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LNThEI-Zb AT THE POST Orr-1cm AT LAW YORK, N. Y., AT SECOAD CLASS MAIL HATER.

 
A

ﬂeadle rfv ﬂdcuns, @Izblz'shers,
98 “HULL-\M STREET, N. Y., October 5. 1851.

Published Every
Week.

Ten Cent: 3 Copy.
$5.00 a Year.

{f0}. XII.

JOAQUIN,

A ROMANCE 0P MURIETA’S FIRST FIGHT.

 
BY JOSEPH E. BADGER, JR.,

“N * inle

THE SADDLE KTNG;

AUTHOR or “EQUINOX TOM,” “ son soon,” “ALABAMA Jon,” “JACK RABBIT,” “CAPTAIN COOL-BLADE," “ PACIFIC PETE,” ETC., mo.

.1

BY A SWIFT, DESPERATE STRUGGLE. JOAQUIN mun-A moon ERECT UPON THE mu: WALL Am A CIDL‘D OF an AND DUST,
meE ms GOOD HORSE wm DOWN To A CRU‘EL DEATH UPON Tm: RAGGED BOWLDERS BELOW.

 
1 I

WI  W}{unmiqu ‘ ‘

 
' general’s oath? He who ﬁrst

'was then known

,imthodispar

2 ,

Joaquin, the Saddle King.i

 
Joaquin, the Saddle King,

A Romance of Muﬂeta’s Ffrnt Fight.

 
BY JOSEPH E. BADGER, JIL,

human. or “Eonmox TOM,” “sot. sco'i'r,”
“ALABAMA JOE," “0., are.

CHAPTER I.
THE RIVAL EQUESTRIANS.

“ Dm you speak to me, senor?"

These words rung out clear and sharp, as the
speaker turned half around in the saddle, a
deepening ﬂush ~ upon his ,bronzed cheek,
mingled scorn and deﬁance ﬂashing from his
keen, black eyes. , -

Asuwring smile was curlin the mustaches
ofthe man addressed; a tall, andsome, dash-
ing c valier, on whom the national costume
sat ' .‘h a peculiar grace, gold and silver lace

 
lies in inthe afternoon sun as his lithe form
8V“!er in rfect unison with the restless
movements the mettled charger he bestrode.

“ Not to but of you, boy,” was the careless re-
ply; “ And if you are curious toknow what Isaid

will repeat—what a clumsy way to bestride a
horse!” ‘

“’Tis an American style of mounting, and
one you might often havo seen, Senor Camp
lido, while your re ‘ ent was over the border,
had not your bac generally taken the place
where your front should have been—facing the
Texansl” came the swift retort, followed by a.
short, mocking laugh.

Both struck home, and rankled deeply. ' A
mad glow ﬂlled‘the eyes of the elder man, and
hishand grasped the heft ofrthe short, heavy
sword that Was clasped closeto‘ the saddle, be-
neath one muscular thigh. _

As though on It pivot the black stallion
wheeled around, its youthful rider boldly fac-
ing his formidable anta%nist, no less eager
than be for the collision. at just then an old
man rushed forward with upraised hand and
warnin voice:—

“Hol , senoresl Have you forgotten the
draws weapons
on these grounds, dies the death of a. dog by

thgfarrotel”

ith a scowl Camindo looked at the gray-
beard for a. moment, ut then released his wea-
pon, and turned his horse’s head as though to
ride away. The aﬂair was not to end in such a
tame manner, however. ‘

For reasons which will shortly begiven, there
was a rivalry between Camplido an the outh,
none the less intense because it had ' now
smoldered beneath the surface. Each man could
read the heart of the other clearly as a printed
page, and each lmew that the time must come,
sooner or later, when one must yield or die.

There was a wide gulf between them ' y.
Manuel Camplido was an ex-captam of lancers,
a rich who could number has horses
and mttle by the thousand while the youth, a
native of Sonora, J oaonm own by name,
orgy as a s'mple vaquero in the
em lay of Ge 1 note. Anna. ‘ .

ven at thanme age, Joaquin could With

some pro riety claim the title of the SADDLE

KJNG,‘ anti) his remarkable skill served to deepen
the‘hatred felt for him by Oamplido. .

~- On this occasion, the young Sonormn had

vsultedinto the saddle without aid of hand or

just ashis rival rode u what :ldre‘xi'

‘ agm remar reco e

“ There is a. limit go these grounds, where the
orders of the general do not extend, and it is a
pleasant afternoon for a little ride."lpointedly
uttered Hui-iota. “ if the high an mighty
Senor Don Manuel Campiido pleases—”

“You dareto challenge me—a Spanish gen-
tleman!" cried the ranchero, his face hvzd With
rage. “You—a nameless. low-born boy—”

A I grant you, but a bov whose name
sullied by cowardice—a. bo who

boy.
has never been
h your_ superior in bl and

‘ manhood—your master in every thing that de-

mands courage, skill and nerve—ayl a boy as
much yonr better as the Americans you curse—
at 3 info distance—are the superiors of all you
crave? milk-hearted inlanders l” ‘ impetucusl y
cried uin.
An “My cry came from all who heard him,
and rung-wen pair of eyes ﬂashed venomously
at thiebold de ce. But J oaqnin only laughed,
contemptuously. I, _
“Bani had ou- looked one-half as ﬁerce m
the time of , as you look now, Texas would
still be a part of Mexico—tor the coward] Am-
ericans, as you call them, would have ed in
terror. was plenty of running, and the
Ameri did their part—but only when you
and your sort showed them the way]. When
they could come to close quarters, e took
their taste of steel inhont—notlikewme could
wars with their
like'the back of a

name, who to from

uniform striped and

runaway slave—and in precisely the same.
place!”

0am lido almost suﬂoaitin with e
{adre'gisved one wound duiginga. 

remain the‘porﬁon of his bodwa he

aleueweaunabletoseethem. '

v

 
“ You—you dare to praise the heathen
Americans—"

“Ayl because the are men! I have lived
with them—ate, foug t and ridden with them.
I am proud to call them my friends—I on]
wish they were my countrymen. From them
learned to ride, and clumsy or not, I mine here
to teach you the ﬁrst elements of the art!”

At this juncture, a low-brewed, heavy-set,
villainous-looking fellow made a quick, esture
which caught the e e of Manuel Campli 0. Its
meaning was rea ily understood, and a cold,
sneering smile replaced the look of devilish
hatred as the ranchero once more released the
hilt of his weapon.

“ For once 1 will lower myself to your level
bra ggart boy. You have your Chosen horse——
have mine. If you can act as well as boast,
follow the example I set on.”

“ I would rather ﬁght t an ride against you,”
retortcd Joaquin laughing, “ but maybe the
day will come w en you can borrow coura e
enough to face cold steel or hot lead in the
hands of a boy I”

“ If you do not break your neck before this
trial of skill is concluded, I will take great
pleasure in- cutting your throat immediately
afterward," insolen ly retorted Complido.

Joaquin made no reply to this boast save by a
short, careless laugh, and then the rival eques-
triaus began their pre arations for the display
of daring and skillfu horsemanship. Despite
the slurs which had mutually been cast, each
knew that the other was no mean antagonist,
and not a single grunt by which victory might ,
be won or defeat estowed was neglected. Dis— ‘
mounting, ever strap and buckle was ‘
thoroughly tests .

Their movements were closely watched by
the members of Santa Anna‘s household, and
here again was the Mexican nature characteris—
tically portrayed. Not one among them but
hated the young Sonorian as the devil is fabled
to hate ho y water; not one but what fervently
longed to witness his downfall in the present
contest, for that would mean banishment; et
the wagers so loudly offered by Campli o’s
nearest adherents were promptly taken by
those who, while hating Joaquin more or 1993,
did not allow prejudice to blind them to a sense
of their own interests.

“ Either way we will be consoled,” rimaced
one old rascal. “ If the son-of-a-devil oses, his
humiliation will be a salve to cover the loss of
my pesos, and should he prove the victor, a.
quart ortwo of brandy will wash away the stain
our gold won through such an evil agent 1"

That the Mem’cans are a race of natural-born
horsemenh‘ their worst enemies cannot den .
They live in the saddle, and only need. a litt a
more coura e to become the ﬁnest ca , men
in the worl And these two men were‘ admi-
rable specimens of their race, both superb riders,
though the critical eye could detect a strong
contrast between them.. I . '

There was a suspicion of stiffness in the mova-
ments of Camplido, a degree of staieliness that
savored strongly of the camp; the recision of
his exercise was at slices of grace— 9 quality,
united with wild peculiar abandon“, that was,
most cons icuous in his youthful rival.

At best at a. a idea can be 'ven throu h
the medium of p nted words—on y an unset
factory shadow of the curious feats ri’ounedv
and for that reason no detailed description will
be attempted here. ,

Camplido led the way, and Joaquin followed
the example thus set him with swift and easy
accuracy. Each feat and trick was imitated so
exactly, that even those of his enemies who had
wagered their money against him,had nothin to
say. It was horse against horse, as an age but
man, and the noble creatures seem to feel the
hot rivalry that consumed their masters. For
a full hour did the struggle for supremacy last,
and at theend of that was no nearer a
decision than at the ginning, though what
advantage there was -la with the youth, since
he had followed his riva throughout. But there
was a laughing light in his keen eyes, a mock-
ing smile u n his lip that made those backing
Camplido .cel nervous. What would be the re-
sult when he should take the lead?

“ There’s more coming, ” muttered one of the
va ueros, as the ex-oaptain of lancers drew rein
an oﬂ'ered his ﬁery horse a breathing s 11.
“ Look at his face—is that the eye of a hen.
man? Yet‘the boy rides well; better by tar”
than I thought was in the rascal 1”

There was no reply, for just then Joaquin
faced his antagonist and uttered: '

“You spoke of riding, senor. If on have
warmed your horse sufﬁciently in this triﬂing
exvrcise, suppose we settle down to work. ”

This taunt struck home, and the swarthy face
of Camplido ﬂushed hotly. By a powerful ef- '
fort he calmed his voice and made reply:

“ As you say, I have only been playing with
you, that your downfall ma be the more com-
pleteh Strip your horse, an prepare for busi-,
ness '

A3 he spoke, Camplido dismounted a...
yielding his animal to the eager hands of his
iI‘dhereuts, gave them his instructions in a few

Joaquin watched then-movements closely,

 
.shall take the blindfold leap

-repeat

'for he knew only too well that be numbered
onl enemies among them-that not one of them
all ut would gladly play him some foul trick
c9lll‘ld it be done Without incurring too great 8.
ns .
. The ridin ground was a. level area compris-
itii‘g some he f a dozen acres, bounded on one
s eby the hacienda and its massive walls, on
other two sides by stone walls six feet hi h and
a yard in thickness, while the other si e was
bordered b a deep and wide barranca or'can-
‘yon, the si es of which were almost perpendic‘
ular, the bottom being paved with rough and
re ed bowlders.

anuel Complido moved toward the north.
east corner formed b the barranca and the
wall. By his directions the Mexican rolled
stones, cacti and brush in a line parallel with
the gulch, and barely more than a yard from
the escarpment, building up a barrier breast
lngh. When this was fairly under way, he
turned to Joaquin, with an evil smile that
showed his white, pointed teeth.

“You shall see what a entleman rider can
dare and acconi lish. Wit out saddle or bridle,
I will ride at fu 1 speed along that narrow ath
and leap onder wall—a feet that will test th
horse an man. Follow me—or own yourself a
bra ging coward!”

T e young man laughed insolently.

“Bah! is that all? From your tragic looks I
expected something better—something that a
man might perform without blushing for shame
lest he be caught wasting his time at such
childish sport. "

‘Involuntarily Camplido grasped the hilt of
his sword, but Joaquin sat with his arms skim-
bo, one hand close to the gleaming butt of a re-
volver, and theex-captain released his weapon
with a forced laugh. . -

“Words are easy spoken. My horse against
yours that your nerve fails ou—that you either

ﬂinch from the test, or brea your neck through
your awkwardness.”
“ Done!" was the quick reply. “ And when I

have won I will banter you to take one leap
after me. If you accept, I will own my mis-
take and confess that you are a man, instead
of the‘craven I have always considered you.”

Again_that evil smile, which Joaquin felt
sodgd him treachery, curled Camplid‘o's mus-

ac es.

“Whatever mortal man can imagine 'ble
in horse and rider, that I claim is not yond
my skill. For fear that you may fail to cross
yonder wall, make known your conditions now,
and I swear to perform e feat, either after
your lead, or as a tribute to your death, should
your nerve fail.”

I “The leap is the same as that you propose:
tocroas that wall, b this narrow trail, without
saddle or bridle. at in addition, Iwill hind
my hands behind my back, and have my eyes
bands ed. And if you dare to follow my lead
in the , another test occurs to me.”

“ And that test is?”

“Our bands will remain bound as before, but
our eyes left at liberty. One lasso will join our
horses’ heads together, another one be noosed
around our own throats. Our animals will be
blinded, to keep them from ﬂinchi’ng. Then we
will advance at a gallop and try to leap over
the barranca I" I

Despite his eﬂorts at self-control, Camphdo
uttered an exclamation of horror at this san-
guinary reposition. ‘ v

“The ‘ one does not live that could leap
blindfolded from side to side!” he muttered, his
lips twitching nervously.

“Very true; but it is easy enough to leap
from to to the bottom,” laughed t e reckless
young norian.

“ It would be rank suicide. Bah! you are only
talking for the sake of hearing your own voice.

“ True as there is a sun shining in the heavens
yonder, I am in deadly earnest," replied Mu-
rieta, his voice stern, his face hard set. “ You
over the wall after
me, and if you succeed in hat,,then comes the
other, or I will tear of! your borrowed lumes
and brand you far and wide as the white- ivered
craven I still beheVe you. You know, as well
as I, that this world is not large enough to con-
tain us both. Twice already you have attempt-
ed my life throu h hired tools, too cowardly to
face me ouer . I hate you as bitterly, but I
askno ds.- I am ready to run the same risk
a—to die, if necemary, to make sure that do
not live to claim the dear prim we both' at.”

The concluding words were ' in a
guarded tone that was inaudible“ all other
ears, but with an intensity thatlahtmed how
tembly in earnest was the youth? .. I ,

For an instant Camplido wildﬁﬁnohed and
shrunk away from his ﬁery 311W, but then
he rallied and laughed harshly. - -

“ Enough! I acce t the challenge.‘ Follow
m'ﬂrst,’ and if you t on have my enough, ,,to

our words, I W111 not bulk y sure
of thatil’ I

By this time the rough barner we: about
completed, and the rival equestrian: turned
their attention to their horses.

Thou‘gb Joaquin had made light 'of the ro--
posed eat, no one knew better than he ow
perilous it really was. Without saddle or

i

 
u.-.y..

‘3‘,

 
l
i

l

Joaquin, the Saddle 

' 3

 
bridle, their animals would cticall be un-
controlled, and a six-foot we 1 is no t ﬂing ob-
stacle under the most favorable circumstances.
To make the leap from such a narrow trail,
with the deep barranca yuh “lug lv-side them,
doubled the peril. A single UllrSI‘:;-, the lmiSi}
iniscalculation, would be almost‘certuin death.

With a clear ﬁeld and no favor, J . aquin
Murieta would have cared as little for the pro-
posed test as he pretended. He knew his horse,
and his home knew its master. More than
once they had *rformed equally as perilous
feats, to forget t em as soon as over, but now
the circumstances were different. Joaquin re-
:ilized that he had not one friend present. He
had taken no pains to gain their good will, look-
ing down upon them as inferior beings, and
rather displaying than disguising his contempt.
On the contrary, Cam lido was a favorite, and
the young Sonorian fe t that there would be foul
play toward himself if he gave them the
sli htest opportunity.

idin aSide, he watched the movements of
his riva '

Evidently Camplido did not underestimate
the feat he had marked out, and was resolved
not to throw away a chance. Mounting his
barebacked steed, he rode slowly along the ed e
of the barranca, stroking the proud shims ’s
urchin neck and whispering to it soothingly.
Then, y degrees, be increased his speed, riding
close to the verge but turning aside before
reaching the arallel barrier.

At length a 1 could see that he was about to
make the venture, and hreathlessly they await-
ed. Back a hundred yards Camplido rode, then
wheeled and spoke sharply to his horse, the no-
ble creature darting swiftly alon the escarp-i
nient, governed alone by its ride 5 thighs and
knees. ,

One sharp c as the wall was neared, then
the stallion rose into the air like a bird, its hind
hoofs barely scrapin the top of the wall.

A wild, united ye of admiration burst from
the crowd, but this was cut short as they saw
Joe uin set his steed in motion tofollow his
riva acting thus prompt] the more surelyto
avoid the treacher which 0 felt sure would be
shown him if prac icable.

With perfect conﬁdence in his horse, Joaquin
went through no preliniinaf motion, but rode
straight for the wall at fu speed, crouching
slightly forward, one hand touching his horse’s
neck.

From the footprints of its. predecessor the

3‘ black stallion rose into the air, but at that in-
stunt a gaudy red scarf ﬂashed up from.the
further aide of the wall and‘ ﬂuttere its fringe
fairly a ainst one side of its face—the right or
side fur 1'. from the barranca!

A wild snort of terror burst from the startled
animal, and even while in mid-air it ﬂinched and
turned half-way around, striking heavily upon
the end of the wall.

A'stone gave way—then came a confused
scramble—a cloud of dust—a wild, pierclpg
scream that was cut short by a sickening th
upon the cruel rocks below!

CHAPTER II.
TREAch r'rrLY “wanna-n.

BUT it was only the rhorse that fell.

The moment that re ﬂag ﬂuttered before his
eyes, Joaquin realized how cunningly his bitter
enemies had nned. Like a ﬂash of light he
remembered hat sign made by Pedro Canales,
the black-brewed roman whom he knew to be
the personal follower of Manuel Camplido. He
con (1 now read that signal aright, and a fierce
lust for vengeance sprung up in his heart, Wen
as he hung over the very jaws of death.

Just how it was accomplished, not one of the
excited lookers-on could ever explain, but by a-
swift, desperate struggle, Joaquin Murieta
stood erect upon the stone wall amid a cloud of
lime and dust, while his good house Wentdown to
a cruel death upon the ragged bowlders below.

