' Moses, I can't find a saft spot in him !" ■ V" "We climbed out upon the parapet, and the soldiers commenced wiping their ^tx wet guns. J' Clayley appeared at this moment, filing round the pond, at the head of tfa« y detachment. 72 THK RIFLE EANGEK8. As T explained the adventure to the lieutenant, he laughed heartfly. ^ " By Jove ! it will never do for a despatch !" said he ; " one killed on th« side of the enemy, and on ours not a wound. There is one^ however, who may be reported ' badly scared.' " " Who ?" I asked. " Why, who but the bold Blossom !" " But where is he 7" " Heaven «nly knows ! The last T saw of him, he was screening himself behind an old ruin. I wouldn't think it stranse if he was off to camp, — that is, if he believes he can find his way back again !" As Clayley said this, he burst lato a loud yell of laughter. It was with difficulty I could restrain myself, for, looking in the same di- rection indicated by the lieutenant, I saw a bright object, which I at once re- cognised as the jMajor's face. He had drawn aside the broad plantain-leaves, and was peering cautiously through, with a look of the most ludicrous terror. His face only was visible round and luminous, like the full moon; and like her, too, variegated with light and shade, — for fear had produced spots of white and purple over the Burface of his capacious cheeks. As soon as the Major saw how the " land lay," he came blowing and blus- tering through the bushes like an elephant ; and it now became apparent that he carried his long sabre drawn and flourishing ! " Bad luck after all !" said he, as he marched round the pond with a bold stride ; " that's all ? Bah ! in hopes we'd have a brush with the yellow fellows." " No, Major," said I, trying to look serious ; " we are not so fortunate." " I have no doubt, however," said Clajdey, with a malicious wink, " but that we'll have them here in a squirrel's jump. They must have heard the report of our gun's." A complete change became visible in the major's bearing. The point of his sabre dropped slowly to the ground, and the blue and white spots began to array themselves afresh on his huge red checks. " Don't you think, captain," said he, " we've gone f;ir enough into the curs'd country ? Tliere's no mules in it, — I can certify there's not — not a single mule." Before I could re})ly, an object appeared that drew our attention, and height ened the mosaic upon the Majors cheeks. A man, strangely attired, was seen running down the slope towardg the spot where we were standing. THE RIFLE RANGERS. 73 "Guerillas, by Jove !" exclaimed Clayley, in a voice of feigned terror ; and he pointed to the scarlet sash, which was twisted round the man's waist. The Major looked round for some object, where he might shelter himself in case of a skirmish. He was sidling behind a high point of the parapet, when the stranger vushed forward, and, throwing both arms about t is neck, poifrer! forth a perfect cataract of Spanish, in which the vford gracias was of frequenfe occurence. ' " "What does the man mean with his grashes ?" exclaimed the Major, strug- gling to free himself from the Mexican. But the latter did not hear him, for his eye at that moment rested upon my dripping habiliments ; and, dropping the Major, he transferred his embrace? and gracias to me. Sefior Capitan,', he said, still speaking in Spanish, and hugging me like ? bear, " accept my thanks. Ah sir ! you have saved my children ; kow can I show you my gratitude ?" ^ Here followed a multitude of those complimentary expressions, peculiar to the language of Cervantes, which ended by his offering ms his house, and all it contained. I bowed in acknowledgement of his courtesy, apologisiag for being. so ill prepared to receive his "hug "as I observed that my s.vtuTated vestments had wet the old fellow to the skin. I had now time to examine the stranger, who was a tall, thin, sallow old gentleman, with a face at once Spanish and intelligent. Kis 'h^ir was white and short, while a moustache, somewhat grizzled, ghaded his fine lips. Jet black brows projected over a pair of keen and sparkling eyes. His dress ws " a round-about of the finest white Ijnen, with vest and pantaloons of the same material — the latter fastened round the waist by a scarf of bright red silli Shoes of green morocco covered his small feet ; while a broad Guyaquil hat shaded his face from the sun. • , , Though his costume was trans-Atlantic — speaking in reference to Old Spain — there was that in his air and manner that bespoke him a, hidalgo. After a moment's observation, I proceeded, in my best Spanish, to express my regret for the fright which the young ladies — his daughters, I presumed — had suffered. The Mexican looked at me with a slight appearance of surprise. " Why, Sefior Capitan," said he, " your accent — you are a foreigner?" ' A foreigner ! To Mexico did you mean ?" « JTes Sefior. lb it not so ?" 74: THE RIFLR KANGEES. «0h! of course!" answered T, smiling, and somewhat puzzled ia tuni. ' And how long have you been in the army Seflor Oapitan ?" " But & short time." " How do you like Mexico, Sefior ?" "I have seen but little of it as yet" « Why, how long have you been in the country then ?" " Three days," answered I, " we landed on the 9th." « Por dios ! three days, and in the armj' already !" muttered the Spaniard, throwing up his eyes in unaffected surprise. I began to think I was interrogated by a lunatic. « May I ask what countryman you are ?" continued the old gentleman. ♦' What countryman ? An American, of course." " An American." " Un Americano," repeated I ; for we were conversing in Spanish. " Y son esos Americanos ?" (and are these Americans?) quickly demaaded my new acquaintance. " Si, Sefior,''^ replied I. " Carrambo /" shouted the Spaniard, with a sudden leap, his eyes almogt starting from their sockets. '•I should say, not exactly Americans," I added. "Many of them are Irish, and French, and Germans, and Swedes, and Swiss; yet, they are all Americans, now." But the Mexican did not stay to hear my explanation. After recovering from the first shock of surprise, he liad bounded tlirough the grove ; and, with a wave of his hand, and the ejaculation, " esparte .'" disappeared among the plantains. The men, who had gathered around the lower end of the basin, burst out into a roar of laughter, which T did not attempt to repress. The look of terrified astonishment of the old Don had been too much for my own gravity ; and I could not help being amused at the conversation that ensued among the soldiers. They were at some distance, yet I could overhear their •emarks. ' That Mexikin's an unhospitable cuss !" muttered Lincoln, with an expres- aon of contempt. " He might av axed the Captain to dhrink, after lavin such a pair of illigant eraythers," said Chane, " Sorra dhrap's in the house, Murt ; the place looks dry." " Och ! an it's a beautiful cage, any how " returned the oiher, " and beau- THE KIFLE KANGER8. 7<5 tiful birds in it, too — it puts me in mind of ould Dimaierary ;♦ but there we had the liquor, the raal rum— oshins of it, allanna !" " That ere chap's a grcelye, I strongly 'spect," whispered one, a regular down-east Yankee. •' A what ?" asked his companion. " Why, a greelye— one o' them ere Mixikin robbers.i' " Arrah. now ! did yez see the rid sash ?" inquired an Irishman. " Thim's eaptin's," suggested the Yankee. " He's a capten, or a kernel ; I'll bet high on that." " What did he say, Nath, as he was running off?" " I don't know 'zactly — somethin that sounded mighty like ' spearin on bs.' " " He's a lanzeer then, by jingo." He had better try on his speerin," said another ; " there's bhootin before jpearm — mighty good ground, too, behind this hyar painted wail. " The old fellow was mighty frindly at first ; what got into him, any how?" " Raoul saySj he offered to give the Captain his house and all the fur- nishins." " Oh, mother o' Moses ! and thim illigant girls, too." " Ov coorse." " By my soul ! an if I was the Captin, I'd take him at his word, and lav6 off fightin' intirely." " It is delph," said a soldier, referring to the material of which the parapet was constructed. "No, itaint." " It's chan'^y. then." " No, nor chaney, either." '■'Well, what is it?" " It's only a stone wall painted, you green-horn !" " Stone-thunder ! it's solid delph, I say." " Try it with your bayonet, Jim." " Crick — crick — crick — crinell /" and one of the men commenced break- ing off the japanned work of the parapet with his bayonet. " Stop that !" I shouted to the fellow. " The captin don't want yez to destroy what'll be his own some day, when be marries one of thim young Dons. Here comes the ould one, and, by th powers ! he's got a big paper ; he's goin' to make over the property !" * Chane had served in the British West Indies 76 THE RIFLE RANGERS. Laujrhing, I looked around, and saw that the Don was returning snit euo'iffh. He hurried up. holding out a large sheet of parchment. " Well, sefior, what's this ?" I inquired. " No soy Mexicano, soy Espagnol .'" (I am no Mexican, I am a Spaniard,) said he, with the expression of a true hidalgo. Casting my eye carelessly over the document. I perceived that it was a safe- guard from the Spanish Consul at Vera Cruz, certifying that the bearer, Dor Cosuie Rosales, was a native of Spain. " Sefior Rosales," said I, returning the paper, " this was not necessary. The interesting circumstances under which we have met should have secured you good treatment, even were you a Mexican, and we the barbarians we have been represented. "We have come to make war not with peaceful citi- zens, but with a rabble soldiery." '' Es verdad — you are wet, sefior ? you are hungry ?" 1 <:ould not deny but that I was both the one and the other. "You need refreshment, gentlemen ; will you come to my house V " Permit me, sefior, to introduce to you Major Blossom — Lieutenant Clay ley — Lieutenant Oakes : Don Cosme Rosales, gentlemen." My friends and the Don bowed graciously. The Major had now recovered bis complacencj'-. " Vamonos cahalleros .'" said the Don, starting towards the house. " But your soldiers, capitan ?" added he, stopping suddenly. " They will remain here," I rejoined. " Permit me to send them some dinner V " Oh ! certainly," replied I, " use yonr own pleasure, Don Cosme but de not put your household to any inconveiiience." In a few minutes we found our way to the house, which was neither more nor less than the cage-looking structure already described. _y , CHAPTER XIII. A MEXICAN DINNER. " Pasan a dentro, senores,'" said Don Cosme, drawing aside the cuiUm •f the rancho, and beckoning us to enter. " Ha !" exclaimed the jMajor; struck with the coup deceit of the interior. " Be seated, gentlemen — ya vuelvo" (I will return in an instant.) So saying, Don Cosme disappea-red into a little porch in the back, partially Bcreened from observation by a close network of cane. "Very pretty, by Jove !" said Clayley, in a low voice. " Pretty, indeed !" echoed the Major, with one of his customary assevera- tions. • " Stylish, one ought rather to say, to do it justice. " Stylish !" again chimed in the Major, repeating his formula. " Rosewood chairs and tables," continued Clayley j "a harp, guitar, pianc, sofas, ottomans, carpets knee-deep — whew !" Not thinking of the furniture, I looked around the room strangely bewil dered. " Ha ! ha ! what perplexes you. Captain ?" asked Clayley. « Nothing." " Ah ! the girls you spoke of— the nymphs of the pond ; but where the ■ieuce are thej'- ?" " Ay, where ?" I asked, with a strange sense of uneasiness. " Girls ! what girls ?" inquired the Major, who had not yet learned thf exact nature of our aquatic adventure. Here the voice of Don Cosme was heard calling out : 78 THE KIFLE KANGEKS. " Pepe ! Ramon ! Francisca ! bring dinner. Anda, anda /" " Who on earth is the old fellow calling ?" asked the JMajor with soma concern in his manner. '" I see no one.'" Nor could we ; so we rose up together, and approached that side of the building that looked rearward. The house to all appearance, had but one apartment — the room in which we then were. The only point of this screened from observation was the liltle veranda into which Don Cosme had entered ; but this was not large enough to contain the number of persons who might represent the names he had called upon ! Two smaller buildings stood under the olive-trees in the rear ; but these, like the house were transparent, and not a human figure appeared within them ! We could see through the trunks of the olives a clear distance of a hundred yards. Be3'ond this, the mezquite and the scarlet leaves of the wild maguey marked the boundary of the forest. It was equally puzzling to us, whither the girls had gone, or whence " Pepe, Ramon, and Francisca," where to come ! The tinkling of a little bell startled us from our conjectures and the voios of Don Cosme was heard inquiring: " Have you any favorite dish, gentlemen ?" Some one answered, " No." '• Curse me !" exclaimed the Major, " I believe he can get anything we may ] call for — raise it out of the ground by stamping his foot, or ringing a bell ! Didn't I tell vou?". ^ This exclamation was uttered in consequence of the appearance of a train of well-dressed servants — five or six in number — bringing waiters with dishes and decanters ! They entered from the porch ; but how did they get into it 1 Certainly not from the woods withoutj^ else we should have seen them as they approached the cage. ' '*''.. y-' • ^j^k ^^"^ Major uttered a terrible invocation, adding in a hoarse whisper, '■' This ***'^must be the Mexican Aladdin !" I confess I was not less puzzled than he. Meanwhile, the servants catne and went, going empt}', and returning loaded, " In less tha-n ten minutes, ihe table fiiirly cracked under the weight of a sumptuous dinner. This is no figure of speech. There were dishes of massive silver, with huge flagons of the same metal, and even cups of gold ! " Seflores vamos a corner''^ (ht us eat, gentlemen), said Don Cosme, po- THE RIFLE BANGERS. 70 litely motioD'rg us to be seated. I fear that you will not be pleased with my cuisine: — it is purely Mexican, eslilo del pais." i . i' ^ ...., To say that the dinner was not a good one, would boio utter £y' falsehood, and CO. tradict the statement of Major George Blossom, of the U. S. quartermaster's department, who afterwards declared that it was the best dinner he had over eaten in his life. . ■ ^ > "■ turtle soup:first?.A-"v*^^ /^ )h^ ^-^^■' ■' "Perhaps you would prefer Julienne, or venmicelli, gentlemen?' inquired the Don. i»X'A,'- / jAa '•■ ■ , : v<,^u^v«,; " Thank you ; your turtle is very fine," replied'T, necessarily the interpreter or the party, " Try some of the agttacate — it will improve the flavor of your soup." One of tne waiters handed around a dark olive-colored fruit of an oblong shape about the size of an apple. " Ask him how it is used, Captain " said the Major to me. •' Oh ! I beg j^our pardon, gentlemen. I had forgotten that some of our edibles may be strange to you ; simply pare off the rind, and slice it thus." "We tried the experiment, but could not discover any peculiar improvement in the flavor of the soup. The pulp of the aguacate seemed singularly insipid to our Saxon palates. FisK as with us, and of the finest quality, formed the second course. A variety of dishes were now brought upon the table ; most of them new to as, but all piquant, pleasant to the taste, and peculiar. The Major tried then^ all, determined to find out wbichhe might Hke best— a piece of knowledge that he said would serve him upon some future occasion. The Don seemed to take a pleasure sa helping the Major, whom he honored by the title of -'Senor Coronel !" ' , " Puchero, Senor Coronel !" " Thank you, sir," grunted the Major, and tried the puchero, which is a mixed dish of meat and vegetables, boiled. It is generally composed of chicken, ham,- beef, cabbage, garbanzos (a species of pea), turnips, boiled pears, and calabash. Sometimes, there are other ingredients in the compound. It is a dish entirely distinct from the famous olla podrida, which latter, by the^way, notwithstanding the rejiresentations of traveller, is rarely to be met with in Mexico.^, " Allow me to help you to a spoonful of mole 'i " Another favorite dish— « Btew of fowl, in a red-colored, peppery sauce. •* With pleasure, Don Cosme." CQ THE lilFLE KANGEKS. The mole suddenly disappeared down the ^Major's capacious throat. « Try some of this chile rUle7io." Another stew of chile and meats. It would be likely to skin the throat of any one not used to eating such fiery viands. '• By all means," answered the Major. " Ah ! by Jove ! hot as fire— whew !" " Pica, pica" answered Don Cosme, pointing to his thorax, and smiling at the wry faces the Major was making. " Wash it down, Seiior, with a glas^a of this claret — or here, Pepe ! Is tiie chambertin cool yet 1 Bring it in, then ! Perhaps you prefer champagne, Seiiores ?" " Thank you, do not trouble yourself, Don Cosme." " No trouble, Captain — bring champagne. Here, Seilore Coronel try the guisado de pato." (Duck cooked in the same red-hot style.) '' Thank you ; you are very kind. Curse the thing ! how it burns !" " Do you think he understands English ?" inquii-ed Clayley of me, in a whisper. " I should think not," I replied. " Well, then, I wish to say aloud, that this old chap's a superb old gent What say you, Major ? Don't you wish we had him on the lines ?" " I wish his kitchen was a httle nearer the lines," replied the other, with a wink. " Scflor Coronel, permit me — ." " What is it, my dear Don ?" inquired the Major. " Pasteles de Moctezuma." Small patties peculiar to the Mexican cuisim, 4 " Oh. certainly ! I say, lads, I don't know what the plague I'm eating — it's lot bad to take though." " Sefior Coronel, allow me to hand you to a guana steak." V . "A guana steak !" echoed the Major, in some surprise. , ", "^^ " Si Sefior," replied Don Cosme holding the steak on his fork " A guana steak — do you think, lads, he means the ugly things we saw al I/)bos?" " To be sure — why not ?" " Then, by Jove, I'm through. I can't go lizards. Thank you, my deal Don Cosme, I believe I have dined." " Try this ; it is very tender, I assure you," insisted Don Cosme " Come, try it Major, and report," cried Clayley. ^ ^ - • " Good — you're like the apothecar}-^ that poisoned his dog, to try the effect ■f his nostrums. Well — "Twith an oath—" here goes ; it can't be very bad, jeing how our friend gets it down. Delicious, by Jujiter ! tender as chicken THE KIFLE KANGEK8. 81 —good good ;" — and amidst sundry similar ejaculations, the Major ate his first guana steak. " Gentlemen, here is an ortolan pie. I can recommend this— the birds are li season." " Reed-birds, by Jove !" said the Major recognising his favorite dish. An incredible number of these creatures disappeared in an incredibly short time. The dinner-dishes were at length removed, and dessert followed, — cakes and creams, and jellies of various kinds, and blanc-mange, and a profusion of the most luxurious fruits. The golden orange, the ripe pine, the pale green lime, the juicy grape, the custard-like cherimolla, the zapote, the granadilla, the pitaha,)^, the tuna, the mamay, with dates, figs, almonds, plantains, ban- anas, and a dozen orher species of fruits, piled upon salvers of silver, were set before us. In fact, every product of the tropical clime, that could excite a new nerve of the sense of taste. We were fairly astonished at the profusion of luxuries that came from no one knew were. " Come, gentlemen, try a glass of Cura^oa. Sefior Coronel, allow me tho pleasure ?" " Sir, your very good health !" " Sefior Coronel, would you prefer a glass of Majorca ?" " Thank you." " Or, perhaps, you would choose Pedro Ximenes. I have some very old Pedro Ximenes 7^^ " Either, my dear Don Cosme, — either." " Bring both, Ramon ; and bring a couple of bottles of the Madeira — sella Tserde." '' As I'm a Christian, the old gentleman's a conjuror !" muttered the Major now in the best humor possible. " I wish he would conjure up something else than his infernal wine bottles.*" thought I, becoming impatient at the non-appearance of the ladies. " CAfe sefiores ? a servant entered. OoflFee was handed round in cups of Sevres china. " You smoke, gentleman 1 Would you prefer a Havanna ? Here are some sent me from Cuba by a friend. I believe they are good ; or, if you would amuse yourselfwith a cigarrito, here are Campeacheanos ; these are the countrj ^ars — "puroSy as we call thsm. I would not recommend them.' 82 THE KIFLE KANGEliS. " A IlaTanna for me," said the major, heljing himself at the same time to • fine looking regalia. I had fallen into a somewhat painful reverie. I began to fear that, with all his hospitality, the Mexican would allow us to depart without an introduction to his family ; and T had conceived a strong desire to speak with the two lovely beings whom I had already seen, but more particulary with the brunette, whose actions had impressed me. So strange is the mystery of love ! INIy heart had already formed its preference. I was suddenly aroused by the voice of Don Cosme, who had risen, and was inviting m3'self and comrades to join the ladies in the drawing-room. I started up so suddenly, as almost to overturn one of the waiters. " Why, captain, what's the matter? said Clayley. "Don Cosme is about to introduce us to the ladies. You're not going to back out ?" " Certainly not," stammered I, somewhat ashamed at my gaucherie. "He says they're in the drawing-room," whispered the Major, in a voioe that betokened a degree of suspicion ; " but where the plague that is H ixyea only knows. Stand by, my boyg ! — are your pistols all right "*, " Pshaw Major ! for shame !" (^ CHAPTER XIV. A SUBTERRANEAN DRAWING-ROOM. The nystery of the drawing-room, and the servants and the dishes, was Boon over. A descending stairway explained the enigma. " Let me conduct you to my cave, gentlemen," said the Spaniard, " I am half a subterranean. In the hot weather, and during the northers, we find it more agreeable to Uve under the ground. Follow me, seflores !" We descended, with the exception of Oakes, who returned to look after the men. At the foot of the staircase, we entered a hall brilliantly lighted. The floor was without a carpet, and exhibited a mosaic of the finest marble. The walls were painted of a pale blue color, and embellished by a series of pictures, from the pencil of Murillo.* These were framed in a costly and elegant manner. From the ceiling were suspended chandeliers of a curious and unique con- struction, holding in their outstretched branches wax candles of an ivory whiteness. Large vases of waxen flowers, covered with crystals, stood around the hall upon tables of polished marble. Other articles of furniture, candelabras, girandoles, gilded clocks, filled the outline. Broad mirrors reflected the * I have seen many paintings in Mexico by the old Spanish masters. When the formoT wealth of the Mexican nobles is taken into consideration, this will not appear strange Even yet there are connoiseurs of art in this decayed Republic. While in its capital city a gentleman of my acquaintance received several paintings from Madrid, that had ofisl him l.OUO dollars eacU. 84: THE RIFLE KANGER8. different objects; so that, instead of one apartment, this hall appeared oi ,y one of a continuous suite of splendid drawing-rooms ! And yet, upon closer observation, tt^re seemed to be no doojr leading from this ball, which, as Don Cosme informed his guests, was the waiting-room.j Our host approached one of the large mirrors, and silently touched a spring. The ti'akling of a small bell was heard within ; and, at the same instant, the mirror glided back, reflecting in its motion a series of brilliant objects, that for a moment bewildered our eyes, with a blazing light. " Pasan a deiitro. semrres" said Don Cosme, stepping aside, and waving us to enter. ■ ■ We walked into the drawing-room. The magnificence that greeted ua seemed a vision — a glorious and dazzling hallucination — more like the gilded brilliance of some enchanted palace, than the interior of a Mexican gentleman's habitation. As we stood gazing with irresistible wonderment, Don Cosme opened a side-door, and called aloud, " Ninas, ninas, ven aea!"' (children come here.) \ This beautiful word of endearment is pronounced " neenya." It signifies child, but is used in speaking to grown-up girls, and often, in complimentary phraseology, to grey-haired old ladies!^ , <• ' ''^'- ' ■ Presently we heard, several female voices, blending together, like a medley of singing birds. '^ They appioached. We heard the rustling of silken dresses— the falling of light feet in the doorway — and three ladies entered — the Seftora of Don Cosme, followed by her two beautiful daughters, the heroines of our aquatic adventure. These hesitated a moment — scanning our faces — then with a cry of '' NeuMro Salvador," both rushed forward and knelt, or rather crouched at my feet each of them claspin^ one of my hands and covering it with kisses ! Their panting agitatiori^^-their flashing eyes — the silken touch of their jlelicate fingers, sent the blood rushing through my veins, like a stream of lava; but in their gentle accents, the simple ingenuousness of their expres- ions, the childlike innocence of their faces i regarded them only as two . 'autiful children kneeling in the abandon of gratitude. Meanwhile, Don Cosme had introduced CJayley and;the Major to. hig Sefiora, whose baptismal name was Joaquinaj^and, taking the young ladies )ue in each liand, he presented them as his daughters, Guadalupe and Maria do la Luz (Mary of the light). o[ / "7^ l^ yd A r THE KIFLE KANGEBS. 85 names g'veu in the test are the real surnames of the ladies A^ho figured as described in these adventures. The family name has been changed, 6ur obvious reasons, by the author. " Mamma," said Don Cosme, " the gentlemen had not quite finished theii cigars." ■' Oh, they can smoke here," replied the Seflora. " Will the ladies not object to that ?" T inquired. " No — no — no — !" ejaculated they simu. taneously. " Perhaps you will j in us ? — we have heard that such is the custom (X y^our country." " It was the custom," cried Don Cosme. " At present the young ladies ol . Mexico are rather ashamed of the habit." " ^ This is a Fact, notwithstanding the assertions of travellers that smoking ia fashionable among the young ladies of Mexico. Few of them smoke at all, and those who do, perform the operation " behind the door." " We no smoke — mamma, yes ;" added the elder, whose name was '■»*kdalupe. •' Ha ! you speak English ?" "Little Englis speak — no good Englis?" was the reply. " Who taught you English ?" I inquired, prompted by a mysterious curiosity. ' Un American us teach — Don Emilio." . , ''Ha! an American ?" , ; ■. ' v ' " Yes, Sefior," said Don Cosme, J' a gentleman from Vera Cruz, who formerly , visited our family." ' I thought I could perceive a desire upon the part of our host, not to say more on this subject, and I felt a strange and painful curiosity. I can only explain this by asking the reader, if he or she has not experienced a similar feeling, while endeavoring to trace the unknown past of some being, in whom they have lately taken an interest — stronger than friendship ? That mamma smoked, was clear, for the old lady had already gone through the process of unrolling one of the small cartouche-like cigars. Although these little cigars are ready made, a Mexican never smokes one without taking it down and re-making it to suit himself. This is done, partly, to pass the time ; but more, because the fresh rolled cigar smokes better. Having re- 8(J THE KIFLK KANGEKS. rollod it between her fingers, she placed it within the grip of a pair of smalj golden pincers. This done, she held one end to the coals that lay upon the brazero, and ignited the paper. Then taking the other end between her thin purlish lip?, she breathed forth a blue cloud of aromatic vapor. After a few whiffs, si e invited the Major to participate, offering him a cigarrito from kpr beaded cigar case. This being considered an especkl favor, the Major's gallantry would not permit him to refuse. He took the cigarrito, tharefore ; but, once in posses- sion, he knew not how to use it. Imitating the Sefiora, he opened the diminitive cartridge, speading out tho edges of the wrapper ; but attempted in vain to re-roll it. The ladies, who had watched the process, seemed highly amused, particularly the younger, who laughed outright. " Permit me. Senor Coronel." said the Dona Joaquina, taking the cigarrito., from the Major's hand, and giving it a turn through her nimble fingers, which broufiht it all right again. " Thus — now — hold your fingers thus. Do not presg It — suare — stuive. This end to the light — so — very well !" The Major lit the cigar, and putting it between his great, thick lips, began to puff in a most energetic style. He had not cast off half-a- dozen whiffs, when the fire reaching his fingera burned them severely, causing him to'remove them sudden 3' from the cigar The wrapper then burst open, and the loose, pulverized tobacco, by a sudden inhalation, rushed into his mouth, and down his throat, causing him to cough and sputter in the most ludicrous manner. This was too much for the ladies, who, encouraged by the cachinnations of Clayley, laughed outright ; while the Major, with tears in his .eyes, coiild be heard interlarding his coughing solo with all kinds of oaths and expressions. The scene ended by one of the young ladies offering the ]\fajor a glass of water, which he drank off, effectually clearing the avenues of his throat. " Will you try another, Seiior Coronel ?" asked Dona Joaquina with a Bfnile. " No, ma'am, thank you," replied the Major, and then a sort of an internal, subterraneous cnrse could be heard in his throat. The conversation continued in English, and we were highly amused at the attempts of our new acquaintauc(is to express themselves in that larguage. THE RIFLE KANGEK8. 