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THE RIFLE RANGERS; or, ADVENTURES IN SOUTHERN MEXICO.

BY CAPTAIN MAYNE REIDs

AUTHOR or “mm mummss uoxwmnx," “mm DEA'I‘leHOT,” “THE scum HUNTERS,” ma, inc.

 

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2

The Rifle Rangers.

 

 

 

Popular Edition of Captain Mayne Reid’s Works.
The Rifle Rangers;

Adventures in Southern Mexico.

 

 

BY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID,
AUTHOR or “ran assumes HORSEMAN,” “ rm:
DEATH-SHOT," “ THE SCALP HUNTERS," arc.

CHAPTER I.
an anvnnmmn AMONG ran canons or NEW

ORLEANS.

In the ‘ fall’ of 1846, I found myselfin the city
of New Orleans, filling up one of those pauses
that occur between the chapters of an eventful
life—doing nothing.

The war between the United States and Mex-
ico had commenced. A warlike ardor seized
upon me; and clutching, not the sword, but my
pen, I wrote to the War Department for a com-
mission; and, summoning all my patience,
awaited the answer.

November came, but no commission. Im-
patience and ennui had fairly mastered me.

he time hung heavily upou my hands.

“ How can best pass the hour? I shall go to
the French opera, and hear Calve.”

Such were my reflections as I sat one evening
in my solitary chamber. In obedience to this
impulse, I repaired to the theater; but the belli-
cose strains of the opera, instead of soothing,
only hi htened my warlike enthusiasm, and I
walked omeward, abusing, as I went, the Presi—
dent, the Secretary-at-war, and the whole Gov-
ernment—legislative, judicial, and executive.
“ Republics are un ateful,” soliloquized I, in a
spiteful mood. “ have ‘ surely put in. strong
enough’ for it; my political connections—be-
sidm " tthovar-nment owes me a tam-7’

“dl’ar out, ye niggersl Darn yorl what do
yer wnnt?”

This was a voice that reached me as I
through the dark corner of the Faubour reme.
Then followed some exclamations in rench;a
shuffle ensued, a pistol went off, and I heard
the same voice again callin out-

“Four till onel Injunsl urder! Help, hyur!”

I ran up. It was very dark; but the glimmer
of a distant lam enabled me to perceive a man
out in the midd e of the street, defending him-
self against four others. He was a man of
giant size, and flourished a. bri ht weapon,
which I took to be a bowie-kni 6, while his
assailants struck at him on all sides with sticks
and stilettoes. A small boy ran back and forth
upon the banquette, calling for help.

Supposing it to be some street quarrel, I en-
deavored to separate the parties by remon-
strance. I rilshed between them, holding out in
cane: but a sharp cut across the knuckles, whic
I had received from one of the small men, to-
gether with his evident intention to follow it
up, robbed me of all seal for pacific media-
tion; and keeping m1y aye upon the one who had
cut me, I drew a psto (I could not otherwise
defend myself), and fired. The man fell dead in
his tracks, without a groan. His comrades
hearing me remck, took to their heels, and
disappeared up a neighboring alley.

The whole scene did not occupy the time you
have spent in reading this relation of it. On
minute I was plodding uietly homeward; th
next, I stood in the midd e of the street; beside
me a stra r of gigantic proportions; at my
feeta black mass of dead humanity half-doubled
up in the mud as it had fallen; on the banquette,
the slight, shiveriu form of a ho ; while abova
and around were ence and dar ass.

I was beginning to fancy the whole thin a
dream, when the voice of the man at my de
dispelled this illusion.

‘ Mister,” said he. placin his arms akim I.
and facing me, “if e’ll to! me y’ur name,
ain’t a-gwme to fox-g; it. No, Bob Linkin hin’t
that sorter.”

“What! Bob Lincoln? Bob Lincoln of the
Peaks?”

In thevoice I had (I a celebrated
mountain trapper, and an old acquaintance,
whom I had not met for several ears.

“Why, Lord save us from njuns! it ain’t
you, Ca in Hallerl May I he dOg-goned it it
ain’t! hooray !—-whoop! I kuowed it warn’t
no store-keeper fired that shot. Harool whar
are ur, Jacki”

“ are I am!” answered the boy, from the
pavement.

“ gum hyur, then. Ye ain’t badly short, air

vur .

“ No," firme responded the 5",, crossing
over. - .

“ I tuk him from a scoundrelly Crow,'fthet I
oyerhauled on a fork of the Yellerstcao. 'He
gi‘n me a long pedigree; that is, afore I kill: the
skunk. He made out as how his people bed tuk
the b0 from the Kimanches. who bed brought
him rom someer down the Grande. I
know’d it wur allbamboozle. The ho ’3 white,
American white. Who ever see’d a ye ler-hidéd
Mexikin with them e esand ha’r? Jack, this
hyusls Cap’n Holler. f yur kin iver save his

 

assed

 

life by givin’ y’ur own, yur must do it, do ye
hear?”

“ I will,” said the boy, resolutely.

“Come, Lincoln,” I intewed; “ these condi-
tions are not necessary. on remember I was
in your debt.”

“Ain’t worth mentionin’, Cap; let bygones be
h gones.”

“But what brought you to New Orleans? or,
more particularly, how came you into this
scraW?’ . i
“ a1, cap’n, bein’ as the last question IS the
most partic’ler, I’ll gi’n yur the answer to it
fast. I hed jest twelve dollars in my pouch, an’
I tuck a idea inter my head that I mout as well
double it. So I stepped into a shanty wbar
the. wura-playin’ craps. After bettin’ a 00d
ape l I won sdtnewhar about a hundred dol ars.
Not likin’ the sign I see’d about, I tuk Jack and

ut out. W jest as I was kummin’ roun’ this

yur corner, mgfellers—them ye see'd—run
out and jumped one, like so many catamounts.
I tuk them for th same chaps I bed see’d par-
leyvooin’ at the c 3 table; an’ tho’t they wur
only jokin’, till on f them gi’n me a sockdol-
loger over the hen , an’ fired a pistol. I then
drewed my bowie, an’ the scrimmage begun;
an’ that’s all I know about it, cap’n, more’n
y’urself.

“ Let’s seeif it’s all up with this’n,” continued
the hunter, stooping. “ l’deed. yes,” he drawled
out; “deadas a buck. Thunder! ye’ve gi’n it
him atween the eyes, lum! He is one of the
fellers, es my name’s ob Linkin. I kud sw’ar
to them mowstaches among a million.”

At this moment a patrol of night gendarmes
came up; and Lincoln, and Jack, and myself
were carried off to the calaboose, where we
spent the remainder of the hi ht. In the morn-
ing we were brought before t e recorder; but I
had taken the precaution to send for some
friends, who introduced me to his worship in a
Eoper manner. As my stor corroborated

nooln’s, and his mine, and “ ack’s”substan-
tiated both; and as the comrades of the dead
Creole did not ap er. and he himself was
identified by the ice as a notorious robber,
the recorder dismissed the case, as one of “ jus-
tifiable homicide in self—defense;” and the hunter
and I were permitted to go our way without
further interruption.

CHAPTER II.
A VOLUNTEER annnnzvous.

“ Now, Cap,” said Lincoln, as we seated our-
selves at the table of a cafe, “ I’ll answer t’other
question yur put last night. I wur up on the
head of Arkansaw, an’ hearin’ they wur raisin’
volunteers down h um I kim down ter jine. It
ain’t often I trouble the settlements; but I’ve a
mighty puncheon, as the Frenchman says. to
hev a crack at them yeller-bellies. I hain’t for-
gota mean trick they served me two yeern
ago, up thar by Banter Fe.”

“ And so you hava joined the volunteers?”

“ That’s sartin. But why ain’t you a—gwine
to Mexico! That ’ere’s a wonder to me, Cap,
wh you ain’t. Thur’s amighty grist o’ ’ven-
tu n, I heern; beats In no flghtin’ all holler,
an’ ur’ Jest the beaver d”sPect to find in that
’ar am. Why don’t you go.”

“ so I purposed long since, and wrote on to
Washington for a commisdon; but the Govern-
ment seems to have forgotten me.”

“ Dod rot the Government! git a commission
for gursdf.” ‘

“ owl" I asked.

“ J ine‘ sn’ bovmected—thet’s how.”

This owned my mind before; but, be-
lieving mytelf a stranger among these volun-
teers, had‘given up the idea. Once joined, he
who failed in being elected an officer was fated
to shoulder a fire-lock. It was neck or nothing
then. Lincoln set things in a new li ht. They
were strangers to each other, he rmed, and
my chances of ng elected would therefore be
as good as any man s.

‘ I’ll tell you what it is,” said be; “you kin
kum with tub (or the rendevooz, an‘ see for
y’urlolf; but ifye’ll only jine, an’ licker freely,

’ll lay a o’ beaver ag’in’ the skin of a
mink hat illect ye captain of- the com-

pang.”
“ m a lieutenancy.” I interposed.

“ Ne’er a.bit of & Cap. Go the big flgger.
’Tain’t more nor y entitled to. I kiu git yur
agood heist among some hunters that’s thur;
but that’s a buffalo drovo 0’ them parleyvoos,
au’ a ‘feller among ’em, one of these hyur Cree-
holes, that’s been 'a-showin’ of! an’ fencin’ with
a pair of skewers from mornin’ till night. I’d
be do ~gone glad to see the starch taken out 0’
that ii] er.”

I took my resolution. In half an hour after I
was standing in a large ball or armory. It was
the rendezvous of the volunteers, nearly all of
whom were present; and perhaps a more varie-

ated assemblage was never grouped together.
very nationality“ to have its represen-
tative: and for variety of language the com-
pan ml ht have rivaled the masons of Babel.
ear t e head of the room was a table, upon
which lay a large parchment, covered with sig-
natures. I added mine to the list. In the act I
had staked my liberty. It was an oath.

"ter

 

 

“These are my rivalse—the candidates for
office,” thought I, looking at a group who stood
near the table. Some of them already affected
a half~undress uniform, and most wore forage-
caps with glazed covers, and army buttons over
the ears.

“Ha! Clayle 2" said I, recognizing an old
acquaintance. his was a youn cotton-planter
—a free, dashing spirit—who ad sacrificed a
fortune at the shrines of Momus and Bacchus.

“Why, Haller, old fellow! glad to see you.
How have on been? Think of going with us?”

“ Yes; I ve 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 wanderin eye in any collection.
Of_oval outline, framed y a profusion of black
hair, wavy and perfumed. A round black eye,
spanned b brows arching and glossy. this-
kers that longed rather to the chin, leaving
bare the broad awbone, expressive of firmness
and resolve. irm, thin lips, handsomely mus-
tached; when parted, displayin teeth well set
and of dazzling whiteness. e smile was
cynical; the eye cold, yet bright; but the
brightness was altogether animal—more the
light of instinct than intellect. A face that
presented in its expression a strange admixture
of the level and the hideous—ph sically fair,
morally dar —beautiful, yet bruta l

“ The f( llow is likely to be our captain,"
whispered Clayley, noticing that I observed the
man with more than ordinary attention. “ By
the way,” continued he, “I don’t half like it.
I believe he’s an infernal scoundrel.”

“Such are my impressions. But if that be
his character, how can he be elected?”

“Oh! no one here knows another; and this
fellow is a splendid swordsman, like all the Cre-
oles, you know. He has used the trick to ad van-
tage, and has created an impression. By the
by, 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 lieu-
tenancy so we won’t run foul of each other.
Let us ‘hitch teams.‘ "

“ With all m heart.” said I.

“ You came in with that long-bearded hun-
. Is he your friei d!“ .
H  is."

“Then I can tell you that among these fel~
lows he’s a ‘ whole team and a cross dog under
the we on’ to boot. See him! he’s at it already.”

Iha noticed Lincoln in conversation with
several leather-legging gentry like himself,
whom I knew from their costume and appear-
anceto be backwoodsmen. All at once these
saturnine characters commenced moving about
the room, and entering into conversation with
{non whom they had not hitherto deigned tono-

l(‘0.

“ The are canvassing,” said Clayley,

Linco n, brushing past, whispered in my ear:

“ Ca p’n, I understan’ these hyur critters bet-
ter’n you kin. Yer must mix among ‘em—mix
and licker—thet’s the idea.”

“ Good advice,” said Clayley; “ but if you
could only take the shine out of that fellow at
fencing, the thing's done at once. By Jove! I
think on might do it, Heller!”

“ I ave made up my mind to try, at all
events.”

“Not until the last day—a few hours before
the election.”

“You are right. It would be better to wait
—I shall take your advice. In the mean time.
let us follow that of Lincoln—‘ mix and licker.’ ”

“ Ha! ha!” lau had Cla ley, “let us. Come,
boys!” he added, rning a very thirsty-look-
ing grou ; “lotsall takea ‘smile.’ Here, Cap-
fam Ha erl allow me to introduce you ;” and
the next moment I was introduced to a crowd
of very seedy-lookiu gentlemen, and the mo-
ment after we were 0 inkingafilasses, and chat-
tin as familiarly as if we been friends of
to y years’ standing.

 

During the next three days the enrollment
continued'rgt:l 3:1 canvass was ke t up with
ener . on was to tak
cum °"  °“ 

eanw ,my 0 for my rival had been
strengthened by closer observation; and, as is
gelueral in such cases, the feeling was recipro—

ca .
- On the afternoon of the da in uestiou we
stood before each other, foil inyhandc,l both of us
nervod by an intense, though as yet unspoken,
enmity. This had been observed y most of the
“mum”. Who approached and formed a circle
around us, all of them highly, interested in the
result-which, they knew. would be an index to
the election. .
room was an armory, and all kinds of

Wagons for military practice were kept in it.
Eac had helped himself to his foil. One of the
weapons was without . a button. and sharp
enough to be dangerous In the hands of an angry
man. I noticed that my antagonist had chosen
this one. .

“ Your foil is not in order; it has lost the but-
ton—has it not?" I observed.
w‘ui’h! mensieur. pardon. I did not perceive

at.

w..____

 

 

 

a.

 

‘1’

__

 

I
Y

 

The Rifle Rangers.

3

 

“A stran e oversight,” muttered Clayley,
with a sign' cant glance.

The Frenchman returned the imperfect foil
and took another.

“Have you a choice, monsieur?”

"No, thank you; I am satisfied.’

We commenced unsteadily. Both were ex-
cited by unusual emotions, and our first thrusts
were neither skillfully aimed nor parried. We
fenced with the ener y of anger, and the sparks
crackled from the f ction of the grazing steel.
For several minutes it was a doubtful contest;
but I grew cooler every .instant, while a slight
advantage I had gained irritated my adversary.
At length, by a lucky hit, I succeeded in lant-
ing the button of my foil upon his chee A
cheer greeted this, and I could hear the voice of
Lincoln shouting out:

“ Wal done, cap’n! whooray for the moun-
tainmen!”

This added to the exasperation of the French-
man, causing him to strike wilder than be-
fore; and I found no dificulty in repeating in
former thrust. It was now a sure hit; an ,
after a few passes, I thrust my adversary for
the third time, drawing blood. The cheer rung
out louder than before. The Frenchman could
no longer conceal his mortification; and grasp-
ing his foil in both hands. be snapped it over
his knee, with an oath. Then, muttering some
words about “better wee us” and “another
opportunity,” he strodeo among the specta-
to

rs.
Two hours after the combat I was his ca tain.
Clayley was elected first lieutenant; an in a
week from that time the company was “ mus-
tered ” into the service of the United States
Government, and armed and equipped as an in-
dependent corps of “Rifle Rangers.” On the
20th of January, 1847, a noble ship was hearing
us over the blue water, toward the shores of a
hostile land. ,

,I inquired.

CHAPTER III.
LIFE ON m ISLAND 83' LODGE.

Arms calling at Brazos Santiagpé we were
ordered to land upon the island of bos, fifty
miles north of Vera Cruz. This was to be our
“drill rendeavous.” We soon reached the isl-
and. Detachments from several regiments de-
barked together; the jungle was attacked; and
in a few hours the green grovehad disappea
and in its lace stood the white p ramids o
canvas wi h their floating flags. t was the
work of a day. When the sun rose over Inbcs
it was a. desert isle, thickly covered with a
jungle of mangrove, manzanel, and icaco-trees,
green as an emerald. How changed the scene!
When the moon looked down upon this same
islet, it seemed as if a warlike city had sprung
suddenly out of the sea with a navy at anchor
in front of its banne walls!

In a few days six full regiments had encamp-
ed upon the hitherto uninhabited island, and
nothing was heard but the voice of war.

These regiments were all “raw;" and my
duty with others, consisted in “licking them
into aha ” It was drill, drill, from morning
till nigh ; and, by herly tattoo, I was always
glad to crawl into my tent and go tosleep—snch
sleep as a man can t amon sco ions, izards,
and soldiermbs; or the li tie at seemed to
have within its boundaries a stpecimen of every
re tile that came safely out o t e ark.

he 22d of February bein Washin ton’s
birthday, I could not get to as usual. was
compelled to accept an invitation, obtained by
Clayley, to the tent of Major Twing, where
they were—using Clayley’s own words—“ to
have a night of it.”

After tattoo we set out for the major’s mar-
quee, which lay near the center of the islet, in
a coppice of caoutchouc-trees. We had no
diflcu ty in finding it, guided by the jingling
0f glasses and the ming ing of many voices in
bOisterous laughter.

On each side of the table was a row of colo-
nels. ca ,subalterns and doctors, seated
Without to to rank or , according to
the order n‘glich they be “dropped in.”

There were some naval officers, and a
sErinkling of strange, half-sailor-looki men,
t e skippers of transport brigs, steamboa etc.,

for Twing was a tho republican in b 9n_
tertainments; besides, theh day leveled all dis-
tinctions.

At the head of the table was the major him-
self—one of those why, hard-headed, hard-
drinking devils, who ways carried , hm
pewter flask suspended from his shoulders by a
green atria ; and without this flask noon. ever
saw Majorgrwing. He could not have stuck to
it more closely had it been his badge of mg,
It was not unusual, on the route, to hear smug
Wearied ofiicer exclaim: “If Ionl had a pun
at old Twirg’s pewter!” and “ eqh to Tw .
M" an expression whic stamped t e

was
qualit of u ]i “or as 5 Such VII,
one o the myajo speculiarities, though by no

means the only one.

As in friend and I made our afipeamnoe
under t e fly, the compan was in .
Cla ley was a great favor-Its with the maJOT.
an at once caught his eye.

“ Ba, Clayley! that you! Walk in with your
friend. Find seats there, gentlemen.”

igh glee. '

 

“Captain Heller—Major Twing,” said Clay-
ley, introducing me.

“ y to know on, captain. Can you find
seats t ere? No. ome u this way. Cudjo,
boy, run over to Colonel arshall’s tent and
steal a couple of stools. Adge, twist the neck
of! that bottle. Where’s the screw? Hang that
screw! Where is it, anyhow?”

“ Never mind the screw, mage,” cried‘the ad-
jutant; “ I’ve got a patent universal here.” So
saying, this entleman held out a champagne
bottle in his eft hand, and with a down-stroke
of his right out the neck 01!, as square as if it
had been filed!

“ Nate!” ejaculated Hennessy, an Irish officer,
who sat near the head of the table, and who
evidently admired that sort of thing.

“ What we call a Kentucky corkscrew,” said
the adjutant, coolly. “It offers a double ad-

vantage. It saves time, and you get the wine
clear of—"

“My respects, gentlemen! Captain Baller—
Mr. Clayley.”

“ Thank you, Major Twing. To you. sir!”

“ Ha! the stoolsat last! Only one! What the
deuce, Cudjo? Come, gentlemen—scaueeze our-
selves up this way. Here, Ciayley. 0! boy; ere’s
a cartridge-box. Adge! up-end that box. So—

ive us your fist, old fellow: how are you? Sit
down captain, sit down. Ci rs, there!”

As soon as we had got sea , several voices
were heard vociferating, “ The song! the son !
round with the song!” and I learned that t e
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 by a sto .”

“ Good! A story, by means—nothing like
variety.”

“Li tinant, take a trifle of the squeezed lemon
before ye begin.” _

“ Thank you, Captain Hennessy. Your
health, sir.”

 

CHAPTER IV.
m sno'r THROUGH CANVAS.

A'r that moment the report of a musket was
heard without the tent, and simultaneousl a
bullet whistled through the canvas. It knoc ed
the foraging-cap from the head of Ca tain Hen-
massyz and, strikin a decanter, voted the

into a thousand pieces! .

“A divilish nate shot the I don’t care who
fired it,” said Hennessy. coo ly picking up his
cap. “An inch of a miss cod as a mile,”
fidiied he, thrusting his thumb into the bullet-

o e.
By this time every oficer present was upon
his feet, most of them rushing toward the front
of the marquee. A dozen voices called out to-
gather:

“Who fired that gun?”

There was no answer, and several plunged

into the thicket in gursuit. The cha rral was
dark and silent, an these returned ter a fruit
less search.
“ Some soldier, whose un has gone oil by ac-
cident,” suggested Colone Harding. “The fel-
low; has run away to avoid being put under ar-
res . ‘

“Come, gentlemen, take your sates again,”
said Hennessy; “let the poor divil slide—yes
may be thankful it wasn’t a shell.”

” You, cagtain, have most cause to be grate-
ful for the c aracter of the missile.”

“By my sOWl,_I don‘t know about that!-—a
shell or a twenty-four would have grazed me all
the same, but a big shot would ban been
mi hty inconvanient to the head of my friend
H ler, here!”

This was true. My head was nearly in range'
and, had the shot been a large one, it would
have struck me u n the left temple. As it
was, I felt the “ w nd” of the bullet, and al-
rgady began to suffer a painful sensation over
t ee 6.

“1m in hty curious to know which of us
the fellow as mined, captain,” said Hennessy,
turnin to me as he ke.

“ If t were not a ‘ ll,’ I should say I hope
neither of us. l'm inclined to think with Col.
onel ,IIarding that it was altogether an acci—

t

“By the powers! an ugly accident too, that
has spoiled five dollars’ worth .of an illigant'cap.
and a pint of as good brandy asever was mixed
with hot water and iemcnjuice.”

“ Plenty left, ca tain, cried the major.
“Come, gentlemen, on’t let this damp us—flll
up! fill u ! Adgs. out with the corks! Cudjo,
where’s t screwl—curse that screw !”

“ Never mind the screw, mags,” cried the ad-
.‘lntant, repeatingI his old trick upon the neck of
a fresh bottle, w ich, nipped ofiunderthe wire,

fell :1 a heap of others that had preceded it. .

A350 the wine a foamed and sparkled, and
glasses circled mmiplfi, and the noisy revelry
waxed as loud as ever. The incident of the
shot was soon fo tten. Songs were ms. and
stories told, and ts drank; and with song
and sentiment, and toast and story, and the
Wild excitement of wit and wine, the night

 

waned away. With man of those young
heart-s, hold with hope and urning with amb -
tion, it was the last “Twenty-second" they
would ever celebrate. Half of them never
hailed another!
CHAPTER V.
A SKELETON ADVEMURE.

IT was past midnight when I withdrew from
the scene of wassail. Clayle was one of those
tireless spirits who could “ rink all night till
broad daylight,” and, as he referred remaining
for some time longer, I wal ed out alone. My
blood was flushed, and I strolled d0wn upon the
beach to enjoy the cool, fresh breeze that was
blowing in from the Mexican Sea.

I continued my walk alon the beach until I
had reached that point of t o island directly
opposite to the mainland of Mexico. Here the
Chaparral grew thick and tangled, running
down to the water‘s edge, where it ended in a
clump of mangroves. As no troops were en-
camped here, the islet had not been cleared at
this point, and the jungle was dark and solitary.

The moon was now going down, and strag‘
gling shadows began to fall u n the water.

Certainly some one skulk into the bushes!
—a rustling in the leaves—yes! some fellow
who has strayed beyond the line of sentries,
and is afraid to return to camp. Ha! a boat! a
skiff it is—a net and buoys! As I live, ’tisa
Mexican craftl—who can have brought it here?
Some fisherman from the coast of Tuspau. No,
he would not venture; it must be—

A stran esuspicion flashed across my mind,
and I ma ed through the mangrove thicket,
where I had observed the ob'ect a moment be-
fore. I had not proceeded fty yards when I
saw the foil of this movement. I found in -
self in the m dst of a lab rinth, dark and disc
mal, surrounded by a wal of leaves and bram-
bles. The branches of the mangroves, meted at
their top, barred up the path, and vines laced
them together.

“ If they be spies,” thought I, “ I have taken
the worst lan to catch them. I may as wall
go throng now. I cannot be distant from the
rear of the cam . Ugh! how dismal !"

I pushed on c imbin over fallen trunks, and
twining myself throng the viny cordsge. The
creepers c uug to m neck—thorns penetrated
my skin—the mez slapped me in the face,
drawing blood. I aid my and upon a dent
limb; a clammy ob ect st led an er my
touch, with a terrifi yet spite l violence, and
freeing itself sprung over my shoulder and

   
   
   

scampered 0 among the fallen leaves. i felt
its fetid breath, as the cold scales brushed
against my cheek. It was the hideous us!

A huge bat flap its sail-like win ‘ my
face, and return again and age. '~ ‘ng
a mephitic odor that caused me to . Twice
I struck at it with my sword cu only the

empty air. A third time my bladdku caught
in the trellis of parasites. It was, horrible; I
felt terrified to contend with such strange
enemies. ,.  .’

At length, after a egg—112w stru Is, an
opening a peared befpfl~ glade; rushed
to the we come 3 at. ‘w

“What a rel at!” I ejaculated, emergin
from the leafy darkness. Suddenly, I started
back with a cry of horror; my limbs refused to
act: the sword fell from my p; and I stood

lsied and transfixed, as by a bolt from

eaven!

Before me, and not over three paces distant,
the image of Death himself rose out of the

earth, and stretched forth his skeleton arms to

clutch me! It was no bantom. There was the
white naked skull, wit its eyeless sockets: the
long fieshless limbs; the open, serrated ribs; the
long, jointed fingers of Death himself!

As 12y bewildered brain took in these objects,
I has a noise in the bushes, as of persons

en in an an strugg 9.

me! Emile.” cried a female voice, “you
shall not murder him—you shall not!”

“ 0!!! 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 i”

“$91898 on the womanl—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,
confront' me, exclaimed:

“ Ha! onsieur le Capitaine! coup pour
coup I”

I heard no more; a heavy blow descend
.upon my temples, deprived me of all power,

I fell senseless to the earth.

When 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 in company. I saw that i
was in my own ten , and stretched upon my
cam -bed.

“ hati—howl-what’s the matter—what’s
this?” I said, raising my hands 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 sow], he‘s over it; thank the

 

 

 

 

4

The Rifle Rangers.

 

/
Lord for his goodness,” said Chane, an Irish
soldier.

“Over what? what has happened to me?" I
inquired.

“ h capt’in, yer honner, you’ve been near-
] murthered, and all by thim Frinch scoun-

hrels, bad luck to their dirty frog-’atin’ pic-
thersl” '
iS‘i‘lg'durderedl French sooundrels! Bob, what
1:.

"Why, er see, cap’n, e’ve had a cut hyur
over the hind, and we think it’s them Franch-
men.”

“ Oh! I remember now; a blow-but the
Death i—the Death ’i”

I started up from the bed as the phantom'of
my night adventure returned to my imagina-
tion.

“The Death, cap’ni—what do yer mean?” in
,qnired Lincoln, holding me in his strong arms.

“Oh! the cap’n manes the skilleton, maybe,
said Chane.

“ What skeleton i” I demanded.

“.Why, an Owld skilleton the boys found in
the chaparril yer honner. They hung it to a
tree. and we found yer honner there, with the
skilletou swinging over ye like a sign. Och! the
Friuch bastesl”

I made no further inquiries about the
“ Death.”

“ But where are the Frenchmen?” asked I,
after a moment.

:: Clane one, yer honner,” replied Chane.
e

“ Yes, cap‘n; that’s so as he sex it,” answered
Lincoln.

“ Gone! What do you mean?” I inquired.

u m b."

“ How do you ow that?”

“Because they ain’t hem.”

“ On the island!”

“Searched it all—ever bush.”

" But who? which of t e Frenchi”

“Dubrosc add that ’ar boy that was always
with him—both desarted.”

“ Ay, and the divil go wid them! He’ll niver
hiv his own till he ts a hoult of Misther Du-
brosc, bad ’cess to im!”

“ You are sure they are missing?”

"looked high and low, cap u. Gravenitz
see’d Dubroecsteal into the chaparril with his
musket. Short] afteer he been a shot,
but thought no in’ of it till this morniu’, when
one of the sodgers foun’ a Spanish sombrary out
thar, and Chane heern some’dy say the shot
passed throu h Major Twing’s markey. Besides,
we foun’ th butcher-knife whae yer was lyin’.’

Lincoln held up a species of

   
 
 
 
 

I

Mexican

   
  
  
  
 

' , , ca n; only it’s in belief there
on this island, and tvhem French-

, them.”

~ ,- me I lay musing on this

' -v  ousaflair. M memory,

however. grad -' wclearer, and the events

of the 11) became linked to-

  

, ‘ f the exclamation,
Coup pour coup !”—a convinced me that
Linco u’s conjectures were right.

Dubrosc had fired the .shot, and struck the
blow that had left me senseless. ’

But who could the woman he whose voice I

V to the be who had

,fi: oi! wi Dubrosc, and whom had often

 f, rved in the company of the latter. A
‘Itrange attachment a to exist between
them in which the y seemed to be the de-
v slave of the strong, fierce Creole. Could
this be a woman?

I reoollected having been struck with his
delicate features, the softness of his voice, and
the smallness of his hands. There were other

ints, besides in the tour-aura of the boy’s

gate, 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. 1
Many other peculiarities connected with the
and Dubrosc, which at the time had
unnoticed and unheeded, now presented them-
selves to my recollection, all tending to prove
the identit of the boy with the woman whose
niacin it?“ inn“ thing. Mitzi? night‘ ad
c no e p a e s VOIP
tures: determined, however to conceal that
. which related to the skaieton.
" was

felted heard pleading in m behalf?
 My thou hts reve

a few da s In stungth w
The cut I had riceivgi was not deg—than

my forage cap and the dullness of the French-
man’s weapon. _

 

VI.
m LAID!!!) ar moms.
Esau in theendnth of March, the troops at
Lobos were re-embarksd, and dropped down to
Anton Liasrdo. The Ameri-

can fleet ws's WWW and in a
few days above a all of
had joined it.

The landing wastotske plaeecutheilth‘; and
W9! debarkation fixed upon was the

\

 

beach opposite the island of Sacrificios, just out
of ra e of the guns of Vera. Cruz.

The h of March rose like a dream, bright,
balmy, and beautiful. The sea was scarcely
stirred by the entlest breeze of the ice;
but this breeze, light as it was, blew direct y in
our favor.

At an early hour I observed a stran e move-
ment among the ships composing the act. Sig-
nals were changing in quick succession, and
boats gliding rapidly to and fro.

Before daybreak the huge surf—boats had been
drawn down from their moorings, and with
long hempen hawsers attached to the ships and
steamers.

The descent was about to be made. The
ominous cloud which had him dark and threat-
ening over the shores of Me co was about to
burst upon that devoted laud. But where?
The enemy could not tell, and were preparing
to receive us on the adjacent shore.

The black cylinders began to smoke, and the
murky cloud rolled down upon the water, half
obscuring the fleet. Here and there a broad
sail, freshly unfurled, hung stitliy from the

ard; the canvas, escaping from its gasket

astenings, 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 ships.

Unusual sounds were heard on all sides. The
deep-toned chorus of the sailor—the creaking of
the ca tan and the clankin of the iron cogs——
the “ save-ho!” at the win lass, and the grat-
ing of the huge anchor-chain as link after link
rasped through the rusty ng—sounds that
warned us to make ready for a chan e.

In the midst of these came the rolling of
a drum. It was answered b another, and
another and still another, unt all voices were
drowned by the deafening noise. Then followed
the minglm shouts of command—a rushing
over the dec s-and streams of blue-clad men
poured down the dark sides, and seated them-
selves in the surf-boats. These were filled in a
twinkling, and all was silent as before. Every
voice was hushed in expectation, and every
oye bent upon the little black steamer whic
carried the'commander-inchief.

Suddenly a cloud of smoke rose up from her
quarter; a sheet of flame shot out horizontally;
and the report of a heavy En shook the atmos-
phere like an earthquake. fore its echoes had
subsided, a deafening cheer ran simultaneously
through the fleet; and the ship!» all together, as
if impelled by some hidden and supernatural
power, broke from their moorings, and dashed
hrough the water with the velocity of the
wind. Away tothe north-west. in an exciting
race; away or the island of Sacrificlos!

On stru led the ships, bending to the breeze
and cleav n the crystal water with their bold
bows; on t e steamers, beating the blue wan-s
into a milky-way, and dragging the laden
boats in their foam track. On ollowed the
boats through the sing and froth caldron.
Loud rolled the drum, loud brayed he bugle,
agid loud huazas echoed from the adjacent

res. ~

s 0

Already the fee was alarmed and alert.
Light horsemen with streaming haste galloped
up the coast. Lancers with gay trapp n and
ion nnons, a through the o n age of
the is. Foaming, prancin steeds w with
light artillery over the na d ridges, dashing
madly down deep deflles, and cruzhing the
cactus with their whirlin wheels. ‘Andela!

.Andelai’ was their cry. n vain they urged

their horses—in vain they drove the spur deep
and bloody into their smoking sides. The
elements were against them, and in favor of
their foes.

The alarm [s‘pread up the coast. Bugles were
soundi an horsemen gallcped through the
streets 0 Vera Cruz. The alarm-drum beat in
the pleas, and the long roll echoed in every
cuarst

Signal-rocketsshot up from San Juan, and
were answered by others from Santiago and

on.

Thousands of dark forms clustered upon the
roofs ofthe city and the ram rts of the castle;
and thousands of pale lasewgpsred in accents
ofterror, ‘Theycomei tycomel’

The fleet was almost wi in long ran the
black, buoyant hulls bounding fearl
the water. The eager crode

 

next, and the next; and, before the astonished
multitude recoVered from their su rise, the
whole fleet had come-to within pistol-s 0t of the
island!

The enemy now, for the first time, perceived
the mac, and began to calculate its results.
Those giant ships, that but a moment ago
seemed rushing to destruction, had rounded-to
ata safe distance, and were preparing, with
the speed and skillfulness of aperfect discipline:
to pour a hostile host upon the defenseless
shores. In Vain the cavalry bugle called their
horsemen to the saddle: in vain the artillery
lcatr rattled along the streets; both would be too
a e.

Meanwhile, the ships let fall their anchors,
With a plunge, and a rasping. and a rattle. The
sails came down upon the yards: and sailors
swun themselves into the great surf-boats, and
mixe with the soldiers, and seized the cars.

The reporth asingle gun was at length heard
from the shi of the commander-in-chief; and,
as if by one mpulse, a thousand oars struck the
ginger, and flung up the spray upon their broad

a es.

And now we neared the shore, and officers
sprung to their feet, and stood with their
swords drawn; and soldiers half sat, half
crouched, clutching their muskets. And the
heels gritted upon the gravelly bed; and, at the
signal, a thousand men, in one lunge, flung
themselves into the water, and (rushed madly
through the surf. Thousands followed, holding
their cartridge-boxes breast-high; and blades
were glancin , and bayonets gleamin , and
banners wa ng; and under glancin blades,
and gleaming bayonets, and wavin nners,
the dark mass rushed high upon the ch.

A color-sergeant, springing forward, rushed
up the steep sides 0 a sun -hill, and planted
h s fla upon its snowy ridge.

As t e well-known banner swung out upon
the breeze a cheer, wild and thrilling, ran
along the line; a hundred answerin flags were
hauled up throu the'fleet; the ships of war
saluted with ful broadsides; and the guns of

San Juan, nowJ‘or the first time wakin from
their lethargic once, poured forth the loud—
est thunder.

The sun was just setting as our column com-
menced its advance inward. After winding
for a short distance through the deflles of the
sand-biils, we halted for the night, our left
wing resting u the beach.

The soldiers ivouacked without tents, sleep-
ing upon their arms, with the soft sand for
1their couch and the cartridge-box for their pil—
OWs

 

CHAPTER VII.
m 011'! or an no: caoss.

AT break of da. on theIDBh, the army took

its line of more through hills of sand-drift.

n the 11th the Oriasva road was crossed, and
the li ht troop?J of the enemy were brushed
from t e no h ring hills. 0n the morning of
the 12th, the nvestment was complete.

Vera Urns is within a semicircle—around
its center. The lf ference was a chain
of hostile regiments that embraced the city in
their concave are. The ht of this chain
pitched its tents opposite
while five miles off to the north, its left rested
upon the hamlet Veg-figs. The sea covered the
complement of this le, guided byIa fleet of
dark and warlike ships.

After tattoo-beat on the hi i; of ‘ the 12th,
with a m of n y brother I ascended
the big h around which winds the road lead-
in to Orinava.

his hill overlooks the city of Vera Cruz.

Below our tion, and seemin almost
within reach 0 the hand, in the “ Cay of the
True those,” risin out of white plain, and
outlined u n the loo back-ground o the sea.

The dar gray towers and inted domes;
the Gothic urret and Moods minaret, im-

ressed us with the idea of the antique; while
and there the tamarind, ed on some
snotea, or the fringed fronds of the m-trce,
drooping over the no parapet, eat to the
citvan asp-ct at once southern and picturesque.

Domes, spires and cupolas rose over the old

y wals, crowned with floating banners—
33m flags 0 France ands in and
Britain, waving alongside the o the

tyond, the blue waters of the Gulf rippled
ligh against the sea-washed battlements of
San us whose brillhut lights gilstened along
the com of the surf.

Tothesonthwe could distin lathe Isle of

and the darkhulls slept silent-

ly “demo shelter of in coral reef.
Outside the fortified wall, which girt the city
with its cincture of rock, fillgooth lain,
stretched rearward to efootof he hi1 on
which we stood; and rig’h: and left, alon the
crest of the ridgofrom nta 3011109 to 9,.
“rs, I. of dark forms—the picket
sentrles o the American outposts as they stood
knesdssp in the soft, elding “adrift.

It was a picture 0 gintensst: and
as we stood gazing upon it, the moon suddme
disappeared behind a bank of clouds; and

amps of the city, heretofore eclipsed by

M

Isle Sacrificics; v

ans-«m

flan

her bri hter beam, now burned up and glistened
alou t e walls.

Be is rung merrily from church-towers, and
bugles sounded through the echoin streets.
At intervals we could hear the shri cries of
the uard—“ Centinela alerts I "—and the sharp
cha lenge, “ Quie‘n viva?” . o .

Then the sound of sweet music, mingled With
the soft voices of women, was waf to our
ears: and with beating hearts we fancied we
could hear the light trend of silken feet, as

' they brushed over the polished floor of the ball-
room.

As we continued azing, a bright jet of flame
shot out horiwnta y from the 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 arty followed his example;
but, before all has housed themselv a shot
came singing past, along with the 1 report
of a tWenty-t'our. .

The shot struck the comb of the ridge. within
several yards of the group, and ricocheted of!
into the distant hills.

“ ry its sin!” cried one.

“ That felfow has lost a champagne supper!”
said Twin .

“ More fikely he has had it, or his aim would

bemorestead "su tedanomoer.
“Oysters. Whmk of it!” said Clay-

le .

{Howld your tongue, Clayley, or by my
sowl I’ll charge down upon the town 1”

This came from Hennessy, upon whose im-
agination the contrast between cham e and
oysters and the gritty pork and bi t , had
been feeding upon for several days past, acted
like a shock.

“ There sin i” cried Twiug, whose quick eye
caught the u n the parapet.
“A shell, b t powers!” exclaimed Hen-

“Let t dhrop first, or it may dhrop
s were

nessy.
on ya,” he continued, as several
about to fling themselves on their faces. -

The bomb shot up with a hissing, hurtlin
.sound. A little spark could be seen, as i
traced its graceful curves through the dark
heavens. .

The report echoed from the walls, and at the
same instant was heard a dull sound,“ the
shell buried itself in the sand-drift.

It fell close to one of the picket sentinels, who
was standingupon his post within afew paces of
'the group. The man appeared to be either
asleep or stupeiied, as he remained stock still.
Perhaps he had mistaken it for the ricochet of a

round shot.

“It’sb shooting for them to hit the hill!”
exclaime a young oficer. A

The words were scarcel passed when a loud
crash, like the bursting o a cannon, was
under our feet; the ground opened like an earth-
quake; and amid the whistling of the frag-
ments, the sand was dashed into our faces.

A cloud of dust hang for a moment above the
spot. moon at this instant reappeared;
and. as the dust slowly settled away, the muti-
lated body of the soldier. was seen upon the
brow of the hill, at the distance of twenty paces
from his post.

A low cheer reached as from Concepcion, the
fort whence the shell had been projected.

Chagrined at the occurrence and mortified
that it had been caused by our im ence, we
were turning to leava the hi1 , when the
“ whis ” of a rocket attracted our attention.

It rose from the chaparral about a uarter of
a mile in the rear of the camp, and, be ore it had
reached its culminatin point. an answering sig-
nal shot up from the erto Nuevo.

At the same instant a horseman dashed out of
the thicket and headed his horas at the steep
sand-hills. After three or four desperate
Plunges the fiery mustang ined the crest of
the ridge upon which lay t 0 remains of the
dead soldier.

3°" the rider, seeing our party, suddenly
rallied “P lnd balanced for a moment in the
stirrup, Isl! uncertain whether to advance or

retreat.

W0! 0” the 0151’” hand. taking him for some
0310" 0‘9"" Own. ‘nd wOlldering who it could
be gallopms about at web an hour, stood silent
an waiting.

“ By heavens, that’s a Maxim!» muttered
Twing, as the rauchero dress boc’me apparent
under a brighter beam of the moon.

Before any one could resily, the “range h°m_
man wheeled sharply to t 9 left, and, dnwing
a pistol, tired it mto our midst. _ n awning
his wild horse he galloped Put as tutors deep
defile of the h lls. *

“You’re a set of blamed Yankee fools!” he
shouted back, as he reached the bottom of the
dell.

Half a dozen shots replied to the taunting
Speech. but the retreating object was be on
Pistol range before our astonished party he re-
covered from their surprise at such an act of
daring audacity.

In a few minutes we could see both horse and
rider near the walls of the city—a speck on the
White plain—and shortly after we heard the
mung hinges of the Puerto Nuevo, as the huge

 

The Rifle Rangers.

Eats swung open to receive him. No one was
it b the shot of his pistoL Several could be
hear gritting their teeth with. mortification as
We commenced descending the hill.

“Did you know that voice, captain?” whis-
pered Clayley to me as we returned to camp.

it Yes. )9

“ You think it was—”

“ Dubrosc.”

 

CHAPTER VIII.
MAJOR BLOSSOM.

0N reaching the camp I found a mounted or-
der] in front of my tent.

“ cm the general,” said the soldier, touch-
in his cap and handing me a sealed note.

e order] , without waiting a reply, leaped

into his sad e and rode OR.

I broke the seal and read with delight:—

“ sz—You will report, with fifty men, to Major
Blossom, at 4 a. u. to-morrow.
“ B order,

Signed A. A. A.-G.
“Captain Heller, Commanding Co., Rifle Ran-
rs ‘1

“Old Bios, eh? Quartermaster scouting. I
hope," said Clayley, looking over the contents
of the note.

“Anything but the trenches; I am sick of

them.

“ Had it been anybody else but Blossom—
flghting Daniels, for instance—we might have
reckoned on a comfortable bit of duty; but the
old whale can hardly climb into his saddle—it

remain in doubt.

does look bad.”

“ I will not lou Order the
sergeant to warn be men for four."

I walked through the camp in search of Blos-
som’s marquee, which I found in a we of
caoutchouc-trees, out of range of t e heav-
iest metal in Vera Cruz. The major himself
was seated in a lar e Campeachy chair, that
had been “borrowed from some neighborin
rancho; and perhaps it was never so well fill
as by its resent occupant. 

It woud be useless toattem tan elaborate
description of Major Blossom. hat would re-
quire an entire chapter.

Perhaps the best that can be done to giVe the
reader an idea of him is tosay that he was a
great, fat red man, and known among his

ruther officers as “ the swearin major. If
any one in the arm loved good ivin , it was
Major Blossom; an if any one hated liv-
ing, that man was Major ge Biomm.

As I entered the tent he was seated atsu
per. The viands before him were in stri -
ing contrast to the food upon which the army
was then su . There was no gravel gri
ting between the major’s teeth as he masti-
cated mess-pork or moldy biscuit. He found
no debris of sand and small rocks at the bottom
of his coffee-cu . No; quite the contrary.

A dish of pick ed salmon, a side of cold turke ,
a plate of sliced tongue; with a fine Virgin a
ham, were the strikin features of the major’s
supper, while a ban some French coflee—urn,
containing the essence of Mocha, simmered upon
the table. Out of this the major, from time to
time, replenished his silver cup. A bottle of
eawde-eie, that stood near his right hand, as—
sisted him likewise in swallowing his ample
ration.

" Major Blossom, I resume?” said I.

“My name,” ejgcu ted the major, between
two swallows, so s, ort and quick that the phrase
sounded like a monosyllable.

“y’I have received orders to report to you,

“ Ah! bad business! had business!”exclaimed
the major, qualifying the words with an ener-

tic oath.

“ How, sir?”

“ Atrocions business! dangerous service!
Can’t see why they sent me.”

' “ I came, major, to inquire the nature of the
service, so that I may have my men in order
for it.”

“ D—d dangerous service!”

“ It is?” .

“Infernal cut-throats! Thousands of ’em in
the bushes—bore a man through as soon as
wink. Those yellow devils are worse than-—”
and again the swearing major wound u with
an exclamation not proper to be repea. .

“ Can’t see why they pic ed me out. There’s
Myers, and We ne, and cod, not half my
size, and that thm scare-the~crows Allen; but
no—the general wants me kille . Die soon
enough in this infernal nest of Cent! edes with-
out in shot in the chaparral! wish the
chaperra was—” and again the major’s unmen-
tionable words came pouring forth in a volley.

I saw that it was useless to interru t him un-
til the first burst was over. From h frequent
anathemas on the “ bushes " and the “ Chapar-
ral,” 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,
unti the major had sworn himself into a degree
of com sure,_which after some minutes be ac
0911.2) ed. 1 then re-stated the object of my
visi

“We’re goin into the country for mules,”
replied the me or.. “Mules, indeed! Heaven
knows there isn’t a mule within ten miles, un-

 

A l 5

less with a yellow-hided Mexican on his back;
and such mules we don’t want. The volunteers
-—curse theml—have scared everything to the
mountains; not a stick of celery nor an onion
to be had at any price.”

“ How long do you think we may be gone!” I
inquired.

“Long? Only a day. If I stay over night
in the Chaparral, may a wolf eat mel Oh, no;
if the mules don‘t turn up soon, somebody else
may go fetch ’em—that’s all.”

“ I may ration them for one day?” said L

“ Two—two; you fellows ’ll be hungr . Rob-
erts, of the Rifles, who’s been out in t e coun-
try, tells me there isn’t enough forage tofeed n
cat. So you’d better take two days’ biscuit; I
suppose we’ll meet with beef enough on the
hoof; though I’d rather have a rump-steak 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.

“ Make it a little later, captain; I get no sleep
with these cursed gall nippers and things; but
stay—h0w many men ave you got?”

‘ In my company eighty; but my order is to
take only fifty.

“ There in! I told on so; want me killed
—-they wan old Bios k ed. Fif men, when
a thousand of the leather-skinne devils have
been seen not ten miles 03! Fifty menl Great
heavens! fift men! There’s an escort to take
the chaparra with i”

“ 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 chapsrral’s
full—full as Hades! (a certain pinch of tor-
ment familiar to the major’s lips). '

“We shall have to proceed with more cau-
tion ” I rejoined.

“ ution be hanged !” and caution was sum-
marily sentenced to the same regions. Bring
all—every son of a gun—bugler 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 and you would do

user things. Bring them all; take my advice.

tell you, if you don’t, our lives may answer
for it. Fifty men!”