A hoarse about of devilish triumph arose
from the lips of Pedro Canales as he beheld the
black stallion ﬂinch and swerve from his ﬂaunt-
ing scarf for he knew that his hated enem had
no one chance in a thousand of coca ing oath;
and in that moment of trium h e wished
J oaﬂuin to know whose brain I: plotted, whose
han had executed his downfall.

But the young sonorian made the most of that
single chance, and, by a wonderful displa of
activity andan leaped clear of his strugghng
horse andahghted upon the stone wall, eyen as
the treacherous rascal gave vent to his exulta.
tion almost at his very feet. ‘

A sharp, snarlin cry broke from J oaquin’s
1393, and he drop , heaVily u n the unmasked
traitor, dashing th feet into his upturned face
and crushing him to the earth a bleeding, bewn.
dered mass.

Lith he lea (1 clear of the fellow, who
confusaﬁy ' out his amazement and terror
ashe toarise.Inonehandhestill
g iron ramrod of an esco to
wfhic the rednslgarfhwas attached, andt (fight
othiamca'gisnarrowescapean e
death of his loved horse, maddened Joaquin

muchas it mi ht have a baited wild bull.
~ With one Cling thrust of his foot Joaquin
, rolled Pedro as over, then tore the ramrod

 
from his raining blows upon his writhing

rson Ml the war of his good right arm.
ﬁned followed sac and every stroke for the
young Sonorian was thoroughly are and his

‘ victim bowled out most lustily, minging his

prayers for mercy with broken curses and furi-
ous threats.

All this had transpired almost with the rapid-
ity of thought. To do him justica, not one of
the part save Camplido and Canales even sus-

cted t e treacher that was to be played, and

fore they could airly realize the truth, the
wild yells of the rascal groom came to their ears
from the spot where his punishment was being
inﬂicted. Then, with excited shouts, as yet not
wholl posted, they rushed to the wall and be-
an nibering over it 5 but another was before
em to the rescue of his co e in evd. _

Camplido had not anticipated such a rapid
following of his lead, and, as he alighted safely,
made no effort to restrain his ﬁery steed, which
was rendered uncontrollable for the moment by
the horrible scream emitted by the black stallion
as it felt itself whirling down to death. Taken
completely by surprise, Cam lido was unable to
master his horse until punis ment was fallin
fast and heavy upon his rascally coadjutor, bu
the:l he wheeled and rode swiftly down upon his
riv . .
Even in his madness Joaquin was not one to
suffer himself to be taken by surprise, and, with
one last blow that bent the stout rod double, he
spurned the bleedinglrascal and faced his prime
enemy, revolver in and.

“ Back ! you murderous scoundrel I” he cried,his
tones clear and cold as the knell of death, though
his face was hotly ﬂushed and his eyes blazed
like livin coals. “Halt! at up your weapon,
or I will ore your skull With a half-ounce ball !’

Camplido was but slightly armed. Sword
and pistol-belt had been laid aside when re-
paring for that hazardous lea , leavin im
only a long, slender niard at ﬂtte to, a
sheath close above his cart. This had been re-
tained, not through any thought of need, for
the cunnin plan of Pedro Canalee could scarce-
ly fail, but ause one of his race would think
sooner of losing his clothes than laying aside his
knife. The yells and howling o Canales, the
sight of Joaquin Murieta as he plied the blood-
stained ramrod, told Complido plaiiil enough
that his dastardly scheme had fail and e
knew that there must come a speedy reckoning.
Med with bafﬂed re and hatred, he wheeled
his horse and with g ea 'ng knife, dashed back
hoping to ride the young onorian down before
he could realize his danger—only to find the
frowning muzzle of a revolver staring him
full in the face. _

Mechanical] the burned villain gave the sign
that bro ht is admirabl trained horsetoa
pause. ‘s face was as on gray, his frame
tremblin , his unarmed hand outstretched With
an ap 'ng gesture.

- For an instant Joe uin kept the cowed rascal
covered, ready to ful his threat at the least
sign of rebellion; but this was not given, and he
llowelfpd his weapon with a hard, contemptuous

an
“gWretched bunglar though he has showed
himself your dirty tool is a better man than
all: manger, Maggi Sign hie. He triedtreto a:

e wor assign u you-eyed m
and show your coward colors the moment a
man faces on! You are bold enough to at-
tempt mur er when you believe there is ,no
chance for a return low from your victim.
You can plot with a brutal, ignorant rascal like
Pedro Canalee, whowouldunhesitatlngl cut the
throat of his own mother for a single go onza—"

A sudden change came over Manuel Cam-
plido. His face still remained an ashen white,

at the look of abject terror ﬂed from his eyes
and gave place to a malignant glow of hatred,
while his cowerin frame row more erect, nor
did his voice trem 1e as be ore.

' “You make bold charges, boy, but they are
lies! You have failed to make your boasting
good—you have missed the leapyou affected to
scorn, and now, in hopes of iding your dis-
grace, you rave about treachery and foul play
that emsts only in our own imagination. Hal
strike home, Pedro A dozen onzas if you split
his devil’s heart!”

The new-born courage of Manuel Camrplllido is
easily explained. While he was cows be‘
fore the indignant Sonorian, he saw 0
Canales slowly gathering himself u from the
base of the wall where oaquin ha cast him,
brushin the mingled blood and dust from his
e as wit one hand, while the other groped at
h belt for the long knife that hung here. A
ﬁendish smile, that was almost a snarl.» showed
his discolored fangs as he reco ized Joaquin,
his back turned as he confron the ex—captain
of lancers. Without a moment’s hesitation, he
leaped forward, one hand clutching at the
ﬂailing Sonorian’s threat, the other making a

_ one stroke with the gleaming weapon—and
this it was that drew forth the exultant scream

B tcfmpliuiﬁgggicta rdinary

.11 was no 0 man.
Knowinmﬂiat he stood alone in the midst of a
score 0 unscrupulous enemies, his every sense
was u the alert. He htl suspected the
cause 1! the abrupt change 6 demeanor of

\
I.
‘ 
I

.a triﬂe below the

 
his arch enemy, and this was conﬁrmed b the
looks of the vaqueroes who had pa ially
ed the stone wall. Faint though it was, be
detected the venomous hiss as Canales inhaled
his breath in summoning his strength for the
assault, and leaping lightly aside, be
around just as the would-be assassin made his,
double stroke.

Only his catlike quickness savsd him from in-
stant death. Even as it was, Canales’s bloody
ﬂn ers left a mark u n his neck, and the swift—
1y escending knife sit open the clothes on his
s oulder. But then, as the rascal sta gered
the heavy pistol~butt descended upon hi head
with a sickening crash, and he fell upon his face
like a dead man.

J uin had not time to deal a second blow
even if it had been needed, for Cnmplido uroged
his horse forward, and bending low as he a,
struck savagel at his enemy as he pamed.
Only a swift si e leap saved the youth (ion: the
hungr steel, and treading upon a loose stone,
his an 1e turned, throwing him upon one knee,
and causing him to drop his piste .

With marvelous rapidity he recovered his
balance, and then, With a cocked revolver in
each hand he held his enemies in check.

“Hold hard, all!" his voice rung out clear
and menacin 1y. “The ﬁrst man who dares
take one step orward dies the death of a dog!
You know me.”

The did know him, and far better now than
ever efore. Time and again the bad wit-

nessed his almost marvelous skill wi h the wea- V

pons he held, and bitterly as they hated him,
not a man among that score dared disobey.

Cam lido’s horse had only paused in its swift
rush w on its breast touched the stone wall. On
one side yawned the barranca. He could leave
his close quarters only by brushing past the
young Sonorian, and the err—captain knew that‘
any such attempt could end only in his death.

Tremblin in every ﬁber, pale as death, he
cowered ore that frowning muzzle, the pic-
ture of terror. . '

Joaquin held the key of the situation, and the
sardonic smﬂe that curled his faintly shaded l'lp
told how thorough] he enjoyed it. Yet there
was death in his ercely glittering eyes. He
ﬁrmly meant to kill his bitter enemyin the end,
and was only waiting for the craven to make
another hostile move to excusa the aveng-
ing shot. But ﬁrst, he should drink the cup of
shame down to the last drags.

“Manuel Campiido, cowardly dog. you have
run 'to the end of your tether. You have hired
assassins, only less despicable than
take my life. Why, you and, I th know.
You dared not meet me face to face as one bold

man should meet another. . You have forfeited '

your life, and now I mean to claim In own."

“ I never—there is some mistake, falter-ed
Camplido, only to be cut short by that cold, in-
sultinglau h.

“Liar! ven your own ton e shall betray
you. Did you not give Pedro leshisorderl
—did on not bid him ﬂaunt that re inthc
face 0 my horse, hoping that it won] ' fail in
the leap and carry me th it toihe bottom of
the bur-aim?” ‘ ‘ '

Omegido nominated out a denial, only to'bo

ourself,to-

/

check
“ 1 unions are eager to die with a
lie upon our foul i I saw the signs that '

passed be ween you we before
oeptm challenge. Iknew

scru ous scoundrels but 1 did not think you
dare Yplay such a dastardly trick, oven
u a me. on hired Pedro Canalea todnnnt

t rag; confess it, or, by all the saints! I
swear that I will force you at the pistol-muzzle
to precede me in the blindfold leap I spoke of—
an not only that, but if you swap; with a
whole‘neck, side b side we will take e leap to
the bottom of the not!”

If tr... young Sonorian did not mean all that
he said, then he was a most accomplished actor.
Camplido at least believed him, and preferred
shame to certain death. In a low, husky voice
he faltered out a confession of the truth of, the
charges brought against him, but J oaquln was
mtafcupeakm l d d 1"hecnéd‘iis

on or, craven og , i
voice rin g with utter‘contempt. “Spam:
out, so a ma hear clearly. Let, these mm
know what a astardly coyote they have been
so humbly worshipiiii‘g up, coking up to as only
so ts

The cornered villain glared around him in
hopes of ﬂndin some means of escaping this
bitter humilia on. But the deadly revolv- 1-
covered him close] . ‘Hc could not retreat. H-y
wastoo close to t a wall to lea it, and fork
he could himself over the , rrler,,a 1-:
would ﬁnd life. Nor could he seeany hope
in the facesof the vaqueros. The were no?
of the sort‘to clin to the fortunes a'defcau i1
and disgraced lea er. and some of those hrormi
faces even bore traces of growing mutants.

he succeeded, they would have been pro-
fuse in their congratulations and rejoicings;
but he had failed-and the young Sonorian was
still keeping one cocked revolvertairned in their

Joaquin called out warninglyi ‘
“ Beware! one movement without my

on dared-c»
you othtobeun- -

'\

 
l
l

. they kept/their places upo

they are one and r

4 J oaquin, the Saddle 

 
consent, and the devil will gain an ally below
at the loss of one on earth! Be at the words
I dictate. Speak clearly, or will set your
lisping tongue forever free with a bullet. This
is m ast warning. Are you ready?

“ Manuel Camplido, ex-captain of lancers,
whic position, through arrant cowardice on
the ﬁeld of battle, I was obliged to resign or be
cashiered confess myself a craven scoundrel
and treacierous villain. I confess that I hired
Pedro Canales to play this foul trick, in the
hopes of escaping efeat at the hands of
Joaquin Murieta, my master and better in every
shapch"

In a hoarse voice that told how terribly
every word wrenched his heart-strings, Cam-
)lldO‘ began this enforced confe n, but as

oaquin proceeded, the villain’s voice grew
more husky, and the last words, in praise of his
bitterly hated rival, refused to pass his throat.
The shame and ignomin thus thrust u n him,
lent him a desperate so of nerve, an ﬂashing
forth his poniard, he urged his chaﬁng horse
upon the young Sonorian.

Joaquin never ﬁinched, but his revolvar
cracked sharpli, and a howl of mingled pain
and des air bro 8 from the lips of the villain, as
he feltt e steel shattered by the wonderfully
accurate bullet, and even the useless hilt torn
from his hand.

The next instant he was seized by the foot
and hurled headlong to the ground; while J oa-
quin leaped Swiftl u n the horse, his revol-
vers once more rea y or use, as he turned to-
ward the excited retainers and sternly cried:

“ Steady, there! you have no concern in this
quarrel, and if you crowd upon me, the results
be upon your own heads.”

Universallyas they hate dthe young Sonorian
not one among the crowd was eager for martyr-
dom, and like a row of parti-co ored buzzards,
n the wall.

“Get 11 , dog!” cried Joaquin, turning con-
temptuou y to Camplido who, half-stunned,
still grovelcd upon the ground beside the sense-
less va uero. "You have forfeited your life a
dozent mes over, and I have sworn to exact

the penalty; but for once I will break my oath.
I Will’not disgrace my manhood by shedding
the blood of such a dastardly craven.”

Weak and trembling, thoroughl unnerved,
Manuel Camplido arose and stoo before his
conqueror With downcast looks. Truly, he had
received a lesson which he would never forget,
and a convulsive tremor ran over him from
head to foot, as his rival uttered a low, mocking
laugh.

“ A miserable slave you: are in looks, even as
in heart. I give you your life, because, when
this da ’3 work spreads far and wide,as it surely
will, li e will be a far greater curse to you than
death. Whenever you dare attempt to ﬂaunt

our borrowed plumes again in the presence of
brave men or fair Woman, some scornful tongue
will whisper the name of the poor b0 over
whom you tried to ride rough-shod, an then,
as you shirk away, you will bitterly curse the
cowardliness that Will not suffer you to take the
life that is only a living shame and a burden.
For this I spare you; not through pity.

“ NOW climb over that wall, and go to where
your saddle lies. Attempt to slink away, and I
swear to follow and ﬂog you with a whip until
there are more stripes upon your body than
there are hairs on your head. Gol’.’

Thoroughly cowed, the exrcaptain of lancers
obeyed Without a word, while Joa uin, laugh-
ing shrilly urged his newly a dire horse into
a swift gallop, circling over the evel ground for
a minute, then wheeling and racin at full speed
along the edge of the barranca. 'ke a winged
animal the noble creature rose at the wall, leap-
iiaﬁ it neatly, then raced u to where Camplido,
s on and owncast, stood beside his saddle.

Thedyoung Sonorian leaped lightly to the

oun

“ You killed my horse, I take yours in re-
turn. Saddle and bridle him, dog of a lave!
Lively, nowl”

Never a word spoke Cam lido as be obeyed,
and the retainers watched t a strange scene in
open—eyed amazement. _

When all was arranged, J oaquin vaulted into
the saddle and gathered up the reins, saying:

“ One last word, dog. I spare your life now,
but beware the next time! At the ﬁrst at-
tempt to use your fangs on me, you die! This
is the only warning I will give you.”

He did not notice the ugly fire in Camplido’s
eye, or he would not have turned his backso
carelessly. While crossing the wall, Camplido
had received a revolver from one of the va-
queros, and now drawing it ﬁred full at the brain
of the youn Sonorian. iBut his nerves were
shaken, and oziquin only felt the wind of the
bullet as it grazed his check. Instantly turning,
his revolver spoke, and Cauiplido, without cry
or groan, fell eavily upon his face.

 
CHAPTER III.
JOAQUIN AND HIS LADY LOVE.

As the double re ort split the air Joaquin’s
enemies made a rus toward him, only to pause
again and crowd behind each other as he turned.
his still smoking revolver upon them.

“Keep your distance, gentlemen l” he said,
menacingly. “ Don’t crowd to your own fune-
ral. I’m growing tired of being baited, and
when I bite, I’ll make my teeth meet in the
ﬁeshi”

Once more the crowd was held at bay by a
single man, and as he read the evidence of his
power as given by the pale cheeks and cling-
ing forms, Joaquin’s rage quickly died away,
giving place to a sort of contemptuous pleasure.

“ Gentlemen, we are fellow-servants no longer.
From this hour I am a free man. Live on as
cowards live, if you prefer, licking thedust
from the feet of such contem tible scoundrels
as this Manuel Camplido—I have served my
time. Tell him, when he recovers, that I have
spared his life yet once more, because I prefer
his living to hear and realize the full extent of
his disgrace. Adios, senores !”

With amocking bow and low sweep of his
sombrero, the young Sonorian headed his horse
for the wall, lea it, and then sped away
Ever the plain like the winged bird of the

Joaquin Murieta rode swiftly away from the
scene of his signal triumph, but his t oughts no

 
‘ Few names stand out in more lurid light on the
blood-stainedu‘gaﬁes of Western history than does
that 'of Jo urleta. It is indelibly written in
crimson is that cover the Golden State from
one end to the other. It is still breathed with curses,
deep and bitter, by those whose friends and roll»,
tives of a formgroﬁenarntion were fated to cross the
trailof the “bi drinkinﬁ’monsterf‘ but it was a
wise tonguethatdeclared edevillsneversoblack
as

ted.

ch has been written concernl the robber
chief and his exﬁoits after he began career of
blood mule Ca'ornian mines—much um bada
foundation on truth, still more that was idle rumor
ifnotdsliberate fabrication. But the early life of
Joaquin has remained untouched, though
the writer of this has long had important documents
in his possession which throw much mmn the

su . In lfruition, he has known M Agata?
men w owere unlly e
' 5330.1”; one who gel-Boom. th “pay-dirt” that

river, before the

brand of Cain was set u n his brow; an-
other who rode with Captain Love on the
death trail that ended in the decapitation of the
great outlaw; a third who was born and retried
within aday's ride of the Murieta ranch, and who
gavel-tired of regalling the boyish exploits of‘his

minglplnymate. . V

When the true history of Joaquin Murleta shall be
written. it will be shown that he was the victim of a
remar fatality—a chain of d ters and mis-
fortunes hat would have wrecked nine hundred
and ninety-nine men out of every thousand. Those
wboknew himu a boy so that a purer hearted
lad never drew the breat 0 life, his greatest faults

a su bundanee 0 animal Iphitaalove of
My an a very quick temper. He was noted for
his truthfulness. in a land where a lie is thought no
slnlfthereisaughttobegained by telling one. He
would wade through ﬁre and water to serve aft-lend,
and even as a boy, was remarkable for the rever-
300 he showed for all who wore the garb of his mo-

or.