87 After failing, on one occasion, to make herself understood, Guadalupe sai(^ with some vexation in her manner — " "We wish brother was home come ; brother speak ver better Englis." " Where is he ?" I inquired. " In the ceety — Vera Cruz." " Ila ! and when did you expect him ?" Thees day — to-night — he home come." " Yes," added the Sefiora, in Spanish. '• He went to the city to spend a ffcw days with a friend ; but he was to return to-day, and we are looking for him to arrive in the evening." " But how is he to get out ?" cried the Major, in his coarse, rough manner. " How ? — phy, Seflor ?" asked the ladies, in a breath, turning deadly pale. " Why, he can't pass the pickets, ma'am ;" answered the Major. " Explain, Captain, explain !" said the ladies, appealing to me with looks of anxiety. I saw that concealment would be idle. The Major had fired the train. "It gives me pain, ladies," said I, speaking in Spanish, "to inform you that you must be disappointed. I fear the return of your brother to-day is impossible." " But why, Captain ?— why V " Our hues are completly around Vera Cruz , and all intercourse, to and from the city, is at an end." Had a shell fallen into Don Cosme's drawing-room, io could not have caused a greater change in the feehngs of its inmates. Knowing nothing of military life, they had no idea that our presence there had drawn an impassable barrier between them and a much-loved member of their family. In a secia gion almost hermitical, they knew that a war existed between their country and the United States ; but that was far away upon the Rio Grande. They had heard, moreover, that our fleet lay off Vera Cruz ; and the pealing of the distant thunder of San Juan, had from time to time reached their ears. But they had not dreamed, on seeing us, that the city was invested by land. The truth was now clear ; and the anguish of the mother and daughters became afflicting, when we informed them what we were unable to conceal — tliat i* Was the intention of the American commander to bombard the citv. The scene was to us deeply distressing. Dona Joaquina wrung her hands, and called upon the Virgin, with all the earnestness of entreaty. The sisters clung alternately to their mothei", and 88 THE KIFLE KANQEB9. Don Cosme, weeping and crying aloud, " Pobre Narcisso f nuestro A^rwoKV ito — le asesinaron /" (Poor Narcisso — our little brother — they will murder him ! — ) In the midst of this distressing scene, the door of the drawing-room was thrown suddenly open, and a servant, in an agitated voice, rushed in. houting, " El Norte— el Norte P^ CHAPTER XV, THE NORTHEH. W E hurried after Don Cosme toward the ante-sala, both myself and nay companions as ignorant of this new object of dread. When we emerged from the stairway, the scene that hailed us was one of terrific sublimity. Earth and heaven had undergone a sudden and conrulsive change. The face of nature, not a moment since gay with summer smiles, waa now hideously distorted. The sky had changed suddenly from its blue and sunny brightness, to an aspect dark and portentous. Along the north-west a vast volume of black vapor rolled up over the Sierra Madre, and rested upon the peaks of the mountains. From this, ragged masses, parting in fantastic forms and groupings, floated off against the con- cavity of the sky, as though the demons of the storm were breaking up from an angry council. Each of these, as it careered across the heavens, seemed bent upon some spiteful purpose ! An isolated fragment hung lowering above the snowy cone of Oi-izava, like huge vampire suspended over his sleeping victim ! From the great " parent cloud" that rested upon the Sierra Madre, lightning- bolts shot out, and forked hither and thither, and sank into the detached masses — the messengers of the storm-king bearing his fiery mandates acroai the J I 90 THE RIFLE KANGERS. Awaj' along the horizon of the east, moved yellow pillars of sand, whirled upward by the wind, like vast columnal towers leading to heaven. The storm had not yet reached the rancho. The leaves lay motionless, uij'ier a dark and ominous calm ; but the wild screams of many birds — tht shrieks of swans — the discordant notes of the frightened pea-owl — the chat- tering of parrots, as they sought the shelter of the thick olives in terrified flight — all betokened the speedy advent of some fearful convulsion. The rain, in large drops, fell upon the broad leaves, with a soft, plashing sound ; and now and then a quick, short puff came snorting along, and. seiz iiig the feathery frondage of the palma redonda — a beautiful species of the p:ilm-tree — shook it with a spiteful and ruffian energy. The long, green stiipes, after oscillating a moment, would settle down again in graceful and motionless curves. A low sound, like the " sough" of the sea, or the distant falling of water, came from the north ; while, at intervals, the hoarse bark of the coyote^ or prairie wolf, and the yelling of terrified monkeys, could be heard afar off in the woods. " Tava la caea — tapa la casa .'" (" Cover the uouse !") cried Don Cosmej as soon as he had fairly got his head above ground. " Anda — anda con los macates .'" (•' Quick with the cords I") With lightning quickness a roll of palmetto mats came down on all aides of the house, completely covering the bamboo walls, and forming a screen impervious to both wind and rain. This was speedily fastened at all comers and strong stays were carried out, and warped around the trunks of trees. In five minutes the change wa^s complete. The cage-looking structure had disappeared, and a house with walls of yellow petate stood in its place. This petate is a thin, light mat, woven from a species of palm. They are found in every house ; and, in the rancheros of the poorer classes, the petate spread on the floor is considered a bed. I have observed that in the valley of Mexico the palm leaf petate is rarely met with. The article is there constructed of tule, or bulrush, which grows in great plenty along the borders of the lakes Chaico and Tezcoco. '• Now, Seflores, all is secured," said Don Cosme. " Let us return to the drawing-room." '* I should like to see the first burst of this tornado," I remarked, not wish- ing to intrude upon the scene of sorrow we had left. " So be it, Captain. Stand here under the shelter, then '" THE EIFLE EANGEKS. 91 " Hot as thunder !" growled the Major, wiping the perspiration fnm his broad, red cheeks. " In five minutes, Seflor Coronel, you will be chilled. At this point the heated atmosphere is now compressed. Patience ! it will soon be scattered." " How long will the storm continue ?" I asked. " Por dios ! Senor, it is impossible to tell how long the ' nnrte^ may rag — sometimes for days ; perhaps only for a few hours. This appears to be the • huracana.' If so, it will be short, but terrible while it lasts. Carrambo !" A puff of cold, sharp wind came whistling past like an arrow. Another followed, and another, like the three seas that roll over the stormy ocean. Then, with a loud, rushing sound, the broad, full blast went sweeping— strong, dark, and dusty — bearing upon its mane the screaming and terrified birds, mingled with torn and flouted leaves ! The olives creaked and tossed about. The tall palms bowed and yielded flinging out their long pinions like streamers. The broad leaves of the plan- tains flapped and whistled, and, bending gracefully, allowed the fierce blast to pass over. Then a great cloud came rolling down ; a thick vapor seemed to fill the space ; and the air felt hot, and dark, and heavy. A choking sulpuuroaa Braell rendered the breathing diflBcult ; and, for a moment, day seemed changed to night. Suddenly the whole atmosphere blazed forth in a sheet of flame, and the trees glistened as though they were on fire ! An opaque darkness succeeded. Another flash, and, along with it the crashing thunder — the artillery of Heaven — deafening all earthly sounds ! Peal followed peal ; the vast cloud was breached and burst by a hundred fiery bolts ;, and, like an avalanche, the heavy tropical rain was precipitated to the cartlj. It fell in torrents ; but the strength of the tempest had been spent on the first onslaught. The dark cloud passed on to the oouth, and a piercing cold wind swept after it. " Vamos a bajar, Senores .'" (Let us descend, gentlemen), said Don Cosme, with a shiver ; and he conducted us back to the stairway. Clayley and the IMajor lOoked towards me with an expression that said— " Shall we go in ?" There were several reasons why our return to the draw ing-room was unpleasant to myself and companions. A scene of domestio ftfBiction is ever painful to a stranger. How much more painful to ua ; know 92 THE RIFLE RANGKK8. ing, as we did, that our countrymen — that we had been the partial agents of this calamity. We hesitated a moment on the threshold. "Gentlemen, vre must reiurn for a moment, we have been the bearers of eril tidings — let us offer such consolation as we may think of. Come !" We descended after our host. CHAPTER XVI. A LITTLE FAIR WEATHER AGAIN. On fe-entering the sala, the picture of woe was again presented, but in an fcltered aspect. A change, sudden as the atmospheric one we had just wit- nessed, had taken place : and the scene of wild weeping was now succeeded by one of resignation and prayer. On one side was Dona Joaquina, holding in her hands a golden rosary, with its crucifix. The girls were kneeling in front of a picture — a portrait of Dolores,^ with the fatal dagger; and the "Lady of Grief" looked not more sorrowful from the canvass, than the beautiful devotees that bent before her. "With their heads slightly leaning — their arms crossed upon their swelling bosoms — and their long loose hair traihng upon the carpet — they formed a picture at once painful and prepossessing. fThe saints most popular in Mexico are Dolores', Kemedios, and Guadalupe. The latter is the Saint patroness of the nation, and paintings, representing her as very beautiful, may be met with in almost every Mexican house. Not wishing to intrude upon this sacred sorrow, we made a motion to retire. "No, Sefiores," said Don Cosme, interrupting us, "be seated; let us talk calmly — let us know the worst !" We then proceeded to inform Don Cosme of the landing of the AraeT^Van troops, and the manner in which our lines were drawn around the city ; ani pointed out to him the impossibility of any one passing eiiher in or out. *' There is still a hope, Don Cosme/' said Ij " and that) perhaps, rests with yourself." 91 THE KIFLE KANGEK8. Tlic tlmnght had struck me that a Spaniard, of Don Cosme's evidcilt rank and -.veaUli. might be enabled to procure access to the city by means of hia Consul, and through the Spanish ship of war, that I recollected was lying off San Juan. '• Oh ! name it, Captain, name it !" cried he ; while, at the word hope ' hojndies had rushed forwards, and stood clinging around me. •• There is a Spanish ship of war lying under the walls of Vera Cruz. " "We know it, we know it." replied Don Cosme, eagerly. '• Ah ! you know it, then ?" " Oh, yes," said Guadalupe, " Don Santiago is on l/oard of her." " Don Santiago ?" inquired I ; " who is he ?" '• He is a relation of ours, captain," said Don Cosme ; " an officer in th* Spanish navy." this information pained me, although I scarcely knew why. " You have a friend, then, aboard the Spanish ship," said I to the elder ot the sisters ; " tis well ; it will be in his power to restore to you your brother." A ring of brightening faces was around me, while I uttered these cheering words ; and Don Cosme, grasping me by the hand, entreated me to proceed. " This Spanish ship," I continued, " is still allowed to keep up a communi- cation with the town. You should proceed aboard at once then, and by the assistance of this friend, you may bring away your son before the bombard- ment commences. I see no difficulty ; our batteries are not yet formed." " I will go this instant," said Don Cosme, leaping to his feet, while Dona Joaquina and her daughters ran out to make preparations for his journey, Hope — sweet hope — was again in the ascendant. " But how, Sefior?" asked Don Cosme, as soon as they were gone' "how can I pass your lines ? Shall I be permitted to reach the ships ?" " It will be necessary for me to accompany you, Don Cosme," T replied. " and I regret, exceedingly, that my duty will not permit me to return with you at once." " Oh, Sefior !" exclaimed the Spaniard, with a painful expression. " My business here," continued I, '• is to procure pack-mules for the Ameri' can army. "Mules?" " Yes. We were crossing for that purpose to a plain on the other side of the woods, where we had observed some animals of that description." TiiK KiFLE i-s to bring us up to that stockade, I'll bet ray life upon it." " Well, Major," rejoined I, "they're far enough from the stockade now , and the best we can do in their absence, will be to examine it, and see what chances it may ofi'er to corral these mules ; for, unless they can be driven into it, we shall have to return to camp empty-handed." Saying this, I moved forward with the men, the Major keeping in the rear We soon reached the formidable stockade, which proved to be nothing more than a regular corral, such as are found on the great Haciendas de ganados (cattle farms) of Spanish America. In one corner was a house, con- structed of upright poles, with a thatch of palm-leaves. This contained the lassos, alparejos, saddles, &c., of the vaq.ueros ; and, in the door of this house, stood a decrepid old zambo, the only human thing about the place. The zarabo's woolly head over the pickets, had reflected itself a dozen times on th Major's terrified imagination. * Guerilla ia a band of guerilleros— guerillero an iudividual of the bsuad 106 THE KIFLE KANGEKS. After examining the corral, I found it excellent for our purpose, provided we could only succeed in driving the mules into it ; and, throwing open the bars, we proceeded to make the attempt. The mules were browsing quitely at the uistance of a quarter of a mile from the corral. Marching past the drove, I deployed the company in the form of a semi- circle, forming a complete cordon outside the animals ; then closing in upon them slowly, the soldiers commenced driving them toward the pen. We were somewhat awkward at this new duty ; but by means of a shower of small rocks, pieces of bois de vache, and an occasional " heigh, heigh," the mules were soon in motion, and in the required direction. The Major, with Doc and Little Jack, being the mounted men of the party, did great service ; especially Jack, who was highly delighted with this kind of thing, and kept Twidget in a constant gallop, from right to left. As the mulada neared the gates of the enclosure, the two extremes of the semi-circumference gradually approached each other, closing in toward the corral. The mules were already within fifty paces of the entrance, the soldiers coming up about two hundred yards in the rear, wherf a noise like the tramp- ing of many hoofs arrested our attention. The quick, sharp note of a cavalry bugle rang out across the plain, followed by a wild yell, as though a band of Comanches were swooping down upon the foe, In an instant, every eye was turned, and we beheld, with consternation, a cloud of horsemen springing out from the woods, and dashing along in the headlong velocity of a charge. It required but a single glance to satisfy me that they were guerilleros. Their picturesque attire — their peculiar arms — and the particolored bannerets upon their lances — were not to be mistaken. We stood for a moment as if thunderstruck ; a sharp cry rose along the def»loyed line. I signalled to the bugler, who gave the command: "Kally upon the centre 1" As if by one impulse, the whole line closed in with a run upon the gates 0/ the enclosure. The mules, impelled by the sudden rush, ■dashed forward pell mell, blocking up the entrance — ^ On came the guerilleros, with streaming pennons, and lances couched, shout- ing their wild cries : " Andela — andela ! mueran los Yankees .'" The foremost of the soldiers we^e ah-eady upon the beds of the mulada, pricking them with bajouets. TUK KIFLE KANGiiliS. 101 The animals began uu kick and plunge in the most furious manner, causing a new danger in front. " Face about— fire !" An irregularj but well-directed volley emptied half-a-dozen saddles, andt for a moment, staggered the charging line ; but, before my men could re-load, the guerilleros had leaped clear over their fallen comrades, and were. swooping down with cries of vengeance. A dozen of their bravest men were already within shot range, firing thei escopettes and pistols as they came down. Our position had now grown fearfully critical. The mules still blocked up the entrance, preventing the soldiers from taking shelter behind the stockade ; and, befor4 we could re-load, the rearmost would be at the mercy of the enemy's lances. Seizing the Major's servant by the arm, I dragged him from his horse ; and, leaping into the saddle, flung myself upon the rear. Half-a-dozen of my bravest men. among whom were Lincoln, Chane, and the Frenchman Raoul, rallied' around the horse, determined to receive the cavalry charge on the shor< bayonets of their rifles. Their pieces were all empty. At this moment, ray eye rested upon one of the soldiers, a brave, but sloW' footed German, who was still twenty paces in the rear of his comrades, making every effort to come up. Two of the guerilleros were rushing upon him with couched lances. I gallopped out to his rescue, but before I could reach him the lance of the foremost Mexican crashed through the soldier's skull, shivermg it like a shell. The. barb and bloody pennon came out on the opposite side. The man was lifted from the ground, and carried several paces upon the shaft of the lance ! The guerillero dropped his entangled weapon, but before he could draw any other, the sword of Victoria was through his heart. His comrade turned upon me with a cry of vengeance. I had not yet dis- engaged my weapon to ward off the thrust. The lance's point was within three feet of my breast, when a sharp crack was heard from behind — the lancer threw out his arms with a spasmodic jerk — his long spear was whirled into the air — and he fell back in his saddle, dead ! •'Well, done, Jack! Fdre- and scissors! who showed yer that trick 1 rt'hooray-whoop !" and I heard the voice of Lincoln, in a sort of Indian yell, rising high above the din. At this momenta guerilloro, monnted upon a powerful black mustang, came gallopping down. This man, unlike most of his comrades, was. armed witb •jv< -* ;t 01 ills comrades, was i ^ i U' ^ gs _ KWk m c =r ^ i. o r — O (T - —1 — '^ ' s; =■ ,- - ^ n s^ r> ^ 5 C 05 UJ - -• ? o- - = (t \ '' 111 ll IHI 1 1 o r -■ K^'^ 1 J- c;^ pT S^ ? 1 1 'nsNufl H wg.^Sg-3 isHiInk * ^— ft ' 2 *^ 1 in v^l^^^B S- -^ .=^0=; /xi lyK p re M-^ 3- ■3§^.5r = a V °^ a. * * 3£ c - 7 hMhR^^ re & o ^ a \ 3 «j S HIb SiS^g^ hH ^ci O TT < ' ffl IH »i ;r - C >ir U^ "- re ^ - ' u Vb n fj K ■SrC P° ^ re >^lJi ;£i^ 0? <» =• n> 5: ^ Kv'ffl pre" -5 ""-o Tjk g.«>o-2 - "* Us™ =• ? 2- " "J- '^-^itts^ °"^s-? = o ^ re c: t* c.°^ B * C ^ *-H 3 <_. ^ vM he ' the ce w were saw „ _ P -: o- C = " proposition as ludicrous under the circumstances. " Have you a pigeon m your pocket ?" "Why, how? there's Hercules runs like a hare; stick one of your fellows in the saddle, and I'll warrant him to camp in an hour." " You are right, Major." said I. catching at the Major's proposal ; thauk you for the thought. If he could only pass that point in the woods I haia itl btit it is our only chance." The last sentence I muttered to myself. '* Why do you hate it, Captain ?" inquired the Major, who had overheard me. " You might not understand my reasons. Major." I was thinking upon the disgrace of being trapped as T was, and on my first Bcout .too. " Who will volunteer to ride an express to camp ?" I inquired, addressing the men. Twenty of them leaped out simultaneously. " Which of you remembers the course, that you could follow it in a gallop 7" I asked. The Frenchman Raoul stood forth, touching his cap. . " I know a shorter one, Captain, by Mata Cordera." " Ha ! Raoul, you know the country 1 you are the man." I now remembered that the Frenchman jomed us at Sacrificios, just after the landing of the expedition. " Are you a good horseman ?" " I have lived in Mexico .five years." " True ; do you think you can pass them ; they are nearly in your track." " As we entered the prairie, Captain ; but my route will lie past this motte to the left." " This will give you several points , do not stop a moment after you have mounted, or they will take the hint, and intercept you." " With the red horse there will be no danger. Captain." '• Leave your gun ; take these pistols. Ha ! you have a pair in the holsters. See if they are loaded. These spurs — so — cut loose that heavy piece from the saddle ; the cloak, too ; you must have nothing to encumber you. When yoa come near the camp, leave your horse in the chapparal. Give this W Colonel C ." ^''r^-'^ -^^ -^^i^iv.^ ^^_ t.-,,. I wrote the following words on a scrap of paper : THE KIFLE KANGERS. 115 "^ Dear Colonel, — two hundred will be enough. Could they be stolen out after night? If so, all will be well — if it gets abroad " Yours, « n. n." As I handed the paper to Raoul, I whispered in his ear : "To Colonel C 's own hand. Private.y, Raoul — privately do yo lear V' Colonel C was ray friend, and I knew that he would send a prwate party to my rescue. •" I understand, Captain," was the answer of RaouL '• Ready, then ; now mount and be off." The Frenchman sprang nimbly to the saddle ; and, drivmg his spurs into the flanks of his horse, shot out from the penn like a bolt of lightning. For the first three hundred yards or so, he gallopped directly towards the gucril- leros. These st-^od leaning upon their saddles, or lay stretched along; the green sward. Seeing a single horseman riding towards them, none of them moved — be- lie ving him to be some messenger sent to treat for our surrender. Suddenly, the Frenchman swerved from his direct course, and went sweep- ing aroimd them in the curve of an ellipse ' They now perceived the ruse, and, with a yell, leaped iuto their saddles. Some fired their escopettes ; others, unwinding their lassos, started in pursuit, Raoul had, by this time, set Hercules' head for the clump of timber, which he had taken as his guide ; and now kept on in a track almost rectilinear. Could he reach the motte or clump in safety he knew that there were strag- gling trees beyond, and these would secure him, in some measure, from tho lariats of his pursuers. We stood watching his progress with breathless silence. Our lives depended on his escape. A crowd of his pursuers was be- tween him and us ; but we could see the green jacket of the soldier, and the great red flanks of Hercules, as he bounded on towards tne edge ot the woods. Then we saw the lariats launched out, and, spinning around Raoul's head, and straggling shots were fired ; and we fancied, at one time, that our comrade sprang up in the saddle, as if he had been hit ! Then he appeared again, all safe, rounding the little islet of timber, and the next moment he was gone. There followed a while of suspense — of terrible suspense — for the motte hid from view both pursuers and pursued. Every eye was straining towards tha point where the horseman had disappeared, when Lincoln, who had climbed to the top of the ranclie, cried out : 116 THE RIFLE KANGERB " He's safe Cap'n." Ther dod-rotted skunks air kummin 'ithout h'l.n." It was true. A minute after, the horsemen appeared round the niottei riding slowly back, with that air and attitude that betoken d'-^^^r-flijitqaeni CHAPTER XXir. I A SHORT FIGHT AT " LONG SHOT." The escape of Raoul and Hercules produced an eifect almost magical upon the enemy. Instead of the listless, defensive attitude, lately assumed, the guerilleros were now in motion like a nest of roused hornets, scouring over the plain and yelling like a war party of Indians. They did not surround the corral, as I had anticipated they would. They had no fear that we should attempt to escape ; but they knew that, instead of the three days, in which they expected to kill us with thirst at their leisure, they had not three hours left to accomplish that object. Raoul would reach the camp in little more than an hour's time, and either bfantry or mounted men would be on them in two hours after. Scouts were seeo galloppiug off in the direction taken by Raoul ; and others dashe-^ into the woods on the opposite side of the prairie. All was hurry and scurry. Along with Clayley I climbed upon the roof of the ranche, to watch the motions of the enemy and to find out, if possible his intentions. We stood for some time without speaking, both of us gazing at the manoei vres of the guerilleros. They were gallopping to and fro over tho prairie, excited by tha escape of Raoul. " Splendidly done !» exclaimed my companion, struck with their graceful horsemanship. « One of those fellows, Captain, as he sits at this ui . .9 would » ' " Ha ! what ?" shouted he, suddenly turning and pointing towards th woods. I looked in the direction indicated. A cloud of dust was visible at the de- bouchoment of the Medellin road. It appeared to hang over a small body c' lis THE KIVLK KANOKES. * troops upon the march. The sun was jnat setting; and, as this cloud lay tO' wards the west. T could distinguish the sparkling of bright objects through its dun y/iume. The guerilleros had reined up their horses, and were eagerly gazing towards the same point. Presently the dust was wafted aside, a dozen dark forms became visible, and. in their midst, a bright object flashed linder the sun like a sheet of gold. At the same instant, an exulting shout broke from the guerilleros, and a voice was heard exclaiming, " Cenobio, Cenobio ! Los canones .'" (Cenobio Cenobio, the cannon !) Clayley turned towards me with ?n inquiring look. " It is true, Clayley ; by heavens — we'll have it now." " What did they say ?'' " Look for j^'ourself — well ?" " A brass piece, as I live ; a six-pound carronade !" " We are fighting the guerilla of Oenobia — a small army of itself. Neithet stockade nor motte will avail us now." " What is to be done 1" asked my companion. " Nothing, but die with arms in our hands. "We will not die without a struggle, and the sooner we prepare for it the better." I leaped from the roof, and ordered the bugler to sound the assembly. In a moment, the clear notes rang out, and the soldiers formed before me in the corral. " My brave comrades !" cried I, " they have got the advantage of us at last. They are bringing down a piece of artillery; and, I fear, these pickets will ofier us but poor shelter. If we are driven out, we will strike for that island of timber ; and, mark us, if we are broken, let every man fight his way as ho best can, or die over a fallen enemy." A determined cheer followed this short harangue, and I continued " But we will first see how they use their piece. It is a small one, and will not destroy us all at once. Fling yourselves down as they fire. By lying flat on our faces, we may not suffer so badly. Perhaps we can held the corral until our friends reach us. At all events^ we will try." Another cheer rang along the line. " Great Heaven. Captain, it's terrible !" wh'ispered the Major. "What is terrible?" I asked, feeling at the moment a contempt lor thi' blaspheming coward. " Oh ! this— this business— such' a fix to be—" •* Major ! remember you are a soldier." THK KIKLE KANGKKS. IIU "Yes; and T vrish T had resigned, as intended to do. before this cursed war comraenced." "Never fear." said I, tempted to smile at the '^ndor of his cowardico 'you'll drink wine