I was about to de when the major stopped
me with a loud " ca!” ’

“Why,” cried he, “I have lost my senses.
Your pardon, captain! This unlucky thing has
driven me crazy. The must pick 11 me!
What will you drink? ere’s some goodxbnrand y
—infernal good; sorry I can’t say as much for
the water.

I mixed a glass of brandy and water; the
major did the same, and having pied each
other, we bade “ good-night,” and se

CHAPTER IX.
scourmo m m mum

Barons: daybreak of the morning after my
interview with the “ swearing major,” a head
a red between the flaps of my tent. It was
t at of Sergeant Bob Lincoln.

“ The men air under arms, cap’n.”

“ well,” cried I, leaping from my bed,
and hasély bucklinglpn my accouterments.

I looked forth. e moon was still brightly
shining, and I could see a number of uniformed
men standing u n the company parade, in
double rank. ‘ D tly in front of my tent a
small boy was saddling a very small horse.
boy was “Ia'ttle Jack,” as the soldiers call
him, and the horse was little Jack’s mustangu
“ Twidget.” .

Jack wore a tightrfittmg een acket,
trimmed with yellow lace and utton u to
the throat; pantaloons of light green, stra ht-
cut and striped along the seems a foragecap
set jauntilg upon a profusion of bright curls: a
saber wit a blade of eighteen inches, and a

’r of clinking Mexican s urs. Besides these
Efcarried the smallest of a lrifles. Thus armed
and accoutered. he presented the appearance of
aminiature “Ran er.”

Twidget had his peculiarities. He Was 'a
tight, w little animal, that could live I: n
mesquite ans or ma ey leaves for an in en-
nits time; and his abs miousness was often put
to the test. Afterward, u u an occasion dur-
ing the battles in the va ley of Mexico, Jack
and Twidget had somehow ot eeplarated, at
which time the mustang bad n 5 st up for
four days in the cellar of a ruined convent, with
no other food than stones an mortar! How
Twid et came by his name isnot clear. Per-
haps t was some waif of the rider’s own fancy.

s I appeared at the entrance of rfiy tent,.
Jack had just finished strapping on his exica '
saddle, and, seein me, n he ran to assist int
serving my brea fast. Iis was hastily dis.

tched, and our rty took the route in si«
ence through the s coping camp. Shortly after,
we were 'oined by the major, mounted on a
tall, raw- ned horse; whie a darky, whom
the me'or addressed as “Doc,” rode a snug,
stout col), and carried a basket. This 1th con-
tained the major’s commissariat.

We were soon traveling along the Orimva
road, the major and Jack riding in the advance.

 

 
   

6

The Rifle  '

 

I could not help smiling at the contrast between
these two equestrians; the former with his
reat gaunt horse, looming up in the uncertain
fi ht of the morning like some huge centaur;
w ile Jack and Twidget appeared the two repre-
sentatives of the kin dom of Lilliput.

On taming an am; e of the forest, 0. horseman
appeared at some distance along the road. The
major gradually slackened his pacs until he was

nets with the head of the column, and then
fe 1 back into the rear. This maneuver was ex-
ecuted in the most natural manner, but I could
plainl see that the mounted Mexican had
cause the major no small degree of alarm.

The horseman proved to be a zambo in ur-
suit of cattle that had escaped from a neigh r-
ing corral. I put some inquiries to him in rela-
tion to the object of our expedition. The zambo
pointed to the south, saying in Spanish that
mules were plenty in that direction.

Following his direction, we struck into the
new path, which soon narrowed into a bridle-
road or trail. The road darkened, passing un-
der thick-leaved trees, that met and twined over
our heads.

At times the hanging limbs and joined ra-
sites caused the ma or to flatten his huge y
upon the horn of the saddle, and once or twice
he was obliged to all ht and walk under the im-
peding branches of t e thorn acacias.

Our journey continued wit out noise, silence
being interrupted only b an occasional oath
from the major—uttere , however, in a low
tone, as we were now fairly ‘ in the woods.’
The road at length 0 ned upon a small prairie
or glade, near the rders of which rose a
“ butte ” covared with Chaparral.

Lou ng the party in ambuscade below, I
ascended the butte, to obtain a view of the sur-
rounding country. The day had now fairly
broken, and the sun was just rising over the
blue waters of the Gulf.

To the south and west stretched a wide or

so of champai country, glowing in all the
rilliancy of tro cal vegetation.

A broad belt 0 forest, dotted with the life-
like frondage of the palm, swept up to the foot
of the hill. Beyond this is an open tract of
meadow, or prairie, upon w ich were browsing
thousands of cattle.

The meadow, then, was the point to be

reached.

The belt of forest already mentioned must be
crossed; and to eifect this struck into a trail
that seemed to lead. in the direction of the
meadow.

The trail became lighter as we entered the
heavy timber. Some distance further on we
reached a stream. Here the trail entire! dis-
appeared. No signs couidbe found on t e op
posite bank. The underwmd was thick: and
vines, with broad green leaves and hu e clusters
of scarlet flowers barred up the ath li a a wall

It was strange! Thoxbath ha evidently led
to this point, but where beyond?

Sev=ral men were d ched across the stream
to find an 0 ing. ter a search of several
minutes a ort exclamation from Lincoln pro-
claimed success. I crossed over, and found the
hunter standing near the holdin back
a screen of boughs and vine- eaves, yond
which a narrow but plain track was easily dis-
tiu ished, leading on into the forest. The
tre is closed like a is , and it seemed as if art
had lent a hand to t econcealment of the track.
The foot—prints of several horses were plainly
ylaible in the saggy bottom of the road. .

The men cute in single file. With some
imouzlety Major Blossom and his great horse

as themselves through, and we moved

A}: under the shady and silent woods.

ter a march of several miles, fording nu-
merous streams, and working our way through
tangled thickets of nopal and wild mague ,
an opening suddenly a ared through t 9
trees. Emergin from t a forest, and a bril-
liant scene bu upon us. A large clearing
evidently once cultivated, but now in a state 0
,negleot, stretched out before us. Broad field
covered with flowers of eve hue—thickets o
blooming roae-trees—belts o the yellow helian-
thus—and groups of cocoa-trees and half-wild
piltaiptains, formed a picture singular and bean-

u .

On one side, and close to thoborder of the
forest could be seen the roof of a. house, r-
ing above groves of glistening foliage, and
th ther we marched. I
= We entered a lane with its guarda-rauas of

orange-trees planted in rows upon each side,
and meeting overhead.

The sunl ght fell through this leafy screen
with a mellow and delicious softness, and the
perfume of flowers was wafted on the air.

The rich music of birds was around us; and
the loveliness of the scene was hi htened by
the wild neglect which characterize it.

On approaching the house we balted‘ and
of chargingotbe men to remain silent,l ad-
v ed alone reconnoiter.

Li:
. I 

 

CHAPTER X.
mvnxrunx wrrn A can“.
lane suddenl opened upona pasture,

but within this a. t ick hedge of jessamines,
forming a circle, barred the 'view.

 

In this circle was the house, whose roof only I

could be seen from without.

Not finding any
mines, I parted t e leaves with my hands, and
looked through. The picture was dream-like;
so strange, I could scarcely credit my senses.

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 to.
gather by fibers of the ita. The roof—a
thatch of palm-leavos—prOJected far over the
wooden cu ola with a cross. There were no
windows. he walls themselves were translu-
cent: and articles of furniture could be distin-
guished through the interstices of the bamboos.

A curtain of green barege, supported by a
rod and rings. formed the door. This was
drawn, discovering an ottoman near the en-
trance, and an elegant harp.

The whole structure presented the coup-d’aeil
of a huge bird-cage, with its wires of old!

The grounds were in kee ing with t 6 house.
In these the evidence 0 neglect, which had
been noticed without, existed no longer. Every
object appeared to be under the training of a
watcbfu solicitude.

A thick grove of olives, with their gnarled
and 5 reading branches and dark green leaves,
stretc ed rearward, forming a background to
the picture. Ri ht and left ew clumps of
orange and lime rees. Golden it and flowers
of brilliant hues mingled with their yellow
leaves: spring and autumn blended upon the
same branches!

Rare shrubs—exotics—grew out of la e ves-
sels ogdjapanned earthenware, whose b lliant
tints dad to the voluptuous coloring of the
scene.

A jet—d’eau,-crgstalline, rose to the hight of
twenty feet, an , returning in a shower of
prismatic globules stole away thrOugh a. bed of
water-lilies and other a tie 5:32“, losing
itself in a. ve of lofty p antain- 3. These,
growing mm the cool watery) bed, flung out
their broad glistening leaves 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 pea-fowl
stalked ovar the parterre in all the ride of their
rainbow plumage. In the fonnta n appeared
the tall form of a flamin , his scarlet color con-
trasting with the green eaves of the water-iii .
Songfters were trilling in every tree. 9
moo -bird, bed upon the highest limb, was
mimicking he monotonous tones of the parrot.
The toucans and tro ons flashed from rove to
grove, or balanced t eir bodies under t e ray
of the jet-d’eau ,' while the hummin -birds ung
upon the leaves of some honey blossom, or
giankled over the parterre like straying sun-

ms. '

I was runnin my e e over this dream-like
picture, in score of a uman when the
soft, metallic accents of a female voice reached
me from the grove of lantains. It was a burst
of laughter—clear an ringing. Then followed
another, with short exclamations, and the sound
of water, as if dashed and sprinkled with alight

and.

My first impulse was “forward!” which I
obeyed. t

I stooped down and silently parted the broad
ziilkien Ileaves of the plantains. The sight was

v ne

Within lay a circular tank, or basin, of
crystal water, several rods in diameter, 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 sun.

A low arapet of mason-work ran around,
forming t ecircumference of the circle. This
was japanned with a species of porcelain, whose
deep colorin of blue, and en, and allow,
was display in a variety 0 grote ue res.

A strong jet boiled up in the cen r, y the
refraction of whose 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. his mate, stood upon the bank, drying
her snowy pinions in the sun.

A different 0 attracted me, depriving
me for a. while of power of action.

In the water and near the jet, ware two
beautiful rls, clothed in a sort of sleeveless
green tunic, loosely glordled. They were im-
mersed to the waist. pellucid was the water
that their little feet were distinctly visible at
the bottom, shining like gold.

“Sisters!” one would exclaim and yet their
com lexions were strikin ly dissimi ar. The
bl , mantling darker in t e veins of one, lent
an olive tinge to the soft and warlike surface
of her skin, while the red upon her cheeks and
lips presented an admixture of le. Her
hair, too, was black; and a dark 3 ad ng alon
the upper lip—a mustache, in fact—soft an
sillinn as the tracer of a cra on, Contrasted
with the dazzling wh tones of er teeth. Her
eyes Were black, large, and, almond-shapod--
with that expression which looks over one; and
her whole appearance formed a type of that

I
l

 

fl

beauty which we associate with the Abencer-
rage and the Alhambra. This was evidently

opening through the jessa- ' the elder.

The other was the type of ‘a distinct class of
beau ty-—the golden-haired blonde. Her e es
were large. globular, and blue as turqumse.
Her hair of a chastened yellow, long and luxu-
riant; while her skin, less soft and wach than
that of her sister, presented an effusion of
roseate blushes that extended along the snowy
whiteness of her arms. These, in the sun. ap-’
peared as bloodless and transparent as the tiny
gold-flab that guivered in her 11 liftrd hand.

I was riVete tothe spot. My 'rst impulse was
to retire, silently and modestly, but the power
of a stran fascination for a moment prevent-
ed me. as it a dream?

“Ah! what a barbarian you are! poor little
thin l”

“ e shall eat it.” i

“ Goodness! no! fling it in, Luz, or 1 shall
throw water in your eyes.” And the speaker
stoo ed as if to execute the threat.

“ ow I shall not,” said Luz, resolutely.

“ Look out, then!”

The brunette placed her little hands close to-
gether, forming with their united palms a con-
cave surface, and commenced dashing water
upon the perverse blonds.

The latter instantly dropped the gold flshjand
retaliated.

An eXciting and animated contest ensued.
The bright globules flew around their heads and
rolled down their glistening tresses, as from the
pinion of a swan, while their clear laughter
rung out at intervals, as one or the other ap-

peared victorious.
A hoarse voice drew my attention from this
interesting ectacle. Looking whence it came,

my eye res ed upon a hu 0 negress stretched
under a cocoa-tree, who he raised herself on
one arm, and was laughing at the contest.

Becoming sensible of my intrusive position, I
turned to retreat, when a shrill cry reached me
from the pond.

The swans, with a frightened energy, shrieked
and flagged over the surface-the gold-fish shot
to and like sunbeams, and leaped out of the
water, quivering and terrified—and the birds on
all sides screamed and chattered.

I sprung forward to ascertain the cause of this
strange commotion. My eye fell upon the
negress, who had risen, and, running out upon
the parapet With uplifted arms, shouted, -in ter-
rific accents: -

“ El egg/man! cl rayman I”

I look across to the other side of the pond.
A fearful ob ect met my eyes—the cayman of
Mexico! T e hideous monster was slowly
crawlin over the low wall, dragging his length-

ened y from a bed of aquatic plants.
Already his short forearms, amv and cor—

rugated. rested upon the inner of the para-

pe , his shoulders projectin as in the act to

sprin ! His scale-covered ck, with its long
serra d ridge, glittered with a slippery moist-
ness, and his eyes, usually dull, gleamed fierce
and lurid from their rominent sockets.

I had brought wit mea light rifle. It was
but the work of a moment to unsling and level
it. The sharp crack followed, and the ball
impinged between the monster’s eyes, glancing
harmlessly from his hard skull, as though it
had been a plate of steel. The shot was an idle
one—perhaps worse: for, sin to madness
with the stunning shock, the re ile rung far
out into the water, and made direc'txly for his
victims.

The girls, who had long since given over their
mirthful contest, seemed "to have lest all
presence of mind: and instead of making for

he bank, stood locked in each other’s aims,
terrified and tremblin .

With a spring I ceared the arapet, and
gaiwing my sword, dashed mad y across the

s n.

The girls were near the center; but the cay-
man had got the start of me, and the water,
three feet deep, impeded In progress. The
bottom of the tank, too, was i ry, and I fell
once or to ice on my hands. rose a sin. and
with frantic energy plun d for-war , all the
while calling upon the bat ers to make for the
parapet.

No withstanding my shouts, the terrified girls
made no effort to save themselves. They were
incapable from terror.

On came the oayman with the velocity of .
vengeance. It was a fearful moment. Already
he swam at the distance of less than six paces
frein his pro , his long snout giro'ecting from
the water, hyis aunt jaws lap aying their
quadruple rows 0 sharp glistening teeth.

I shouted despairing y. I was baffled b the
deep water. I had nearly twice the dis nee
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.
t dolarad him onl a moment; but in that
moment had passed he statue-like group, and
stood ready to receive his attack. .

“A la orilla.’ a la on‘lla I” (to the Nikita
the bank!) I shouted, pushing the unified girls

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

S7

 

with one hand. while with the other I held my
sword at arm’s length in the face of the advanc-
ing‘ reptile. .

be girls now, for the first time awakin
from their lethargy of terror, rushed tower
the bank.

On came the monster, gnashing his_teeth in
the fury of disappointment, and uttering f:ar-
ful cries. . _

As soon as he had got Within reach I aimed a
blow at his head; but the light saber 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, he passed me like
an arr0w. I looked around with a feeling of
despair. “ Thank heaven! they are safe 3”

I felt the clammy scales rub against my
thigh: and I lea
his tail, as it las ed the water in o foam.

Again the monster turned, and came on as
before.

This time I did not attempt to cut, but thrust
the saber directly for his throat. The cold
blade snapped between his teeth like an icicle.
Not above twelve inches remained with the
hilt; and with this I hacked and 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 lo, and,
lifting it with all her might, leaped ck into
the basin, and was hastening to my rescue when
a stream of fire was poured through the leaves
of the plantains. I heard a sharp crack—tho
short hummin whiz of a bullet—and a large
forin, followed y half a dozen others, emerged
from the rove, and, rushing over the wall,
plunged in the nd.

I heard a lou p shing in the water, the
c ashing of bayonets; and

shouts of men, the
over, pierced by a

then saw the reptile roll
dozen wounds.

 

CHAPTER XI.
DON COSME ROSALES.

“ Y’U’R safe. cap’n !” It was Lincoln’s voice.
Arouud me stood a dozon of the men, up to
their waists. Little Jack, too, his head and
forage-cap just appearing above 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 pic-
turc.

“ Yes, safe,” answered I. panting for breath;
“ safe—you came in good time, thou .”

“We heern y’ur shot, ca ’n ” said Lincoln,
“an’ w: eased yur didnt s oot without a
somethin’ r shoot for; so I tuk half a dozen
tiles and kim up.”

“ You acted right, ser cant: but where—”

I was looking town the edge of the tank

where I had last seen the girls. They had dis-
appeared. ’
“ If mane the fa males ” answered

ez
Chane, xthey’re vamosed hrough the throes
Be Saint Patrick! the black oue's 'a thrump
anyhow! She looks for till the world like them
bcwtiful Cra oles of Dimmerary.”

Saying th I, he turned sudden! round, and
commenced driving his bayonet uriously into
the dead cayman, exclaiming between his
thrusts:

"Och, ye divil! Bad luck to yer ugly car-
c'iscl You’re a hate-looking haste to interfere
with a pair of illigant craythers! Be the crass!
he‘s all shill, boys. Och, mother 0’ Moses! I
can‘t find a saft spot in himt”

We climbed out upon the parapet, and the
soldiers commenced wiping thezr wet guns.

Clayley appeared at this moment, filing round
the Biond at the head of the detachment. As I
exp ined the adventure to the lieutehant, he
laughed heartily.

f‘ By Jove! it will never do for a dispatch,”
said he; “one killed on the side of the enemy,
33:00 hours {10:}: wound. was is 0:;3,’li,pw-
e . W 0 ma re rted ‘ sea .

“ Who?" I cited. W Y

“ Why. who but the bold Blossom 3”

“ But where is he!”

“ Heaven 0913' kHows! The last I saw of him
he was screening himself behind an old ruin. I
wouldn‘t think it strange if he was off to cam
—-thiit”is, if he believes 6 can and his way bacl:
again. . ,

As Clayley said this, he burst into a loud yell
of laughter.

It was with difficulty I could restrain my self,
for, looking in the direction indicated by the
lieutenant, I saw unbl'igh,t 9b200t, Which I at
once recognized as the minor s ace.

He had drawn aside the broad plantain-leaves,
and was rin cautiously throng with a
look of the most udicrous terror. His ace onl
was visible, round and luminous. 1ik°,th° f“!
moon—and like her, too, variegated With light
and shade; for fear had produced spots of white
and purple over the surface of his capacious
cheeks. . ,
. As soon as the major saw how the “ land lag. ’
he came blowing and blusterlng through he
bushes like an elephant, and it now became ap-

.%at he carried his long saber drawn and
\ Wing.

. drew our attention, and big tene

 

 

 

The Rifle Rangers.

 

“ Bad luck, after all 1”
round the pond with a bold stri 6. “That’s all
—-is it?” he continued, pointing to the dead my
man. “ Bah! I was in hopes we’d have a brush
withvthe yellow skins.',’

“ No, major,” said I, trying to look serious;
“ we are not so fortunate. ’

“I have no doubt, however,” said Cla ley,
with a malicious wink, “but that we’ll ave
them here in a squirrel’s jump. They must
have heard the report of our guns.”

A complete cliange‘became visible in the

said he ashel’marched

l

l

major’s hearing. The point of his saberdropped .

slow] to the ground, and the blue and White
spots
great red cheeks.

“ Don’t you think, captain,” Said he, “ we’ve

,gone far enough into the cursed country?
d aside to avoid the stroke of '

There’s no mules in it—I can certify there’s not
—not a single mule. Had we not better return
to cam l”

Before I could reply, an -ob'ect a pcared that
the mosaic
upon the major‘s cheeks.

A man, strangely attired, was Seen running
down the slope toward the spot where we were
standing.

“ uerrillas, 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 chisel:
where he might shelter himself in case of a s 'ir-
mish. He was sidling behind a high point of
the parapet when the stranger rushed forward,
and throwing both arms about his neck, poured
forth a perfect cataract of Spanish, in which the
word racias was of frequent occurrence.

“ hat does the man mean with his washes?”
exclaimed the major, struggling to free himself
from the Mexican. ,

But the latter did not hear him, for his eye at
that moment rested n n my dripping habili-
ments' and,dro ping t e major, he transferred
his emhrace an g'racias to me.

“ Senor ca ltan." he 'said, still speaking in
Spanish, and ugging me like a bear, “accept

my thanks. Ah, sir! you have saved in chil- .

dren; how can I show you my gratitude I

Here followed a mu titude of those compli-
mentary expressions peculiar to the langu
of Cervantes, which ended by his offering me
his house and all it contained. V

I bowed in acknowled ment of his courtesy,
:fsologlizing for being so llerepared to receive

“ ug, ’ as I observed that my saturated
vestments had wet the old fellow to the skin.

I had now time to examine the stranger, who
was a tall, thin, sall'ow old gentleman with a
face at once 8 anish and intelligent. Ilia hair
was white an short, while a mustache, some-
what grizzled, shaded his lips Jet—black brows
projected over a pair of keen and s rkling
eyes. His dress was a roundabout of t e finest
white linen, with vest and pantaloons of the
same material—the latter fastened round the
waist by a scarf of bri ht red silk. Shoes of

en morocco covered is small feet, while a

road Guayaquil hat shaded his face from the

sun.

Though his cOstume was transatlantic—speak-
ing in reference to Old 8 in—thcre was that
in his air and manner tha bespOke him a, true
hidalgo.

After a moment’s observation I proceeded, in
my best Spanish, to ex ress in re ret for the
fright which the young adies—-.- ' aughtcrs, I
presumed—had suffered.

The Mexican icoked at me with a slight ap-
pearance of surprise.

“ Why. senor capitan,” said he, “ your accent
—-you are a foreigner l” , ,

‘ A foreigner! To Mexico, did you mean!”

“ Yes, senor. Is it not sc ?”

“0b! of course,” answered I, smiling, and
somewhat punled in turn.

“ And how long have you been in the army,
senor capitan f"

“ But a short time.” .

“ How do you like Mexico, senor?”

“ I havo seen but little of it as yet.”

“ Why, how long have you been in the coun-
try, thcnr’ ,

‘Three days,” answered I: “we landed on
the 9th.” ‘

" Por Dias ! three da , and in our army al-
ready !" muttered the paniard, throwing up
his eggs in unaffected surprise.

I gun to think I was interrogated by a
lunatic. '

“ May I ask what countryman you are!”
continued the old gentleman.

“ What countryman? An American,
course.”

“ An American?"

“ Un Americana,” repeated 1; for we were
conversing in Spanish.

“ Y son was Americana?” (and are these
Americans?) quickly demanded 111? new 110'
qualntance.

“ Si, senor.” replied I. '

“ Cammbo .'” shouted the Spaniard. With a
sudden leap, his eyes almost starting from their
sockets. '

“ I should say, not exactly Americans," I
added. “ Many of them are Irish, and French,

of

38° '

gan to array themselves afresh on his ‘

 

secured you good treatment

and Germans, and Sw es, and Swiss; yet they
are all Americans now.”

But the Mexican did not stay to hear my exs
planation. After recovering from the first
shock of surprise, he had bounded through the
grove: and with a wave of his hand. and the
ejaculation “ crate!” disappeared amon
the plantains. he men who had gathers
around the lower end 0 the basin, burst out
into a roar of laughter, which I did not attempt
to repress. The lonk 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, yetI could over-
hear their remarks.

“ That Mexikin’s an unh'ospitable cuss!” mut-
tered Lincoln, with an expression of con-
tein t. ' '

“ e might av axed the captain to dhrink,
after savin such a pair of ill gant craythers,”
said Chane. -

“ Sorra dhrap’s in the house, Murt; the lace
looks dry,” remarked another son of the reen

Isle. ,

“Och! 'an’ it's a beautiful cage, anyhow,”
returned Chane, “ and beautiful birds in it, too.
It puts me in mind of ould Dimmerary'; but
there we had the liquor, the raal rum—cabins
of i alannal” , 1 I my
“haterechs greee, s"
"s‘pectf whisperedapone? a ,re lnr 

an . . . ,

Lee. ' e  l .
“ A what?” asked "his com ninn
“Why, a greelye—Lone 0 them
robbers.” ‘ . '

“Ari-ah now! did
quircd an rishman.

’(re Mexikin

yez see the red 

a '1

“Thim’scap’t’in’s,”  the Yank’ . f 1
“ Ige'sacapt‘in or a nel; l’ll  hi I ‘ V

a ,. . I
“”What did he say, Natl), as he was 

“ I don‘tknow may—mains that stranded
mighty like ‘spearin’ on us.” . ,

“ He’s a. [sunset then, by, jhi l” ,

“He had better try on b spearin’,” said
another; ,“ there’s shootin' before “rial—
' is hyur

good ground, too, behind
painted wall.” .
“ The old fellow was mighty fri'ndly at first;
what got into him, an how!” '
“ Raoul sa' s he offe d togive the captainhis
house and at the furnishin‘s. 1 * V '
“Och. mother _0’ Moses! and thim illigant

girls. tool". ’ _,
“3' '“iv f 1 th ‘ ti -
“ in sow.an‘i was one ’n'
take hfmyht  ‘word and l’ave o 
intirely.” _' . - ~ 
“It is delf,” aid a soldier, referring to this
mater‘al of which the parapet was Constructed.
“No, it ain t.” ‘ . ‘ .

“ It’s chane , than.”

“ No. nor c aney either.” , _
“\Vell, what is it?”  
“It’s only astone wall painted, you green-
horn!” ' ’

' “ Stone thunder! it’s solid delf, I say.”

“ Try it with your bayonet, Jim.” '

“ Ci‘i'rk—criclo—crtck—crinell!” reached my
ears. Turning round, I saw that cine of the
men had commenced breakin of the japa'nned
work of the para t with his onet‘ ’ .

“ Stop thatl" shouted to the man. '

The remark of Chane that follom‘d, althch
uttered softq,v9cc,1 could distinctly heat.’
was suflciently amusing. ,

“The captain don’t want ez to dest ‘
what‘ll be his own some da , w en he marrl
one of thim young Dons. ere comes the Owld
one; and, by the powarsl he‘s got a big paper;
he’s goin’ to make over the property!" ‘ .

Laughing, I looked round, and saw that the
Don was' returning. sure enou‘ h. He hurried
up, holding out a large sheet 0 parchment.

“ Well, senor, what’s this?” I inquired. .

“ No soy Mexicano—sny nol !" (I am
no Mexican—I am a Spaniar ,) said he, with
the e ression of a true hidalgo. ‘

Casting m eye carelessly over the document,
I perCeived hat it was a safeguard from the

Spanish consul at Vera Cruz, certifying that

the bearer, Don Cosme Rosales, was a, native

f Sgin.

“ nor Rosales,” said I, returnin the per,
“ this is not necessary. The inte ng c um-
stances under which we have met should have
,even were you a
Mexican and we the barbarians we haVe been
represented. .We have come to make war, not
With peaceful citizens, but With a rabble sol~
diery. ’

In.“

—

6‘ Es fey-dad. You are wet, senor? you are .

huhgry?"
I could
the other.
“ You need refreshment, gentlemen; will
you come to my house?” g
“Permit me. senor, to introduce to on
M353- W—heuteng airway—{Lieu "n-
ant a : ononsme .a gent *
My friends and the Don bowed to 
The major bad now-.7 recovered his winch .
“ Vamonos caballcros !” (come on,

not deny that I was both the one and

en_e-,

men) said the Don, starting toward the ouse. 5

 

d

( cu of gold!

’ boundary of the

’ 8

k

The Rifle Rangers.

 

“ But your soldiers, capitan i” added he, stop
piugrsuddenly.
“ hey wil remain here,” I rejoined.
“ Permit me to send them some dinner.”
“Oh! certainl ,” replied I, “use your own
Elsinore, Don osme; but do not put your
ousehold to any inconvenience.”
In a few minutes we found our way to the
house, which was neither more nor less than
the cage looking structure already described.

 

CHAPTER XII.
A mean DINNER.

“Pusan adentro, senorrs,” said Don Cosme
drawin aside the curtain of the rancho, and
beckon ng us to enter.

“ Ha!” exclaimed the major, struck with the
can vd’an'l of the interim.

Ya twelve.” (I will

“ seated gentlemen.
return in an i’Bgtant.)

So sa 'ng, n Cosme disafipeared into a lit-
tle poro in the back partia y screened from
observation by a close net-work of ‘woven
cane.

“Very pretty, by Jove!” said Clsyley, in a
low voice.

“ Pretty indeed !” echoed the major, with one
of his customary asseverations.

"Stylish! one ought rather to say, to do it

ce. ,

“Stylish!” again chimed in the major, re~
peating his formula.

“Rosewood chairs and tables,” continued
Clayley; “a harp, guitar, piano, sofas, otto-
mans, ca ts knee deep—whew!”

_ Not th nking of the furniture, I looked
around the room, strangely bewildered

“Ha! ha! what perplexes on captain?"
asked Clayley.  y '
“ Nothing. ’

"Ah! the girls on ks of—the n s of
nd; but whzre tbgodeuoe are theyyzf'l’h
“ l where?" I asked, with a strange sense
of un uess. .
“Girls! what rlsl” inquired the major.
who had-not et earried the exact nature of

our aqua‘tl‘c, venture.
Here the Voice of Don Cosme was heard call-
ing oPut-! '
‘ e

Ramon! Fraggiscol bring dinner.
Anda undo I” (Be qui 1)

“Who on earth is the old fellow calling?”
asked the major, with some concern in his man-
ner. “I see no one.”

Nor could we; so we all rose up to ther, and
approached that side of the bu ding that
looked rearward.

The house, to all a had but one
a rtmont—the room in which we then were.

only point of this screened from observa-
tion was the little Veranda into which Don
Cosme had entered; but this was not lar e
enough to contain the number of persons w 0
mi ht be represented by the names he had
cal ed out.

Two smaller buildings stood under the olive-
trees in the rear; but these, like the house,
were tra'n rent, and not a human figure ap-

ared wit in them. We could see through the
ks of the olives a clear distance of a bun-

dred yards. Be ond thi? the mesquite and the
scarlet leaveso he ril maguey marked the
res .

“It was equally guzzling to us whither the
had gone, orw ence “Pepe, Raymon and
ncisco " were to come.

The tinkling of a little hell startled us from
our conjectures, and the voice of Don Cosme
was heard inquiring: .

“ Have you any avorite dish, gentlemen?”

Some one answsred, “ No."

“ Curse me!” exclaimed the major “ I believe
hocan t anything we may cal for—raise it
out of t e ground by stamping his foot or ring-
in abellle— Didn’tl tell you?”

his exclamation was uttered in consequence
of the a pearance of a train of well-dressed ser-
vants, ve or six in number bringing waiters
with dishes and decanters. They entered from
the porch; but how did they get into it! Cer-
tain y not from the woods without, else we
shou d have seen them as they approached the

6.

e major uttered a terrible in vocation add-
ing in a hoarse whisper, " This must be the Mexi-
can Aladdin l”

I confess I was not less puzzled than he. Mean-
while the servants came and wen t, goi empty
and returning loaded. In less than alf an
hour the table fairly creaksd under the weight
of a sum tuous d nner. This is no figure of
speech. here were dishes of massive silver,
with huge flagons of the same metal, and (alien

, D
‘Senores, some a 0 er” (come, let us eat,
gentlemen), said Don osme, politely motioning
us to be seated. “ I fear that you will not be
pleased with my cuisine—it is purelyjdexican—
estilo del pais.’ , ,
To say that the dinner was not agood one

, would be to utter a falsehood and contradict the

statement of Ma or George Bloasom, of the U.
8. rtermaster s de artment, who afterward
dec ared that it was t e best dinner he had ever
eaten in his life.

 

. The dinner-dishes were at length removed,
and dessert followed: cakes and creams, and
jellies of various kinds, and blame-mange, and a
profusion of the most luxurious fruits. The
lden orange, the ripe pine, the is green
ime, the juicy grape, the custard- ike cheri-
molla, the zapote, the granadilla, the pitahaya,
the tuna, the mamay; with dates, figs, almonds,
lantains, bananas, and a dozen other species of
ruits, piled upon salvers of silver were set be-
fore 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 pro-
fusion of luxuries that came from no one knew
wher .

“Come, gentlemen, try a lass of Curacoa.
Senor coronel, allow me the p ensure.”

“Sir, your ver good health.”

“ Senor corone , would you prefer a glass of
Majorca?"

“ Thank you.”

“ Or {perhaps you would choose Pedro Xim-
ems. have some very old Pedro Ximenes.”

“ Either, my dear Don Cosme; either."

“Bring both Ramon; and bring a couple
of bottles of the Madeira—seuo verde (green
seal.

“ I’m a Christian, the old gentleman‘s a
conjuror l” muttered the major, now in the best
humor ihle.

“I w h he would conjure up somethin else
than his infernal wine-bottles,” thought , be-
gging impatient at the non-appearance of the

es.
“ Cafe, senoresl" A servant entered.
hiCoffee was handed round in cups of Sevres
0 us.
“You smoke, gentlemen? Would you prefer
a Havanai Here are some sent me rom Cuba
by a friend. I believe the are good; or, if you
would amuse yourself wit a cigarrito, here are
Campeacheanos. These are the country cigars
—-puros, as we call them. I would not recom-
mend them.”
“ A Havana for me,” said the major, helping
himself atthe same time to a flue-looking ‘re-

alia.”
‘ I had fallen into a somewhat inful reverie.

I began to fear that, with all is hospitality,
the Mexican would allow us to de rt without
an introduction to his family; an I had con-
ceived a strong desire to speak with the two
lovely beings whom I had already seen, but
more particularly with the brunette, whOSe
looks and actions had dee ly impressed me. So
stran e is the myster 0 love! My heart had
al y made its cho ce. _

I was suddenly aroused by the voice of Don
Cosme, who had risen, and was invitin myself
and comrades to join the ladies in the rawing-
room.

I started u so suddenly as almost to overturn
one of the ta les.

“ Why, ca tain what’s the matter?” said
Clayley. “ n deems is about to introduce
mat: the ladies. You’re not going to back
on

" Certainly not,” stammered I.

“He says they’re in the drawing-room,”
whispered the major, in a voice that betokened
ahdegree of suspicion; “ but where the plague
t at is, heaven on] knows. Stand by,. my
boys! Are your pis ls all right?”

‘ Phhaw, major! for shame i”

 

CHAPTER XIII.
A SUBTIRRANIAN DRAWING-ROOM.

Tin my of the drawing-room, and the
servants, and t e dishes, was soon over. A de-
scending stairway explained the enigma.

“ Let me conduct you to my cave, entlemen,”
said the Spaniard; ‘ I am half a su terranean.
In the hot weather, and during the northers, we
find it more agreeable to live under the ground.
Follow me, senores.”

We descended with the exception of Cakes,
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 ele ant manner. From the ceil-
ing were suspend chandeliers of acurious and
unique construction, holding in their out-
stretched branches wax candles of an ivory
whiteness.

Large vases of waxen flowers, covered with
crystals, stood around the hall upon tables of
po isbcd marble. Other articles of furniture,
candelabra, girandoles, gilded clocks, filled the
outline. Broad mirrors reflected the different
objects: so that, instead of one apartment, this
ha I a ared only one of a continuous suite of
splen d drawing-Moms.

And yet, upon closer observation, there seemed
to be no door leading from this hall, which, as
Don Cosme informed his guests, was the ante-
sa a.

Our host approached one of the lar e mirrors
and all ht) touched a spring. The t nkling of
a smal bel was heard with n, and at the same
instant the mirror lided back, reflecti in its

motion a ‘series or rilliaut objects, the for a

 

inofrnent bewildered our eyes with a blazing
l .

3“ Pusan ndentro, senores,” said Don Cosme,
ste ing aside and waving us to enter.

e walked into the drawing-room. The
magnificence that greeted us seemed a vision—a.
glorious and dazzling hallucination—more like
t e gilded brilliance of some enchanted palace
than the interior of a. Mexican gentleman’s
habitation.

As we stood gazing with irresistible wonder-
mcznt, Don Cosme opened a side d00r and called
on :

“Ninas, m’nas, vcn aca!”
hither!)

Presently we heard several female voices,
blending together like a medley of singing—
birds.

_ They approached. We heard the rustling of
silken dresses, the falling of light feet in the
doorway and three ladies entered—the senora
of Don dosme, followed by her two beautiful
gaughters, the heroines of our aquatic adven-
u

(Children, come

re.
These hesitated a moment, scanning our
faces; then, with a cr of “ Nuestro salvador !”
both rushed forwar , and knelt, or rather
crouched, at my feet, each of them claSping one
of my hands, and coverin it with kisses.
Meanwhile Don Cosme ad introduced Clay-
ley and the major to his senora, whose bap—
tismal name was Joaquina; and taking the
young ladies one in each hand. he presented
them as his aughters, Guadalupe and Maria do
la Luz (Mary of the Light).
“ Mamma,” said Don Cosme, “ the gentlemen
had not quite finished their cigars.”
"Oh! they can smoke here,” replied the

senora.

“ Will the ladies not object to that?" I in-
quked.

‘s‘lNo—no—noi” ejaculated they, simultane-
ou .
“Perhafi you will join usl—we have heard
that such the custom of your country.”

“ It was the custom,” and Don Cosme. “ At
present the young ladies of Mexico are rather
ashamed of the habit.”

“We no smoke—mamma, yes,” added the
elder—the brunette—whose name was Guada—

lu .
P‘efia! on

y speak En lishi”
th“ Little Eng is’ speaE—no good Englis’,” was
e re y.

“ 0 tan *ht you English?” I inquired,
prompted by a mysterious curiosiltgy.

“ II American us teach-Don milio.”

“Hal an American?”

“ Yes. senor ” said Don Cosme; “a gentleman
from Very drus, who formerly visited our
family.”

I thought I could rceive a desire upon the
part of our host a to speak further on this
subject, and et I felt a sudden, and, strange to
say, a pain I curiosity to know more about
Don Emilio, the American, and his connection
With our newly-madea uaintance. I can only
explain this by asking t e reader if he or she
has not experienced a similar feeling while en-
deavoring to trace the unknown t of some
being in whom either has lately ta en an inter-
est—an interest stronger than riendship.’

That mamma smoked was clear, for the old
lady had already gone through the process of
unrolling one of the small, cartouche—like cigars.
Having re-rclled it between her fingers, she
placed it within the gripe of a pair of small
golden incers.

This one, she held one end to the coals that
is u the brazero. and ignited the pa r.

en taking the other end between her tfifn,
purplish lips, she breathed forth a blue cloud of
aromatic vapor. ‘

The conversation continued in English, and
we were highly amused at the attempts of our
new acquaintances to express themselves in that
language.

After failing on one occasion to make her-
self underst , Guadalupe said, with some
vexation in her manner:

" We wish brother was home come; brother
speak ver’ better Englis.”

“Where is he?" 1 inquired. -

“ In the ceety—Vera Cruz.”

“ Ha! and when did you expect him?”

“ Thees day—to-night—he home come.”

“ Yes,” added the Senora Joaquina, in

Spanish; “he went to the city to spend a few .

days with a friend: but he wasto return to-day,
apd V36 are looking for him to arrive in the eve-
n n .

“gBut how is he to get out i” cried the major.
in his coarse, rough manner.

“ Howl—why, senor?” asked the ladies, in a
breath, turning deadly pale.

“ Wh he can’t pass the pickets, ma’am,”
answers the majOr. _ -

“ Explain, captain; explain l” raid the ladies,
up aling to me with 100 s 0' an. iety.

saw that concealment vw .: l e idle. be

major had fired the train. ' " ‘ '< '

“It ives me pain, ladies. ” .1, spam . in
Spanis . “to inform yo: ' ti on mustbe lis-
appointei I fear tl'r revl _ your “roller
todayis' ,lpOSsible." , . “ » . .9

“ But wuy, captain ‘ f” '

p

-a—_~—~e -——e vs, "A

 

 

t".

M7"h—"Tfl"’

VA.—_H. .___. v... .

 

 

\

/

“ Our lines are completel around Vera Crna,
ans! :1] intercourse to and m the city is at an
en . ‘

Had a shell fallen into Don Cosme’s drawing-
rocm, it could not have caused a greater change
in the feelings of its inmates. Knowing noth-
ing of military life, they had no idea that our

resence there had drawn an impassable barrier
Between them and a much-loved member of
their family. In a seclusion almost hermetical,
they knew that a war ex1sted between their
country and the United States; but that was
far away upon the R10 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 Ian . The truth
was -now clear; and the an uish of the mother
and daughters became a icting, when we
informed them of what we were unable to
conceal—that it was the intention of the Amer-
ican commander to bombard the city.

The scene was to us deeply distresing.

Dona Joaquina wrung her hands, and called

upon the Virgin with all the earnestness of en- ;

treaty. The sisters clung alternately to their
mother and Don Cesme, weeping and crying
aloud “Pobre Narcisso! mustro hermam‘to—
le asesinaran!”
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 rushed in, shouting in an
agitated voice, “ El norte ! el norte !”

CHAPTER XIV.
‘ ‘THE NORTHER.”

WE hurried after Don Cosme toward the
ante-sold, both myself and my companions ig-
norant of this new object of dread.

Vhen we emerged from the stairway, the
scene that hailed us was one of terrific sublimity.
Earth and heaven had undergone a sudden and
convulsive change. The face of nature, but a
moment since gay with summer smiles, was
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. om
this, ragged masses, parting in fantastic forms
and groupings, floated off a inst the concavity
of the sky, as though the emons of the storm
were breaking up from an angry council. Each
of these, as it careered across the heavens,
seemed bent on some spiteful purpose.

An isolated fragment hung lowering above
the snowy cone of Orizava, like a huge vampire
su nded’over his sleeping victim. '

rom the great “ arent cloud” that rested
upon the Sierra Ma re, lightning-bolts shot out
and forked hither and thither, or sunk into the
detached masses—the messengers of the storm-

 

king, bearing his fiery mandates across the sky.

Awa along the horizon of the east moved
the yel ow illars of sand, whirled n ward by
the wind, 1 e vast columnar towers eading to
heaven.

The storm had not yet reached the rancho.
The leaves lay motionless under a dark and
ominous calm; but the wild screams of many
birds—the shrieks of the swans—the discordant
notes of the frightened pea-owl—the chattering
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 pufl' came snorting along,
and. seizing the feathery frondage of the palms,
Shook them with a spiteful and ruflian energy.

The long reen stripes, after oscillating a mo-
ment. would settle down again in graceful and
motionless curves.

A low sdund, like the “sough ” of the sea, or
the distant falling of water, came from the
north; While at intervals the hoarse bark of the
Coyoteng the yellin of terrified monkeys,
could heard afar o in the woods.

"TOP" la cam! tapa (a casa!” (comer the
house!) Grit-{d T3011 Cosme, as soon as he had
faier 2'03 his head above ground.

uAnda I—anda con to: "mates !” (Quick with
the cords!) . . -

Wimllghtmflg flunk"?! a roll of palmetto
mats came down on all sides of the house, com-
pletel y covering the bamboo walls, and forming
a screen impervmus *0 both wind and rain.
T is was speedily “Si/008d It all corners, and
a mug stays were carried out and war
around the trunks of "908- In five minutes the
chan e was complete. The cage-looking struc-
tum ad disappeared, and a house with wall. of
yellow palate stood in its place.

" NOW, senores, all is secured,” _said Don
Cosme.; “ L ,1; us return to the drawmg room."

“I should like} to-see the first burst of this
impede,” i ,Wkéd, not wishing to intrude

i: on ti... «.f sorrow we had left.
Bigi'lso be  Rain. Stand here under the
Ielter then. i‘ i' . v , ,
3" "hit as as, ‘j°'  [gm-“wied the ‘ ior. Wiping
the , rspir ‘ 2 van t. lirniill re DOGks.

“1i. five mini. ‘ -.-s.,r corouel, you will be

(Poor Narcissol—our little‘

. while at the wor

 

 

I. The  

chilled. At this point the heated'atmosphore is
now compressed. Patience! it will soon be
scattered. ’

“ How long will the storm continue!” I asked.

“ Par Dias! senor, it is impossible to tell how
long the ‘ norte ’ may rage; sometimes for days,
Ezr ups only for a few hours. This a pears to

a huracana.’ If so, it will be - art, but
terrible while it lasts. Carrambo !”

A puff of cold, sharp wind came whistling
past ike an arr0w. Another followed, and an-
other, like the three seas that roll over the
mighty ocean. Then, with a loud rushing
sound, the broad, full blast went sweeping—
strong, dark and dusry—bearing upon its mane
the screeching 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
plantains 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, sulphur-
ous smell rendered the reathing difficult, 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 other 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 earth.

It fell in torrents, but the strength of the tem-
pest had been spent on the first onslaught. The
dark cloud passed on to the south, and a piercing
cold wind awe t after it. '

“ Vamos a a‘ar, senorea” (let us descend,
gentlemen), said u Cosme, with a shiver, and
he conducted us back to the stairway.

Clayley and the major looked toward me
with an expression that said, “ Shall we go in?”
There were several reasons why our return to
the drawing-room was unpleasant to myself and
my companions. A scene of domestic affliction
is ever painful to a stranger. ’ How much more
painful to us, knowing, as we did. that our
countrymen—that we—had been the partial
agents of this calamity! We hesitated a mo-
ment on the threshold.

“Gentlemen, we must return for a moment;
we have been the bearers of evil ti let us
offer such consolation as we may t ink of.
Come!”

 

CHAPTER XV.
A LITTLE ram WEATHER AGAIN.

0N re-entering the aala the picture of woe
was again presented, but in an altered aspect.
A change, sudden as the atmospheric one We
had just witnessed, had taken place, and the
scene of wild weepin was now succeeded by
one of resignation an prayer.

a 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 por-
trait of Dolores with the fatal dagger; and the
“Lady of Grief ” looked not more sorrowful
from the canvas than the beautiful devotees
that bent before her.

Not wishing to intrude upon this sacred sor-
row, we made a motion to retire.

“ No, senores,” said Don Cosme, interrupting
us; “ be seated; let us talk calmly—let us now
the worst.”

We then proceeded to inform Don Cosine of
the landing of the American troops, and the
manner in which our lines were drawn around
the city, and pointed out to him the impossi-
bility of uni); one passing either in or out.

“ There still a hope, Don Cosme,” said I,
“and that, perhaps, rests with yourself."

The thought had struck me that ‘a Spaniard
of Don Cosmo’s evident rank and wealth might
be enabled to procure access to the city by
means of his consul, and through the Spanish
ship of—war that I recollected was lying of! San

nan.

“Oh! name it, ca tain; name it!” cried be,
“hope” the ladies had
rushed forward, and stood clinging around me.

“There is a Spanish ship-0f 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 board of her.” ' ~

“ Don Santiago?" inquired I; “ who is be?”

“He is a relation of ours, captain," said Don
Cosme: “ an officer in the Spanish nevi.”

This information pained me, alt ough I
scarcely knew why. .

“ You have a friend, then, aboard the Spanish
shi ,” said I to the elder of the sisters. “"TIS
we I; it will be in his power to restore to you
your brother.”

A “118 of brightenin faces was around me
while I uttered these c eering words; and Don

0. grasping me' by the hand, entreated me
to proceed.

“This Spanish ship,” I’ continued, “is still

\

,l. .'

 

 

,9,

allowed to keep up a communication with the
town. You should proceed aboard at once,
and by the assistance of this friend on may
bring away your son before the ham rdment
commences. I see no difliculty; our batteries
are not yet formed.”

“I will 0 this instant!” said Don Cosme
leaping to is feet, while Dona Joaquina and
her daughters ran out to makepreparations for
his ‘ourney.

d spa—sweet hope—was again in the asceno
an .

“ But how, senor,” asked Don Cosme, as soon
as the were gone—“ how can I pass your lines?
Shall be permitted to reach the ship !”

“It will be necessary for me to accompany
you, Don Cosme,” I replied- “ and I regret ex-
ceedingly that my duty wil not permit me to
return with you at once.”