Joaquin Murieta was barn in the ca ital of Sonora,
in Mexico on the 19th day of June 829 of well-to-
do parenis, who gave him'a fair education for that
time and country. Two old gamlmsinos, or gold-
hunters, were nsioners at the rancho, and to their
titles of marve ous adventures in the then near un-
known regions of Texas, may be, in part at east,
attributed the fact of J um‘s running away from
home when he scarce entered his ‘teens. Al-
ready a good shot and line rider, the little Sonorian
made the best of his way into Texas, and there fell
in with the men for admiration of whom he was
fated more than once to draw steel. He 
and hunted with the Americans; he learned eir
Ian and all that the could teach him of ralpe
lore Indianﬁgh Hie envied their 8 With
iiile and pistol, nor did e rest coth until he could
hold his own successfully with both.

He made dying tri to his home and _ple, but
could not content Ease“ long. Assoc tion with
jru man had given him a mngedismate for the de-

Joa uin washed on the

race ng aro rancho. and once
morehe would away to join the comrades he
loved and res
He wasin when the war for ind ndence
began, and he fought side by side with his erlcan

friends. Stillonlyaboy, he fairlyearned his title
dmanhoodmdononeoecasion GsneralBun

 
trromthlaitwillbeseanthn Iain not wrl

alto ether-strontium. While not claiming (absolute

irut for incident recorded in this. and other

volumes whi ma follow lean honestly aﬁlrm that
founded on fact. J. a 3., J3.

 
Houston publicly complimented him on the battle
ﬁeld just won.
For one who has been granted an impartial view

of both sides of the case, there is a stron tempta-
tion to li over the early and innocen days of
Joaquin

urleta, but the story I have set out to nar-
rate, presses its claims.

J i(Enigma was also engaged in the war between the

Un States and Mexico. but here the records are
less clear and satisfactory. It is known that he
fought for his adopted country, shoulder to shoulder
wit his old friends of the Texan war; beyond this,
all is obscure, until Joaquin returned home after
peace was declared.
The wild, adventurous life he had led. unﬁtted
Jo uin for the monotonous routine of the retired
stondi: farm, and ere long he was once more a wan-
derer, bringing up at t e City of Mexico, where a.
chance disp‘ layo his really uperb horsemath
attracted the attention of General Santa Anna, -
ways noted for his love of equestrianisui, who gave
the young Sonorianasituation in his own house-
hold. Bu Joaquin soon wearied of rltyllfe and its
state ceremonials, and by his own request was
t erred to the hacienda where the opening of
this story ﬁnds him. 1

His new situation did not rove to be a bed of
roses. The oung Sonorlan old a high opinion of
himself and s accom llshinents, nor was he at all
backward in letting th s be known among his com-
rades. He considered himself their superior, and
scrupled not to say as much in plain words. Onl
the almost miraculous skill which be displayed wit
allweapons his great strength and active tireless-

kcpt the more envious from disputing his pre-
tensions at the r‘s point. As it was, Joaquin
soon found himse s unned and set apart from the
rest. He would 5 lly have grown sick of such a.
life, had not a to unato chance thrown himinto the
com ny of a being who was destined to shed upon
his fe both sunshineand shadow—a fair you girl
named CarmelaF ' the daughter of Carillo e ix,
a proud Spaniard of a true emigre azul owner of a
lait‘gse cattle farm which adjolned the Santa Anna
es 1: .

One_better calculated to captivate the heart of
J uin than this beautiful young Amazon, could
h ybe imagined, and there was a spice of ro-
mance in their ﬁrst meeting that strongly predis-
posed them _for what followed.

While riding One day, nearly a month before the
date on which this story 0 ns, Joaquin found Car-
mela afoot in the midst c an excited bod of half-
wllld cattleé hAn infairégted hhull1 was hank 

unges a or an o t e mai en
Eluded his blind rushes, lo t alone she must soon
have succumbed to fatigue.

Joaquin clove his way through the crowded mass,
sunk a bullet through the crazy animal's brain,
raised the maiden in his arms and with hisstout
whip, fought their way outside to safety. Not until
then did aword pass betwee them, but Jo uin
bade es, and they told him never before
he b chi such a marvel of beauty and perfection in
face and form, torn tho h her dress and blood-
stained her hands, one 0 which still grasped a
slender dagger.

The storsugf her adventure may be brieﬂy sum-
marized. for a pleasure ride, Carmela, as she
had ently done before, lassoed the leader of
the be but b some mischance her horse was
overthrown, an when she recOvered her footing,

the w was charging upon her, the snorting

s closing aro .
impossible. Her horse was crippled with s. when
leg. Death seemed inevitable,
a good 1fighting race, and her native courage did not
dose) rt er. _ /

them, rende ﬂight ' with u m
these pom  understoodi rend
can readi comprehend é motives w e ii

 
With only a frail d or she faced the
monster, and as it lowe its horns to-im e her
form, she leaped to one side, at the same time bend-l
ing low and striking full at the eyes of the bull.
Her aim was true, and the sight of one e e destroy»
ed. _ More furious than ever. the rout ng animal
again charged—again she eluded him. and once
more the swift, Idextrously-handled blade did il..
work. Whogg blinded though it now was the 1.1..
seemed guid by instinct, and the intrepid maidi-i.
must soon. have fallen a victim to its fury, had
1813: Joaquin providentialiy . appeared upon the

no.

Proud and self-amured thou h he w when
Joaquin learned the name of she maid‘ orbs felt
somewhat abaahed and ill at ease. Car-lilo Felix
was then a power in the land. fabulously rich and
reputed the proudest of the proud. And vet,
af er escorting Carmela home, Joaquin admitted to
himself that he was over head and ears in love, and
mentall registered a. vow that he would win her-
for his ride or descend to the rave unwedded.

He knew that Don Felix won d scorn the idea of
an alliance with a simple v uero whose only for-
tune was his isgood horse, bu in his dreams that
night were v one of a. moonlight elopement, and
With the sun he arose, far more conﬁdent than when
he lay down.

That day he showed far more cordiality toward
his fellow 1vlvgﬂueroes than ever before, and as his
adventure somehow lea ked out, Joaquin learned
far more than was agreeable to him about Carmela
and her affairs; amongﬂiher items of news that she
was then betrothed to n Manuel Campiido,ex-cnp-
ﬁn. of lancer-s, a frequent visitor at the Santa Anna

ien '

' ough the had never come into actual contact.
thanks to 1: air Widely different stations in life,
Joaquin had from the ﬁrst dialik'
don, and now felt that be fairly hated him.

The knowledge of her betrothai, lent J ' a,
desperate sort of con e, and he watched ly
for an o‘pportunit to'meet the fair maiden who had
so ho essly ens aved him: That opportunity cane
s , an it others, until the young cou le
fell into the habit of meeting somewhere on ﬁle
wide Bum nearly every day; but as yet no word of
love. ad been openly spoken, thou h after each

mug. Joaquin won d resolve that tﬁe next meet-
:eg $252) :21 £21da3éltllthe knew the worst—until

s en assion
tongs: with nan-h p I and besought her
0 manyo t ese interviews had taken lace -
fore Joaquin was warned of breakers age-id, I1))ey
Don Camphdo's rudely interrupting them and car-
ryin Carmela away with him. The yotmg Sonorian

o d have resented the insulting words promptly,
only forabeseeching look in the eyes of the mai—
den, who knew that er proud father‘s would
be tamble should tho whole truth be bro t to his
ears through a collision between the two all.

The ensuing days were full of letting and coun-
ter- letting. Bymeans of c Wampum
longed‘ that there was substantial oundation for
hissu icions that these meetings between hisbe-
u-oth and the humble vnquero were far toofre»
quenttobe wholly the result of chance. Recould
not 0  such a ﬂannnd so took a

evil, by placinghishiredaasaasinatwork. y113-ut
Joaqinn was not blind. even ifin love, and onbotb
occasions foiled the secret mam u hiillii’ia
wringingamllconfesslonfmmlhe peo thesecomi

the arrogant

the rivals no personal collision. as already reco ed
in these pages. .

 
~ Joaquin, the Saddle King. ' l a 5‘

 
longer dwelt upon the man whom he had so
thoroughly humiliated and left lying in the dust
with the track of a bullet creasing his skull.

“I must see her—ay! even though I ride up
to the ates and demand an audience with the

mud on himself l" and Joaquin ﬂun back his

ong locks with a deﬁant toss of his andsome
head as he gallo ed on with free rein. “The
will give me litt 8 law before the bloodhoun s
strike my trail. Let me see Carmela, and if
she grove the true woman I believe, we will
laug at their pursuit. If not—if she says me
nay—well, there will be music in the air and
fresh food in plenty for the buzzardsl”

His keen eyes swept the plain before him in
search of the fair rider W cm he longed to
meet, but his brow rew darker as the distance
dividing him from t e Felix hacienda lessened
without his hopes being rewarded.

Time was es scially valuable to him now.
Camplido woul not rest easy under his shame-
ful defeat. Even at that moment he might be
settin his cunning tools upon the death-trail.

The elix hacienda was situated in a leasant
tract. Here and there were scattered c umps of
trees, like islands on the bosom of a sleepin
ocean, and, hoping against hope, Joaquin spe
along, searching these one by one.

Suddenly he checked his horse, and shading his
eyes with one hand, gazed breathlessly toward
one of the mottes which he had but recently
gassed by. And then a joyous exclamation

urst from his lips as he beheld a female ﬁgure
emer e from the foliage. waving alight scarf as
thong in hopes of attracting his attention.

The distance was too great for an unassisted
eye to recognize features of the human face, but
with the intuition of a true lover. Joaquin di'
vined the truth, and, wheeling, sped swiftly. to-
ward the matte, while the maiden, when assured
that her signal was being answered, glided back
into the cool shadows.

It was indeed Carmela Felix, blushing and

.. trembling as Joaquin lea, d to the round,

hastily securing his horse, t en hasten to her
side and impulsively gathered her to his bosom,
pressing hot kisses upon her ripe lips.

With a-faint, half-angry, ha f-abashedc the
maiden slipped from his embrace, her eyes sh-
in , her bosom panting with mingled shame and
in ignation.

“ t is cowardly to take advantage of my in-
discretion—you would not dare—’ she anted,
but paused as the young Sonorian sto before
her with bowed head, the picture of repentance.

“ I crave your pardon, lady,” he breathed
.nftly, a new and strange sadness in his voice
that startled her. “I was wild, insane—I knew
not what I was doing.”

“It was very wrong—almost shameful—when i

I trusted you so implicitly ” added Carmela, but
her voice was softer, and a less agitated ob-
serVer might have seen that she was not mortal-
ly offended, after all.

“I admit in sin, but I could not help it.
When I remem red that we may never meet
again—"

“ What do you mean?” faltered. Carmela.

“ iny that I am a hunted fugitive, ﬁeein
for life from a bitter enemy against whose lifeI
dare not lift my hand even in self-defense, be-
cause it is dear to you—-—”

“ My father—surely there is some mistake-1”

“Not your father, lady, but your betrothed,
Don Manuel Camplido,” quickly responded Joa-
quin, watching her closely as he spoke, for he
felt that his whole future depended upon the
answer she made.

“ lie? I hate—I loathe and despise him i”

impatiently cried Carmela, and there was no ‘

shade of hypocrisy in the frown of utter disgust
that shaded her fair brow.
Joaquin caught his breath quickly, scarcely
daring to believe his ears. He laced his hand
upon the maiden’s shoulder an gently turned
her face to the clear light of the evening sun,

gazing keenly, eagerly into her lustrous eyes.
at

be read no deception there, and a ﬂoodof :
joy ﬁlled his heart, as he once more clasped

her to his breast, regardless of her faint strug-

sIeS. .

“Thank Heaven! I feared/ that on loved
that craven villain who is not wort y to kiss
the _earth your dainty feet tread u at My
darhn —my own—for mine you are—foread the
truth is our beautiful eye's! ’

Carme no longer struggled to free herself
from his ardent embrace. Instead, her lithe
form yielded her head drooped upon his shoul-
der, and as if unconsciously her red-ripe lips

ipouted—then were hidden by his.

It was the purest, holiest moment of the
young Sonorian’s life, for he knew now that he
was loved even as he himself adored; but then
a soft, regretful sigh issued from the maiden’s
bosom and the former shade of anxiety re-
turned to her fair brow. ./

“A blissful dream, but it cannot last!” she
sighed. “For a moment I forgot what you
so. d—that your life is in danger-J
Her h was checked y an ardent kiss,
then Joaquin said, with a light, carelpss‘laugh:

“The only danger that dreaded is past,
darlin —-the dread that you love another.
Now that! am convinced of the glad truth—

;now that I know you love me, I can laugh all .

the rest to scorn. If Manuel Camplido tries to
make more trouble, so'mueh the worse for

m.’

“He will murder you—~” »

“ He tried that to-day, and I read him a les-
son that he will not readily forgit,” interposed
Joaquin, then brieﬂy telling er what had
trans ired at the Santa Anna rancho.

“ ou did not kill him?"

“No. I was not quite certain how on re-
, garded him, and only creased his thic skull

with my bullet. No doubt he is now u and
about, setting his bloodhounds on my trai —not
for the ﬁrst time, either. But I foiled th‘em
then, and have no doubts as to baﬂling them
again.” ‘

“He is an unscrupulous enemy, and even
more to be dreaded .than a braver man, for he
will not deal his blows openly. I fear for you,
Joe uinl”

“ y hand can ard my head, darling, never
fear. Now that am secure in the knowledge
of your love, I care little for what that rascal
can do.” '

“But, alas! there is worse behind, and Ihave
not yet told you why I signaled you so anxious-

/ly. Hold me close, dear Joaquin—let me feel
your heart throbbing against mine, or I cannot
ﬁnd courage to tell you all."

Willingl enough the young Sonorian obeyed,

l but his pu s beat more rapidly at her mourn-
ful tones. '

“Evil eyes have been upon us when we least
thought it, and evil tongues have ken of our
frequent meetings to my father. st night he
questioned me closely, and I told him the truth
—the whole truth as I believed, for, dear
Joaquin strange as it may seem, I never
dreame of love in connection with you until—-
until you acted so impetuously when we met
just now,” she bravely concluded, after a brief,
charming confusion.

“You do not know my father. He is very
i proud and stern. I believe he loves me dearly,
but he told me then, and his tones were far
more bitter than Lever before heard, that rather
than see me mate below my rank, he would kill
me with his own hand l” ’

“ Yet he could force you to wed Manuel Cam-

lido—who bears the brand of cowardice u n

is back—who is a known drunkard, llbert no,

and more than an ed of being a chief of
’ salteaolores,” bitter y cried Murieta.

“ Hush!” and her daintgepalm rested upon
her lover’s lips. “ Remeni r that he is my fa-
ther, and that you must never utter a harsh
word against him in my hearing. I cannot ex-
, plain the whole truth now, but I know that at
I ﬁrst father was strongly opposed to Cam-
ﬁido, and even now he barel tolerates his suit.
‘ ybrother Luis is at the ttom of it all I
l fear—I'know that he has been very reckless. In
J some'manner Camplido holds him in his power
—can bestow life or death at will. Luis is the

 
heir to our roud name. He is father’s idol,
and for his e father has consented to sacri-
ﬁce me.

“This much I am sure of. There are still
some points which are a mytery to me. But
‘ on the other score there can be no doubt. He
will never consent to our union—”

The maiden abruptly paused a look of pale
terror overspreadin her face, her limbs trem-
blin so that they a most refused to support her
weig t as a heavy footstep was heard crashing
through the undergrowth and plainly nearing
1 their lace of concealment.

’ “ other of ercy 1” she gasped in an
agonized tone. “Flee, Joaquin! Tismyfather
—ﬂeer—ﬂee at once i” .

At the ﬁrst sound Joaquin had drawn a pistol,
which he still held in his hand, but he made no
motion to obey the nearly distracted girl.
Could he have beaten a retreat without betray-
ing them both, doubtless he would have ridden
away, for the maiden’s sake, but he knew that
discovery was inevitable, and his strong arm
only wound more closely around the fear-
stricken form. ,

“Too late, darling," he whispered encour-
a ugly. “ The harm, if harm there is, is
, ready wrought. There is no crime in an

honest love, and I will not slink away like e
thief in‘the night, leaving you to bear the brunt
of his displeasure.”

There was no time for a reply, even if Car-
mela had beeniable to make one for a tall,

ay-haired and bearded man pushed through

e bushes and confronted the lovers.

It was indeed Don Felix, the bean ideal of a
haughty Spanish den, and the severe frown
dee nod upon his stern brow ashe beheld his
chi d in the embrace of the audacious vaquero.

Carmela. with suddenly restored strenglth,
freed herself from Joaquin’s arms, and Wit 9.
, leadin leek, stood between her lover and her
1 ather, er ashen lips tryingi in vain to fashion
1 a plea for forbearance an mercy. _But the
’ strong arm of Don Felix brushed her as1de, and

a bitter smile curled his‘ lip as he noted the
Wesson held by Murieta.

“ omplete your work, low-born dog! Murder
the father, since you have disgraced the den h-
terl” fell in bitter accents from his lips. “ on
can do so without fear, since I am unarmed.”

Joaqmn’s brow contracted darkly, and he

i

 
‘ fore had he been

 
was forced to bite his lip until the blood ﬂowed,
to keep back the hot retort. He replaced his
revolver, then spoke:

“ I drew my pistol to punish the sneaking y
I believed was coming, for I knew not who e so
would dare intrude upon our privacy. I ask
your pardon for my mistake. And now, in
answer to your taunt—had those foul words
fallen from any other ll than yours—her

parent—the speaker would ave died before the '

reath that uttered them grew cold upon his
lips. Your daughter is as ure now as when
she ﬁrst lay upon her mother s bosom l"

“ Pure in the one sense, no doubt, but shame-
fully degraded by granting clandestine meetings
to a slave like you—”

“Stop, Senor Don Felix,” sharply interposed
Murieta.
you too far. In every res I: save that of
wealth alone, my family is t e peer of your:.
You shall be given every opportunity to invet-
ti ate--”

is speech was cut short by an insolent shrug
of tlhe shoulders as the haughty Spaniard made
rep :
“f have not the slightest curiosity on that
int. You are an unwelcome intruder here.
like your departure, and never dare return on
penalty of bein scourged with rods by my
peons and hunte down with my dogs 1”

“Those are hard words, for which you may
yet be sorry, Don Felix,” said Joaquin. calmly
enough, but with a ﬂushed cheek and kindling
eye.
“ You dare to threaten me, on my own
groundsl"cried the Spaniard, raising the pliant
whi which he held. \

' “ ether—for my sake!” cried Carmela, cling-
ing to his arm, tears streaming over her pale
cheeks.