at Hewlett's in a month. Get behind this log, it's the Dnly point shot-proof in the whole stockade," " Do you think, Captain, it will stop a shot ?" *' Ay, from a siege-gun. Look out, men, and be ready to obey orders !" The six- pounder had now approached within five hundred yards of the stockade, and was leisurely being unlimbered in the midst of a group of the enemy's artillerists. At this moment, the voice of the Major arrested my attention. " Great Hckven, Captain ! Why do you allow them to come so near ?" " How am I to prevent them ?" I asked, with some surprise. " Why, my rifle will reach farther than that. It might keep them off, I think." " Major, you are dreaming !" said I. " They are two hundred yards beyond range of our rifles. Tf they would only come within that, we would soon send them back for yon." ■' But, Captain, mine will :arry twice the distance." I looked at the Major, under the belief that he had taken leave of hi.9 senses. " It's a Ztind-nadel, I assure you, and will kill at eight hundred yards." " Is it possible !" cried T. starting ; for I now recollected the curious-looking piece which I had ordered to be cut loose from the saddle of Hercul-es. " Why did you not tell me that before ? Where is Major Blossom's rifle ?" I shouted, looking around. ' '• This yeer's the Major's g^^n," answered Sergeant Lincoln. " But if it's » jifle. I never seed sich. It looks more like a two-year-old kannon." It was, as the Mnjor had declared, a conical ball-rifle — a new invention — of which I had heard something. " Is it loaded, Major ?" I asked, taking the piece from Lincoln. '• It is." '■ Can you hit that man with the sponge ?" said I, returning the piece to &e hunter. '• If this yeer thing '11 carry fur enuf, I kin," was the reply. " It will kill a thousand yards, point blank," cried the Major, with energy. " Ha ! are you sure of that, Major ?" I asked. ' Certainly, Captain. T got it from the inventor. We tried it at "Wash- 120 THE KIFLTC RANGERS. ington. It is the best Prussian conical ball. It bored a hole througn an ineb plank at th it distance." •' Well. Now. Sergeant, take sure aim ; this may save us yet." Lincoln i lanted himself firmly on his feet, choosing a notch of the stockade that ranged exactly with his shoulder. He then carefully wiped the dust from the sights ; and, placing the heavy barrel in the notch, laid his Qheek elowly against the stock. " Sergean •., the man with the shot !" T called out. As I spak 5, one of the artillerists was stooping *o the muzzle of the six- pounder, hoi ling in his hand a spherical case-shot. Lincoln pressed the waxe*. The crack fo lowed, and the artillerist threw out his arms, and doubled over on his head Mdthout giring a kick. The shot rolled out upon the green sward. A wild cry, expressive of extreme astnnishment, broke from the guerilleros. At the same instant, a cheer rang throi^h the corral. '• "Well doni! !" cried a dozen voices at once. In a moment, the rifle was wiped and re-loaded. " This time. Sergeant, the fellow with the firelock." During the re-loading of the rifle, the Mexicans around the six-pounder had somewhat recovered from their surprise, and had rammed home the cartridge, A tall artillerist stood, with linstock and fuse, near the breech, waiting for tha order to fire. Before he received that order, the rifle again cracked — hi.s arm flew up with a sudden jerk, and the smoking rod, flying from his grasp, was projected to the distance of twenty feet. The man. himself, spun round, and, staggering "a pace or two, fell into the arms of his comrade. " Cap*n jest allow me ter take that «re skunk, next time." " Which one, Sergeant?" I asked. '• Him — thet's him on the black, makin sich a dod-rotted muss." I recognised the horse and figure of Dubrosc. " Certainly, by all means," said I, with a strange feeling at my heart, as I gave the order. But, before Lincoln could reload, one of the Mexicans, apparently an officer hjid snatched up the burning fuse, and, running up, applied it to the touch " On yeur faces, men !" The ball came crashing through the thin pickets of the corral, and, whizzing across the enclosure, struck one of the mules on the flank, teailag open ita hip, causing it to kick furiously as it tumbled over the ground. Its com- panions, stampeding, gallopped, for a moment, through the nenn ■ then co^ TKE KIFLE RANGERS. 321 lecting in a corner, stooa cowerea up and quivering. A fierce yell announced the exultation of the guerilleros, Dubrosc was sitting on his powerful mustang, facing the corral, and watch- ing the effects of the shot, '-'If he wur only 'ithin range ev my own lead," muttered Lincoln, as I- gliij:)ed along the sights. The crack soon followed— the black horse reared, staggered, and fell back on his rider ! " Ten strike ! set 'em up !" exclaimed a soldier. "Missed the skunk— curse him," cried Lincoln, gritting his teeth, as th- horseman was seen to struggle from under the fallen animal. Rising to hi feet, Dubrosc sprang out to the front, and shook his fist in the air, with u shout of defiance. The guerilleros galloped back ; and the artillerists, wheeling the six-pounder dragged it after, and took up a new position, about three hundred yards farther to the rear. A second shot from the piece again tore through the pickets, striking om of our men. and killing him instantly. • Aim at -the artillerists, Sergeant. We have nothing to fear from the others." Lincoln fired again. The shot hit the ground in front of the enemy's gun ; but glancing, it struck one of the cannoniers, apparently wounding him badly, as he was carried back by his comrades. The Mexicans, terror-struck at this strange instrument of destruction, took up a new position, two hundred yards still farther back. Their third shot ricochetted, striking the top of the strong plank, behind which the Major was screening himself, and only frightening the latter by the shock upon tha timber. Lincoln again fired. This time his shot produced no visible effect ; and a taunting cheer from the enemy told that they felt themselves beyond range. Another shot was fired from the rifie, apparently with a similar result. " R's beyond her carry, Cap'n," said Lincoln, bringing the birtt of his piece to the ground, with an expression of reluctant conviction. '■ Try one more shot. If it fail, we will! reserve the others for closer work Aim high !" This resulted as the two preceding ones ; and a voice from the guerilleros was heard,'exclaiming: " Yankes hobos ! mas adelantc .'" (A little farther, you Yap4ee fools.") 122 • THE RIFLE KANGERS. Another shot from the six-poimder cracKed through the planks, knocking Ills piece fiom the hands of a soldier, and shivering the dry stock-wood into fifty fragments. " Sci geant, give me the rifle," said I. ' They must be a thousand yards off; Int. as they are as troublesome with that carronade, as if they were only ten. I will try one more shot." I fired, but the ball sank at least fifty paces in front of the enemy. " We expect too much. It is not a twenty-four poundey. Major, I envj you two things — your rifle and your horse." " Hercules ?" "Of course." " Lord, Captain, you may do what you will with the rifle ; and, if ever we set out of the reach of these infernal devils, Hercules shall be — At this moment, a cheer came from the guerilleros, and a voice was heanl shouting above the din : •' ha metralla ! la metralla /" The howitzer !) I leaped upon the roof, and looked out upon the plain. It was true. A howitzer-carriage, drawn by mules, was debouching from the woods, the ani- mals dragging it along at a gallop. It was evidently a piece of some size, large enough to tear the light pick- eting to pieces. I turned towards my men with a look of despair. My eye at this moment rested on the drove of mules that stood crowded together in a corner of the pen. A sudden thought struck me. Might we not mount thera and escape 1 There were more than enough to carry us all, and the ranche was filled with bridles and lariats. I instantly leaped from the roof, and gave the order to the men. " Speedily, but without noise," cried I, as the men proceeded to fling bridlea upon the necks of the animals. In five minutes each soldier, with his rifle slung, stood by a mule, some of them having buckled on tapadas.* to prevent the animals from kicking. The Major stood ready by his horse. " Now, my brave fellows," shouted I in a loud voice, " we must take it cav- alry ftishion — Mexican cavalry, T mean." The men laughed. " Once in the woods, we will retreat no farther. At the words ' mount and fellow,^ spring * The tapada is a blind of leather, that covers the whole face of a mule. It is used to »ame them, and prevent their kicking when being loaded. With his tapatla over hif bead, the most vieious macho becomes quite gentle. THE RIFLE RANGKES. 123 to your seats and follow Mr. Clayley. I will look to your rear— dont't stop to fire— hold on well. If any one fall, let his nearest comrade take him up. Ha ! any one hurt there ? A shot had whistled through the ranks. " Only a scratch," was the reply. " All ready, then, are you 7 Now, Mr. Clayley, you see the high timber- make direct for it. Down with the bars ! ' Mount and fellow !' " ^ As I uttered the last words, the men leaped to their seats ; and Clayley riding the bell-mule, dashed out of the corral, followed by the whole train, some of them plunging and kicking, but all gallopping forward at the sound of the bell upon their guide. As the dark cavalcade rushed out upon the prairie, a wild cry from the guerilleros told that this was the first intimation they had had of the singular ruse. They sprung to their saddles with yells, and gallopped in pursuit. The howitzer, that had been trailed upon the corral, was suddenly wheeled about, and fired ; but the shot, ill-directed in their haste, whistled harmlessly over our heads. The guerilleros, on their swift steeds, soon lessened the distance between us. With a dozen of the best men I hung in the rear, to give the foremost of the pursuers a volley, or pick up any soldier who might be tossed from hia mule. One of these, at intervals, kicked as only a Mexican mule can ; and, when within five hundred yards of the timber, his rider, an Irishman, was flung upon the prairie. The rearmost of our party stopped to take him up. He was seized by Chane, who mounted him in front of himself. The delay had nearly been fatal. The pursuers were already within a hundred yards, firing their pistols and escopettes, without efiect. A number of the men turned in their seats and blazed back. Others threw their rifles over their shoulders, and pulled trigger at random. I could perceive that two or three guerilleros dropped from their saddles. Their comrades, with shouts of vengeance, closed upon us nearer and nearer. The long lariats, far in advance, whistled around our heads. I felt the slippery noose light upon my shoulders. I flung out my arms to throw it off; but, with a sudden jerk, it tightened around my neck. I clutched the hard thong, and pulled with all my might. It was aU in vain. The »nimal I rode, freed from my manege, seemed to plunge under me, and gather 124 THE EIFLE EANGEIttS. op its back with a vicious determination ; and I was launched in the air, and •lashed to the earth with a stunning violence. I felt myself dragged along the gravelly ground. I grasped the weeds, but they came away in ray hands, torn up by the roots. There was a struggle above and around mo. I could hear loud shouts, and the firing of guns. I was choking. A bright object glistened before my eyes. I felt myself seized by a strong rough hand, and swung into the air, and rudely shaken, as if in the grasp of some giant's arm. Something twitched me sharply o^er the cheeks. I heard the nistling of trees. Branches snapped and crackled, and leaves swept across my face. Thee came the flash — flash — and the crack — crack — crack — of a dozen rifles, and, under their blazing light, I was dashed a second time with violence tc the earth I CHAPTER XXIII. THE RESCUE. " RoDGH handlin' Cap*n. Ter must excuse haste." It was t][ie voice of Lincoln. " Ha ! in the timber ? Safe, then !" ejaculated I, in return. " Two or three wounded — not bad neither. Chane has got a stab m tha hip — he gin the feller goss. Let me louze the darned thing off your neck. It kum mighty near chokin' yer, Cap'n." Bob proceeded to unwind the noose end of a lariat, that, with some six feet of a rawhide thong, was still tightly fastened around my neck. " But who cut the rope ?" demanded I, " I did, with this yere tooth-pick. Yer see, Cap'n, it warn't yer time to be hnng jest yet." I could not help smiling, as I thanked the hunter for my safety. '' But where are the guerilleros ?" asked I, looking around, my brain some- what confused. " Yander they are, keeping safe out 'o range of this yere long gun'— just listen to 'em — what a hiller-balloo !" The Mexican horsemen were galloping out on the prairie, their arms glist- ning under the clear moonlight. " Take to the trees, men !" cried I, seeing that the enemy had agam unlim- bered, and were preparing to discharge their howitzer. In a moment the iron shower came whizzing through the branches, with- out doing any injury, as each of the men had covered his body with a tree. Several of the mules that stood tied and trembling, were kille-'fe?" — (Come near ) A figure moved out of the bushes, and approached. " Esta el Capitan ?"— (Is it the Captain ?) I recognised the guide given me by Don Cosme. The Mexican approached, handed mc a small piece of paper. 1 rode into an opening, and held it up to the moonlight, but the writing was in pencil, and 1 could not make out a single letter. " Try this, Clayley. Perhaps your eyes are better than mine," " No," said Clayley, after examining the paper. " I can hai'dly see the writing upon it." " Esperaie, mi amo,^^ (Wait, my master,) said the guide, makmg me a sign. We remained motionless. -^ The Mexican took from his head his heavy sombrero, and stepped into i larker recess of the forest. After standing for a moment, hat in hand, i brilliant object shot out from the leaves of the palma redonda. It waa th« ■'>cuyo — the lire-fly of the tropics. With a low, humming sound, it came .listening along at the height of seven or eight feet from the ground. The • :\an sprang up, and, with a sweep of his arm, jerked it suddenly to the earth, •Dvcring it with his hat, and, inverting his hand, caught the gleaming insect, - iid presented it to mo, with the ejaculation • " Ya .'" (Now.) It THE EIFLE KANGERS. 133 "No muerde^'' (It does not bite,) added he, as he saw that I hesitated to touch the beetle-shaped insect. I took the cocuyo in my hand, the green golden fire flashing from its great round eyes. I held it up before the writing, but the faint gUmmer was scarcely discernable upon the paper. " Why, it would require a dozen of these to make sufBcient light ?" I said to the guide. " iVb, Sefior, uno hasta — asi," (ISTo, sir, one is enough — thus — ) and the Mexican, taking the cocuyo in his fingers, pressed it gently against the surface of the paper. It produced a brilliant hght, radiating over a circle of several inches in diameter. Every point in the writing was plainly visible. "See, Clayleyl" cried I, admiring this lamp of nature's own making. " Never trust the tales of travelers. I have heard that half a dozen of these insects in a glass vessel would enable you to read the smallest type. Is that tx-ue ?" added I, repeating what I had said in Spanish. " No, Senor ; ni cmcuenta," (No, sir; nor fifty,) replied the Mexican. " And yet, with a single cocuyo, you may — ^but we have forgotten — ^let ua see what's here." I bent my head to the paper, and read in Spanish : — ^^ I have made known your situation to the American commander^ There was no signature nor other mark upon the paper. " From Don Cosme ?" I inquired in a whisper to the Mexican. " Yes, Seiior," was the reply. " And how did you expect to reach us in the corral ?" " ^s»," (so) said the man holding up a shaggy bull's hide, which he carried over his arm. " We have friends here, Clayley. Come, my good fellow, take this I" and I handed a gold eagle to the 'peon. " Forward 1" The tinkling of canteens, the jingling of sabres, and the echo of bounding hoofs, recommenced. We were again in motion, filing up through the shadowy woods. CHAPTER XXV LOPE AND LUZ. These are the familiar abbreviations of Guadalupe and Alaria de ia Laz The names themselves (especial!}' the former) are common in Mexican fami- Jies, Guadalupe is the name of the Saint Patroness of Mexico ; and she has been daily honored at the baptismal font, scarcel}- a family in Mexico being without its Guadalupe. Lupita, Guadalupita, are familiar forms of the same appellation. Shortly after, we debouched from the forest, entering the open fields of Don Cosme's plantation. There was a flowery brilliance around us full of novelty. AVe had been accustomed to the ruder scenes of a northern clima. The tropi- cal moon threw a gauzy veil over objects that softened their outlines ; and the notes of the nightingale were the only sounds that broke the stillness of what Bcemed a sleeping elysium. Once a vanilla plantation — here and there the aromatic bean grew wild — its ground usurped by the maguey, the acacia, and the thorny cactus. The dry reservoir and the ruined acequia proved the care that had, in former times, been bestowed on its irrigation. Guarda-rayas of palms and orange trees, choked up with vines and jessamines — marked the ancient boundaries of the fields. Clusters of fruit and flowers hung from the drooping branches ; and the aroma of a thousand shrubs was wafted upon the night air. "Wo felt ita narcotic influence as we rode along. The helianthus bowed its golden head, as if weeping at the absence of its god; and the cereus spread its snowy bios- Bom,.jo3ing in the more mellow light of the moon. Having in the preceding paragraph spoken of the maguey, perhaps oni readers would like a more full description of that valuable plant: THE RIFLE RANGERS. 135 The wild maguey, or aloe, is found all through the woods of thapa — es el CapitaTi" (papa, it is the captain), cried one of the fetters, who had run out in advance ; and whom I recognised as the elder one. " Do not be alarmed, Seflorita," said I, approaching. " Oh ! you are safe — you arb safe ! — papa, he is safe !" cried both the girl: at once ; while Don Cosme exhibited his joy by hugging my comrade anc myself, alternately. Suddenly letting go, he threw up his hands, and inquired, with a look of »nxiecy. ^36 '''llE KIFLE KANGKRS. " y el Seftor gordo ?" (and the fat gentleman ?) " Oh ! he's all right," replied Clayley, with a laugh : " he has saved his bacon, Don Cosrae ; though, I imagine about this time, he wouldn't object to a little of yours." I translated my companion's answer. The latter part of it seemed to act upon Don Cosrae as a hint; and we were immediately hurried to the dining- oom, where we found the Dona Joaquina preparing supper. During our meal, I recounted the principal events of the day. Don Cosme knew nothing of these guerilleros, although he had heard that there were bands in the neighborhood. Learning from the guide that we had been attacked, he had dispatched a trusty servant to the American camp, and Raotil had met the party coming to our rescue. After supper, Don Cosme left us to give some orders relative to his depart- ure in the morning. His lady set about preparing the sleeping apartments, and my companion and I were left for several hours in the sweet companion- ship of Lupe and Liiz. Both were exquisite musicians — playing the harp and guitar with equal «leverness. JIany a pure Spanish melody was poured into the delijilired ears of my friend and myself, 'i'he thoughts that arose in our minds, were "ioubt- leijs of a similar kind, and yet how strange that our hearts should have been warmed to love by beings so different in character. The gay, free spirit of my comrade seemed to have met a responsive echo. He and his brilliant partner laughed, chatted, and 3ang in turns. In the incidents of the momeut, this light-hearted creature had forgotten her brother, yet, the next moment, she would weep for him. A tender heart — a heart of joys and sorrows — of ever- chungiug emotions — coming and passing like shadows thrown by straggling clouds upon the sun-lit stream ! Unlike was our converse. More serious. " We may not laugh, lest we should profane the holy sentiment that is stealing upon us. There is no mirth in love. There are joy, pleasure, luxury ; but laughter finds r^o echo in the heart that loves. Love is a feeling of anxiety — of expectation. The harp is Bet aside. The guitar lies untouched for a sweeter music — the music that vi- brates from the strings of the heart. Are our eyes not held together by some invisible chain ? Are our souls not in communion through some mysterious means'? It is not language — at least not the- language of words ; for we are conversing upon indifferent things — not iudifforent, either. Narcisso, Narcispo a theme fraternal. Ilis peril casts a cloud over our happiness. ' Oh ! that he were here, tlicn we could be happ}^ indeed." THE KIFLE RANGI<:RS. lt?7 "He will return ; fear not — grieve not ; to-morrow your father will easily find him. I will leave no means untried to restore him to so fond a sister." " Thanks, thanks ; oh ! we are already indebted to you so much." Are those ej^es swimming with love ? or gratitude ? or both at one© ? Surely gratitude alone does not speak so wildly ? Could this scene not last or ever ? " Good night — good night 1" •' Senores, dasan Vds. buena noche .''' (Gentlemen may you pass a pleas- ant night.) They are gone ; and those oval developments of face and figure are floating before me, as though the body itself were still present. It is the soft memory of love in all /its growing distinctness ! ** * * * * * * * We were shown to our sleeping apartments. Our men picketed theif horses under the olives, and slept in the bamboo ranche, a Bingle sentry w&lking his rounds during the night. CHAPTER XXVI. A TOUGH NIGHT OF IT AFTER ALL. I EMTERED my chamber— to sleep ? No. And yet it contained a bed fit for Morpheus. A bed canopied and curtained, with clothes from the looms of Damascus. Shining rods roofed upwards, and met in an ornamental da- Bign, where the god of sleep, fanned by virgins of silver, reclined upon a couch of roses. I drew asiv o the curtains— a bank of snow— pillows, as if prepared for the cheek of a beaatiful bride. I had not slept in a bed for two months. A clo.se crib in a transport-ship ; a " shake down" among scorpions and spiders upon Lobos— a single blanket among the sand-hills, where it was not unusual to wake up half bnried by the drift.* These were my souvenirs. Fancy the prospect. It certainly invited re- pose. And yet I was in no humor to sleep. My brain was in a whirl. The strange incidents of the day— some of them were mysterious— crowded into my mind. My whole system, mental as well as physical, was flushed ; and thought followed thought with nervous rapidity. My heart shared the excitement— chords long silent, had been touched— the divine element was fairly enthroned. I was in love ! It was not the first passion of my life, and I easily recognised it. Even jealousy had begun to distil its poison — " Don Santiago !" I was standing in front of a large mirror, when I noticed two small minia Uwes hanging agaiust the wall, one on each side of the glass. * This was a common occurrence. On one occasion, my company were employed fof twenty-four hours on outpost duty. AVhen we returned to our former bivouack, tho soldiers found their knapsacks completely buried in the drift. Even hills of fifty feet high are thrown up in a single night, and others of equal altitude disappear as quickly. The tops of tall trees are often trodden under foot a? you paw along these sandy ridges THE KIFLE KANGER8. 139 1 bent over to examine, first, that which hung upon the right. I gazed with emotion. They were her features ; " and yet," thought I, " the painter has not flattered her ; it might better represent her, ten years hence ; still the likeness is there — stupid artist !" I turned to the other. " Her fair sister, no doubt — gracious heaven ! Do my eyes deceive me ? No ! the black wavy hair — the arching brows — the sinister lip — Dubrosc." A sharp pang shot through my heart. I looked at the picture again ana again, with a kind of incredulous bewilderment ; but every fresh examination only strengthened conviction. " There is no mistaking those features — they are his !" Paralyzed with the shock, I sank into a chair ; my heart filled with the most painful emotions. For some moments I was unable to think, much less to act. " What can it mean 1 Is this accomplished villain a fiend ? — the fiend of my existence ? — thus to cross me at every point, perhaps in the end to — " Our mutual dislike at first meeting — Lobos — his re-appearance upon the sand-hills — the mystery of his passing the lines, and again appearing with the guerilla — all came forcibly upon my recollection, and now 1 seized the lamp, and rushed back to the pictures. • TeSj I am not mistaken ; it is he — it is she, her features — all — all. And thus, too ! — the position — side by side — counterparts ! There are no others on the wall — matched — mated — p<^haps betrothed ! His name, too, Don Emilio ! The American who taught them English ! His is Emile — the voice cried ' Emile !' Oh ! the coincidence is complete. This villain — handsome and accomplished as he is — has been here before me ! Betrothed — perhaps laarried — perhaps Torture horrible !" I reeled back to my chair, dashing the lamp recklessly upon the table. I know not how long 1 sate, but a world of wintry thoughts passed througK my heart and brain. A clock striking from a large picture awoke me from my reverie. I did not count the hours. Music began to play behind the picture. It was a sad, sweet air, that chimed with my feelings, and, to some extent, soothed them. I arose at length, and hastily undressing, threw myself upon the bed, mentally resolving to forget all — to forget that I had ever scon her. " I will rise c&Tly — return to camp without meeting her ; and, once there, my duties will drive away this painful fancy. The drum and the life, and the roar of the cannon, will drown remembrance. Ha ! it was only a passing thought at best — the hallucination of a moment. I shall easily get rid of it -^^ ! ha !" J40 THE KIFLE KANGEB8. I laid my fevered cheek upon the soft, cool pillow. I felt composed— almost happy. " A Creole of New Orleans ! How could he have been here "? Oh ! have I not the explanation already ? Why should I dwell on it ?" A jealous heart— it is easy to say •' forget.-' I tried to prevent my thoughts from returning to this theme. I directed viiem to a thousand things. To the ships— to the landing— to the army— to the soldiers — to the buttons upon their jackets, and the swabs upon their shoulders — to every thing I could think of— all in vain. Back, back, back, in painful throes it came, and my heart throbbed, and my brain burned with bitter memories freshly awakened. I turned, and tossed upon my couch for many a long hour. The clock in the picture struck, and played the same music again and again, still soothing me as before ! Even despair has its moments of respite ; and worn with fati"-ue — mental as well as physical — I listened to the sad strain until it died %wa.j into mj dreams. CHAPTER XXVII. I THE LIGHT AFTER THE SHADE. Wbhji 1 w-woke, all was darkness around me. I threw out my arms, and opeaed tne cramas^ curtains. Not a ray of light entered the room. I felt refreshed, and from this I concluded I must have slept long. I slipped out upon the floor, and commenced groping for my watch. Some one knocked. " Come in," I called. The door opened, and a flood of light gushed ir.to the apartment. It wm a servant, bearing a lamp. " What is the hour 7" I demanded. " Nina o'clock, my master,'" was the reply. The servant set down the lamp, and went out. Auothsr immediately e» tared, carrying a salver with a smnll gold cup. *' What have you there ?" " Chocolate * master , Dona Joaquina has sent it." 1 drank off the beverage, and hastened to dress myself. I was reflecting whether I should pass on to camp, without seeing any one of the family. Somehow, my heart felt less heavy. I believe the morning always brings relief to pain, either mental or bodily. It seems to be a law of nature — ai * The first thing a Mexican (Joes after getting np, is to swallow a very small cnp of ehooolate rnade very thick and sweet. This is called desayunar, and corre.'iponds to th French dejeuner. Your Mexican lives on this till half-past ten or eleven, whoh he takes breakfast (almuerzo\ although this breakfast bears far more resoniblanoe tc a dinner tluiQ io the meal wh/^e name it bears. 