“ Oh senor l" exclaimed the Spaniard, with a
painfu expression.

“My business here,” continued I, “is to pro-
cure ck-mules for the American army.”

“ ules?”

“ Yes. We were crossing for that purpose to
a plain on the other side of the woods, where
Ire hgd observed some animals of that descrip-
ion. v

“’Tis true, captain—there are a hundred or
more: they are mine—take them all.”

“ But it is our intention to pay for them, Don
Cosme. The major here has the power to con-
tract with you.”

“As you please, gentlemen: but you will
then return this way, and proceed to your
camp?”

“As soon as possible,” I replied.
distant is this plain i”

“Not more than a league. lwould go with
you, but—” Here Don Cosme hesitated, and
approaching, said in a low tone, “ The truth '
senor capitan. I should be glad if you would
take them without my consent. 1 have mixed
but little in the politics of this countr ;hut

“ How-far

Santa Anna is my enemy—he will ask no ter
motive for despoiling me.”
“ I undeistand you.” said I. “ Then, Don

Cosme, we will take your mules by force, and
carry yourself a prisoner to the American
cam a Yankee return for your hospitality.”

“ t is good," replied the Spaniard, with a
smile.

“Senor capitan,” continued be, “you are
without a sword. Will you favor me by accept-
ing thisi” '

Don Cosme held out to me a re ier of Toledo
steel, with a lden scabbard ri y chased, and
bearing on its hilt the eagle and nopal of
Mexico. ‘

“ It is a family relic, and once belonged to
the brave Guadalupe Victoria.” .

“ Ah! indeed!” I exclaimed, taking the
sword. “ I shall value it much. Thanks, senor!
thalliksl Now, major, we are ready to pro
ceei . ’

“A glass of maraschino, gentlemen?” said
Don Cosme, as a servant appeared with a flask
and lassfis. ” d th ” d

‘ an you—yes, grunte emajor; an
while we are drinking it. Senor Don, let me
givo you a hint. You appear to have lenty of
pewter.” Here the major touched a go d I06”-
dish, which the servant was carrying I190“ 5
tray of chased silver; “take my word 0" it:
you can’t bury it too soon.” ‘ ,

“It is true, Don Cosme," said 1- “31131331118
to him the major’s advice. “We m 1103
French, but there are robh‘fl Who 11808 011 “30,
skirts of every army.” _ ,

Don Comic promised to follow the hat with
alacrity, and we prepared to take our departure
from the rancho ' , _’ a

u 1 will give you a guide, senor claipitan; you
win find my people With the anal a. Please
am (them to lasso the cattle for you. You
will obtain what you want in the corral. Adios,
smwres!”

“Farewell, Don Cosme!”

“ Adieu, ladies, adieu!”

“ Adios, capita'n I adios! adios I”

I held out my hand to the younger of the

“113, who instantly caught it and premed it to
Ear li . It was the action of a child. Guada-
lupe allowed the example of her sister. but evi-
dently With a degree of reserve. What, then,
should have caused this diiference in their
manner?

In the next moment we were ascending the
stairwaéi.

“ Lu y dog 1" growled the major. “Take a
duckinglm self for that.” ‘

“ Bot utit‘ul, by Java!” said Ciayley:
“but of all the women I cversaw, give me
‘ Mary of the Light.’ ” '

Our route lay through a dense cha
now crossing a sandy spurgoovcred With mea-
quite and acacia' then  into the bed of
some silent creek. shaded Wi old cork-trees
'whose gnarled and venerable trunks were laced
together bya thousand parasites. Two
from the rancho we reached the banks of a n-
siderable stream, which we conjectured was a
branch of the Jamapa river.

On both sides a fringe of dark forest-trees
flung out 10ng branches extending'half-way
across the stream. The water flowed darkly

    

 

 

' l

I 9

,0

 

underneath. Huge lilies stood out from the
banks—their broad, wax—like leaves trailing
upon the glassy ripple.

Here and there were pools frin ed with
drooping willows and belts of green (we. Other
aquatic plants rose from the water to the hight
of twenty feet; among which we distinguished
the beautiful “iris,” with its tail, spear—like

.stem, ending in a brown cylinder, like the
pompon of a grenadier’s cap.

As we approached the anks, the pelican,
scared from his lonely haunt, rose upon heavy
wing, and with a shrill scream flapped away
through the dark aisles of the forest. The cay-
man plunged sullenly into the sed y water; and
the “Sajou” monkey, suspende by his pre-
hensile tail from some overhanging bough,
oscillated to and fro, and filled the air with his
hideous, half-human cries.

Halting for a moment to refill the canteens,
we crossed over and ascended the opposite
bank. A hundred paces further on, the guide,
who had one ahead, cried out from an emi-
nence, “ (m la caballada!"—(Yonder’s the
drove!)

 

CHAPTER XVI.
'rmc CORRAL.

PUSHING through the jungle, we ascended
the eminence. A brilliant picture opened be—
t re us. The storm had suddenly lulled, and

etropical sun shone d0wn upon the flowery
surface of the earth, bathing its ver'dure in a
flood of yellow light.

It .was several hours before sunset, but the
bright orb had commenced descending t0ward
the snowy cone of Orizava, and his rays had
assumed that olden red which characterizes
,the ante—twilig t of the tropics. The short-
lived storm had swept the heavens, and the blue
roof of the world was without a cloud. The
dark masses had rolled away over the south-
east horizon, and were now spending their f

', upon the dyewood forests of Honduras an
'Tahasco

At our feet lay the prairie, spread before us
lie a green carpet and bounded upon the
further side by a dark wall of forest‘treos.
Several clumps of timber w like islands

’ on the lain, adding to the picturesque charac-

. stretched
palm-tree. Ox-bells were tinkling their cheer-

ter of t landscape.

Near the center of the prairie stood a small
rancho, surrounded by a high picket fence.
This .we at once recognised as the “corral”
mentioned by Don Cosme.

At some distance from the inclosure thousands
of cattle were browsing u the. grassy level,
their spotted flanks and ong, upright horns
showing their descent from the famous race of
Spanish bulls. Some of them, straggling from
the herd rambled through the “ mot-tee,” or lay
out under the shade of some isolated

but monotonous music. Hundreds of horses
and mules mingled with the herd; and we could
distinguish a couple of leather-clad vaqueros
galloping from point to point on their swift

\ mustangs.

I

We commenced descending into the plain,
and the vagueros, catching a glimpse 0 our
uniforms simultaneously eined up their mus-
tangs withasudden jer . We could see from

" their gestures that they were frightened at the

1I‘llln'ollv‘h of our party. This was not strange,
as tho/major, mounted upon his great, aunt
0W8". loo-vied up against the blue sk 'ke a
00168115. _he Mexicans, doubtless, h ,aever
390" anything In the way of horseflesh big er
“him the mustangs they were ridin ,and t is
apparition, WIFh the 10w, line of uni ormed sol-
diers descending the I] ll, was calculated to
alarfithen; lsf3verely.

‘ em 9 ers is gwine to put on ’n ” said
Lincoln. touching his cap respectn’ul  '

f‘ You’re right, sergeant, I replied. “ and
Without them we might as well think of catch-
ing the wind as one of these mules.”

‘If yer’ll just let me draw a head on the near
mustang, I kin kripple him ’ithout hurtin’the
thin that’s in the saddle.”

. “ t would be a pity. No, sergeant ” answered
I. “ I might stop them by sending forward the
ide," I continued, addressin myself rather

t Lincoln; “but no, it wifi not do; there

M mustbethe appearance of force. I have pro-

, \

mined Major, would you have the goodness to
ride forward, and prevent those fellows from
lgallopin ofl?”
“Lor , captain!” said the major, with a terri-
fled look, “you don’t think I could overtake

' such Arabs as them? Hercules is slow—slow as

acra .”

Now, this was a lie, and I knew it! for
“ Hercules,” .10 major’s great, raw-boned steed,
was as {loot as the wind.

“ Then, major, perhaps you will allow Mr.
Cla Icy  make trial of him,” I suggested.
“ e is liglfl Weight. Iassure you that, with-
out the assistance of these Mexicans, we shall
not be able to catch a. single mule. ”

maja', seeing that all 9 es were fixed
him, suddenly straighten himself up in
h stirrups, add, swelling with courage and

i pounce declare :
‘ If that was the case, he would go himself.”

Thea, callingiupon “Doc”,to follow him, he

 

The Rifle Rangers.

struck the s urs into Hercules, and rode for—
ward at a ga lop.

It prOVed that this was just the very course
to start the vaqueros, as the major h‘ad inspired
them with more terror than all the rest of our
party. The r showed evident s mptoms of tak-
ing to their eels, and I shou to them at the
top of my voice:

“ Alto ! somos amigos.” —- (Halt!
friends.)

The words were scarcely out of my mouth
when the Mexicans drove their rowels into their
mustangs, and galloped off as if for their lives,
in the direction of the corral.

The major followed at a slashing ce, Doc
bringing up the rear; while the has et which
the latter carried over his arm began to eject
its contents, scattering the commissariat of the
major over the rairie. Fortunately, the bes—
pitality of Don gosme had already provided a
substitute for this loss.

After a run of about half-a-mile, Hercules
began to gain rapidly upon the mustangs,
whereas Doc was losing distance in an inverSe
ratio. The Mexicans had got within a couple
of hundred yards of the rancho, the major not
over a hundred in the rear, when I observed the
latter suddenly pull up, and, jerking. the long
body of Hercules round, commence riding brisk-
ly back, all the while looking over his shoulder
toward the inclosure.

The vaqueros did not halt at the corral, as
we expected, but kept acrcss the prairie, and
disappeared among the trees on the opposite
8]

we are

e.
“ What the dance has got into Blossom?” in-
trilnred Clayley; “ he was clearly gaining upon
t emi "The old bloat must have burst a blood.
vesse .

 

CHAPTER XVII.
A BRUSH wn'n rm: GUERRILLEROS.
“WHY, what was the matter major?” in-
quired I, as the major rode up, blowing like a

mammal” replied he, with one of his direst
imprecatious— ‘ matter, indeed! You wouldn’t
havgnmo ride plump into their works, would
you

“ Works!” echoed I, in some surprise; “what
do you mean by that, major?”

‘ I mean works—that’s all. There’s a stock-
ade ten feet high, as full as it can stick of
them.”

“ Full of what?”

“Full of the enemy—qu of rancheros. I
saw their ugly copper faces—a dozen of them at
least—looking at me over the pickets; and,
sure as heaven, if I had gone ten paces further,
they would have riddled me like a target.”

‘ But, major, they were only peaceable ran-
cheros-cowherds—nothing more.” v

“Cowherds! I tell you,ca tain, thatt ose
two mahogany-colored devils at gallope of!
had a sword apiece strapped to their saddles. I
saw them when I got near; the were decoys
to bringnus up to that stockade— ’ll bet my life
u n itl

p‘(‘)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 offer 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 regu-
lar corral, such as are found on the great hack
endas dc fanados (cattle farms) of Spanish
America. 11 one corner was a house, construct—
ed of upright poles, with a thatch of palm-
leaves. This contained the lame, al rejas,
saddles, etc, of the vaqueros; and in t e door
of this house stood a decrepit old zambo, the
only human thing about the place. The zambo’s
woolly head over the pickets had reflected itself
a dozen times on the niajor’s terrified imagina-
tion.

After examining the corral I found it excel-
lent for our purpose, provided we could only
succeed in driving the mules into it: and, throw—
ing Upon the here, we proceeded to make the at—
tempt. Tho mules were broWsing quietly at
the distance of a'quarter of a mile from tho
corral.

Murchin past the drove, I deployed the com-
pany in 8 form of a semicircle, formmg a
complete cordon round the animals; then, clos-
ing in upon them slowly, the soldiers com-
menoed driving them toward the n. _

We were somewhat awkw at this new
duty; but b means of a shower of small rocks
pieces of ' do cache, and an occaiuonal

‘ heigh, heighl”.the irules were soon in motion
and in the required direction. ,

The major, with Doc and little Jack, being
the mounted men of the part? did great ser—
vice, especiall Jack, who was igblydelighted
with this kin of thing, and ke t TWidget in a
constant gallo from right to 16 t. .

As the mu ado neared the ates of the in-
closure, the two extremes of t e semi-Circum-
ference gradually approached each other, clos-
ing 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, when a noise like
the tramping of many hoofs arrested our atten-
tion. The quick, sharp note of a cavalry bugle
rung out across the (plain, followed by a wild
yell, as though a ban of Indian warriors 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 :1 charge.

It rcquirod but a single glance to satisfy me
that they were guerrilleros. Thcir picturesque
attire, their peculiar arms, and the [Marti-colored
bannerets upon their lances, were not to be mis-
taken.

We stood for a moment as if thunderstruck;
a sharp cry rose along the deployed line.

I signaled to the bugler, who gave the com—
mand, “ Rally upon the center!"

As if by one impulse, the whole line closed in
with a run u n the gates of the inclosure. The
mules, impel ed b the sudden rush, dashed for-
ward pell-mell, b ocking up the entrance.

On came the guerrilleros, with streaming pen-
nons and lances couched, shouting their wild
cries.

“Andelal andela! Mueralos ’ankees!" (For-
ward! forward! Death to the Yankees!)

The foremost of the soldiers were already upon
the heels of the crowded mules, pricking them
With bayonets. The animals began to kick and
plunge in the most furious manner, causing a
new danger in front.

“ Face about—fire!”
moment.

An irregular but well-directed volley emptied
half-a-dozen saddles, and for a moment stag-
gored the charging line; but, before in men
could reload, the guerrilleros, had lea 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 their escopettes and pistols as they
came down.

Our tion had now rown fearfully criti-
cal. T e mules still bloc ed u the entrance,
preventing the soldiers from 'ng shelter be-

ind the stockade; and before we could reload,
the rearmost would be at the mercy of the
enemy’s lances.

seizing the major‘s servant by the arm, I dragv
ged him from his horse, and, leaping into thl
saddle, flung myself «upon the rear. Half-a-
doaen of my bravest men, man whom were
Lincoln, Chane, and the Frenc man Raoul,
rallied around the horse, determined to receive
the cavalry charge on the short bayonets of
their rifles. Their pieces were all empty 1

At this moment my eye rested on one of the
soldiers, a brave but slow-footed German, who
was still twenty paces in the rear of his com-
rades, making every effort to come up. Two of
the uerrilleros were rushing upon him with
couc ed lances. I galloped out to his rescue;
but before 1 could reach him the lance of the
foremost Mexican crashed through the soldier’s
skull shivering it like a. shell. The barb and
bloody pennon came out on the op ite side.
The man was lifted from the groun , and car—
ried several paces upon the shaft of the lance.

The guerri lero dropped his entangled weapon;
but before he could draw any other, the sword
of Victoria was through his heart.

His comrade turne upon me with a cry of
vengeance. I had not yet disen m
weapon to ward off the thrust. he lance 8
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 8 ar was whirled into the air,
and he fell back a his saddle, dead.

“Well done, Jack! fire and scissors! who
showed yer that trick? whoorayl wh l" and
I heard he voce of Lincoln, in a sort 0 Indian
yell. rising high above the din.

At this moment a guerrillero, mounted upon a

wert'ul black mustang, came galloping down.
Tobie man, unlike most of his comrades, was
armed with the saber, which he evidently
wielded with great dexterity. He came dash-
ing on, hiswhite teeth set in a fierce smile.

‘Hai Monsieur le Capitaine ” shouted he, as
he came near. “still alive? I thought I had
finished you on Lobos; not too late yet.”

I recognized the desertcr, Dubrosc! I

“Villain!” I ejaculated, too full of rage to
utter another word. ~

We met at full 5
ageable horse 1 con d only ward off his blow as
be swept past me. We wheeled a 'a, and a1-
loped t0ward each other—both 0 us impe led
by hatred; but in horse again shied, frighten-
en by the gleami .saber of my an nist.
Before I could rein in round, he had br ght
ine clpse to the ickets of the corral; and on
turningto meet he deserter, I found that we
were separated by a band of dark objects.

It was a detachment of mules, that had
backed from the gates of the corral and were
escaping to the open plain. We reined up, eye—
ing each other with impatient ygngeance- at

I commanded at this

the bullets of in men began I whistle mm
the pickets: an Dubrosc w' ‘a threatenin
gesture, wheeled his horse a allopcd 011'

'h

ed, but with my unman-~ V

 

«mm A.“
\

. _____..._.. :

‘h‘M——._ _. N MM A .
‘

 

 

a

The Rifle Rangers.

i'r

 

his comrades. They had retired beyond range,
and were halted in groups upon the prime,
chafing with disappointment and rage.

CHAPTER XVIII.
A HERCULEAN FEAT.
THE whole skirmish did not occulay two min-
utes. It was like most charges of exican cav<
alry—a dash, a wild yelling, half-a-dozen empty
saddles, and a hasty retreat.

The guerrilleros had swerved off as soon as
they perceived that we had gained a safe posi-
tion, and the bullets of our reloaded pieces be-
gan to whistle around their ears. Dubrosc
alone, in his impetuosity, galloped close up to
the inclosure; and it was only on perceiving
himself alone, and the folly of exposing him-
self thus fruitlessly, that he wheeled round and
followed the Mexicans. The latter were now
out upon the prairie, ond the ran 0 of small-
arms, grouped around heir wound comrades,
or galloping to and fro, with yells of disap-
pointed vengeance.

I entered the corral, where most of my men
had sheltered themselves behind the stockades.
Little Jack sat upon Twidget, reloading his
rifle, and trying to appear insensible to the flat-
tering encomiums that hailed him from all
sides. A com liment from Lincoln, however,
was too much or Jack, and a proud smile was
seen upon the face of the boy.

“ Thank you, Jack,” said I, as I passed him;
“ I see you can use a rifle tosome purpose.”

Jack held down his head, without saying a

 

. word, and appeared to be very busy about the

-

lock of his iece.

In the s ' ish, Lincoln had received the
scratch of a lance, at which he was chafing in
his own peculiar way, and vowing revenge
u n the giver. It might be said that he had

on this, as he had driven his short bayonet
through his antagonist’s arm, and sent him of!
with his member hanging by his side.

But the hunter was not content; and as he
retired sullenly into the inclcsure, he turned
round and, shaking his fist at the Mexican,
muttered sav y:

“ Yer darn skunk! I’ll know yer ag’in.
See if I don’t git yer 't!”

Gravenitz, a Prussian soldier, had also been
too near a lance, and several others had received
angst-wounds. The German was the only one
ki He was still lying out on the plain,
where he had fallen, the long shaft of the lance
standing up out of his skull. Not ten feet dis.
tant la the corpse of his slayer, glistening in
its gau y and picturesque attire.

The other guerrillerc, as he fell, had noosed
one of his legs in the laso that hung from the
horn of his saddle, and was now dragged over
the rairie after his wild and snorting mustang.
As t 9 animal swerved, at every rk his limber
body bounded to the distance 0 twenty feet,
where it would lie motionless until slung into
the air by a fresh pluck on the lazo.

As we were watching this horrid is,
several of the errilleros galloped after, while
half a dozen ct ers were observed spurring their
steeds toward the rear‘of the corral. On look-
ing in this direction we perceived a huge red
horse, with an emptyssddle, scouring at full
speed across the prairie. A single glance showed
us that this horse was Hercules.

“ Good Heavens! the major!”

“Safe somewhere ”, replied Clayley; “ but
where the deuce can he be? He is not hers do
combat on the lain, or one could see him even
ten miles 01!. a! ha! ha !—look yonder!”

Clayle , yelling with laughter, pointed to the
corner 0 the macho.

Though after a scene so tragic, I could hardly
refrain from joining Clayley in his boisterous
mirth. Hanging b the belt of his saber upon
a high picket was major, kicking and strug-
gling with all his mi ht. The waist-strap, tight-
y drawn by the bifiky weight of the wearer,
separated his body into two vast rotundities,
while-his, face was distorted and purple with
the agony of suspense and suspension. He was
loudly ballo‘flng for help, and several soldiers
W81? “"111 toward him: but, from the man-
ge; in which 0 jerked his body up, and screwed

’ neck. Io as to enable him to look over the
stockade, it was evident that the rincipal cause
of his uneasiness lay-on the “ o 1- side or the

fence."

The truth was, the ma r, on the first a, -
ance of the enemy, gauoped w'amre
rear of the corral, and finding no “fiance, had
thrown himsolf from the be of new” upon
the stockade, intending to climb over; but in“

caught a glance of some gaerrilleros, be m
an denly let go his bridle and attempted w
Pmcipitate himself into the corral. .

His waist-belt, catching upon a sharp ck”,
held him suspended midway, still under a 1m.
pressioa that the Mexicans were close upon his
""- 36 was soon unhooksd, and now wgd.
died across the corral, iittering a thick and con-
tinuous volley of his choicest oaths.

051' We! were now directed toward Hercules.
The horsemen had cl d upon him within fifty
Fm“, 8nd Were win n their long lazoes in
the  The major, to IE appearance, had lost

is one.

AMT galloping to the edge of the woods, Her-

_. ..._ .—.- .

 

cules suddenly halted, and threw up the trail-
ing bridle with a loud neigh. His pursuers.
coming u , flung out their lazoes. Two of
these, sett ing over his head, noosed him around
the neck. T e huge brute, as if aware of the
necessity of a desperate effort to free himself,
dropped his nose to the ground, and stretched
himself out in full gallop.

The lariats, one by one tightening over his
bony chest, snapped like threads, almost jerk-
ing the mustangs from their feet. The long
fragments sailed out like streamers as he ca-
reered across the prairie, far ahead of his yell~
ing pursuers.

He now made directly for the corral. Sev-
eral of the soldiers ran toward the stockade, in
order to seize the bridle when he should come
up; but Hercules, spying his old comrade—the
horse of the “doctor ”-—within the inclosure,
first neighed ioudl , and then, throwing all his
nerve into the e ort, sprung high over the
picket fence. _

A cheer rose from the men, who had watched
with interest his efforts to escape, and who now
welcomed him as if he had been one of them-
selves.

“Two months’ pay for your horse, major!”
cried Cla ley.

“Och, he bewtiful bastei He’s worth the
full of his skin in goold. my sowll the
capten ought to have ’im," ejaculated Chane;
and various other encomiums were uttered in
honor of Hercules.

Meanwhile, his pursuers, not daring to ap-
proach the stockade, drew 08 toward their
comrades, with gestures of disappointment and
chagrin.

 

CHAPTER XIX.
RUNNING rim GAMLIT.

I man to reflect upon the real danger of
our situation—corraled u n a naked prairie,
ten miles from camp, wi no prospect of as
ca I knew that we could defend ourselves
against twice the number of our cowardly ad-
versaries; they would never dare to come with-
in range of our rifles. But how to get out? how
to cross the o n plain? Fift infantry against
four times t at number 0 mounted men—
lancers at that—and not a bush to shelter the
{loaf-soldier from the long spear and the iron

00 !

The nearest motto was half-a~mile off, and that
another half-mile from the ed of the woods.
even could the motto be reach by a desperate
run it would be impossible to gain the woods,
as e enemy would certain] cordon our new
position, and thus emanate y cut us off. At
present they had halt in a bod about four

undred yards from the corral, , feeling se~
cure of having us in a trap, most of them had
dismounted and were running out their mus-
tangs upon their lazoes. It was plainly their
determination to take us by siege.

To add to our desperate circumstances, we
discovered that there was not a drop of water
in the corral. The thirst that follows a fight
had exhausted the scanty supply of our can-
teens, and the heat was excessive.

As I was running over in my mind the perils
of our poeiticn,’my eye rested upon Lincoln,
who stood with his piece at a carry, his left
hand crossed over his breast. in the attitude of
a soldier waiting to receive orders.

“ Well, sergeant, what is it?” I in uired.

“Will yer allow me ca ’n, terta e a couple
0’ files and fetch in t e utchmani The men
’ud like ter put a sod upon him afore them
thievin’ robbers kin get at him.”

“Certainly. But will you be safe? He’s at
some distance from the stockade.”

“I don’t think them fellers ’ll kum down—
they’ve had enuf o' it, jest now. We’ll run out
quick, and the boys kin kiverus with their fire.”

“ Ver well, then: set about it.”

Linco n returned to the company, and selected
four of the most active of his men, with whom
he proceeded toward the entrance. I ordered
the soldiers to throw themselves on that side of
the inclosure, and cover the party in case of an
attack; but none was made. A movement was
visible among lie Mexicans as they perceived
Lincoln and his party rush out toward the body;
but, seeing they would be too late to prevant
them from carrying it off, they wisely kept be-
yond the reach of the American rifles.

The body of the German was brought into the
inclcsure and buried with due ceremony, al-
though his comrades belieVed that before man
hours it would be torn from its “ warrior-grave, ’
dragged forth to feed the coyote and vulture
and is home left to whiten upon the naked
prairie. Which of us knew that it might not In
a few hours be his own fate? '

“ Gentlemen.” said I to my brother officers, as
we came together, “ can you any 310‘“
of escape?"

“ Our only chance is to fight them where we

There are four to one,” replied 913,73.

“We have no other chance. "PW": ‘1
Cakes, with a shake of the head.

Put it is not flieir intention to fight us.

Their dong; is to starve us. See! they are

picketiag t ir horses, knowing that the can

3' overtake us if we attempt to leave e in-
closure.” _

 

‘3

“ Cannot we move in a hollow square?”

“But what is a hollow square of fifty men?
and a ainst four times that number of cavalzy
with fiances and lassoes? No, no: they wo d
shiver it with a single char e. Our only hope is
that we maybe able to ho d out until our ab-
sence trom camp may bring a detachment to
our relief.” ,

“ And why not send for it?” inquired the ma-
jor, who had scarcely been asked for his advice,
but whose wits had been sharpened by the ex-
tremity of his danger. “Why not send for a
couple of regiments?”

“ How are we to send, major?” asked Clayley,
looking on the major’s proposition as ludicrous
under the circumstances. “ Have you a pigeon
in your pocket?"

“Why?—how? There’s Hercules runs like a
bare; 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; “ thank on for the
thought. If he could on] pass t at point in
the woods. I hate it, but i 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, ma-

jor.”

I was thinking u n the disgrace of being
trap as I w an on my first scout too. 

“ ho will vo unteer to ride an express to
camp?" I in uired, addressing the men.

Twenty 0 them leaped out simultaneouslg.

“Which of you remembers the course, t
you could follow it in a lop?” I asked. -
h_The Frenchman, Raou , stood forth, touching

is ca .
de“ I gnaw a shorter one, captain, by Mata Cor-
rs.’

“ Ha! Raoul, you know the country? You
are the man.”

I now remembered that this man joined us at
Sacrificios, just after the landian the expedi-
tion. He had been living in t countrypre—
viciti’s 1ito our arrival, and was well acquainted
wit i .

“ Are you a good horseman?" I inquired,

“ l have seen five years of cavalry service.”

“ True. Do you think you can pas them!
They are nearly in your track.”

“ As we entered the prairie, captain; but my
route will lie past this motte to the left.”

" That will give you several points. Do not.
313015 a moment after on have mounted, or they
w take the hint intercepihyou." _

“With theredhorsethere w be noda‘ngu',
captain.” «

‘Leave your gun; take these pistols. Hal

you haveapairin theholsters. Seeifthsyare
oaded. These spiis—eo—cut loote that hes.
iece from the and e: the cloak too- on m

ve nothin to incumber you. you
come near t e camp, leave your horse in the
Chaparral. Give this to Colonel 0—.”

I wrote the following words on a scrap of poo
per:

“ Dun Comm: Two hundred will be enough.
Could the be stolen out after night? If so, all will
be well— itgets abroad . . . . .—-Y“H H "

As I handed the paper to Raoul, I whispered
in his ear: . '
R;"E§>_CclonellC—-’s own hand. Privately”

0 private y, do on beer?”

Colonel C— wasymy friend. “‘1 I if”?

that he would send a pfivak party to; my

rescue.
“Illindsrstand, captain," was the answarof

u .

“ Read , than! New mount and be OR.”

The Frgnchinaxisimm WHY '90 the WI?»
and, driving hi5 spurs $0 .thfi  0! 1118’
horse, shot out from the pen like a flash of hght~
nin .

Fgr the first three hundred yards or so he
galloped directly toward the dguei-i-illeros. These
stood leaning upon their sad esor lay stretched
along the green award. Beei a single horse-
man ridin toward them, few of them moved,
believing 'm to be some messenger sent to
treat for our surrender.

Suddenly the Frenchman swerved from his -
direct course, and Went sweeping around them
in the curve of an ellipse.

The now perceived the ruse, and with ayell
lea into their saddles. Some fired their es-
copettes; others, unwinding their lasoes, started
in ursuit. , ,

had by this time set Hermies‘s head for
g: clump of imber which he had taken as his
in

' 'de,andno ke toninatrack alm 1%-
'ear. Couldhe reachthemotte c p
in safety, he knew t there ware st . .
trees beyond, and these wm secure h in
some measure from the lasoes of his pursuers.
Westoodwa ' his resswrthbresth- 
lesssilence. Our livees‘lepen ed onhisesca .
A crowd of the guerriileros was between
and us; but we could still see the green
of the soldier and the meat red flanks 3,3.-
cules as be bounded on toward the sage of
woods. Then we :dwge law, b laundde mg?
a spinning mu ouls ead; -
hng shots were fired; and we fancie'd at one
ime that our comrade sprung up in ‘the saddleU

 

 

 

‘ I
v

  

/

   

.‘ . !
12
I ‘v

as if lie had been hit. Then he a red again
all safe, rounding the little islet o timber, an

the next moment he was gone from our sight.
Then followed a while of suspense—of temble
suspense—for the motto hid from view both
pursuers and pursued. Eve eye was straining
toward the point where the orseman had dis-
a peared, when Lincoln, who had climbed to
tEe top of the rancho, cried out:

“ He‘s safe, cap’n! The dod-rotted skunks air

‘kummin’ ’ithout him.”

It was true. A minute after the horsemen
appeared round the motto, ridingeslowly back,
with that air and attitude that tokened dis—
appointment.

 

CHAPTER XX. .
A SHORT FIGHT AT “LONG snor.”
TEE escape of Raoul and Hercules produced

an effect almost ma ical upon the enemy. In-
stead of the listless efensive attitude lately as-

’ sumed, the guerrilleros were now in motion like

a nest of roused hornets, scouring over the
plain and (yelling like a war‘party of Indians.

Th dl not surround the corral, as I had an
ticipated they would. They had no fear that
we should attempt to escape; but they knew
that, instead of t 9 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’: time, and either infantry
or mounted men would be on them in two
hours after.

Scouts were soon galloping of! in the direc-
tion taken by Raoul, and others dashed into
the woods on the opposite side of the prairie.
All was hurry and scurry.

Alon with Cla ley I had climbed upon the
roof 0 the ranc 10, to watch the motions of
the enemy, and to find out, if possible, his in-
tentions. We stood for some time without

aking, both of usTEazing at the maneuvers
o the guerrilleros. ey were galloping to and
fro over the prairie, excited by the escape of

Raoul.

“Splendidly done !” exclaimed my compan-
ion’, struck with their graceful horsemanship.
“One of those fellows, captain, as he sits, at
this minute, would—”

“ Ha! what—i” shouted he, suddenly turn-
ing and pointing toward the woods.

looked in the direction indicated. A cloud
of dust was visible at the debouchement of the
Medellin road. It appeared to hangover a small
body of tro‘ops upon the march. he sun was
just setting; and, as this cloud lav toward the
west, I could distin uish the sparkling of bright
objectsthrough its mvolume. The guerrilleros
had rained up their horses, and were eagerly
gazing toward the same pomt.

Presently the dust was wafted aside—a dozen
dark forms became visible—and in the midst a
bri ht object flashed under the sun like a sheet
of’ Id. At the same instant an insulting
shout broke from the guerrilleros, and a voice
was heard exclaiming— '

“ Cenobio! Cenobiol Los canones I” (Cen-
obio! Cenobio! the cannon!)

Clayley turned toward me with an inquiring

" 100'-

. “1th e la le ' b Heav s w ’11 have
,tngtrufi y 5’. y en. 0
‘ at die the sa 1"
1 “Lock for migselfy—well?” .

“Ab?!” P 000. as I live !-—a six-pound car-
ronsde!”

“ We are fighting tho guerrilla of Cenobio, a
small army of Itself. Neither stockade nor
matte mil avail us now.”

‘ “ What is to be done?” asked my companion.

“Nothing but die with arms in our hands,
We will not die without a strugyle, and the
sooner We prepare for it the better.”

I lea from the roof and ordered the
bugier sound the assem ly.

In amoment the clear notes rung out, and
the soldiers formed before me in the corral.

“ My brave comrades!” cried I, “ they have
got the advantage of us at last. The are

ringing down a piece of artillery, and fear
these pickets will offer us but poor shelter. If
we are driven out,Jet us strike for that island
of timber; and, mark me—if we are broken, let
every man fight his way as be best can, or die
over a fallen enemy."
, A determined cheer followed this short har-
angue, and I continued:

‘ But let us first see how the use their piece.

' It, is .a small one, and wil not destroy us

til 0331' riends reach us.

 

all at once. Fling yourselves down as they fire.
By lyin flat on your faces on may not suffer
so bull; Perhaps we can old the corral un-
At all events, we shall

tr{another cheer rung along the lin'e.

“Great Heaven, captain! it’s terrible!”
w red the malor.

“ at is terri lei” I asked, feeling at the
moment a contempt for this blaspheming
coward.

, “ Oh! this—this business—such a fix to be—"

“ Major! remember on are a soldier.”

“ Yes; and I wish I ad resigned, as I intend-
ed to do, before the cursed war'commenced.”

 

. I , ' ' I .
V . ,
o ., ,
The Rifle Rangers.

“ Never fear,” said I, tempted to smile at the
candor of his cowardice; “you'll drink wine
at Hewlett’s in a month. Get behind this log—
it’s the only 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 ar-
rested my attention.

“Great Beaven, captain! Why do you al-
low them to come so near?”

“ How am I to prevent them!" I asked, with
some surprise.

“Why, my rifle will reach further than that.
It mi ht keep them ofl’, I think.”

“ ajor, you are dreaming!” said I. “They
are two hundred yards beyond range of our
rifles. If they would onlv come within that,
we should soon send them ck for you.”

“ But, captain, mine will carry twice the dis-
tance.”

I looked at the major, under the belief that
he had taken leave of his senses.

“ It’s a zundnadel, I assure you, and will
kill at eight hundred yards.”

“Is it possible?” cried 1, starting; for I now
recollected the curious-looking piece which I
had ordered to be cut loose from the saddle of
Hercules. “ Why did ou not tell me that be-
fore? Where 15 Mayor Blossom’s rifle!” I
shouted, looking around.

“ This hyur’s the major’s gun. answered Ser-
geant Lincoln. “ But if it’s a rifle, I never see’d
sich. It looks more like a two-year old can-
non.”

It was, as the major had declared, a Prussian
needle—gun—then a new invention, but of which
I had heard something.

_“ Is it loaded, major?” I asked, taking the

“Can you hit that man with the sponge?”
said I, returning the piece to the hunter.

“ If this hyur thing’ll carry fur enuf, I kin,”
was the reply.

“It will kill at a thousand yards, cried the
major, with energy.

“ Ha! are you sure of that, major?” I asked.

“Certainl , captain. I got it from the in-
ventor. e tried it at V‘Vashiu ton. It is.
loaded with a conical bullet. It ored a hole
thro‘ili‘gh an inch plank at that distance.”

“ ell. Now, sergeant, take sure aim; this
may save us yet.”

Lincoln planted himself firmly on his feet,
choosing a notch of the stockade that ran ed
exactly with his shoulder. He then carefu ly
wiped the dust from the sights, and placin
the heavy barrel in the notch, laid his chee
slowly against the stock;

:Sergeant, the man with the shot!” I called
on .

As I spoke, one of the artillerists was stoop-
ing to the muzzle of the six-poun'ler, holding in
his hand a spherical case-shot. Lincoln pressed
the tri ger; the crack followed and the artil-
lerist t rew out his arms, and doubled over on
his head without givin a kick.

The shot that he bad old rolled out upon the
green sward. A wild cry, expressive of ex-
treme astonishment, broke from the guerrilleros.
At the same'instant a cheer rung through the
corral.

“ Well done!” cried a dozen of voices at once.

In a moment the rifle was wiped and re-
loaded.

“ This time, sergeant, the fellow with the lin-
stock.”

During the reloading of the rifle, the Mexi-
cans around the six-pounder had somewhat re-
covered from their surprise, and had rammed
home the cartridge. A tall artillerist stood,
with linstock and fuse, near the breech, wait-
ing for the order to fire. Before he received
that order the rifle again cracked; his arm flew
up with asudden jerk, and the smoking rod,
flying from his grasp, was projected to the dis-
tance of twenty feet. The man himself s un
round, and staggering a pace or two, fell into
the arms of his comrades.

“ Cap’n, jest allow me ter take that ere skunk
next time.’

“ Which one, ser eanti” I asked. '

“ Him that’s on t e black, makin’ such a dot-
rotted muss.”

I recognized the horse and figure of Dubrosc.

“Certainl , by all means,‘ said I, with a

strange fee ing at ‘my heart, as I gave the

order.

But before Lincoln could reload, one of the
Mexicans, apparently an officer, had snatched
up the burning fuse, and, running up, applied
it to the touch.

“On our faces, men!”

The ll came crashing through the thin

ickets of the corral, and. whining across the
inclosure, struck one of the mules on the flank,
tearing o n its hip, causing it to kick furiously
as it turn led over the ground. Its companions,
stampeding,’ gallOped for a moment through
the, pen; then, collecting in a corner, stood cow-

I

l .
5"..1'. ~

 

ered up and quivering. A fierce yell announced ,
the exultation of the guerrilleros.

Dubrosc was sittin on his powerful mustang,
facing the corral, an watching the effects of ‘
the shot.

“If be war only ’ithin range ov my own
rifle!” muttered Lincoln, as he glanced along
the sights of the strange piece.

The crack soon followed-the black horse
reared, staggered, and fell back on his rider.

“ Ten-strike; set ’em up!” exclaimeda soldier. '

“Missed the skunk-curse him!” cried Lin- 1
coin, gritting his teeth, as the horseman was
seen to struggle from under the fallen animal.

Rising to is feet, Dubrosc sprung out to the
front, and shook his fist in the air with a shout
of defiance.

The guerrilleros gallcped back; and the artil-
lerists, wheeling the six-pounder, dragged it
after, and took up a new position, about three
hundred yards to the rear.

A second shot from the piece again tore
through the pickets, striking one 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 wound-
ing him badly, ashe was carried back by his
comrades.

The Mexicans, terror-struck at this strange
instrument of destruction, took a new position,
two hundred yards still further 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 the timber.

Lincoln fired again. This time his shot ro-
duced no visible effect, and a taunting c user
from the enemy told that they felt themselves
beyond range.

Another shot was fired from the zundnadel,
apparmtly with a similar result. ,

“it’s beyond her carry, cap’n,” said Lincoln,
bringing the butt of his piece to the ground,
with an expression of reluctant conviction.

“ Try one more shot. If it fail, we can
reserve the others for closer work. Aim high!”

This resulted as the two preCeding ones. and
a voice from the guerrilleros was heard, ex-
claiming:

“ Yankees bobosl mas adelante!” (A little
further, you Yankee fools)!

Another shot from the six-pounder cracked
through the planks, knocking his piece from the
hands of a soldier, and shivering the dry stock-
wood into fifty fragments.

“ Sergeant, give me the rifle,” said I. “ They
must be a thousand yards off; but they are as
troublesome with that carronade as if they were
only ten, I shall try one more shot.”

I fired, but the ball sunk at'least fifty paces in
front of the enemy.

“We expect too much. It is not a twenty-
feur. pounder. Major, I envy you two things—
your rifle and your horse.”

“ Hercules?”

“ Of course.”

“Lord, ca tain! you may do what you will.
with the ri e; and if ever we et out of the
reach of these Infernal devils, ercules shall

At this moment a cheer came from the
guerrilleros, and a voice was heard shouting
above the din: '

“La metralla! la metralla!” (The howit-

zer!
l leaped quon the roof, and looked out upon
the plain. t was true. A howitzer-carria e,

drawn b mules, was debouching from t e
wcipds, t e animals dragging it along at a
go op.

it was evidently a piece of some size, large
enough to tear the light picketing that screened
us to atoms.

I turned toward my men with a look of
despair. My eye at this moment rested on the
drove of mules that stood crowded to ether in
a corner of the pen. A sudden thoug tstruck
me. Might we not mount them and escape?
There were more than enough to carry us all.
I instant] leaped from the roof and gave
orders to t e men. .

“ Speedily, but without noise!” cried I, as the
soldiers proceeded to fling bridles upon the necks
of the animals.

In five minutes each man, with his rifle slung,
stood by a mule, some of them having buckled
on tapadaskto 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 cavalry fashion——
Mexncan cavalry, I mean.” The men laughed.
“Once in the w00d, we shall retreat no further.
At the words “Mount and follow,” spring to
'our seats and follow Mr. Clayley. I shall
00k to our rear—don’t stop to fire—hold on
well. I any one fall, let his nearest comrade
take him up. Ha! any one hurt there!” A
shot had wh stled through the ranks. “ Only a
scratch,” was the reply.

“ All ready, then. are you! Now, Mr. Clay-
ley, you see the hi h timber—make direct for
ghatj” Down with t 6 bars! “ Mount and fol—
ow

 

 

 

 

' The Rise angers

“ '_. u

l

 

1 .As I uttered the last words, the men leaped
1, to their seats: and Clayley, riding the bell-
; mule, dashed out of the corral followed by the
v whole train, some of them plunging and ick-
ing, but all galloping forward 'at the sound of
.3 the bell upon their guide.
 , As the dark cavalcade rushed out upon the
% prairie, a wild c from the guerrilleros told
that this was the rst intimation they had had
of the singular me. They rung to their sad-
dles with yells, and gallo . in pursuit. The
howitzer, that had been trailed upon the corral,
was suddenly wheeledabout and tired; but the
shot, ill-directed in their haste, whistled harm-
lessly over our heads.

The (guerrilleros, on their swift steeds, soon
lessene the distance between us.

With adozen cf the best men I hung in the
rear, to give the foremost of the pursuers a vol-
ley. Or pick up any soldier who might be tossed

. from his mule. One of these, at intervals,
3 kicked as only a Mexican mule can; and, when
1 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 esco-
pettes, without effect. 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 rceive that two
or three guerrilleros dropped rom their saddles.
Their comrades, with shouts of vengeance,
closed u n us nearer and nearer. The long

.lazoes, ar in advance, whistled around our
heads.
I I felt the slippery noose light upon in
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
ulled with all my might. It was in vain.
he’animal I rode, freed from my manage,
seemed to plunge under me, and gather up its
back with a vicious determination to fling me.
It succeeded; and I was launched in the air,
and dashed to the earth with a stunning vio-
lence. _

I felt myself dragged along the graVelly
ground. I grasped the weeds, but they came
away in my hands, torn up by the roots. There
was a struggle above and around me. I could
hear loud shouts and the firing of guns. I felt
that I was being strangled.

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 gras of some giant’s arm.

Somet ing switched me sharply over the
cheeks. I heard the rustling of trees. Branches
snapped and crackled, and leaves swept across
my face. Then came the flash-—flash, and the
crack—crack—crack, of a dozen rifles, and un-
der their blazing light I was dashed a second
time with violence to the earth.

CHAPTER XXI.
. THE RESCUE.
"UGH handlin’, cap'n. Yer must excuse

 

 

 

 

 

‘6

haste.

It was the voice of Lincoln.

‘f Hal in the timber? Safe, then i” ejaculated
I, in return.

“Two or three wounded—not had neither.
Chane has got a stab in the hip—he gi’n the
feller goes for it. Let me louze the darned
thing of! 0’ your neck.
chokin’ yer, cap’n.”

Bob proceeded to unwind the noose end of a
lasso, that, with some six feet of a raw hide
thoEg, was still tightly fastened around my
'nec

It kum mighty near

” Rut who cut the rope?” demanded I.
“I did, with this hyur toothpick. Yer see,
caP’n, it warn’t yer time to be hung just yet.”
could not help smiling as I thanked the
hunter for my safety.
H ’ o e
ut where are the guerrilleros?" asked I,
$331118 around, my brain still somewhat con-

? Yander they are, keepin’ safe out 0’ range 0’
this long Run- Just listen to’em!-—-Whata liil-
ler-ballool".

The MPF‘C“ hmeen Were galloping out on
the pl'all‘le,‘ their arms glistening under the
clear moonlight.

” Take “0 the “099’ m9!!!” cried I, seeing that
the enemy had again uplimbered, and were pre-
ps ring to discharge their howitzer,

ln a moment the iron shower cum, whining
through the branches, Without doin an in-
jury, as each of the men had cover his
With a tree. Several of the mules that stood
tied and trembling were killed by the discharge.

Another shower hiii'tled through the bushes,
With a similar effect. _ I

,I was thinking of retreating further into the
umber. and was walking back to reconnoiter
the ground, when my eye fell upon an object
that afliested my “gamma It washtliefbodyhfif
. a Very 81‘ 8 man 1 mi: fl-it upon is ace, 5

head burigd amohgy the mots of a good-Sized
' tree. The arms Were stiflly pressed against his
“days, and the legs projected at full stretch. .ex-
bib“ “8 Sn appearance of motionless rigidity,

1

 

 

as though a well-dressed corpsa had been rolled
over on its face. I at once recognized it as the
body of the major, whom I supposed to have
fallen dead where he lay.

“ Good Heavens! C a lay, look here l” cried
I; “ r Blossom’s kille l”

“ 0, I’ll be hanged if I am 1” wled the lat-
ter, screwing his neck round ' e a lizard, and
looking uf) without changing the attitude of his
body. C ayley was convulsed with laughter.
The major sheathed his head again, as he knew
that another shot from the howitzer might soon
be ex ted. "

“ jor,” cried Clayley, “that right shoulder
of yours projects over at least six inches.”

“ I know it,” answered the major, in a fright-
ened voice. “Curse the tree !—it’s hardly big
enough to cover a squirrel ;” and he squatte
closer to the earth, ressing his arms tighter
against his sides. Igis whole attitude was so
ludicrous that Clayley burst into a second yell
of laughter. At this moment a wild shout was
heard from the guerrilleros.

‘ What next?’ cried 1, running toward the
front, and looking out upon the rairie. .

“ Them wild-cats are gwine toc ’ar out, ca ’n,”
said Lincoln, meeting me. “ I kin see t em
hitchin’ up.”

“ It is as you say! What can be the reason?”

A strange commotion was visible in the
groups of horsemen. Scouts were gallo ing
across the plain to a point of the woods a ' ut
half-a-mile distant, and I could See the artiller-
ists fastenin their mules to the howitzer-car-
riage.’ Sud enly a bugle rung out, sounding
the ‘ recall,’ and the guerrilleros, spurring their
horses, galloped off toward Medellin.

A loud cheer, such as was never uttered by
Mexican throats, came from the opposite edge
of the rairiez‘ and looking in that direction,
I behel a lon line of dark forms debouching
from the woods at a gallop. Their sparkling
blades, as they issued from the dark forest,
glistened like a cordon of fireflies, and I recog-
nized therheavy footfall of the American horse.
A cheer from my men attracted their attention;
and the leader of the dragoon seeing that the
guerrilleros had got far out o reach, wheeled
his column to the right, and came galloping

own.

“ Is that Colonel Rawley?” inquired I, recog-
nizing a. dragoon officer.

“ Why. bless my soul. H—l” exclaimed be,
“how did you get out? We heard you were
jugged. All alive yeti”

“ We have lost two.” I re lied.

“Pahl that’s nothing. came out expecting
to bury the whole kit of you. Here’s Clayley
too. Clayley, your friend Twing’s with us;
you’ll find him in the rear.”

“ Hal Clayley, old boy i” cried Twing, com-
in up; “no bones broken? all right? take a

u l; do on good—don’t drink it all, though——
save a t imbleful for Heller there. How do
you like that?”