“Go to the house shameless girl, and leave
me alone to deal wi '

cm on a or in e 9.
grin 'edthe m fth ,ﬂ gCarml
rom him with suc force that s e staggered
and would have fallen but for Joaquin’s ready
arm.

“ I meant no threat, nor did I utter one, Don
Felix,” the un Sonorian said, drawing the
sobbing mai on c ose to his side. “You must
acknowledge as much when your present pas-
sion dies away. Nor can you then blame n e
for loving .your child. I saved her life at the
risk of my own. I do not recall this as a boost,
but to in part explain why I
eyes in love to one so far above my apparent
station in life. It was only this evening that l
learned Carmela returned my love, and now, at
the ﬁrst 0 portunit‘y, I ask you, humbly am.
with a full owledge of the worth of the treas-
ure I c’i‘ave, to grant your consent to our speedy
un on. .

At these bold but perfectly respectful words,_ , ',

Carmela raised her moist eyes in sudden hope.
that they would soften her stern parent, if not
lead to his consent, but her heart grew cold with
horror as she saw how terribly the ud old,
don was enraged by what be deemed the inso-
lence of this emand.

He tried to speak, but wrath choked his ut—
terance. His re 6 mu ‘t ﬁnd some vent, and
gaising his whip, struck Joaquin full in the

ace!

In an instant the weapon was wrested from
his grasp and hung quivering over his head, but
an a pealin vbroke from Carmela’s lips,
and oaquin ur ed the whi far from him.

One kiss he pressed u n or lips, then turned
away and leaped into e saddle.

 
CHAPTER IV.
was vows or mu m r.

JOAQUIN sat erect enough in the saddle uhe
rode away from the timber island, but his brain

throbbed and reeled like that ofa drunken man-

Never before had he suifered the indignity of a
blow without returning it with interes and
now the red wale across his cheek bar and

lied upon to endure such a

smarted like a streiﬁ: of living ﬁre. Never be-
set as was his love for

bitter ordeal, and

Carmela Felix, he knew that he must ﬂee from .

that t in haste, or else wipe out the insult in

the hie-blood of her father, thus building an'

impassable barrier between them forever. He

paid no attention to the course his horse was,
0

llowing he was conscious only of that shame-
ful blow, heard on] the biting taunts hurled at
him by the proud 0 d don.

Then, like one awakening from a dream, the
young Sonorian became conscious of a husky
panting voice calling aloud his name, and hear
the heavy 1putter of footste _ close behind him.
Wheeling is face ﬂushed, _is eyes glaring, his
weapons dashed forth, for his first instinct was
that he had been followed by Don Felix and his
myrmidons; but only one man confronted him.
and that b no means the most warlike—an old
gmy- whose frame was trembling, whose
voice was cracked and gasping withthe desper-
ate eﬂorts he had made to overtake the hone—
man.

mered, shrinkin away from the half-insane
rider, “ I am no dit, no enemy of ym rs, but
a friend. Hold hard—alt thou crazy?"

“You are letting your anger carry '

‘this insolent bravo!” an- ‘

raisemy,

 
“ Mother of Mercy, Senor Murieta.” he stam~ p

 
.94v‘w'r..v’7:<4

A. .35

gum-g .. as“, ' 1~erw "x

'i


..__~T9squ_ielthe Saddle King-

 
Joaquin wrenched up his horse, drew one hand
across his eyes as though to brush aside the
bloody mist that seemed to obscurehisvision
ltron replaced his weapons with a harsh, forced

u .

‘gou, is it, Tio Tomas? Iverin believe I was
dreaming in the saddle, and mistook your voice
for that of— What is it you want? Why do
you glance around so nervously f”

The manner of the old man was indeed pecu-
liar. He shifted his position until he put the
horseman between himself and. the timber
island where Joaquin had left Don Felix and
Carmela, while his deep-sunken eyes roved
nervously around them as though in momentary
expectation of beholding some unwelcome sight.

‘ Histl don’t talk so loud, and keep your

home moving—ed toward yonder matte,
where we can tal without bein seen. Not
too fast—I am not so onng an supple asI

once was, worse luck! t ough there’s a good
deal left of the old man yet, on a tight pinch—-
indeed there is!”

Joaquin knew the old fellow well enough to
feel sure that he was not acting thus in obedience
to a mere whim, and onceniore his usual self,
he rode toward the clump of timber indicated,
Tic Tomas keeping close to his side as though

‘ g to hide from some evil eyes.

hese two men had frequently met, and
despite the great difference in their 8. es, a strong
friendship ad risen up between t cm, which
had steadily increased of late. If no one else,
old Tio Tomas had noticed the frequent meeting
of Joaquin and Carmela, and the nowing grin
upon his frosty features showed that he was not
without a shrewd suspicion of the truth. More

than once, when the young Sonorian had failed-

to cross the trail of his charmer, the veteran set
him aright with a seemin innocence that
might easily have deceived a ess close observer.
As a' natural consequence, the twain soon came

‘to a full understanding, and now, though Tio
Tomas was a retainer of the Felix rancho, J oa-
quin hesitated not to obey.

“ You know what happened back there in the
matte, then?” suddenly demanded Joaquin,
darting a keen glance into the u turned face of
the chattering veteran. “ You. ave been play—
ing the spy upon me, Tio Tomas?”

‘ A spy—yes; but for, not on you,” came the
quick, response. “ I saw the senorita enter, and
then signal to {on—but I saw more than that.
There were at er spies—two of them—Pepe and
Sanchez the one-eyed. I tried to warn you, but
could not catch {our eye. You entered the
ghlade, and I saw e one-eyed son-of—his-father—

e - devil steal away and race hack to the
hacienda. I knew then that he was going to
summon Don Felix—”

“ Yet on lay low and suffered your young
mistress fall into the snare l” bitterly cried

J in.

“I did what I could, senor,” was the calm, al-
mostdigniﬂed response. “I am but an old man,
weak and with my senses dulled, but I stole for-
ward towarn you—~and failed. Pepe—may the
devil make  bid  this hottest c?m91‘i;1,0f his
ﬁre-place’ an ta rig speedil'y, ecun-
ning scou’ndrel must have had eyes in the back

. of his head, for he discovered my approach and

leaping out on me from ambush, cracked my
crown with a pistol butt before I could utter so
muchasa sound. And when l recovered my
senses, Don Felix was already entering the
motto.”

"I ask your pardon, old friend,” and bend-
‘ over in the saddle, Joaquin grasped the
ve ran’s hand.
_ “It was granted, senor, before you spoke,”
was the simple res use. "‘ I know how to
make allowances. was once young, myself—
young and in love with an angel who had
an unreasonable and hard-hearted father—"

However interesting these reminiscences of a.
dead and gone past might have been to the gray-
beard, Joaquin could not a reciate them at
the present moment, and rut essly interrupted

“stew... ..
epe a spy suspec your 'purpose e
will be watching you ye then why this useless
caution?”

A hard, almost ferocious look came into the
old man’s face, showing that the fires of his
earl days were not yet wholly extinguished.

“ epe the spy had keen eyes, and is tongue
was nimble as t at of a snake; but just now he
can neither see with the one nor speak with the
other. When I left him, back yonder in the
timber, he was quiet and harmless, enough.”

‘You killed the fellow i” quickly demanded
Murieta.

“I do not say that,” was the evasive reply.

“The coward struck me unawares and it is
' my rule to pay in debts punctuall —least of
al do I forget or orgive a blow. sa/w Don
Felix leading away his daughter—Sanchez of
the one eye did not return from the hacienda—
, but Pepe was still therei Before I left, he fell
down—maybe he hurt himself, for I am almost
sure I caught the red gleam of blood as i turned
3W3 tohasten after on.” *
ith a short, bard ugh the old sinner con-
cluded this signiﬁcant recital. uin was
little disturbed by it, for he knew at Pepe

' l was evil enough to deserve any punishment, and

 
his own affairs gave him ample food for thought
and anxiety.

1‘ No one else saw me in the timber, and un-
less I am seen in our company, senor I can
hardly be suspec of having any band in the
little accident that has befallen honest Pepe.
And here is the cover—enter, senor; unless I
mistake, I have something to say that will deep-
ly interest you.”

Joaquin rode into the timber, and as Tio
Tomas seated himself on a fallen tree-trunk
with the air of one whose budget cannot be
shortly unfolded, the {young Sonorian alighted
and' holdin his horse the bridle, seated him-
self beside ' old frien ,

“I am an old man, senor, and many eople
imagine that I am in m dotage, but it is arely
poss1ble that they are t e fools, not Tio Tomas. ’

“ No doubt, old friend, but I am pressed for
time,” a little impatiently inter sed Joaquin.
“ Some other time I will gladly listen to you—
but now; you have something of importance to
communicate?”

“If you suffer me to follow my own trail—
yes " pettishly cried the veteran. “How can I
in e all clear, or you understand unless I be-
gin at the beginning? If I had been blind,
could I have seen. how often you and the pretty
little senorita met each other? If I had been a
fool. could I have reasoned out the truth—that
Don Manuel Camplido stood in at danger of
losing his bride—that on love Carmela. and
Carmela loved you? ever mind,” with a de-
precatory wave of the hand as Joaquin was
aboutto speak. “You are in a great hurry.
The oftener you interrupt me, the longer you
will be detained. Let me hasten with what I
have tosay. And then. it may be as well for
me to be at my quarters before snake-Pepe is

m .

“I have picked up several points of im r-
tance since saw you last. One was that on
Felix had learned of what was going on between
you and Senorita Carmela, through the spies set
to work by Don Camplido; but of that you
have had sufﬁcient proof. As to the other item,
I must ask you to pardon what may seem im-
pudence in me before I go further. 7’

“ I believe you are my true friend Tic Tomas,
and pledge my word not to take oﬂ’ense at any-
thin you may say.” . ‘

“ cod! now I can speak With a good grace.
In thﬂrst place, do you love the Senorita. Car-
ine a?

“Betterthan life—better than aught else in
the wide world i” was the impulsive response,
and the ardent light which beamed from the
young Sonorian’s eyes bore evidence to the
truth of his words. v

“ I knew it—you would be either more or less
than mortal man ifsuch was not the case—but
it is always best to be sure. And unless I am
purblind, the little lady is inclined to smile
upon your suit? You have confessed your pas»
sion' and she?”

“ nl this evening, she uttered the words
which would gladly give my life to hear her
breathe again 1’

“You are easily satisﬁed—most men would
rather live on in ho s of a still 110 er reward,”
d ly commented oTomas. “ ut as I said
he ore, I can make allowance—never mind: my
love aﬂairs are dead and gone, and I’ll not
trouble you to rake over the ashes with me.

“One more uestion: did the senorita speak
of the journe s e is about to take?”

” No. W at do you mean?” and Joaquin
looked anxious.

“ That Don Felix, urged on by Don Camplido,
has decided to ut a safe distance between his
daughter and he audacious young va uero—
meaning you, senor. No matter how I earned
this, enough that my information may be de-
pended upon. They set forth early in the memo
in , with an armed escort, bound for the haci-
en a. of Don Felix’s sister, two days’ ride from
here. Once immured there, you can imagine
what little chance the dainty lad -bird will
have of spreading her wings—or mig t imagine,
had you ever seen that grim old grifﬁn, her
aunt—the saints forgive me if I do her wron i”

Joaquin sat like one benumbed bye. sud en
blow. Tio Tomas 6 ed him for a moment in
silence, then lean forward and touched his
arm as he resumed, impressively:

“ There is nothing so bad but what it might be
worse, and though there is not one chance in a
thousand for on, after Senorita Carmela is
once behind t ose doors, until then, on hold
your fate and hers in our own han s, if on
are the brave, cool-hen ed man I think you. ’

“ What do you mean? Speak plainer,”' mut—
tered Joaquin, but with a growing light in his
dark eyes that seemed to give Tio Tomas a
peculiar satisfaction. ‘

“ One moment, ﬁrst. From the ve ﬁrst
yen reminded me ,of my Juaniw—my on y son,
who was killed by the accursed Apaches when
he was barely your age. In memory of him, I
soon learned to love you, the more readily that
I saw you were honest, brave and o n—hearted.
This is why I have taken such a eep interest
in this love aﬂair, and why I am now ready to
play. the traitor to my old master. But if I felt
the faintest fear that uyou could ever prove un—
grateful to her, I we d rather cut oﬂ my right

, "/»

 
hand than aid you. I know, too, that she loves
you—that her cart is bound up in on, while
she hates Camplido, whom they wouer force her
to marry. That dog would break her heart in
a month, and to cheat him is excuse enough for
my laying Don Felix false.”
“ at your plan?” ur ed the impatient lover.
“ Is so simple that wonder you have not
thought of it yourself. You know the country
well. There are plenty of snug spots along the
trail where an ambush mi ht be successfully laid.
If well-timed, there need no bloodshed. One
swift rush and the victory is yours. One word
to the lady—the mention of a hol padre—and
she will not weep her eyes out. on can ﬁnd
allies enough for the work, and to prevent un-
pleasant consequences, you can i'i them out as.
ndians. Now, senor, what thin you of my
little plot?”

 
CHAPTER V.
AN IRATE BROTHER.

JOAQUIN made no immediate reply, but satin
silence, one hand supporting his chin, a deep
brooding look in 'his dark eyes. Tio Tomas
watched him closely, a shade of disappointment.
gradually deepening upon‘ his weather—beaten
countenance. Instead of this apathy, he had
anticipated an eager enthusiasm that should
carr all before it.

“_ he pro‘ect hardly seems to require so
much thoug t,” he added, in a colder tone.
“Yes or no, are both little words, and [easily
5 ' ken by a bold man who knows his own min .

ither the idea is a and one or a bad—”

Joaquin roused himself with a faint smile at
the inJured tone in which the old man 5 ke.

:‘ dy answer would be quickly spo en, old
frien , were I on] as rich in friends as you.
seem to think. he notice is very short, and
besides yourself, I can only think of two men
on whom I could depend to serve me in such a.
delicate job.”

“ You must not count on me,” hastily uttered.
the veteran. “I have put you on the trail
which may or may not lead to your hap iness,
according to the use you make of the in ’orma»
tion, but I can do no more. Iam old—my days
of youthful folly are past. Besides, I am one
of t e escort detailed by Don Luis.”

Joaquin interrupted him with a short laugh.

“Never fear, T10 Tomas, you have done your
share. No matter how the affair ends, rememw
her that you have my gratitude for the good
Will you have shown. Good-by now, old friend.
It may be forever, or it is barely possible that
we may meet again when on least expect it.”

'm smile wrinkle
and laid bare his toothless gums as he too arose
from the log. His still sinewdy ﬁngers closed
upon the young Sonorian’s ban in a ﬁrm gripe
as he added:

“Don Luis is even more bitter against you
than Don Felix, but from his choice of men for

the escort, one could almost think him playing

into your hand. With possibly one exception,
he has selected the most coward] and worth—
less fellows on the whole estate. 9 shot, or a
single good war-whoop from ambush, would
put to ﬂight all those whom terror did not kill
outright.”

“ And 1 have not much to fear from that ex-
caution,” said Joaquin, with a cordial hand—
shake. “I understand. But there is no time
to waste if I am to accomplish aught. Good-by,
once more. Some day I may be able to thank
you for your kindness in a. manner more agree~
able to my wishes.”

Vaulting into the saddle, he rode out of the
timber, but scarcely had his horse made a down
strides awa from the cover, when Joaquin.
made a m disagreeablediscovery.

Out on the plain he espied a single horseman
trotting along, bent far over in the saddle with
eyes ﬁxed upon the ground as though engaged
in readings. trail. And a second glance con-
vinced Joaquin that this was exactly what the
horseman was doing; more, that he was lifting
the very trail made only a few minutes before
by himself and Tio Tomas.

Shai ply drawing rein, Joaquin was about to i

return to the friendly cover, intendin to as
through it andthen ride rapidly awagy he ore-
his ruse was discovered, for he recognized the
distant trailer and knew that his object in thus.
seeking him could be no amicable one. But the
thought came too late. The trailer raised his
e es, and, as though recognizing the ‘young
nonan, he abandoned the tracks he he been
followmg and broke into arapid gallop.

For‘one moment Joaquin, hesitated, menially
debating whether he should await the coming (, f
the horseman or wheel and rideaway. He knew
the powers of the animal he lestrode, knew that
he could easily distance the trailer, and pru-
dence counseled him to do so; but then the red
wale across his cheek smarted afresh, and sham
light ﬂashed into his eyes.» - .

“ He is her brother—let me remember that—
but I will not run from him like a cur that fem s
the lash,” he muttered between his teeth, slack»
ening his reins and riding quietly forward.

“ Hold! halt one moment, senorl”-cried Don .

Luis, urging his horse to greater_ _ speed, as
though fearin the young Sonorian intended to
elude him by Eight. '

the veteran’s face

 
Waywavqﬁmru— in,

l
l

_- ~ : ; .;.v;.‘—.-—-.8— #4

 
Jd'aqliini,_th3§3df11°

|

 
Instantly Joaquin drew rein and faced the
young man, his jaws ﬁrmly set, a cold, danger-
ous light in his eyes. -

Don Luis was the eldest living child of Don
Carillo Felix, only a little past his majority
though he looked much older, thanks to the w' d
and reckless life he had led.

Naturally endowed with more than ordinary
graces of both mind and person, tall. handsome
and high-spirited, it was an unlucky day for
Don Luis when he ﬁrst fell under the evil inﬂu—
ence of Don Manuel Camplido, which occurred
when he was a mere boy. Led on and encour-
aged b that arch-rascal, the young S anlard
plunge headlong into the worst of fol ies and
dissipation, until now he was but the wreck of
his former self, a; gambler, druiikard and reck—
less libertine; even worse—-a criminal whose life
lay in the hands of his evil tutor.

“ You wish to speak to me, senor f” coldly de-
manded Joaquin as Don Luis drew rein before
him, so close that their horses" heads fairly
touched each other.