142 THE KIFLE KANGER8. least SO my experience tells me. The morning air, buoyant and balmy, dulla the edge of anguish. New hopes arise, and new projects appear with the sun. The invalid, couch- tossing through the long watches of the night, will acknow- ledge this truth. I did not approach the mirror. I dared not. " I will not look upon the loved, the hated face — no, on to the camp — let Letlie — Has my friend arisen ?" " Yes, master ; he has been up for hours." "Ha! where is he?" " In the garden, master." "Alone?" " No, master ; he is with the niflas." " Happy, light-hearted Clayley ! No jealous thoughts to torture him," mused I, as I buckled on my stock. I had observed that the fair-haired sister and he were kindred spirits — sympathetic natures, who only needed to be placed, en rapport, to " like each other mightily" — who could laugh, dance, and sing together, romp for months, and then get married, as a thing of course ; but should any accident prevent this happy consummation, could say " good bye," and part, without a broken heart on either side. An easy thing for natures like theirs ; a return exchange of numerous billets doux — a laugh over the past, and a light heart for the future ! Such is the history of many a love. I can vouch for it. How different with — " Tell my friend, when he returns to the house, I would desire to seo him." " Yes, master." The servant bowed, and left the room. In a few minutes, Clayley made his appearance, gay as a grasshopper. " So, good lieutenant, you have been improving your time, I hear ?" " Haven't I, though ? Such a delicious stroll ! Haller — this is a paradise.*' " Where have you been ? " Feeding the swans," replied Clayley, with a laugh. " But, by the way, your chere amie hangs her pretty head this morning. She seems hurt that you have not been up. She kept constantly looking toward the house." " Clayley, will you do me the favor to order the men to their saddles ?" " What ! going so soon ? Not before breakfast, though ?" " In five minutes." •' Why, Captain what's the matter ? And such a breakfast as they af getting ! Oh Don Cosme will not hear of it." " Don Cosme ." TOK KIFLIi; KANGERS. 143 Our host cnterei] at that moment, and. listening to nis remonstraLces, th« order was rescinded, and I consented to remain. I saluted the ladies with as much courtesy as I could assume. I could not help the coldness of my manner ; and I could perceive that, with her it did not piss unobserved. We sate down to the breakfast-table, but my heart was full of bitterness ; and I scarcely touched the delicate viands that were placed before me. '■ You do not eat, Capitan. I hope you are well ?" said Don Cosme, ob- serving my strange and somewhat rude demeanor, " Thank you, Seflor. I never enjoyed better health." I studiously avoided looking towards her, paying slight attentions to her sister. This is the game of piques. Once or twice, I ventured a side glance. Her eyes were bent upon me with a strange, inquiring look. They are swimming in tears — and soft — and forgiving. They are swollen. She has been weeping. That is not strange. Her brother's danger is, no doubt, the cause of her sorrow. Yet is there not reproach in her looks ? Reproach ? How ill does my conduct of last night correspond with this affected coldness — this rudeness ! Can she, too, be suffering? I arose from the table, and, walking forth, ordered Lincoln to prepare the men 'or marching. ■^ strolled down among the orange-trees. Clayley followed soon after, ac- f mpanied by both the girls. Don Cosme remained at the house to superin- tend the saddling of his mule, while Dofta Joaquina was packing the last articles into his portmanteau. Following some silent instinct, we came together. Clayley and his mistress had strayed away, leaving us alone. I had not yet spoken. I felt a strange impulse. — a desire to know the worst. I felt as one looking over a fearful precipice. ' Then I will brave the danger ; it can be no worse than this agony of sus- picion — of suspense. I turned towards her. Her head was bent to one side. She was crushing an orange-flower between her fingers, and her eyes see ned to follow th« hopping fragments. How beautiful was she at that moment ! '' The artist has not certainly flattered you." She looked at me with a bewildered expression. Oh! those swimmin§ e>f;s i 144 THE KIFLE KANGEK8. She did not understand me I repeated the observation. " Scfior Captain, what do j )u mean ?" " That the painter has not done you justice. The portrait is certainly a .ikeness, j^et the expression, I think, should have been younger." "The pamter' What painter? The portrait! What portrait, So JSor'P " I refer to your portrait, vrhich I accidentally found hanging in my apart meut." " Ah ! by the mirror ?" " Yes ; by the mirror," I answered suLenly. " But it is not mine, Seilor Capitat came back, told how well the iron missiles had done tlieir work. This v.-as, the second shell that had been projected from the American mortars. The first had been equally destructive ; and hence the extreme terror of both citizen and soldier. Every missile seemed ciiarged with death ! Our guard now returned, and dragged us on^vard, treating us with tha greatest brutality. They were enraged at the exhultation visible in our man- nor ; and one, more ferocious than the rest, drove his bayonet into the fleshy p-irt of my comrade's thigh. After several acts of inhumanity we were tiirown into our prison, and locked up as before. Since our capture, we had tasted neither food nor drink, and hunger and thiist added to the misery of our situation. The insult had maddened Raoul, and the pain of his wound now rendered him furiotis. He had not hands to touch it, or dress it. Frenzied by anger 156 THE KIFLE KANGEltS. »nd pain to a strength almost superhuman, he twisted off his iron ma.iaclcs as if they had hcen straws. This done, the chain that bound us together was soon ]>roken, and our ankle "jewelry" followed. " Wc will live our last hours, Captain, as we have our lires — free and nn Ittcrcd !" I could not help admiring the spirit of my brave comrade. Wo placed ourselves close to the door to listen. We could hear the heavy cannonade all around, and now and then the distant shots from the American batteries. We would wait for the bursting of the bombs, and, as the hoarse thundtr of crumbling walls reached our ears, Raoul would spring up, shouting his wild, half French, half-Indian '' Hur- rah !" A thought occurred to me. '• We have arms, Raoul." I held up the fragments of the heavy chain that had yoked us. " Could you reach the trap on a run, without the danger of mistaking your way ?" Raoul started. " You are right, Captain — I can. It is barely possible they may visit us to-night. If so, any chance for life is better than none at all." By a tacit understanding each of us took a fragment of the chain — there were but two — and sat down by the door to be ready in, case our guards should open it. We sat for over an hour, without exchanging a word. Wa could hear the shells as they burst upon the house-tops, and the crashing of torn timbers, the rumbling of walls rolling over, struck by the heavy shot We could hear the shouts of men. and the wailing of woman, with now an then a shriek louder tha'. all others, as some missile carried death into th terror-struck crowd. i^ccre /" said S-aoul ; •' if they had only allowed us a couple of da^s, oui iiiends would have opened these doors. Sacre .'" This exclamation was uttered in a shriek. Simultaneously, a heavy object burst through the roof, tearing the bricks and plaster, and falling with the ring of.iron on the floor. Then followed a deafening crash. The whole earth seemed to shake, and he whizzing of a thousand particles filled the air. A cloud of dust and lime, mixed with the smoke of sulphur, was around us. I gasped for breath, nearly Buffbcated. I endeavored to cry out. but my voice, husky and hoarse, was scarcely audible to myself. I succeeded, at length, in ejaculating: '• Raoul— Raoul !» I fell myself grappling with tne tawny monsters, and hurling them over the cliff. They sprang at ray throat, and I threw, out my arms, thrusting them fearlessly between the shining rows of teeth. Then I was free again, and, seizing a leg, or a tail, or the loose flaps of the neck, I dragged a savage brute towards the brink, and, summoning all my strength, dashed him against the brow, that he might tumble howling over. — Page Itl^ V THE EIFLE KANGERS. 157 I heard the voice of my comrade, seemingly at a great distance. T threw out my arms and groped for him. He was close by me, but, like myself, choking for want of air. " Sacre I it was a shell," said he, in a wheezing voice. " Are you hurt^ Captain ?' " No^" I replied ; " and you ?" " Sound as a bell — our luck is good — it must have struck every other part of the cell." " Better it had not missed us," said I, after a pause ; " we are only spared for the garotte." "I am not so' sure of that, Captain." " Wherfe that shell came in, something else may go out. Let us see — was it the roof "I think so." We groped hand in hand towards the centre of the room, looking upwards, " Waugh I" ejaculated Eaoul, " I can't see a foot before me — my eyes are filled— ^a^i/" So were mine. We stood waiting. The dust was gradually settling ; and we could perceive a faint glimmer from above. There was a lioh through ike roof! Slowly its outlines became defined, and we could see that it was large enough to pass the body of a man ; but it was at least fourteen feet from the floor, and we had not timber enough to make a walking-stick 1 " What is to be done ? we are not cats, Raoul. We can never reach it I" My comrade, without making a reply, lifted me up in his arms, telling me to climb. I mounted upon his shoulders, balancing myself like a Bedouin ; but with my utmost stretch, I could not touch the roof. " Hold 1" cried I, a thought striking me. " Let me down, Eaoul. Now, if they will only give us a httle time." " Never fear for them ; they've enough to do taking care of their own car- casses." I had noticed that a beam of the roof formed one side of the break ; and I proceeded to twist our handcuffs into a clamp, wliile Eaoul peeled oft' hia leather breeches and commenced tearing them into strips. In ten minutea our tackle was ready; and mounting my comrade's shoulders, 1 flung it caiefully at the beam. It failed to catch, and I came to the floor, my balance being lost. I repeated the attempt. Again it failed, and I staggered down aa before. 158 THE EIFLK KANGERS. " SacTe /" cried Eaoul through his teeth. The iron had struck him on the head. " Come, we will try, and try — our hves depend upon it." The third attempt, according to popular superstition, should be successful It was so with us. The clamp caught, and the string hung dangling down- wards. Mounting again upon my comrade's shoulders, I grasped the thong high up, to test its hold. It was secure; and, cautioning Eaoul to hold fast, lost the hook might be detached by my vibration, I climbed up, and seized hold of the beam. By this, I squeezed myself through the roof. I crawled cautiously along the azotea* which, like all others in Spanish houses, was flat, and bordered by a low parapet of mason-work. I peeped over the parapet, looking do'wn into the street. It was night, and I could see no one below; but up against the sky upon distant battlements, I could distinguish armed sol- diers, busy around their guns. These blazed forth at intervals, throwing their sulphury glare over the city. I returned to assist Eaoul; but, impatient at my delay, he had aheady mounted ; and was dragging up the thong after him. We crawled from roof ro roof, looking for a dark spot to descend into the street. None of the houses, in the range of our prison, were more than one story ; and, after passing sevei-al, we let ourselves down into a narrow alley. It was still early, and the people were running to and fro, amidst the frightful scenes of the bombardment. The slirieks of women were in our ears, mingled with the shouts of men ; the groans of the wounded, and the fierce yelling of an excitedl rabble. The constant whizzing of bombs filled the air, and para- pets were barled down. A round shot struck the cupola of a church, as we pas.sed nearly under it, and the ornaments of ages came tumbling down, blocking uu the thoroughfare. We clambered over the ruins, and went on. There was iio need of our crouching into dark shadows. No one thought of ob.serving us now. " We are near the house — will you take him along ?" inquired Eaoul, refer- ring to the object of our enterprise. " By all means I show me the place." Eaoul pointed to a large house, with portals, and a great door in the centre. * The nsme of the flat roofs of Spanish honsea These roofs arc, nsually, enciosnres sur rounded by a wall, or parapet, that separates one from anotlier. They are tilcfl, but more lisnallj plastered with cement that casts off tlic water into cutters along the sides. They form a plea Bant resort when the sun is low, and especially when the owner has had the good taste to stock thcui with plants and lluwor-pots. TnE RIFLE KANGER3 159 ** There, Captain — there it is." " Go under that shadow, and wait. I shall be better alone," This was said in a whisper. My companion did as directed- I approached the great door, and knocked boldly. " Quien /" cried the porter within the sagnan. " Yo,^^ I responded. [This is the exact dialogue which passes before you can gain admission t . tt Mexican dwelling ; and, although the " Yo," which simply signifies I, give; no very definite information to the porters within, it alwa^-s operates as an ' Open Sesame." It is certainly more grammatical than the answer '' Me,"' BO frequently given to " Who's there ?" by people of a fair respectability in our land. Saguan is the gateway, or entrance, to a Spanish house.] The door was opened slowly, and with caution. '• Is the Sefiorito Narcisso withia ?" I inquired. The man answered in the afiSrmative. " Tell him, a friend wishes to speak with him." After a moment's hesitation, the porter dragged himself lazily up the stone •■teps. In a few seconds, the boy — a fine, bold-looking lad, whom I had sfen during our trial — came leaping down. He started on recognising me. " Hush !" I whispered, signing to him to be silent. " Take leave of your friends, and meet me in ten minutes behind the church of La Magdalena." " Whjf, Scilor," inquired the boy without listaning, " how have you got out of prison? I have just been to the governor on your behalf, and — " "No matter how," I replied, interrupting him; "follow my directions — remember your mother and sisters are suffering." "I will come," said the boy resolutely. ^- K t^^ ^^ Hasta luego .'" [Literally, until a little while — a beautiful form of expression much used in Spanish, for which we have no synonyme in English. Hasta wafiana, hasta la tarde — until the morning, until the evening — imply that the person using these expressions will not see you until the morning or evening ; and hasta despues, until hereafter, means that the time when you may come together again is unknown, or indefinite.] We parted. I rejoined Raoul, and we walked on towards La Magdalena. We passed through the street where we had been captured on the preceding night,' but it was so altered, we should not have known it. Fragments of walls were thrown across the path ; and here and there lay masses of bricks and mortar, freshly torn down. 1(^;0 THIS KTFLE RANGEK8. Neither patrol nor sentry thought of troubling us now ; and our strange appearance did not strike the attention of the passengers. We reached the church, and Raoul descended, leaving me to wait for the boy, The latter was true to his word, and his slight figure soon appeared rounding the corner. We entered the subterranean passage, but the tide was still high, and we had to wait for the ebb. This came at length, and. clambering over the rocks, we entered the surf, and waded as before. After an hour's toil, we reached Punta Ilornos ; and a little beyond, I was enabled to hail one of our own pickets, and pass the lines in safety. At ten o'clock, I was in my own tent ; just twenty-four hours from the time I had left it ; and, with the exception of Clayley, not one of my brother officers knew anything of our adventure. Cln.r'*;y and I agreed to "mount"' a party the next night, and carry tbo boy to his friends. This we accoidingly did, stealing ouo of camp after tatoo It would be impossible to describe^he rejoicing of our new acquaintances — the gratitude lavishly expressed-^the smiles of love that thanked us. We could have repeated our visits nightly but the guerilleros now swarmed in the back country ; and snaall parties, straggling from camp, wera cut off daily. It was necessary, therefore, for my friend and myself to chafi aadcr a prudent impatience j and wait for the tall of Vera Crua. I CHAPTER XXXI A 8H0T IN TUG DARK. f HE City of tli3 " True Cross " fell upon the 29th of March ; and the A men. «ile the guerilleros were occupied with Chane and his saints, I observed, the boy roll himself over and over, until he lay close up against the hunter. One of the guerilleros noticing this, picked Jack up by the waist-belt, and, holding him at arm's leugth, shouted out : THE KIFLE KANGEL,S. 169 Mira, camarados ! que briboncito /" (Look, comrades what a little rascal !) Amidst the laughing of the guerilleros, Jack was swung out, and fell in a bed of aloes, where we saw no more of him. As he was bound, we concluded that he could not help himself, and was lying where he had been thrown. My attention was called from this incident, by an exclamation from Ohane " Och ! blood, turf, and lourther ! If there isn't that Frinch schoundrel, 'Durbrosc!" I looked up. The man was standing over us. " Ah, Monsieur le Capitaine /" cried he, in a sneering voice, " comment voiis portez-vous ? You came out dove-hunting, eh ? The birds, you see, are not in the cot." Had there jbeen not a thread around my body, I could not have moved at that moment. I felt cold and rigid as marble. A thousand agonizing thoughts crowded upon me at once — my doubts, my fears on her account drowning all ideas of personal danger. I could have died at that moment, and, without a groan, to have ensured her safety. There was something so fiendish, so utterly hellish, in the character of tliis man — a polished brutality, too — that caused me to fear the worst. " Oh, Heaven !" I muttered ; " in the power of such a man !" " Ho !" cried Dubrosc, advancing a pace or two, and seizing my horse by the lariat, " a splendid mount ! An Arab, as I live ! Look here, Yafiez !" he continued, addressing a guerUlero who accompanied him, " I claim this, if you have no objection." " Take him !" said the other, who was evidently the leader of the party. " Thank yon. And you. Monsieur le Capitaine," he added, ironically turn- ing to me, " thank you for this handsome present. He will just replace my brave Moro, for whose loss I expect I am indebted to you, you great bruta ! — tacre .'" The last words were addressed to Lincoln, and, as though maddened by the memory of La Virgen, he approached the latter, and kicked him fiercely in the side. The wanton foot had scarcely touched his ribs, when the hunter sprang up as if by galvanic action — the thongs flying from his body in fifty spiral frag ments ! With a bound he leaped to his rifle ; and, clutching it — he knew i was empty — struck the astonished Frenchman a blow upon the head. The latter fell heavily to the earth. In an instant, a dozen knives and swords were aimed at the hunter's throat. Sweeping his rifle around him, he cleared an opening, and dashing past his foes with a wild yell, bounded off through 170 THE KIFLE EANGEES. the shrubbery! The guerilleros followed, screaming with rage; and w« could hear an occasional shot, as they continued the pursuit into the distant woods. Dubrosc was carried back into the ranche, apparently lifeless ! We were still wondering how our comrade had untied himself, when one of the guerilleros, lifting a piece of the thong, exclain .ed : " Carajo! ha cortado el briboncito !" (the littb rascal has cut it); and the man darted into the aloes, in search of Little Jack. It was with us a moment of fearful suspense. We expected to see poor Jack sacrificed instantly. We watched the man with intense emotion, as he ran to and fro At length, he threw up his arms with a gesture of surprise, calling out, at the same time : ^ " Po7' todos Santos — sefue .'" (by all the saints ! he's gone.) " Hurrah !" cried Chane, " holies — such a gossin as that boy !" Several of the guerilleros dived into the bed of aloes j but their search was in vain. We were now separated, so that we could no longer converse, and were more strictly watched — two sentries standing over each of us. We spent about an hour in this way. Straggling parties, at intervals, came back from the pursuit ; and we could gather, from what we overheard, that neither Lin- coln nor Jack had yet been retaken. We could hear talking in the rear of the ranche ; and we felt that our fate was being determined. It was plain Dubrosc was not in command of the party. Had he been so, we should never have been carried beyond the olive grove. It appeared we were to be hung elsewhere. A movement was visible that betokened departure. Our hoises were taken away, and saddled mules were led out in front of the ranche. Upon these we were set, and strapped tightly to the saddles. A serape'w&s passed over each of us, and we were blinded by tdpojos, A bugle then sounded the " forward !" We could hear a confusion of noises — the prancing of many hoofs — and the next moment we felt ourselves moving along at a hurried pace through the woods. The serape, above referred to, ig a species of motley-colored blanket, nearly square, with a slit in the centre to admit the head. Any one who has seen a M^exican of the lower classes without his serape, has seen something which has escaped my observation. These scrapes cost from two to two hundred dollars, and it would be diflBcult for a person not acquainted with the articla to see any groat difference, either in size or beauty, between the one at two dollars and that costing two hundred ! , CHAPTER XXXIII. A BLIND RIDE. We rode all night. The mule-blinds, although preventing us fram seeing a single' object, proved to be an advantage. They saved our eyes and facea from the .thorny claws of the acacia and mezquite. Without hands to fend them off, these would have torn us badly, as we could feel them, from time to time, penetrating even the hard leather of the tapojos. Our thongs chafed us, and we suffered great pain from the monotonous motion. Our road lay througn tnick woods. This we could perceive from the constant rustle of the leaves, and the crackhng of branches, as the cavalcade passed on. We travelled over many hills — steep and diflBcult, we could tell from the attitudes of our animals. There was no passing or re-passing. From th\s I concluded we were journeying along a narrow road, and in single file. Raoul was directly in front of me, and we could converse at times. " Where do you think they are taking us, Raoul ?" I inquired, speaking in French. " To Cenobio's Hacienda, I hope so at least. " Why do you hope so ?" " Because we shall stand some chance for our lives. Cenobia is a noble fellow." You know him then ?" " Yes, Captain ; I have helped him a little in the contraband trade." " A smuggler, is he ?" " Why, in this country, it is hardly fair to call it by so harsh a name, as ihe government itself dips out of the same dish. Smuggling here, as m mos^ J 72 THE EIFLK KANGERS. otiier countries, should be looked upon rather as the offspring of necessity and mal-adniinistration, than a vice in itself. Cenobio is a contrabandista, and upon a large scale." " And you are a political philosopher, Raoul." " Bah I Captain, it would be bad if I could not defend my own calling/' replied my comrade, with a laugh. " You think, then, that we are in the hands of Cenobio's men." " I am sure of it, Captain. Sacre ! had it been Jarauta's band, we would have been in heaven — that is our souls — and our bodies would now be embel lishing some of the trees upon Don Cosme's plantation. Heaven protect us from Jarauta ! The priest gives bui short shrift to any of his enemies ; but if he could lay his hands on your humble servant, you would see hanging dona in double quick time." " Why think you we are with Cenobio's guerilla ?" " I know Yailez, whom we saw at the ranche. He is one of Cenobio's oflS- 5ers, and the leader of this party, which is only a detachment. I am rather surprised that he has brought us away, considering that Dubrosc is with him . there must have been some influence in our favor, which I cannot under- stand." I was struck by the remark, and began to reflect upon it in silence. The voice of the Frenchman again fell upon ray ear. " I cannot be mistaken. No— this hill— it runs down to the San Juan." Again, after a short interval : — " Yes, the San Juan— I know the stony bottom— just the depth, too, at this season." Our mules plunged through the swift current, flinging the spray over our heads. "We could feel the water up to the saddle-flaps, cold as ice ; and yet we were journeying it the hot tropic ! But we were fording a stream fed by the snows of Orizava. " Now I am certain of the road," continued Raoul, after we had crossed. [ know this bank well— the mule slides 1 Look out, Captain !" " For what ?" I asked with some anxiety. The Frenchman laughed as he replied : '= I believe I am taking leave of my senses. I called to you to look out, aS if you had the power to help yourself in case the accident should occur." " What accident ?" I inquired with a nervous sense of some impending danger. " Falling over— we are on a precipice that is reckoned dangerous on account THE RIFLE RANGERS. 173 of the clay ; if your mule should stumble here, the first thing you would strike would be the branches of some trees five hundred feet below." " Good heaven !" I ejaculated. " Is it so ?" " Never fear, Captain ; there is not much danger. These mules appear to be sure-footed, and certainly," added he, with a laugh, " their loads are well packed and tied !" I was in no condition just then to relish a joke, and my companion's humor was completely thrown away upon me. The thought of my mule missing his foot, and tumbling over a precipice, while 1 was stuck to him like a Cen- taur, was anything else than pleasant. I had heard of such accidents, and the knowledge did not make it any easier. I could not help muttering to my- self: " Why, in the name of mischief, did the fellow tell me till we had passed it?" I crouched closer to the saddle, allowing my limbs to follow every motion of the animal, lest some counteracting shock might disturb our joint equili- brium. I could hear the torrent, as it roared and hissed far below, and iirectly under us ; and the " sough" grew fainter and fainter as we ascended. On we went, climbing up — up — up, our strong mules straining against the precipitous path. It was daybreak. There was a faint glimmer ol Ught under our tapqjos. At length, we could perceive a brighter beam. "We felt a sudden glow of heat over our bodies, — the air seemed lightei — our mules walked on a horizontal path. We were on the ridge, and warmed by the beams of the rising sun. "Thank heaven we have passed it !" T could not help feeling thus ; and yet we were riding perkaps to death ! .CHAPTER XXXIV. A STAMPEDE. The guerilleros now halted, dismounting. We were left in our saddles. Our mules were picketed upon long lariats, and commenced browsing. They carried us under the thorny branches of the wild locust. The maguey, with its bill-shaped claAYS, had torn our uniform overalls to shreds. Our Umbs wen lacerated, and the cactus had lodged its poisoned prickles in our knees. Bu these were nothing to the pain of being compelled to keep our saddles, —Oi rather saddle-trees, for we were upon the naked wood. Our hips ached in- tensely, and our hrabs smarted under the chafing thong. There was a crackling of fires around us. Our captors were cooMng their breakfasts, and chatting gaily over their chocolate. Neither food nor drink wa3 offered to us, although we were both thirsty and hungry. We were kept in this place for about an hour. " They have joined another party here," said Eaoul, " with pack mules." " How know you?" I inquired. " I can tell by the shouts of the arrieros—iisten I — they are making ready to start." There was a mingling of voices. Exclamations addressed to their animals by the arrieros, such as : — "Mulal andal vayal levantate! carraif mula — mulita — andal — st —str In the midst of this din I fancied that I heard the -f oice of a woman 1 "Can it be ?" The thought was too painful A bugle at length sounded, and we felt ourselves moved onward. THE RIFLE BANGERS. 