“Delicious, by Jove!” ejaculated Clayley,
tugging away at the Georgia major’s flask.

“ Come, captain, try it.”

“Thank you,” I replied, eagerly grasping the
welcome flask.

“But where is Old Blos? killed, wounded, or
missing?”

“ I believe the major is not far off, and still
univg‘ured.”

I ispatched a man for the major, who pre-
sently came up, blowing and swearing like a
Flanders trooper. _

“ Hilloa, Bios!” shouted Twing, grasping him
by the hand.

“Why, bless me, Twing! I’m glad to see
you,” answered Blossom, throwing his arms
around the diminutive major. “ But where on
earth is your pewter?” for during the embrace
he had been groping all over Twmg’s body for
the flask!

“ Here, Cudjo! that flask, boy i”

“ Faith, Twing, I’m near choked; we’ve been
flwhting all day—a devil of a fight. I chased a
w ole squad of the cursed scoundrels on Her4
cules, and came within a squirrel’s jump of
riding right into their nest. We’ve killed
dozens; but Haller will tell you all. He’s a
good fellow, that Haller- but he’s too rash—
rash as blazes. Hilloa, Ilercules! glad to see
youtagain, old fellow; you had a sharp brush

or) .’

" Remember your promise, major,” said I. as
the major stood putting Hercules upon the
shoulder. _

“ I’ll do better, captain. I’ll give you a chaice
between Hercules and a splendid black I have.
Faithl it‘s hard to part with you, old Herky,
but I know the captain will like the black bet-
ter; he’s the handsomest horse in the Whole
army}; bought him from poor Ridgely, who
was illed at Monterey.” _

. This speech of the major was delivered partly
in solil uy, partly in an apostrophe to Her-
cules. an partly to myself.

“Very well major,” I replied. “I’ll take
the. black.  la ley. mount the men on
their mules: vou wifi take command of the
company, and proceed with Colonel Rawley to
camp- shall go myself for the Don.”

6 last was said in a whisper to Clayley.

 

“We may not get in before noon to-morrow.

Say nothing of my absence to any one. I shall I

make my re at noon to-morrow.’
“And ca tain—” said Clayley.

“Well,C yleyl” ' r

“ You will carr back my—”

“ What? To w ich, friend?"

“ Of course, to Mary of the Light.”

“ Oh, certainly!”

“ In your best Spanish?”

“ Rest assured ” said I,smiling at the earnest-
ness of mgofrien .

I was a ut moving from the spot, when the
thought occurred to me to send the company to
camp under command of Oakes, and take C ay-
ley alon with me.

“ Clay ey, b the way,” said I, calling the
lieutenant bac , “ I don’t see why you may not
carry your compliments in person. Oakes can
take the men back. I shall borrow half-adozen
dragoons from Rawley.”

“ With all my heart,” replied Clayley. t

“Come, then; get a horse and let us be 03.”

Taking Lincoln and Raoul, with half-a-dosen
of anley’s dragoons, l bade my friends good-
ni t.

hese started for camp b the road of Mata
Cordera, while I with my httle party brushed
for some distance round the border of the prai-
rie, and then climbed the hill, over which lay
the path to the house of the Spaniard.

As I reached the top of the ridge, I turned to
look upon the scene of our late skirmish.

The cold round moon, looking down upon the
prairie of La Virgen, saw none of the victims
of the fight.

The guerrilleros in their retreat had carried
off their dead and wounded comrades, and the
Americans slept underground in the lone corral;
but I could not help ancyi'ng that the gaunt
wolves were skulking round the inclosure, and
that the claws of the coyote were already tearl
ing up the red earth that had been hurriedly
heaped over their graves. ~

 

CHAPTER XXII.
THE coccro.

A NIGHT-mm: through the golden tro I
forest, when the moon is bathing its broadpfid

wax-like frondage-when the winds are hushed ‘

and the long leaves hang droopin and, silent-'
when the path conducts through ark aisles and
arbors of green vine leaves, and out again into
bright and flowery glades—is one of those luxu-
ries that I wish we could obtain without going
bevond the limits of our own land. ‘

The cocuyo lights your way through the dark
aisles, and the nightingale cheers you with his
varied and mimic son . A thousand sightsand
sounds, that seem to possessed of some mys-
terious and narcotic power, lull you into silence
and sleep—a sleep whose dream is love.

Clayleyl and I felt this as we rode silently
along. Even the ruder hearts of our com-

panions seemed touched by the same influence. ‘

We entered the dark woods that hinged the

I

N.

arroyo, and the stream was crossed in silence. I . ,

Raoul rode in advance, acting as guide.

The stillness of the night was broken onlz by
the heavy hoof bounding back from the ard
turf, the jingling of spurs, or the ri ing of the
iron scabbard as it struck againstt e moving
flanks of our horses.

We had crossed the sandy spur, with its chap-
arral of cactus and mesquite, and
ing a gorge of heavy timber, when. the prac-
ticed eye of Lincoln detected an object in, the

were enter- , 1

dark shadow of the woods, and communicated; V.

the fact to me. _

“ Halt l” cried I, in a low vmce.

The party reined u at the order. A rustling
was heard in tho bus es ahead. '

“ Quien vicar” challenged Raoul, in the ad-
vance.

“ Un amigo,” (a friend) was the res

I s rung forward to the side of
called) out:

“ Acmate I acercate I” (come near!)

A figure moved out of the bushes and ap-
proached. _ ‘

“ Esta el caption?” (Is it the captain?)

I recognized the guide given me by Don
Cosme. - , ’

The Mexican approached and handed me a
small piece of pa r. I rode into an opening,
and he d it u to t e moonlight; but the writing
fvas in penci , and I could not make out a single
etter.

1138.

“Try this, Clayley. Perhaps your eyes are. /

better than mine.” ' .
“No,” said Clayley, after examining the
paper. “ I can hardly see the writing upon it.”
“ Esperate, mi amo ” (Walt, my master), said.
the guide, makin’ g me a sign.
motionless. _ ’
The Mexican took from his head his heavy

sombrero, and stepped into a darker recess ( f‘ ’. ',

the forest. After standing for a moment. but
in. hand a brilliant object shot out from the
leaves of the palm redonda. It was the em
cuyo—the great firefly of the tropics. ' 8.
low humming sound it came glistening along at ,
a hight of seven or eight feet from the ad.
The man 9?ng up, and with a sweep
arm jerk_ it'suddenlg to the earth.
covering it With his at, and inverting his

cal; and  ‘

We remained i 

..

\ hand, he‘ ca‘ught the gleaming insect and pre-
sented it to me with the ejaculation:
“ Ya .m—(Now!) ,

“ No muerde ” (it does not bite), added he, as

‘ he saw that I hesitated to touch the strange,

beetle-shaped insect.

I took the cocuyo in my hand, the een,

olden fire flashing from its great roun eyes.

" held it up before the writing, but the faint

glimmer was scarcely discernible upon the

r.

‘Wby. it would re uire a dozen of these to
make sufficient light ”. said to the guide.

“No, senor; uno hasta—ast' ” (no, sir‘ one is
enough—thus—); and the Mexican, taking the
cocuyo in his fingers, pressed it gently against
the surface of the paper. t produced a bril-
liant light, radiating over a circle of several
inches in diameter!

Every point in the writing was plainly visible.
sI bpnt my head to the paper, and read in
,' n sh: '
1171 have made known your situation to the
American commander I”
There was no signature nor other mark upon
‘ the per.
3/ ‘ . I “ 111 Don Cosme?” I inquired, in a whisper
1. ' to the Mexican.
“ Yes senor” was the reply.
“And how did you expect to reach us in the
cog-32w,” ( d th h ldi h
st‘, so),sai eman, o n u as aggy
bull’s hide, which he carried meriisparm.
°‘ We have friends here, Clayley. Come, my
. ~ good fellow, take this!” and I handed a gold
,7 ea le to the n.

/, ’ Forwa !”

' ‘ " The tinkling of canteens, the jingling of sa-

_ boss, and the echo of bounding hoofs recom-

' ,msneed. We were again in motion, filing on
through the shadowy woods.

CHAPTER XXIII.
Lon AND LUZ.

SHORTLY after, we debauched from the for-
est, entering the open fields of Don Cosmo’s
plantation. '

The guide pointed to one of the guardarayas
that led to the house. We struck into it, and
rode forward. The path was pictured by the
moonheams as they glanced through the half-
, _- , shadowing leaves. A wild roe bounded away
. _ before us brushing his soft flanks against the

' rustlin thorns of he mesquite.
. or on we reached the grounds, and,
halting behind the gessamines, dismounted.

 'i ‘Ilayley and m If on the inclosure.
, ,‘ , As we push throu h a copse we were salut-
:, ed by the hoarse bar of a couple of mastifls;

r and we could perceive several forms moving in
 front of the rancho. We stopped a moment to

 ; observe them.

  ‘The d were secured by several domestics,
‘ .~. ‘ and we vanced.

_, IN. 1 ' “Qufen es 7” inquired Don Cosme.

“Amigos,” (friends) I replied.
I , ' “Pizpa! pa .' es el capitan I” (papa, it is the
 ‘ captain !) cri one of the sisters, who had run
. a out in advance, and whom I recognized as the
 ' elder one.
a a v “Do not be alarmed, senorita,” said I, ap-

is fife!” cried both the girls at once;
Cosme exhibited his joy by hugging my com-
rade and myself alternately.

Suddenly letting 0. he threw up his hands,
and in uired with-a 00k of anxiety—

“ Y senor gordo f” (And the fat gentle-

man?)
, . “Oh! he’s all right ” replied Cla lay, with a
t i, 'laugh' “he has saved his bacon, on Cosme;
 f though I imagine about this time he wouldn’t
‘i “ \ ob set to a little of yours.”
.‘ " ~" .r’ translated my companion’s answer. The
Y » latter part of it seemed to act upon Don Cosme
 y, as a hint, and we were immediate! hurried to
“5‘, , She diining-roonlii, where we foun the Dona
‘ n na reps n supper.
ofidurin I(’mr meal I recounted the principal

events 0 the day. Don Cosme knew nothin of
- 'these guerrilleros, although he had heard t at
77 “ there were bands in the neighborhood. Learn-
' - ing from the guide that we had been attacked,
, , he had dispatched atrusty servant to the Amer-
-  ‘ 'ican camp, and Raoul had met the party com-
. g; - ing to our rescue. '

After sup r Don Cosme left us to give some
 1 orders relat ve to his departure in the morning.

. ' His lady set about preparingthe sleeping a rt-

' .'r ments, and my companion and I were lef for
several hours in the sweet companionship of

Lu and Luz. .
h were exquisite musicians, playm the
harp hnd guitar with equal cleverness. any

 

a pure Spanish melody was poured into the de-
Iighted ears of my friend and myself. The
thoughts that arose in our minds were doubt-
. less 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
'1“? ' " spirit of my comrade seemed to have met a
. . , responsive echo. He and his brilliant partner
‘t. ‘. laughed, chatted and sung in turns. In the in-
'f  , cidents of the moment this lighthearted crea-

v I. r
", l v

  

l

preaching.
“Oh! you are safe—you are safel—palpabhe'
w is on

 

ture had forgotten her brother, yet the next.

"  (Rifle 

moment she would weep for him. A tender
heart—a heart of joys and sorrows—of avar-
changing 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 was stealing upon us. There is

, no mirth in love. There are joy, pleasure, lux-
ury; but lau hter finds no echo in th eheart
that loves. ve is a feeling of anxiety—of
expectation. The harp is set aside. The guitar
lies untouched for a sweeter music—tho music
that vibrates from the strings of the heart. Are
our eyes not held together by some invisible
chain? Are not our souls 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 indif-
ferent, either. Narcisso, Narcisso—a theme
fraternal. His peril casts a cloud over our hap-

pmess.
“Oh! that he were here—then we could be

happf' indeed.”

-“ e will return; fear not—grieve not; to-
morrow your father will easily find him. I
shall leave no means untried to restore him to
so fond a sister.”

“Thanks! thanks! Oh! we are already in-
debted to you so much.”

Are those eyes swimming with love, or grati-
tude, or both at once? Surely ratitude alone
does not speak so wildly. Coul this scene not
last forever?

“ Good-night—good-night !”

“ Senora, pasan Vds. buena noche !”
tlemen, may you pass a pleasant night!)

(Gen-

 

We were shown to our sleeping apartments.
Our men picketed their horses under the olives,
and slept in the bamboo rancho, a single sentry
walking his rounds during the night.

CHAPTER XXIV.
A TOUGH NIGHT or IT AFTER ALL.

I HAD not slept in a bed for two months.
A close crib in a transport ship—a “shake-
down” amon the scorpions and spiders of
Lobos—a sing e blanket among the sand-hills,
where it was not unusual to wake up half

 

buried by the drift. .
These were my souvenirs. Fancy the pros-
pect! It certain invited repose; and yet I

was in no humor sleep. My brain was in a
whirl. The strange incidents of the day—some

of them were mysterious—crowded into my

mind. My who e system, mental as well as
hysical, was fl bed; and thought followed
bought 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 assion of my life, and I
easily recognized it. ven 'ealousy had begun
to distill its poison—“ Don antiago!”

I was standing in front of a large mirror,
when I noticed two small miniatures hanging
against the wall—one on each side of the glass.

I bent over to examine, first, that which hung
upon the right. I zed 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 like-
ness 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 sin-
ister lip—Dubrosc !”

A sharp pang shot through my heart. I
looked at the icture again and again, with a
kind of iucr ulous bewilderment; but every
fresh examination only strengthened convic-
tion. “ There is no mistaking those features—
the are his!” Paralyzed with the shock, I
sun 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? Is this accomplished
villain a fiend z—the fiend of my existence ?——thus
to crpss me at every point, perhaps in the end

Our mutual dislike at first meeting—Lebes—
bis reappearance upon the sand-hills—the mys-
tery of his passing t e lines, and again appearing
with the guerrilla—all came forcibly upon my
recollection; and now—I seized the lamp, and
rushed back to the pictures.

“ Yes, I am not mistaken: it is lie—it is she,
her features—all—all.- And thus, tool—the posi-
tion—side by side—counterparts! There are
no others on the wall; matched—mated—per-
haps betrothed! His name, too, Don Emilio!
The American who taught them English! His
is Emile—the voice on the island cried ‘Emile!’
Oh! the coincidence is complete! This villain,
handsome and accomplished as he is, has been
here before me! Betrothed—perhaps married
—perhaps—— Torture! horrible l”

I reeled back to my chair, dashing the lamp
recklessly'upon the table. I know not how
long I sat, but a world of wintry thoughts
passed through my heart and brain. A clock,
striking from a lar e picture, awoke me from
my reverie. I did no count the hours. Music
began to play behind the picture. It was a sad,

I

 

1

sweet air, that chimed with m feelings, and to
some‘extent soothed them. rose at length,
and hastily undressing, threw myself upon the
bed, mentally resolving to forget all—to forget
that I had ever seen her.

“I will rise early—return to camp without
meeting her; and once there, my duties will
drive away this painful fancy. The drum and
the fire and the roar of the cannon will drown
remembrance. Hal it was only a passing
thou ht at best—the hallucination of a moment.
I sha l easily get rid of it. Ha! ha i”

I laid my fevered cheek upon the soft, cold
pillow. I felt com —-—almost happy.

“A Creole of ew Orleans! How could he
have been here? Oh! have I not the explana-
tion already? Why should I dwell on it?”

A jealous heart—it is easy to say “ forget.”

I tried to prevent my thoughts from return—
ing to this theme. I directed them to a thousand
things; to the ships—to the landing—to the
army—to the soldiers—to the buttons 11 1)
their jackets and the swabs upon their shoul ers
—to everything I could think of; all in vain.
Back, back, back! in painful throes it came
and in heart throbbed, and my brain burned
with bitter memories freshly awakened.

I turned and tossed u n my couch for man
a long hour. The cloc in the picture struc
and played the same music again and again,
still soothing me as before. Even despair has
its moments of respite: and worn with fatigue,
mental as well as physical, I listened to the sad,
sweet'strain, until it died awayinto my dreams.

/
CHAPTER XXV.
ms: LIGHT AFTER ran SHADE. ,

WHEN I awoke, all was darkness around me.
I threw out my arms and opened the damask
curtains. Not a ray of light entered the room.
I felt refreshed, and from this I concluded I
must have slept Ion . I slipped out upon the
floor and common groping for my watch.
Some one knocked. ‘

“Come in!” I called.

The door opened, and a flood of light gushed
inlt: theapartment. It was a servant bearing
a m

“ hat is the hour?” I demanded.

“lNine o’clock, mi amo ” (my master), was the
re y. ,

he servant set down the lamp and went out.
Another immediate! entered, carrying a sal-
ver with a mall gol cup.

“ What have you there?”

“Chocolate, master; Dona Joaquma has
sent it.”

I 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
heav . I believe the morning always brin
relie to pain, either mental or bodily. t
seems to be a law of nature—at least, so my ex-
perience tells me. The morning air, buo nt
and balmy, dulls the edge of anguish. ew
hopes arise, and new projects appear with the
sun. The invalid couch-tossing through the
long watches of the night, wil acknowledge
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 campl—let Lethe— Has
my friend arisen i”

‘ Yes, master; he has been up for hours.”

“ Ha! where is he?” ,

“In the 2garden, master.”

“Alone.

“ No, master; he is with the m'nas.” .. . ‘

“ Happy, light-hearted Clayley! No jealous
thoughts to torture him!” mused I, as I buckled
on In stock.

“ ell my friend, when he returns to the
house, that I wish to see him.”

“Yes, master.”

The servant bowed and left the room.

Ina few minutes Clayley made his appear-
ance. gay as a rrasshopper.

“So, good ieutenant, you have been im-
proving your time, I hear?”

“ Haven’t I, though? Snob 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 omit:
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?”

“ Itht! going so soon? Not before breakfast,
though?”

“ In five minutes.” »

“ Why. captain, what’s the matter? And such
a breakfast as they are getting! 0h! Don
Cosme will not hear of it.”

“Don Cosme—”

Our host entered at this moment; and, listen-~
ing to his remonstrances, the order was rcscind~
ed, and I consented to remain.

I saluted the ladies with as much courtesv as
I could assume. I could not help the coldhess,
of my manner, and I could perceive that with
her it did not pass unobserved.

We sat down to the breakfast-table: but my
heart was full of bitterness, and I scarcely

 

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D”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

a I ,. A r..-___..._....c _ _

 

 

‘ head away, and I thought there was a

The‘Rifle Rangers.

15

 

A“

touched the delicate viands that were placed be-
fore me.

“You do not eat, capitan. I hope you are
well!” said Don Cosme, observing my strange
and somewhat rude demeanor. .

“Thank you, senor. I never enjoyed better
health.” I

I studiously avoided looking toward her, pay-
ing 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? Re-
proach! How ill does my conduct of last ni ht
correspond with this affected coldness—t 's
rudeness! Can she too be suffering?

I arose from the table, and, walking forth,
ordered Lincoln to prepare the men for march-

in .

I strolled down among the orange-trees.
Claylev followed soon after, accompanied by
both girls. Don Cosme remained at the house
to superintend the saddling of his mule, while
Dona J oaquiua was packing the necessary arti-
cles into his portmanteau.

Followin some silent instinct, we—Guada-
lupe and —came together. Clayley and his
mistress had strayed away, leaving us alone. I
had not yet spoken to her. I felt a strange im-

ulse—a desire to know the worst. Ifelt as one
coking over a fearful precipice.

Then I will brave the danger; it can be no
worse than this agony of suspicion and sus-

peuse.

I turned toward her. Her head was bent to
one side. She was crushing an orange-flower be-
tween her fingers, and her eyes seemed to follow
the dropping fragments.

How beautiful was she at that moment!

“The artist certainly has not flattered you.”

She looked at me with a bewildered expres‘
sicn. Oh! those swimming eyes!

She did not understand me.

1 repeated the observation.

“ Senor capitan, what do you mean?”

“That the painter has not done you justice.
The portrait is certainly a likeness, yet the ex-
pression, I think, should haVe been younger.”

“The painter! What painter? The portrait!
What portrait, senor!”

“ I refer to your portrait, which I accidental-
ly found hanging in my apartment.”

“ Ah! by the mirror!”

“ Yes, by the mirror,” I answered sullenly.

“ But it is not mine, senor capitan.”

“Hal-how? Not yours?”

“No; it is the portrait of my cousin, Maria
de Merced. They sa we were much alike.”

My heart expand . My whole frame quiv-
ered under the influence of 1joyful emotions.

“ And the gentleman?” faltered out.

“Don Emilio? He was cousin’s lover—hay-
eron.” (They sloped.)

As she repeated the last word, she turned her
ness
in her manner.

I was about to speak, when she continued—

“ It was her room—we have not touched any-
thing.”

“And where is your cousin, now?”

“ We know not.”

“There isa mystery,” thought I. I pressed
the subject no further. It was nothing to me
now. ily heart was hap y.

“ Let us walk further, upita.”

We reached a clump of cocoa-trees; one of
them had fallen, and its smooth trunk offered a
seat, protected foom the sun by the shadowy
leaves of its fellows. On this we sat down.
There was no resistance—mo reasoning process
-—no calculation of advantages and chances,
such as is too often mingled with the noble pas—
sxonpf love. We felt nothing of this—nothing
but that undefinable impulse which had en-
tcred our hearts, and to whose mystical power
neither of us dreamed of offering opposition.
Delay and duty were alike forgotten.

" 1 shall ask the question now—I shall know
In “It” at one?” were my thoughts.

n the changing scenes of a soldier’s life there
is but littlo time for the slow formalities. the
zealous Vii-111$ “‘QCOmplicated finesse of court—
ship. I‘crliaiis this consideration impelled me.
I have but little confidence in the cold heart
that is Won by ii. series of assiduities. Therc is
too much calculation 0f aftBr events—too much
selfishness.

These reflections paSSed. through my mind. I
bent toward my companion. and Whispered to
her in that language—rich above all others in
the vocabulary of the heart: g ‘ ‘

“ Guadalupe, tu me umas i” ((-uadahipe, do
you love me?

“ o te mm; 1” was the simple reply. Need I
describe the joyful feelings that filled my heart
at that moment? My happiness was complete.

The confession rendered her sacred in my
9 (‘5; and We sat for some time silent, enjoying
t at transport on! known to those who have
truly, purely lov .

The trampling of boots!

It was Clayley at
the head 0

the troop. _'I‘hcyrwere mounted,

 

Don Cosme was impa-

and waiting for me.
I could not

tient; so was Dona Joaquina.
blame them, knowin the cause.

“ Ride forward! shall follow resently.”

The horsemen filed off into the 'elds, headed
by the lieutenant, beside whom rode Don Cosme,
on his white mule.

“ You will soon return, Enrique?”

“I shall lose no opportunity of seeing you.
shall long for the hour more than you, I fear.”

“Oh! no, no!” —

“ Believe me yes, Lupita! Say again you
will never cease to love me.”

“ Never, never! Yours—yours—till death!”

I s rung into the saddle. A parting look—
anot er from a distance—a wave of the hand——
and the next moment I was urging my horse in
full gallop under the shadowy palms.

CHAPTER XXVI.
A DISAPPOINTMENT AND A NEW PLAN.

I OVERTOOK my companions as they were en-
tering the woods. Clayley, who had been look-
ing back from time to time, brushed alongside,
as if wishing to enter into conversation.

“ Hard work, captain, to leave such quarters.
By Jove! I could have stayed forever.’

“ Come, Clayley—you are in love.”

“ Yes; they who live in glass houses— Oh! if
I could only 5 ak the lingo as on do!"

I could not elp smiling, for had overheard
him through the trees making the most he could
of his partner’s broken English. I was curious
to know how he had sped, and whether he had
been as “quick upon the trigger” as myself.
My curiosity was soon relieved.

“I tell on, ca tain,” he continued, “if I
could only ave ta ked i I would have put the
question on the spot. I id try to get a ‘yes’
or ‘no’ out of her; but she either couldn’t or
wouldn’t understand me. It was all bad luck.”

“ Could you not make her understand you?
Surely she nows English enough for that?”

“ I thought so .too; but when I spoke about
love, she only laughed and slapped me on the
face with her fan. Oh, no; the thing must be
done in Spanish, that’s plain; and you see I am
going’to set about it in earnest. She loaned me

Saying this, he pulled out of the crown of his
foraging-ca a couple of small volumes, which
I rec nize as a Spanish grammar and diction-

arv. could not resist lau hing aloud.
"Comrade, on will fin the best dictionary
to be the lady erself.”

“ That’s true; but how the deuce are we to
get back again? A mule—hunt don’t happen

ever day.”
“ fancy there will be some difliculty in it.”
I had alread thought of this. It was no easy

matter to stea away from camp—one’s brother-
oflicers are so solicitous about your appearance
at drills and parades. Don Cosmo’s rancho was
at least ten miles from the lines, and the road
would not be the safest for the solitary lover.

The prospect of frequent returns was not at

all flattering.
“Can’t we steal out at night?” suggested
Clayley. “I think we might mount half-a—

dozen of our fellows and do it snugly. What
do you say, captain?”

‘ Clayley, I cannot return without this broth-
er. I have almost given my word to that
effect.”

“You have? That is bad! I fear there is no
prospect of getting him out as you propose.”

y companion’s prophetic foreboding proved
but too correct; for on neai in the camp we
were met by an aid-de-camp of t e commander-
in-chief, who informed me that, on that very
mornin , all communication between the foreign
ships 0 war and the besieged city had been
prohibited.

Don Comne’s journey, then, would be in vain.
I explained this, adVising him to return to his
family.

“ Do not make it known—say that some time
is required, and you have left the matter in my
hands. Be assured I shall be among the first to
enter the city, and I shall find the boy and
bring him toJiis mother in safety.”

This was the only consolation I could offer.

“You are kind, captain—very kind: but I
know that nothing can now be done. \Ve can
only hope and pray.”

The old man had dropped into a bent atti-
tude, his countenance marked by the deepest
melancholy.

Taking the Frenchman, Raoul, along with
inc, I rode back until I had placed him beyond
the danger of the struggling plunder-er, when
we shook hands and parted. As he left me, I
turned to look after him. He still satin that
attitude that betokens deep dejection, his
shoulders bent forward over the neck of his
mule, while he gazed vacantly on the path. My
heart sunk at the s cctacle, and, sad and dis-
piritcd, I rode at a agging pace toward the
camp. ’

Not a shot had as yet been fired against the
town, but our batteries were nearly Perfected,
and several mortars were mounted and ready
to fling in their deadly missiles. I knew that
every shot. and shell would carry death into the
devoted city, for there was not a point within

“its walls out of range of a ten-inch howitzer.

 

Women and children must perish alon with
armed soldiers; and the b0 -—he too mig t be a
victim. Would this be t e tidings I should
have to carry to his home? And how should I
be received by her with such a tale upon my
lips? Already had I sent back a sorrowing
father.

“Is there no way to save him, Raoul?”

“ Captain!” inquired the man, starting at the
vehemence of my manner.

A sudden thou ht had occurred to me.

“ Are you wel acquainted with Vera Cruz?”

“ I know every street, ca tain.”

“Where do those arches sad that open from
the sea? There is one on each side of the
mole.”

I had observed these when visiting a friend—
an officer of the navy»on board his ship.

“They are conductors, captain. to carry OR
the overflow of the sea after a norther; they
lead under the city, opening at various places.
I have had the pleasure of passing through
them.”

“Ha! how?"

“ On a little smuggling expedition.”

“It is possible, then, to reach the town by
these?”

“Nothing easier—unless they may have a
guard at the mouth; but that is not likely. They
would not dream of any one’s making the
attempt.”

“How would on like to make it?”

“If the capta wishes it, I will bring him a.
bottle of eau-de-rie from the Cafe de Santa
Anna.”

“1 do not wish you to go alone. I would
accompany you.”

“Think of it, captain; there is risk for you
in such an undertaking. 1 may go safely. No
one knows that l have joined you, I believe. If
you are taken-”

“ Yes, yes. I know well the result.”

“The risk is not reat either.” continued the
Frenchman, in a h f soliloquy. “ Disguised as
Mexicans, we might do it—you s k the
language as well as I do. If you Wis it, cap-
tain—”

H I do.”

“ I am ready then.”

I knew the fellow well: one of those‘d‘are-
devil spirits, read for anything that promised
adventure—a chi d of fortune—a stray waif
tumblin about upon the waves of chance—
gifted With head and heart of no common order
—ignorant of books, yet educated in ex ' nee.
There was a dash of the heroic in his 0 aracter

that had won my admiration, and I was fond ‘

of his company.

It was a desperate adventure. I knew that;
but I felt stronger interest than common in the
fate of this boy. My own future fate, too, was
in a great degree connected with his saf ty.
There was something in the very danger 3m
lured me on to tempt it. I felt that it would be
adding another chapter to a life which I have
termed “adventurous.”

 

CHAPTER XXVII. , .
A FOOLBARDY ADVENTURE.

A'r night Raoul and I, disguised in the leath-
ern dresses of two rancheros, stole round the
lines and reached Punta Hornos, a point beyond
our own pickets.

Here we “took the wateI‘,” wadin waist,
deep. This was about ten o’clock.
was just setting out, and the night, by‘good-
fortune, was as dark as pitch.

As the swell rolled in we wereburied to the
neck; and when it rolled back again we bent
forward, so that at no time could much of our
bodies be seen above the surface.

In this manner, half-wading, half-swimming,
we kept up to the town. .

It was a toilsome journey. but the water was
warm, and the sand on the bottom firm pnd
level. We were strengthened—I at least—by
h0pe and the knowledge of danger. Doubtless
myI companion felt the latter stimulantas much
as .

We soon reached the battlements of Santiagp, 4."
e!

where we proceeded with increased caution.

could see the sentry u against the sky, 'ng
along.r the parapet. Ifis shrill cry start ed us.
He thought we had been discovered. The dark-
ness alone prevented this. At length we pained
him and came opposite the city, whose battle-
nients rested upon the water‘s edge. Thetide
was at ebb, and a bed-of black weed-covered
rocks la ' between the sea and the bastion. We
approac ied these with caution; and, crawling
over the slippery bowldershaftcr a hundred
yards or so found ourselves 1n the entrance of
one of the conductors. Here we halted to rest
ourselves, sitting down upon a ledge of rork.
We were in no more danger here than in our
own tents; yet Within twenty feet Were men
wh0, had thty known our proximity, would
have strung us up like a pair of dogs. But our

danger was far from lying at this end of the ‘

adventure. After a rest of half an hour we
kept up into the conductor. My companion
Seemed perfectly at home in this subterranean
Eeassage, walking along as boldly as if it had
en rilliantly ighted with gas! -
After proceeding some distance we ap-

, .

’tide‘ '

\ .

/ .7;

 

 

J
r

, preached a grating, where a light shot in from
above.

“ Can we pass out here?” 1 inquired.

“Not yet, captain,” answered Raoul, in a
whisper. “Further on.” '

We passed the grating, then another, and an-
other, and at length reached one where only a
feeble ray struggled downward through the
bars. Here my guide stopped and listened at-
tentively for several minutes. Then stretching
out his hand, he undid the fastening of the

to and silently turned it upon its hinge. He
next swung himself 11 , until his head projected
above- round. In t is position he a ain lis-
toned, ooking cautiously on all sides. atisfled
at length that there was no one near, he drew
his body up through the grating and disappear
1 ed After a short interval, he returned, and
’ called down:
' “ Come, captain!”
I swung myself up to the street. Raoul shut
'down the trap with care.
“ Take marks, captain!” whispered he; “ we
 ma get separated.”
 ', Igwas a dismal suburb. No living thing was
 ' apparent, with the exception of a gang of prowl-
ing dogs, lean and savage, as all dogs are dur-
ing a siege. An image, decked in all the glare
,' ; of and and tinsel, looked out of a glazed niche
, ,‘ ' in fhe opposite wall. A dim lamp burned at its
.   feet, showing to the charitable a rece tacle for
, . their offerings. A quaint old steeple oomed in
the darkness eyerhead.

“ Wh'at church?” I asked Raoul.

“ La Magdalena.”

“That Will do. Now onward.”

- “Buenas noches, senor I” said Raoul to a
soldier who passed us, wrapped in his great-
s u

— coa .
.v i “Buenas noches I” returned the man in a
. ' gruff voica.
7."- ‘V r We stole cautiously along the streets, keeping
in the darker ones to avmd observation. The
~citizens were mostly in their beds; but groups
' of ,soldiers were straggling about, and patrols
met as at every corner.
It became necessary to pass through one of
g. H , the streets that was brilliantly lighted. When
73.. ,V about half-way up it a fellow came swinging
" t. » aJong, and, noticing our strange appearance
if, \ stopped and looked after us. Our dresses, as
 ‘ . havo said, were of leather. Our calzoneros, as
7; I well as jackets, were shining with the sea-
}, _ , water, and dripping upon the pavement at
“ eyery step.
Before we could walk beyond reach, the man
' shouted out—-
“ Oarajo! cabalferos, why don’t you strip
before entering the bane 5’”
’ “What is it?” cried a soldier, coming up and
etc ing us. -
, . rou of his comrades joined him, and we
 »  .we‘re urried into the light.
 ' ' ‘ “ Mil diablos I” exclaimed one of the soldiers,
5.247 . ’ rec' izing Raoul; “our old friend the French-
-  a - Parlez arms Francais, monsieurr”

-

 

’man
, “ Spies!” cried another.
, “ Arrest them l” shouted a sergeant of the
guard, at the moment coming up with a patrol,
'.and we were both jumped upon and held by
about a dozen men.
In vain Raoul protested our innocence, de-
claring that we were only two poor fishermen,
‘5 ‘who had wet our clothes in drawing the nets.
r ' “It’s not a flshermau’s costume, monsieur,”
said One.
. “ Fishermen don’t usually wear diamonds on
' ‘ their knuckles,” cried another, snatching a ring
‘ from my finger.
On this rin , inside the circlet, were engraven
in name an rank! .
yeral men, now coming forward, reco ized
Raoul, and stated, moreover, that he ha been
missing for some days.
1 “He must, therefore,” said they, “have been
I with the Yankees.”
We were soon handcuffed and marched off to
,the guard - prison. There we were closely
searched, but nothing further was found, except
my purse, containing several gold eagles—an
American coin that of itself would have been
, snflcient evidence to condemn me.
‘ We were now heavily chained to each other,
after which the guard left us to our thoughts.
, They‘could not have left us in much less agree-
able companionship.

CHAPTER XXVIII.
HELP raom HEAVEN.

‘w ..

 

said Raoul, as the gate‘closed .upon us, “but
that On, captain—halos! helasl” and the
Franc man groaned and sunk upon the stone
bench, dragging me down also. _

.g " I muld 0 er no consolation. I knew that we
should be tried as spies; and, if convicted—a
'result almost certain—we had not twenty hours

' to live. The thou ht that I had brought this
brave fellow to sue a fate enhanced the misery
(of my situation. To die thus ingloriously was
.. bitter indeed. Three days ago I could have
, : i spent my life recklessl ; but now, how changed
 were in feelings! . had . found somethin
Worth living to enjoy: and to think I shoul
avers aim—“Oh! l have become a coward!”
1. curs my rashuess bitterly. ‘

 

e

 

-“ I WOULD not care a dam for my own life,” '

 

.‘Q
~. ' ‘

  

We assed the night in vain attempts at
mutua consolation. Even- our present suffer-
ings occupied us. Our clothes were wet through,
and the night had become piercineg cold. Our
bed was a bench of stone; and u n this we
lay as our chains would allow us .s eeping close
together to generate warmth. It was to us a.
miserable night; but morning came at last, and
at an early hour we were examined by the
officer of the guard. ' '

Our court-martial was fixed for the after-
noon, and before this tribunal we were carried
amidst the jeers of the populace. We told our
story, giving the name of the boy Narcisso, and
the house where he was lodged. This was
verified b the court, but declared to be a ruse
invented y my comrade—whose knowledge of
the place and other circumstances rendered the
thing fprobable enough. Raoul, moreover, was
identi ed by many of the citizens, who proved
his disappearance coincident with the landing
of the American expedition. Besides, my ring
and purse were sufficient of themselves to con-
demn us—and condemned we Were. We were
to be garroted on the following morning!

Raoul was offered life if he would turn traitor
and give information of the enemy. The brave
soldier indignantly spurned the offer. It was
extended to me, with a similar result.

All at once I observed a strange commotion
among the people. Citizens and soldiers rushed
from the hall, and the court, hastily pronounc-
ing our sentence, ordered us to be carried away.
We were seized by the guard, pulled into the
street, and dragged back toward our late
prison. Our conductors were evidently in a
great hurry. As we passed along we were met
by citizens running to and fro, apparently in
great terror—women and children uttering
shrieks and sudden] disappearing behind walls
and battlements. me ell upon their knees,
beating their breasts and praying loudly. Oth-
ers, clasping their infants, stood shivering and
speechless.

“ it is just like the way they go in an earth-

uake,” remarked Raoul, “ but there is none.
hat can it be, captain?” -

Before I could reply the answer~ came from
another quarter.

, Far above an object was hissing and hurtling _

through the air.

“A shell from ours! Hurrah i” cried Raoul.

I could scarcely refrain from cheering,
thou h we ourselves might be the victims of the
missile. -

The soldiers who were guarding us had flung
themselves down behind walls and pillars, leav—
ing us alone in the open street!

The bomb fell beyond us, and, striking the

avement, burst. The fragments went crashing
hrough the side of an adjoining house; and the

wail that came back told how well the iron'

messengers had done their work. This was 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
charged with death.

pur guard now returned and dragged us or.-
ward, treating us with increased brutality.
They were enra ed at the exultation visible in
our manner: an one, more ferocious than the
rest, drove his ba onet into the fleshypart of
m comrade’s thig . After several like acts of
in iumauity, we were thrown into our prison
and locked up as before.

Since our capture we had tasted neither food
nor drink, and hunger and thirst added to the
misery of our situation.

‘The insult had maddened Raoul, and the pain
of his w'ound now rendered him furious. He
had not hands to touch it or dress it. Frenzied
by anger and pain to a strength almost super-
human, he twisted off his iron manacles as if
they had been straws. This done, the chain
that had hound us together was soon broken,
and our ankle “jewelry ” followed.

“Let us liVe our last hours, captain, as we
have our lives, free and unfettered!” _

I could not help admiring the spirit of my
brave comrade. ,

We placed ourselves close to the door and
listened. I

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
thunder of crumbling walls reached our ears,
Raoul would spring up, shouting his wild, half-
French, half-Indian cries.

A thought occurred to me.

“ We have arms, Raoul.” I held up the frag-
ments of the heavy chain that had yoked us.
“Could you reach the trap on a run, without
the danger of mistaking your way?” 0

Raoul started.

“ You are right, captain—I can. It is barely
possible the ma visit us to—night. If so, any
chance for life is tter than none at all.”

By a tacit understanding), each of us took a
fra ent of the chain—t ere were but two—
an sat down by the door, to be ready in case
our guards shou d open-it. We sat for over an
hour, without exchanging a, word. We. could
hear-the shells as they burst upon the house-
tops, the crashing of torn timhei), and the

J‘ '3

 

rumbling of walls rolling over, struck by the
heavy shot. We could hear the shouts of men
and the wailing of women, with now and then
a shriek louder than all others, as some missile
carried death into the terror-struck crowd.

“Sucre!” said Raoul; “if they had only
allowed us a couple of days, our friends would
have opened these doors for us. Sadr-r43 I ”

This last 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 the 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
suffocated. I endeavored to cry out, but my
voice, husky and coarse, was scarcely audible
to mgself. lsucceeded, at length, in ejaculating:

“ aoul! Raoul!”

I heard the voice of my comrade, seemingly
at a great distance. I threw out my arms and
groped for him. He was close by me, but like
myself, choking for want of air. - '

“ Sucre! it was a shell,” said he, in a wheez—
ing 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 g r‘rote.”

“ I am not so sure of that, captain,” replied
my companion, in a manner that seemed to
imply he had still ho s of an escape.

“Where that she! came in,” he continued,
“something else may go out. Let us see—was
it the roof ?

“ I think so.”

We groped our way hand in hand toward the
center of the room, looking upward.

“Pesto!” ejaculated Raoul; “I can’t see a
foot before "If:ka eyes are filled—bah ! ”

So were mine. e stood waiting. The dust
was gradually settling down; and we could per-
ceive a faint glimmer from above. There was a
large hole throu h the roof.

Slowly its out ines became defined, and we
could see that it was large enough to ass the
body of a man; but it was at least, orirteen
feet from the floor, and we had not timber
enough to make a walking~stickl

“What is to be done? We are not cats,
Raoul. We can never reach it!”

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!” cried I, athought strikin me. “Let
me down, Raoul. Now, if they wil only give
us a little time.” .

“ Never fear for them; t ey’ve enough to do
taking care of their own ye low carcasses.”

I had noticed that a beam of the roof formed
one side of the break; and I proceeded to tnist
our hand-cuffs into a clam 1, while Raoul peeled
off his leather breeches an commenced tearing
them into strips. In ten minutes our!“ tackle "
was ready; and, mountin upon my comrades
shoulders, I flung it carefu ly at the beam. It
failed tocatch, andI came down to the floor.
my balance being lost in the effort. I rcpcnlr-l
the attempt. Again it failed, and I staggered
down as before.

“Sacra !” cried Raoul through his teeth.
The iron had struck him on the head.

“Come, we shall try and try—our lives de-
pend upon it.”

The third attempt, aecordin to popular
su rstition, should be successfu. It was an
With us. The clamp caught, and the Stl'lIg
hung dangling downward. Mounting again
upon my comrade’s shoulders, I grasped the
thong high up, to test its hold. It was secure;
and, cautionmg Raoul to hold fast, lest the
hook might be detached by my vibration. I
climbed up and seized hold of the beam. By
this Iwas enabled to squeeze myself through
the roof.

Once outside, 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 this parapet, look-
ing down into the street. It was night, and I
could see no one below; but up against the sk
upon distant battloments I Could distinguiSi
armed soldiers, busy around their guns. These
blazed forth at intervals, throwing their sul—
phureous glare over the city.

I returned to assist Raoul: but, impatient of
my delay, he had already mounted, and was
dra ging up the thong after him.

0 crawled from roof ,to 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 high; and, after passing

several, we let ourselves down intoa narrow ,

alley. It was still earl , and the pie were
running to and fro, am dst the frig tful scenes
of the bombardment. The shrieks of women
were in our ears, min led with the shouts of
men, the groans of t e wounded, and the
fierce yelling of an excited rabble. The cen-
stant Whizzms of bombs filled the air, and
Wallets were hurled down. A round shot

~

 

 

 

 

 

 

._ g
a;

I

_L__._. ‘

struck the cnpola of a church as we Famed
nearly under it, and the ornaments o ag
came tumbling dowu, blocking up the thorough-
fare. We clambered over the ruins and went
on. There was no need of our crouching into
dark shadows. No one thought of observing us
now. .
“,We are near the house—will you still make
the attempt to take him along!” inquired Raoul,
referring to the boy Narcxsso.

“ By all meansl—show me the place,” replied
1, half ashamed at hav1ng almost forgotten, in
the midst of our own perils, the object of our en-
ter rise.

oul pointed to a large house with portals,

and a great door in the center.

“ There, captain——there it is.”

“ Go under that shadow and wait.
better alone.”

This was said in a whisper.
did as directed.

I approached the great door, and knocked
bolle

I shall be
My companion

“ Quinn 3’” cried the porter within the
saguan.

“ Yo,” I responded. .

The door was opened slowly, and With cau-
tion.

“ Is the Senorito Narcisso within?” I in
quired.

The man answered in the affirmative.

“Tell him, a friend wishes to speak to him.”

After a moment’s hesitation the porter drag-
ged himself lazily u the stone steps. In a few
seconds the ho -—-a ne bold looking lad, whom
I had seen uring our trial—came leaping
down. He started on recognizing me.

“Hush!” I whispered, making signs to him
to be silent. “Take leave of your friends, and
meet me in ten minutes behind the church of
La Magdalena.”

“Why, senor,” inquired the boy without lis-
tening, “how have you got out of prison? I
have 'just been to the governor on your behalf,
and—”

“N o matter how,” I replied, interrupting
him: “follow my directions-remember your
mother and sisters are suflerin .”

“ I shall come,” said the boy, resolutely.

“ Hasta luego !” (Lose no time then.) Adios .”’

We arted without another word. re-
igned soul, and we walked on toward La

agdalena. We passed through the street
where we had been captured on the preceding
night, but it was so altered that 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.

. Neither patrol nor sentry thought of troub-
ling us. now; and our strange appearance did
not strike the attention of the aSsengers.

\Ve reached the church, and aoul descended,
leavmg me to wait for the boy. The latter was
true to his word, and his slight figure soon ap-
peared, rou ndin the corner. Without losing a
moment we all t ee entered the subterranean
passage; but the tide was still high, and we

ad to wait for the ebb. This came at length,
and clambering over the rocks, we entered the
surf and waded as before. After anlhour’s
toil we reached Punta Hornos; and a little be-
yond this point I was enabled to hail one of our
own pickets, and to 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 ad-
Venture.

Claylev and I agreed to “mount” a party the
next nig t, and carry the boy to his friends.
This we aCcordingly dill, stealing out of camp
after tattoo. It would be impossible to describe
the rejoicing of our new acquaintances—the

gratitude lavishly expressed—the smiles of love

that thanked us. I

We should have repeated our visits almost
nightly; but from that time the guerrilleros
swarmed in the back country. and small parties
or 3"” men, straggling from camp, were cut off
‘1"."y- It was necessary, therefore, for my
.fmm’. and myself to chafe under a prudent
lilll’atlencei and wait for the fall of Vera Cruz.

CHAPTER XXIX
A snor In THE DARK.

THE “City of the true cross» fen upon the
gillil «)f PIIHJ'CII,  and  American flag
“1!va over the castle of San Juan de Ulloa.
The enemy‘s troops marched out upon parole,
most of them taking their way to their distant
homes upon the tabledands of the Andes_

The American garrison entered the town; but
the body of our army encamped upon the green
plains to the south.

Here we remained for several days, awaiting
the order to march into the interior.

A report had reached us that the Mexican
forces, under the cel:brated Santa AnnaLwere
concentrating at Puente Nacxonal; but 5 only
after, it was ascertained that the enemy would
make his next stand in the pass of the Cerro

Gordo, about half way between Vera Cruz and,

the mountains.
After the surrender of the
relieved from severe duty; and

city we were
Clayley and I,

r

 

“The Ride Rangers?   “

taking advantage of this, resolved upon paying
another stolen visit to our friends.

Several parties of light horse had been sent
out to scour the country, and it had been
reported that the principal guerrilla of the
enemy had gone further up toward the Puente
Nacional. We did not, therefore, anticipate
any danger from that source. ‘

e started after nightfall, taking With us
three of our best men—Lincoln, Chane and
Raoul. The boy Jack was also of the party.
We were mounted on such horses as could be
had. The major had kept his word with me,
and I bestrode the black—a splendid thorough-
bred Arab.

It was clear moonlight, and as we rode along
we could not help noticing many changes. War
had left its black mark upon the objects around.
The ranchos by the road were tenantless—many
of them wrecked—not a few of them entirely
gone; where they had stood, a re of black
ashes marking the outline of their 3 ight walls.
Some were represented by a heap of half-
burned rubbish, still smoking and smoldering.

“7e were within less than a league of Don
Cosme’s rancho, and still the evidence of ruin
and lunder continued; the evidence, too, of a
reta iatory vengeance; for, on entering a glade,
the mutilated body of a soldier lay across the
path. He was upon his back, with open eyes
glaring upon the moon. His tongue and heart
were cut out, and his left arm had been struck
off at the elbow joint. Not ten etc 3 beyond
this we passed another one, similarly isfigured.
We were now on the neutral ground.

We entered an opening. Raoul, who was
then riding in the advance, suddenly checked
his horse, waving on us to halt. We did so.

“What is it, Raoul?” I asked, in a whisper.

“ Something entered the thicket, captain.”

“ At what point?”

“There, to the left,” and the Frenchman

ointed in this direction. I did not see it well;
it might have been a stra animal.