“ Would I have taken the trouble to halt
else?” sharply retorted the youn Spaniar , an
ugly frown upon his face. “ our name is
Joaquin Murieta, and you are? a servant em—
ployed on the Santa Anna estate?”

A hot ﬂush swept over the young Sonorian’s
face more at the insolent tone than the words
emplo ed, but he bore in mind the fact that this
was armela’s brother, a quarrel with whom
must be rejudicial to his hopes of eventually
winning er hand.

“ That is my name, senor.”

“ And rank—but let that pass for the present.
I simply wish to say that you have been skulk-
iiig around these premises quite lon enough.
More than that, you have had the su lime im-
pudence to re tedly annoy my sister, the Se-
norita Carme 8. Felix, with waylaying her dur-
ing her rides, presuming upon your havnig once
rendered her a. slight sci-Vice. Because of that
triﬂin service, you are given a civil warning,
instea of that which your impudence deserves.
If you are a wise man, you will not wait for a
repetition, but leave this part of the country at
once before worse comes of it.”

“Indeed! and may I ask what may be the
alternative of refusal?” asked Joaquin, with a
poorly disguised sneer.

“ You will not be such a fool as toneglect this
warning—you dare not l” '

“ I dare almost anything when in the humor,”
re lied Joaquin, with a short, careless'laugh.

The young Spaniard raised his Whi :hand as
though to strike, but Joaquin did not inch, and
there was a dangerous light in his brilliant eyes
that warned Don Luis to think twice before be
rushed to extremities. Instead, he hung the
whip to the pommel of his saddle, thus leaving
his right hand at liberty to grasp a more certain
was. on.

“ he alternative is easily spoken. If you
dare to speak to my sister again, or even be seen
lurking around this estate, I will set in ser-
vants upon you with dogs and quirts. This for
the ﬁrst oﬂense. For the second—death 1”

“Thank you for nothing I” retorted Joaquin.
“ You have had ﬁour say, and I have listened
to you quietly. ow let me say a word in turn.

“I am a man, white and free born. My blood
is as pure as that ﬂowing in our veins and as
an honest man, I hold in sel the equal of the
proudest and highest 0 the human race. I
saved the life of your sister. I love her, and
col this day she confessed that my pasSion was
f y reciprocated. While I draw the breath
of life no other man shall wed her. As for on
——you are her brother, and therefore your ife
is sacred to me; but do not press me too far—I
give you the warning in a kindly spirit. ”

This speech ﬂowed forth so ﬂuently that Don
Luis could not haVe interruped its current even
had he made the effort. But he was so amazed,
so dumfounded by such audacity in a mere
vaquero—oue scarcely ranked above the bum-
blest peons—that he could only stare With
pgrted ii at the bold speaker, scarce able to

lieve t e evidence of his ears, until, With a
low bow, Joaquin passed him by.

It was an apparently careless move on the
part of the' Dung Sonorian, who knew his
words must ave stung Carmela’s brother to
the quick, but headless as he seemed, the va—
quero was never more perfectly on the alert.
he hardly anticipated an assault, but he knew

on,

that Don Luis had long been an apt pupil of the ‘:

treacherous Camplido, whose teachin
sadly warped a naturally generous an
nature. ‘

For one instant Don Luis gazed upon the va.

uero, then, with a grating came, his s urs
were plunged rowel- deep into the ﬂanks 0 his
horse, and as the startled creature bore him
alongside, he made a swift, spiteful blow, mean-
ing to bury the long blade pf his knife between
Joaquin’s shoulders. But impetuous as was his
attack, it was utterly foiled by the wonderful
quickness and dexterity displayed by the Va-
qaero. _

Swa 'ng his body swiftly to one side, Joaquin
evadernhe stroke, then his smewi; ﬁngers closed
upon his assailant’s wrist, and y a powerful
twist the weapon was hurleddrom the now
heipless hand. Don Luis was drawn close to his

had
noble

adversary, and for a brief space they remained
thus, their faces nearly touchin . ﬁerce con-
tempt blazing in Joe. uin’s eyes. en, wi a
short, hard laugh, he ung the hand from 'm,
cryi§ig2 .

“ on are her brother, and that makes your
life safe—but beware! Though I care not to
have your blood upon my hands, do not crowd
me too hard, or—’

The sentence was never ﬁnished. Furious at
being foiled, at being so unceremoniously han-
dled by one younger and smaller than himself,
Don Luis snatched his sword from its scabbard
and savagely attacked the young Sonorian.

'With wonderful rigidity Joa uiu whirled his
horse around and da ed past t 8 young Span—
iard, warding off the stroke leveled at him,
with the barrel of his revolver. A dozen
lengths away he drew rein, and as Don Luis,
now fairly frothing at the mouth, wrenched his
horse around and charged, 11 rose his pistol
and spat forth an unerrin bu et. A metallic
clink and clatter—the big ly tempered sword-
blade ﬂew in pieces, and Don Luis found him-
self unarmed, wholly at the mercy of him whom
he had insulted and twice sought to kill. The
trial was too much for his dissipation—weakened
nerves, and pale as though already a corpse, he
shrunk before t'heﬂeveled weapon. .,

For the fraction of a minute Joaquin kept him
covered by the frowning muzzle, then lowered
and replaced the weapon, with a low, mocking
laugh that cut to the quick, so full was it of ut-

ter scorn.

“Twice you have tried and-failed, Don Luis
Felix—beware the third time. If you force me
to strike, I will strike to kill!”

These words he uttered as be brushed past
the discomﬂted Spaniard, feeling assured that
no other lesson would be needed at present; but
be underestimated the bitter rancor with which
the heart of Don Luis was ﬁlled. Openly deﬁed,
treated with the pitying, almost contemptuous
forbearance one might exhibit toward a. silly,
passionate boy, and, worse than all, conscious
of having betrayed positive fear, he forgot all
else in a burning thirst for the heart’s blood of
this insolent vaquero. He had but one weapon
remainin —the lasso neatly coiled at his sad-
dle-bow— ut in the hands of one asexpert as
himself in its use, this was far more to be
dreadied by an enemy than either knife or
swor .

There was no time for deliberation. He
recognized the horse dden by Joaquin, and
knew that its ‘speed was far su rior to that of
the animal he himself bestr e. Shiuld his

urpose be suspected, or his ﬁrst cast fail—hut
it did not fail, and a yell of frantic exultation
burst from his lips as he beheld the snaky coils
settle fairly over the shoulders of the young
Sonorianl Instantly he wheeled his horse, to
pluck his enemy from the saddle—then a few
more bounds, and there would be naught to
fear from that mangled, disﬁgured mass of hu-
manity. ' .

Joaquin was taken wholly by surprise, his
ﬁrst intimation of his deadly peril being when
the folds of the lasso before hisface.
Then it was that his oiglhtning quickness of
thought and action st him in good stead.
One instant‘s irresolution must have ended in.
his death. Already the well— reased noose was
tightenin as his hand bore eavilyu on the
powerful it, lifting his snorting steed nto the
air and whirlin him round on his hind feet—,
already he was lug gagged from the saddle
with a. sensation 0 ing cut in twain just
above where his elbows were pinned to his ribs
—but then a. touch of the spurs, and the horrible
strain was relieved! ,

Scarce one man in a thousand could have
performed the feat, even if fully prepared and
expecting the orde l. > v

on Luis felt the rope tighten and another
savage shout parted his 1i s as he turned his
head to witness the downfal of the man he now
hated so intensely. Instead, he beheld that
wonderful maneuver—saw the man whom he had
thrice essayed to murder, wheel and race
sw1ftly toward him as he loosened the rope from
around his body.
Again assailed by fear, he (plied his spurs
frantically, heading for the istant rancho,
feeling the cold hand of death already grasping
his heart-strings. Unarmed, he could only ﬂee
,v—yet had his belt bristled with wea us, he
could hardly have found coura e su cientto
‘ use them against this man—this devil, ratherl.
9 For one moment his life hung trembling in
l the balance. Joaquin was thoroughly angered
' by these repeated attempts to assassmate him,
1 and his revolver covered the heart of the fugi-
l tive—but only for a moment. Then the we
‘ tear-stained face of Carmela Felix seemed to rise
between them, and he even fancied he could
hear her trembling voice pleading for the life of
her only brother. '

“ Once more I’ll spare, him but I’ll read the
craven cur a lesson which he will not soon
forget!” he muttered, lowering the wen. u and
bending Sharply to the left, keeping t e rope
taut as he gained upon the fugitive, by this

fast in. his

 
mgdirlis pinning the young Spaniard
an e. ‘ , _ _, _
As he felt the pressure on his thigh, Don Luis

 v ‘ 7‘

 
looked around, and fresh horror seized upon
him. He believed Joaquin meant to ride around
him and thus secure a fold of the lasso about his
body, then halt his horse and crush the life out
of him, even if the terrible cord did not literally
cut his carcass in twainl ,

In vain he sou ht to free the lasso from the
pommel of his dle. Joaquin kept it stretched
tight, and he had no weapon by which the
strands could be cut. Nor could he throw him-
self out of the saddle. One thigh was held fast,
and slowly but surelv that terrible pressure
was creeping around his back! He thou ht of
checking his horse, and even tightene the
reins With that intention but fortunately he
realized the frightful result which must surely
follow—both horse and rider would be over-
thrown, and even should he escape being
crushed b the fall, his limb would be broken
and mang ed, perhaps torn off.

Truly the proud youth was being read a ter~
rible lessonl

J oaquin was watching him closely and noting
the foolish motion instantly changed his tactics,
for now that the first moment of rage was spent,-
he felt no desire to either kill or cripple his.
adversary. Headin directly for Don Luis,
drawin in the lasso and over hand and thus:
still hol 'ng him helpless, he soon reached the
other, and grasping the bits, checked both
horses. Dropping he lasso and drawing a
revolver he spoke, stern and sharp:

f‘Three times within half an hour you have
tried to kill me, Don LuisFelix. I haven three-
fold claim on your life, now, and on live only
by my merc . But for your sizing e as
you are evil, would slay on like a wolf:
for her sake, I spare your ife, but will give you
a token to remember this da 1” '

As he concluded, his piste exploded, cutting
off the lobe of the youngr Slpaniard’s right ear
neatly as though with a ni el

Then, bowing low, Joaquin turned and gal-
loped swiftly away. ‘

CHAPTER VI.

. A BITTER PILL 'ro SWALLOW.

Tim day was hot and sum , the air close and
oppressive even under the grain ul shade afforded
by the clump of trees which had sprung up
around the little way-side spring. .

of the

Horses were tethered around the ed
little timber island where they shoul crop the
scanty growth of rass. Scattered here and '
there within the sha e lolled armed men, drowsy, ‘
listless, smoking their cigars, interchanging now
and then a low, diawling remark. but for the
mitiist part feeling too lazy to maintain a conver—
sa on. '

Near the center of the grove the rin bub-
bled up, surrounded by a carpet of giving eon
grass. Here two persons were seated—ma eaud

emale—father and daughter—Don Carillo Felix
and Carmela.

The maiden had rolled a ci or for her parent,
and now she was forminganot er forherown
Don Felix beckoned to an attendant—none e or
than our old friend Tio Tomas—who implodi-
ately produced aeiiplit stick with a living coal
glowing in the cl end. i

“ You can go now,” coldly said Carmelaaa oh
tossed the primitive cigar lighter aside after
i ting her tiny roll. ‘ When you are, needed,

will call.” . ,

Tic Tomas bowed low, then beat a retreat.

Don Felix cast a nick giance at the maiden
from under cover 0 is s a gy white brows,
and then the furrows grew eeper on his fore-
head, for he knew from experience that the fair
rebfl was about to breach a disagreeable sub—
Jec .

Carmela was paler than usual, and there were
dark shadows under her eyes that told of mental ,
anxiety and sleeplessness. There had been a
stormy interview between the two, after the
excitin episode of the past evening, resulting
in posi ‘ve victory for neither. For the
time in heij life, ‘Carmela had dared to show
open rebellion against the will of her father.
Don Felix had mans to silence her then, but

he saw now that the attle was all to be fought ' '

over again.

“Father, you are undergoing all this toil and r
trouble for nothing” t e maiden hogan,
abruptly. “My hea will change no sooner
at m aunt’s house than at home.”

” t least you will be where watchful cam ‘
can guard against your disgracing not only
yourself but the proud race from which you
sprudg," was the cold retort. I .

A vid ﬂush overspread Carmela’s cheek, and
a prouder light came into her dark eyes.

“Dis race will never ccme to the name of
Felix t rough ought that 1 (lo—would tbatI
could say as much for all that bear the name!”

“What do on mean?” sternly demanded the ,
S niard,‘bu his growing pallor told only too
p sin] that he divined her meaning, and Car-
mela gjnored the question. '

"Twwe have you accused me of disgraci'ng
the name I bear—and why? Because I have
dared to lqve one who loves'ine in return—a
man who risked his life to preserve mine, when
he knew not whether I was proudly or low-
born—it‘might even be a slave. And what can
be said against him? Nothing worse than that

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, all that the most exactin

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Joaquin, the] Saddle King.

 
he is at resent ﬁllin a lowl 'tion more
through choice than nascessity."y pom ’

“ Enough—the matter Was cloud last night,"
coldly said Don Felix. “ There is nothing more
to so on the subject.”

“ es, there is this much to say,” cried Car-
mela, in a low, but intense tone of voice. “I
will go down to my grave a virgin unless I can
wed the man of m choice. Either death or
.Joa uin Murieta w' i be my bridegroom!”

"’ here is no choice between the two. Dear
'as you are to my heart, Carmela, I could rather
see you robed or the grave. There would be

sorrow, deep and lasting, but there would be no

feeling of shame, no bitter necessity for erasing
even your memory from an aching heart.”

“Yet you are willing and even e er to see
me the wife of Manuel Camplido,’ bitterly
cried the maiden.

The old man’s face ﬂushed hotly, then the
color died away, leaving him more pale than
before. ,

“Not eager, only willing,” he stammered.
“Have I ever urged you—ever exerted my
authority-”

“ And why! shall I tell
down in your heart of hear you feel that an
anunholy alliance would be a dis ce. Only
tO'avoid a still deeper disgrace con (1 you have
given your consent."

"Stop! speak not the words !" cried Don
Felix, terribly agitated. “What know you——
who has dared to tell-J!

His emotion choked him. He leaned back
against the tree-trunk, gasping for brmth. Car-
mela ﬁlled a cup with water from the spring
and handed him. He drank, and when he was
more calm, Carmela spoke.‘ '

“I know all. No matter how I learned the
truth, but I‘ knew it all before you suspected
the bitter shame. I knew not then that I had a
heart, and to save Luis, I consented to sacriﬁce
myself. I saw that Manuel Camplido was wel-
comed in ood society, made much of and ﬂat-
tered by t ose high in power, despite the well—
known fact of his poltroonerﬁ displayed on the
ﬁeld of battle,.of his being a eartless roue and
a confirmed gambler. I did not know then
what love was, and foolishly thought that I
could endure an existence With him where so
much was at stake. But now—if'forced to be-
come his bride, I should ﬁrst slay him and then
kill myself!” , 1

Before Don Felix could make reply to this

ionate outburst, the rapid clattering of a
horse’s hoofs in swift gallop came to their ears,
and through an opening in the foliage they
caught a momentary glimpse of the rider, who
was headed for the matte. The eyes of hatred
no less than those of love, are very keen, an
Carmela’s dainty brows contracted as she re-
cognimd the horseman. '

‘ Talk of Satan! if not the foul ﬁend himself,

on? Because, dee

/ yonder .comes his favorite lieutenant, Manuel

Camlplido!” r

“ reat him kindly, daughter. ' Remember
how much depends u his good will!” hur-
riedly whispered Don elix.

It was very seldom that the proud don stooped
to entreat where he was wont to command, and
Camels knew from this how powerfully he had
been aﬂected by her words. She gathered
fresh courage, and inwardly resolved to carry
the war into the enemy’s country.

Little suspgcting the nature of the reception
which was lug prepared for him, Don Manuel
Camplido dismounted, and turning his horse
over to the care of one of' the escort, hastened
to the spring where father and daughter await-
ed his ap oach.

The we come given him by Don Carillo was
could wish for, but
Carmela only bowed col y, not noticing the
band he extended to clasp hers, then turned
away and resumed her seat - carelessly toying
with the grass blades beside the water.

A quick frown wrinkled Camplido’s brow, and
insensiny the rebuff gave a sharper tone to his
voice than he intended. ’

“ You must pardon m intrusion, Don Felix,”
he said, seating himsel . “ Late last night 8.

came to me from the city—a summons

that can only be answered in person, and of a
nature that may compel me to start for Spain
at a moment’s notice.‘ I rode over to your
house the ﬁrst thing this morning, but you had
already started on your journey, so there was
nothing left for me but to follow.”

Don Felix bowed, but said nothing. Deep
down in his heart was a sincere regret that
Cam lido could have found time even for this

' brie delay. .

Campli o eyed him keenly, then added, in a
colder tone:

“ You surely can guess why I have stolen this
time—why I was so determined to see you be-
fore leavmg for co?”

“ To make your .adieux—you are very kind,”
muttered Don Felix, scarce conscious of what

l-hesaid.

“That, of. com-so, but only in addition to
more im rtant business. As I hinted, I may
becalled Spain almOSt immediate ,and there
is no guessing how long I may , detained
there. The voyage will be a pleasant one, and
a more appropriate wedding-tour could scarcely

 
be devised. I have been ver patient as even
you must admit, and think I ave fairly earned
the right to ask when will the Senorita Carmela
make me the happiest of mortals by suffering
me to wed her?”

“ Never, Don Manuel Cam lido!” came in
quiet but resolute tones from the maiden, who
barely deigned to turn her dark eyes upon the
fellow—eyes that emphasized the scorn and dis-
like that curled her ruby-red lip. '

The gambler flushed hotly as he met that
glance, but as he read the unpleasant truth thus
conveyed, the blood ﬂed back, leaving his face
a sickly, ashen gray, relieved only by the ugly
ﬁre that blazed in his eyes.