175 Our road appeared to run along the naked ridge. There were* no trees, and tixe heat became intense. Our serapes, that had served us during the night, should have been dispensed with now, had we been consulted in relation to the matter. I did not know, until some time after, why these blankets had been given to us ; as they had been hitherto very useful in the cold. It waa not from any anxiety in regard to our comfbrt, as I learned afterwards. We began to suffer from thirst, and Raoul asked one of the guerilleros fo» water. " CarajoP^ answered the man, " it's no use ; you'll be choked by and bye with something else than thirst." The brutal jest called forth a peal of laughter from his comrades. About noon, we commenced descending a long hiU. I could hear the sound 01 water ahfead. " Where are we, Raoul, I inquired faintly. " Going down to a stream — a branch of the Antigua." " We are coming on another precipice ?" I asked, with some uneasiness, as the roar of the torrent began to be heard more under our feet, and I snuffed the cold air rising from below. " There is one, Captain. There is a good road, though, and well paved." " Paved ! why the country around is wild — is it not ?" " True ; but the road was paved by the priests." " By the priests !" I exclaimed with some astonishment. " Yes, Captain ; there's a convent in the valley — near the crossing ; that Is, there was one. It is now a ruin." We crept slowly down — our mules, a'^ times, seeming to walk on their heads. The hissing of the torrent gradually grew louder, until our ears were filled. I heard Raoul below me shouting some words in a warning voice, when suddenly he seemed borne away, as if he had been tumbled over the preci- pice ! " I expected to feel myself next moment launched after him into empty space, when my mule, uttering a loud yell, sprang forward and downward ! Down — down ! the next leap into eternity I No ! she keeps her feet ! She gallops along a level path— I am safe ! I was swung about until the thongs seemed to cut through ray limbs , and, with a heavy plunge, I felt myself carried thigh-deep into water ! Here the animal suddenly halted. As soon as I could gain breath, I shouted at the top of my voice for the Frenchman. 776 THE KIFLE EANGKR8. " Here, Caf)tain !" he answered, close by my side ; but, as I fancied, with \ strange, gurgling voice. " Are you hurt, Raoul ?" I inquired. " Hurt ! No, Captain." " What was it, then ?» " Oh ! I wished to warn you. But I was too late. I might have knowi they would stampede, as the poor brutes have been no better treated thw nraelTcs. He«r how they draw it up !" CHAPTER XXXV. A DRINK A LA CHEVAL. Good Got, I am choking!*' I exclaimed, listening to the water as filtered through the teeth of my mule. " Do as I do, Captain," said Raoul, speaking as if from the bottom of a well. " How ?" I asked. " Bend down ; and let the water run into your mouth." This accounted for Raoul's strange voice. " They may not give us a drop," continued he, '' It is our only chance." "' I have not even that," I replied, after having vainly endea"'ored to touch the surface. " Why ?" asked my comrade. " I cannot reach it." " IIow deep are you ?" " To the saddle-flaps." " Ride this way, Captain. It's deeper here." " How can I ? My mule is her own master, as far as I am concerned." " Parbleu /" said thJlt'renchman. '• I did not think of that." But whether to oblige me, or moved by a desire to cool her flanks, the an! mal plunged "orward into a deeper part of the stream. After straining myself to the utmost, I was enabled to "duck" my head In this painful position, I contrived to get a couple of swallows ; but, I should think, I took in quite as much at my nose and ears. Clayley and Chane followed our example, the Irishman swft^isg. loudlj 178 THE KIFLE RANGERS. that it was " a burnin' shame to make a dacent Chrystyin dhrink like a horse J) winkers." Our guards now commenced driving our mules out of the water. As we were climbing the bank, some one touched me lightly upon the arm ; and, at the same instant, a voice whispered in my ear, " Courage, Captain !" I started — it was the voice of a female. I was about to reply, when a soft small hand was thrust under the tapojo, and pushed something between my lips. The hand was immediately withdrawn j and I heard the voice urging a horse onward. The clatter of hoofs convinced me, that this mysterious agent was gone j a.iid I remained silent. " "Who can it be ? Jack ? No. Jack has a soft voice — a small hand. But how could he be here ? and with his hands free ? No — no — no. Who, then 1 It was certainly the voice of a woman — the hand, too. What other should have made this demonstration. I know no other — it must — it must have been !" I continued my analysis of probabilities, always arriving at this result. It was both pleasant and painful. Pleasant, to believe she was thus, like an angel, watching over me — painful to think, that she might be in the power of my fiendish enemy ! But is she so? Lincoln's bbw may have ended him. We have heard nothing of him since. Would to heaven ! It was an impious wish, but I could not control it. " What have I got between my lips ? A slip of paper ! Why was it placed there, and not in my bosom, or my button-hole 7 Ha ! there is more providence than at first thought appears. How could T have taken it from either the one or the other, bound as I am ? Moreover, it may contain what would destroy the writer, if known to — cunning thought — for one so young and innocent, too — but love — !" I pressed the paper against the tapojo, concealing itj^ " Halted, again ?» W " It is the ruin. Captain — the old convent of Santa Bernardina." " But why do they halt here ?" " Likely, to noon and breakfast — that on the ridge was only their desayuna The Mexicans of the tierra caliente never travel during mid-day. They will doubtless rest here until the cool of the evening." " I trust they will extend the same favor to us." said Clayley j " God THK RIFLE KANGERS. 179 knows we stand in need of rest. I'd give them three months' pay for an hour apon the treadmill, only to stretch my limbs." " They will" take us down, I think. Not on our account, but to ease the mules. Poor brutes ! they are no party to this transaction." Raoul's conjecture proved correct. We were taken out of our saddles; and, being carefully bound as before, we were hauled into a damp room, and flung down upon the floor. Our captors went out. A heavy door closed after them, and we could hear the regular footfall of a sentry on the stone pavement without. For the first time since our capture, we were left alone. This my comrades tested, by rolling themselves all over the floor of our prison ! It was but, a scant addition to oar liberty j but we could conrerM (reely, an() that was somethios. CHAPTER XXXVI. AN ODD WAY OF OPENING A LETTER. " Has any of you heard of Dubrosd on the route ?" I inquired of my comrades. No ; nothing had been heard of him since the escape of Lincoln. " Faix, Captain," said the Irishman, " it's meself that thinks Mister Dub- rose won't throuble any ov us any more — it was a purty lick that same, ayquil to ould Donnybrook itself." " It is not easy to kill a man with a single blow of a clubbed rifle " ob« wiTcd Clayley, '• unless, indeed, the lock may strike the scull But we are still living ; and 1 think that is some evidence that the deserter is dead, by the way, how has the fellow obtgiined such influence as he appeared to liave among them ; and so soon too ': '' " I think, lieutenant replied Raoul, " Monsieur Dubrosc has been here before." " Ha ! say you so ?" 1 inquired with a feeling of anxiety. " I remember. Captain, some story current at Vera Cruz, about a Ci eo" 'saving married, or run away with a girl of good familj' there. I am ulmi certain that was the name ; but it was before my time, and I am unacquaint 'vith the circumibtances. I remember, however, that the fellow was a gai^. 'I'er, or something of the sort ; and the occurrence made much noise in the luntry." i [•lilitened with a sickening anxiety to exery word of these details. There iS a painfiil correspondence between them, and what I already knew. The .;iju;;ht thar'this monster could be in any was connected with Aerwas a disa- f^reeable one, I questioned Raoul no farther. Even could he have detailed every circumstance, I should have dreaded the relation ! THE KIFLE KANGEKS. 181 Our conversation was interrupted by the creaking of a rusty hinge The door opened, and several men entered. Our blinds were taken olf, and oh ! how pleasant to look upon the light. The door had been closed again, and there was only one small grating, yet the slender beam through this was like the bright noon-day sun ! Two of the men carried earthen platters filled with frijoles, a single tortilla in each platter. They were placed near our heads, one for each of us. Frijoles are a species of bean, much used — ^I might say universally — by "the lower classes in Mexico. The tortilla is a thin cake made of maize, and, like the frijoles, in universal use. It has been often described by travellers ; but the most essential point in which it differs from other maize bread seeras to have escj^ed their observation. It is this : Corn bread is made from corn meal ; but the tortilla is manufactured from the corn itself, which, instead of being ground, is boiled soft with lye or potash, and then bruised between a pair of tortilla stones — clapped out with the hands into thin round cakes and thrown upon a hot stone, or griddle. A moment on the griddle suffices, and they are brought to the table, or rather to the mouth (in most instances no table being near), while warm. Cold tortillas that have lain over, are moist- enetrong detachment out of Vera Craz in time to intercept us. We met them on the other side of this very hill, where a road strikes off towards Medellin.' •' Well ! and what followed V "■ Why, the battle lasted nearly an hour ; and, after having lost halt-a- core of their best men, the valiant Lancers rode back to Vera Cruz quicks than they came out of it" " And the smugglers ?' " Carried the goods safe on board. Three of them, poor fellows ! are lying not far off, and I came near sharing their luck. I have a lance-hole thrctagh my thigh, here, that pains me at this very moment. Sacre .'" 132 THK EIFLE EANGEK8. "Sly ear at this moment caught the soiind of dogs barking hoarsely below Horses of the cavalcade commenced neighing, answered by others from th« adjacent fields, who recognised their old companions. ''It must be near night." I remarked to Raoul, " I think about sunset, Captain," rejoined he. " It feels about that time.'' I could not help smiling. There was something ludicrous in my comrade' remark about " feeling" the sunset. The barking of the dogs now ceased, and we could hear voices ahead, wd coming the guerilleros. The hoofs of our mules struck upon a hard pavement, and the sounds echoed as if under an arched way. Our animals were presently halted, and we were unpacked and flung mdelY ^wn upon rough stones like so many bundles of merchandise. , CHAPTER XXXIX. THE HEAD-aUAHTER3 OP THE GUERILLA. "We lay for some minutes, listening to the strange voices around us. Th« neighing of horses — the barking and growling of dogs — the lowing of cattle- — the shouts of the arrieros unpacking their mules-^the clanking of sabres along the stone pavements — the tinkling of spurs — the laughter of men, and the voices of women — all were in our ears at once. Two men approached us conversing. " They are of the party that escaped us at La Virgen. Two of them are officers." " Chingarro ! I got this at La Virgen ; and a full half mile off. 'Twas some black jugglery in their bullets. I hope the patrone will hang the Yankee savages." " Quien sabe ?" replied the first speaker. " Pinzon has been taken this morning at Puenta Moreno, with several others. They had & fandango with the Yankee dragoons. You know what the old man thinks of Pinzon. He'd aooner part with his wife." " You think he will exchange them, then ?" *' It is not unlikely." " And yet he wouldn't trouble much if we had beea taken. No — no ; h* let us be hanged like dogs." " Well ; that's always the way, you know." " I begin to get tired of him. By the Virgin ! Jose, I've half a mind to &'?f off, and join the Padre." ' Jarauta?" 194 • THE EIFLE EAXGEES. " Yes ; he's by the Bridge, with a brave set of Jaroches — some of our old comrades upon the Eio Grande among them. They're living at free quarters along the road, and having gay times of it, I hear. If Jarauta bad taken these Yankees yesterday, the zopilote would have made his dinner upon them to- day. " That's true," rejoined the other ; " but come — ^let us un'olind the devils, and give them their beans. It may be the last they'll ever eat" With this consoling remark, Jose commenced unbuckling our tapojos, and wo once more looked upon the light. The brilliance at first dazzled us pain- fully ; and it was some minutes before we could look steadily at the objects around us. We had been thrown upon the pavement in the comer of the patio — a large court, surrounded by massive walls and flat-roofed houses. These buildings were low, single storied, except the range in front, which contained the principal dwellings. The remaining three sides were occupied by stables, granaries, and quarters for the guerilleros and servants. A portale extended along the front range, and large vases, with shrubs and flowers ornamented the balustrade. The portale was screened from the sun by cur- tains of bright-colored cloth. These were partially drawn, and objects of- ele gant furniture appeared within. Near the centre of the patio, was a large fountain, boiling up into a resorvoir of hewn mason-work ; and around this fountain were clumps of orange-tree" — their leaves, in some places, dropping down into the water. Various arms hung or leaned against the waQs — guns, pistols, and sabres — and two small pieces of cannon with their caissons and carriages stood in a prominent posi- tion. In these we recognized our old acquaintances of La Virgen. A long trough stretched across the patio, and out of this a double row ()f mules and mustangs were greedily eating maize. The saddle-tracks, upon tl eir steaming sides, showed them to be the companions of our late wearisome jctirney. Huge dogs lay basking upon the hot stones ; growling at intervals, as some ■one galloped in through the great doorway. Their broad jaws and tawny hides l.espoke the Spanish blood-hound — the descendants of that race, with which Cortez had harried the conquered Aztec I The guerilleros were seated or standing in groups around the fires— broiling jerked boef upon the points of their sabres. Some mended their saddles, or were wiping out an old carbine, or a clumsy escopette. Some strutted around the yard, swinging their bright mangas, or trailing after the* the picturesque THE KIFLK KANGERS. 195 tcrnpc. Women in rebosos and colored skirts walked to and fro an. )ng till' men. The rebozo is a long cotton scarf, of a bluish grey color. The pattern ranes. but the gene'al character is a bluLsh grey. I can state of the rebozo eoinethiug similar to what I have already Paid respecting the serape. If a^y traveller has seen a Mexican peasant woman without the rebozo. his observa lion has been more extensive than mine — they wear it on all occasions. The mode is thus. It is first hung over the head, the selvidgc touching the brow. One end is then seized in the right hand, and. with a dexterous whisk, flung over the left shoulder, where it hangs down the back. The face, b}- this operation becomes partially concealed, and it may be further hidden by drawing th^ edge of the rebozo down over the forehead. Frequently only one eye — and that always a dark one — gleams out from the peep-hole tlius constructed. The arms, otherwise nude, are gathered up under the folds of the rebozo. The right is buried in that end that traverses across the breast, and " over the left," while the sinister arm is free, beneath the hanging end of the scarf, and carries — concealed likewise — many curious articles that form the solicitude of a ^Mexican manola's life. I think the rebozo is three yards long, including fringe, oj half a yard in width. It is neither a graceful nor a useful garment, never rich looking, though I have seen several that cost thirty dollars each. They are bought at prices from a dollar up to that mentioned, though (as in the case of the eerape) an unpractised eye would hardly see any difference between the dollar rebozo, and that at thirty times the cost ! The rebozo is rarely worn by ladies of the haut ton. They have adopted the shawl, which, however, they manage in their own waj', drawing it over the (unbonnetted) head, aud clutching it in their tiny little claws under the elan. The face is thus partially concealed, and can be so wholly, whenever they choose, by a single jerk of their nimble fingersT^ The women carried jars filled with water. They k-nelt before smooth stones, and kneaded tortillas. They stirred chile and chocolate in earthern olios. They cooked frijoles in flat pans ; and, amidst all these occupations, they joked and laughed and chatted witk the men. Several men — officers, from their style of dress, came out of the portale and, after delivering orders to the guerillero's on guard, returned to the house. ._. 196 THE EIFLF. EANGEE8. Packages of what appeared to be merchandize, lay in one comer »T th« court. Around this were groups of aiTieros, in their red-leathern garments, securing their charge for the night ; and laying out their mule-packs in long rows by the wall. The arrieros of Mexico are generally men of the pure Spanish race — that is the head arrieros ; and, from all I saw of them, they are decidedly the best specimens of the genus homo to be met with in the country. They are celebrated for the virtue of honesty, which, in Mexico, ia a virtue. An arriero, with his high conical hat, his swarthy complexion, and his pointed beard, his leathern spenser, and brown calzoneros, his brilliant Berapffi and big spurs, is a most picturesque object. Bands of these, with their atajos, are c«nstantly meeting the traveller, reminding him of many a scene he may have read of or witnessed on the roads of old Spain. Over the opposite roofs — for our position was elevated — we could see the bright fields and forest, and far beyond the Cofre di Perote, and the undulat- ing outlines of the Andes. Above all, the white-robed peak cf Orizava rose up against the heavens like a pyramid of spotless snow. The sun had gone down behind the mountains, but his rays still rested upon Orizava, bathing its cone with a yellow light, like a mantle of burnished gold. Clouds of red, and white, an'^ purple, hung like a glory upon his track, and descending, rested upon the lower summits of the Cordillera. The peak Df the "star" alone appeared above the clouds, towering in sublime and soli- tary grandeur ! There was a picturesque loveliness about the scene — an idea of sublimity— that caused me for the moment to forget where I was, or that I was a captive. My dream was dispelled by the harsh voice of Jose, who, at that moment, came up with a couple of peons, carrying a large earthen dish that contained our supper. This consisted of black beans, with half a dozen tortillas ; but as we were all half famished, we did not offer any criticism on the quality of the viands. The dish was placed in our midst, and our arms were untied for the first time since our capture. There were neither knives, forks, nor spoons ; but Raoul showed us the Mexican fashion of " eating our spoons," and, twisting up the tortillas, we scooped and swallowed " right ahead." CHAPTER XL. ciiane's coortship. The dish was emptied in a " squirrel's jump," " Be my soul ! it ates purty well, black as it is," said Chane, looking rue- fully into the empty vessel. " It's got a worse complaint than the col«r Cudn't yez fetch us a thrifle more ov' it, my darlint boy ?" he added, squint ing up at Jose. " No entiende"* said the Mexican, shaking his head. " Och ! git out wid j^our tin days, bad luck to yer pitcher ; in tin days it's Murtagh Chane that'll ayther be takin his tay in purghathory, or atin bet- ther than black banes in some other part of the world." " No e9itiende" repeated the Mexican as before. " Tin days, indade ! Sure we ud be did wid hunger in half the time. We want the banes now." " No entiende, Seflor" again replied the man, " Go to owld Nick !" cried Chane, whose patience was now exhausted. " Que quiere ?" asked the Mexican, speaking to Raoul, who was I y this time convulsed with laughter. '• Phwit's that he sez, Raowl V inquired Chans, sharply. " lie says he don't understand you." " Thin spake to him yerself, Raoul. Till him we want more banes, and « few more ov thim pancakes, if he plazes." Raoul translated the Irishman's request. '■ No hay" answered the Mexican, shaking his forefinger in front o ?iis nose. This is pronounced no-i, " there is none ;" a phrase that even- reader, whj luay have travelled in Mexico, will recognise with a painful 'istinctnesa * Pronotinced no-in-ten-day lyb * • THE RIFLE KANGKES. Many a Sf*?ne. such as that of the Georgia hotel, described by Lieut. Sibley has occurred to the traveller in the land of Anahuac. " Well, iv yez won't go yerself, sind somebody else; it's a>l the same thing so yez bring us the ateables." " No entiende" said the man, with the same shake of the head. " Oh ! there agin, but it's no use ; yez understand me well enough, but yo don't want to bring the banes." " He tells you there is no more," said Raoul. " Oh '. iae desaving Judas ; and five hundred ov thim grazers atin ovei beyant there. No more banes ; oh. the lie !" '■ Frijoles* — no hay" said the jMe.?ican, guessing at the purport of Chane'a remarks. " Oh ! git out wid yer fray holeys ! there isn't the size of a flay of holinesa about the place. Git out !" Raoul, and indeed all of us, except the Irishman himself were bursting with laughter. ' " I'm chokin," said the latter, after a pause ; " ask him for wather, Raowl — sure he can't dony that — with that purty little sthrame boilin up undher our noses, as clear as the potj'een of Innishowen." Raoul asked for water, which we all needed. Our throats were as dry as charcoal. The Mexican made a sign to one of the women, who shortly after came up with an earthen jar filled with water. " Give it first to the Oaptin, Misthress," said Chane, pointing to me, " sarve all ayqually, but respict rank." The woman understood the sign^ and handed me the jar. I drank copi- ou.sly, passing it to my comrades, Cla3'ley and Raoul. Chane at length took the jar. but, instead of drinking immediately, as might have been expected, he set it between his knees, and looked quizzically up at the woman. "I say, my little darlint." said he, winking and poking her lightly under the ribs, " my little i\Ioochacha,t that's what thsy call thim — isnt it, Raoul ?" " Muchacha ? oh yes." " Well, thin, my pretty little moochacha cudn't yez 1 ye know what J mane? Cudn't yes — ? Oh! ye know well enough? — only a little — ^just mouthful to take the cowld taste aff the wather." ' ♦ Fronounoed /ray-holys. t Muchacha — girl ; pronounced as by Chane. It means a yt>ung girl, b\x has a BiOK ipecifij sense at times. " V^sitar lai muckachui," to visit the young ladies. THE RIFLE KANGEKS. IV'3 •' St entieruleP said the woman, smiling good-naturedly at Chanc's com;'--! gestures. "Ocli! the plague! there's that tin days agin — talk to her Rawoi. T'i! her what I mane." Rftoul translated his comrade's wishes. " Tell her, Raowl, I'ye got no money, bekase I have been robb'd, de ye set but I'll give her ayther of these saints for the smallest thrille of agwardent, and he pulled the images out of his jacket, as he spoke. The woman, seeing these, bent forward with an exclamation, and recoir nisiiig the crucifix with the images of the saint and virgin, dropped upon lie- knees, and kissed them fervently, uttering some words in a language half Spanish — Ijalf Aztec ! Rising up, she looked kindly at Chane, exclaiming, " Bueno Catolico ?" She then tossed the rebozo over her left shoulder, and hurried off across the yard. " De 3'.ez think. Raowl, she's gone after the licker ?" " I am sure of it," answered the Frenchman. In a few minutes the woman returned, and, drawing a small flask out. of the folds of her rebozo, handed it to Chane. The Irishman commenced undoing the string that carried his " relics." " W'liohov.thim d« yez want, Misthress— ^the saint, or the howly u other, or both ? — it's all the same to Murtagh." The woman observing what he was after, rushed forward, and, pla-ang her hands upon his, said in a kind tone : " No, Stnor ! Su profeccion necessita F." " Phwat dez she say, Raoul 1" "She says, keep them ; you will need their protection yourself." " Oh, be me sowl ! she's not far asthray then. I need it bad enough now , an a hape ov good they're likely to do me. They've hung there for tin ycara —both of thim ; an this nate little flask's the first binifit I iver resaved froaj aithcr of them. Thry ft. Captin. It'll do yez good." I took the bottle and drank. It was the chingarito — a bad sf)ecios o< agiiardiente* from the wild aloe — and hot as fire. A mouthful sufficerl. [ handed the flask to Claylc}', who drank more freely. Raoul followed suit and the bottle came back to the Irishman. • Literally, buraing walor ; and ik© name is by no meana iaappropriata. i^OO THE KIFLE EANGEKS. " Your hnth. oarlint," said he, nodding to the Mexican woman. May yea live till T wish ye did !" ^ The woman smiled, and repeated : " No entiende." " Oh ! nivir mind the tin days — we won't quarrel about that. Ter a swate ?rayteur," continued he, winking at the woman ; " but sure yer petticoats is mighty short ; an yez want a pair of stockingsf bad too — but niver mind — yez stand well upon thim illigant ankles — dade ye do ; and yez have a purty httle futt into the bargain." '• Que dice?" (what did he say?) asked the Mexican, speaking to Raoul •' Ue is complimenting you on the smallness of your feet," answered th« Frenchman. The woman was evidently pleased, and commenced cramping up — what waa in fact— a very small foot, into its faded satin slipper]^In regard to feet, all nations, I think, must yield the palm to Mexico. The females of that coun- try have the smallest feet and best formed ankles I ever saw. They usuallj wear slippers— rarely the bootee— and these, even upon the feet of the leperaa —the poorest peasant girls— must be silk or satin. The heel is generally down; the front part very low, scarcely covering the toes, and how they ir.anage to " hold on" to the tiny little thing— walking gracefully all the while — is a theorem that has puzzled a good many. But they do it, and we must set it down as a " sleight-of-foot" trick. " Till me, me dear," continued Chane, " are yez married ?' " Que dice ?" again asked the woman. " He wants to know if you are married ?" She smiled, waving her forefinger in front of her nose. Raoul informed the Irishman that this was a negative answer to his ques- tion. '•' By my sowl, thin," said Chane, " I wudn't mind marryin ye meself, and joinin the thribe— that is if they'll let me off from the hangin. Tell her that, Ra6wl.'' As desired, Raoul explained his comrade's last speech, at whicti*the woman laughed, but said nothing. " Silence gives consint. But tell her, Raowl, that T won't buy a pig in a poke ; they must first let me off from the hangin, de ye hear— tell her that." " El sefltrr esta muy allegre,^^ (the gentleman is very merry) said the woman ; and, picking up her jar, with a smile, she left us. t It fa rare to see the ankles of a Meiioaa paisana eaeed in aDjtbing bat tiuir owa '^ataral (and not very white) skins. THE RIFLE RANGERS, 201 " 1 sa/, Raowl. does she consint ?" "She hasn't made up her mind, yet." " By the holy vistment, thin it's all up wid Murt ! The sair.ts won't SftVfi bim. Take aJiit*ysr dhrap, Baowl 1" \ CHAPTER XLI. THE DANCE OF THE TAGAROTA. Night fell, and the blazing fagots threw their glare over the patio, strik- ing; upon objects picturesque at all times, but doubly so under the red light of the pine fires. The grouping of guerilleros — their broad, heavy hats, many of them plumed — their Ion;;, black hair, and pointed beards — their dark, Hashing eyes — their teeth, tierce and white — the half-savage expression of their features — the/r costumes, high-colored and wUd-hke — all combined in impressing us with strange feelinj^s. The mules — the mustangs — the 'dogs — the peons — the slippered wenches with their coarse, trailing tresses — the* low roofs — the iron-barred windows— the orange-trees by the fountain — the palms hanging over the wall — the glistening cocuyos — were all strange sights to us. The sounds that rang in our ears were not more familiar. Even the voices of the men, unlike the Saxon, sounded wild and sharp. It was the Spanish language spoken in the patois of the Aztec Indian. In this the guerilleros chatted, and sang, and swore. There was a medley of other sounds, not less strang6..to our ears — as the dogs howled and barked their bloodhound-notes — as the mustangs neighed, or the mules himiied — as the heav}' sabre clanked or the huge spur tinkled its tiny l(f Us — as the majas. sittnig by some group touched the strings of their baudolons, and chanted their half-Indian songs. By a blazing pile, close to where we sate., a party of guerilleros, with theii women, were dancing the Tagarota — a species of Omdango. The men bad thrown aside their heavy hats and accoutrements. Some of them had unbuttoned the legs of their calsoneros, and tucked them up to the Waist, 4 la Bedouin. The women had cast off their rcbozos, leaving a li^ht TIIE KIFLE KANGKRS. 