“I see’d it, cap’n,” sai Lincoln, closing up;
“it wur a mustang.”

“ Mounted, think you?” '

“ I ain’t confident; I only see’d its hips. We
Were a-gwine too fast to get a good sight on the
critter, but it wur a mustang. I see’d that
cl’ar as daylight.”

I sat for a moment, hesitating.

“I kin tell yer whether it wur mounted,
cap’n,” continued the hunter, “if yer’ll let me
slide down and take a squint at the critter’s
tracks.”

“It is out of our way. Perhaps you had
better,” I added, after a little reflection.
“ Raoul, you and Chane dismount and go with
the sergeant. Hold their horses, Jack.”

“If yer’ll not object, cap’n,” said Lincoln, ad-
dressing me in a whisper, “I’d rayther go
’ithout kump’ny. Thar ain’t two men I’d like,

in a tight fix, better’n Rowland Chane; but I

hev done a smart chance 0’ trackin’ in my time,
anl’ Inallers gets along better when I’m by my-
se f t

“ Very well, sergeant: as you wish it, go

alone—we shall wait for you.”

The. hunter dismounted, and, having carefully
examined his rifle, strode off in a direction
nearly oppOSIte to that where the object had
been seen. I was about to call after him, im-
patient to continue our journey; but. reflecting
a_ moment, I concluded it was better to leave
him to his “ instincts.” In five minutes he had
disappeared, having entered the Chaparral.

.We sat in our saddles for half—an-hour—not
without feelin s of impatience. I was begin-
ning to fear t at some accident had happened
to our comrade, when we heard the faint crack
of a l‘lflP, but in a direction nearly opposite to
that which Lincoln had taken.-

“ It’s the sergeant’s rifle, captain,” said
Chane.

“Forward!” I shouted; and we dashed into
the thicket, in the direction whence the report
came. . lVe had ridden about a hundred yards
through the cha arral when we met Lincoln
coming 11 , with is rifle shouldered.

“ Well?’ I asked.

“ ’Twur mounted, cap‘n—’tein’t now.”

“ What do you mean, sergeant?”

“That the mustang bed a yeller-belly on his
back, and that he hain’t got ne’er a one now, as
I knows on. He got cl’ar awa from me—that
is, the mustang. The yeller-be 1y didn’t.”

“ What! you haven’t—l”

“ But I hev, captain. I had good soun’
reason.”

“ What reason?” I demanded.

“ In the first place, the feller war a gurillye;
and in the next, he wur an outpost picket.”

“ How know you this?”

“ Wal, cap’n, I struck his trail on the edge of
the thicket. I knowed he hedn’t kum fur, as I
looked out for sign whar we crossed the crik
bottom, an’ see’d none. I tuk the back track,
an’ soon come up with his dam under a big but-
tonwood; He had beenthar some time, for the
flaund wur stem ed like a bullock-pen.”

,“ Well?” said , impatient to hear the result.

’1 follered him up till I see’d him leanin’
for ard on his horse, clost to the track we
gughter-o take. From this I suspicioned him;

“3 Kettln’ a leetle < loster, I see’d his gun and

 

flxin’s strapped to the saddle. So I tuk a ght,
and whume ed him. The darned mustang got
away with his traps. This hyur’s the only
thing worth takin’ from his carcage; it w’u’dn t
do much harm to a grizzly b’ar.” .

“Good Heaven!” I exolaimed,. grasping the
glittering object which the hunter hel toward
me; “ what have you done?”

It was a silver-handled stiletto. ,. I recognized
the weapon. I had given it to the boy Nar-
cisso.

“ No harm, I reckin, cap’n?”

“The man—the Mexican? How did he looki— ,
what like?” I demanded, anxiously.

“Like?” repeated the hunter. “ Why, cap’n,
I ’ud call him as ugly a skunk as yer kin skeer
up anywhar—’ceptin’ it mout be among the
Digger Injuns; but yer kin seefor y’urself—he’s
clost by.”

I leaped from my horse, and followed Lin-
coln throu h the bushes. Twenty paces brought
us to the o ject of our search, upon the border
of a small glade. The body lay upon its back,
where it had been flung by the rearing mus-
tang. The moon was shining full upon the face.
I stooped down to examine it. A single glance
was sufficient. I had never seen the features
before. They were coarse and swart. and the
long black locks were matted and woolly. He
was a zambo, and, from the half-military equip-
ments that clung around his body, 1 saw that
he had been a gnerrillero. Lincoln was right.

“ Wal, cap’n,” said be. after I had concluded
my examination of the corpse, “ ain’t he a pic-
teritl’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘
“ You think he was waiting for us?”

“ For us, or some other game—that’s sartin.”

“ There’s a road branches off here to Medel-
lin,” said Raoul, coming up.

“ It could not have been for us—they had no
knowledge of our intention to come out.”

“Possibly enough, captain,” remarked Cla -
ley, in a whisper to me. “That villain won
naturally expect us to return here. He will
have learned all that has passed: Narcisso’a es..
cape—our visits. You know he would watch
night and day to trap either of us.” ~

“ Oh, Heavens!” I exclaimed, as the memory
of this man came over me; “why did I not
bring more men? Clayley, we must go on now.

Slowly, Raoul—slowly, and with caution—do ‘

you hears” ,,

The Frenchman struck into the path that led'
to the rancho, and rode silently forward. We
followed in single file, Lincoln keepingalook-
out some paces m the rear. .

CHAPTER XXX.
espresso BY GUERRILLEROS. i

 

Win emerged from the forest and entered the ;_< ‘

fields. All silent. No sign or sound of a sus-
picion. The house still standing and safe.

“ The guerrillero must have been waitigg for
some one whom he expected by the M ellin
road. Ride on, Raoul.” .

“ Captain.” said the man, in a whisper, and
halting at the end of the guardaraya.

“ Well?”

“ Some one passed out at the other end.”

“ Some of the domestics, no doubt. You my
ride on, and—never mind; I will take the -
vance to self.” , ‘

1 brus ed past and kept up the guardaraya.
In a few minutes we had reached the lower end
of the ad, where we halted. Here wadis— ‘\
mountc : and, leaving the men, Clayley and I‘
stole cautiously forward. We could see no one,
though everything about the house looked as
usual. "

“ Are they abed, think you?” asked Clayley. _ .
“ No, it is too early; perhaps below, at sup-‘
1'.”
“ Heaven Send! we shall be most happy to
join them. I am as hungry as a wolf.”

We approached the house. Still all silent.

“ Where are the dogs i”

We entered.

“Strange! no one stirring. Hal the furniture V
gone!” . .
We passed into the porch in the rear, andap-

proached the stairwa . .

“ Let us go below. Can you see an light?” ~

I stooped and looked down. I co d neither
hear nor see any signs of life. I turned, and
was gazmg Up at my friend in wonderment,
when my eye was attracted by a strange move-
ment upon the low branches of the olive trees.
The next moment a dozen forms dropped to the
ground, and, before we could draw sword or
pistol. myself and comrade were bound hand
and foot, and flung upon our backs.

At the same instant we heard a scuffle down
by the

nd. Two or three shots were fired,
and a ew minutes after a crowd of men came

up, bringing with them Chane, Lincoln. and r.

Raoul as prisoners. _ x V

We were all dragged out into the open ground ‘
in front of the rancho, where our horses were
also brought and picke .

Here we lay upon our backs, a dozen guerril-
leros remaining to guard us. The others went
back among the olives, where we could hear
them laughing, talking and yelling. We could,
see nothing of their movements, as we were

1
‘

\ f".
\

tightly bound, and as helpless as if under the . :

influence of nightmare.

 

 

I

,n

3'18

' teeth and foamin

' near the hunter.

’, and, he

  Rangers.

l'r r-ft

 

 

As we lay Lincoln was a little in front of
me. I con (I perceive that they had doubly
bound him, in consequence of the fierce resist-
ance he had made. He had killed one of the
'guerrilleros. He was handed and stra ped all
over, like a mummy, and he la gnas g his
with fur . on] and the
Irishman appear to take t ings more easily,
or, rather, more recklessly.

‘ I wonder if they are going to hang us to-
night or kee us til morning? What do you
think, Chane ” asked the Frenchman, laughing
as he spoke.

“Be the crass! they’ll lose no time, ye may
depind on that same. There’s not an ounce av
tinder mercy in their black hearts; yez may
swear till that from the way this eel—skin cuts.”

“ I wonder, hurt,” said Raoul, speaking from
sheer recklessness, “if Saint Patrick couldn’t
help us a bit. You have him round your neck,
haven’t out”

“Be he powem, Rowll though ye be only
jokin’, I’ve a good mind to thry his holiness
upon thim. I’ve got both him and the Mother
undher me jacket, av I could only rache thim.”

“ Good!” cried the other. “ Do.”

“It’s stay for ye to say ‘Do,’ when I can’t
bud? as much as in little finger. ”

“ ever mind. I’l arrange that,” answered
Raoul. “ Hola, senor !” shouted he to one of the
guerrilleros.

“ ' I” (who?) said the man, a roachin .

“ sted cu mismo” (yourself), rep ed Raou .

“gnu cosa?” (What is it?)

“ his gentleman,” said Raoul—still speaking
inSpanis and nodding toward Chane—“has
a pocketful of money.”

A hint upon that head was sufficient; and the

errilleros, who, strangely enough, seemed to

ve overlooked this rt of their duty, imme-
diately commenced nfling our pockets, ripping
them open with their long knives. They were
not a great deal richer for their pains, our 'oiht

arses ielding about twenty dollars. pon
‘ - ane t ere was no mone found; and the man

whom Raoul had deceiv repaid the latter by
a curse and a couple of kicks.

The saint, however, turned up, attached to
the Irishman’s neck b a leathern string; and
along with him a ma 1 crucifix, and a pewter
image of the Virgin Mary.

I This a peared to please the guerrilleros; and

one of em, bendi over the Irishman, slack~
ened his fastenings a 'ttle—still, however, leav-
' lug him bound.

Thank yer honner,” said Chane; “that’s
«I’dacent of ye. That’s what Misther O’Connell

' ,w’u’d call amaylt'orattoa. I’m a hape aysier

now.”

“Mucho bueno,” said the man, nodding and
laughing.

‘3 Och, be me sow], yes l—mucho bueno. But
I’d havevno objecshun if yer honner w’u’d make
it macho bettero. Couldn’t ye just take a little
turn all me wrist herel—it cuts like a rayzyer.”

I could not restrain myself from laughin , in
which Clayley and Raoul joined me; an we

. formed a chorus that seemed to astonish our

captors. ' Lincoln alone preserved his sullenness.
He had not spoken a word. '
Little Jack had been placed upon the ground
He.was hut oosely tied, Our
captors not thinking it worth while to trouble
themselves about so diminutive asubject. I had
noticed him wriggling about, and using all his
Indian craft to undo his fastenings; but he ap-
not to have succeeded, as he now lay
perfectly still again.

Whlle the guerrilleros were occupied with
Chane and his saints, I observed the boy roll
“himself over and over, mtil he lay close up
against the hunter. One of the guerrilleros,
noticing this, picked Jack up by the waistbelt,

ding him at arm’s length, shouted out:

“Mira, camarados.’ quebriboncito I” (Look,
comrades! what a little rascal l)

Amid the laughing of the guerrilleros, Jack
wasswung out, and fell into a bed of shrubs
and flowers, 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.

Myattention was called away from this inci-
\ dent by an exclamation from Chane.

“Och! blood, turf, and murther! If there
[isn’t that Rrinch scoundrel Dubrosc!”

I looked up. The man was standing over us.

“Ah, Monsieur le Capitaine!” cried he, in a
meeting voice, “ comment nous portez-tom?
You came up dove-hunting—ehl The birds,
you see, are not in the cot.”

Had there been only a thread around my
bod , I could not have moved at that moment.
I fe t cold and rigid as marble. A thousand
agonizing thoughts crowded upon me at once—
mlf doubts, my fears on her account, drowning
a ideas of personal danger.
at that moment, and without a groan, to have

. insured her safety.

There was something so fiendish, so uttegér
hellish in the character of this man—a polis d
brutality, too—that caused me to fear the
worst.

“ in, Heaven!” I muttered, “in the power of
h a man!”
“He!” cried Dubrosc, advancing a pace or

\

' splendid mount

I could have died.

 

two, and seizin my horse by the bridle “a
An Arabgas I live! flock
here, Yanezl” he continued, addressing a guer-
rillero who accom nied him: “ I claim this, if
you have no objec ion.”

“Take him,” said the other, who was evi-
dently the leader of the partyi

“Thank you. And you onsieur le Capi-
taine,” he added ironically, turning to me;
“thank you for this handsome present. He
will f'ust replace my brave mustang, for whose
loss expect I am indebted to you, you great
brute l—sacre !”

The last words were addresssed 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 sprung up as if by gel-
vanic action, the thongs v15mm; from his body in
fifty spiral fra ments. ith a bound he leaped
to his rifle; an , clutching it—he knew it 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, be cleared an
opening, and, dashing past his foes with a wild
yell, bounded oi! through the shrubbery. The
guerrilleros followed, screaming with rage; and
we could hear an occasional shot, as they con-
tinued the pursuit into the distant woods.
Dubrosc was carried back into the rancho, ap-
parently lifeless.

We were still wondering how our comrade
had untied himself, when one of the guerrilleros,
liftin a iece of the thong, exclaimed: ‘

“ s itth rascal has cut it!” and the man
darted into the shrubbery, in search of little
Jack. It was with us a moment of fearful sus-
pense. 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 ges-
ture of surprise, callin out at the same time:

“ all the saints! e’s gone!”

“ urrah!” cried Chane; “holies—such a
gossoon as that boy!”

Several of the guerrilleros dived into the
thicket; 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. Strag-
gling parties at intervals came back from the
pursuit; and we could gather from what we
overheard, that neither Lincoln nor Jack had
yet been retaken.

We could hear talking in the rear of the
rancho, and we felt that our fate was determ-
ined upon. 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. '

At length a movement was visible that be-
tokened departure. Our horses were taken
awa , and saddled mules were led out in front
of t e rancho, Upon these We were set and
strapped tight] to the saddles. A serape was
passed ever see of us and we were blinded b
ta jos. A bugle then sounded the “ forward. ’

e could hear a confusion of noises, the pranc-
inf of many- hoofs, and the next moment we
is t ourseIVes moving along at a hurried pace
through the woods.

CHAPTER XXXI.
A BLIND RIDE.

WE rode all ni ht. The mule-blinds, although
preventing us from seeing a single object.
proved to be an advanta 9. They saved our
eyes and faces from the t omy claws of the
acacia and memuite. 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
through thick woods. This we could perceive
from the constant rustle of the leaves and the
crackling of branches, as the cavalcade passed
on.

Toward morning our route led over hills,
steep and difllcult, we could tell from the atti-
tudes of our animals. lVe had passed the level

lains and were entering among the “foot—

ills" of the Mexican mountains. There was
no passing or repassing of one another. From
this I concluded that we were ljourneying along
a narrow road, and in single fl e.

Raoul was directly in front of me, and we
could conver at times.

“Where (0 you think they are taking us,
Raoul,” I inquired, Speaking in French.

“ To Cenobio’s hacienda. I hope so, at
least.”

“Why do you ho s so?”

“Because we shal stand some chance for‘ our
lives. Cenobio is a noble fellow.”

“ You know him, then?”

“ Yes, captain; I have helped him a little in
the contraband trade.” '

“ A smuggler, is be!”

“Why, n this country, it is hardly fair to
call it by so harsh a name, as the government

\

' 'cketed

 

itself dips out of the same dish. Smu ling
here, as in most other countries, should be
looked 3011 rather as the offspring of necessit
and m administration than as vice in itself.
Cenobio is a contrabandisto, and upon a large
scale.” '

“ And you are a political hilosopher, Raoul?”

“ Bah! captain, it would be bad If I could not
defend my own calling,” replied my comrade,
with a lau h.

“ You t ink, then, that we are in the hands I

of Cenobio’s men i”

“I am sure of it, captain. Sucre! had it
been Jarauta’s band, We should have been in
heaven—that is, our souls—and our bodies
would now be embellishing some of the trees
upon Don Cosme’s plantation. Heaven protect
us from Jarautal The robber-priest gives but
short shrift to any of his enemies; but if he could
lay his hands on your humble servant, you
would see ban ing done in double-quick time.”

“ Why thin you we are with Cenobio’s
guerrilla?”

“ I know Yanez, whom we saw at the rancho.
He is one of Cenobio’s oflicers, 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 be some influence in our favor which I
cannot understand.”

I was struck by the remark, and began to
reflect upon it in silence. The voice of the
Frenchman again fell upon my ear. .

“I cannot be mistaken. No—this hill—it
runs down to the San Juan river.”

Again, after a short interval, as we felt our—
selves fording a stream, Raoul said:

“ Yes, the San Juan—I know the stony
bottom—just the de th, 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 in 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. “I know this
$nkm well. The mule slides. Look out, cap-

n.

“ 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 {on to look out, as if you had the
power to elp yourself in case the accident
should occur.’ ‘

“ What accident?” I in uired, with a nervous
sen of some impending anger.

“ alling over: we are on a reci ice that is
reckoned dangerous on accoun of t e cla ' if
your mule should stumble here, the first t mg
you would strikewould be the branches of some
trees five hundred feet below, or thereabout.”

“ Good Heavsn!” I ejaculated; “is it sol”.

“Never fear, ca tain: there is not much
danger. These mu es appear to be sure-footed;
and certainly,” be added, with a laugh, “their
loads are well packed and tied.” '

I was in no condition just then to relish a
joke, and my companions ‘humor was com-
pletely thrown away u n me. The thought of
my mule missin his 001: and tumbling overa
precipice, while was stuck to him like a cen-
taur, was an thing else than pleasant. I had
heard of suc accidents, and the knowled e did
not make the reflection any easier. I 00 d not
help muttering to myself—

“ Why, in t e name of mischief, did _the fel-
low tell me this till we had passed it?”

I crouched closer to the saddle, allowing my
limbsto follow every motion of the anima , lest
some counteracting shock ight disturb our
joint e uilibrium. I could hear the torrent, as
it more and hissed far below, appearing di-
rectl under us; and the “ sough ” grew fainter
and ainter as we ascended.

On we went, climbing up—up—up; our strong
mules strainingi agTainst the precipitous path.
It was daybrea .
of light under our tapojos. At len th we could
perceivea brighter beam. We fet a sudden
glow of heat over our bodies; the air seemrd
lighter; our mules walked on a horizontal path.

e were on the ridge, and warmed by the
beams of the rising sun.

“ Thank Heaven we have passed it i”

I could not help feeling thus; and yet per-
haps we were riding to an ignominious death!

CHAPTER XXXII.
A DRINK A LA CHEVAL.

THE guerrilleros now halted and dismounted.
We were left in our saddles. Our mules were
u )on long lazoes, and commenced

rowsing. hey carried us under the thorn
branches of the wild locust. The ma uey, wit
its bill-shaped claws, had torn our uni orm over-
ails to shreds. Our limbs were lacerated, and
the cactus had lodged its poisoned prickles in
our knees. But these were nothin to the pain
of being compelled to keep our sa'l 10s, or rather
saddle-trees—for we were upon the naked wood.
Our hips ached intensely, and our limbs smarted
under the chafing thong.

There was a cx‘acklin of fires around us.

Our ca tors were coo ing their breakfasts,
and chatting gayly over their chocolate. Neither

here was a faint glimmer v

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Rifle Ranger’s.

‘A

 ,’ ,'i‘i'

 ‘19

 

 

food nor drink was offered to us, although we
were both thirsty and him ry. We were kept
in this place for about an our. .

“ They have joined another party here,” said
Raoul, “ with pack-mules.”

“ How know ou!” I inquired.

“ I can tell y the shouts of the arrieros.
Listen !—they are making ready to start.”

There was a mingling of voices—exclama-
tions addressed to their animals by the arrieros.

A bugle at length sounded, and we felt our-
selves again moving onward.

Our road appeared to run along the naked
ridge. There were no trees, and the heat be—
came intense.

We began to sufler from thirst, and Raoul
asked one of the guerrilleros for water.

“ Carajo!” answered the man; “it’s no use;
you’ll be choked by-and-by with something
else than thirst.”

The brutal jest called forth a pea] of laughter
from his comrades. '

About noon we commenced descending a long
hill. I could hear the sound of water ahead.

“ Where are we, Raoul?” I inquired, faintly.

“Going down to a stream—a branch of the

ntigun." _ _

“ e are coming to another precipice?” I
asked, with some uneasiness, as the roar of the
torrent begun 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 as-
tonishment.

“Yes, captain; there'sa convent in the val-
ley, near the crossing; that is, there was one.
It is now a ruin.”

We crept slowly down, our mules at times
seeming to walk on their heads. The hissing of
the torrent gradually grew louder, until our
ears were filled with its hoarse rushing.

I heard Raoul below.me shoutin some words
in a warning voice when sudden y he seemed
borne away, as if he had been tumbled over
the precipice.

I expected to feel myself next moment
launched after him into empty space, when my
mule, uttering a loud whinny, sprung forWard
and downward.

Down—down! the next leap into eternity!
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 my limbs: and with aheavy plunge
I felt myself carried thigh-deep into water.

Here the animal suddenly halted.

As soon asl could gain breath I shouted at
the top of my voice for the Frenchman.

“Here, ca itain!” he answered, close by my
side; but, as fancied, with a strange, gurgling
vmce.

“ 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 known that they would
stampede as the poor brutes have been no better
treats? than ourselves. Hear how they draw
it u

“good God! I am choking!” I exclaimed,
listening to the water as it 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 voice sounding so
strangely. \ _

“ They ma not give usa drop,” continued he.
“ It is our on y chance.” i

“ I have not even that,” I replied, after hav-
ing vain! endeavored to reach the surface
w th my ace,

“ Why?” asked my comrade.

“ I cannot reach it.”

“ How deep are on?"

“ To the saddle- tips,”

“Ride this Way. captain. It’s deeper here.”

“ How can My mule is her own master, as
m, as 1 am concerned.”

“ Parbleu I” said the Frenchman. “ I did not
think of that. ’ ,

But, whether to Obhge me. or moved by a de-
sire to cool her flanks, the animal plunged for-
ward into a deeper Part Of the stream.

I After straining myself to the utmost I was
enabled to “ duck ” my head- In this painful

Sltion I contrived to R8}? 3 09111110 0f swallows;

lit 1 should think I took I" (11119” as 13001! at my
nose and ears. '

Clayley and Chane followed our example, the
Irishman swearin loudly that It .was a “bur-
Bin, ” Shame to ma 9 a daccnt Christym dhrink
like a horse in 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 V0109 Wblspemd
in my 9““ “Courage, captain !”

I Smted'q” was the voice of B “may” I was

abollt *0 “NY. When a soft, small hand was

 

thrust under the taggjo, and pushed something
between my lips. be hand was immediately
withdrawn, and I heard the voice urging a
horse onward.

I pressed the. paper against the tapojo, cov-
ering it with m lips, so as to conceal it in case
the blind shoul be removed.

“ Halted again ?" .

“it is the ruin, captain—the old convent of
Santa Bernardina.”

“ But why do they halt here?”

“Likely to noon and breakfastF-that on the
ridge was only their desayuna. The Mexicans
of the “tierra caliente” never travel during
mid-da . They will doubtless rest here until
the coo of the evening.”

“ I trust they will extend the same favor to
us,” said Ciayley: “God knows we stand in

need of rest. I’d give them three months’ pay
for an hour upon t e tread-mill, only to stretc
my limbs ”

" They will take us down, I think—not on our
account, but to ease the mules. Poor brntes!
they are no parties to this transaction.”

Raoul’s conjecture roved correct. We were
taken out of our so. dies, and, being carefully
bound as before, we were hauled into a damp
room, and flung down upon the floor. Our cap-
tors went out. A heav door closed after
them, and we could hear t e 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 to
see if any one was present with us. It was but
a scant addition to our liberty; but we could
converse freely, and that was something.

 

CHAPTER XXXIII.
AN onn WAY, or OPENING A LETTER.

“Has any of you heard of Dubrosc on the
route?” I inquired of my comrades.

No: nothing had been heard of him since the
esca of Lincoln.

“ aix, captain,” said the Irishman, “ it’s
meself that thinks Mister Dubrosc won’t throu-
ble any ov us any more. It was a urty lick
that same, ayquil to ould DonnybroO itself.” ‘

“It is not easy to kill a man with asingle
blow of a clubbed rifle,” observed Clayley,
“ unless, indeed, the lock ma haVe St-l‘lll‘k into
his skull. But we are still living. and I think
that is some evidence that the deser ter is dead.
By the way, how has the fellow obtained such
influence as he appeared to have among them,
and so soon, tool’

“I think, lieutenant,” replied Raoul, “Mon-
sieur Dubrosc has been here before.”

“Ha! say you so?” I inquired, with a feeling
of anxiety.

“I remember, captain, some story current at
Vera. Cruz, about a reole havi married or
runaway with a girl of good family there. I
am almost certain Dubrosc was the name; but
it was before my time, and I am unacquainted
with the circumstances. I remember, liOWever.
that the fellow was a gambler, or something of
the sort; and the occurrence made much noise
in the country.”

I listened with a sickening anxiety to every
word of these details. There was a painful
correspondence between them and what I a!-
ready knew. The thought that this monster
cou! be in any way connected with hrr was a
disagreeable one. I questioned Raoul no fur-
ther. Even could he have detailed every cir-
cumstance, I should have dreaded the relation.

Our conversation was interrupted by the
creaking of a rusty hinge. The door opened
and several men entered. Our blinds were
taken off, and, oh! how pleasant to look upon
the light! The door had been closed again, and
there was only one small grating, yet the slen-
der beam through this was like the bri ht noon-
day sun. Two of the men carried cart en plat-
ters filled with frijoles, a single tortilla in each
platter. They were placed near our heads, one
for each of us.

“It’s blissid kind of yes, gentlemen," said
Chane; “ but how are we goin‘ to ate it, if ye
plane!”

“The plague!” exclaimed Clayley: “ do they
expect us to lick this up without either hands,
spoons or knives?”

“ Won't you allow us the use of our fingers?”
inked Raoul, speaking to one of the guerril—
cros

“ No," replied the man, gruflly.

“How do you expect us to eat, then?”

I“ With your mouths, as brutes should. What
e .6‘ ‘

“ Thank you, sir: you are very polite.” _

“ If you don’t choose that, you can leave it
alone,” added the Mexican, going out with his
companions and closing the door ehind them.

Now was my time to read the note. I rolled
myself under the grating, and, after several
efforts, succeeded in gaining my feet. The
window, which was not much larger than a.
Pigeon-hole, widened inward like an embrasure
Of '3 Emu-battery. The lower slab was just the
1light of my chin: and upon this, after a good
deal 0f_do’dging and lip juggler . I succeeded in
8Presiding out the per to its all extent. r

what on earth€l are you at, captain!” in-

'appea rance upon the lliana.

 

quired Clayley, who had watched my maneu-
vers with some astonishment.

Raoul and the Irishman stopped their plate-
licking and looked up.“

“Bush! go on with your dinners—not a
I read as follows:

“ To-night your cords shall be cut, and you must
escape as you best can afte-ward. Do not take the
road back, as you will be certain to be ursued in ‘
that direction; moreover, you run the ' of meet-
ing other parties of the guerrilla. Make for the
National Road at San Juan or Manga de Clavo.
Your posts are already advanced beyond these
points. The Frenchman can easily guide you.

(our e, captain! Adieu!
“ P. .‘.—They waited for you. 1 had sent one to
warn you: but he has either proved traitor ormissed
the road. Adieu! adieu!”
“Good heavens!” I involuntarily exclaimed,
“ the man that Lincoln—” ‘
I caught the paper into my lips a in, and. I v
chewed it into a plulp, to avoid the angerof '
its falling into the ands of the guerrilla.
I remained turning over its contents in my
mind. I was struck with the masterly style—
the worldly cunning exhibited by the writer. \‘ .
There was something almost unfe‘mim’ne about ,
it. I could not help being surprised that one so
young, and hitherto so secluded from the world
should possess such a knowledge of men and
things. I was already aware of the presence of
a powerful intellect, but one, as I thought, al-
together unacquainted with practical life and
action. Then there was the peculiarit of her
situation. Is she a prisoner like myse fl oris
she disguised, and periling be“ life tosave mine!
or can she be— Patience! To-night may un-
rave! the mystery.

 

CHAPTER XXXIV.
rim COBRA-DI-CAPELDO.

UP to this moment my attention had been
engrossed with the contents of the note, and! ‘ ,, i'
ha no thought of looking outward. Iraised.  "
myself on ti toe, stretching my neck as far as I
could into t e embrasure.

A golden sunlight was uring down u n v 
broad green leaves, where t e palms grew w - \ ‘ I
ly. Red vines hung in festoons, like curtains of . i

scarlet satin. There were bands of purple and » ' . ~ -‘
violet—the maroon-colored moms, and the '
snowy flowers of the magnolia—a littering .
opal. Orange—trees, with white, wax- ike flow- ’
ers, were bending under their golden globes. ' ,-
The broad plumes of the cause mcurved ' ,,.
gracefully over, their points trailing down- - ' ‘ .
ward, and without motion. l -

A clump of these grew near, their naked ’ ‘
stems laced b a parasite of the lliana species,
which rose mm the earth and, traversing
diagonal] , was lost in the feathery frondage ’ .’
above. hese formed a cane y, underneath , 
which, from tree to tree, three anmocks were ‘
extended. One was cmpt ': the other two were “
occupied. The elliptica outlines, traceable "
through tlze gauzy network of Indian grass,
proved that the occupants were females. . ,,

Their faces were turned from me. They lay - i
motionless; they were aslee . a ’

As I stood gazing upon this picture, the 0cm-
pant of the nearest hammock awoke, and turn-
ing, with a low murmur upon her lips, ain
fell asleep. Her face was now toward mefgly
heart leaped, and my whole frame quivemd
with emotion. I recognized the features "of r,
Guadalupe Rosales. 7*,

My heait was full of mixed emotions—sur-
prise, pleasure, love, pain. Yrs, pain; for she .
could thus sleep—sleep sweetly, tranquilly— 7,5
while 1, within a few paces of her couch, was 
bound and bi utally treated!

“Yes, she can sleep!” I muttered to myself
as my chagrin predominated in the tumult of .
emotions. “Ha! Heavens!" 

My attention was attracted from the else 1' ‘ . ’i
to a fearful object. I had noticed a spiral-fire _ '3

. . It had caught my .
eye once or twice while looking at the sleeper;
but I had not dwelt upon it, taking it for one
vine twined around another—a peculiarity often
met with in the forests of Mexico.

A bright sparkle now attracted my eye- and,
on looking at the object attentively, I dis- “ -
covered. to my horror, that the spiral protuber- . ‘ 
once upon the vine was nothing else than the
folds of a snake! Squeezing himself silently
down the parasite—for be had come from above
-the reptile slowly uncoiled two or three of the
lowermost rings and stretched his listening
neck horizontally over the hammoo . Now,_,
for the first time, I perceived the horned protuq
berance on his head, and recognized the dreaded (3..
re tile—the macaurcl (the cobra of America). 1' ' 

n this position he remained for some mo~ ‘ 
merits, perfectly motionless, his neck proudly . '
curved like that of a swan, While his head was .» 
not twelve inches from the face of the sleeper. , ~ 9 4‘
I fancied that I ,could see the soft down upon ‘  4
her lip playing under his breath! .- "m;

“Oh. Heavenlj’lgasilt‘d out, in theintensityof . ~ 
my fears: “is this the fiend himself? ‘She movest I
—now he will strike! Not yet-who ,is still, ‘~- ‘
again. NOW—nowl-mercy! she trembled-r ' y,
the hammock shakes—she is quivering under " y
the fascin— Ha I” x I r ., ,

A shot rung from the walls; the snake sud; “ 

 

 
 

 

' 1-20

denl jerked back his head—his rings flew out,

I scription? And are the

vi 1/ “ ,«" I‘
z W‘

A

 

 Rifle Rangersl ‘

‘ \

 

and e fell to the earth, writhing as if in pain.

The girls started with a scream and sprung
simultaneously from their hamnioc s.

Grasping each other b the hand, with terri-
fled looks, they rushed mm the spot and dis—
appeared.

Several men ran up, ending the snake with
their sabers. One of them stooped, and, exam-
ining the carcass of the dead re tile, exclaimed:

“ Carat .’ There is a hole in his head—he has
been shot!”

,A moment after, half a dozen of the guerril;
leros burst open the door and rushed in, crying
out as they entered:

“ ten tira?” (Who fired?)

“ hat do you mean?” angrily asked Raoul,
who had been in ill-humor ever since the guer-
rillero had refused him a draught of water.

“ I ask you who fired the shot I” repeated the

man.

“Fired the shot!” echoed Raoul, knowing
nothing of what had occurred outside. “We
look like firing a shot, don’t we? If I possessed
that ower, my gay friend, the first use I
shoul make of it would be to send a bullet
through that clumsy skull of yours.”

“Santissima I” ejaculated the Mexican, with
a look of astonishment. “ It could not be these
—they are all tied I”

And the Mexicans passed out again, leaving
us to our reflections.

_____

CHAPTER XXXV.
rm: HEAD-QUARTERS or THE GUERRILLA.

MINE were anythin but agreeable. I was
pained and puzzled. was pained to think that
she—dearer to me than life—was thus exposed
to the den ers that surrounded us. It was her
sister that ad occupied the other hammock.

“ Are they alone. Are they prisoners in the
hands of these half-robbers? Mayvnot their
hospitality to us have brought them under pro—
not being carried—
father, mother, and all-— fore some tribunal?
,Or, are they traveling for protection with this
band—protection against the less scrupulous
robbers that infest the country?”

It was not ncommon upon the Rio Grande,
when rich amilies journeyed, from point to

, point, to pay for an escort of this sort. This

elucuiate—
‘ But I tell yez I did hear a crack' and be
. me sowll it was the sargint’s rifle, or ’ve lost

.. intirely from a

me sinses intirely.”

“What is it?” I asked, attracted to the con-
versation of my comrades.

“Chane says he heard a shot, and thinks it

‘ was Lincoln’s,” answered Claylcy.

“His gun has a uare sound, captain,” said
the Irishman, a ea ing to me. “It‘s difl‘irint
exican piece, and not like our
own nayther. It’s a way he has in loadin’ it.”

“ Well—what of thati’tl

“Why, Raowl says one of thim hired him

’ who fired. Now, I heerd a shot, for my ear

was close till the door here. It was beyant like;
but I c’u’d swear upon the blissed crass it was
ayther the sargint’s rifle or another as like it as

 two

y8_”

‘“ {tan very strange!” I muttered, half in so-

liloquly, for the same thought had occurred to
as

m .
I ,Y‘I saw the boy captain,” said Raoul—“I

‘ saw him crossing when they opened the door.”

“The boyl—what boy i” I asked.

“ The same we brought out of the town.”
“Hal Narcissoi—you saw him?”

“Yes; and, if I’m not mistaken, the white

. ’mule that the old gentleman rode to camp.

think that the family is with the guerrilla, and
that accounts for our still being alive.”

A new light flashed upon me. In the incidents
of the last twenty hours I had never once
thought of Narcisso. N ow all was clear—clear
as daylight. The zamho whom Lincoln had

' ‘killed—poor victim!—-was our friend, sent to

warn us of danger; the dalgger, Narcisso’s—a
token for us to trust him. 1e soft voice—the
small hand thrust under the tapojo.-yes, all
were Narcisso’sl

Aweb of mystery was torn to shreds in a
single moment. The truth did not yield grati-

fleation. No—but the contrary. I was
chagrined at the indifference exhi ited in an-
other quarter.

“She must know that I am here, since her

,‘brother is master of the fact—here, bleeding

and bound. Yet, where is her sympathy? She
sleeps! She journeys within a few paces of me,
where Iam tied painfully; yet not a word of
consolation. No! She is I‘l( ing upon her soft
cushion, or carried upon a litcra, escorted, per—
hAps, by this acmmplished villain, who ays

the gallant cavalier upon my own barb! hey

converse together, perhaps of the poor captives ,

in their train, and with jest and ridicule—he at
least; and she can hear it, and then fling her-

. self into her soft hammock’ and sleep—sleep

sweetly—calmly 2”

These bitterreflections Were interrupted. The
door creaked once more upon its hinges. Half-
a-doaen of our captors entered. ur blinds
were put on, and we were carried out and

A mounted as before.

 

In a few minutes a bugle rung out, and the
route was resumed.

We were carried u the stream bottom-a
kind of glen, or cana a. We could feel by the
cool shade and the echoes that we were travel-
ing under heavy timber. The torrent roared in

, our ears, and the sound was not unpleasant.

Twice or thrice We forded the stream, and
sometimes left it, returning after having trav-
eled a mile or so. This was to avoid the can-
yons, where there is no path by the water. We
then ascended a long hill, and after reaching its
summit commenced oin downward.

“I know this row we i,” said Raoul. “We
are goin down to the hacienda of Cenobio.

“Par ieu!” he continued. “ I ought to know
this hill.”

“ For what reason?”

“ First, captain, because I have carried many
a bulto of cochineal and many a bale of smug-
gled tobacco over it; 11y, and upon nights when
my eyes were of as litt e service to me as they
are at present.”

My carat this moment caught the sound of
dogs barking hoarser below. Horses of the
cavalcade co.nmencod neighing, answered by
others from the adjacent fields, who recognized
their old com nions.

“It must near night,” I remarked to
Raoul. '

“ I think about sunset, captain,” rejoined be.
“It feels about that time.”

Icould not help smiling. There was some-
thing ludicrous in my comrade’s remark about
“ feeling” the sunset. 1

The barkin of the dogs now ceased, and We
lcould hear vmces ahead welcoming the guerril-
eros.

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 rudely down upon
gough stones, like so many bundles of merchan-

me.

We lay for some minutes listening to the
strange voices around. The neighing of horses,
the barking and growling of dogs, the lowing
of cattle, the shouts of the arrieros unpacking
their mules, the clanking of sabers along the
stone pavement, the tinkling of spurs, the
laughter of men, and the voices of women—all
were in our cars at once.

Two men approached us, conversing.

“They are of the party that escaped us at La
Virgen. Two of them are oflicers.’

“Chingaro! I got this at La Virgen, and a
full half—mile off. ’Twas some black jug lery
in their bullets. I hope the patrons will ang
the Yankee sava es.” '

“ Quien sabe?’ (who knows?) replied the first
speaker.

“ By the Virgin! Jose, I’ve half a mind to slip
oil? and join the Padre.”

“ J arauta i” "

“ Yes; he’s by the Brid e, with a brave set of
Jarochos—some of our 0 d comrades upon the
Rio Grande among them. They are living at
free quarters along the road, and having gay
times of it, I hear. If Jarauta had taken these
Yankees esterday, the zopilote would have
made his inner upon them to-day.”

“ That’s true,” rejoined the other; “ but come,
let us unblind the devils and ive them their
beans. It may be the last they” 1 NH eat.”

With this consoling remark, Jose commenced
unbuckling our tapojos, and we once more
looked upon the light. The brilliance at first
dazzled us painfully, and it was some minutes
before we could look steadily at the objects
around us. _

We had been thrown upon the pavement in
the corner of the patio—a large court, sur-
rounded by massive walls and flat-roofed houses.

Near the center of the patio was a Iar e foun-
tain, boiling up into a reservoir 0 hewn
mason-work; and around this fountain were
clumps of orange-trees, their leaves in some
places dropping down into the water. Various
arms hung or leaned against the walls—guns,
pistols, and sabers—and two small pieces of
cannon, with their caissons and carriages, stood
in a prominent position. In these we recog-
nizcd our old acquaintances of La Virgen.

A long trough stretched across the patio,
and out of this a double row of mules and mus-
tangs Were greedin eating maize. .

The guerrilleros ware seated or standing in
groups around the fires, broiling jerked beef
upon the ints of their sabers. Women in re-
bozos an colored skirts walked to and fro
among the men.’

The women carried jars filled with water.
They knelt before smooth stones, and kneaded
tortillas. They stirred chile and chocolate in
earthen ollas. The cooked frijoles in flat

ans; and amidst l these occupations, they
Joked and laughed and chatted with the men.

Packages of What appeared to be merchandise
lay in one corner of the court. Around this
were groups of arrieros, in their red leathern
garments, securing their charge fpr the night,
arid la ling out their alparejas in ong rows by

e w . ‘

Over the appetite roofs—for our position was
elevated—we could see the bright fields and

 

forest, and far beyond, the Cofre de Perote and
the undulating outlines of the Andes. Above
all the white-roled peak of Orizava rose up
against the heavens like a pyramid of spotless
sn0w.

The sun had gone downbehind 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, and
purple, hung like a glory upon his track, and,
descendln .rested upon the lower summits of
the Cordi lera. The peak of the “ Burning
Star ” alone appeared above the clouds, tower-
ing‘in sublime and solitary grandeur.

here was a picturesque loveliness about the
scene—an idea of sublimity—that caused me
for the moment to forget where l was, or that I
was a captive. My dream was dispelled by the
harsh v01ce of Jose who at that moment came
up with a couple of peons, carrying a large
earthern dish that contained our supper.

This Consisted of black beans with half-a-
dozen tortillas; but as We were 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 kniws, forks,
nor spoons; but Raoul showed us the Mexican
fashion of “ eating our spoons,” and twistin up
1511118 :gntfllas, we scooped and swallowed “ right
a e .

 

CHAPTER XXXVI.
cnann’s COURTSHIP.

Tm: dish was emptied, as Clayley observed,
in a “ squirrel’s jump.”

“Be my sowl! it ates purt well, black as it
is,” said Chane, looking ruefu 1y into the em ty
vessel. “ It’s got a worse complaint than co or.
C‘u’dn’t yez fetch us a thriflLe more of it, my
darlint boy?” he added, squintlng up-at Jose.

h “éVo entiende,” said the Mexican, shaking his
ea .

“ No in tin days!” cried Chane, mistaking the
“ no entiende ” for a phrase of broken English,
to which, indeed, its pronunciation somewhat
assimilates it. “ Och! git out wid you! Bad
luck to yer itcberl In tin days it’s Murtagh
Chane that’l a ther be takin’ his ray in purga-
thory, or ’aiin’ tther than black banes in some
other part of the world.”

“ No enta’ende,” repeated the Mexican, as

before.

“Tin da 3, indade! Sure we’d be did wid
hunger in alf that time. We want the banes
now." ‘

“ No entiende, senor,” again re lied the man.

“Go to owld Nick i” cried hane, whose
patience was now exhausted.

“Que qm‘ere ?” asked the Mexican, speakin
to Raoul, who was by this time convulsed wit ‘
laughter. .

“ hwhat‘s that he sez, Raowl?” inquired
Chane, shar ly.

“ He says e don’t understand you.”

“Thin spake to him yerself, Raowl. Till him
we want more bunes, and a few more ov thim
pancakes, if he plazes.”

Raoul translated the Irishman’s request.

“No hay,” answered the Mexican, shaking
his forefinger in front of his nose.

“NO‘I—is that phwhat ye Say, my darlint!
Well, iv yez won‘t go yerself, sind somebody
else; it‘s all the same thing, so yez bring us the
ateables.”

“ No mh‘mde,” said the man, with the same
shake of the head.

“ Oh! there ag’in with your tin days-but it’s
no use; yez understand me well enough, but yez
don’t want to bring the bancs.” ,

“He tells you there is no more,” said ‘Raoul.

“Oh! the desavin’ Judas! and five hundred
0v thim graZers ’atin’ over beyant there. No
more banes! oh, the lie!”

“ Friiolcs—no hay,” said the Mexican, guess-
ing at the purport of Chane’s remarks.

‘Fray ioleys!” repeated Chane, imitating
the Mexicnn’s pronunciation of the word “ fri-
’0les.” “Och! git out wid your fray holeys!

here isn’t the size of a flay of holiness about
the place. Git out!"

Raoul, and indeed all of us except the Irish-
man himself, were bursting with laughter.

“I’m chokin’ ” said the atter, after a pause;
“ ask him for wather, Raoul—sure he can’t deny
that, with that purty little sthrame boilin’ up
nndher our noses, as clear as the potteen of
Ennishowen.” 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 came up with an
earthen jar filled with water.

“ Give it first to the captain, misthress,” said
Chane, pointing to me; “sarve all ayqually,
but respict rank."

The woman understood the sign, and handed
me the jar. I drank copiously, ssing it to
my comrades Clayley and Raou. 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 winkin ,
and touchingl her lightly under the.rihs wit
his outstretc ed palm, “ my little moochacha—
that’s what they call thim—isn’t it, Raoul?”

 

’

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

.1 r?"

ti

y .

 

es.”

“ Well thin, my party little moochacha,
c’u’dn’t yea—ye know what I mane. C’u’dn’t

ez—? Och! ‘ ye know well enough—only a
Iittle—jist a mouthful to take the cowld taste
at! the wather.” _

“ No entiende,” said the woman, smiling
good-natured! at Chane’s comical gestures.

“ Och, the aguel there’s that tin days ag’in.
Talk to her, aowl. Tell her what I mane. ’

Raoul translated his comrade's wishes.

“ Tell her, Raowl, I’ve got no money, because
I have been robbed, do ye see; but I’ll give her
ayther of these saints for the smallest thrifle of
a wardent,” and he pulled the images out of
his 'acket as he spoke.

The woman, seeing these, bent forward with
an exclamation; and, recognizing the crucifix,
with the ima es of the saint and Virgin, drop-
ped upon her aces and kissed them devoutly,
uttering some words in a language half Spanish,
half Aztec.

Rising up. she looked kindly at Chane, ex-
claiming. “ Bueno Catolico 1” She then tossed
the rebozo over her left shoulder, and burned
off across the yard.

“De. yez think, Raowl, she’s gone after the
licker?” ,

“ I am sure of it,” answered the Frenchman.

In a few minutes the woman returned, and,
drawin asmall flask out of the folds of her
rebozo anded it to Chane.

The Irishman commenced undoing the string
that carried his ” relics.”

“Which 0v them de yez want, misthress?—
the saint, or the Howly Mother, or both?—it’s
all the same to Murtagh.”

The woman, observing what he was after,
rushed forward, and, placing her hands upon
his, said in a kind tone:—

‘ No, senor. Su proteccion necesita V.”

“Phwhat diz she say, Raowli” _

“She says kee them; you will need their
protection yourse f.” ' '

“ Och me sow]! she's not - far asthray
there. I need it bad enough now, an’ a ha e ov

cod they’re likely to do me. The ’ve ung

here for tin ears—both of thim; an this nate
little flask’s t e first raal binifit I iver resaved
from ayther of them. Thry it, capt‘in. It’ll do
yez good.”

I took the bottle and drank. It was the chin-
garito—a bad 5 cies of aguardicnta from the
wild aloe—and 0t as fire. A mouthful sufficed.
I handed the flask to Cla ley, who drank more
freely. Raoul followe suit, and the bottle
came back to the Irishman. .

“ Your hilth, darlint!” said he, nodding to the
Mexican woman. “ May yez live till I wish ye
dead!”

“Th3 woman smiled, and repeated, “No en-
tiende.”

“Och! nivir mind the tin days—we won’t
quarrel about that. Ye’re a swate crayteur,”
continued he, winking at the woman; “ but sure
yer petticoats is mighty short, an’.yez. want a
pair of stockin’s ba , too; but niVir mind—yez
stand well upon thim illegant ankles—’dade e
do; and yez have a purty little futt into t e
bargain.’

“Que dice?”.(what does he say?) asked the
Mexican, speaking to Raoul. , a

“He is complimenting on on the smallness
of your feet,” answered t a Frenchman.

The woman was evidently pleased, and com-
menced cramping up what was in fact a very
small foot into its faded satin sligper.

“Tell me, my dear,” continue Chane, “ are
yez married l”

“ dice?” again asked the woman.

“ e 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 question. ‘

“ 5' my sowl, thin,” said Chane, “I w’u dn’t
mi d mar in’ ye meself, an’ joxnin’ the thribe
—that i the ’11 let me oi! from the hangin‘.
Tell her hat, W1."