“You are pleased to jest, senorita,” he said,
slowly, as though he found trouble in managing
his voice. “You surely could not have under-
stood me. You are my betrothed. I am on the
eve of leaving this countr for an uncertain
length of time—it may 0 y be months, or it
may be for years. Is it to be wondered at that
I am anxious to have all settled before I de-

“ That 1point need not trouble on long. One

word wi settle it forevsr, so ar as you are
concerned. Take your departure as soon as you
please— ‘
“ Carmela!” exclaimed Don Felix, appeal-
ingl . '
“ ll) not interrupt me, father,” cried the
maiden, impetuously, arising to her feet. “You
heard him say that e was anxious for a settle—
ment—and I am even more impatient than he.

“DonvManuel Camplido, you know that I re-
fused your suit, not once but many times, only
yielding when you threatened revenge such as
no man with a s k of honor in his compo~
sitio‘n could even- ave dreamed of, but through
it all, I never professed to love you never even
tried to disguise my aversion. . I thought then
that I could make the sacriﬁce, because I did
not then know my heart—scarcely knew that I
had one. But one da it awo e-—bah! why
should I fear to utter w at I glory in! I learned
to love—”

“That aocursed hound, Murieta!”

“That nature’s nobleman, whom on are un-
worthyto name!”s iritedl cried t a maiden,
her countenance ag ow wit a generous love for
the absent. “ You dare to curse him, now that
he is distant, but your tongue ran not so freely
yester evening!” _

The taunt was a bitter one and struck heavin
home. A sickly smile curled the villain’s mus—
taches, but he could not articulate a word, and
Carmela, anxious to end a scene which she saw
was inexpressibly painful to her father, added
rapidly:

“ Once 'for all, let me tell you that I will never
wed with you. Death, preceded by the most
atrocious tortures, would be ten thousand times
preferable. If you are cowardly enough to at-
tempt puttiug your former threat into execu-
tion, settle your worldly affairs before on
launch the thunderbolt, for truly as God reigns
in the heavens above! your life will not last
long enou h for you to triumph over the down-
fall of the ouse of Felix!”

Delivering this sipeech with a ﬁre that is but

oorly represente by the words as recorded,

armela turned haugtilyaside and passed deeper
into the wood.

Pale and ghastly, Manuel Cam lido followed
her with his eyes—e es that eaci contained a
raging devil -—unti the undergrowth inter-
vened, then turned to the agitated father, with
a short, harsh laugh.

“A tempest in a tea- t, trulv! However,
it will soon expend itsel. When one of the
dainty creatures ﬂies into a rage, the wisest
we is to let them have their say out, and not
in e a bad matter worse by attempting to argue
the int with them. But, with a man of the
wor d, like yourself, senor, the case is different
and so I repeat-my uestionz—how soon shall
the wedding come 0 4”

” You heard her answer,” muttered Don
Felix, uneasily.

“But I do not choose to accept it, senor,” a
little sharply. “What a girl as s in a ﬁt of
petty 83316611 goes for nothing. S e is my be-
troth , solemnly plighted to me, and I do not
propose to relinquish my rights for a mere
whim.”

“Carmela was in bitter earnest; you must
have-seen that. She will never consent.”

“It is not her consent that I am seeking but
yours,” coldly, almost insolently retorted am-
plido. “ You have but to exert your paternal
authority, and she must yield.” '

Don Felix ﬂushed hotly, and despite the mag-
nitude of the stake they were playing for,
lens indignation got the upper hand of his pro

ence.

“My authority shall never be exercised .in
that shape, let the consequence be what it will.
If you can gain her free consent to marry you,
my blessin will be given you both; but no com-
pulsion shaﬁl be used, and an further hint on
that score from you, senor, be esteemed as
an insult by me, to be resented accordingly.”

Camplido gazed steadily into the eyes of the
proud old don as :he spoke, but the haughty

lood of the conquistadores was now ully
aroused, and Don Felix faced the ex-c'aptain ol

 
lancers unﬂinching! . Then a harsh, unnatural
la b parted Don anuel’s lips.

“ oubtless 1you have well weighed you:-
words and ful y counted the cost, senor, but I
will not hastily accept your answer. In a few
days I will return from the city, and then will
do myself the honor of calling on you. Until
then, adios, senor!”

Turnin .away, Don Camplido mounted his
horse an rode swiftly away from the matte.

“Ten thousand curses on the punctilious old
fool !" he snarled, as he glanced over his shoul—
der and saw that only the extreme tops of the
trees forming the timber island were in view.
“Had his heart been only half, in the scheme,
he would have exerted his authority quickly
enough, and never have given it a second
thought.”

.Wrenchiug savagely at the bit, he wheeled
his horse at a sharp angle, and plying spurs,
galloped swiftly on.

“Bah! what matters, after all? The other
way is the shortest and easiest, beiides giving
me a good chance of killing two birds with one
stone—winning a peerless bride, and forever
ridding myself of a dangerous rival. Ha! ha!
could daint Carmela have known the whole
truth, woul she not have sung smaller?”

Long and loud this reckless villain laughed,
his tones, his face, and above all the light in his
eyes, bein those of a veritable demon.

At lengt he drew rain and leaped to the
ground, tearing up the withered grass and plac—
ing it in three piles, after a careful glance at
the position of the sun. He struck a match on
his boot sole, and touched ed the three piles of
grass in succession, laughing once more as he
stood With folded arms and watched the smoke
curl upward in three columns.

CHAPTER VII.
WHAT THE SMOKE SIGNALS MEANT.

THE re'ected suit-n‘ had hard! left the tim—
ber islan before Don Felix calls up Tio Tomas
and bade him get all in readiness for a resump-
tion of the journey. The veteran retainer re-
ceived his orders in silence, bowed and V‘ ith-
drew to at once carry them out, but there was
a shrewd, humorous twinkle in his eyes that
told he was not wholl, at a loss to understand
why Don Felix had a andoned his purpose of
remaining in camp by the spring until the heat
of the day was past. An ardent partisan of the
young Sonorian, Tio Tomas had not been over
particular to keep beyond ear-shot of the spring.
and the angry frown worn by Don Manuel
Camplido when he hastened from the matte was
no enigma to him.

“Don Felix looks as though his dinner did

not agree with his stomach!” muttered the vet-
eran, chuckling in his sleeve. “Glory to the
dainty little lady-bird, and the Vir in grant
she may havo back-bone enough to ho d fast to
the pos1tion she has taken!”
- Carmela also had an idea of the truth, for she
believed their departure was being hastened to
avoid any further discussion of the troublesome
point and while she raised no objection to
abandoning the grateful shade of the matte. she
inwardly resolved that this unexpected changa
of base should not avail her father an ht. And
scai‘cel had the cavalcade cleared t e timber
island fore she opened her batteries, showing
the already demoralized enemy no mere .

“I remember hearing a proverb fall from
your lips, long years ago, father,” she began,
caning forward with a charmin smile and
stroking the smooth neck of the also he be-
strode. “It ran like this: A true gentleman
never forgets the respect and reverence due to
venerable age or beauty. Weighed in this
balance, your friend, Don Manuel Camplido,
this day proved. woefully lacking.”

“He is no friend of mine!” hastily uttered
Don Felix then paused abrutptly and ﬂushed
hotly as thoughbonscious 0 having made a
damaging admisswn.

Carine a averted her head to comes! a smile
of gratiﬁed triumph, for this success was more
than she had even dared to hope for, and she
began to feel that complete victory lay in the
path she.was followmg, if she could only pa-
tiently hide her time and avoid making any
false move. Yet she could not resist the tempta-
tiopIto use the militia onﬁe more.

reJOice grea y at earin you so that
dear father, for the friendshipg of such 5; thor1
ough-paced villain would disgrace any man with

 
even the slightest pretensions to res
You have not heard of the part he played
ﬁlllte recently at General Santa Anna’s ram-ho?

thought not, yet you should, for it showed
doughty ex-captain of lancers up in his true
colors. Tio Tomas, come hither!” she said.
turning and beckoning to the veteran, who had
been riding close behind them, then  as
the old man respectfully bared his bee in
the presence of his master: “Cover yourself,

A Tomas. then tell us what you know concerning
this affair between Don Manuel Csmplido snd— ‘

I forget his name, but that does not matter; the
facts are all we care for at present.”

There was no need of the quick . warning look
which ﬂashed from her eyes. 10 Tomas was
no fool, and her cunningly- chosen words gave
him the neceaary clew.

pectability. _

 _x+  - _ -mw;  mm». at 

r“

 
.H‘wu

Joaquin, the Saddle King.

9

 
Though not an eye-witness of the affair, he
had received an accurate report of it from be-
ginning to end, and without. mentioning Joa-
quin by name or otherwise giving any certain
clew tohis identit , he painted a graphic pic-
ture of the even already placed before the
reader.

In his'earlier days, Don Carillo Felix had
been celebrated for his skill in horsemauship,
his rowess as an athlete, nor bad old age en-
tire y chilled his enthusiasm as a cavalier. His
eyes glowed, his cheeks grew ﬂushed and. his
tall form grew more erect as he listened tothc
wonderful dis lay made by the unknown. He
was eager to earn the name of the man. for,
strange so say, he never once suspected the
truth. I

“ That is a man, and one, too, in whose veins
no ignoble blood ﬂows, else nature has greatly
belied itself!” he exclaimed, enthusiastically.
“"I‘is strange you have forgotten his name.
Possibly some of the escort know it. Ask them
and ascertain.

“ Surely I will remember the name. in a. mo—
ment,” hastil r lied Tio Tomas. ‘5 I can al-
most speak 1t—‘ is upon the ve-ry‘cnd of my
ton ue. But of this I am sure Don Felix-—~your
g judgment has not misled you here, for the
young man who covered Don Manuel Camplido
with confusion and shame belongs to one of the
proudest and purest blooded families in all
Sonora. Possibly they may not be the richest,
but at all events they have wealth enough to
guard against the necessity'of this, young en-
tleman’s following such an humble life. ﬁxey
say he became a vaquero that he might bebetter
able to, care for his own herds when his father

188'—

For several moments Carmela had been try-
ing to catch the garrulous old man’s e e, but in
vain. She noticed a look of suspicion eepening
on Don Felix’s face, and saw that the favorable
impression made nag: his mind was being
shaken. In despera ' , she caused her horse to
cavort and plunge violentl against that ridden
by Tio Tomas, cuttings ort his speech and
nearly overturning him into the bargain. But
the mischief was one, and the voice of her pa-
rent was cold and measured as he turned upon
her.

" Tell me the name of this person whom on
two have been so extravagantly praising, r-
mela. No evasion—you know it on y too
well.’.’ - ’

“And am proud to utter it, tool” she ex-
claimed, spirltedly. “The gentleman in whose
veins you so tively declared that no ignoble
blood could ow is DonJ um Muneta.’

“ Unless nature greatly be ed herself, I add-
ed ” was the cold comment. “That she does
t occasional] isproved by my daughter lot-
tin with a fad ish old servant to blindfo her-
fatEer and entrap him- into givin a false

inion. As for on, Tio Tomas, f 1 back to,
t 9 rear, and he! our-self truly fortunate in-
escaping with my d pleasure‘ alone,” he added,

be er .‘ ' , , .

grid man bowed low and retreated, yetnot
wholly dissatisﬁed with the resun df'his'bold
venture. I

“ Let him frown and sulk now,” he muttered
behind his heard, “but the good seed sown has
taken root and will bear fruit in time. Old I
may be, but not foolish—no, nol Jamiluin will
bear evidence to the contrary when a is the
husband of Senorita Carmela, and the master
of— Holy Mother of Mercy! ' I forgot the ad-
vice I gave him I” ~ ‘

B the max-est chance ’l‘lo Tomas had turned
his end and caught si ht of the three columns
of smoke sent up by on Manuel CampIido.
The regular arrangement of the signals forbade
the idea of its bein the work of chance, and
the old man instant y jinn to the conclusion
that it Was oonnecteé Wit ' the advice be had

'ven Joa uin Mic .
g'Il'l‘he discqovely had come so_unoxpectedly that
he gave a root star and his nearest compan-
ion, followmg the d ection of, his gaze, also
noted the sinister ap ranco.

“ How do you 2' that sign, uncle?” he mut-
tered, with an air of uneasiness that deepened
as the veteran slowly shook his head. “ You
think it bodes dargqa‘ll'Bto us?” . ‘

“ Who knows? " not now the time of the
Mexican Moon, but the red devils do not al-
ways strike by rule. ‘It may be that the have
set a trap for us—they or‘the whiter 'nned
but even blacker-hearted salted-dares. In my
day I have fought them both, and plunged
headlonginb the thickest of the-ﬁlm, like a

kid‘s?!)  to the arm. of lﬁ new-
made (lo—but on there were no women
3.1 g. Now,,1 could wish that we were all
BEER? one end or the other of tbh imayl’ﬂ

“ lyoumtoofoud'oftbemndofym

'm voice,‘ Tic Tomas,” ruddy exclaqu

Willemde "‘Youm
“ﬁg "a, mountain out of a mole-‘hili—ouln
diam fu'ey outer a vanero’s man. by
Judging-l

with .
5&1!” nimblch ahead ‘Wﬁ. has
Felix noticed the t on among his
men, and in seeking 0 came, he caught sight
of the three smoke pillars, now dying away at

 
the base. Instantly halting, he summoned Go-
mez to his side and uestioned him.

“ I am quite sure t are is no cause for alarm,
senor,” the fellow said, respectfully but with
the conﬁdence of a man wholly at ease. “ ’Tis
too early for Indians this low down, and the
white thieves would not care to molest us. If
yonder smoke be the work of a spy, be sure its
meaning is to open, rather than to close the
way, for we bear no plunder of any amount,
and the ladro‘nvs do not stomach hard blows
unle; ’15; there is an abundance of paybefore their
eyes. 4 .

Don Felix was somewhat reassured by this
plausible line of reasoning, but still he was too
old a soldier to neglect all reasonable precau-
tions, and, by his orders, Gomez sent two men
ahead to explore the way.

This was a sensible move, for now the caval—
cade had left the level, sandy plain behind
them, and were enterin upon a region of far
different nature. In t e distance rose hi h,
rocky and frowning hills. Around them t 8

round ew more and more broken, huge bowl-

ers an masses of rock were scattered thickly
on every hand, while her nd there grew mon-
strous cacti in fantast c shapes, with an
occasional clump of shrubber , where a con-
siderable force of armed an even mounted
men might lie hidden in ambush all urfsuspected
by their hapless victnns until fair y in the
toils.

'l‘io Tomas edged closer to his fair mistress,
the ﬁres of a Ion -vanished youth glaring in his
eyes, reanimat bya suspicion of what be
near future contained. He felt sure that on-
quin had concluded to act upon his advice, and
keenly eyed each favorable coveras they neared
it, expecting to see the ambush sprung with the
passage of each moment. _ .

But steadily on the advance scouts ride and
give no sign. He knows them tobe cowards,

ut the boldest of all warriors might have
envied their intrepid bearing now, and a strange
suspicion ﬂashed across the veteran’s mind, only
to be dismissed the next moment as untenable.

“ They are tools of and friendly tothe interests
of Don Luis- and Manuel an; hdo—conse-
quently his bitter enemies“; eel Joaquin
could not have tampered With them after he
left me, last night." ‘ ,

The worthy veteran was thorcughly puzzled,
but not for ling. . ,

The trail directly through the heart of a
spot favorable in ever respect for the tonna-
tion of an ambush. be two scoutsedvanced»
without giving any warning, scammgly unsus—
picious of vdan er, but when the. »0ava.lcade
was fairly invo ved a chorus of hideous yells
rent the air, a blinding volley'of ﬂame-tinged
smoke burst out from-every Side, and then, a.
horde of paintobedaubed, plumod savages burst
from ambush upon their prey... v _

. A scenenof the moat. ightful ‘confusmn
ensuedr  ‘ -

Full one-half of the escortwent down before
the ﬁrm volley among them the-two scouts and
Tie Tomas, while. the rat were thrown into
utter dismay and seemed to think only of ht.

The enemy, though dismounted when 0;:
opened ﬁre, eaped upon their horses when they
0 ar , and atonee cloud around Don Felix
and armele, neitherof whom had beentonched
by the ﬁrst volley. Indeed, it seemed to be the
aim of the savages to captureat least those two,
alive and unharmed, but they reckoned without
their host in this instance. - _

In his earlier days, Don Eclix had beenh
noted warrior, and now,.in his old a ,he did
not belie his ancient reputation. As y magic
all of his youthful energy retwned.

Quick u thought a pistol was out and thrust
almost into the face of a hrawny warrior who
had grasped his bridle reins. At its explomon
the saw 9 fell, half of his  shot away, an
as thong awe-stricken by this horrible sight.
his comrades ﬂinched and involuntarily fell
back. Another shot followed and then hurling
the em ty pistols into the midst of his enemies, .
Don Fe ' drew his good sword and-reached the
side of who had hem separated from
his side by the mad rush;

“Courage, child!" and his voice was out
clearand deﬁant name blare of a trunghpet.‘
“ Keep close to my side, and we willehent one
1361' ad heathen yet!" '

veu asbe he a ' trbeduubed an
M a M. 

beam 0 ' e aw ewep
a . , and the einew _ hand,
severed at .‘the wrist, in ' '
from

 
Swift as had been her action, it could not en-
tirely save Don Felix, though through it his
life was preserved. Instea of piercin his
lungs the Indian’s lead on] tore throu the
muscles of his shoulder, and t ough the 0 d hero
 visibly on feeling the lead, he was not

9

All this had occurred almost with the rapidity
of thought, and before the main body of the
save. es could recover from the s rise of this
de y resistance, father and dau r, side b
side, wheeled and charged strai ht throng ,
them, saber gleaming, revolver ﬁshing—and
then s d swiftly away along the back traill

“ A ter thvml Thousand devilsl the must
not escape us nowl” thundered a. 5 net, eav -
set rasc-J A": gnod Spanish. “Kil or cripp e
the horses—. .Ke the girl alive, the old man
either (lead or living.”

Either his voice lent them courage, or else it
was the sight of the terrible old man now ﬂeeing,
for, with loud yells of fury, the ainted demons
urged their animals on in swit‘ pursuit, their
ﬁre-arms speaking at every bound.

“ You are hurt, father—I fear ‘you are slainl”
gasped Carmela, as she noted the red stream
the. ﬂowed from the wound inﬂicted by the
savage whom she had slain but the voice of the
galllaeig old hero gave no token of weakness as he
1' l l

_“ ’Tis only a scratch, such as one might make
With abodkin; but you, darlin l” and a look of
terror came into his eyes as e noted a red
blotch upon the bosom of her white dress.