203 eloeveless chemise, as the only covering between their bosoms and the light, while their flaming petticoats were short enough to have suited a Paraian coryphee. ■ Tv\-o men, seated upon raw-hide stools, strummed awaj-- upon a pair of bandolons, while a third pinched and pulled at the strings of an old guitar- all three aiding the music with their shrill, disagreeable voices. The dancers formed the figure of a parallelogram, each standing opposite hia partner, or rather moving, for they were never at rest, but kept constantly beating time with feet, head, and hands. The last they struck against their cheeks and thighs ; and, at intervals, clapped them together. One would suddenly appear as a hunchback, and, dancing out into the centre of Uie figure, perform various antics to attract his partner. After a while she would dance up — deformed also — and the two bringing their bodies in contact, and performing various disgusting contortions, would give place. to another pair. These would appear without arms or legs, walking on their knees, or sliding along on their hips ! One danced with his head under his arm, and another with one leg around his neck ; all eliciting more or Jess laughter, as the feat was more or less comical. During the dance, every species of deformity was imitated and caricatured — for this is the Tagarota. It was a series of grotesque and repul- sive pictures. Some of the dancers flingina themselves flat, would roll across the open space without moving hand or foot. This always elicited applausoi, and we could not help remarking its resemblance to the gymnastics we had lately been practising ourselves. I have seen the Tagarota but once, and I wish never to see it again. I believe that it is a species of dance, the stranger in Mexico will have but few opportunities of witnessing. It is not every ono who may have the good or ill fortui e to be in the company where it is danced. I am not certain of the orthography of the word. I never saw it written, and [ have followed the orthoepy as closely as I could. " Oh ! be me sowl ! We can bate yez at that !" cried Chane, who appe» rsJ to be highly amused at the Tagarota, making his comments as the danc-o went 01^. I was sick of the scene, and watched it no longer. My eyes turned to tha yortale^ and I looked anxiously through the half drawn curtains. " It is strange I have seen nothing of them ! Could they have turned off on some other route 1 No — they must be here. Narcisso's promise for to-night '■ lie. at, least, is here. And she? — perhaps occupied within — gay, happy, indif 'Ol THE KIFLE KANGER8. The pain shot afresh thromgh my heart S\iddenly the curtain Tvas drawn aside, and a brilliant picture appeared ithin — brilliant but to me — like the glimpse which some condemned spirit 'ght catch over the walls of Paradise. OflBcers in bright uniforms, and uriongst these I recognised the elegant person of Dubrosc. Ladies in rich iresses, and amongst these . II er sister, too, was there, and the DofJT Joaquina, and half-a-dozen other ladies rustling in silks, and blazing v( jewels ! Several of the gentlemen — young oflBcers of the band — wore the pictures n r;\stume of the guerilleros. • They were forming for the dance. " Look, Captain !" cried Clayley, " Don Cosme and his people, by the hvir ^ sarthquake !" " Hush ! do not touch me — do not speak to me !" I felt as though my heart would stop respiration. It rose in my bosom, and seemed to hang, for minutes, without beatmg. My throat felt dry and husky, and a cold perspiration broke out upon me. " He approaches her — he asks her to dance, she consents ! No ! she refuses* Brave girl ! She has strayed away from the dancers, and looks over the balustrade. She is sad. Was it a sigh that caused her bosom to rise ? Ha ' he comes again. She is smiling ! — he touches her hand ! " Fiend ! false woman !" I shouted at the top of my voice. 1 sprang up impelled by passion. I attempted to rush toward them. My feet wer bound, and I fell heavily upon my face ! ,^rhe guards seized me, tying my hands. My comrades, too, were re '>und. We were dragged over the stones into a smaJl room in one corner o i?;a patio. TJie door was bolted and locked, and we were left alone. CHAPTER XLII. A KISS IN THE DARK. It Tfould be impossible to describe my feelings, as I was flung upon th« floor of our prison. This was cold, damp, and filthy ; but I heeded not thes« grievances. Greater sorrows absorbed the less. There is no torture so racking — no pain so painful, as the throbbings of a jealous he^rt ; but how much harder to bear under circumstances like mine ! She could sleep — smile — dance — dance by my prison, and with my jailor ! I felt spiteful — vengeful. I was stung to a desire for retaliation ; and along with this, came an eagerness to live for the opportunity of i«dulging in this passion. I began to look around our prison, and see what chances it offered for escape. " Good Heavens ! if our being transferred to the cell should destroy the plans of Narcisso. How is he to reach us 1 The door is double-locked, and a sentry is pacing without !" After several painful efforts, I raised myself upon my feet, propping my body against the side of the prison. There was an aperture — a window about as large as a loop-hole for musketry. I spun myself along the wall, until I stood directly under it. It was just the height of my chin. Cautioning my companions to silence, I placed my ear to the aperture and listened. A low Bound came wailing from the fields without. I did not heed this. I knew it was the wolf. It rose again louder than before. A peculiarity in the howi struck me, and I turned, calling to Raoul. " What is it, Captain ?" inquired he. THE EIFLE KANGERS '■ Do jou knon- if the prairie wolf is found here ?" " 1 «o no't know if it be the true prairie wolf. Captain. There is one some ^hing like— 'the coi/ofe." I returned to the aperture, and listened. *' Again the howl of the prairie wolf — the bark ! By Ueavens ! it is Lia coin!" Now it ceased f(H- several minutes, and then came again ; but from another direction. '' What is to be done ? If I answer him, it will alarm the sentry. 1 will wait until he comes closer to the wall." I could tell that he was creeping nearer and nearer. Finding he had not been answered, the howling ceased. I stood listenmg eageily to every sound from without. My comrades, who had been apprised of Lincoln's proximity, had risen to their feet, and were leaning against the walls. We were about half an hour in this situation, without exchanging a word when a light tap was heard from without, and a soft voice whispered — Ihila Capitan .'" I placed my ear to the aperture. The whisper was repeated — it was not Linor 'i». That was clear. Jt must be I^arcisso. " Qnien ?" I asked. " Yo, Capitan.'" I reccgnisod the voice that had addressed me in the morning. " It is Narcisso." '■' Can you place your hands in the aperture ?" said he. No ; they are tied behind my back." ' Can you bring them opposite, then ?" " No ; I am standing on my toes, and my wrists are still far below the sill." " Are your comrades all similarly bound ?" " All." " Let one get on each side, and raise you up on their shoulders." Wondering at the astuteness of the young Spaniard, I ordered Chace and Raonl to lift me as he directed. When my wrists came opposite the window, T cautioned them to hold on- Presently a soft hand touched mine, passing all over them. Then I felt ?hfl blade of a knife pressed against the thong, and in an instant it leaped from my wrists. I ordered the men to set me down, and I listened as before. THE KIFLE KANGERS. ■ 207 " Here is the knife ; you can relea5?e your own ankles, and those of your comrades. This paper will direct you further. You will find the lamp inside." A knife, with a folded and strangely shining note, were passed through by the speaker ! " And now, Capitan — one favor," continued the voice, in a trem^Mug tone " Ask it— ask it !" " I would kiss 3^our hand, before we part." " Dear — noble boy !" cried I, thrusting my hand into the aperture. " Boy ! ah — true — you think me a boy. I am no boy, Captain, but a woman — one who loves you with all her blighted, broken heart !"- " Oh, heavens ! it is then ! dearest Guadalupe !" " Ha ! I thought as much — now I will not^-but no — what good would it be to me ? Nn — no — no ! I will keep my word." This appeared to be uttered in soliloquy and the tumwlt of my thoughts prevented me from noticing the strangeness of these expressions. I thought of them afterwards. " Your hand — your hand !" T ejaculated. " You would kiss my hand ? do so !" The little hand was thrust through, flashing with brilliants. I caught it in mine, covering it with kisses. It seemed to yield to the fervid pressure of my lips. " Oh !" I exclaimed, in the transport of ray feelings, "let us not part — let us fly together ! I was wronging you, loveliest, dearest Guadalupe " A slight exclamation, as if from some painful emotion, and the hand was plucked away, leaving one of the diamonds in my fingers. The next moment, the voice whispered, with a strange sadness of tone as I thought: " Adieu, Capitan, adieu ! In this world of life we luiver know who beai lores us .'" I was puzzled — bewildered. I called out, but there was no answer. 1 listened until the patience of my comrades was well nigh exhausted, but still there was no voice from without ; and, with a strange feeling of uneasiness and wonderment, I commenced cuttiag the thongs from my ankles. Having set Raoul at liberty, I handed him the knife, and proceeded to open the note. Inside I found the cocuyo, and, using it as I had been already in Btructed, I reaosite cliff, and fell with a heavy plash upon the water below. He was the last of the pack ! CHAPTER XLVII. AN INDIAN RUSE A WILD shou^ \iOw drew our attention, and, looking up the creek, we saw O'JT pursuers ju^t dei*ouching from the vroods. They were all mounted, and pressing their mustangs down to the bank, they halted, with a strange cry. " What is that, Raoul ? can you tell the meaning of that cry?" " They are disappointed, Captain. They must dismount, and foot it. like ours;eIves ; there is no crossing for horses." " Good. Oh ! if we had but a rifle each ! This pass — " I looked down the gorge. >7s could haye defended it against the whole party ; but we were unarmed. The guerJUi?ros now dismounted, tying their horses to the trees, and pre- paring to cross over. One, who seemed to be their leader — judging from his brilliant dress and plumes — had already advanced into the stream, and stood upon a projecting rock, with his sword drawn. He was not more than three hundred jards from the position we occupied on the bluflf. " Do you think you can reach him ?" I said to Lincoln, who had re- loaded his rifle, and stood eyeing the Mexican, apparently calculating tho distance. "I'm fc'.;rd, Oap'n, he's too fur. I'd guv a half year's sodger-pav for a r;iock out o' the Major's Dutch gun. We kin loo.se nothin in tr3in. Murter. will ver stan afore me ? thar aint no kiver an the feller's watchm. He'll dodge like a duck, if he sees me takin sight on im." Chane threw his large body in front; and Lincoln, cautioasl}' "slipping hia rifle over his comrade's shoulder, sighted the Mexican. The latter had noticer' the manoauvre ; and. perceiving the danger he had thrust him.^elf into, was- about turning to leap down from the rock, when the rifle cracked — his plumed hat flew off. and, throwing out his arms, he fell TnE RIFLE BANGERS. 223 With adea.. phmgc upon tlio water ! The next moment his hod}- was sucked into the current; and. foil- wed b}- his hat and plumes, was borne down the Cftfion with the velocity of lightning ! Several of his comrades uttered aery of terror; and those who had followed him out into the open channel, ran back towards the bank, holding them- selves behind the rocks. A voice, louder than the rest, was neard ex clainiing — •'• C'arajo ! guarda- -s — esta el rifle del diablo !" (Look o it ! .t is the rlcvil's rifle.) It was doubtless th' comrade of Jose, who had been in the skirmish of La V^rgen. and had felt ' tie bullet of the spitz-n&del. The guerilleros, awed by the death of their leader — for "c waf Yaflez who had fallen — crouched behind the rocks. Even those who nad ' emained with the horses — sis hu idred yards off — sheltered themselv ;s be rand trees and projections of the lank! The party nearest us kept loading md firing their escopettes. Their Dullets flattened upon the face of the cliff or whistled over our heads. Clayley, Chane, Raoul, and myself, being unaimed, had thrown ourselves behind the scarp, to avoid '• catching a strsy sho< ." Not so Lincoln, who stood boldly out on the highest point of the bluff, ag if disdaining to dodge their bullets. I never saw a man so completeh' soarmg above the fear of death. There was a sublimity about him that I remember being struck with at the time ; and I remember, too, feeling the inferiority of my own courage. It was a stupendous picture, as he stood like a colossus, clutching his deadly rifle, and looking over his long brown beard at the skulking and cowardly foe. lie stood without a motion — without even winking — although the leaden hail hurtled past his head, and cut the grass at his feet, with that peculiar " zip-zip," so well remembered by the soldier, who has pas.sed the ordeal of a battle ! There was something in it awfully grand — awful even to us — no wonder that it awed our enemies. I was about to call upon Lincoln to fall back, and shelter himself, when I saw him throw up his rifle to the level. The next instant he dropped the butt to the ground, with a gesture of disappointment. A moment after, the manoeuvre was repeated, with a similar result ; and I could hear the hunter gritting his teeth. " The cowardly skunks !" muttered he, •' they keep a-gwine like a bull's tail in fly-tiiae." in fact, every time Lincoln brought his piece to a level, the gueriilorod & eked, until not a head could be seen. 224 TIIK Ji\]-LK KANGKRS. " They ain't a? '^oorl as thar o'.vn rlog^," continued \he hnntor. ti;rnin/r a^-ray from the c!itf. " If we lied a vvheen ofloo.se rooks, Cap'n, vvu inout k>'t'|) th<:n down thar till doom-da3^" A movement was now visible among the guerilleros. About one half of the party were seen to mount their horses, and <2a!Iop off up the creek. •' They're gone round by the ford," said Rac jI, " it's not over a mile an?! a half. They can cross with their horses there j and will be on us m half an hour !" What was to be done ? There was no timber to hide us now — no '.-haj 'aral ! The country behind the cliff was a sloping table, with here and there a stunted palm-tree, or a bunch of Spaniah bayonet.* This would be no shelter, for, from the point we occupied — the most elevated on the ridge — we ^vJd have descried an object of human size five miles off. Here the woods began ; but could we reach them before our pursuers would overtake us "i Had the guerilleros all gone off by the ford, we should hkve returned to the creek bottom ; but a party remained below, and we were cut off from our former hiding-place. We must, therefore, strike for the woods. But first'detoy the party below, else they would be after us; and experi- ence had taught us that these Mexicans could run like hares. This was accomplished by an old Indian trick, that both Lincoln and myself had practiced betrre. It would not have " fooled" a Texan Ranger, but it succeeded handsom -ly with the guerilleros. We first threw o irselves on the ground, in such a position fnat only our heads could be seen 'ny the enemy, who still kept blazing away from their escopettes. After a sh^rt while, our faces gradually sunk behind the crest of the ridge, until nothing *>ut our forage caps appeared above the sward. We lay thus for some moments, showing a face or two at intervals. Our time was precious ; and we could not perform the pantomime to perfection ; but we were not dealing with Comanches, and for " Don Diego" it was sufiiciently artistical. Presently we slipped our heads, one by one, out of their covers, leaving the Sve caps upon the grass, inclining to each other in the most natural positions. We then stole back, lizard-fashion, and after sprawling a hundred yards or so, sprang to our feet and ran like scared dogs. We could tell that wg had duped the party below, as we heard them firing away at our empty caps, long after we had left the scene of our late adventure ! '^ The name of a peouliar »^d ver; beautiful palmetto :und in both Meuoo and Hm 'aited States. *ltf CHAPTER XLVIH. Many an uneasy look was thro\yn over our snoulders, as we struggled down that slope. Our strength' was urged to its utmost; and this was not iiinch. for we had all lost blood in our encounter with the sleuth-hounds ; and ft!t vrtak and fsxint. We were baffled, too, by a storm — a fierce tropical storm. The rain, thick and licavy, plashed in our faces, and made the ground slippery under our feet. 1 he lightning flashed in our eyes, and the electric sulphur shortened our breathing. Still we coughed, and panteti, and staggered onward ; nerved by tlic knowledge that death was behind us. i '-hall never forget that fearful race. I thought it would never end. I can only liken it to one of those dreams, in which we are always making endeavors to escape from some horrible monster, and are as often hindered by a strange and mysterious helplessness. I remember it now as then. I have often repeated that flight in my sleep, and always awoke with a feeling of shud- dering horror. We had got within five hundred yards of the timber. Five hundred yards is not nmch to a fresh runner ; but to us toiling along at a trot, that much more resembled a walk, it seemed an infinity. A small prairie, with a stream beyond, separated us from the edge of the woods — a smooth sward without a single tree. We had entered upon it — Raoul, who was fight of foot, being iu the advance, while Lincoln, from choice, hung in the rear. An exclamation from the hunter caused us to look back. We were too much fotigued and worn out to be frightened at the sight. Along the cresi 226 THE KIFLK KA.NGERS. of the hill an hundred horsemen were dashing after us, in full gallop ; and the next moment, their vengeful screams were ringing in our ears ! " Now. do yer best, boj^s," cried Lincoln, " an I'll stop the cavortin of that ere foremost feller, afore he gits much furrer." We trailed our bodies on. but we could hear the guerilleros fast closmg upon us. The bullets from their escoppettes whistled in our ears, and cut the grass among our feet, I saw Raoul, who had reached the timber, turn sud denly round, and walk back. He had resolved to share our fate. " Save yourself, Raoul !" I called with my weak voice ; but he could not have heard me, above the din. I saw him still walking toward us. I heard the screams behind ; I heard the shots, and the whizzing of bullets, and tho fierce shouts. I heard the clatter of hoofs, and the rasping of sabres, as they leaped out of their iron sheaths ; and among these. I heard the crack of Lincoln's rifle, and the wild yell of the hunter! Then a peal of thunder drowned all other gonnds — the heavens, one moment, seemed on fire, then black, black. I felt the stifling smell of sulphur— a hot flash— a quick strokf> f-om some invisible hand, and I sank senseless to the earth ! ********* Something cool in my throat, and over my face, brought back the con pciousness that I lived. It was water. I opened my eyes, but it was some moments before I could see that Raoul was bending over me, and laving my temples with water from his boot ! 1 muttered some half-coherent inquiries. 'It was a co7ip cVcdair, Ca{>tain," said Raoul. Good heavens 1 We had been struck by Lightning ! Raoul, being in the advance, had escaped. The Frenchman left me and went to Clayley, who, with Chane and the hunter, lay close by — all three, as I thought, dead. They were pale aa corpses, with here and there a spot of purple, or a hvid line traced over their skins, while their lips presented the whitish bloodless hue of death! " Are they dead ?" I asked feebly. " I think not— we shall see ;" and the Frenchman poured some water into Clayley's mouth. The latter sighed heavily, and appeared to revive. Raoul passed on to the hunter, who, as soon as he felt the water, started to his feet, and clutching hia comrade fiercely by the throat, exclaimed : *' Yer cussed catamount 1 yer wud hang me. wud yer ?" THE EIFLE RANGKRS. 221 Seeing who it was. he stopped suddenly, and looked round with an air of extreme bewilderment. Ilis eye now fell upon the ritie ; and all at cuce seeming to recollect himself, he staggered toward it, and picked it up. Th-^n, as if by instinct, he passed his hand into his pouch, and coolly commen' ed loading ! ' While Raoul was busy with Clayley and the Irishman, I had risen to » \7 feet, and looked back over the prairie. The rain was falling in torrents, ard the lightning still flashed at intervals. At the distance of fifty paces a bla<-k mass was lying upon the ground, motionless — a mass of men and horses, mingled together as they had fallen in their tracks ! Here and there a singl'i horse and his rider lay prostrate together. Beyond these, twenty or thirtr hor.«emen fvere gallopping in circles over the plain, and vainly endeavoring to head their fnghtened steeds towards the point where we were. These, like Raonl, had escaped the stroke. " Come." cried th? Frenchman, who had now resuscitated Clayley and Ohane, " we have not a moment to lose. The mustangs will get over their fright, and these fellows will be down upon us." Ilis advice w^s instantl}"- followed, and, before the guerilleros could manage their scarsd horses, we had entered the thicket, and were crawling aloi^ Odder the wet leaves. CHAPTER XLIX. A BRIDGE or MONKEVa, ' Raotjl thought that their superstition might prevent the enemy ftoni pur •ing us further. They would consider the liirhtning as an interference from iibove. But we had little confidence in this; and, notwithstanding our ?xhaustion, toiled on through the chapparal. Wearied with over-exertion, half 'nmished — for we had only commenced eating when roused from our repast — et to the skin, cut by the bushes, and bitten by the poisoned teeth of the lood-hounds, blinded, and bruised, and bleeding, we were in but poor tra- relling condition. Even Lincoln, whose buoyancy had hitherto borne up, appeared cowed am" broken. For the first mile or two he seemed vexed at .something, and •' on ■)f sorts," stopping every now and again, and examining his rifle in a kind o' 'wilderment. Feeling that he was once more " in the timber " he began to come t himself. " Thet sort o' an enemys new ter me," he said, speaking to Raoul. " D onp the thing ! it makes the airth look yelier !" 'You'll .see better by and bye," replied his comrade. " T had need ter. Rowl, or I'll butt my brainpan agin one of these yecr plin.s. Whooh ! I cudn't sight a bar, if we were to scare him up jest now. About five miles farther on, we reached a small stream. The storm bad '■'lated, Imt the stream was swollen with the rain, and we could not cross it. We were now a safe distance from our pursuers — at least we thought so — and ivo resolved to "pitch our cauip" upou the bank. I TUK '.ii7\.K k\ngp:ks. 229 Tiiis was a simple operation, and consisted in pitching ourselves to the ground, under the shade of a spreading tree. Raoul, who was a tireless spirit kindled a fire, and commenced knocking down the nats of the corozo palm, that hung in clusters over our heads. We dried our wet garments, and fjiucoln set about dressing our numerous wounds. In this surgical process, m'T shirts suffered severely ; but the skill of the hunter soothed our swelling limbs, and, after a frugal dinner upon palm-nuts and jntahayas, we stretched ourselves along the green sward, and were soon asleep. I was in that dreamy state — half sleeping, half waking — when I was aroused by a strange neise, that sounded like a multitude of voices — the voicca of children. Raising my head, I perceived the hunter in the attitude of listen- ing. " What is it, Bob ?» I inquired "Dod rot me if I kin tell, Cap'n ! Yeer, Row! ! what's all this yeer hannerin ?" " It's the comadreja" muttered the Frenchman, half asleep, " The comb o' \ick ! Talk sense, Rowl— what is it ?" " Monkeys, then," replied the lutteij waking up, and laughiug at his com- panion. ' Thar's a good grist on em, then, I reckin," said Lincoln, throwing himsell back unconcernedly. " They are coming towards the stream ; they will most hkely cross by the rocks vonder," observed Raoul. " How — swim it ?" T asked. " It is a torrent there !" ' Oh. no," answered the Frenchman ; '" monkeys would rather go into fire than water. If they cannot leap the stream, they will bridge it." ' Bridge it ! and how 7" " Stop a moment, Captain — you shall see." The half-human voices now sounded nearer, and we could perceive that the animals were approaching the spot where we lay. Presently they appeared upon the opposite bank, headed by an old grey chieftain, and officered like so many soldiers. They were, as Raoul had stated, of the comadieja, or ring- tailed tribe. One^an aide-camp, or chief pioneer, perhaps — ran out upon a projecting rock, and, after looking carefully across the stream, as if calculating the dis- tance, .scampered back, and appeared to communicate with the leader. This produced a movement in the troop. Commands were issued, and fatigue jwrties weie detailed, and marched to the front. Meanwhile, several of th« 230 TBK KTFLK RANGERS. comaurcjas — engineers, no doubt — ran along the bank, examining the trees :n both sides of the arroyo. At length, they all collected around a tall Cottonwood, that grew over the narrowest part of the stream, and twenty or thirty of them scampered up its trunk. On reaching a high point, the foremost — a strong fellow — ran out upon a limb, and, taking several turns of his tail around it, slipped otf, and hung head downwards. The next on the limb — also a stout one — climbed down the body of the first, and whipping his tail tightly around the neck and fore arm of the latter, dropped off in his turn, and hung head down. The third repeated this manoeuvre upon the second, and the fourth upon the third, and so on, until the last one upon the string rested his fore paws upon the ground ! The living chain now commenced swinging backwards and forwards, like the pendulum of a clock. The motion was slight at first, but gradually increased, the lowermost minkey striking his hands violently on the earth as he passed the tangent of the jscillating curve. Several others upon the limbs s. sove aided the movement. This continued until the monkey at the end of the chain was thrown among the branches of a tree on the opposite bank. Here, after two or three vibra- tiont, he clutched a limb, and held fast. This movement was executed adroitly, just at the culminating point of the oscillation, in order to save the intermediate links from the violence of a too sudden jerk ! The «kain was now ftist at both ends, forming a complete suspension bridge, over which the whole troop, to the number of four or five hundred, passed with the rapiditj' of thought ! It was one. of the most comical sights I ever beheld, to witness the quizzicak expression of countenances along that living chain ! Tlie troop was nov- on the other side, but how were the animals, forming the bridge, to get themselves over 1 This was the question that suggested itself. Manifestly, by number one letting go his tail. But then the point d'appui on the other side was much lower down, and number one, with half-a- dozen of his neighbors, would be dashed against the opposite bank, or soused into the water. Here, then, was a problemn, and we waited with some curiosity for its so< Intion. It was soon solved. A monkey was now seen attaching his tail to the lowest on the bridge ; another girdled him in a similar manner, and another, and so on, until a dozen more were added to the string. These last were aU powerful fellows; and, running up to a high limb, they lifted the bridge into A position almost hoiizoulal. THE RirLK RANGERS. 