As desired Raoul explained his comrade’s last
speed), at which the woman laughed, but said
nothing.

“Silence ves consint. But tell her, Raowl,
that I won’t .Y 5 “gm a ke; they must first

’, do‘ye heart—tell

let me off from the him
her that.”

“ El senor esta muy alarm” (the entleman is
very merry). said, the woman; a , picking up
her hr with a smile, she lettus.

u i say, Ruowl, dOes she consinti"

“She hasn’t made up he? m1“d_ et.”

“By the holy vistmeiitl thin i": all u wid
Murt! The saints v on t save him. e an-
other dhrap, RaoWH

CHAPTER XXXVII.
THE DAN E or rm: TAGAROTA.

NIGHT fell, an the blazing fagots threw their
glare over the atio,.strikin upon ObJeC“ Pic-
tur he at al times, but oubly so under the
red light of the pine tires. The grouping 0:

errilleros—their broad heav hats, maPYtgd

em plumed—their loni’black ir and pom fl]
beards—their dark flas ing. eyes—their  ,
fierce and white—the half-savage expression 0
their features—their costumes, high-colored and

“ Muchacha! oh, y

 

wild-like—all combined in impresing us with
strange feeling. :

The mules. t e mustangs, the dogs, the peons,
the slippered wenches, with their coarse trail-
ing tresses, the low roofs, the iron-barred win-
d0ws, the orange-trees by the fountain, the
palms hanging over the wall, the glistening
cocuyos, were all stran e sights to us.

By a blazing ile, cose to where we sat, a
party of guerril eros, with their women, were
dancing the tagarota, a species of fandango.

Two men, seated upon raw-hide stools,
strummed awa upon a pair of bandolons, while
a third pinche and pulled at the strings of an
old uitar—all three aiding the music with their
shri l, disa reeable Voices.

During t e dance every species of deformity
was imitated and caricatured, for this is the
ta arota. It was a series of grotesque and re-
pu sive pictures.

I was sick of the scene, and watched it no
lon er. My eyes turned to the rtale, and I
loo ed anxiously through the ha -drawn cur-
tains.

“It is strange I have seen nothing of them .'
Could they have turned off on some other route!
No: they must be here. Narcisso’s romise for
to-night! He at least is here. An she? Per-
 occupied within—gay, happy, indiflerent-—
o i

The (pain shot afresh throu h my heart.

Sud enly the curtain was rawn aside, and a
brilliant picture appeared within —brilliant, but
to me like the glimpse which some condemned
spirit might catch over the walls of Paradise.

omcers in bright uniforms, and amon these I
reco nized the elegant person of ubrosc.
Ladies in rich dresses, and amon these—. Her

sister, too, was there, and the ona Joaquina,
and half a dozen other. ladies, rustling in silks
and blazing with jewels.

Several of the gentlemen—young officers of
the band—wore the picturesque costume of the
guerrilleros.

They were forming for the dance.

“ Look, ca tain!” cried Clayley; “ Don Cosme
and his Bee‘s) e, by the living earthquake 1”

“Sins ! 0 not touch me—do not speak to

l
I felt as though mivnlsieart would stop respira-
tion. It rose in my cm, and seemed to hang
for minutes without beating. My throat felt
dry and husky, and a cold perspiration broke
out upon my skin. \

He approaches her—he asks her to dapce—
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
fiomss again. She is smiling! he touches her

an i ,

“ Fiend! false woman!” I shouted at the top
of my voice as sprung up, impelled by pas-
sion. I attempted to rush toward them. My
feet were bound, and I fell heavily upon my
ace!

The uards seized me, tyin my hands. My
com es, too, were rebound. Ve Were dragged
over the stones into a small l‘Ool 1 in one corner
of the tio.

The oor was bolted and locked, and we were
left alone.

CHAPTER XXXVIII.
A KISS IN THE DARK.

l BEGAN to look around our prison, andsee
what chances it offered for escape.

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 loophole for mus~
ketr . I spun mySelf along the wall until I
stood directly under it. It was just the hight
of my chin. Cautioning my companions to
silence, I placed my ear to the aperture and
listened. A low sound 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 bowl struck me, and I
turned, calling to Raoul.

“What is it, captain?” inquired be.

“Do you know if the prairie wolf is found
here?”

“ I do not know if it be the true prairie wolf,
captain. There is one something like the
co ote.”

returned to the aperture and listened.

“Again the howl of the prairie wolf—the
bark! By heavens! it is Lincoln!”

Now it ceased for sevaral minutes. and then
came again, but from another direction. '

. “What is to be done? If I answer him it Will
alarm the sentry. I will wait until he comes
closer to the'wal .”

I could tell that he was creeping nearer and
nearer.

Finding that he had not been answered, the
howlin ceased. I stood listening to every
sound in without. My comrades,_ who had
nowhecomea prised of Lincoln’s rox1mity,had
m to their eat and were lean ng against the

s.

We were about half an hour in this situation,

Without exc aging a“ word. When a light “P

was heard mm without, and a soft voice whis—
pered—

 

 

”Hola, capstan!” '

I placed my ear to the aperture. The whis-
per was repeated. It was not Lincoln—that
was clear. ' ’

It must be Narcisso.

“ uicn?” I asked.

“ ’o, capitan ”

I recognized 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 bihind my back.”

“Can you bring them opposite, then .K”

“No; 1 am standing on m ’ toes, and my
wrists are still far below the sill.”

:‘ fif‘frycur comrades all similarly bound i”

“Let one get on each side of you, and raise
you up on their shoulders.”

Wondering at the astuteness of the young
Spaniard, I cidered Chane and Raoul to lift me
as he directed. " .

When my wrists came opposite the window I
cautioned them to hold on. Presently a soft
hand touched mine, passing all over them.
Then I felt the blade of a kni e pressed against
the (hon , and in an instant it leaped from my
wrists. ordered the men to set me d0wn, and
I listened as before.

“ Here is the knife; you can release our own
ankles and those of your comrades. is aper
will direct you further. You will find the amp
inside.” .

A knife, with a folded and strangely shining
note, was passed through by the speaker.

“And now, capitan—one favor,” continued
the voice, in a’trembling tone.

“ Ask itl—ask it!”

“ I would kiss your hand bef< re we part.”

“ Dear—noble boy I” cried I, thrusting‘ my
hand into the aperture.

“Boy! ah, true—you think me a boy. I am
no boy. capitan, but a woman—one who loves
you 101' (h all her blighted, broken heart I”

1 “01,1, Heavens! it is, then—dearest Guada-
upe 1'

“Ha! I thought as much: now I will not.
But, no—what good would it he to me? No—
no—no! I shall keep my word.” » .

This ap red to be uttered in soliloquy, and
the tumu t of my thoughts prevented me from
noticing the strangeness of these expressions. ‘I
then ht of them afterward.

“ our hand! Your hand!” I ejaculated. ‘

“ You would kiss in hand?—do so!” The lit-
tle hand was thrust t rough, and I could see it
in the dim light, flashing with brilliants. I
caught it in mine, covering it with kisses. It
isoemed to yield to the fervid pressure of my
ips

feelings, “let us not part—let us
lupe

emotion, and the hand was plucked away, leavo
ing one of the diamonds in my fin era.
next moment the voice. whispe , with I.
strange sadness of tone, as I thought: '

“Adieu, ca itan! adieu! In this world of
life we never now who best loves as l” '

I was puzzled—bewildered. I called but, but
there was no answer. I listened until the pa-
tience of my comrades was well nigh exhausted,
but still there was no voice from without; and,

with a strange feeling of uneasiness and wono.

derment, I commenced cutting the thongs from
m ankles.

aving set Raoul at liberty. Phanded him

the knife and proceeded to open_ the note. In-
side I found a cocuyo; ,and using it as I had
been already instructed, I read: '

“The, walls are. adobe. You have a knife. The '

side with the loophole fronts outward. There isa

field of magueys. and beyond this you will flndthe -' ‘
forest. You may then trust to yourselves. I can ,

help you no further. Car-(mime calmllero, adios f"

I had no time to reflect upon the peculiarities
of the note, though the boldness of the style
struck me' as corresponding with the other. I
flung down the firefly, crushin the peg
my bosom; and seizing the kni e, was ut to
attack the adobe wall, when voices reached me
from without. I sprung forward and laced
my ear to listen.
woman—a man!
me?” in ’ h

“ er cussed wbel ! e’d see t ecapn in;
would yer?—a manpthzt’s good vally for g?
full of a pararer of green-gutted greasers; t
I ain’t a gwine to let you look at his bangin’.
If yer don’t show me which of these h
pigeon-holes is his’n an’ be?!) 11.18 to get
out‘n it, I’ll skin yer ' 'e a mink! ’ ' x. ’.

“I tell you. Mister Lincoln,” replied a voice.
which I recong as the one whose owner had
just left me. “I haVe this minute men the
fiaptaln the means of escape, through t loop—

0 u. ‘

“ \Vhar?” ’

“ This one,” answered the female voice.

“Wal—that’s easy to circumstantiate: him
along hvur! I ain‘t a-gwine to let yer go till
it’s all ed—de ye hear?”

I heard the heavy foot of the hunter as he

“By Heaven! it is Lincoln’s

p-n’
u  1'
42,? ‘«

“.Oh!” I exclaimed, in the trangport of my.
y togethu!
I was ”wronging you, loveliest, dearest uada~ .
A slight exclamation, as if from some painful .
The,‘

into -  -

It was an alterca on—a '

 

 

 

nix.

’. “Li

\

- with cactus plants and d

22

approached, and resently his voice calling
through, 1:39 loopho e in a guarded whisper:

‘ a n

“Hush, Bob! it’s all right,” I replied, speak-
ing in a low tone, for the sentries were moving
suspiciously around the door.

“Goorll' ejaculated he; “yer kin go now,”
he added to the other, Whose attention I on-
deavored to attract, but dared not call to loud

enough, lest the guards should hear me. " Dash 1

my buttons! I don’t want yer to go—yor a! .
‘ such company—that after all they might be

ood ‘un arter all—why can’t yer kum along?

he cap’n ’11 make it all straight ag‘in about
the desartion.”

“Mr. Lincoln, I cannot go with you; please
suffer me to depart.” .

“Wall yer own likes! but if I kin do ycra
good turn. you can depend on Bob Link1n~
mind that.”

“ Thank you! thank you!”

And before I could interfere to prevent it,
she was gone. I could hear the voice, sad and
sweet in the distance, calling “back, “ adios .”’

I had no time for reflection, else the mystery
that surrounded me would have occupied my
thoughts for hours. It was time to act. Again
I heard Lincoln’s voice at the loophole.

“ What is it!” I inquired.

“ How are yer tar get out, cap’n?”

" We are cutting a hole through the wall.”

“If yer can give me the spot, I’ll meet yer
h lf-ways.”

measured the distance from the loophole
and handed the string to Lincoln. We heard
no more from the hunter until the moonli ht
lanced throu h the wall upon the blade of is
nife. Then e uttered a short ejaculation,
such as may be heard from the “mountain
men ” at peculiar crises; and after that we could
hear him exclaimin :

“Look out, Row 1
cuttin’ my claws!”

In a' few minutes the hole was large enou h
to pom our bodies; and one by one we craw ed

Hang it, man, ye’re a-

’ out, and were once more at liberty.

——fi-

CHAPTER XXXIX.
mumps: human.
Tm! was a deep ditch under the wall, filled

ry grass. We lay in
the bottom of this for some minutes, panting
with fatigue. Our limbs were stiff and swollen,

‘. and we could hardly stand upright. A little de-

. taqy, half-ranchero.

lay then was necessary, to bring back the blood
and determine our future course.

“We had best ter keep the 11y,” whis red
Lincoln. “ I kum across the elds m sel , but

.that ’ar kiver’s thin, and the may sig t us. ”

“The best route is theditc ,” assented Raoul;
“there are some windows, but they are high,
and we can crawl under them."

“Forward then I” I whispered to Raoul.

We cre 1: down the ditch on all-fours, passin
several wIndon that were dark and shut. e
reached one, the last in the row where the
light streamed through. hotwithstandin our
perilous situation, I resolved to look in. here
was an impulseu 11 me which Icould not resist.
I was yearning or some clew to the mystery
that hung around me.

The window was high up, but it was ated
with heavy bars; and, gra. ing two of 1; see, I
swung m self to its level. eanwhile my com-
rades crept into the magueys to wait for
me.

I raised my head cautiously and looked in.
It was a room somewhat elegantly furnished,
but my eye did not dwell long on that. A man
sitting by the table engrossed m attention.
This man was Dimrosc. The lig t was full
upon his face, and I gazed upon its hated lines
until I felt my frame trembling‘with passion.

As I gazed at Dubrosc, the door of the apart-
ment opened, and a (young man entered. He
was strangely attire , in a costume half-mili-

There was a fineness, a
silky richness, about the dress and manner of
this youth, that struck me. His features were
dark and beautiful.

- After looking at him for a moment I began
to fancy I had seen the features before. It was
notharcisso: him I should have known, and
yet there was a resemblance. Yes—he even
resembled her! I started as this thought
erased ,me. I strained my eyes; the recom-
blance grew stron er.

Oh, heaven! cou d it bei—dressed thus? No,
no! those eyes—ha! I remember! 'The boy at
the rendezvous—on board the transport—the
island—the picture! It is she—the cousin——
.Man’a do Merl'ed !

the: relcollictionls cam: with the suddenfless
o a netou tan passedas uicl.
Later magnories 050W,de upon me. Thgadveii-
ture of the morning—the strange words uttered
at the window of my risen—the small hand!
This, then, was the on her of our delheranoe.

A hundred mysteries were explained in a
sin moment.

Guadalhpe knows nothing of my presence,

Tli fihutr’tiinimt‘lm h pi

s o a one r me to a nose.

A thousand other: rushed fiengh my iii-sin in
quick succession—some pleasant, others inful.

But there was no time to be lost. y oom-

 

The.,,Rifle Rangers.

rades were already chafing at my delay; and,
joining them, we crept through the magueys,
parting the broad, stiff leaves with our fingers.

e were soon upon the edge of the chaparral
wood. Another bound, and we were in the

woods.

 

CHAPTER XL.
THE PURSUIT.
FORatime there was a strange irresolution
in my flight. The idea of leaving Guadalupe in

prisoners, or, even if not, the thought that they
were in the power of Dubrosc to any extent——
was enough to render me wretched and irre-
solute. But what could we do? Five men, al-
most unarmed?

“It would be madness to remain—madness
and death. The woman—she possesses some
mysterious pOWer over this brute, her para-
mour; she will guard them.”

This thought decided me, and I yielded my—
self freely to flight. We had but little fear of
being caught again. We had too much con—
fidence, particularly Lincoln and myself, in
our forest-craft. Raoul knew all the country,
the thickets and the passes. We sto ped a mo-
ment to deliberate on the track we siiould take.
A bugle rung out behind us, and the next in-
stant the report of a cannon thundered in a
thousand echoes along the glen.

“ It is from the hamenda, ’ said Raoul; “ they
have missed us already.”

“ Is that ‘ sign ’ Bowl?” asked Lincoln.

“It is,” repli the other; “ it’s to warn their
scouts. They’re all over these bills. We must
look sha .”

“ I don t like this hyur timber; it’s too scant.
C’u’dn’t yer put us in the crick bottom, Bowl?”

“There’s a heavy chaparral,” said the French-
man, musing; “its ten miles off. If we could
reach that, we’re safe—a wolf can hardly crawl
through it. We must make it before day.”

“ Lead on then, Rowl!”

We le along with cautious steps. The
rustlin of a leaf or the crackin of a dead stick
might betray us; for we c (1 beer signals
upon all sides, and our pursuers passing usin
small arties, within earshot.

We rate the ri ht, in order to reach the
creek bottom of whic Lincoln had spoken. We
soon came into this, and followed the stream
down, but not on the bank. Lincoln would not
hear of our taking the bank path, arguing that
our pursuers would be “sartin ter teller the
cl’ar trail.”

The hunter was right, for shortly after a
party came down the stream. We could hear

he clinking of their accouterments, and even
the conversation of some of the men, as follows:

“ But, in the first place, how did they ‘ t
loose within? and who cut the wall from t e
outside, unless some one helped them? Gama !
it’s not 9.”

“ The ’s true, Jose ” said another voice.
“Some one must, and believe it was that giant
that 01; away from us at the rancho. The shot
that illed the snake came from the chaparral,
and yet we searched and found nobody. Mark
my Words, it was he ;‘ and I believe he has hung
upon our track all the way.”

“ Va a!” exclaimed another; “I shouldn’t
much ike to be under the range of his rifle;
they say he can kill a mile off, and hit wher-
ever he pleases. He shot the snake right
through the eyes.”

“ B the Virgin!” said one of the guerrilleros,
laughing, “he must have been a snake of good
taste to be caught toying around that dainty
daughter of the old Spaniard!
of w at the Book tells about mother va and
the old se nt. Now, if the Yankee’s ullet—”

We cou d hear no more, as the voices died
away in tbedistance and under‘the sound of the

water.

“Ay,” 'muttered Lincoln finishing the sen-
tence; “ if the Yankee’s ullet hadn’t been
needed for the varmint. some 0’ yer w‘u’dn’t ’a’
been waggin’ yer clappers as ye air.”

“It was you, then? I asked, turning to the
hunter.

“’Twur, cap’n; but for the cussed catawam-

us, I ’ud ’a’ ’n Mister Dubrosc his ticket. I

ed almost sig ted him when I see’d the flash 0’
the thing’s eye, an’ I knowed it wur a—ngne to
strike the go .”

“And Jack?” I inquired, now for {the first ,

time thinking of the boy. ,

“ I ess he’s safe enuf. cap’n. I sent the little
feller k with the word ter the kurnel.”

“Hal then we may expect them from
cam i”

“ o doubt on it, cap’n: but er see, H they
kum, the may not be able to oller us beyond
the mac 0. So it’ll be best for us not to
depend on them, but her take Rowl’s track.”

‘ You are ri ht. Lead on, Raoul!”

After 3 am] journey we reached the
thicket of w ch Raoul ha spoken; and -
sing ourselves into it, we came to 9. am
opening, covered with long dry Upon
t is luxurious couch we resolve to make a
bivouao. We. were all worn down by the
fatigues of the day and ni ht preceding, and,
throwing ourselves upon t e grass, in a few
minutes were asleep.

It reminds one ‘

 

CHAPTER XLI. -.
A NEW AND TERRIBLE ENEMY.

IT was daylight when I awoke—broad day-
light. My companions, all but 013 ley, were
already astir, and had kindled a re with a
species of Wood known to Raoul, that produced
hardly any smoke. They were preparing
breakfast. On a limb close by hung the
hideous, humairlike carcass of an iguana, still
writhing. Raoul was whetting a knife to skin
it, while Lincoln was at some distance, carefully
reloading his rifle. The Irishman lay upon the
grass, peeling bananas and roasting them over
the fire. I

The iguana was soon skinned and broiled, and
we all of us commenced eating with good ap-
petites.

“ Be Saint Pathrick!” said Chane, “this halos
frog—’atin’ all hollow. It’s little meself dhranu d,
on the Owld Sod, bearin’ of thim niggers in
furrin parts, that I’d be turning kannylawl
meself some day!”

“Don’t you like it, Murtagh?” asked Raoul,
jccosel .

“ Oc ! indade, yes; it’s betther than an empty
brid-basket; but if yez could only taste a small
thrifie ov a Wicklow hem this mornin’, an‘ a
smilin’ ratio, instid of this brown scenic 2—”

” His t!” said Lincoln, starting sn denly,
and holding the bite half way to his mouth.

“What is it?” I asked. '

“I’ll tell yer in a minit, ea ’n.”

The hunter waved his ban to enjoin silence,
and striding to the edge of the lads, fell flat
to the ground. We knew he was istening, and
waited for the result. We had not long to
wait, for he had scarce brought his ear in con-
tact with the earth when he sprung suddenly up
again, exclaiming: \

“ Houn’s trailm’ us, by the Eternal I”

It was seldom that Lincoln uttered an oath,
and when he did there was something awful in
his manner. He wore a despairin look, too,
unusual to the bold character of his features.
This, with the saplpalling statement, acted on us
liken galvanic ock; and by one impulse we
leaped from the fire, and threw ourselves fiat
upon the grass.

Not a word was spoken as we strained our
ears to listen.

At first we could distinguish a low moaning
sound, like the hum of a wild bee; it seemed to
come out of the earth. After a little it grew
louder and sharper; then it ended in a yo] and
ceased altogether. After a short interval t be—
gan afresh, this time still clearer; then came
the yelp, loud, sharp, and vengeful. There was
no mistaking that sound. It was the bark ofthe
Spanish bloodhound.

We sprung up simultaneously, looking around
for weapons, and then staring at each other
with an expression of despair.

The rifle and two case-knives were all the
Wee us we had.

“ hat’s to be done?” cried one, and all eyes
Were turned upon Lincoln. ,

The hunter stood motionless, clutching his
rifle and lookin to the round.

“ How fur’s e crik, wli” he asked after a

nose.
p “Not two hundred yards: this way it lies.”

“I kin see no other chance, cap’n than ter
take the water; we me bamfoozle the houn’s
a bit, if thar’s ood we in’.”

“ Nor I. ” I ad thought of the same plan.

“If We bed bed bowies, we mouter fit the
dogs wbnr we air, but yer see we hain’t; an’ I
kin tell by tbar growl ther ain’t less nor adozen
on ’em.”

“It’s no use to remain here; lead us to the
creek, Rawh” and, following the Frenchman,
we dashed recklessly through the thicket.

On reaching the stream we plunged in. It
was one of those mountain torrents common in
Mexico-spots of still water alternating with
cascades, that dash and foam over shapeless
masses of amygdaloidal basalt. We waded
through the first pool, and then, clambering
among the rocks, entered a second. This was a
good stretch, a hundred yards or more of still,
crystal water, in which we were waist-deep.

We took the bank at the lower, and on the
same side, and striking back into the timber,
kept 0n parallel to the course of the stream.
We did not go far away from the water, lest
we mi ht he pushed again to repeat the ruse.

All t is time the yelping of the bloodhounds
had been 'ringing in our ears. Suddenly it

ceased. -
“They have reached the water,” said Clay<

e .

1‘" No,” rejoined Lincoln, sto plug a moment
to listen: “they’re chawin t e bones of the
varmint.”

“There again!” cried one, an heir deep voices
rung down the glen in the chorus of the whole
pack. The next minute the dogs were mute a
second time. king at Marvels in a fierce
growl, that tol us they were at fault.

Beyond an occasional hark. We heard nothin
of the hloodhomds until we had ' ed at bag
two miles down the stream. We gun to think
we had baffled them in earnest, vixen Lincoln,
who had kept in the rear\ was seen to throw
himself flat upon the grass. We anew,
looking at him with breathless anxiety. t was

i .

J,

*1

 

 

 

‘1

 

 

 

' assassin.

but a minute. Rising up with a reckless air, he
struck his rifle fiercely upon the ground, ex-
claimin : ‘

“ Hatfes swamp them houn’sl they’re arter us
a ’inl”

gBy'one impulse we all rushed back to the
creek and scrambling over the rocks, plunged
into the water and commenced wading down.

A sudden exclamation burst from Raoul in
the advance. We soon learnt the cause, and to
our dismay. We had struck the water at a
point where the stream canyoned.

On each side rose a frowning precipice,
straight as a wall. BetWeen these the black
torrent rushed through a channel onlya few
feet in width, so Swiftly that, had we attcm ted
to descend by swimming, we should have en
dashed to death against the rocks below.

To reach the stream further down it would
be necessary to make a circuit of miles, and the
bounds would be'on our heels before we could
gain three hundred vards.

We looked at each other and at Lincoln, all
panting and pale.

“ Stumped at last!” cried the hunter, gritting
his teeth with fury. ‘

“No!” I shouted, a thought at that moment
flashin upon me. “ Follow me, comrades!
We’ll f§ght the bloodhounds upon the cliff.”

I pointed upward. A yell from Lincoln
announced his approval.

“Hooray!” he cried, leaping on the bank;
“that idee’s jest like yer, Cap. Hooray! Now,
bovs, for the bluff!” - -

Next moment we were straining up the gorge
that led to the precipice, and the next, we had
reached the highest point, where the cliff by a
bold projection butted over the stream. There

-was a level platform covered with tufted gmss,

and upon this we took our stand.

CHAPTER XLII.

, A BATTLE wrrn swonnonNDs.

WI: stood for some moments gathering breath
and nervin ourselves for the desperate strug-

le. I 00111 not be] looking over the precipice.
t was a fearnt 8 ht. low, in a vertical
line two hundred feet down, the stream rush-
ing through the canyon broke upon a bed of
sharp, jagged rocks, and then glided on in
, snow-white foam. There was no ob-
ject between the eye and the water; no jutting
led , not even a tree, to break the fall—noth-
ing ut the spiky bowlders below and the foam-
ing torrent t at washed them.

t was some minutes before our unnatural
enemies made their appearance, but every howl
sounded nearer and nearer. Our trail was warm,
and we knew they were scouting it on a. run.
At 19 h the bushes crackled, and we could see
their w its breasts gleaming through the leaves.
A few more springs, and the foremost blood-
hound bounded out upon the bank, and throw-
ingp his broad jaws, uttered a hideous ‘ gowl.”

was at fault where we had entered the
water. His comrades now dashed 'out of the
thicket, and, joining in the chorus of disap-
pointment scattered among the stones.

An old dog, scarred and cunning, kept along
the bank until he had reached t 0 tap of the
canyon. This was where we had made our
crossing. Here the hound entered the channel,
and, springing from rock to rock, reached the
point where we had dragged ourselves out of the
water. A short elp announced to his comrades
that he had lif t e scent, and they all threw
up their noses and came galloping down.

There was a swift current tween two large
bowlders of basalt. We had leaped this. The
old dog reached it, and stood strainin upon
the sprin , when Lincoln fired, and the ound,
with a s ort “wough,” dropped in upon his
head and was carried off like a flash.

“ Counts one less to 'tch over,” said the
hunter, hastily reloading is rifle.

Wit out appearing to notice the strange con-
duct 0 their leader, the others crossed , in a
string, and, striking the warm trail, came yell-
!ng up the pass. It was a y slope, such as
is often seen between two tables of a cliffpand
as the dtg’strained upward, we could see their
white fa ms and the red blood that had baited
them clot alon their jaws. Another crack
from LIDOO‘D I o, and the foremost hound
tumbled back down the rge,

“Two rubbed out!” o ad the hunger. and at;
the same moment I saw him fling his rifle to the
ground.

The hounds kept the trail no ion r. Their
quarry was before them; their how ag ended,
and they rung upon us With the silence of the
be next moment we were mingled
mother, dogs and men, in the fearful struggle
0‘ life and death! .

know not how long thisstrang encounter
lulled. I felt myself grappling wi the tawny
monitors, and hurling them over the clifl. Now

9! Ipmng at in throat and I threw out my
“5113, thrustln hem fearlessly between the
Shmingzlrowso teeth. Then Iwas free againf
a?“ 80 kug a leg, or a tail, or fill at:

? 1160 ,v drag a savage W e
brink, and, mingling all my strength. dashed
fnim against in brow, and saw him tumble howl-

over.
00 I lost my balance, and nearly staggered

 

 

,,,The?Riflé « Rang? < i am. ~» *

over the precipice; and at length, panting
bleeding and exhausted, I fell to the earth.
could struggle no longer.

I looked around for my comrades. Clayley
and Raoul had sunk upon the grass, and lay
torn and bleeding. Lincoln and Chane, holding
a hound between them, were balancing him
over the bluff.

“Now, Murter,” cried the hunter, “gi’n him
a good heist, and see if we kin pitch him cl’ar on
t’other side ; hee-woop l—hoo l”

And with this ejaculation the kicking animal
was launched into the air. I could not resist
looking after. The yellow'body bounded from
the face of the opposite cliff. and fell with a
heavy plash u the water below.

He was the net of the pack!

CHAPTER XLIII.
' AN INDIAN RUSE.

A WILD about now drew our attention, and,
looking up the creek, we saw our pursuers just
debouching from the woods. T ey were all
mounted, and, pressing their mustangs down to
the bank, where they halted with a strange

c . 4
Fit What is it, Raoul? Can you tell the mean-
ing of that cry 3"

“ They are disappointed, captain. They must
dismount and foot it like ourselves; there is no
crossing for horses.”

“Good. Oh! if we had but arifle each! This
pass—” I looked down the gorge. We could

ave defended it against the whole party, but
we were unarmed. .
The ggerrilleros now dismounted, tying their
horses the trees and preparin to cross over.
One, who seemed to be their eader, judging
from his brilliant dress and plumes, had already
advanced into the stream, and stood u n a
projecting rock with his sword drawn. a was
not more than three hundred yards from the

ition we occupied on the hind.

“ Do you think on can reach him?” I said to
Lincoln, who ha reloaded his rifle and stood
eying the Mexican, apparently calculating the
distance.

“I’m ’feerd, cap’n, he‘s too fur. I’d guv a
half-year’s sodger-pay for a crack out o’ the
major’s Dutch gun. We can lose nothin’ in
tryin'. urter, will yer stan’ afore me? Thar
ain’t no kiver, un’ the feller’s watchin’. He’ll
dodge like a duck, if he sees me takin’ sight
on m 77 .

Chane threw his large body in front, and
Lincoln, cautiously slipping his rifle over his
comrade’s shoulder, si hted the Mexican.

The latter had not the maneuver- and
perceiving the danger he had thrmt himself
into, was about turning to leap down from the
rock, when the rifle cracked—his lumed hat
flew OR, and throwing out his arms. e fell with
a dead plunge upon the water! The next mo-
ment his body was sucked into the current, and
followed by his hat and plumes was borne
down the canyon with the velocit of lightning.

Several of his comrades utter a cry of ter-
ror; and those who had followed him out into
the open channel ran back toward the bank
and screened themselves behind the rocks. A
voice, louder than the rest, was heard exclaim-

ing:

“Car '0! guardaos!—esta el  dd dia-
blo ! ” k out! it is the devil’s rifle.)

It .was doubtless the comrade of Jose, who
had been in the skirmish of La Virgen, and had
felt the bullet of the zundnadel.

The guerrilleros, awed by the death of their
leader—for it was Yanez who had fallen—
crouched behind the rocks. Even those who
Ind remained with the horses, six hundred
yards 08, sheltered themselves behind trees
and projections of the bank. The rty nearest
us kept loadin and firing, their escopettes.
Their bullets attened upon the face of the
cliff, or whistled over our heads. Clayley
Chane, Raoul and m self, being unarmed, had
thrown ourselves be ind the scarp, to avmd
catching a stray shot. Not so Lincoln, who
stood boldl out on the highest int of the
blufl, as if isdaining to dodge the bullets.

I never saw a man so completely soaring
above the fear of death. There was a sublimit
about him that I remember behig struck wit
at the time; and I remember, too, feeling the
inferiority of my own cour e. It was a stu-
pendous picture, as he st like a colossus,
clutching his deadly rifle and looking over his
long brown heard at the skulking and cowardly
foe. He stood without a motion—without even
winking—although the leaden hail hurtled past
his head and cut the grass at his feet, With hat
peculiar “ zip-sip ” so well remembered  the
soldier who has the ordeal of a be t e.

There was something in it aawtully grand—
awful even to us; no wonder that it awed our
enemies. .-

I was about to call u n Lincoln to fall back
and shelter himself, wggn I saw hhi throw up
his rifle to the level. The next instant he
d the butt to the ground, with a esture
of ppointment. A moment af r, t e ma-
neuver was repeated with a sini sult, and
I coi‘iig hear the hunter gritting his teeth.

“ e cowardly skunks!” muttered he; “ they
keep a-gwine like a bull’s tail in fly-time.”

 

 

l

l

l
l
l

 

In fact, every time Lincoln brought his piece
to a level, the guerrilleros ducked, until not a
head could be seen.

“ They ain’t as good as their own dogs,” con-
tinued the hunter, turning away from the cliff.
“ 1f we had a lot of loose rocks, cap’n. we
mout keep them down thar till doomsday.”

-A movement was now visible among the
guerrilleros. About one-half of the party were
seen to mount their horses and gallop off up the
creek.

“ They’re gone round by the ford,” said
Raoul, “it’s not over a mile and a half. They
can cross with their horses there, and will be on
us in half-an-hour.”

What was to be done? There was no timber
to hide us now—no chaparral. The country
behind the cliff was a sloping table, with here
and there a stunted pa m-tree, or a bunch of
“Spanish bayonet” (yucca angustifolia). This
would be no shelter, for from the point we oc-
cupied, the most elevated on the ridge, we
could have descried an object of human size
five miles off. At that distance from us the
woods began; but could we reach them before
our pnrsuers would overtake us?

Had the guerrilleros all gone 03 by the ford,
we should have 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 it was necessary first to decoy the
below, otherwise they would be after us before
the others; and experience had taught us that
these Mexicans couldrun like hares.

This was accomplished by an old Indian trick
that both Lincoln and myself had practiced be-
fore. lt would not have “ fooled ” a Texan
Ranger, but it succeeded handsomely with the
guerrilleros.

We first threw ourselves on the ground, in
such aposition that only our heads 00qu be
seen by the enemy, who still kept blauiu away
from their escopettes. After a short w 9 our
fuses grattliiiallytgunk lbegiind tlfie crest of the
ri go, on no mg n our orage—caps a
peared above the award. We lay thus 16’;
some moments, showing a face or two at inter
vals. Our time was 'ous, and we could not
perform the ntomime to perfection' but we
were not dealing with Comanches, and or “ Don
Diego ” it was suflciently 

Presently we slipped our heads, one
out of their covers, leaving the five on upon
the grass, inclining to each other in t moat
patfiiiral much“: We thighg steamers: Hard

as on, , a r spa-aw a yard:
orso, meetoourfeet andranlikescared d
We could tell that we Ind duped the party —
low, and we heard them firing away at our

bro-ac.

empty caps long after we had left the scene of ‘

our late adventure.

CHAPTER XLIV.
A 0011? n’uoLAin.
Minivan uneasy lock was thrown over our
shoulders as we struggled down that ll .
Our strength was urged to its utmost; and

 

was not much, for we had all lost blood in our '

encounter with the sleuth-hounds, and felt weak
and faint. /
We were baflled. too, by a storm—a fierce
tropical storm. The rain, thick and heavy.
plashed in our tacos, and made the ground sl
pery under our feet. The lightning flashed
our eyes, and the electric sul ur shortened our
breathin . Still we coughe , and panted -' and
stagger onward, moved by the knowledge
that death was behind us. i
I shall 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 al—
ways making endeavors to escape from some

horrible monster, and are as often hindered by v

a strange animysterious helplessness. I re-
member it now as then. I have often repeated
that flight in my sleep, and always awoke with
a feeling of shuddering horror.

We had t within ve hundred yards of the
timber. 'vo hundred yards is not much 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 be-
yond, separated us from the ed of the woods
——a smooth award without a £gle tree. We
had entered u n it—Raoul, who was light of
foot, being in he advance, while Lincoln, Iran
chonce, hung in the rear.

An exclamation from the hunter caused us to
look back. We were too much fatigued and
worn-out to be htened at the sight. Al
the crest of the hi a hundred horsemen were
dashinfiafter us in full gallop, and the next mo-
ment t eir mm] screams were ringing in
ourleqars! b0 1” _

‘ ow, do but. is med W n
“ an’ I’ll sto {Savorth’ of that ’ere foremost
feller afore e gits much fun-er." .

'We trailed our _ai, butwe couldhear
the guerrilleros fast closing upon us, The bu.-
lets from their escopettes whittled. in our ears,
and cut the grass around our feet. I saw Raoul,
who had reached the timber, tin-n suddenly
round and walk back. He had resolved to
share our fate. -

“ewe youself, Raoul!” I called, With my

.‘

a

s .

 

 

24,‘ 

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 the fierce
shouts.

I heard the clatter of hoofs, and the rasping
of sabera, 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 pea! of thunder drowned all other
sounds. The heav'cns one moment seemed on
fire, then black—black. I felt the stifling smell
of sulphur—a hot flash—a quick stroke from
some invisible hand, and I sunk senseless to the
earth!

 

Simething cool in my throat and over my
the: brought back the consciousness that I lived.
It was water. I opened my eyes, but it was
some moments before I could see Raoul was
i ending over me, and laving my temples with
we ter from his boot.

1 muttered some half-coherent in uiries.

“ it was a coup d’r'clai'r, captain,’ said Raoul.

Good heavens! ch had been struck by light-
nin J

Raoul. being in advance, had escaped.

The Frenchman soon left me and went to
Clayley, who, with Chane and the hunter, lay
close by——-all three, as I thought, dead. They
were pale as corpses, with here and there a 5 ct
of purple, or a livid 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 shells-6e,” and the French-
man poured some water into Clayley’s mouth.

’The latter sighed heavily, and appeared to re-
vive. RiOlIl passed on to the hunter, who, as
soon as he felt the water, started to his feet,
and clutching his comrade fiercely by the
throat, exclaimed—

“ Yur cussed catamount! yur w7u’d hang me,
w‘u’d uri” Seeing who it was, he sto ped
sudden y, and looked round with an air of) ex-
treme bewilderment. His eyes now fell upon
the rifle; and. all at once seeming to recollect
himself, he ate ered toward it and picked it
up. Then, as it iy instinct, he passed his hand

'intohis pouch and coolly cOmmenced loading.

While Raoul was busy with Clayley and the
Irishman, I had risen to my feet and looked
back over the rairie. The rain was falling in

torrents, and t e lightning still flashed at inter.

vale. At the distance of fifty paces a black
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. single horse and his rider lay prostrate to-
gether. Beyond these, twenty or thirty horse-
men were galloping in a circle over the plain
and vainly endeavoring to head their frightened
steeds toward the point where we were. These,
like Raoul had escaped the stroke.

“ Come! ’ cried the Frenchman, who had now
resmcitatod Clayley and Chane: “ we have not
a moment to lose. The mustangs will get over
their fright, and these fellows will be down
upon us.”

His advice was instantly followed, and before
the guerrilleros could manage their scared

home we had entered the thicket, and were
‘ crawling along under the wet leaves.

 

CHAPTER XLV.
'rnn JARACHOS. .

WE headed toward the National Bridge.
Raoul had a friend half-way on the route—an
old comrade upon whom he could depend. His
raucho was in a secluded spot, near the road
that leads to the rinconada of San Martin. We
should find refreshment there; and, if not a
hed,~“at least,” said oul, “a roof and a
petate.” We should not likel to meet any
one, as it was ten miles off, and t would be late
when we reached it.

It was late, near midnight, when we dropped

in upon the contrabandista—for such was the
friend of Raoul; but he and his family were
still aetir, under the light of a very dull wax
candle.
. Jose Antonio—that was his name—was a
little “sprung” at the five bareheaded appari.
tions that burst so suddenly upon him; but,
recogéiiaing Raoul, we were cordially wel-
com . ' -

Our-boat was a spare, bony old fellow, in
leathern .jacket and calzoneros, with a keen
shrewd eye, that took in our situation at a sin-

' lo nce and saved the Frenchman a great
59.1”; ’

i.’ ex lanation. Notwithstanding the cor-
diallty wit which his friend received him, I no-
ticed that Raoul seemed uneasy about some-
thin as he glanced around the room; for the
rancho, a small cane structure, had only one.

There were two women stirring about—the

' wife of the contrabandista, and his daughter, a.

pining), good-looking girl of eighteen or there-
abou

“ Nohan cenado, caballeros f” (you haVe not
supped, gentlemen?) inquired, or rather afllrmed,
Jose Antonio, for our looks had answered the
question before it was asked.

“ Ni cr mido—m‘ almorzudo ” (nor dined—nor
breakfasteih, replied Raoul'xvith a,grin.

“ Carambo ! ‘ Ifafaela .’ Jcsusttal" shouted

 'Ig'hé Rifle 

 

v' I 1,1 I} 1.,

our host, with a sign, such as, among the Mexi-
cans, often conveys a whole chapter of intelli-
gence. The effect was magical. It sent J esusita
(Little Jesus to her knees before the tortilla-
stones; and afaela, Jose’s wife, seized a string
of tassajo, and plunged it into the 0119.. Then
the little palm-leaf fan was handled, and the
charcoal blazed and crackled, and the beef
boiled, and the black beans simmered and the
chocolate frothed up, and we all felt happy
under the pros ct o a savory sup er.

I had notice that, notwithstan ing all this,
Raoul seemed uneasy. In the corner I discov-
ered the cause of his solicitude, in the shape of
a small spare man, wearin the shovel-hat and
black capote of a priest. knew that my com-
rade was not partial to priests, and that he
would sooner have trusted Satan himself than
one of the tribe; and I attributed his uneasi—
ness to this natural dislike for the clerical fra-
ternit .

“ ho is he, Antone?” I heard him whisper to
the contrabandista.

“The cure of San Martin,” was the reply.

“ He is new, then?” said Raoul.

“Hombre de bicn” (a good man), answered
the Mexican, nodding as he spoke.

Raoul seemed satisfied and remained silent.

I could not help noticing the “ hombre de
bien ” myself; and no more could I help fancy-
iug, after a short observation, that the rancho
was indebted for the honor of his presenCe more
to the black eyes of Jesusita than to any zeal on
his part regarding the spiritual Welfare of the
contrabandista or his family. ,

There was a villainous ex ression upon his
lip as he watched the girl movmg over the floor;
and once or twice I can ht him scowlin u on
Chane, who, in his usu Irish way, was ‘b er-
neying” with Jesusita, and helping her to fan
the charcoal.

h “tWhere’s the padre?” whispered Raoul to our
08 .

“ He was in the rinconada this mornin .”

“ In the riconada !" exclaimed the Frenc man,
starting.

“ They’re gone down to the Bridge. The band
has had a fandango with your people, and lost
some men. They say they have killed a good
mangostragglers along the road.”

“ he was in the rinconada, you say! and
this morning, too?” inquired Raoul, in a half
soliloqu y, and without heeding the last remarks
of the contrabandista.

“ We’ve got to look sharp, then,” he added,
after a pause.

“There’s no danger ” re lied the other, “if
you keep from the res . our people have al-
ready reached El Plan, and are preparing to at-
tack the Pass of the Cairo. El Cojo,’ they
say, has twent thousand men to deft nd it.”

uring this ialogue, which was carried on in
whispers, I had noticed the little padre shifting
about uneasily on his seat. At its conclusion
he rose up, and, bidding our host “ buenas
noches,” was about to wit draw, when Lincoln,
who had been quietly eying him for some time,
with that sharp, searching ook peculiar to men
of his kidne , jumped up, and, placin himself
before the cor, exclaimed in a draw ing, em-
phatic tone: \

“ No, yer don’t I”

“ Que cosai’” (what’s the matter i) asked the
padre. indignantly.

“Kay or no kay—cosser or no cosser—yer
don’t go out o’ hyur afore we do. Rowlhax y’ur
friend for a piece 0’ twine, will er?”

The padre appealed to our ost, and he in
turn appealed to Raoul. The Mexican was in a
dilemma. He dared not oflend the cure, and
on the other hand he did not wish to dictate to
his old comrade Raoul. Moreover, the fierce
hunter, who stood like a huge iant 1n the door,
had a voice in the matter: an therefore Jose
Antonio had three minds to consult at one time.

“ It ain‘t Bob Linkin id infrin e the rules of
hospertality,” said the hunter; “ ut this hyur’s
a peculiar case, an’ I don’t like the look of that
’ar priest, nohow yer kin fix it.”

' Raoul, however sided with the centre-
bandista, and explained to Lincoln that the
padre was the peaceable cure of the neighbor-
ing village, and the friend of Don Antonio: and
the hunter, secinlg that I did not interpose—for
at the moment was in one of those moods of
abstraction, and scarcely noticed what was
going on—permitted the priest to pa out.
was recalled to myself more by some peculiar
expressions which I heard Lincoln muttering
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 distance, to sleep in the woods. ‘

The tortillas were by this time ready and the
pretty J esusita 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 enjo ed late! ; and hatingto hurry away
from we come ble quarters, we‘ determined
to stay and take a smoke.

We had hardly) lit our cigars when Jesusita,
who had gone the door, came hastily back,
exclaiming—

‘ .. . r I
pr." , 1h
_ ’5‘ .1?“ . ,l V > I ‘

‘ , ' . <_ u.
I,‘ ,' I, . , -
.x i a,
‘., .l . . ‘-*.wl'  r

 

“Papa—papa! hay gents fuera.”’ (Papa,
there are people outside!)

As we sprung to our feet, several shadows ap-
Eeared through the open walls. Lincoln seized

is rifle and ran to the door. The next moment
be rushed back, shouting out—

“ Hell! I told yer so!” And, dashing his
huge body a ainst the back of the rancho, he
broke throng the cane pickets with a crash.

We were hastening to follow him when the
frail structure gave way' and we found our-
selves buried, along w1t our best and his
women, under a heavy thatch of saplings and
pa lm-leaves.

We heard the crack of our comrade’s rifle
without—the scream of avictim—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
trees, and tied to their trunks, and taunted,
and goaded, and kicked, and cufled, by the
most villainous-looking set of desperadoes it has
ever been my misfortune to fall among. They
seemed to take delight in abusing us—yelling
all the while, like so man demons let loose
from the prisons of “ los z'njémos.”

Our late acquaintance—the cure—was among
them; and it was plain that he had brought the
party on us. His “reverence” looked high and

ow for Lincoln; but, to his great mortification,
the hunter had escaped.

CHAPTER XLVI.
PADBE JABAUTA.

WE were not long in learning into whose
hands we had fallen; for the name “Jarauta”
was on every tongue. They were the dreaded
“ Jurochos ” of the bandit priest.

“We’re in for it now ” said Raoul, dee ly
mortified at the part he ad taken in the a air
with the cure. “ It’s a wonder the have kept
us so long. Perhaps he’s not here imself, and
they're waiting for him.”

As Raoul said this the clatter of hoofs Sounded
along the narrow road; and a horseman came
galloping up to the rancho, riding over every-
thing and everybody with a per set! reckless-

ness.

“ 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 Jam-
chos, a hideous-looking griife, dressed in a scar—
let uniform, and apparently the lieutenant of
theband.

“ How many i”

“ Four, ca tain.”

 

“ Ve we l—what are you waiting for i”
th“To’ now whether I shall hang or shoot
em.

“Shoot them, by all means! Carambo! we
hire no time for neck- stretching i”

“There 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 so many dogs. He wished—a curi-
giitynot uncommon—to witness the spectacle of

aging.

“Madre de Dios! stupid! I tell you we
haVen’t time for such silly sport. Out with you
there! Sanchez! Gabriel! Carlos! send our
bullets throu h their Saxon skulls! Quick! ’

severa of t eJarochos commenced unslinging
their carbines, while those who guarded us fell
back, to be 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 whom he has got, before I take

cave of him. I’ll give him a souvenir that
won’t make him sleep any sounder to-ni ht.
Oucz, Padre Jarauta!” continued he, cal ing
out in atone of irony; “have you found Mar-
guerita yet?”

, We could see between us and the dim rush— ,

light that the Jarocho started, as if a shot had
passed through his heart. I

“Hold!” he shouted to the men, who were
about takin aim, “drag those scoundiels
hither! Alig ttherel—fire the thatch! Voyal”

In a moment the but of the contrabandista
was in flames, the dry palm-leaves blazing up
like flax. ,

‘;”Merciful heavens! they are going to roast

With this horrible a prehension, we were
dragged up toward the urning pile, c-lcso» lo
whic stood our fierce jud e and exer‘htiomr.

The bamboos blazed an crackled, and under
their red glare we could now see our captors
with a terrible distinctness. A more demon-
hke let, I think, could not have been found any-
where out of the infernal regions. ,

A Single glance at this motley crew would
have convinced us, had we not been quite sure
of it already, that we had no favor to expect.
There was not a countenance 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 had come.

The appearance of their leader did not shake
this conviction. Revenge and hatred were
playing upon his sharp sallow features, and his

|

W—

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

O

The  Rangers. .

 

thin lips quivered with an ex ression of malice,
plainly habitual. His nose. li a parrot’s beak,

ad been broken b a blow, which added to its
sinister shape; an his small black eyes twin-
kled with metallic brightness.