“Unharmed; it came from the hand of the
brute you cut off—theme who shot you, in
s ite of my efforts to revent it. Thanks to the

lessed Vlrg'inl he w' never more do harm on
earth!” and the stern spirit which characterizod
her ﬁery race gleamed in her dark eyes. ,

“If we were only on the level ground once
mo there would be hope,” and Don Felix
scow ed as he, rode for a moment with heard on‘
shoulder, noting the oncominﬁlenern . “ See how
the thrice accuraed heathen el nd acbauce .
shot may make all the diﬂerence between life
and death 1” ‘ -

It was not for himself that be feared, for a more 7
deuntless heart never throbbed in mortal bosom.
He knew how horrible was the fate of all unfor-
tunate women who fell alive into the power of
the Apaches And while he pra ed to esca
those ﬁends, he also prayed that is poor ch
mightbe slain outright in preference to being
taken captive. ‘

‘ It was a mad, reckless race. There was no
time to pick and choose. To hesitate meant ,
death or. worse. -They could only dash along
the winding, difﬁcult trail and hope against hope
that neither of their horses might stumble and
fall or be struck b one of the bullets that hissed
and hurtled past ton on every side.‘ A race

such as few one are ever forced tomake and
fewer still w- olive to tell of it. But the and
came speedily.

Once more Don Felix was glancing back over
llgsnlshoilillder, wlh‘ile Carmela  ahead}; Sud-
yseca. aglimpse, on uman cad-41
humanformnrlsing u from behind a rock close to
the trail—a famine form whicmekigstanngl!
rmognmedf w an a peeling e or .
But or voice was blended wit a shot that came
from the leveled riﬂe of the man. in front, and
then, as th h stricken by a thunderbolt, the
horse ridden y Don Felix fell in ahea ,castr
ing its named rider with fearful olence
upon the l :

 
CHAPTER VIII.
runowmo asmu ran MASK. ‘

In that one brief instant, Carmela Felix lived
through an eternity of torture. She saw the ~
horse ridden by her father stumble and fail,
castin its rider far over its head with a sicken—
ing vio nee upon the stones-she saw him ly
there like a dead man, and even on ht ‘
oi the hlood\that was dyeing his w to halt
crimson. A shriek of heart-rend grief well-
ed from her bosom, and wrenching her ham,
she leaped to the gonad. The next instant she
was kneeling besi her father, forgetful of her
alwn danger, with only room for thought (1

on.

Like one in a dream Carmela was dimly cc.-
scioua that a single horsemen merged from
behind the rock, and with loud, ﬁerce cries

chargedu utheenem . Sherecogniled both
hisvoiccd’zfdhis w y ,but never once did
she glance u or around notice him, but bent
ova- thath ﬂgire, now presi her cold

, has to his, new striving to stench the load that

ﬂowed tam his wounds, calling uponhlm in pl!»

oust-notchreturx‘ij'ﬁlife, Wham-myb ' ,
And was a grass 5 load-ML

ing  man «germ

at full speed‘ upm
nearly a me  and mod war-

riors, ﬂushed with ‘ hatter
on. would any, ad yet, in vm
seemed to com success. - _
“A ' Con wagers! .
w W' W 08311 "It
ﬁt. and ', with. roll:  free, I re-r
velvet each and, two WMﬁf

blue-tinged moth}; leaping from their renames
at every bound made by the morting horse,
Don Manuel Oamplido charged upon the enemy,

I

\"

*Wm__ ....__. _...._.

, .

 
-5 t 2.3)“

-.'-..;:

.p‘.. =._-

m

_ .ﬁ’u‘

A " 2 asg%¢sz—s..v ,4':M»y;-_—;i,u.-

’ ,

‘ whose bleeding and

‘ her

 
A "a he Saddle King.

 
who were thrown into confusion b his sudden
onset. Ah! could the stubborn tra ucers of the
gallant ex-captnin of lancers only have be—
he'lglhim then, looking like a hero a demi-god.‘

ere was a brief hesitation on the into the
savages but then as though they fet assured
that th foolhardy man must be heavily sup-
ported, they relinquished the prey their 11 rs
were already closing upon and wheeled eir
animals in s edy ﬂight.

More lou y shouts Camplido, and more furi-
ously he urges on his horse in desperate pursuit.
His weapons are still exploding, and now one,
now another of the rearmost savages utters
a yell of in as they reel in their seats and
bend heavﬂy over upon the necks of their horses.
Faster fall the heavy quirts of the fugitives,

ng their ponies to swifter ﬁight,‘ but nearer
draws the dread pursuer, and louder shouts the
Self—constituted avenger.

It is a ity that there are no eyes to note and
admire ' wonderful exhibition of rowess
and gallantry. but Carmela Felix just t on had
no thoughts for autgbt else than her father,

ust~covered head was rest-
ing upon her lap. He had not spoken nor moved
v0 untarily ince that terrible fall. Carmela
could detec no pulse, no heart-throb, yet she
would not believe him dead and the twain
formed a piteous tableau as she caressed him,
brokenly utterin his name amid her sobs.

Thus she sat w en Don Manuel Camplido re-
linquished the pursuit and more leisurely re-
traced his'steps. In silence he approached her,
dismounted and by her side. His face
was pale and hard set. here was an_ uneasy,
restless light in his dark eyes, and despite his
strongly exerted will, there was a perceptible
tremor in his voice as he addressed the griev.
ingmaiden. ‘

‘lf on would suffer me to inspect his in—
juries, ear Camels. It ma be that he is only
stunned by the fall, but itis Karely possible that
he has received serious i 'urles, which may
prove fatal if not immediate y attended to. ”

At the ﬁrst sound of his Voice the maiden
shivered as though an icy cold blast had
struck her cowering and. shrin ' away

from Don Manuel Camplido, with a 100 of un-'

utterable horror and aversion upon her 9
face. But this was only for a moment. an
she gently" raised the b cod-stained head from

a , lowering it to the ground with :11th
reverential care. .There was a strain e look
upon her face as she arose,~which Don uel
did not like, and he hastened to say:

“ Dear senorita words fail to express in
sorrow. If I  only arrived a few moment:
sooner—” ‘ ’ »

“ Stop, Don Manuel Camplido!” cried Car-
mela, her voice soundin harsh and' strangely
unnatural. “ Donot add ice and foul hypocrisy
to our crime—3’ '

turn be interrupted her, but she 'woold not
listen. Shatplyhero npalmcamelncou'taet
with his lips, and he angered back as though
some strong man had struck him.

“ Allin—cowardly assasdnl I saw you
rise u in ambush to complete the foul work of
your ired murderers. I saw at what you were
aimln and with your shot my poor father
fell. blood is upon your soul, but as far as

worthleu life can repay, I swear toavenge
im—now and thus I"

Swift as thought, a slender, keen-pointed do -
ﬁr leaped from her bosom and non ht a sheet

his-driven by an arm served th the fury

of daﬁir.”

I But r words had told Camplido that he was
discovered, and in a messiu'e prepared him for
the d to assault. By a swift, sidelong

.twist of his body, he eluded the steel, and be-

fore Carmela could repeat the blow, his ﬁngers

, closed egg; her wrist and' the 'weapon' was
wrested

her ﬁngers.
“ Are on mad, girl?" he cried, sternly, his
other arm winding itself abdut her waist, and

. holdinng helpless, despite her frantic strug-

 
gles. Would you slay your best friend—the
only one that stands between you and the soul-
sickening fate that awaits all of your sex that
are unfortunate enough to fall into their power

' alive?"

» mad ~racefor life.‘

g eyes wouldbeonthel'

Carmela made no reply. Her muscles res
laxed and she sunk a lifeless weight upon his
arms. Her overtaxed nerves had iven, way,
Iaind for the ﬁrst time in her life, she ted out-

t , _

or one moment Camplido gased down upon
her pale face, the look of a veritable demon in
his eyes, then his burning lips covered her face
with hot, lustful kisses. At that moment ‘the
girl was in horrible ril, but then the vil~v

in uttereda short huggeand gently lowered
her form to the ground. He was sureofhis
preynow, and would not brush theme OR

the prematurely.‘ ‘ .

' writhing her, Don Camplido satisﬁed
himself is she Was‘ wholly unarmed havin

lost her revolver after emptying it. during the.

he _ , to sci-ape toget her a
little pileg’ofdried twigs; and grass, then ﬂied
a match. Them-burned deadly and est
without smoke. knew that been

t forthissigml, but

/

e
' horses’ hoofs became’hudible.

to make all sure, he plucked a few green leaves
and cast them on the blaze. Instantl the
smoke darkened, and when the column oated
upward for a few moments, be stamped out the
remnant of ﬁre. ‘ _

Until now, the renegade had paid no lo-
uIar attention to- Don Felix, who loo ed so
corpse-er that the idea of his still living had
never once occurred to the assassin. But now
he moved to where the old man lay, and 'bend-
ing over him, examined the body. A low, grat-
ing curse burst from his lips as he started back,
for he could distinctly feel the veteran’s heart
throbbing beneath his hand.

Mechanically one hand fell upon the knife at
his belt, and an ugly look crept into his eyes as
be cast a'swift glance aroun him, his pointed
teeth revealed wolﬂshly. There was no one in
sight save Carmela, and she had not yet re—
covered her senses. Slowl the deadly weapon
slid from its sheath and t on hung suspended
above the heart of the old man. But only for a
moment; then Camplido rose erect with a low

laugllgi.

“ ahl the old fool is nearly dead—he may
never recover his consciousness, but if he should
one of those fellows will not scruple to blow out
the vital spark. And then—I would like him to
know how I avenge myself.‘ Hal she is stir-

rin .”

V%ith a faint moan, Carmela opened her eyes
and made a motion to ari e, but Don Camplido
reached her side in time to frustrate the at-

temgt.
“ cu must not exert ourself—you have been
ill, my dear,” he said, 0 asping her hands in his
and holding them ﬁrmly. “ I have' done all
that is possible at present and have summoned
aid. Be patient as possible till it comes.” _
“ The wretches whom you hired to do this
foul deed, no doubt,” bitterly commented Car.
inela all her cpurage returning.  r

“ hen you insist on believing me in league
with them?”

“I know it. I saw you aim at m father
and he fell at your shot. But even .i I could

disbelieve my eyesight, yet I would none the

less know that those painted demons were your

friends and allies. Doubly branded coward

that the whole world knows you, you would

£3511- ha’ye dared charge upon a red enemy so
y— ' . .

Sharply the hand of the enraged Villain came
in contact with her mocking lips. Not that he
meant to strike her on] to check the words
that struck home to hisb ack heart, but Carme—
la believed the contrary, and the insult lent her_
strength sufﬁcient to avenge it.

Wresting her hands free, she matched are-
volver from his belt, thrust it fairly a met his
bosom, the hammer and the

' almost at the same- motion. But fate
was ainst .her, here, also... The hammer fall,
but ﬁe cap failed to explode, and before she
could turn the cylinder again, Camplido
wrenched the-weapon from her asp. ‘ '

His face was livid and best y as that of a
corpse, while he trembled in every ﬁber, so
thoroughly unnerved was he by his w es-
cape fromvdeath. At that moment, ad she
beenfairly herself, Carmela might have made
her. acape. A coward clear through, save
where the odds were overwhelmin 1y on his
side, Manuel Camplido could have 11 over-
come by a child at that instant. But Carmela
would not desert her father, oven to save her-
self; and as a feeble moan broke from his blood-
fringed lips, she ﬂew to his side.

Don Manuel Camplido was thus given time to
recover his na ammo, and with a moody
frown stood watching the maiden in her vain
attem to-restore Don Felix to consciousness.

“ liter—bring me some water, as you hope
for mercy hereafter!” cried .Carmela, turning
her head. “ Water, or he will die 1” ‘

A harsh, insulting laugh broke from the mer-
ciless villain. «

“ You can pray now that'you need my help.
Before curses were good enough. Call me dear
Manuel—say that you love me—and the water
is yours, my rosebud 1’” ,

“Aid thus purchased would kill, not cure-
and he would curse me for so debasing myself;3
spiritedly retorted Carmela.

Cam lido laughed, but took a leathern water
bottle where it hung from his saddle, and
handed it to th? maidgig pd but ha.

“ You are on y was your ns ve

our will. The old ntleman has iidden his
Estrace onearth. ewill nevero n.

e es never even recognize your value—
y“ And you are his murderer !" cried, Carmela..
chokingly, as she bathed her father’splﬂe brow.

“Have it our own way, My  After
all, why she d I deny it? Aso emn compact
was made—he broke“: wﬂwas onlyI on;
we to secure in ii a course 8'
blaming. lwoiysldiave. wooed and won vou
fairly, but you were obstinate. From the t
Ewan you should. be mine, and mine yourshall

I - - V _ _..

-A kdcryh-ohetromuie menu. and
oh Eslf‘arcse to herieetmsihe ,clatfol‘ 0‘

 
strange nah
swept overher face-n-a‘ginw that I903. 
hope and vengeance.  -. .. ..

 
1%“. a;
'Estenrw'i%fa, I

_“ Coward and assassin! your race is Well-
nigh run for those men will avenge our

wron ’l’

80 for she nspoke, but then broke off with a
heart sick a acre, for instead of displaying
fear or attempting to seek safety in ﬂight,
Don Manuel laughed mockingly, and she knew
that he ke the truth when he declared them
his frien s.

“A peel to them, and see to whom they will
turn efore giving ou an answer. At one
word from my lips, t ose men would tear on
limb from limb, and never change color. y
will is theirs, my word their law!

Carmela made no reply, but once more re-
newed her efforts to restore her father. Satis-
ﬂed that she would make no attempt at escape
which would necessitate the abandonment of
her helpless parent, Camplido turned to the
bod .of horsemen.

T edy were fewer in number than he had ex—
pects , and someot them bore traces of freshly
inﬂicted wounds. A frown darkened his brow

' as he addressed ﬁie leader of the band.

“Did those cursed fools show ﬂ ht—"

“' Only the don and the lady— etween thcm
they laid out four of our number, and gave
some others a few love tokens, as you can see,”
grimly replied the fellow, himself nursing a
badly bed arm. “We were taken by sur-
prise, or who would have thought such an old

ellow had it in "him? I would as soon tackle a
full, wn jaguar with my naked hands!”

“ eis ast giving) us any more trouble but
all throng it a ad piece of work. 'I‘hose
whom hekilled must be disposed of with care.
If one of their carcasses should be unearthed,
there would be the devil to pay! Even as it is,
suspicion may point at my door, .and if one of
my men be recognized—you understand?”

‘ I will ﬁx it so that their own mothers could
not recognize them, senor. Remember that
my own throat is in danger.
senoritai” . I .

“That is my aﬂair. Be sure I Will never
loosen my gasp until I am certain that she Will
never lisp e truth. As for the old manv-he
is not quite dead yet. I don’t believe he could
recover even with the most tender of care, but
even if he should, it would not damage our
case,sinoehehsd seen none of us save indis-

ise.

“ You have not said al you wish,” dryly ut—
tered the outlaw, who he been watching Don
Cam lido closely while he spoke,,and noted his
pecu im- uneasiness.

“You know-they are supposed to have been
we .laid by the Indians?” muttered (champa-
g e, still unable to utter his devzhsh meaning
:1 lain words. . . , .

laughed low, almost insolentl . 4

“You can trust that to me.

ﬁbers; not
beesingle loose joint in .the e  :VK‘llz-iaxg.
,-.o . , r

one takes life what matters a ,
’Tis on] turning barber for thenouoel” .
Don mplido could not refrainfrom shud-
deriu as he turned, away from the cold-blooded
moi; and yet the latter was the superior of
the twain, for he at least possessed courage.
Carmela was still devoting her whole atten-
tion to her father, and Cam lido knew that
she would not quietly submi to be remind,
so he called two of the men aside and gave. hem
their instructions in a whisper. A moment
later a blanket 'was thrown ov the head of the
maiden from behind, and en, despite her
struggles, her hands and feet were bound. '
Don Manuel Camplido mounted his horse and

received the helpless maiden in his arms, then'

rode awe. . _

Gas ordered his men to-follow, while he
lingered behind to carry out .the orders Don
Camplido had feared to audiny utter. Almost
immediately he took saddle and rode oi! after
the rest. .

As he overtook the head villain, he smiled
$3111 and for answer to the unspoken question,

' htly Opened his shirt. ’

A roll of blood-dabbled white, hair was re
vealed.

CHAPTER IX.
OA'UGH'I' sumo.

Arms reading the one out oun niard
Don Luis Felix, a lessongthatsl’ie £33“ not be,

like] to forget as long as he drew the breath of

life, oaquin Murieta rode swiftl away frou'L
the spot through‘thegatherin 'twi ight. I *
Eisbrain was whir ing an confused by the,
conﬂictin thoughts born of the swift-following
events 0 that afternoon. The voice of the
cunning tern for still rung in bi: ears. His
ulse beat in h,his. blood coped, orers y
hrougll: his veins as he drew a mental g
of the liss hinted,” by old‘Tio Tomas. ‘ ,
“It could . ' done-one bold e, s’nd
heavel’would. “wintertime?! mm”
unconsciousl (as he hated is fev
the cool nig ﬂail-3, waging mighti we fell!-
amoment at , on ma, Va V
_ - ﬂu; ' new:

But about the v

e browto'.

__W

“1‘

 
then Eonounce the words that make us one.  sharp twang as the taut cord was severed, and

Holy other of Mercyl the more thought causes
my brain to reel like that of a drunken man!"

He paid no, attention to the course his horse
was following, even when 11.x- hi'ain grew cooler
and his thoughts more 00.1 -ctc..’. lie nus
Weighing the momentous problem ard consider-
ing the chances for and against its success.

Fiiiallya long-drawn sigh parted his lips as
he drew himself erect and gathered up the reins
Ill his hand.

“ it is too late now, even if there was ever a
5 inc. At best I could only count on two sure
; liies, and even they may be absent on a hunt.
With their aid I might succeed, but the proud
old don would stoutl resist such a small force,
and there would be b oodslied. No, I will have

atieiice and make one more attempt to gain
his consent openly. After that—well, time
enough to c0iiJure up a remedy when the dis-
ease is fair] indicated. Ha! this will never do!"