231 Tlien a scream from the last monkpr;/ of the new formation warned the tail end that all was ready ; and thoncxt moment the whole cliain was swung over, and landed safely on the opposite bank. The lowermost links now dropped off like a melting candle, while the higher ones leaped to the branches, and came down by the trunk. The whole troop then scampered ofif into the chapparal, and disappeared ! " Aw, be the powers of Moll Kelly ! av thim little crayteurs hasn't moro sinse than the humans av these parts. It's a quare counthry, any how. Ba ne sowl ! it bates Bannagher intirely !" A general laugh followed the Irishman's remarks ; and we all sprang to our feet, refreshed by our sleep, and lighter in spirits. The stoi^m had disappeared, and the sun, now setting, gleamed in upon us through the broad leaves of the palms. The birds were abroad once more — ■ brilliant creatures — uttering their sweet songs. Parrots and troupiales flashed around our headji, and chattered in the branches above. The stream nad become fordable, and, leaving our " lair," we crossed over, and struck inta Ae woods '»n the opposite sido. CHAPTER L. THE JAR0CH08. Wb headed toward the National Bridge. Raoul h'id a friend—half way on the route, as old comrade upon whom he could depend. We should find refresliinent there ; and, if not a bed a roof and a petate. Ilis ranche was in a secluded spot, near the road that leads to the rinconada of San Martin. We should not be likely to meet any one, as it was ten miles off; and it would be late when we reached it. It was late, near midnight, when we dropp&l in upon the contrahandista — for such was the friend of Raoul— but he an^* his family were still astir, under *he light of a very dull wax candle. Jose Antonio .hat was his name, was a little " sprung" at the five bare headed appariticas that • *■ so suddenly upon him ; but recognising Raoul, w" were cordially w i. Our host was a spare, bony, old fellow, in leathern jacket and calsoneros, with a keen shrewd eye, that took m our situ- ation at a single glance, and saved the Frenchman a great deal of explauatioa Notwithstanding the cordiality with which his friend received him. I noticed that Raoul seemed uneasy about something, as he glanced around the room ; for the ranche — a small cane structure — had only one. There were two women stirring about — the wife of the contrahandista, and fiis daughter, a plump good-looking girl of eighteen or thereabout, " No han ceflado, cabaUeros ?" (You have not supped, gentlemen) inquired, or rather affirmed, Jose Antonio, for our looks had answered the question iefJOTe it was asked. "M comiho—ni almorzado.^^ (Nor dined; Nor breakfasted) ; replied Raoul with a grin. THE KTFLE UANGKRS. 233 CarramhoJ^—Rafaela — Jesusiia /" shouted pur host, with a sign ; such as, among the Mexicans, often conveys a whole chapter of intelligence. The effect was magical. It sent Jesusita (Little Jesus J to her knees before the tortilla stones ; and Rafaela, Jose's wife, seized a string of tassajo, and plunged it into the olla. Then the little palm-leaf fan Was handled ; and the charcoa? blazed and crackled ; and the beef boiled ; and the black beans simmered j and the chocolate frothed up, and we all felt happy under the prospect ol a savory supper. ^ T^ It ma}^ appear strange to some Christians, when they learn that the name of the Saviour is much used as a surname among the i\Iexicans. Such, how- ever, is the fact ; and what is equall}' strange to a Saxon foreigner, it is used indifferently as far as regards sex. Men as well as women carry this appel- lation. Tasajo. or jerk beef is much used in all Spanish countries where salt is scarce. It is beef cured by being cut into long strings and dried in the sun. It is generally eaten in hashes, stews, &c., and cooked by the Mexicans with chile Colorado, is not bad eating. It frequently, however, by its smell, sug- gests unpleasant ideas of decomposition. D think that any one who has spent a week among the Mexican peasantry- will recognise these little incidents. Cooking is accomplished almost every- where by charcoal. This proceeds from the scarcity of fuel in nearly ail parts of the country. There are no chimneys therefore, as there is no smoke. There are no grates nor stoves, and no great fires for people to warm them- selves at. The climate does away with the necessity of these things. There are not a dozen houses in Mexico where you might sit by a fire — except in their kitchens — and the few fire-places I have seen were luxuries of the wealthy, kept for some peculiar visit from the northern winds. In the cot- tage you find a bank of painted mason-work as high as a table. It is fre- quently in the centre of the cottage in the cane huts of the tierra caliente but oftener built against the side. Several square holes, nine inches square are .sunk on the top and near the edge ; ind from the bottoms of these, sina!/ apertures run out horizontally to the sides of the bank. The charcoal ia placed in these little wells and ignited. It is fanned by means of the hori xontal apertures below. This structure theL is a brazero, found in alraosS every Mexican house ; of course larger and containing a greater number of charcoal wells, in the kitchens of the wealthy, i I had noticed that, notwithstanding all the bright prospects of a good supper, Raoul seemed uneasy. In the corner I discovered the cause of hia ^34 THE RIFLE E ANGERS. Bolici*^^udc, in the shape of a small spare n.an. wearing the shovel hat, and black capote of a priest. I knew that my comrade was not partial to priests, and that he would sooner have trusted Satan himself than one of the tribe ; and I attributed his uneasiness to this natural dislike. '• Who is he. An tone ?" I heard him whisper to the contrabandista. ^' The cure of San Martin," was the reply. 'lie is new, then '' said Raoul. " Hombre de bten,^^ (a good man) answered the Mexican, nodding as he Bpoke. Raoul seemed satisfied, and remained silent. I could not help noticing the "hombre de bien" myself ; and no more could [ help fancying, after a short observation, that the ranche was indebted for the honor of his presence, more to the black e^es of Jesusita, thxit to any zejv^ on his part, regarding the spiritual welfare of the contrabandista. There was a villanous expression upon his lip, as he watched the girl moving over the floor ; and, once or twice. I caught him scowling upon Chane, who, m his usual Irish way, was '• blarneying " with her, and helping her to fan the charcoal. " Where's the Padre ?" whispered Raou!, to our host. '' He was in the Rinconada this morning." *' In the RJBConada !" exclaimed the Frenchman, starting. _^ " They're gone down to the bridge. The band has had a fandango y&s our battles were jocularly termed by the Jlexicans), with your people, and lost some men. They say they have killed a good many stragglers along the road." " So he was in the Rinconada, you say ? and this morning too ?" inquired Raoul, in a half soliloquy, and without heeding the last remarks of ^^e con- trabandista. " We've got to look sharp then," he added. '' There's no danger," replied the other, " if you keep from the road. Your people have already reached El Plan, and are preparing to attack the Pass of the Cerro. El Cojo* they say, has twenty thousand men to defend it." During this dialogue, which was carried on whispers, I had noticed the little Padrie shifting about uneasily on his Seat. At ;ts conclusion he rose up and bidding our host " buenas noches .'" was about to withdraw, when Lm + " The lamo one," a name given in derision to Santa Anna, and given by his own eounlryaien, in whoso lause he lost the very leg which has rendered him eligible to tha appellation. THE EIFLE EANQKKS. 235 coin, who had been quietly eyeing him for some time, with that sharp search ing look peculiar to men of his kidney, jumped up, and placing himself before the door, exclaimed in a drawling emphatic tone, '"AV), yer dotft /" " Que cosaV^ (what's the matter ?) asked the Padre indignantly. " Kay or no Kay — Cosser or no Cesser — yer don't go out o' here, afore w . do. Rowl, axe yer friend for a piece o' twine, will yer ?" The Padre appealed to our host, and he, in turn, appealed to Raoul. The Mexican was in a dilemma. He dared not offend the Cure. and. on the other hai^d. he did not wish to dictate to his old comrade Raoul. Moreover, the fierce hunter, who stood like a huge giant in the door, had a voice in the. matteT j anql therefore Jose Antonio had three minds to consult at one time. " It aint Bob Linkin id infringe the rules of hospertality," said the hunter " but this yeer's a peculiar case — an I don't like the look of that ar priest, us how yer km fix it." Raoul, however, sided with the contrabandista, and explained to Lincoln that the Padre was the peaceable cure of the neighboring village, and thi friend of Don Antonio; and the hunter, seeing that I d-.d not interpo.se — foi at the moment I was in one of, those moods of abstraction, and scarcely noticed what was going on — permitted the priest to pass out. I was recalled to myself, more by some peculiar expre.ssions. which I heard Lincoln mutter- ing, after it was over, than by the incidents of the scene itself. The occurrence had rendered us all somewhat uneasy ;' and we^resolved upon swallowing our suppers hastily, and, after pushing, forward some dis- tance, to sleep in the woods. The tortillas were now ready, and the pretty Jesusita was pouring out the chocolate ; so we set to work like men who had appetites. The supper was soon dispatched, but our host had some 'puros in the house — a luxury we had not- enjoyed lately ; and hating to hurry away from such comfortable quarters, we determined to stay, and take a smoke. We had hardly lit our cigars, when Jesusita, who had gone to the door came hastily back, exclaiming : " Papa — papa ! hay gentcfuera .'" (Papa, there are people outside). As we sprang to our feet, several shadow's appeared through the opc^ walls. Lincoln seized hjs rifle, and ran to the door. The next moment be rushed back, shoutins; out* " Hell ! I toid yer so." ■ 2o6 I'^'R RIFI.E RANGKR8. And, dashing his huge body against the back of the ranche, he broka through the cane pickets with a crash ! We were hastening to follow him, when the frail structure gave way ; and we found ourselves buried, along with our host and his women, under a heavy thatch oi tule (a species of gigantic rushes) and palm leaves. We heard the crack of our comrade's rifle without — the scream of a victim —the reports of pistols and escopettes— the yelling of savage men — and then the roof was raised again ; and we were pulled out and dragged down among che trees and tied to eir trunks a-" J taunted and goaded, and kicked and euiTed, by the most villanous looking set of desperadoes, it has ever been my misfortune to fall among. They seemed to take a delight in abusing us — yell- ing all the while, like so many demons let loose. t)ur late acquaintance — the cure — was among them ; and it was plain thaf Le had brought the party on us. Ilis "reverence" looked high and low t<»' cJncolQ ; but, to his great mortification, the hunter had escaped. CHAPTER Lf. PADRE JARAUTA. We were not long in learning into whose hands we had fallen ; tor th« Dame, " Jarauta,"* was on every tongue. They were the dreaded Jarochos of the bandit priest, '' We'rr in for it now," said Raoul, deeply mortified at the. part he had taken in the affair with the cure. " It's a wonder they have kept us so long. Perhaps he^s not here himself, and they're waiting for him." As Raoul said this, the clatter of hoofs sounded along the narrow road ; and a horseman came gallopping up to the ranche, riding over everything and everybody, with a perfect recklessness, •' That's Jarauta," whispered Raoul, " If he sees me — but it don't matter much," he added, in a lower tone. " we'll have a quick shrift all the same: he can't more than hang — and that he'll be sure to do." " Where are these Yankees ?" cried .Jarauta, leaping out of his saddle. " Here, Captain," answered one of the Jarochos, a hideous looking grifFe^ dressed in a scarlet uniform, and apparently the lieutenant of the band. " How many ?" " Four, Captain." " Very well — what are you waiting for ?" " To know whether I shall hang or shoot them." " Shoot them, by all meads ! Carrambo ! we have no time for neck-stretch " Tuere are some nice trees here, Captain," suggested another of the band, with as much coolness as if he had been conversing about the hanging of s<5 Pronounced Harowta 238 THE KIFLE RANGEE8. many dogs. He wished — a curiosity not uncommon — to witness the spectacle of hansrlng. " Madre de 'iios ! stupid. I tell you we havn't time for such silly sport. Out with you there. Sanchez ! Gabriel I Carlos ! send your bullets through their Sason skulls. Qi^ck!" Several of the Jarochos commenced unslinging their carbines, while thosa who guarded us fell back, to he out of range of the lead. " Come," exclaimed Raoul, ' it can't be worse than this — we can only die; and I'll let the Padre know whoi>? he has got. before I take leave of him— s souvenn- that won't maka him sleep any sounder to-night. Oi/ez ! Padrt Jaranta" continued he, calling out in a tone of irony ; " have you found, Marguerita yet ?" We could see between us and the dim rushlight that the Jarocho started, as if a shot had passed through his heart ! " Hold !" he shouted to the men. who were about taking aim, '' trail thos« scoundrels hither ! A light there — tire the thatch 1 Vaya !" In a moment, the hut of the contrabandista was in flames, the dry palm 'eaves blazing up like flax. " Merciful Heaven ! they are going to roast its .'" With this horrible apprehension, we were dragged up toward the burning pile, close to which stood our fierce judge and executioner. The bamboos blazed and crackled, and, under their red glare, we could nov? see our captors with a terrible distinctness. A more demon-like set, I thiuk- could not have' been found anywhere out of the infernal regions. iMost of them were Zamboes* and Mestizoes,! and not a few pure Africana of the blackest hue, maroons from Cuba, and the Antilles, manv of them with their fronts and cheeks tatooed, adding to the natural ferocity of their features. Their coarse woolly hair sticking out in matted tufts, their white teeth, set in savage grins, their strange armor and grotesque attitudes, their wild and picturesque attire, formed a C07ip cPazil that might iiave pleased a painter in his studio, but which^ at the time, had no charm for us. There were Pintos among them, too — spotted men from the tangled forests ofAcapulco — pied and speckled with blotches of red. and black and white, .ike hounds and horses. They were the fi^^t of this race I had ever seen, and their unnatural complexions, eve^ at this fearful moment, impressed me with feelings of disgust and loathing. \There exists a vast tribe of these strange men in a district of the tierra caliente, near Acapulco. They can scarcely bo * Zambo — half Inditin, half negro t Mestizoe, half Indian, half Spanish. Tny. ill i Lie KAXGKKS. 239 sail to belong fo the Mexican government, as the only man, whose autiiuTit3? thej care a claco for, is General Aivarez. an old Indian, who is himself (|iiite as odd a character as an}- oiie of the Pintos. Alvarez obeyed the call of his government during the late war, and, collecting about three thousand Indiana among whom there was a sharp " sprinkling" of Pintos, turned the roar of our armj' at Puebla, and followed us up into the valley of Mexico, without striking a blow ; and j'^et these Pintos and Indians of Alvarez are represented by tlic Mexicans as fierce and warlike ! Alvarez frequently gets up a pro- nunciamento against the grovernraent ; and they have not been able hitherto to interfere either with him, or his spotted warriors. A single glance at this motley crew would have convinced us, had we not been quite sure of it already, that we had no favors to expect. There was not a courAenance among them that exhibited the slightest trait of grace, or mercy. No such expression could be seen around us, and we felt satisfied that our time was come The appearance of their leader did not shake this conviction. Revenge and hatred were playing upon his sharp sallow features. Und his thin lips quivered w^ith an expression of malice, plainly hibitnal. His nose, like a parrot's beak, had been broken by a blow, which addad to its .sinister shape; and his .small hhick eves twinkled with metallic brightness. lie wore a pnrpli.sh-coloi-ed manga, that covered his whole body and his feet were cased in the red leather boots of the country, with heavy silver spurs stnippcd over them. A black .somlirero, with its band of gold bullion, and tu.us of the same material, compk-ted the tojit etV^e.mhle of his costume. lie wore neither beard nor. moustache, but his hair, black and*snaky, hung down trailing over the velvet embroider}^ of his manga-F-which is a most be;iutiful i'.nd "zraceful garment, peculiar, I believe to Mexico. This jrarraent resembles the sei-ape, in one thing. Both have a vent, through which the bead is thrust, leaving the garment to rest upon the shouldera. Arn^ind this, the manga is always embroidered and braided, over a circle ol two feet in diameter. The .serape is only a blanket-shaped article, while the mr.nga is fashioned soraetliing after the style of a circle cloak. It is uniform in color ; in this again differing from the serape. which is speckled like a carpet. The color of the manga is often verj gay. Purple ones are frequently seen, and even red. Black and blue are common. The msinga is rare, not being worn so commonly as the seraj)a. It is costly, and requires some art in the making up ; still, you will meet with it now and then, and often co^^^ring 24'0 THE RIFLE KANGER8. the shoulders of a common ranchero. It is a picture to see a fine-looking specimen of tlie ranchero, dressed in one of these graceful robes. J Such was the Padre Jarauta. Eaoul's face was before him, upon which he looked toi some moments without speaking. Ilis features tuitched. as if under galvanic action, and we could see that his fingers jerked in a similar manner.. They were painful memories that could produce this effect upon a heart of such iron deviltry ; and Raoul alone knew them. The latter seemed to enjoy the interlude, for he lay upon the ground, looking up at the Jarocho with a smile of triumph upon his reckless features I We were expecting the next speech of the Padre, to be an order for flinging us into the fire, which now burned fiercely. Fortunately, this fancy did not seem to strike him just then. " Ha ! Monsieur," exclaimed he at length, approaching Raoul. " I dreamt that you and I would meet again — I dreamt it — ha — ha — ha ! it was a pleas- ant dream, but not half so pleasant as the reality ; ha ! ha ! ha ! Don't you think so ?" he added, striking our comrade over the face with a mule quirt.* " IJon't you think so ?" he repeated, lasliing him as before, while his eyes sparkled with a fiendish malignity. '• Did you dream of meeting Marguerita again ?" inquired Raoul with a satirical laugh, that sounded strange, even fearful, under the circumstances. I shall never forget the expression of the Jarocho at that moment. His sallow face turned black, his lips white, his eyes burned like a demon's, and springing forward with a fierce oath, he planted his iron-shod heel upon the face of our comrade. The skin peeled off, and the blood followed. There was something so cowardly— so redolent of a brutal ferocity in the act, that I could not remain quiet. With a desperate wrench, I freed my ^ands, skinning my wrists in the effort, and, flinging myself upon hnn, I clutched at the monster's throat. ire stepped back ; ray ankles were tied, and T fell upon my face at hi.s,feet. " Ho ! ho !" cried he, " what have we here? An officer, eh? Come !" ho continued, " rise up from your prayers, and let me look at you ; ha, a Captain ! and this 1 a Lieutenant !* Gentlemen, you're too dainty to be shot like com- mon dogs ; we'll not let the wolves have you ; v/e'll put you out of their • A species of whip without any handle, except a band of leather that faatens it to tlM THE RIFLE RANGERS. 241 reach ; ha ! — ha ! — ha ! Out of reach of wolves do you hear ? And whal'% this ? continued he, turning to Chane, and examining his shoulders. " Bah soldado rasu, Irlcaidcs too, carajo !* What do you do fighting jimong theso heretics against your own religion. There, renegade !" and he kicked th Irishman in the ribs. " Thank yer honner," said Chane, with a grunt, " small fayvors thankfull resaved ; much good may it do yer honner !" " Here Lopez !" shouted the brigand. " Now for the fire '.'' thought we. "Lopez, I say !" continued he, calling louder. '" Aca — aca .'" answared a voice, and the Lieutenant who had guarded ns, came up, swinging his scarlet manga. " Lopez, these I perceive are gentlemen of rank ; and we must usher them mto h — a little more gracefully, do you hear ?" " Yes, Captain," answered the griife, with stoical composure. " Over the clifl's, Lopez. Facilis descensiis averni — but you don't un'jfti etand Latin, Lopez. Over the cliffs, do you hear 1 You understand that i"* "Yes, Captain," repeated the Jarocho, moving only his lips. " You will have them at the Eagle's Cave, by six in the morning ; by six. do you hear ?" " Yes, Captain," again replied the subordinate. " And if any of them is missing — is missing, do you hear V " Yes. Captain." " You will take his place in the dance — the dance, ha — ha — ha ! You understand that, Lopez?" " Yes, Captain." "Enough then, good Lopez — handsome Lopez, beautiful Lopez; enough, uud good night to you !" So saying, the Jarocho drew his quirt several times across the red cheek of Raoul ; and, with a curse upon his lips, he leaped upon his mustang and galloped off". Whatever might be the nature of the punishment that awaited us at the fiagle's Cave, it was evident that Lopez had no intention of becoming proxy lor any of us. This was plain from the manner in which he set about secur- ing us. We were first gagged with bayonet shanks, and then dragged ov. into the bushes. * H« knew our rank from the deeignations apon our shoulder-straps. t A private, an Irishman too. 242 THE RIFLE KANGER8. Uere we were thrown upon our backs, each of us in the centre of four tree© that formed a parallelogram. Our arms and legs were stretched to their tWlj extent, and tied severally to the trees ; and thus we lay, spread out like r*';" hides to dry. Our savage captors drew the cords so taut, that our joiauv cracked under the cruel tension. In this painful position, with & Jaraciio standing over each of us we passed the remainder of the night. • CHAPTER LTI. A HANG BY THK HEELS. It was a long night — the longest I can remember : a night that fully illas tratM the horror of monotony. I can compare our feelings to those of one under the influence of the nightmare. But no — worse than that. Our sav- age sentries occasionally sate down upon our bodies, and, lighting their ciga- rettes, chatted gaily, while we groaned ! We could not protest ; we were gagged. But it would have made little difference ; they would only have mocked us the more. We lay glaring upon the moon, as she coursed through a cloudy heaven. The wind whistled through the leaves, and its melancholy moaning sounded like our death-dirge. Several times during the night I heard the howl of the prairie wolf, and I knew it was Lincoln ; but the Jarochos had pickets all around ; and the hunter dared not approach our position. He could not have helped us. The morning broke at last ; and we were taken up, and tied upon the backs of vicious mules, and hurried off through the woods. We travelled for some distance along a ridge, until we had reached its highest point, where the cliff beetled over. Here we were unpacked and thrown upon the grass. Alx)at thirty of the Jarochos guarded us, and we now saw them under the broad light of day, but they did not look a whit more beautiful than on the preced- mg night. Lopez was at their head, and never relaxed his vigilance for a moment. It was plain that he considered the padre a man of his word. An exclamation from one of the men drew our attention ; and, looking around, we perceived a band of horsemen straggling up the hill at a slow gal- op. It was Jarauta, with about fifty of his followers. " Buenos dias, caballeros /"* cried he, in a mocking tone, leaping dowa * " Good day, gentleman," the osaal morning salutation. There is no " good morn- ing" in Spanish ; the words " buena manao," which signify that, never passing the lipi •f a Spaniard. 244 THE KTFLE KANGEK8. ind approachinfT "s : " T ^ope yo" passed the night comfortahl/. Lopez^ I am sure, provided j-ou with good beds. Didn't you. Lopez ?" " Yes, Captain," answered the laconic Lopez. " The gentlemen rested well, didn't they, Lopez ?" " Yes, Captain." '■ No kicking, or tumbling about, eh ?" " No, Captain." " Oh ! then they rested well ; it's a good thing ; they have a long journey before them — haven't they, Lopez ?" " Yes, Captain." " I hope, gentlemen, you are ready for the road. Do you think you are ready ?" As each of us had the shank of a bayonet between his teeth, besides being tied neck and heels, it is not likely that this interrogatory received a reply i nor did his reverence expect any, as he continued putting similar questions in quick succession, appealing occasionally to his Lieutenant for an answer. The Icvier, who was of the taciturn school, contented himself, and his supe- rior too, with a simple " yes," or '• no." Up to this moment, we had no knowledge of the fate that awaited us. We knew we had to die— that we knew ; but in what way, we were still ignorant. I, for one, had made up my mind that the Padre intended pitching us over the cliffs. We were at length enlightened upon this important point. We were not tc take that awful leap into eternity, which I had been picturing to myself. A fate more honUle still awaited us. iVe were to be hanged over the precipice ! As if to aid th nionster in his inhuman design, several pine trees grew out horizontally from li. dge of the cliff; and over the branches of these, the Jarochos commenced reeving their long lassos. Expert in the handling of ropes, as all Mexicans are, they were not long in completing their prepara- tion.s, and we soon beheld our gallows.', What they can accomplish with ropes and -lords is almost incredible. I had a Mexican servant, a mere lad, who coielcl lash my chests quicker and firmer, and more sure not to come undone, than could be accomplished by any two of our soldiers. I have seen them tie np the ' bo is de vache' in ropes, and thus carry it upon the backs of donkeys 5 and I was almost tempted to believe them capable of that feat hitherto deemed impos.sible, of tying up sand in a rope. ^ "According to rank, Lopez," cried Jaurata, seeing that all Wc'' ready ; the Captain first — do you hear 1" THE RIFLE BANGERS. 245 t •'Yes. Captain," answered the imperturbable brigand who superintended the operations. " I shall keep you to the last, Monsieur," said the Fnest, addressing Raoulj " you will have the pleasure of bringing up the rear in your passage through Purgatory. Ha — ha — ha ! Won't he , Lopez ?" "Yes. Captain." •'Maybe some of you would like a priest, gentlemen,." This Jaraut« uttered with an ironical grin that was revolting to behold. '"If you would," he continued, "say so. I sometimes ofQciate in that capacity myself. Don't I, Lopez?" •• Yes. Captam." A diabolical laugh burst from the Jarochos, who had dismounted, and were standing out upon the cliif, the better to witness the spectaCiC of our hang- ing. " TV ell, Lopez, does any one of them say * yes' ?" " No, Captain." *' A.sk the Irishman there ; ask him; he ought to be a good Catholic." The question was put to Chane ; m. mockery, of course ; for it was impos- sible for him to answer it ; and yet he did answer it, for his look spoke a curse, as plainly as if it had been uttered through a trumpet. The Jarochos dia not heed that, but only laughed the louder. " Well, Lopez, what says St. Patrick-I 'Yes' or ' no'?" " ' No,' Captain." And a fresh peal of ruffian laughter rang out. The rope was placed around my neck in a running noose. The other end had been passed over the tree, and lay coiled near the edge of the cliff. Lopez held it in his hand a short distance above the coil, in order to direct its movements. " All ready there, Lopez ?" cried the leader. " Yes, Captain." " Swing off the Captain, then — no, not yet ; let him look at the floor on which he is going to dance ; that is but fair ." I had been drawn forward, until my feet projected over the edge of the precipice, and close to the root of the tree. I was now forced into a sitting posture, so that I might look below, mj limbs hanging over. Strange to .say, I could not resist doing exactly what my tormentor wished. Under other circumstances the sight would have been to me appalling ; but my nerve* were strung by the protracted agony I had been forced to endure. 