He wore a purplish-colored manga, that cov-
ered his whole body, and his feet were cased in
the red leather boats of the country, with
heavy silver spurs strapped Over them. A
black sombrero, with its band of gold bullion
and of the same material completed the
tout ensemble of his costume. He wore neither
beard nor mustache; but his hair, black and
snaky, hun down trailing over the velvet em-
broi cry 0 his manga.

Such wasthe Padre Jarauta.

Raoul‘s face was before him, upon which he
looked for some moments without speaking.
Iiis features twitched as if under galvanic ac-
tiOP, and we could see that his fingers jerked in
a Similar manner.

They were painful memories that could pro-
duce this effect upon a heart of such iron
deviltry, and Raoul alone knew them. Thelat—
ter seemed to enjo the interlude; for he lay
upon the ground, coking up at the Jarocho
Evitha smile of triumph upon his reckless fea-

ures.

We were expecting the next speech of the
padre to be an order for flin 'ng us into the
fire, which now burned fierce y. Fortunately,
alps fancy did not seem to strike him just

en.

“ Ha. monsieuri" exclaimed he at length, ap-
proaching Raoul. “I dreamt tint you and I
would meet again; I dreamt it—hal ha! ha!—
it wasa pleasant dream, but not half so pleasant
as the reality—ha! ha! ha! Don‘t you think
80?" he added, striking our comrade over the
face with a mule uirt. “Don’t 011. think so?”
he repeated, lash ng him as be ore, while his
eyes sparkled with fiendish mlignit .

“ Did you dream of meeting {fn'gluerita
again!” Raoul, with a satirical augh,
that strangs, oven fearful under the
circumstances.

I shall never forget the expresion of the
Jarocho at that moment. His sallow face
turned black, his li white, his eyes burned like
a demon's, and aging forward with a fierce
oath, he plan
face of our comrade.
the blood followed.

There was somethingsocowardly—so redolent
of a brutal ferocitwin the act, that I could
not remain quiet. ith a desperate wrench I
freed my hands, skinning my wrists in the
eflort, and flinging myself upon him, I clutched
at the monster s throat.

He stepped back; my ankles were tied, and I
fell iilpon my facs at his feet.

“ ol hol”,cried be, “what have we here?
An oflicei‘, eh? Come 1” he continued, “rise up
from your prayers, and let me look at you. Hal
a captain? And thisl—a lieutenant! Gentle-
men, you’re too dainty to be shot like common
dogs; we’ll not let the wolves hays you' we’ll
put outoftheirreach;hal ha! ha! Dutof
rose of wolves, do you hear? And what’s this?”
continued he, turni to Chane, and examining
his shoulders. “3'51! a common soldier—an
Irishman. What do you do fighting among
these heretics against our own religion? There,
renegade!” and he kicked the Irishman in the

'b

ri s.

“ Thank yer honnerl” said Chane, with a
grunt; -“small fa vors thankfully received;
much good may it o yer honner!”

“Here, Lo l" shouted the brigand.

“ Now for be fire!” thought we.

“Lopez, I as !” continued he, callin louder.

“ Aca ! aca !’ answered avoice, and t e grille
who had guarded us came up, swinging his
scarlet man a.

“Lopez, t ese I perCeive are gentlemen of
rank, and we must usher them into Hades a
little more gracefully, do you hear?” . -

“Yes, captain,” answered the other, with
stoical com .

“ 0V8? tfie cliffs, Lopez. Over the cliffs, do
you hear?”

“ Ye§~ Qaptain.” repeated the J arocho, moving
only his lips.

“ You will have them at the Eagle’s Cave by
six in the mommif’; by Iix, do you hear!”

“Yes. captain, min replied the subordi-

nate. . t

i. And if any of them is missing—is midng,
do you hear?” _

“Yes, ca tam. .

“You Will take his place in the danmtbe
dance—ha! ha! ha! You understand that,
Longzi” ta_ ” ‘

“ e ca in.

“ Engugh‘then, good Lopez—handsome Lopez!
beautiful Lopesi—enough. and sood-msht to
you!" . .

So sa 1: the Jarocho drew his uirt seven]
times adjog’the red cheek of Rao , and with
acurse upon his lips he leaped upon his mus-

The skin peeled off, and

”

tang and 110 off. .
Whatevge: in: t be the nature of the mah-
ment that awaited us at the Eagles ave it

was evident that Lopez had no intention _of be-
comin proxy in it for any of us. This was
plain rom the manner in which he set about

. his Vigilance for a moment.
his iron-shod heel upon the’

 

25

 

securin us. We were first gagged with
bayone shanks, and then dragged out into the
bushes.

Here we were thrown upon our backs, each
of us in the center of four trees that formed a
parallel am. Our arms and legs were stretched
totheir ull extent, and tied severally to the
trees; and thus we lay, spread out ike raw
hides to dry. Our sava e captors drew the
cords so taut that our iints cracked under
the cruel tension. In this painful position, With
a Jarocho standin over each of us, we passed
the remainder of t e night. ..

CHAPTER XLVII.
A HANG BY THE minis.

Ir was along night—the longest I can re-
member; a night that fully illustrated the hor-
ror of monotony. I can compare our feelings
to those of one under the influence of the night-
mare. But, no—worse than that. Our savage
sentries occasionally sat down upon our bodies,
and lighting their cigarritos, chatted gayly
while we groaned. We could not pretest; 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 lanes, and its melancholy moaning
sounded like our death-dirge. Several times
through the ni ht I heard the bowl of the
prairie wolf, an I knew it was Lincoln: but
the Jarochos had pickets all around, and the
hunter dared not a proach our position. He
could not have helped us

The morning broke at last; and we were
taken up, tied upon the backs of viciOus mules
and hurried of! through the woods. We traveled
for some distance along a. ridge until we had
reached its highest point, where the cliff beetled
over. Here we were an ked and thrown
upon the grass. About th rty of the Jarochos

arded us, and we new saw them under the
broad light of day: but they did not look a
whit more beautiful than they had appeared
under the glare of the blazing rancho the pre-
ceding nig t.

Lopez was at their head, and never relaxed
It was plain that
he considered the padre a man of his word.

After we had remained about half-an-hour on

the brow of the cliff, an exclamation from one

of the men drew our attention; and, looking
round, we perceived a band of horsemen strag-
gling up t e hill at a slow gallop. It was
Jarauta, with apout fifty of his followers. They
were soon close up to us.

“ Bumos dias caballeros !” cried their leader,
in a mockin tone, leaping down and approach-
ing us. “ hope you passed the night com-
fortably. Lopez, I am sure, provided you with
good beds. Didn’t you, Lo z?"

“ Yes, captain,” answers the laconic Lo .
“ e gentlemen rested well; didn’t t ey
Lopez?”

“‘Yes, ca tain.”

“No kick n or tumbling about, ch?”

“No, cap n.”

"‘ Ohi than they rested well; it’s agood thing;
they have a long journey before them—haven t
the . Lopez?” ‘

“ Yes, captain.”

“I hOpe, gentlemen, you are ready for the
road. Do you think on are ready?”

As each of us had t a shank of a bayonet be—
tween his teeth besides bei tied neck and
heels, it is not likely that this nterrogatory re-
ceived a reply; nor did his " reverence " expect
any, as he continued putting similar quest cm
in ick succession, appeal ng occasionally to
his 'eutenant for an answer. The latter, who
was of the tacitum school, contented himself,
and his superior too, with a simple “yes” or
“ no.

U to this moment we had no knowledge of
the ate 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 lel‘lfth enlightened upon this im-
portant point. 'e were not totake that awful

eap into eternity which I had been picturing to
myself. A fate more horrible still awaited us.
We were to be hanged over the )recipice!

As if to aid the monster in his inhuman de-
sign, severnl pine-trees grew out horizontally
from the edge of the cliff; and over the branches
of these the J arochos hommenced reeving their
longlazoes. Expert in the handling of ropes,
as a l Mexicans are, they were not long in com-
pletin their preparations, and we soon beheld

our ga lows.

“Accordin to rank, Lo 2.” cried .Jamuta,
seeing that all was ready; ‘ the captain first—
do on hear?”

t Yes, captain,” answered the imperturbable
bnzlnd who superintended the operations.

“ I shall kee you to the last, monsieur.” said
the p iest, addressing Raoul; “you will have
the P assure of bringing upthe rear in your
WW"! through purgatory. Ha! ha! ha!

0”" be. Lopez?”

“ Yes. captain."

“Maybe some of you would like a priest,

fi

ntlemen.” This Jarauta uttered with an
ironical grin that was revolting to behold. “ If
you Would,” be continued, “say so. I some-
times ofliciate in that capacity myself. Don’t
I, Lo ez?”

“ es, captain."

A diabolical laugh burst from the Jarcchos,
who had dismounted and were standing out
n n the cliff, the better to witness the spectacle
0 our han ‘ng.

“ Well, pez, does any of them say ‘yes?’ ”

“No, ca in.”

“ Ask the Irishman there; ask him—he ought
to be a good Catholic.”

The question was put to Chane, in mockery,
of course, for it was im ible for him to an-
swer it; and yet he (1' answer it, for his look
5 ke a curse as plain] as if it had been uttered
thgo h a trumpet. he Jarochos did not heed
that, at only laughed the louder.

“ Well, Lopez, what says St. Patrick? ‘Yes’
or ‘ no?’ ”

“ ‘ No,’ captain.”

And a fresh peal of rufllan laughter rung
out.

The rope was now laced around my neck in
a running noose. be other and had been
passed over the tree and lay coiled near the
edge of the clifl. 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 of! 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 ro-
° over the edge of the precipice and c ose
to the root of the tree. I was now forced intoa
sitting posture, so that I might look below, my
limbs hangin over. Stran to say, I could
not resist dong exact] w at my tormentor
wished Under other rcumstanccs the sight
would have been to me appallingédbut my
nerves were strung b the protrsc agony I
had been forced to en are.

The precipice, on whose verge I sat, formed a
side of one of those gawning gulfs com on in
Spanish America, an known by the name bar-
mncas. It seemed as if a mountain had been
scooped out and carried away. Not two hun-
dred ards horizontally distant was the twin
jaw o the chasm, like a black burnt wall: yet
the torrent that roared and foamed between
them was full six hundred feet below my posi-
tion! I could have flung the stump of a cigar
upon the water; in fact, an object dropping
vertically from where I sat—for it was a
jecting point—must have fallen plumb into the
stream.

It was not unlike the canyon where we had
tossed over the dogs: but it was higher and
altogether more hell-like and horrible.

As I looked down, several small birds, whose
species I did not stay to distinguish, were
screaming be10w, and an eagle, on his broad.

flap up to my very face.
“ ell, ca ta n,” broke in the voice of
Jarauta, “ w at do you think of it? nice soft

floor to dance upon, isn’t it, Lopez?”

“ Yes, captain.”

“All ready there? Stop! some music; we
must have music; how can he dance without
music? Hola, Sanchez! where’s your bugle?”

“ Here, captain!”
“Strike up then! Play ‘Yankee Doodle.’
Ha! ha! ha! ‘ Yankee Doodle,’ do you hear?”

“Yes, captain,” answered the man; and the
next moment the well-known strains of the
American national air sounded u n my ear,
producing a strange, sad feeling shall never
or et.

‘FNow, Lopes!” cried the padre. »

I was expecting to be wrong out, when I heard
him a ' shout “ Stay !” at the same time stop-
ping t e music.

“ By heavens!  z, I have a better plan,”
he cried; “why did not think of it before? It’s
not too late yet. Ha! ha! ha! Carambo .’
They shall dance upon their heads! That’s bet-
ter—isn’t it, Lopez .6"

“Yes, ca tain.”

A cheer mm the Jarochos announced their
a roval of this change in the programme~

e padre made a sign to Lopez, who ap-
proached him, appearing to receive some direc-
tions.

I did not at first comprehend the novelty that
was about to be introduced. I was not kept
long in ignorance. One of the Jarochos, seizing
me by t e collar, drag me back from the
ledge, and transferred t e noose from my neck
to my ankles. Horror heaped upon horror! I
was to be 1:91 head downward ,’

“ That will much prettier-woa't it, Lo-

“ Yes, captain.”

 

! “ The gentleman will have time to make lim—,

self ready for heaven before he dies—won’t he,

i
Lo 2?"
l ‘PPYes, captain. -

“Take out the gag—let him five his ion a
free; he'll need that to pray with—won’t e,
Lopez?”

“Yes, captain.”

bold wing, came soaring over the abyss, and

    

,26

The Rifle Rangers.

 

 

 

One of the Jarochos jerked the bayonet
rough! from my mouth, almost dislocdting my
jaw. e power of speech was gone. I could
not if I had wished it, have uttered an intelli-
gib 6 word.

“ Give him his hands, too; he’ll need them to
keepgit! the vultures—won’t he, Lopez?”

“ es, captain."

The thong that bound my wrists was cut,
leaving my ands free. I was on my back, my
feet toward the recip'ce. A little to 111 right
stood Lopez, holding the rope that was a out to
launch me into eternity.

“Now the music—take the music for our
cue, Lo 2; then jerk him up!” cried the s arp
voice 0 the fiend.

I shut my eyes, waiting for the pull. It was
but a moment, but it seemed a lifetime. There
wasa 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 note of
the bugle, and along with it a crack—the crack
of a rifle! A man staggered over me, besprin-
kling my face with blood; and falling forward,
disappeared!

Then came the dpluck upon my ankles, and I
was {erkech hea downward, into the empty
air. felt my feet touching the branches above,
and, throwing up my arms, I grasped one and
swung mly body upward. After two or
eflorts, lay along the main trunk, which I
embraced With the hug of despair. I looked
downward. A man was hanging below—far
below—at the end of the haze! t was Lo 2; I
knew his scarlet manga at a glance. e was
hanging by the thigh in a snarl of the rope.

His hat had fallen off. I could see the red
blood running ovor his face, and dripping from
his long, snaky locks. He hung head down. I
could see that he was dead!

The hard thong was cutting my ankles, and—
oh, Heaven i-under our united weight the roots
win when“ l ht “ Th t ll '”

pa ingt oug ! e reewi give my.

I geld fast with one arm. I drew forth my
knife—fortunately I still had one—with the
other. I o ned the blade with my teeth, and,
stretching ckward and downward. I drew it
aeross the thong. It parted with a “ sni ,” and
the red object left me like a flash 0 light.
There was aplun‘ge upon the black water be-
low—a lun e an a few white bubbles; but the
body 0 the arocho, with its scarlet trappings,
was seen no more after that plunge.

CHAPTER XLVIII.
A VERY saoar TRIAL.

DURING all this time shots were ringing over
me. I could hear the shouts and cheering of
men, the trampling of heavy boots, and the
clashing of sabers. I knew that some strange
deliverance had reached us. I knew that a
skirmish was lgoing on above me; but I could
see nothing. was below the level of the clifl.

I lay in a terrible suspense. listening. I dared
not change my sture—I dared not move. The
weight 0 the arocho’s body had hitherto held
my feet securely in the notch; but that was
gone, and my ankles were still tied. A move-
ment, and my legs mi ht fall of! the limb and
drag me downward. was faint; too, from the

rotracted struggle for life and death, and I

ugged the tree and held on like a wounded
squirrel.

The ots seemed less frequent; the shouts ap-
pear to recede from the cliffs. Then I heard
a cheer—an AngloSaxon cheer—an American
cheer; and the next moment a well-known
voice rung in my ears:

“ y the livin’ catamount! he’s h ur yet.
Whooray, whoo ! Niver say die! old on,
cap‘n, teeth an toenail! Hylur, he s! clutch
on, a lot 0’ yer. Quick !-—hook my c aws, Nat!
Now pnll—allthegether! Hooray!”

I fe t a strong band grasping t e collar of my
coat, and the next moment I was raised from
my perch and landed upon the top of the cliff.

ooked around upon my deliverers. Lincoln
was dancing like a lunatic, uttering his wild,
half-Indian yells. A dozen men, in the dark
green uniform of the “ mounted rifles,” stood
looking on and laughing at this grotesque exhi-
bitiou. Close by, anot er party were guarding
some prisoners; while a hundred others were
seen in scattered groups along the ridge, return-
ing from the pursuit of the Jarochos, whom

they had com etel routed.

I recogni Tw ng, and Henness , and Hil—
lie, and several other officers whom had met
before. We were soon en rapport, and I could

‘ not have received a reater variety of con tu-
lations had it been t a hour after my w ding.
Little Jack was the guide of the rescue.
After a moment sgnt in explanation with
the major, I turned look for Lincoln. He
was standing close b , holding in his hand a
piece of lazo, which 0 appeared to examine
I with a strange and led expression. He had
recovered from his
" himself again.”
“ What’s the ter, Bo
mg his bewild ook.
‘ Why. cap’n, I’m a s‘
I kin understan’ well enu

inquired, notic-

r bamfoosled eer.
w the teller j ked

\‘ , gill. ‘
 fl
‘9r‘

 

urst of wild joy, and was -

 

yer inter the tree, afore he let go. But how did
.this hyur whang kum out! an’ whar’s the other
eend?’

I saw that he held in his hand the noose of
the lazo which he had taken from my ankles,
and I explained the mystery of how it had
“ kum cut.” This seemed to raise me still higher
in the hunter’s esteem. Turning to one of the
rifiemen, an old hunter like himself, he whis-
pered—I overheard him: -

“ I’ll tell yer what it is, Nat, he kin whip his
weight in Wildcats or grizzly b’ars any day in
the year—he kin, or my name ain’t Bob Lin—
kin.’

Saying this, he stepped forward on the cliff
and looked over; and then he examined the
tree, and then the piece of lazo, 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 ro r distmctness.

Wing and the others had new dismounted.
As I turned toward them, Clay ley was taking a
pull at the major’s pewter—and a good long
pull, too. I followed the lieutenant’s example,
and felt the better for it.

“ But how did on find us, major? .

“ This little sol ier,” said be, pointing to Jack,
“brought us to the rancho where dyou were
taken. From there we easily tracks you to a.
large hacienda.”

‘ Ha! you routed the guerrilla, then i”

’

“Routed the guerrilla! We saw no guer-
rilla.”

‘ ‘ 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 us ; Thorn-
ley and Hilhs, here, have both been wounded,
and are not likely to recoVer—poor fellows!

Ilooked toward these gentlemen for an ex-
planation. They were both laughing, and I
ooked in vain.

“ Henness , too,” said the major, “has got a
stab under t e ribs.”

“Och, by my sewl have I, and no mistake!”
cried the latter.

“ Come, major—an explanation, if you
please.” . i
I was in no humor to enjoy this joke. I half

divined the cause of their mirth, and it pro-
duced in me an unaccountable feeling of an-
noyance, not to any pain.

‘Be my faith, t en, captain,” said Hennessy

ing for the major, ‘ if ye must know all
a ut it, I’ll tell ye myself. We overhauled a
pair of the most ele nt crayteurs on ever
clapp’d eyes upon; an rich—rich as raysus—
wasn’t the , boys?”

“ Oh! p enty of tin,” remarked Hillis.

“But, captain,” continued Hennessy, “ how
they took on to your ‘ti er’! I thought they
would have eaten the lit le 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 oppor-
tunity to talk to Jack.

“But beyond the hacienda?”
wagging the subject.

“ e railed (you down stream to the can on,
where we foun blood upon the rocks. ere
we were at fault, when a handsome, delicate-
looking lad, known somehow or other to your
Jack, came up and carried us to the crossing
above, where the lad gave us the slip, and we
saw no more of him. We struck the hoofs
again where he left us, and followed them to a
small prairie on the edge of the woods, where
the ground was strange y broken and trampled.
There 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 the National Road,
when that tall sergeant of yours dropped down
upon us out of the branches of a tree.

“Whom did you see, Jack?” I whispered to
the boy, after having drawn him aside.

“ I saw them all, captain."

“Well?” .

“The asked me where you were; and when
I told t em— ‘

“ Ken—well ?” ’

“ e appeared to wonder—’

“ We 1?” ,

“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 these sweet waking
dreams.

“ Yes, captain, they are going up the country
to live.’

“ Wherwwherel”

“I could not recollect the name, it was so
strangle:

‘1:,Ja pa? Orizava? Cordova? Puebla? Mexi-
co

“ I think it was one of them, but I cannot tell
which. I have forgotten it, captain.”

“ Captain Haller!” called the voice of the
major; “here amoment, if you please. These

I inquired,

 

are some of the men who were going to bang
you, are they not!”

Twing pomted to five of the Jarochos, who
had been captured in the skirmish.

“Yes,” replied I, “ 1 think so: yet I could not
swear to their identity.”

“ By the crass, major! I can swear to ivery
mother’s son av thim: there isn’t a scoundrel
among thim but has given me rayzon to remim-
ber him, iv a harty kick in the ribs might be
called a rayzon. O—h! ye ugly spalpeens! kick
me now, will yez?—will yezljistbe pl’azed to trid
upon the tail av my jacket’.

“ Stand out here, my man!” said the major.

Chane stepped forward, and swore away the
lives of the five Jarochos in less than as many
minutes.

“Enough!” said the major, after the Irish-
man had given his testimony. “ Lieutenant
Claiborne,’ continued be, addressing an officer
the youngest in rank “What sentence?”

“ Hang !” replied the latter in a solemn voice.

“ Lieutenant Hillis?”

“ Hang!” was 'he repl .

“Lieutenant Clayley?’

“Hang!” said Clayley, in a quick and em-
phatic tone.

” Captain Hennessy?”

“Hang them!” .ausWered the Irishman.

“Captain Heller?”

“ Have you determined, Major Twing—” I
asked intending, if possible, to mitigate this
terrible sentence.

“We have no time, Captain Haller,” replied
my superior, interrupting me. “ nor oppor-
tunity, to carry prisoners. Our army has
reached Plan del Rio, and ispreparin toattack

the pass. An hour lost. and we ma too late
for the battle. You know the resu t of that as
Well as I.”

I knew Twing’s determined character too
well to ofier further opposition, and the Jare-
chos were condemned to be h .

The following extract from the major’sreport
of the affair will show how the sentence was
carried out:—

"We killed five of them and captured as many
more, but the leader escaped. The riaoners were
tried, and sentenced to be hun . ey had a gal-
lows already ritgged for Captain I‘laller and his com-
panlontfita‘nd, or want of a better, we hanged them
upon -

 

CHAPTER XLIX.
A man’s-EYE VIEW or a BATTLE.
It was still only an hour b sun as we rode oif

from the Eagle’s Cave. t some distance I
turned inm saddle and looked back. It was a

singular sig t, those five hanging corpses, and

one not easily forgotten. W at an appalling
picture it must have been to their own comrades,
who, doubtless, watched the spectacle from
some distant elevation!

Before we had ridden out of sight, the Ea le’s
Cliff was black with zopilotes, hundreds c us-
tering upon the pines, and whettlng their fetid
beaks over their prey, still warm. I could not
help being struck with this strann transposi-
tion of victims.

We forded the stream below, and traveled
for some hours in a westerly course, overa
half-naked ridge. Atmid-da we reached an
arroyo—a clear, cool stream t gurgled along
under a thick grove of the palma redonda.
Here we “ nooned,” stretching our bodies along
the greensward.

At sundown we rode into the pueblito of
Jacomulco, where we had determined to pass
the night. Twin levied. on the alcalde for
forage for “ man and beast.” The horses were
picketed in the plana, while the men bivouacked
by their fires-—strongl mounted pickets havin
been thrown out on t e roads or tracks that l
to the village.

By da break we were again in our 'saddles,
and. riding across another ridge, we struck the
Plan n'ver five miles above the brid , and
commenced riding down the stream. '8 Were
still far from the water, which roared and
“soughed” in the bottom of a barranca, hun-
dreds of feetbelow' our path.

On crossing an eminence a sight suddenly
burst upon us that caused us to leap up in our
saddles. Directly before us, and not a mile
distant, rose ahi 11 round hill like a semi-globe;
and from a smal tower upon its top waved the
standard of Mexico. .

Long lines of uniformed men girdled the
tower, formed in rank. Horsemen in bright
dresses galloped up and down the bill. We
could see the glitter of brazen helmets, and the
glancing of a thousand bayonets. The burnished
howitzer flashed in the sunbeams, and we could
discern the cannoniers standing by their posts.
Bugles were bra ing and drums rollin . So

near were they t at we could disiinguis the
call. They were sounding the “Ian roll I”
“Halt! Great Heaven!” cried wing, jerk-

ing his horse upon his haunches; “ we areriding
into the enemy’s camp! Guide!” he added,
turning fierce! to Raoul, and half drawing his
sword, “ whats this?”

“The hill, ma r,” replied the soldier coolly,
“is El Telegra o.” It is the Mexican head-
quarters, I take it.”

-

 

A
q

I

r

 

 

 

“‘ ' ._-~._

are»... r;

 M

' bly—nor the Jalapenas either.

 

 

\ ,

The Rifle Rangers.

 

“And, sir, what mean you? It is not a mile
distant!”

“ It is ten miles, ma'or.” -

“ Ten! Why, sir,
that flag—it is not one mile by Heaven!” _

“By the eye, true; but by the road, major
it is what I have said—ten miles. Ws pas-red
the crossing of the barranca some time ago;
there is in other before we reach El Plan.”

It was true.
enemy’s li hrest metal, we were ten miles off I

A vast ciasm yawned between us and them.
The next moment we were upon its brink, and,
wheeling sh ly‘ to the ri ht, we trotted on as
fast as the roc y road wou d allow us.

“Oh, Heavens! Haller, we shall be too late.

Gallop!” shouted Twing, as we pressed our‘

horses side by side. The troop at the word sprung
into a' gallop. El Plan, the bridge, the hamlet,
the American camp, with its thousand white
pyramids, all burst upon us like a flash—below—
far below—l ing like a map. We were still
opposite El elegrafo! 4

“ By Heavens!” cried Twing, “our Camp is
empty!”

A few figures were only visible, stragglin

among the tents: the teamster, thecamp-guar ,

ihe invalid soldier.

“Look! look!”

I followed the direction indicated. Against
the long ridge that rose over the camp a dark-
blue line could be traced—a line of uniformed
men, glistening as they moved with the sparkle
of ten thousand bayonets. It wound along the
hill like a bristling snake and, heading toward
El Telegrafo, disappeared for a moment behind
the ridge.

A gun from the globe-she hill—and then
another! another! another.--a roll of musr
lietr l—drums—bugles—shoute—cheering!

"‘ he battle’sbegun!” .

“We are too late!’

We were still ei
action. We check
saddles.

And now‘thi roll of musketry became inces-
sant, and we could hear the “ crack—crack ” of
the American frifles. And bombs hurtled and
rockets himed through the air.

The round bill was shrouded in a cloud of sul-
phur; and through the smoke we could see small
parties creepin up, from rock to rock, from
.ush to bush, ring as they went. We could
see some tumbling back under the leaden hail
that was poured u n them from above. And
then a strong ban debauched from the woods
helow, and strained upward, daring all danger.
Up, u !—and be onets were crossed, and sa-
bres g istened an grew red—and wild cries
filled the air. And then came a cheer, long,
loud, and exulting, and under the thinning
smoke thousands were seen rushing down the
stee , and flinging themselves into the woods.

e knew not as et which part it was that
were thus flying. e looked at e tower in
breathless suspense. The cloud was around its
base, where musketry was still rolling, sending
its deadly missiles after» the fugitives below:

“ Look! look!” cried a voice—“ the Mexican
flag—it is See! ‘ the star spangled
banner!’ ”

The American standard was slowly unfolding
i!self over the blue smoke, and we could easily
distinguish the stripes, and the dark square in
the corner with its silvery stars: and, as if with
one voice, our troops broke into a wild “hur-
rah!”

In less time than you have to take in reading
this account of it, the battle of Cerro Gordo
was lost and won.

CHAPTER L.
a DUEL WITH AN ODD ENDING.

Ama the battle of Cerro Gordo, our victori-
ous troops pursued the enemy on to J alapa,
where the army halted to bring up its wounded,
fin] prepare for an advance upon the capital of

exico.

The Jalapenos did not receive us inhospita-
The ex cted,
as a matter of course, that we won! sac their
beautiful city. This we did not do, and their
gratitude enabled our officers to pom their time
somewhat agreeahl . The ay round that al-
ways succeeds a  tle—for ead comrades are
soon forgotten amidst Co ratulations and new
titles—had no fascination or me,

The balls, the_tertulws, the din; do campo,
were alike insipid and tiresome. 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—Perth to Cordova or

rizava. _

Clayle shared my feelings: The bright eyes
in the be conies. the sweet vmces in the orange-
shaded patios of Jala , had neither brightness
no; magic for us. e were both thoroughly
misera e. .

To add to this unhappy state of things. 8 bad
feeling had 5 rung up among the officers of our
army—a jeal‘cliusy between t 0 old and the new.
It was the child of idleness and a long spell of

Irrison duty. On the eve of abattle it always

1“ peered. Ihave adverted to this, not that
it In ht interest the reader, but as explaining a

t miles from the scene of
up, and sat chafing in our

down !

. result connected with myself.

can trace the eagle upon 1

, 'found a receipt from the
Although within range of the .

 

. 2'7

 

One of the most prominent actors in this
quarrel, on the side of the “old regulars,” was
a young officer named Ransom, a captain in an
infantry regiment. He was a ood fellow in
other respects, and a brave sol ier, I believe;
his chief weakness lay in a claim to be identified
with the “aristocracy,” and it so happened that
in tumbling over some old famil papers, I had
lant ca tain’s
grandfather to my own progenitor, a now]-
edging the payment of a bill for leather
breec iesZ

It also happened that this.very recei t was in
my portmanteau at the time; and, net ed at the
“car ' on "’ of the tailor’s grandson, Idrew
it fort and spread it out upon the mess-table.
My brethren of the mess were highly tickled at
the document, several of them copying it of! for
future use.

A copy soon reached Ransom, who in his hour
of- indignation made use of certain expressions
that, in their turn, soon reached me. ,

The result was a challenge borne by my friend
Clayley, and the affair was arranged for the
followmg morning.

The place chosen for our morningsl diversion
was a sequestered spot 11 n the uks of the
river Zedena, and along t e solitary road that
leads out toward the Cofre de Perote.

At sunrise we rode out in two carriages, six
of us, including our seconds and surgeons
About a mile from town we halted, and leav-
ing the carria 5 upon the road, crossed over
into a small gade, in the midst of the chap
arral. .

The ground was soon lined off—ten ces—
and we took our stands, back to back. e were
to wheel at the word “ Ready!” and fire at
“One, two, three!”

We were waitin for the word, with that
deathlike silence wh ch always precedes a simi-
lar si al, when Little Jack, who had been left
with ecartiages, rushed into the glade, call-
ing with all his might:

‘Captain! captain!” ,

Every face was turnedupon him with scowl-
ing inquiry, when the boy, gasping for breath,
shouted out:

“ The Mexicans are on the road!”

The words had scarcely passed his lips when
the trampling of hoof s sounded in our ears, and
the next moment a band of horsemen came
driving pell-mell into the opening; At a single
glance we recognized the guerril l

Ransom, who was nearest, blazed away at
the foremost of the band, missing his aim.
With a spring the guerrillero was over him, his
saber raised for he blow. I fired, and the
Mexican leaped from his saddle with a green.

“ Thank yo Heller,” cried my antags nist, as
we rmhed side side toward the pisto . There
were four in all, and the sur eons and
seconds he al eady armed themse ves, and
were pointing their weapons at the enemy.
Wese‘zed the remaining two, cocking them as
we turned.

At this moment my eye fell upon a black
horse, and looking, I recognized the rider. He
saw and recognind me at the same moment,
and driving the figure into his horse’s flanks
sprung forward w h a yell. With one boun
he was over me, his white teeth gleaming like a
ti er’s. His saber flashed in my eyes—I fired—
a eavy body dashed against me—l was struck
senseless to the earth!

I was only stunned, and in a few moments I
came to my senses. Shots and shouts runs
around me. I heard the trampling of hoofs an
the groans of wounded men. . ,

I looked up. Horsemen in dark uniforms
were galloping across the lade, and into the
woods beyond. I rccogni the yellow facings
of the American dragoons. 

l drew my hand over my face; itwaa wet
w1th blood. -A heavy body lay across mine,
which'Little Jack, with all his strength, was
endeavorin to drag off. I crawled from under
it, and ben ing over, looked at the features. I
knew them at a glance. I muttered to my
servant: ,

iii’fi‘ésai He ""°S“’"c i i

s y ay sprea on n ts ictu ue
attire. A fair form it was. A bullemeyezqwn
—had passed through his heart, killing him
instantly. I placed my hand upon his forehead.
It was cold already, and his beautiful features
were white and ashy. His eyes glared with the
ghastly ex ression of death. ’

“Closet em,” I said to the boy, and turned
aw from the spot. ,

ounded men lay around, dragoons and
Mexicans, and some were already dead.

A party of officers was at the moment return-
inig from the ursuit, and I recognized my late
a versary, w th your seconds and surgeons. My
friend Clayley had been wounded in the melee,
and I observed that he carried his arm in a
sling. A dragoon emcer galloped up.

It was Colonel Harding.

“  fellows, gentlemen,” cried he reining
up his horse, “just came in time to relieve me
from a disagreeable duty. I have orders from
the commander-in-chief to arrest Captains
Heller and Ransom. ,

‘fNow. gentlemen,” lie continued, with a
lie, “ I think you have had fighting enough

 

 

for one morning, and if you will promise me to
be fluiet young men, and keep the e, I
sha , for once in my life, take the li rty of
disobeying a general’s orders. What say you,
gentlemen?”

It needed not this appeal. There had been
no serious cause of fiuarrel between my adver-
sary and myself, an , moved by a similar im-
pulse, we both ste ped forward, and grasped
one another by theha

“ Forgive me, my dear Heller,” said Ransom, “
I assure you my remarks were i

“ I retract all.
only made 11 n the spur of the moment, when I
was angry a ut those cursed leather breeches.”
“An regret to have given you cause.” I
replied. “ Come with me to my quarters. Let
us have a glass of wine ether, and we shall
light our cigars with the Villainous document.”
A burst of laughter followed, in which
Ransom good-naturedly joined; and we were
soon on our way to town, in the lame
carriage, and the best friends in creation.

b03010: ofihe soldiers dwho had “rifled "mtha
y of brosc can a per upon- to,
which proved that the Frenchman was a spy in
the service of Santa Anna. He had! thrown
himself into the company at New Orleans with
the intention of gaining information, and than
deeerting on his arrival in Mexico. This he
succeeded in doing in the manner dettiiled. Had
he hoen in command of the “Rifle Rangers,”
he would doubtlem have found an opportunity
to deliver them over tothe enemy at La Virgen
or elsewhere.

 

CHAPTER L1.
as ADIOS.

ONE day Clayley and I were sitting over our
wine, along with a gay party of friends, in the
Fonda do Dayna“, he principal hotel of
Jalapa, when ack touched me on the shoulder
and wh in my ear:

“ agitaiu, there’s a Mexican want: to see ye.”

“ o is itT’I demanded,.somewhat annoyed
at the interruption.

“ It’s the brother,” replied Jack, still speaking
in a whisper. ,

“ The brother! What brother?”

“ Of the oung ladies. capt in.”

I star from m chair, overturning a de-
canter and several g asses. .

“ Hilloa! what‘s the matter?” shouted several
voices, in a breath.

“Gentlemen, will you excuse met—one mo-
ment only—I—I—will—"

“ Certainly! certainly!” cried in companions,
all at once, wonderin what was matter.

The next moment was in the ante-saw, em-
bracing Naivzisso. .

“And so you are all here. When did you
arrive?”

“ Yesterday, captain. I came to town for
you, but could not find you.”

“ And they are well i—all well i”

“Yes, captain. Papa e cts you will come
this evoning, with the lieu neat and the other
officer.”

“ The other officer! Who, Narciseo?”

“ I think he was with you on your first viiit
to La Vi dun senor gordo.” .

“Oh! 8 major! Yes, yes, we shall come;
but where have you been since we met, Nar-
cissito .7”

“ To Orinava. Papa has a tobacco farm near
Orirava; he always goes to it when he comes
up here. But, captain, we were so astonished
to beer from your people that you had been a
prisoner and travelin alon With us! We

new that guerrillas some merican prison~
era, but we never dreamed of its being you.
Carrambo, if I had known that!”

“ But how came you, Narcisso, to be with the

guerrilla?” _
“ 0h! papa had many things to carr up the
coun ; and be, With some other families, paid
Colone Cenobio for an escort—the country is
so full of robbers. ”

“Ah! sure. Tell me, Narcimo, how came I
by this?”

I held out the dagger.

“I know not, captain. I am ashamed to tell
you that I lost it the da after you gave it me.”

“ Oh! neVer mind. eke it again, and say to
your pa I shall come and bring “ el senor
gordo ’along with me.”

“ You wil know the way, ca tain? Yonder
is our house.” And the lad poin to the white
turrets of an aristocratic-lookix-ifiomanaiqn that
appeared over the tree-tops, utamile dis-
tant from the town.

“ I shall easily find it.”

“ Adieu, then, cam iawtzgie impatient }

until you arriva—

So saying, the youth departed.

I communicated to Chyley the cause of my
tempo ‘ withdrawal; and seizing the earliest
oppo , we left our companions over their

on

Its-was now near sundown, and we were about
to jump into our saddles when I recollected my
gomise to bring the major. Clayley p

yin him behind and lannin an a ogy;
but a int that he mi ht nest ,in “ eepmg
of! ” Don Cosme and e senora caused the im-

5
\ fl

.9?

28

The Ride / Rangers.

 

 

 

tenant suddenly to change his tactics, and we
set out for Blossom's quarters.

We had no difficulty in persuading “el senor
v ” to accompany us, as soon as he ascer-
tained where we were going. He had never
ceased to remember that dinner. Hercules was

' brought out and saddled, and we all three gal-

—-——

—-U

\

loped oi! for the mansion of our friends.

After passing under the shadows of green
trees, and through copses filled with bright
flOWers, we arrived at the house, one of the
fairest mansions it has ever been our fortune to
enter. We were just in time to enjoy the soft
twilight of an eternal s ring-of a andsca
stem nerds ' and, w at was more to t e
major’s mind, in time for a supper that rivaled
the well-remembered dinner.

As I had anticipated, the major proved ex-
ceedingly useful during the visit. In his capa—
citlyef (guartermaster, e had already picked up
a ttle panish—enough to hold Don Cosme in
check over the wine; while Clazle and myself,
with “Lupe” and “Luz,” wal out into the
veranda to “take a peep at the moon.” Her
lkht was alluring, and we could not resist the
temptation of a stroll througzlfihe gardens. It
was celestial night, and we ed along under
the pictured shadows of the orange trees, and
sat um curiously-formed benches, and gazed
upon moon, and listened to the soft notes of
the tropic night-birds.

The perils of the
the perils of the
them.

It was late when we said “(menus nachos ” to
our friends, and we rted with a mutual
“hasta la manana.” t is needless to say that
we kept our promise in the morning, and made
another for the following morning, and kept
that, too; and so on till the awful bugle sum-
moned us once more to the “ route."

The detail of our actions during these days
would have no interest for the reader, though
to us the most interesting part of our lives.
There was a sameness—a monoton —it is true;
but a monoton that both my frien and myself
could have on ured forever.

I do not even remember the details. All Ilcan
remember is that, on the eve of our march, I
found myself “corner-in " Don Cosme, and
telling him plain! to h teeth, that I meant
to marry one of is daughters; and that my
friend—who had not yet earned the "lingo, ’
and had duly commissioned me as his ‘ go-
between ”—would be most happy to take the
other of! his hands.

I remember very Well, too, Don Cosmo’s re-
ply, which was given with a half-smile, half-
grin—somewbat cold, though not disagreeable
in its expression. It was thus:

“ Captain, when the‘war is over.”

Don Cosme bad no intention that his daugh-

were all forgotten, and
tare—we thought not of

lters should become widows before they had

fairly been wives.

And we bade adieu once more to the light of
love, and walked in the shadow of war; and we
toiled up to the high tables of the Andes, and
crossed the burning plains of Perote: and we
filil‘dgdtglhe. cold streams off lthe RigeFI-io, and
c or snow spurs o opoca :aud,
after many a toflsome march, our youets
bristled along the‘borders of the Lake Tezcoco.
Here we fought-a death struggle, too—for we

w there was no retreat. at our snags
was crowned with victory, and the starry g
waved over the ancient c y of the Aztecs. .

Neither my friend nor m’yself escaped unhurt.
We were sho “all War: but, fortunately, no
bones were broken, and neither of us was con-
verted into a cripple.

And then came the “piplnfifiimes of ace;”
and Clsyley and I upon our ya in rid out
upon the Jalapa road, watching for that great
0d family carriage, which, i had been pro-

And it came rumblin along at len th, drawn
by twelve mules, an deposited is precious
load in a palace in the Calls Ca uchinas.

And shortly after, two 0 cers in shinin
uniforms entered the rtals of that same a -
ace, sent up their car 9, and were admitte on
the instant. Ah! these were rare times! But

,mised should come.

. rarer still—for it should only occur once in a

man’s lifetime—was an hour spent in the little
chapel of San Bernardo.

There is a convent—Santa Catarina—the
richest in Mexico; the richest, rha , in the
world. There are nuns there— aut ul crea-
tures—who possess profpert (some of them be-
ing worth a million 0 do ars); and yet these
children of Heaven never look upon the face of
man.

About a week after my visit to San Bernardo
I was summoned to the convent, and permitted
—-a rare rivile efor one of my sex—to enter
its as pre acts. It was a painful scene.
Poor “ Mary of Mercy 1” How lovely she looked
in her snow-white vestmentsl—lovelier in her
sorrow than I had ever seen her before. May
God pour the balm of oblivion into the heart of
this erring but repentant angel!

 

I returned to New Orleans in the latter part
f 1 I was walking one morning along the
Levee, with a fair companion on my arm,

when a Well-known voice struck on my ear, or
claiming—

“,I’ll’ be dog-goned, Bowl, if it ain’t the
ca n!‘

turned, and beheld Raoul and the hunter.
They had doil’ed the regimentals, and were pre-
paring to “start ” on a trapping expedition to
the Rocky Mountains.

I deed not describe our mutual pleasure at
meetin , which was more than shared by my
wife, w 0 had often made me detail to her the
exploits of my comrades. I inquired for Chane.
The Irishman, at the breaking up of the “ war-
troops,” had entered one of t e old regiments,
and was at this time, as Lincoln expressed it,
“ the first sargint of a kump’ny.” 1 could not
permit my old ranging comrades to depart
without a souvenir. My companion drew oi! a
pair of rings, and presented one to each on the
. t. The Frenchman, with the gallantr of a

renchman, drew his upon his fin er; bu Lin<
colu, after tryin to do the same eclared, with
a comical n, t at he couldn’t “git the ecnd
of his wi n’ stick inter it.” He wra it up
carefully, however, and deposited it In his bul.

letfliouc
y friends accompanied us to our hotel,
where I found them more appropriate presents
than the rings. To Raoul I gave my revolving-
istols, not expecting to have any further use
or them myself; an to the hunter. that which
he valued more than any other earthly object,
the major’s “ Dutch gun." Doubtless, ere this.
the zundnadel has slain many a “grisly b’ar,”
among the wild ravines of the Rocky Moun-
tains.

A few days after I had a visit from Major
Twing. who, with fiillis and others of my old
comrades, was on his wa to the frontier garri«
son of Texas. From him learned that Blossom,
on account of his gallant behavior in the affair
at La Vir en, had received the brevet of a
colonel, an was now employed in the depart-
ment at Washin ton.

Courteous re er! I was about to write the
wo “adieu,” when “Little Jack ” handed me
a letter, bearing the Vera Cruz post-mark. It
was dated “La Virgcn, November 1, 1849.” It
concluded as follows:—

“ You were a fool for leaving Mexico, and you‘ll
never be half as happy an where else as I am here.
You would hardly know t e ‘rancho ‘—I mean the
fields. I have cleared of! the weeds, and expect next
year to take a couple of hundred bales of! the ground.
lbelieve I can raise as good cotton here as in Louisi-
ana' besides, I have a little corner for vanilla. It
Would do your heart to see the improvements;
and little Luz, too. eseuch an interest in all I do.
Holler I‘m the happieetmau in creation.

“I dined yesterday with our old friend Cenobio,and
on should have seen him when I told him the me.
e had in his company. I thought he would hav

% lit hi: slides. 133's ah rfect oilingtmmp, thiia Ceno-

o, no w thstan In em ro as ea.

“ By the way,dvousiave 110155. I IIpr p30, that our
‘other old frien , the padre. has been s at. He took
part with Paredes against the
caught him at memm, an shot him, with a
(ilozen or so of his uties,’ in less than a squirrel's

um .
“ now, my dear Heller, a last word. We all
want on to come back. The house at Jalapais
ready or you, and Dona Joaquina says it is yours;
and sun wants you to come back. ‘

“ Don Cosme, too—with whom it appears Lupe was
the favorite—Ir: wants you to come back. Old
Cenobio, who is still about how you got the
knife to cut thro the adobes—III wants you to
come back. Luz fretting a ter Lu , and sms
wants you to come back. An , lasto all, I want
you to come back. So ‘stand not on the order’ of
your coming, but come at once.

“ Yours forever
“EDWARD Cumr."
m IND.

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overnment. They‘

 

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‘« ~:; Luv... .1. ..

 

 

 

‘2 “tart-rm ,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A New library Expresst

WHO LOVE
Tales of Actual Perils and Adventure!

True Stories of Stirring Lives!

Romance of Sport on Field and Flood!

 

 

Designed for

Daring Deeds and Great Achievements.

0n the oceans and seas—in the deep, silent forests—on the boundless plains—4n the mountain fastnesses and the untrailed hills-—

over the wild game ranges and the cattle ranches—on

lakes, rivers and

lonely lagoons—over the world, everywhere; thus

being something Wholly New and Novel, and giving a literature which in quality, kind, and exciting interest is

PECULIARLY THE AMERICAN BOY’S OWN‘

 

NOW READY AND IN PRESS.

1 Adventure. of Bahia Bill. Prom Boyhood to Men-
hOOdd Deeds of Daring, and Romantic Incidents in the early
life of William F. Cody. By Col. Prentiss ingraham.

2 The Ocean Hunters; or, The Chase of the Leviathan. A
Romance of Perilous Adventure. By Captain Mayne Reid.
E An extra large number. E

3 Adventures of Wild Bill, the Pistol Prince. Remarkable
career of J. B. Hikok, (known to the world as “ Wild Bill"). giving
the true story of his adventures and acts. By Prentiss Ingraham.

The Prairie Ranch; or, The Young Cattle Her-den. By Joe.
E. Badger. Jr.
Texas Jack. the Mn K . Thrilling Adventures in

the Life of J. B. Omohunrlro, “ exas ack.” By Col. P. Ingraham.

Cruise of the Plyeway; or, Yankee Boys in Ceylon. By C.

Dunning Clark.

Roving Joe: The History of a Young “ Border Ruffian.” Brief

Scenes from the Life of Joseph E. Badger, Jr. By A. H. Post.

The Plyewey Afloat; or, Yankee Boys ’Round the World.

By C. Dunning Clark.

Bruin Adams, Old Grizzly Adana’ Boy Perd. Scenes

of Wild AdVenture in the Life of the Boy Ranger of the Rocky

Mountains. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

10 The Snow Trail: or, The Boy Hunters of Fur-Land. A Narra-
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11 Old Grianly Adams. the Bear Turner; or, The Monarch of
the Mountain. By Dr. Frank Powell.

12 Wood. and Waters: or, The Exploits of the Littleton Gun
Cluh. By Capt. Frederick VVhittnker.

13 A Rolling Stone: Incidents in the Career on Sea and Land as
BO and Man, of Col. Prentiss Ingraham. By Prot.Wm. R. Eyster.

14 Agrifi on the Prairie, and Amateur Hunter. on the

Buflllo Range. By 01] Gnomes.

15 Kit Ca room of Guides;
Prairie Trails. By Albert W. Aiken.

16 Red River Rovers; 01', Life and Adventures in the Northwest.

By C. Dunnin Clark.