246 THE KIFLE K ANGERS. The precipk*, on whose ver^c 1 sato. formcf^ a side of one of those yawi.ing gulfs common in Spanish America, and known by the name barrancas. It seemed as if a mountain had been scooped out and carried away. Not two hundred yards, horizontally distant, was the twin jaw of the chasm, like a black-burnt wall ; yet the torrent that roared and foamed between them was full six hundred feet below my position ! I could have flung the stump of cii»ar-upon the water ; in fact an object dropping vertically from where I sate for it was a projecting point, must have fallen plumb into the stream ! It was not unlike the canon, where we had tossed over the dogs ; but it was higher, and altogether more dreadful and horrible. As I looked down, several small birds, whose species T did not stay to distinguish, were screaming below, and an eagle on his broad bold wing came soaring over the abyss, and flapped up to my very face. " Well, Captain." broke in the sharp voice of Jarauta, " what do you think of it ; a nice soft floor to dance upon, isn't it ? Isn't it, Lopez 1" " Yes, Captain." " All ready there 1 Stop ! some music ; we must have music ; how ain h' dance without music t Ilnla ! Sancho, where's your bogle ?" " Here, Captain ^' " Strike up then 5 play Yankee Doodle. Ha ! ha ! ha ! Yankee Doodlesj do 3^ou hear ?" "Yes. Captain," answered the man ; and the next moment the wall-known strains of the American national air sounded upon my ear, producing a strange, sad feeling I shall never forg«t. " Now. Lopez," cried the Padre. I was expecting to be swung out, when I heard him again shout, " stay !" at the same time stopping the music. "By heavens! Loppz, T have a better plan," he cried; "why-did T no( think of it before? It's not too late, yet. Ila ! ha! ha ! Carrambo! Thej shall dance upon their heads ! Tiiat's better, isn't it, Lopez ?" " Yes, Captain." A cheer from the Jarochos announced their approval of this change in tht ceremony. Tlie Padre made a sign to Lopez, who approached him, appearing to receive some directions. I did not at first comprehend the novelty that was about to be introduced, I was not long in ignorance. One of the Jarochos, seizing me by the collar dragged me back from the ledge, and transferred the noose from my neck to THE EIFLE E1NGER8. 247 m}. hnkles. Ilorror heaped upon horror ! I was to be hung head down VHirds. and thus left to die by indies ! " That -will be much prettier, wont it, Lopez ?" •' Yes, Captain." " The gentleman will hare time to make himself ready for Heaven before ha dies ; wont he, Lopez ?" " Yes, Captain." " Take out the gag ! let him have his tongue free ; he'll need that to pray with ; won't he Lopez ?" '• Yes. Captain." One of the Jarochos jerked the bayonet roughly from my mouth, almost dislocating my jaw. The power of speech was gone. I could not, if I had wished it, have uttered an intelligible word. "Give him his hands, tooj he'll need them to keep off the Zopilotea ;* won't he, Lopez ?" " Yes, Captain." The thong that bound my wrists was cut, leaviiig my hands free. I was on my back, my feet towards the precipice. A little to my right stood Lopea holding the rope that was about to launch me into eternity. " Now the m'jsic — take the music for your cue, Lopez ; then jerk him up P cried the sharp /oice of the fiend. I shut my eyes — waiting for the pull. It was but a moment, but it seemed a lifetime. There wa^i a dead silence — a stillness like that which precedes the bursting of a rock, or the firing of a jubilee-gun. Then I heard the first nota of the bugle, and along with it a crack — the crack of a rifle ! A man staggered over mo, besprinkling my face with blood ; and. falling forwards, disap peared ! Then came the pluck upon my ankles, and I was jerked, head downwards, into the empty air. I felt my feet touching the branches above ; and, throw ing up my arras. I grasped one, and swung my body upwards. After two or three efibrts, I lay along the main trunk, which T embr.aced with the hug of despair. I looked downward. A man was hanging below — far below — at the end of the lariat ! It was Lopez. I knew his scarlet manga at a glance. He was hanging by the thigh in a snarl of the rope. His hat had fallen off. I could see the red blood running over his face, aUv dripping from his long snaky locks. He hung head down. I could see tha he was dead ! * The bl.iek vulture of 5il?c?3- 248 ' TBK EIFLE KAKGER8. The hard thong was cutting my ankles, and, oh. Heaven ! under our 'jii:t©« weight, the roots were cracking ! Appalling thought ! " the tree will give way /" I held fast with one arm. I drew forth my kiiife — fortunately I still had one — with the other. I opened the blade with my teeth; and, stretching 'backward and downward, I drew it across the thong. It parted with *^ snig," and the red object left me like a flash of light. There was a plungo apon the black water below — a plunge and a few white bubbles, but the body t^ the Jarocho, with its scarlet trappings, never came up after that plui)ge. CHAPTER LIII. A VERY SHORT TRIAL. D>jRiN9 a!l this time, shots were ringing over me. I could hear the sboata fcnd cheering of men, the trampling of heavy hoofs and the clashing of sabres. I knew that some strange deliverance had reached us. I knew that a skirmish was going on above me ; but I could see nothing. I was below the level of the cliff. 1 lay in a terrible suspense — listening. I dared not change my posture. I dared not move. The weight of the Jarocho's body had hitherto held my feet securely in ihe notch ; but that was gone ; and my ankles were still tied, A movement, and my legs might fall off the limb ; and drag me downward. I was faint too, from the protracted struggle for life and death, and I hugged the tree, and held on like a wounded squirrel.* The shots seemed less frequent ; the shouts appeared to recede from the ciiO's. Then I heard a cheer, an auglo-Saxoa cheer, an American cheer — and tlie next moment, a well-known voice rang in my ears. •' Hy the livin catamount ! he's j'eer yit, whooray, whoop ! Niver say die \ Hole on, Cap'n, teeth an toe-nail ! yeer, boys ! clutch on a wheen o yer ' Quick, hook my claws, Nat! now — pull — ailthegether! Hooray!" I felt a strong hand grasping the collar of my coat, and i was raised from inv perch, and landed upon the top of the cliff. I looked around upon my deliverers. Lincoln was dancing like a lunatic littering his wild half-Indian yells. A dozen men, in the dark-green unifora ©f the " mounted rifles," stood looking on, and laughing at this grotesqu "^ These little abiuials, when wounded, will often hang susponded upon a branch til f250 THE RTFr.K RANGKRS. exhibition. Ciose by, another party were guardimp; some prisoners ; while a hundred others were seen, in scattered groups, along the ridge returuijig from the pursuit of the Jnrochos whom they had completely routed. I recognised Tvring, and Ilennessy, and Hillis, and several other officers whom I had met before. We were soon en rappojt, and I could not have received a greater variety of congratulations, had it been the hour after mj wedding. Little -Jack was the guide of the rescue. After a moment spent in explanation with the Major, I turned to look for [jincoln. He was standing close by, holding in his hands a piece of a lariat, which he appeared to examine with a strange and puzzled expression. He had recovered from his burst of wild joy, and was " himself again." '• What's the matter. Bob ?" I inquired, noticing his bewildered look. " Wh}^ Cap'n I'm a sorter bamfoozled yeer. I kin understan well enuf) how the feller jirked yer inter the tree, afore he lot go. But how did thia yeer whang kum cut 1 an whar's the other eend 7 I saw that he held in his hand, the noose of the lariat, which he had taken from ray own ankles ; and 1 explained the mystery of how it had " kum cut." This at-emed to raise me still higher in the hunter's esteem. Turning to one of ine rinemen, an old hunter like himself, he whispered — I overheard him : " I'll tell yer what it is, Nat ; he kin whip his weight in wild cats or grizzly bars any daj^ in the year — he kin, or my name ain't Bob Linkin." Saying this he stepped forward on the clifl" and looked over ; and then he examined the tree, and then the piece of lariat, and then the tree again, and then he commenced dropping pebbles down, as if he was determined to mea- sure every object, and fix it in his memory with a proper distinctness ! Twing and the others had no»v dismounted. As I turned towards them, Ulayley was taking a pull at the Major's pewter — and a good long pull too. 1 followed the Lieutenant's example, and felt the better for it. •' But how did you find us, Major V '• This little soldier," said he, pointing to Jack, " brought us to the rancho where you were taken. From there we easily tracked you to a large haci- enda." " Ha ! you routed the guerilla, then ?" " Routed the guerilla ! We saw no guerilla," " What ! at the hacienda ?" " Peons and women ; nothing more. Yes, there was too — what am I thinking about? There was a party there that routed its; Thornley and THE EIFLE EANGERS. 251 nillis, here, have both been wounded, and are not likely to recover — poof fellows l" I looked towards these gentlemen fcr an explanation. They were both iAUghing, and I looked in vain. " Henneasy, too," cried he Major, " has got a stab under the ribs.' *' Oh. by my sowl, have I, and no mistake !" cried the latter. '' Come, Major, an explanation, if you please." I was in no humor to enjoy this joke. I half divined the cause of their mirth, and it produced in me an unaccountable feeling of annoyance, not to Bay pain. " Be my faith, then, Captain 1" said Hennessy, speaking for the Major, " if ye must know all about it, I'll tell ye myself. "We overhauled a pair of the most eiegaT7t crayteurs you ever clapp'd eyes upon ; and rich — rich as Cray BUS — wasn't they, boys ?" " Oh ! plenty of tin," remarked Hillis. " But, Captain," continued Hennessy, " how they took on to your tiger. I thought they would have eaten the little chap, body, bones, and all." I was chafing with impatience to know more ; but I saw that nothing worth knowing could be had in that quarter. I determined, therefore, to conceal my anxiety, and find an early opportunity to talk to Jack ; so I ehunned the subject. "But beyond the hacienda?" I inquired. " We trailed you down stream to the cafion, where we found blood upon the rocks. Here we were at fault, when a handsome, delicate-looking lad came up, and carried us to the crossing above, where he gave us the slip. "We struck the hoofs once more, and followed them to a small prairie on the edge of the woods, wliere the ground was strangely broken and' trampled. Here they had turned back, and we lost all trace." " But how then did you come here ?" " By accident altogether. "We were striking to the nearest point on tho National Road, when that tall sergeant of yours dropped down upon us out cf the branches of a tree." " "Whom did you see, Jack ?" I whispered to the boy, having drawn hira aside. " I saw them all, Captain." "Weill" " They asked me where you were ; and when I told them — '' 252 THE EIFLE RANGERS. " Well— well ?" ' They appeared to wonder — " •' Well ?» " And the young ladies — " -. " And the young ladies ?" " They ran round, and cried, and — " Jack was the dove that brought the olive branch. " Did they say where they were going ?" I inquired, after one of thoM ut of aU 25S THE KIFLE KANGERS. danpjer froii. their pursuers on the other side — indeed the main body of tfwj Amerii-an armv had already passed their position and were moving along th€ Jalapa road, following up the clouds of dust that hung upon the retreating squadrons of Santa Anna. We lay for some time observing the motions of these cunning fugitives, as they streamed downward. The head of their line had nearly reached the timbered bottom, through whose green fringes the stream swept onward curving from cliff to cliff. Impatient looks were cast towards the Major, whoso cold grey eye showed no signs of action. " Well. Major — what's to be done?" asked one. " Nothing." was the impressive reply. " Nothing !" echoed every one. " Why, what could we do ?" " Take them prisoners — every one of them." " Whom prisoners?" " These Mexicans — these before us." " Ha ! before you they are — a long way, too. . Bah ! they are ten miles off, and, even if we could ride straight down the bluff with winged horses, what could our hundred men do in that jungle below ! Look yonder ; there are a thousand of them crawling over the rocks !" " And what signify numbers ?" asked I, now speaking for the first time. " They are already defeated and flying — half of them, I'll wager, without irms. Come, Major, let us go ! We can capture the whole party without firing a shot." " But, my dear Captain, we cannot reach them where they are." " It is not necessary. If we ride up the cliffs, they will come to us." '= How ?" " You see this dark line. It is not three miles distant. You 'know that timber like that does not grow on the naked face of a cliff. It is a gorge, and I'll warrant a water-course, too. They will pass through it." " Beautiful ! We could meet them as they came up it," cried several at once. " No, lads, no ! You are all wrong. They will keep the bottom, — the heavj' timber. I warrant you. It's no use losing time. We must round to the road, and forward. Who knows that we may not find work enough yet 1 Come !" THE EIFLE RANGKRS. 259 I So saying, our commanding officer rose np, and. walking back to the m risyo leaped into his saddle. Of course we followed his example, but with no very Biniable feelings. I, for one, felt satisfied that we might have made a dashing thing of it, and entered the camp with flying colors. I felt — and so did my frjgnd Clayley — like a school-boy wh^, had come too late for his lesson, and ♦Would gladl}^ have been the bearer of a present to his master ; moreover wa had learned from our comrades, that it was the intention of the commander- in-chief to capture as many of the enemy as possible on this occasion. This determination arose from the fact— well authenticated — that hundreds wh3 could even distin"riush the lines — deep furrowed bygi ilt — on his dark, mnlio©- marked face ; and as I became sure of the identity, I drew back my head cautioning my companions to do the same ! Now was the time for action, and putting up the glass, we crawled back to our comrades. 1 had learned irom Raoul, that the dark line whicli I had noticed before, was as I had conjectured, the cafion of a small stream heavily timbered, and forming a gap or pass that led to the Plan river. It was five miles distant, instead of three. So much the better ; and with a quick crouching gait, we were once more upon our way. I had told my comrades enough to make some of them as eager as I. Many of theni would havo given half a life for a shot at game like that. Not a few of them remembered they had lofct a brother — on the plains of Goliad, or the fortrfcss of the Alamo ! The Rangers, moreover, had been chafing " all day for a fight," and now so unexpectedly led at something like it, they were just in the humor. Tliey moved as one man ; and the five miles that lay between us and the gorge, were soon passed to the rear. We reached it, I think, in about half-an-hour. Considering the steep pass through which the enemy must come, we knew there was a breathing time, thoTigh not long, for us ; and during this, I matured my pians, part of which I had arranged upon the route. A short survey of the ground convinced us that it coi^ld not have been bet- ter fitted for an ambuscade had we chosen it at our leisure. The gorge, or cafion, did not run directly up the cliff, but in a zigzag line, so that a man at the top could only alarm another coming up after him, by shouting or firing his piece. This was exactly what we wanted, as although we might capture tk i&w of the foremost, those in the rear being alarmed, could easily take to the nrer bottotr and make their escape through the thickets. It was our design to make our prisoners without firing a single shot, and this, under .he circum- stances, we did not deem an impossible matter. The pass was a dry arroyo ; its banks fringed with large pines and cotton- woods matted together by lianas and vines of almost every description. Where the gorge debouched into the uplands, its banks were high and naked— with here and there a few scattered palms that grew up from huge hassocka f bunch grass. Behind each of these bunohes a rifleman was stationed, forming a deployed line, with its concave arc facing the embouchure of the gorge, and gradually jlosing in, so that it ended in a clump of thick chapparai upon the yery verga 264 THE BIFLE KANGERS. of the precipice. At this point, on each side of the path, were statiooed k&lf a-doztn men, in such a position as to be hidden fwm any party passing upward, until it had cleaied t\..j cafion, and its retreat was secured against At the opnosite end of the ellipse a stronger party was stationed with Clayley 'n command, and Raoul to act as interpreter. Oakcs and I took our stafon commauding the separate detachments on the brow. Our ::^:zngements occupied us only a few minutes. I had to deal wit! men — many of whom had '■ surrounded " buffaloes in a' somewhat similar mann^T ; and it did not rcqu-ire much tact to teach them a few modifications In the sport. 1^ five minutes we were m our places waiting anxiously, and in perfect silence. As 3?et not a murmur had reached us from below, except the sighing of the wind through the tall trees, and the sough of the river as it tumbled away over its pebbly bed. Now and then we aeard a stray shot, or the quick sharp notes of a cavalry bugle ; but these were far ofif, and only told of the wild work that was still going on away along the road towards Encerro and Jalapa. Not A, word was spoken by us to each other. The men who were aeployed along the hill lay hidden behind the hassocks of the palms ; and, from cur posit'on. not one of them was to be seen. I mnst confess it was one of the most anxious momen|,s of my life; and, although I felt no hate towards the enemy — no desire to injure one of them, excepting him of whom I have spoken, tliere was something so wild, so thrilling in the excitement of thus entrapping yiiai^ — the highest of all animals— that I could not have foregone the inhumar. Bport. 1 had no intention that it should be inhuman. I well knew what would be their treatment as prisoners of war; and I had given orders that not a shot should be fired nor a blow struck, in case they threw down their arms and yielded without resistance. But for Am— humanity had many a score to settle with him ; and I must confess that, at the time, I did not feel a very strong inclination to resist, what would have been the Ranger's desire on that question. " Is not all our fine ambuscade for nothing?" I had begun to fancy as much, and to suspect that our enemy had kepi along the river, when a humming sound, like that of bees, earae creeping up the pass. Presently it grew louder until I could distinguish the voice? of cien. <)ur hearts as yet beat louder than their voice^. Now the stonea rattler as loosened from their sloping beds they rolled back and down vards 5 Ch^irdaos, hombre /" (Look out, man), shouted one. THE RIFLE RANGERS. 265 " rn^'ojo V cried another, "take care what you're about. I haven't :ho Yankee bullets to have my skull cloven in that fashion. Arriba^ escaped " I sa/, Antonio, you're sure this leads out above ?" " Quite sure, camarado." ^ " And then on to Orizava ?" *' On to Orizava — derecho, derecfw." " But bow far, hombre ?" " Oh ! there are halting places — pueblitas." " Vaya ! I don't care how soon we reach them. I'm as hungry as a faiii« tehed coyote." " Carrai 1 the coyotes of these parts won't be hungry for some tima Vaya !" « Who ksrt)W8 whether they've killed ' El Cojo V " " ' Catch a fox, kill a fox.' No. He's found some hcl« to creep through, I warrant hini.'* " EI que mata an ladron Tiene oien alios de perdon." The meaning of which is, " he who kills a robber will receive a hundred fears of pardon for the oifence ;" in other words, he will not be punished at aU. a favorite saying among the Spaniards and Spanish-Americans. This was hailed with a sally by the very men who, only one hour ago, were ehouting themselveis hoarse with the cries of " Viva el General ! Viva Santa Anna !" And on tfiey scrambled, talking as before, one of them informing his comrades with a laugh, that if " los Tejanos " could lay their hands on " El Cojo," they ttte Mexicans, would have to look out for a new Presi- dent. They had now passed as. We were looking at their backs ! The first party contained a string of fifteen or twenty, mostly soldiers of the " raw bat- talions," conscripts who wore the white linen jackets and wide sailor-looking pantaloons of the volunteer. Raw as these fellows were, either from their position in the battle, or, more likely, from a better knowledge of the country they had been able thus tht to make their escape, when thousands of thcif veteran companions had bewi captured. But few of them were armed. They had thrown their guns awdy in the hurry of flight. At this moment, we PQuld distinguish the voice of Ra«ul — " Alto ! ahaj' las armag ^" (Halt ! ground arras !) 266 THE RIFLE EANGEE8. At this challenge we could see, for they were still in sight, that some oi them leaped clear up from the ground. One or two looked up as if with tha fetention of re-entering the gorge, but a dozen muzzles met their gaze. ^ AdeUmti — adelcmte .'—swnos amigos P' (Forward! we are friends) cned I, in a half wliisper, fearing to alarm their comrades in the rear— at tha same time waving them onward. As on one side, Clayley presented a white flag, while, on the other, thert was to be seen a bunch of dark yawning tubes, the Mexicans were not long in making their choice ; in a minute they had disappeared from our sight, pre- ferring the companionship of Clayley and Kaoul, who would know how to dispose of them in a proper manner. He had scarcely got rid of these, when another string debouched up the glen, unsuspicious as were their comrades of the fate that awaited them, These were managed in a similar manner ; and another, and another party, afl of whom were obliged to give up their arms, and fling themselves to the earth, as soon as they had reached the open ground above. This continued until I began to grow fearful that we were making more prisoners than we could safely hold ; and, on the knowledge of this fact, they might try to overpower us. The tempting prize had not yet appeared. He could not be far distant , and, allured by this prospect, I determined to hold out a while longer. But an end was now put to our captures by an unex- pected event. A party, consisting of some ten O" lifteen men — many of them oflBcers — suddenly appeared, and marched boldly out of the gorge. As these struck the level ground we could hfKf the •' Alto !" of Raoul ; but, instead of halting, as their companions had done, several of them drew their swords and pistols, and rushed down the passL A volley from both sides stopped the retreat of sort'; others escaped along the sides of the clifi", and a few — not over half-a-dozei^- -succeeded in entering the gorge. It was, of course, beyonu our power i\> follow them; and 1 ordered the deployed line to close in around the prisons .ilready taken, le^ they should attempt to imitate their braver comrades. We had no fear of being assailed from the ravine. Thice who had gon» down carried a panic along with them that would secure us from that danger , at the same time we knew that the tyrant would now be alarmed ane escape. Several of the Kangers — souvenirs of Santa Fe and San Jacinto — requested my permission to go upon his " trail," and pick him off. This request, under the circumstances, I could not grant, and we set about THE RIFLE RANGERS. 267 securing our prisoners. Gun slings and waist belts were soon split int* thongs, and with these our captives were tied — two and two, forming in all I battalion of a hundred and fifteen files — two hundred and thirty men ! With these, arranged in such a manner as we could most oonTeDieiat^ uard them, we marched iato the camp at Plau d«l Bio. CHAPTER LTII. A DDEL, WITH AN ODD ENDING. "fflAT night we slept on the field of battle, and next day were ordered ea to Jalapa, where the army halted to bring up its wounded, and prepare for an advance upon the capital of Mexico. The Jalapefios did not receive us inhospitably ; nor the Jalapeilas neither. They expected, as a matter of course, that we would sack their beautiful city. This we did not do ; and their gratitude enabled our officers to pass their time somewhat agreeably. The gay round, that always succeeds a battle — for dead comrades are soon forgotten, amidst congratulations and new titles — had no fascination for me. The balls — the tertvliag — the dias de campo* were alike insipid and tire- some. She was not there, and where ? I knew not. I might never see her again. All I knew was, that they had gone up the country — perhaps to Cordova, or Orizava 1 I took occasion to make enquiry from a Jalapeiio. He knew the family well — one of the highest in Mexico — the Dofia Joaquina, a relation of the celebrated hero Guadalupe Victoria. Don Cosme had an estate near Jalapa, where he spent his summers. He was not there ; and it was now summer. " He had gone to some distant point, to be out of the desolating track of war." Clayley shared my feelings. The bright eyes in the balconies — the sweet voices in the orange-shaded patios of Jalapa — had neither brightness, nor music for us. We were both thoroughly miserable. To add to this unhappy state of things, a bad feeling had sprung up among *Pie-ai«. TnE KIFLE RANGERS. 2G9 the officers of our army — a jealousy between the old and the new. Those o! the old standing army, holding themselves as a species of military aristocracy looked upon their brethren of the new regiments as interlopers ; and this feeling pervaded all ranks, from the commander-in-chief down to the 'owest subaltern. It did not interest all individuals. There were many honorable men on botli sides who took no part in a question so ridicv'lons, but on the contrary, endeavored to frown it down. It was the child of idleness, and a long speli of garrison duty. On the eve of a battle it always disappeared. I have adverted to this, not that it might interest the reader, but as explaining a result connected with ourselves. One of the most prominent actors in this quarrel, on the side of the " old regiilars," was a 3"Oung officer named Ransom — a captain in an infantry regiment. He was a gooil fellow in other respects, and a brave soldier, I believe ; but his chief yeakness lay in a claim to be identified with the wistocracy. It is strange that this miserable ambition is always strongest, s here it should exist with the least propriety. I have observed, .n travelling through life, and .so has the reader, no doubt, that parvenus ar? the greatest sticklers for aristocratic privilege ; and Captain Ransom was no exception to this rule. In tumbling over .some old family papers, I had found a receipt from the gallant Captain's grandfather to my own progenitor, acknowledging the pa^ ment of a bill for leather breeches I It .so happened that this very receipt was in my portmanteau at the time sexpect next year to take a couple of hundred bales off the ground. I believe I can rause as good cotton here as in Lousiana ; besides, I have a little corner for vanilla. It would do your heart f;oud lo nee the improvements, and little " Sijou.sio." too. takes such an interest m aii i do. llaller, I'm the happiest man in creation. " I dined vesterday witli our old friend Cenobio, &nd you should have seen him, when I told him the man he Lad in his oompai.y. I thought he would have split his sides. Ile'c a pei feet old trump, this Cenobio, notwithstanding hifl smuggling propensities. " By the way, you have heard. I suppose, that our " other old friend,' the Padre, has been shot. He took part with Paredes against the government. I he)' caught him at Queretaro, and shot him, with a doRen or so of his ' beau- ties, in less than a squirrel's jump. " And uoWj my dear Ilaller u last word. We all want you to com« b;^»'L 2r8 THE RIFLE KANGERS. The house at Jalapa is ready for you ; and Dofia Joaqu^na says it is youni ftnd SHB wants you to come back. " Don Coarae, too — with whom it appears Lupi was thefpvorite — be wanta you to come back. 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