17 Plan; and gluing or, Wild Adventures of “Buckskin Sam,”
(MRJOI‘ Sam 5- Hall-l By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

18 Rifle and Revolver; or, The Littleton Gun Club on the
Buflaio Range. By Capt. Frederick Whittaker.

19 Wido-Awtk0 G00?“ the Pioneer; or. Litein a
Cabin. Incidents and Adventures in Backwoods. By Ed. Willett.

80 The D 131.3300!” 0r. The Story of General George A.
Custer, from W est Pornt to the Big Horn. By Capt. F. Whittaker.

81 Deadwood Dick u a Big: or, Why wrtd Ned Harris, the New
England Farm-lad, became 0 Western Prince ol the Road. By
Edward L. “"..¢eler. ’

Omdafllh

or, Mountain Paths and

 

82 The Boy Exiles of Siberia; or, The Watch-Dog of Russia.
By T. C. Harbaugh.

88 Peal De Lucy, the French Benet Chnrlner: or, New
York Boys in the J angles. A Story of Adventure, Peril and Sport
in Africa. By C. Dunning Clark.

24 The Swerd Prince: The Romantic Life of Colonel Ionstery,
(American Champion-at-arms.) By Captain Fred. Whittaker.

25 Round the Cam Fire: or. Snow-Bound at “Fremont Camp.”
A Tale of Roving oe and his Hunter Pards. By Joe. E. Badger, Jr.

28 Snow-Shoe Tom: or, New York Boys in the Wilderness. A
Narrative of SpOrt and Peril in Maine. By T. C. Harhaugh.

27 Yellow Hair. the Boy Chiefof the inneee. The Ad-
venturous Career of Eddie Burgess of Nebraska. By Col. Ingraham.

88 The Chase of the Greet White Stag and Cusp end
Canoe. By C. Dunning Clark.

' 89 The Fortune-Hunter: or. Roving Joe as Miner, Cow-Boy,

Trapper and Hunter. By A. H. Post.

30 Walt Ferguson's Cruise. A Tale of the Antarctic Sea By
C. Dunning Clark.

31 The Boy Crusader: or, How a Page and a Fool Send a King.
By Captain Frederick Whittaker.

32 White Beaver, the Indian Medicine Chief: or, The Ro~

mantic and Adventurous Life of Dr. D. Frank Powell, known on the
Border as “ Fancy Frank,” “ Iron Face," etc. By Col. P. Ingraham.

83 Captain Ralph, the Young Explorer: or, The Centipede
Among the Flees. By C. Dunning Clark. I

84 The Young Beer Hunters. A Story of the Haps and Mishaps
of a Party of Bays in the Wilde of Northern Michigan. By Morris
Redwing.

86 The Lost Boy Whalers: or, In the Shadow of the North Pole.
By T. C. Harhaugh.

86 Smart Sin. the Led with a. Level Head: or, Two Boy:
who were “Bounced.” By Edward Willett.

37 Old Tar Knuckle find Hie Boy Chum-3 0131130an
of the Eequimau Border. By Roger Star-buck.

38 A Real Hero: or, Herbert Bingham, the Settlers Sen.‘ By
Edward 8. Ellis. Ready August 80th.

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1 The Masked Bride; or, Will She Marry
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2 Was it Love 2' or, Collegians and Sweet-
hearts. By Wm. Mason Turner, M. D

8 The Girl Wire ; or. The True and the False.
By Bartley T. Campbell.

4 A Brave Heart; ' or, Startlineg Strange.
By Arabella Soutbworth.

5 Bessie Raynor, the Work Glri‘ or,
The Quicksand! of Lite. By William 1:
' Turner. M. D , v

6 The Secret Marriage or, A Duchess in
Me of Benoit. By SaragClsxton.

7 Dan ter t' Eve , Blhded Love.

ism-tar... Mfr , by

8 Heart to Heart; or, Fair Phyllis' Love.
By Arabella Southworth.

9 Alone in the World; 0rz The Young Men‘s
Ward. By the author of ‘Clltton," “Pride
and Passion," etc.

10 A Pair of Gray Eyes or, The Emerald
Necklace. By Rose Kenne y.

11 Entangled; or, A Dangerous Game. By
Henrietta Thackeray. .

12 His Lawful Wife; or, Myra, the Child of
Adoption. By Mrs. Ann S. Stephens.

13 Madca , the Little uakeress or, The

. Naval det's Wooing. y Corinne ushmah.

14 Why I Married Him; or, The Woman in
Gray. By Sara Cinxton.
15 A Fair Face; or, Out in the World. By

. Bartley T. Campbell.

16 Trust Her Not; or,A True Knight. By
Margaret Lelcoster.

17 A Loyal Lover' or, The Lotto! theGrims-_

paths. By Arube‘ a Southern. \

18 His Idol ‘ or, The Ill-Starred Marrl . B
Mrs. Mary Reed Crowell. age y

19 The Broken Betrothal; or, Love versus
Hate. By Mary Grace Halpine.

R0 Orphan Nell, the Orange Girl; or, The

~ Lost Heir. By Agile Penna. A

2 1 Now and Forever; or, Why Did She Man
ry Him? By Henriette Thackeray.

22 The Bride of an Actor; or. Driven from
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“ Clifton, ’ etc. '

23 Lea Year or Wh She .B S
01350“. i. y Proposed yam

24 Her Face Was Her Fortune. By Elen-

. nor Blaine.

25 Only a Schoolmistress; or, Her Untold
Secret. By Arabella Southworth.

26 Without a Heart; or, Walking on lhe
Brink. By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham.

27 Was She a Coquette? or, A Strange
Courtship. By Henrietta Thackeray.

28 8x1hll Chase; or, The 'Gambler’sWiie. By
' rs. Ann 8. Stephens.

29 For Her Dear Sake; or, Saved From Him-
self. By Sara Clnxton.

30 The Bou net Girl ; or, A Million of Meney.
By Agile eune. .

31 A Mad lllarriage; or, The Iron Will. By

. Mary A. venison.

32 Mariana, the Prima Donna; or, Roses
and Lilies. By Arabella Southworth.

33 The Three Sisterr or. The Mystery of

' Lord Chaliont. By All’cer Fleming.

34 A Marriage of Convenience; or. Was.

He a Count? By Sara Ciaxton.

35 All Against Her; or. The Winthrop Pride.
By Clara Augusta.

36 Sir Archer’s Bride; or, The Queen of His

‘ _, Heart. By Arabella Southworth.

37 The (tountrm Cousin; or, All is not Gold
that Glitters. By Rose Kennedy.

38 His Own A sin or. Trust Her Not. By
Arabella. Sout wort .

39 Flirtation; or. A Young Girl‘s GoodName.
ByJacob Abarbanell.lBolM Royal.) - .

40 Pledgedto Marry; or. In Love's Bonds.
By Sara Claxton.

41 Blind Bevntion; or, Love Against the
World. By Alice Fleming.

42 Beatrice, the Beautilnl; or. HisSecond

' Love. By Arabella Southworth.

43 The Baronevs Secret; or, The Rival Hali-
Sisters. By SaraOlaxton. ‘ -»

{4 The On Da hter or, Brother alnst
- ‘ Lever. gy Aliogfi'leminzc. as

45 Her Hidden Foe; or, Love At All Odds.
By Arabella Southwonh. . .

46 The Little Heiress; or, Under a Cloud.
By Mrs. Mary A. venison.

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47 Because She Loved Him; or, How Will
It End? By Alice Fleming.

48 In Spite of Hegself; or, J eannette's Repa-
ration. By S. R. ‘herwood. .

49 ms Heart’s Mistress; or Love at First
.Sight. By Arabella Southworth.

50 The Cuban Heiress or. The Prisoner of
La Vintresse. By Mrs. ary A. Denison,

51 Two Young: Girls; or, The Bride of an

. Earl. ,By co Fleming. '

53 The W Messenger; or, Risking All
for a Ear y Mrs. Mary Reed Crowell.

53 Agnes Hope, the Actress or. The Ro-
mance of a Ruby Ring. By illismMason

‘ I

54 one Woman’s Heart; or. Saved from the
Street. By George S. Kaime. .

55 She Did N t Love Him; or Stooping to
Conquer. Arabella Southworth.

58 Love-Mad; or Betrothed Married Divorced
and —-—-. By Wm. Mason Turner, M. D.

57 A Brave Girl; or, Sunshine at Last. By
Alice Fleming.

58 The Ebon Mask; or, The Mysterious
Guardian. By Mrs. Mary Reed Crowell.

59 A Willow’s Wiles; or, ABitter Vengeance.
By Rachel Bernhardt.

60 Cecil’s Deceit; or. The Diamond Legacy.
By Mrs. Jennie Davis Burton.

61 A Wicked Heart; or, The False and the
True. By Sara. Ulnxton.

82 The Maniac' Bride; or, The Dead Secret
of Hollow Ash Hall. By Margaret Blount.

63 The Creole Sisters; or. The Mystery of the
Psrrys. By MugAana E. Porter. '

64 What, Jealousy bid; or, The Heir oi
Worsley Grange. By Alice Fleming.

65 The Wife’s Secret; or, 'Twixt Cup and
Lip. By Col. Juan Lewis. ‘

66 A Brother’s Sin 3 or, Fiora’s Forgiveness.
By Rachel Bomber t.

67 Forbidden Bans; or, Alma‘s Disguised

nee. By Arabella Southworth.

68 Weavers and Welt; or. “Love That Hath
Us In His Net." By Miss M. E. Braddon.

69 Camille; or, The Fate of a Coquette. By
Alexandre Dumas ‘

70 The Two Orphans. By D‘Enery.

71 MI! Young Wife. By My Young Wife‘s

nsband.

72 The Two Widows. By Annie Thomas.

73 Rose Michel; or, The Trials of a Factory
Girl. By Maud Hilton.

74 Cecil Castlemaine’s Gage or, The Story
of a Broidered Shield. By Oui a.

75 The Black Lady oi’Dunu.‘
Farm.

76 Charlotte Temple. By Mrs. ,Rowson.

77 Christian Oakle ’s Mistake. By the
author of “John H fax, Gentleman," etc.

78 My Young Husband; or, A Confusion in
the Family. By Myself.

79 A ueen Amongst “'omen. Ba the
out or of “ The (‘ost of Her Love,” “ ilded
Sin." “Dora Theme,“ “From Gloom to Sun-
light," etc.

80 Her Lord and Master. By Florence
Marryat.

81 Lucy Temple, Sister of Charlotte.

82 A Long Time Ago. By Meta Orred.

83 Playing .for High Stakes. By Annie

omes.

84 The Laurel Bush.
“John Halifax, Gentlemen

85 Led Astray. By Octave Feuillet.

86 Janet's Repentance. By George Eliot.

By J. S. Le

 the author of

287 Tale Born (-0 01‘s Poor Young Man.
yOctaye euiliet.
88 A Terrible Deed; or. All for Gold. By
Emma Garrison ones.

89 A Gilded Sin. By the author of “Dora
. Thorn," etc. ‘
90 The Author’s Daughter. By Mary
Howitt.

91- The 1m. By Charles Reade.

92 Eileen Alanna; or, the Dawning ot the Day.
By Dennis O’Sullivan.

93 Love’s Victory. By B' L. Fsrjeon.
94 The Quiet Heart. By Mrs. Oliphant.

95 Lettice Arnold. By Mrs. Marsh.

96 Haunted Hearts or. The Broken Be-
trothal. By Rachel Bernhardt.

97 Hugh Melton. By Katharine King.

‘ 1 19 Maud Mohan.

 

 

98 Alice Learmont. ByMiss Mulock.
99 Marjorie Bruce’s Lovers. By Mary
Patrick. '

100 Through Fire and Water. By Fred-
erick Talbot.

101 Hannah. ByMiss Mulock. »

102 Peg Wotflnd‘ton. By CharlesReade.

103 A Desperate Deed. ByErskine Boyd.

104 JShadows on the Snow. By B. L. Far-
can.

105 The Great Hoggarty mend. By
w. M. Thackeray. '

106 From Dreams to waking. By E.
Lynn Unton. . ‘

107 Poor Zeph! By F. W. Robinson.

108 The Sad Fortunes of the Rev. Amos
Barton. By George Eliot.

109 Broadband-Cheese and‘ Kisses. By
B. L. Farjeon.

110 The Wandering Heir. By Charles
Reade.

1 1 1 The Brother’s Bet; or. Within Six
Weeks. By Emilie Fiygsre Carlen.

1 12 A Hero. By Miss Mulock.

1 13 Paul and Vir inia. From the French 01'

‘ Bernardin De St. ierre. ‘

114 ’Twas In Trnmlgar’s Bay. By Wal-
ter Besant & James Rice.

1 15 The Maid of Kilieena. By William
Black.

1 l 6 Hetty. By Henry Kingsley.

117 The \Vuyside Cross; or, The Raid oi
mcz. By Captain E. A. Milman.

118 The Vicar of Wakefield. By Oliver
Goldsmith.

By Annie Thomas.

120 Thaddeus of Warsaw. By Miss Jane
Porter.

121 sl‘he King ot‘ No-Land. ByB.L‘ Far-
eon. ‘

122 Love], the Widower. By W. MTth-
eray. .

123 An Island Pearl. By B. L. Fer-jeon.
124 Cousin Phillis.

125 Leila; or. The Sie e of Grenada. By Ed-
ward Bulwer (Lord‘Ly ton).

126 When the Shi Comes Home. By
Walter Besant and ames Rice.

127 One of the Family. By James Payn. '8
128 The Blrthright. By Mrs. Gore.

1 29 Motherless ; or, The Farmer‘s Sweetheart.
By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham.

130 Homeless; or, TWO Orphan'Girls in New
York. By Albert W. Aiken.

1 31 Sister against Sister; or, The Rivalry oi
Hearts. By Mrs. Mary Reed Crowell.

132 Sold for Gold; or, Almost Lost. By Mrs.
M. V. Victor.

133 Lord Roth’s Sin; or. Betrothed at the
Cradle. By Mrs. Georgiana Dickens.

134 bead He Love Her ?, By Bartley T. Camp-

1 35 Sinned Against; or, Almost in His Power.
By Lillian Lovejoy. -

136 Was She His Wife? By Mrs. Mary Reed
Crowell. '

137 The Village on the Cliil'. By Miss
Thackeray.

138 Poor Valeria! or, The Broken Troth.
By Margaret-Bloom:

139 Margaret Graham. By G. P. R. James.

140 Without Mercy. By Bartley T.Campbell.

14 1 Honor Bound; or, Sealed to Secrecy. By
Lillian Lovejoy. ‘

142 Fleeing from Love.
Irving. _ y August lst.
143 Abducted; or. A Wicked Woman‘s Work.
By Rett \Vinwood’. . Ready August 8th.
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1 Deadwood Dick, TEE PRINCE on THE ROAD
B Edward L. Wheeler. ‘
2 ellowstonc Jack. ‘13 Joe. E. Badger, Jr.
3 Kansas King. B B alo Bill. ‘
4 The Wild-Horse unters. By Captain
Mayne Reid and Captain Frederick Whittaker.
5 Vagabond J 00,111: YOUNG WANDEEINO Jim.
B 011 Coomes. Double Numb” 10cm.
6 ill Biddon Trapper . E E. 3. Ellis.
7 The Flying ankce. By CO . P.1ngraham.
8 Seth Jones. By Edward S. Ellis.
9 Adventures oi Baron Mnnchauscn.
0 Nat Todd. By E. S. Ellis.
The Two Detectives. ‘By AW. Aiken.
Gulliver’s Travels. B Dean Swift.
The Dnnlb S . By 01 Coomes.
Aladdin; or. WONDERFUL LAMP.
The Sea-Cat. By Captain Fred. Whittaker.
Robinson Crusoe. (27111nstrations.)
Ralph Roy, THE BOY BUCCANEER; or, THE
FUGITIVE YACHT. B Col. Prentiss Ingraham.
Sindhad the Sal or. His Seven Voyages.
The Phantom Spy. By Buflalo Bill.
The Double Daggers. By E. L. Wheeler.
The Frontier Angel. By Edward S. Ellis.
The Sea Ser cut. 8% Juan Lewis.
Nick 0’ the lght. y'l‘. C. Harbaugh.
Diamond Dirk. By Colonel P. Ingmham.
The Bo Ca tain. ByRO er Starbuck.
26 Ciovcn 00 ,THE BUFFALO ann; or, Tm:
Boanns VUIA'UBES. By Edward L. Wheeler.
27 Antelope Abe, THE BOY GUIDE. Oil Coomes
28 Buil‘alo Ben, TEE PRINCE or Tar. PIs'rOL;
or meoon DICK IN DIsauIss. E. L. Wheeler.
29 The Dumb Page. B Capt. F. Whittaker.
so Roaring Ralph Roc wood, was asex—
less RANGER. By Harry St. Geor .
31 Keen-Knife, PRINCE or TEE By
011 Coomes.
32 Bob Woolf, TEE Boannn RWAN' or. Tm:
Gnu. DEAD-SHOT. By Edward L. Whee or.
33 The Ocean Bloodhound. 3W. Pierce.
34 Oregon Solé (X NICK Wnlmas‘ BOY SPY
. dams.

B Ca t. J. F.
35 WII Ivan. By Edward L. Wheeler.
36 The Bo CIOWn . By Frank S. Finn.
37 The Hi den Lodge. ByT. C. Harbaugh.
38 Ned .W‘ilde, Tar: BOY Scour. By Texas Jack.
39 Death- ace, THE DETECTIVE. By Wheeler.
40 Roving Ben. By J. J. Marshall.
41 Lasso Jack. B Oil Coomes.
42 The Phantom iner. 8% E. L. Wheeler.
43 Dick Darling TEE PONY xrsnss Rmrn.
By Capt. Freda k Whittaker.
44 att lug Rube. By Barry 81:. George.
45 Old Avalanche. By Edward L. Wheeler.
46 Glass Eye, THE GREAT SHUT on THE West.
1133' Capt. J. F. C. Adams.
47 ightingale Nat . By T. C. Harbaugh.
48 Black John, THE ROAD-AGENT. By Badger.
49 Omaha Oll. By Edward 1.. Wheeler.
50 Burt Bunker, THE TRAPPER. C. E. Lasalle.
51 The Bo By Archie C. irons.
52 The \i’h tc Bnii‘alo. By C. E. Lasalle.
3 Jim Bludsoc, Jr. By Edward L.Wheeler.
4 Ned Han-l. By Ca t. J. F. C. Adams.
5 Deadly - Eye, TEE NKNOWN Scour: or, Tar.
BRANDED BROTHEEEOOD. By Buffalo Bill.
6 Nick \i’hlilics‘ Pet. Ca t. J. F. C. Adams.
7 Deadwood Dick’s E tr on. By Wheeler.
8
9
0

HfiH

nnnwnmuu HHHHH
mawwucem aambwflu

lBlES.

The Border Kin". y 011 Coomes.

Old Hickory. By'llsrastJho .

The \Vhite Indian. pt. J. F. .Adams.

g1 'lriuckslhor: BilsliuByngabrcll  Yheeler.
2 c a o . “o. . ugraham.

es Tge Bed Journal. w. J. Hamilton.

thhm mam

64 Dand Jack. T. C. Harbaugh.
65 Ha cane Bill. % Jos. E. Badger, Jr
66 Single Hand. B .J. Hamilton.

67 Patent-leather oe. B ‘l’hili 8. Warne.
68 Border Robin Hoo . B uii’alo Bill.
69 Gold Bide. Edward L. eeler.
70 Old Zip’s Cab It. By Capt. J. F. C. Adams.
71 Delaware Dick. By 011 Coomes.
Western. By W. J. Hamilton.
73 Deadwood Dick on Deck. By Wheeler.
4 Hawk-eye Harry. By 01] Coomes.
. The Boy Duelist. By Col. P. In ham.
Abe Colt, TEE CHOW-KILLER. By A. . Aiken.
Corduro Charlie, TEE BOY BaAyo; or,
me000 xcx‘s harm. By E. L. Wheeler.
Blue Dick. By Ca tain Mayne Reid.
Sol Gin er GIANT'IgArrEa. ByA.W. Aiken.
Ronni 3’.) b. By Edward L. Wheeler.
Lightning Jo. By Captain J. F. C. Adams.
K t Barcioot. By T. C. Harbaufh.
nouoi'me Boy Banger. B5 0 l Coomes.
Idyl the Girl Miner. By .L. Wheeler.
3"“ _ Capt. J. F. C. Adams.
mndl no.0". By . Waldo Browne.
Th0 Ind Pirates. By Ca t. Mayne Reid.
88 Photofnyh Phil. B E. .Wheeler.
89 Illa!!! I III. '3' mm.
90 The Dread Rider. B 0. undo Browne.
91 The Captain ofiaulnlub‘ 9... M Young
RIVAL Arms. y Brace}, e Hemyng_
92 Canada Chet. By Edw 091m
93 Th Boy Miners. By wards. 17mm
94 Mi ni h‘t Jack. By .C.Harba
95 The B val lovers. Halt. Col. ,
98 Watch-Eye. Tn Samoy- By E. 1. Wheeler.
97 The Outlaw Brothers. By J. J. Marshall.
98 Robin Hood, TEE OUTLAwsn Ema; or, T3;
Y Man or GaEENWOOD. Prof. Gildersleeve.

q

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MMQQMMMGQJ 444
«amownuoom 4Q

 

. :go’l‘he'l‘iger oi‘ Taos. By G. Waldo Browne.

in Lcadville or,
goyggigxgirg: Liam. By 
101 Jack Harkaway in New York. By
3W Hemyns-
102 Dick Dead-Eye. By 001. lngraham.

 

3 The Lion of the Sea. By Col. Delle Sara.
4 Deadwood Dick’s Device. Bv Wheeler.
5 Old Rube, THE HUNTER. Capt. .Holmes.
6 Old Frosty, THE GUIDE. By '1‘. C. Harbaugh.
7 One-Eyed Sim. By James L. Bowen.
8 Daring: Davy. By Harry St. George.
9 Dcadtvood Dick "as Detective. By
Edward L. Wheeler.
0 The Black Steed of the Prairies. A
Thrillin Story Of Texan Adventure. By Bowen.
1 The . ea-Devil. By CO]. P. Ingmham.
The Mad Hunter. By Burton Saxe.
Jack Hoyle, THE YOUNG SPECU‘LA Ton; or,
THE ROAD TO FORTUNE. By Ed. L. Wl eeler.
The Black Schooner. Roger Starbuck.
The Mad lllincr. By G. Waldo Browne.
The Hussar (.‘a Itain. Col. P. Ingraham.
Gilt-Edged Dic . By E. L. Wheeler.

Mustang Sam. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.
The Branded Hand. ByFrankDumont.
(‘innamon Chip. By Edward L. Wheeler.
Phil- Hardy, TIIE Boss BOY. By C. Morris.
Kiowa Charley. By T. C. Harbaugh.
Tippy, THE TEXAN. By George Gleason.
Bonanza Bill, MINER. By Ed. L. Wheeler.
Pica 'une Pete. By Charles Morris.
Wll -Fire, Boss orTnE ROAD. B Dumont.
Thc l’oung Privateer. By H. ‘avendish.
Deadwood Dick’s Double. By Wheeler.
Detective Dick. By Charles Morris.
The Golden "and. By Geo. W. Browne.
The Hunted Hunter. By Ed. 8. Ellis.
Boss Bob, THE KING or me BOOTsLAcxs:
or. THE PAWNBROKEa‘s PLOT. Ed. 1.. Wheeler.
Sure Shot Seth. By 011 oomes.
(‘a italn Panhm EN'rn. YMOONsmNEs;
or HE BOY SPY or m MOUNTAINa By Clark.
Night-Hatvk Kit. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.
The Be! less Hand. Capt. Mayne Reid.
Blonde ill; or. meo Dmx‘s HOME
Bun. B Edward L. Wheeler.
Judge ynch, Jr. B T. C. Harbaugh.
Blue Blazes. B Fran Dumont. ‘
Solid Sam, Tm: or ROAD-AGENT; or, TEE
BRANDED Baows. By Edward L Wheeler.
Handsome Harry. BFCharies Morris.
Scar-Face Saul. O Coomes.
Daint Lance, me I? SPORT. By Badger.
Capta n Ferret. Edward L. Wheeler.
Silver Star, TEE BOY GET. By 000mm,
Will “'ildiirc, THE Taoaoucansmn; or,
TEE WINNING HAND. BX Charles Morris.
Sharp Sam. By J. lexander Patten.-
A Game of Gold. By Ed. L. Wheeler,
Lance and Lasso. B, Capt. F.Whittaker.
1 Panther Paul, TEE mu: PIRATE; or,
DAIN'I'Y LANCE To THE Rascna. J. E. Badger.
2 Black Bess, Wm. WILDmE's Rm“; or,
WINNING AGAINST Gone. By Charles Morris.
3 Eagle Kit, TEE Boy DEMON. ByOll Coomes.
4 The Sword Hunters. .Whittaker.
5 Gold T or erOIrr. .C.Karhaugh.
6 Deadwoo flick of Deadwood; or,
TEE PICKED PARTY. B ' Edward L. Wheeler.
157 Mike Merry, THE ARBOR POLICE Boner,
TEE NIOET-Hwas or DELPEIA. Morris.
28 Fanc Frank ot‘Colorndo. BuflaloBill.

9 The mat Captain. By .
 E. Badger, Jr.

1
1
160 The Black Giant.

161 New York Nell. By

162 “fill \Wildiire in the Woods. Morris.
:63 Little Texas. B on Coomes.

1

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End-‘- Wfi—CCDW‘1fiDVi-W09-‘Ofim‘lflchfi on:

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64 Dandy Bock’sl’ edge. B G.W. Browne.
65 Bill Baggage. B Char es Morris.
66 Hic ory Harry. yHarry St. George.
67 A no Scott, THE BTEAMBOAT BOY. By Willett.
68 Deadly Dash. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.
69 Tornado Tom. By T. C. Harbaugh.
70 A Trump Card. By Charles Morris.
Ebony Dan. By Frank Dumont.
ThunderboltTom. 'ByHa 8t.George.
Dandy Bock’s Rival. By .W. Browne.
Bob Beckett, THE BOY Down. By Morri.
. Captain Arizona. By Philifl) S.Warne.
The Boy Runaway. By lent. Perry.
Nohhy Nick of Nevada. E. L. Wheeler.
Old Solitary. By Oil Coomes.
Bob Bockett THE BANK RL'NNER. Morris.
The Sea Trai er. By Lieut. H. D. Perry.
“1” Frank, TEE Bvcxser Bravo; or,
LADY LILY‘s LOVE. By Edward L. Wheeler.
Little Hurricane. By Oll Coomes.
The Hidden Hand. By Chas. Morris.
The Boy Trailers. By Badger, Jr. -
Evil Eye, KING or CAT-rm: 'l‘msvns: or, TEE
Vuurnass or m Rio GRANDE. By 1". Dumont.
Cool Desmond. By Col. Delle Sara.
Fred Haiyard. By Charles Morris.
Ned Temxle, THE Boson Boy. Harbouzh.
Boh Boc ett, TEE CnActsaAN. By Morris.
Dand Darke. By Wm. R. Eyster.
Buil‘a 0 Billy. By Capt.Tavlor. U. B. A.
Captain Kit. By Lieut. H.D.‘Perry.U.S.N.
Captain Mask. B Philip S. Warne.
Bull'alo Bill’s Be . By Captain Taylor."
Deadwood Dick’s Dream. By Wheeler.
ShadoWed. By Charles Morris.
Little Grit, m WILD Rm“. By Ingraham.
Arkansaw. m MAN wrra ran Km
By T. C. Harbauzh.
1 99 Fgatlli’cmgigsh t.i By ngavl‘g‘
200Te o couns. y -
 gheBllfliiigillsBJcmfl. By Wheelér.
ros cc e c. 00 e .
203 The oy Pards. yBy Jba’fi. Badger, Jr.
204 Gold Plume m BOT Bum-r. Inmham.
205 Deadwood ck’s Dog}. By Wheeler.
206 Dark Paul, m Trans 0. By C. Morris.

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207 Navajo Nick. 'By'l‘. 0. Karma!!!-

\i’i|l‘ Somers, THE BOY DETECTIVE. Moms.

 

208

209 The Boy Hercules. By OllCoomes.

Fritz, THE BOUND-BOY DETECTIVE. Wheeler.
Faro Frank of Hi h Pine. By Ejyster.
Crooked Cale. By 08. E. Badger, r.
Dashing Dave, THE DANDY DETECTIVE.
By Charles Morris.

Fritz to the Front. By E. L. Wheeler.
“'oli‘gang TEE Rosana or THE RHINE.
By Captain F’rederick Whittaker.

Caéitain Bullet, THE RAIDEE KING. By
T. .Harba h.

Bison Bil , TEE PRINCE or TEE REINs.
By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

Captain Crack-Shot. B E. L. Wheeler
Tiger Tom, TEE TEXAN issues. By 011
Coomes.

219 Despard, the Duelist. ByP. S.Wame.

220 Tom Tanner, SCALAWAG AND SCAPEGRACE.
By Charles Morris.

22] Sugar Coated Sam. By E. L. Wheeler.

222 Grit, the Bravn Sport. By Ingraham.

223 Ozark Alf KING OF THE MOUNTAIN. By

wa Willeit.

224 Dashing Dick; or. TaArrsa Tom's CAs'ru.
By 011 Coomes.

225 Sam Charcoal. By Charles Morris.

226 Snoozer, THE BOY SHARP. By E. LWheeler.

227 Dusky Darrell. Turns. By E. Emerson.

228 Little Wildfire. By 011 Coomes.

229 Crimson Bate, ms Gnu. TRAILEE. By
Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

230 The Yankee Rajah. By C. D. Clark.

231 Plucky Phil, or TEE MOUNTAIN TRAIL. By
T. Harbaugh.

232 Gold-Dust Dick. By E. L. Wheeler.

233 Joe Buck, ofAuzels Asn His BOY PAaD
PAUL PowmmnoaN. By Albert W. Aiken.

234 Old Rocky’s “ Boyees ;” or, Bum.
THE YOUNG Hom—Bauxsa. By Buckskin Sam.

235 Shadow Sam, m Messiaen BOY; or,
TUENTNO Tan Tmm. By Charles Morris.

236 Apollo Bill, TEE TaAIL TOENADO. By Ed-
ward Wheeler.

237 Lone Star, the Cowboy Captain or.
TEE Mrs'rzluous RAnanao. By P. Ingra am.

238 The Parson Detective. ByOlI Coomes.

239 The Gold-seeker Guide: or, Tin Los'r
MOUNTAIN. By Capmn Meyne Reid.

240 Cyclone Kit. By Edward L. Wheeler.

241 Bill Bravo and ms Bear Pards.
By T. C. Harbaugh.

242 The Two ‘ Bloods’. By Charles Morris.

243 The Disguiscd Guide. By 011 Coomes.

244 Sierra Sam, TEE FRONTIsa FEM. By
Edward L. Wheeler.

245 Merle, the Middy. By Col. P.1Dgraham.

246 Giant George. By Buckskin Sam.

247 Old Grizzly and His Pets. By Captain
“ Bruin " Adams.

248 Sierra Sa’s Secret. By E. L. Wheeler.
249 Milo Ron-er. By Capt. Fred. Whittaker.
250 Midshipman Mutiuoer. By ingraham.
251 Light-house Lige. ByJ. F. C. Adams.
252 Dick Dashawayi; or, A DAxOTA Bar IN
CHICAGO. By Chas orris.
253 Sierra Sam’s Pard. By E. L. Wheeler.
254 The Half Blood: or. Tm: PANTHER or
'1'“ Ne. By Edward 3. Ellis.

255 Ca tain Apollo, Tin: Kine-Put orBowm;
or. men 0‘ Inomxso’s Fm. By T. C.
Harbaugh. v

256 Young Kcntuck} or, Tn: RID LAsso.
By Captain Mark Wilton. '

257 The Lost Hunters; or Tm: Um“.
commie.

N
H
°

NM NM
an

Mn N N
ha H H mm HH
mu a 9‘ .893

GROUND CAIP. Adams.
258 Sierra Sam’s Sevon; or, Tm: STOLEN
Barns. By Edward 1.. Wheeler.
259 The Golden Harpoon; or. Low AMONG
THE moss. By Niger Starbuck.
260 Dare-Devil Dan, Tn: YOUNG Puma: '
' RANGER. By OllCoomes. ,
261 Fergus Fearuau ht, TEE Raw You
BOY. By George L. AI '81).

262 The Young Sleuths; or. ROLLIan
Mm’s HOT TRAIL. By Charles Morris.

263 DeadWood Dick’s Divide. By Edward
L. Wheeler.

264 The Floating Feather;
Mom‘s Tauscu ISLAND. By
Ingraham.

265 The Tiger Tamer earn Luann 'or
ran Jason. By Continua-Hm

266 Killvar, theGuidc 
By Ensign Charles ey men, (:1 the
Engineer’s Corps.)

267 The Buckskin Detectit'e.
Harbaugh. Ready September 5th.

Anewiuuacmwaek.

or. Manna
Col. Prentiss

By '1‘. C.

.12: estimates-wags: e b an

Yew ea ye m on

recel t otrfl’ix cents each. gitan & ADAMS.
ers, 98 William Street. New York.

 

 

 

A El? A

 

 

 

 

D l'i'li_lf’§[NEEDEDHill II?! R I A I’ it

 

 

1. A Hard Crowd. By P. S. Warne.

2. The Dare-Devil. By Col. Ingraham.
3. Kit Carson, Jr. By Buckskin Sam.
4. The Kidnapper. By P. S. Warne.
5. The Fire-Piends. By A. P. Morris.
6. Wildcat Bob. By E. L Wheeler.

7. Death-Notch, THE DESTROYER; OR,

THE SPIRIT LAKE AVENOEns. By 011 Coomes.

8. The Headless Horseman. A’stI-ango
story of Texas. By Capt. Mayne Reid.

9. Handy Andy. By Samuel Lover.

10. Vidocq, THE FRENCH POLICE SPY.

W'ritten by himself.

11. Midshipman Easy. Capt. Marryat.
12. The Death-Shot By Mayne Reid.
13. Pathaway. By Dr. J. H. Robinson.
14. Thayendane ea. By Ned Buntline.
15. The Ti r-S ayer. By G. Aimard.
16. The W te Wizard. Ned Buntline.
17. Nightshade. By Dr. J. H. Robinson.
18. The Sea Bandit. By Ned Buntline.
19. Red Cedar. By Gustave Aimard.

20. The Bandit at Bay. By Aimard.
21. The Trapper’s Daughter; 08.,

THE OUTLAW‘S FATE. By Gustave Almard.

22. Whitelaw. By Dr. J. H. Robinson.
23. The Red Warrior. By Ned Buntline
24. Prairie Flower. By G. Aimard.

25. The Gold-Guide. By F. Johnson.
26. The Death-Track. By F. Johnson.
27. The Spotter-Detective. By Aiken.
28. Three-Pingered Jack. THE ROAD-

AGENT or T8! ROCKIEs. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr.
29. Tiger Dick, TEE FAEO KING; or,

THE CAsmEn’s CEIEE. By Pliin S. Warne.

30. Gospel Geor . By J. E. Badger.
31. The New Yor Sharp. By Aiken.
32. B’hoys of Yale. By J. D. Vose.

33. Overland Kit. By A. W. Aiken,
34. Roch Mountain Rob. By Aiken.
35. Kentuck. the Sport. By Aiken.

36. hijun Dick. By Albert W. Aiken.

37. H vi. the Hunchback; OR, THE

SwonnnAEEE or TEE SANTEE. By Dr. J. H. Robinson.
38. Velvet Hand. By A. W. Aiken.
39. The Russian Spy. By Whittaker.
40. The Lo Haired ‘Pardsz’ on,

THE TAnTAEs or TEE Ns. By Jos. E. Badger. Jr.
41. Gold Dan. By Albert W. Aiken.
42. California Detective. By Aiken.
43. Dakota Dan. By Oil Coomes.

44. Old Dan Raekback. Oli Coomes.
45. Old Bull's Eye. Joe. E. Badger, Jr.
46. Bowie-Knife Ben. By 011 Coomes.
47. Pacific Pete. By Joe. E. Badger, Jr.
48. Idaho Tom. By Oil Coomes.

49. The WolfDemon. By A. W. Aiken.
50. Jack Rabbit, THE PRAIRIE SPORT;

By Joe. E. Badger, Jr.

51. Red Rob, THE BOY ROAD-AGENT.

By 011 Coomes.

52. Death Trailer. By Buffalo Bill.
53. Silver 8am. By Col. Delie Sara.

' 54. Always on Hand. By P. S. Warne.
5.5. The Scalp Hunters. Mayne Reid.
56. The Indian Mazeppa. By Aiken.
57. The Sil t Hunter. P. B. St. John.
58. Silver 0. By Dr. J. H. Robinson.
59. The Man From Texas. By Aiken.
60. Wide” Awake. By Frank Dumont.
61. Captain Seawaif. By Ned Buntiine
62. Loyal Heart. By Gustave Aimard.
63. The Win Whale. By Aiken.

64. Double- ifht, the Death Shot.
By Josegl'lhE. Badger. r.
65. e Red Ra ah. By F‘. Whittaker.

66. The r arque. Mayne Reid.
67. The Joe . By J. E. Badger.
68. The P hting r; or, KIT
CAnson To THE REscvn. By Capt. J. F. C. Adams
69. Irish ’Ftain. By Whittaker.
70. Hydrabad. HE STEANOLEE; or,
ALEmE, THE (311an or TEE COED. B Robinson.
71. Captain Cool-Blade. .E. Badger.
72. The Phantom Hand. By Aiken.
78.The Kn t oftheRodCross:
or. Tn MAOIOIAN or MADA. Dr. J. H. Robinson.
74. Captain ofths Rifles. Mayne Reid.
75. Gentleman Goor By Aiken.
76. The Queen’s nsketeer: or,
Tst m Pumas Pusan. By George Albony.
77. The Fresh ofPriseo. By Aiken.“
78. The mysterious ._ By finger
79. JoePhoniaPoucE Pr. By Aiken.

80. A Man of Nerve. By P. S. Warns.

 

 

Y. 

 

 

 

 

81. The Human Tiger. By Aiken.
82. Iron Wrist. the Swordmaster.
By Col. Thomas H. Monstery.
83. Gold Bullet Sport. By Buffalo Bill.
84. Hunted Down. By A. W. Aiken.
85. The Cretan Rover. By lngraham.
86. The Big Hu‘nter: or. THE QUEEN
OF THE \Voons. By the author of “ Silent Hunter.”
87. The Scarlet Captain. Delie Sara.
88. Big Geor e, THE GIANT OF THE
GULCH; or, III: FIVE ("i‘LAW BROTHERS. By Badger.
89. The Pirate Prince. Bylngraham.
90. Wild Will. By Burkskin Sam.
91. The Winning Oar. By Aiken.
92. Bufi'alo Bill. By Dangerfield Burr.
93. Captain Dick Talbot. By Aiken.
94. Freelance, THE BUCCANEER; or, The
WAIF‘ OF THE WAVE. 1y Col. Prentiss Ingrahnm.

95. Azhort, THE AXMAN. By A. P. Morris.-

96. Double-Death. By F. Whittaker.
97. Bronze Jack. By A. W. Aiken.
98. The Rock Rider. By Whittaker.
99. The Giant Rifleman. Oil Coomes
100. The French Spy. By A. P. Morris.
101. The Man from New York; or,
TnE ROEANCE or A RICE YOUNG WOMAN. By Aiken.
102. The Masked Band. Goe. L. Aike’n
103. Merle, the Mutineer. Ingmham.
104. Montezuma, the Merciless; or,
TEE EAGLE AND THE SEanNT. By Col. P. Ingraham.
105. Dan Brown of Denver, TIIE
ROCKY MOUNTAIN DETECTIVE. By JOE. E. Badger, Jr.
106. Shamus O’Brien. Col. Delle Sara.
107. Richard Talbot of Cinnabar;
or, THE BEOTnEEs or THE RED HAND. By A.W. Aiken.
108. The Duke of Diamonds; or, THE
FLOWER on CAwUTrA. By Capt. Fred. Whittaker.
109. Captain K d. By Col. Ingraham.
1 10. The Silent ifleman. By Herbert.
1 1 1. The Smuggler Captain; or, THE
SEIppEn’s CnmE. By edBuntiine.
12. Joe Phenix, PRIVATE DETECTIVE;
or, TEE LEAGUE or THE S ELETON KEYS. By Aiken.
113. The Sea Slipper; or, THE AMA-
Tnnn FEEEDOOTEEB. B Pro .J. H. Ingraham.
114. The Gen eman from Pike; or,
TEE GHOST or Tn CANYON. By Philip S. Warne.
1 15. The ve Head. Whittaker.
1 16. Black Plume. By Col. Ingraham.
1 17. Dan. Dan . By Major Burr.
118. The Bur lar aptain; or, TIIE
FALLEN STAE. By Pro . J. H. Ingmham.
119. Alabama Joe. By J. E. Badger.
120. The Texan y. By N. M. Curtis.
121. The Sea C et. By Ingraham.
122. Saul Sabberday,TnE IDIOT SPY;
or, LnLIONA, THE SEEINOLE. B Ned Buntline.
123. Alapaha, the uaw; or, THE
RENEoAnEs or THE BORDER. By rancis Johnson.
24. Assowaum. the Ave er; or,
THE Doom or TEE DEATIerEs. By Franc Johnson.
125. The mith Outlaw; or,
Msnnr ENGLAND. By Harrison Ainsworth.
26. TheDemon Duelist. By Monstery.
127. 801 Scott. THE MASKED MINER; or,
DAN BROWN‘s D UBLI. B Jase hE. Badger.
128. The Chev er orsair; or, THE
HERITAGE or HATnED. By the author of “Merle.”
129. Mississip iMose. By Ed.Willett.
130. Captain olcano. By Aiken.
131. Buckskin Sam. By Col. Ingrahnm.
132. Name, King of the Tramps; or,
TEE ROMANY GmL's VENOEANCE. By Whittaker.
33. Body. the Rover; or. THE RIB-
BONMAN or IRELAND. By William Carleton.
134. Darkie .Dan. By Col. Ingraham.
135. The Bush Ball or. By Johnson.
136. The Outlaw- unter. Johnson.
137. Long Beard. THE GIANT SPY. By
Oil Coomes.
138. The Border Bandits. Johnson.
139. Fire-Eye. THE SEA HYENA; or,
Tm: BquE or A BDCCANEEE. By Col. P. Ingrahnm.
140. The Three Spaniards. By
Geo eWslker.
1 1. Equinox Tom. By J. E. Badger.
142. Ca tain Crimson, THE MAN or THE

IRON FACE. Major D erleld, Burr.
143. The Csar’s . By Monster-y.
144. The Hun ofNotre-Damo.
By Victor Hugo.

145. Pistol Pards. By W. R. Eyster.

146. The Doctor Detective; or, TEE
Mrs-run or TEE GOLDEN ComN. By Geo. Lemuel.

147. Gold nr. Tan GENTLIW ruox
Tun. By Colonel rentiss

148. One-Armed Alf. By 011 Coomes.

149. The Border Rlflos. By Aimard.

 

 

150. El Rubia Bravo.‘ KING on THE
SwonnsEEN. By COL Thomas Iioyer Monstery.
51. The Preebooters. By Aimard.
152. Captain Ironnerve. THE COUN-
TERFEITER CHIEF. By Marmaduke Dey.
153. The White Scalper. By Aimard.
154. Joaquin, THE SADDLE KING. By
Joseph E. Badger, Jr.
155. The Corsair Queen. By Col.
Prentiss In raham.
156. gelvet Pace. By Major Burr.
157. Mourad. THE .MAMELUKE.
(‘01. Thomas Hoyer Monster .
8. The Doomed Dozen; or, D0-
mnEs, THE DANITE’s DAI‘GHTER. By Dr. F. POWell.
159. Red Rudiger. THE ARCHER. By
Ca rain Frederick Whittaker.
60. Soft Hand. Shag). B Eyster.
161. The Wolves of ew ork; or,
JOE PIIENIx‘s GREAT MAN HUNT. By A. W. Aiken.
162. The Mad Mariner: or, DisnON-
onED AND DIsOWNED. By COL, Prentiss Ingraham.
163. Ben Brion, THE TRAPPER CAP-
TAIN. By Dr. J. H. Robinson.
164. The King’s Pool. By C. D. Clark.
165. Joaquin, the Terrible. By Joe.
E. Bad er, Jr.
16 . let, the Robber Prince: or,
TEE UNKNOWN HIGHWAYEAN. By Septlmus RUrhan.
167. The Man of Steel. A. P. Morris.
168. Wild Bill, THE PISTOL DEAD SHOT.
By Colonel Prentiss Ingrnham.
169. Corporal Cannon. THE MAN or
FORTY DUELs. y Colonel Thomas Hoyer Monstery
170. Sweet William. THE TBArPnR
DETECTIVE. By Jose h E. Badger, Jr.
171. T r ick. THE MAN or THE
IRON HEART. Phili S. Wane. ,
172. The Blac Pirate. By Ingraham.
173. California John. By AW. Aiken.
174. The Phantom K ts. A Tale
of Chivalr . By (‘a tain Frederick hittaker.
175. Wild Bp ’s Trump Card. By
Ms or Dan erfleid Burr.
76. ad Jaguaryrnn ROBBER QUEEN.
By Ca tain Mar Wilton. ‘
17 . Don Diablo, THE PLANTER-COR-
SAIR. By Col. Prentiss lngraham.
178. Dark Dashwood, TEE DESPERATE.
or, TEE CHILD or THE SUN. By Me or S. 8. Hall.
179. Conrad, the Con ; or. WAs
HE GUILTY? By Prof. Stewart Gildersleeve, LL.D.
180. Old 49. By Joe. E. Badger, Jr.
181. The Scarlet Schooner; or THE
NEEESIS OF THE SEA. By Col. Prentiss Ingr. am. '
182. Hands ‘7 ! By Wm. B. Eyster.
183. Gilbert, 6 Guide. C. D. Clark.
184. The Ocean Vampire: or, TEE
HEIREss or CASTLE CURSE. B Col. P. Ingraham.
185. Man ider. y A. P. Morris.
186. The lack Bravo 3 or, THE
TONEAWAY’s TRIUMPH. By Buekskin Sam.
187. The Death’s Head ssiers:
or, BRAVE on ALL Biuvss. By Ca t. le.Whittaker.
88. The Phantom aseppa. By

Maior DarWrfleid Burr.
89. old Trail: or, THE

By

ild Bill’s
DnsrsnADo now. By Co . Prentiss Ingrahsm.
190. The Three Guardsmen. By
Alexandre Dumas. r
191. The Terrible Tenkawa' ; or,
OLD Rec" AND His PAaDs. By Buckskin m.
192. The htning 8%, 3 or, THE
BAD MEN or SLAUGHTER BAR. By m. R. Eyster.
193. The Man in Red; or, T3 GHOST
or THE OLD GnAnD. B Captain Fred. Whitaker.
194. Don Som rero. TEE CALImnNIA
ROAD Gm. By Captain Mark Wilton.
195. Lone Star or; or,
TEE MAID or Tn: MAGNOLIAs. By Buckskin Sam.
96. La Marnie-ct. THE DETECTIVE
m; or, TEE LoeT Run or Mona. By AJan
. on.

197. Revolver Rob. THE REDHANDED;
o; TEEJBm or Nuoorr Cm. By Joseph E.
or r. . '
851398. The Skeleton Schooner. By

Col. Prentiss Inxrahsm.
199. Diamond Dick, m DANDY mom
Dmnn. muckskm Sam.

200. Rifle Rangers. By Cspt.
Ma ne Reid.
501. The Pirate ofthe rho-um,

JoAqm‘s Dun-Hun. By Joseph I. Badger, Jr.
Ready August Nth.

Ammeverywak.

lie-«He’s Dime Lihrsry is for ssle by m
Newsdeslers. ten cents per copy. or sent by mail on
receipt of twelve éents each. BEADLE a ADAMS,
Publishers. % William Street. New York.