Joaquin. rew rein abruptly as his horse tossed
its head and neighed shrilly, aquick res nse
coming back from the gloom ahead, whic the
rising of the full moon was just beginning to
dissi ate. In an instant the cobwebs were
brus ed from his brain, and he was once more
the cool, steel-nerved adventurer, equal to any
and all emergencies.

A single rapid glance over his surroundings
showed him what had occurred. Left to its
own guidance, the horse he bestrode had made
the best of its we. back to its familiar quarters
and that answeriiigiieigh had come from its
fellow in one of Don Manuel’s corrals.

Joaquin was in no mood just then for further
ﬁghting, and trusting that the nei h of his
horse had not excited attention, he w eoled and
rode away over the plain until the rancho and
corrals belonging to his enemy were hidden
from view.

Finally he drew rein and dismounted, after a
moment 3 hesitation. it was a barren, desolate
spot. Not a building, not a tree nor even a
bush were in sight, while the sandy soil afford-
ed sustenance to but a scanty growth of grass.

“Truly a cheerless bed-chamber!" he mutter-
ed, with a short, hard laugh.
here more securel than under a roof-tree to-
night. Camplido 1215 too many unscrupulous
tools, and hates me too bitterly for a bed to .be
a healthy sleeping lace for me just now.” »

It was not the rst time by many that the
young centaur had waterless and sup rless
s. m'zht re 9 u n the hard earth, an with
g .- wsophical c eerfulness be staked out his

nix: \ to grow on the scant herbage, then rolled
himself in his blanket an lay down with his
saddle for a pillow. But sleep was tardy in vis-
iting his eyelids that night. He had so much
matter for thought—so many events of moment
had occurred that do . From what has been
placed before the rea er. the general drift of his
musin may easily be ima ined.

At an th wearine'ss of dy conquered his
busy br, , and Joaquin sunk into a profound
sleep that would have lasted until daydawn, had
he not been awakened by the loud, ' startled
snort and quick tram ling of his horse 5 hoofs.

Instantly he was w de awake, every sense on
the full alert, cool and ready for any emergency,
thanks to his early training in the school of
danger. He did not leap to his feet, made no
conspicuous move; only one hand glided to the
butt of his revolver while his 6 es from under
his broad sombrero roved keen y. around him.

A heavy cloud was slow] sailing across the
face of the moon, but the light emitted by the
twinkling stars was sumcient for him tosee that
Camplido’s horse stood near him, its proud head
erect, its distended nostrils quivering as thou h
it scented danger in the air. Besxdes this,
naught else could Joaquin discover unless—
What was yonder dimly outlined shadow l g
close to the earth’s surface? He could reca i no
natural obstacle which had been there before he
lay down to sleep—his cunning enemies were
upon him! . y ,

Scarcer had this. thought fashioned itself
when it was dissipated by a long-drawn, lugu-
brious howl that came from the shadow, and
J on uin’s tensely strained muscles relaxed.

“ ah! ’tis nothing more than a prowling
wolf who thought to catch my good horse
napping,” he muttered, but the sa acious animal
snorted again, and as it tossed its ead, Joaquin
saw that only a fragment of its lasso dangled
from its neck. '

Still he thought not of danger to himself,
believing that the wolf in attackin the horse
had caused it to break away, and e arose to

cure the animal lest he he left afoot.

’l‘he frightened creature started back at his
. uproach, and Joaquin followed, speaking soul
and soothingly, intent only on recovering his
mount. He saw not that the pretended wolf
suddenly arose erect and sprung into. ra id
action—suspected nothing of: the peril t
threatened until, with an ominous whtsh, the
noose of a lasso settled fairly around him, and
with great force be was hurled to the ground!

The brain of a man like Joaquin Murieta
works rapidlyin an emergency, and scarcely
had his bod touched the earth before his keen
knife ﬂash forth from its sheath and described
a swift circle around his head. Then came a

“But I can ‘rest

, thumping u on the sand soil,
1 glimpse of allorseman dBSKill

 
an angry cry came from the gloom beyond.

Joaquin lea ed to his feet like a r'mther, and
faced in the iroction from whence come the
cry, but as he did so, heard a horse’s hoofs
and can ht a
g straight for im,
with the apparent intention of ridin him down.
He felt for a revolver as he faced t is new foe,
but before he could draw it, the deadly coils of
another lasso fell about him, and with a yell of
demoniac triumph the horseman wheeled and
dashed away over the sandy plain.

Again the ouiig Sonorian was hurled to the
earth, but t is time both arms were pinned
close to his sides, and he was helpless. The
noose tightened around his body until it seemed
as though he was being cut in two, then he felt
himself dragged swiftly over the ground at the
heels of the ﬂying horse—after which came
insensibility.

But it was not the intention of his enemies to
kill him then and thus, and ere the horse had
taken a dozen leaps, its rider drew rein, but still
kept the rope taut, one hand grasping the ro
much as a ﬁsherman ﬁngers his inc when e
feels a ﬁsh nosing the bait. In obedience to his
shout, the man who had so well flayed the part
of a wolf, came running up an pounced upon
the senseless body.

“ I have him safe-slacken the rope l” he cried
out.

“Careful!” warned Pedro Canales. “He is
cunning as a fox and stronger than a mad bull l"

“ He is quiet enough now, never fear,” brutal-
ly laughed the other, as he arose from disarm-
ing the luckiess Sonorian.

“ N ct dead? If we have so botched the oh,
you may carry the news to the captain, or
I’ll not venture within reach of his arm' until he
has ﬁrst blown off steam !"

Caiiales rode up and alighted, bending over
Joaquin with an anxiety not at all assumed.
But this lasted only a moment. Laughing fe-
rociously he produced a pair of handcuffs and
rolling the body over on its face, fastened the
young Sonorian’s hands behind his back.

“ lis well so far,” he uttered, arising and
rudely rolling Joaquin over with his foot.
“ We ll get him safe under coverand soon finger
the reward Don Manuel offered for this game
chicken. Go you and catch the master’s horse,

ose

As he spoke, Joaquin recovered his senses,
and with an elastic bound regained his feet,
but the noose of the lasso was still around his
body, and leaping lightly backward, Pedro Ca-
nales gave a vigorous jerk to the rope, threwing
Murieta heavil forward upon his face. The
next instant a eavy foot was set upon Joa.-
quin’s neck, and the villain cried:

“Lie still. you dogl Attempt to rise and I
will rind your face into the sand until there
remiﬁns but little of the beaut you are so
proud of. "Emma your turn to- ay—‘tis mine
now! You took me unawares, and lashed me
like asheep—killin cur. I swore revenge then,
though it took a etime—even I did not think
my opportunity would come so soon. But now
— ow do you relish a. good dose of the medicine
you dealt out to me so liberall i" '

As he spoke the heavy raw ide quirt hissed
through the air and fell with stin ng force upon
Murieta’s shoulders. A muﬂi bowl of fag
came from the min Sonorian as he struggl
to free himself, ut edro Canales onl bore t 9
more heavily upon his neck, and plie ,the la
with all the force of his strong arm, laughing,
cursin and railing all in the same breath.

Eadie been left to wreak his furious hatred
unchecked the chances are that J oa uin would
have died like a slave beneath the las ,but Jose
came running up with the horse, and grasped
the arm of his ferocious comrade.

“Are you crazy, man?” he cried, an ily.
“ The master Said it would be double pay f we
brought him in alive. I have a interest in this
gob, and unless you let up, I’ll 5 ip a knife be-

ween your ribs—you hear?"

Reluctantly the rufﬁan held his hand and re-
moved his foot from the neck of the vaquero.
Despite the terrible unishment he had received,
Joaquin was not abled, nor was‘his ﬁery

irit subdued. Rolling over, his eyes glowed
like livin coals in the clear moonlight as he
glared do antly up at his tormentor.

“Better make an end of the 'ob while you
have me foulLPedro Canalesl” e grated, his
voice husky With the furious hatred that tore
his heart. “Once free, I swear never to know
rest until I have hunted you down, and made
you suffer a death for every blow you dealt
me!”

The ruﬂian lau hed insolently as be tapped
the sole of one dir y boot upon the lips o the
vaquero.

“You will never be more free than you are
at this moment, dog! Death's seal is already
stamped on your forehead, and you can ima ’no
the nature of the doom in store for on w on
I say that Don Manuel Camplido h ed us to
capture you—that he is now awaiting your
coming. Afterhc has satisﬁed his revenge, we
poor devils will have little to dread from your
vengeance.”

“Too much talk,"testi1y interposed Jose.

 
‘youn

. 11

 
“ We haven’t gpt him to the rancho yet, and
the devil only nows how much may happen
between now and then.”

“ Bah! not even Satan himself can loosen my
grip on the dog!” growled Canules, but none the

ass he set about making preparations for the
journey with his captive. ,

He changed the noose of the lasso from
around J oaquin’s body to his throat, then kicked
him'rudely in the side.

“Get up, dog, unless you prefer being drag ed
to the raiicho by the neck. Hal ﬁur spir f is
coqliii l” he laughed mockingly as urieta arose
to i s t.

Joaquin made no reply, and be lowered the
lids 0 his eyes to conceal the ﬁre of deadly
hatred that burned therein. He was wise
enou h to see that any present attempt to resist
won] only render his case more desperate, and
though, at that moment, he would :10 fully
have given his own life in exchange for t iat of
Pedro Canales, he did not care to make the sac
riﬁce without the faintest hope of reward.

Jose watched the movements of his comrade
with an air of disapproval that soon found ut-
terance in words.

“There is a spare horse—better tie him in
the saddle. It Will be safer that way, and we
will be the sooner at the rancho.”

“"Fhe cursed hound shall never cross saddle
agaiiil” declared Pedro Cannles with anueg
oath. “ He shall walk to his doom—and like a
condemned slave a noose about his throat, led
at my horse’s tail. Ironed and unarmed, what
can he do? But if you still have fears, ride at
his heels. What I have said I mean, and all
on can say will not alter my purpose," the
ur‘lH ruiliaii growled as he eaped into the
sad 8.

Knowing that further expostulation would
be worse than useless, Jose, riding his own ani-
mal and leading the horse Joaqiiin'had taken
from Don Manuel Camplido, followed on in the
rear of his truculent comrade, keenly watching
the captive.

Canales shortened the lasso until Joa uin
was forced to kee close to his horse’s hoe to
avoid being chok , and rode on toward the
Cam lido rancho, jeering his captive, uttering
all t e insults so foul a mind could conceive,
now and then brutally jerking the lasso with
cruel force.

Joaquin was already wrought to frenzyb
the treatment he had received, and at length
Canales ressed his insolenca too far.

College in all his powers, Joaquin uttered a
bowl hke t at of an infuriated wild beast and
leapin forward he a ' hted astride the horse
behin the astounded an. ‘

'Joaquin’s hands were helpless, but be fastened
his strong teeth upon the throat of his brutal
tormentor, makin them meet in the ﬂesh. The
startled horsema e a sidelong lea that un-
seated its double burden, then (1851611 away
over the plain.

Snarling like some mad beast, Joaquin blind~
ly tore at the throat of his enemy, who was
screaming for help and vainly striving to beat
of! his assailant, when the lasso ti htened and
tore them asunder. The next stunt the
Sonorian was bein dragged over the
plain y the noose around h s throat!

CHAPTER X.
csuriiino TRIUMPHANT.

Josu, in common with more than one of
those who had affected to scorn and look down
upon the rather self-sufficient young vaquero,
underwent a considerable change of opinion
when he heard how Joa uin Murieta had de-
feated Don Manuel Camp ido, and then “held
the fort " against the others. Not that he hated
Joaquin less, but respected his personal prowess
more.

When Pedro Canales refused to make all sure
by binding their prisoner in his saddle,'Jo.~o
resolved not to lose his share of the rewaid
through any carelessness or over-confidenm-,
and rode close behind Joaquin, his lasso coiled
read for instant use in case an emergency
sho darise.

For all that, he was taken nearly as much by
Bill'ng as was Pedro Canales, when Joa Lin
ma 6 his wonderful leap and assailed h; t
brutal rascal. For a momenthe was too amaml

 
, to think of lifting a hand in defense of his con.-

rade, but when t ey two fell to the ground t: -
gather and the horse dashed awa , he instant ‘y
realized the risk he ran of l ‘g at least 0i e
half of his share of the reward o ered by Don
Manuel Camplido for ‘the production of Joaquin

.Murieta, a living captive.

His iii-s struck deep as he urged his horm
forw , not to the rescue of Pedro Canal...-
who sent forth wild screams for aid a 'ainst ti 0
human tiger whose strong teeth were eai'ingi r.
his throat, but heading straight for the iui -
away mustang. For he knew that one end i f’
the lasso was fastened to the nominal of H 'i
saddle vacated by Pedro Canales, while do
other still encircled the throat of the young
Sonorian. .

_Promptlyas he noted, the lasso was drawn
tight and the enemies plucked violently apart
before the noose of his own lariat settled fairly
over the head of the runaway.

 
Joaquin, the Saddle King.

 
12

 
Cowed by the touch of the well-remembered
lasso, the horse sto ped instantly, and Jose
leaped from the sadd e, bending over the dust-
covered body of the oung vaquero. His snarl—
ing curses were cut 8 ort by a glad oath as he
found by examination that Joe uin’s neck was
still perfectly sound, so sure ha he been that
he would ﬁnd it broken.

The youn Sonorian was bruised and bat—
tered, choke into insensibility, but there was
yet life in him. .

Pedro Canales staggered to his feet, a fright-
ful looking object in the clear moonli ht.
ririef time as he had been granted, Joaquin ad

:ade good use of the only weapons he could
.Jmmand, and it was as though some fero—
cious hound had been throttlmg the burly
radian.

“ I'll kill him—I’ll cut his heart out and swal-
low it hot !" were the onl words that could be
distinguished amid 3. vol ey of horrible curses
as he rushed toward the now helpless youth,
with knife ﬂashin venomouslyin the moon~_
light, but Jose bol y confronted him with lev-

eled istol.
“ ack you fool! back, or l’ll split your thick
skull with a half-ounce bullet! Do you think

I’ll stand by without a word while you throw
five hundred good silver dollars to the devil?
Half of that is mine, and the whole will be,
unless you cool down and act more sensible.”

There was no mistakin either his words or
his actions, and Pedro anales, even in the
hight of his madness, was sane enough to re-
fer life to death. He came to a pause be ore
ltKhaft grim persuader, and slowly replaced his

m e.

“ You are right, J ose—but the dog-of-a—devil’s-
son so maddened me that I knew not fairly what
I was doing.”

“It was your own fault,” short] grunted
Jose, not sorr to make the most of 's advan-
tage over the umptious groom. “ It is ill teas-
inga bloodhound with a full set of teeth. I
warned ou, but you were too bull-headed to
take g advice. Now it will be as I say, at
least un ‘ we reach the rancho. Brin up the
horse and help me truss the game coc in the
saddle.”

Pedro Canales had been too severely shaken
by his fall and narrow escape from death, to
feel anxious for a fresh quarrel, and without a
word he obeyed.

Joaquin was hoisted astride the deep-seated
saddle; his ankles were tied beneath the horse’s
belly, his waist to the ‘ h pommel, and in ad-
dition acouple of tu of a lasso were taken
around his body just beneath the arm its.

“There!” cried Jose,'. with an air 0 triumph-
ant satisfaction, as he ﬂung one end of the rope
to Pedro Canales. “ With an at one end an I
hold of the other, twice t e demon that he is
could not give us the slip l”

Never was mortal bein more completely
hampered than the oung onorian as t 6 two
kidnappers moun their horses and moved off
toward the Camplido rancho. F‘scape unaided
was an absolute impossibility, and so Joe um
quickly convinced himself, w on the .sw1ft or—
ward motion completed the restoration begun
while the vaqueros were arranging their compli-
cated fetters. ’

Now, as before, he made no sign of returning
consciousness until he had full mastered the
situation. He saw that it won] be worse than
folly to attem_pt a struggle now and in silence
collected his energies to take advantage of the
ﬁrst 0 ning offered. But this did not come be-
fore t e Camplido rancho was reached

Drawing rein when near the irregular mas
of buildings, Jose roducod a heavy, sack-hits
bood.of woolen stug, which he drew over Joe-
quin‘s head and shoulders, tying it ﬁrmly in

place.

“ That will be enough," and J 086 added, with
a lau h: “The e e of love could not recognize
iim mm the c othes he wears, for our dandy
sport has turned to a smrecmwl’

“Cut his feet loose and helphme down with
him," growled Pedro Canales, inking the time
had come for him to resume the command
"So! Now 0 and see that the coutis respon-
ably clear. op Manuel said that none other
than we two must know the secret.”

With a ﬁrm gri on he shoulder of his rh-
oner, Pedro Cans forced Joaquin ahea of
him. The great gate was , the threshold
a‘ossed,an thenJose, andelam,led
the way down a ﬂight ofstone steps to a amp
and foul smelling dungeon, into which the young
Sonorian was thrust.

From the mildewed walls h stout dubs
32.1%“: “i do aﬁeld.“me
w on no wnan runs, an
tore the meriﬂerfromlinheod.
“Who trium hs now, dog!” ended Pedro
Cannles,ashe aldepatfulliniolietaoe

“have minutes more
If on anwﬁe on
Reeve-in

the helpr man.
m maitu'win”m
w- mac our-peace
lenfﬁot ’ l,‘f‘tﬂw‘ﬂlbaatoolatal"

osquin no you withonem
muugmmmamthennpa—
ﬂout-Tout» linsway. “sire-abound
door-cloned memwithaslllcndanga,
heevykqmudmaaerugyhohaadleeqmn

 
Murieta was left alone with his thoughts—
gloomy and serious eno h!

Together the two ru ans hastened to the
private room of their master, knowing well
hat he would pardon their intrusion at that
kite hour for the sake of the glad tidings they
ore. '

Scarcely had their knuckles touched the door
when it was ﬂung open by Don Manuel Camp
lido in person, who, after one keen glance
into their faces, stood aside to let them enter.
Closing the door and turning the key to guard
against surprise, the ex—captain confronted his
tools eagerness in his face and tones.

“ hat is the word—success or failure?” he
demanded.

“ You bade us search until we found J 0a uin
Murieta, and then to kill him or bring im

back alive. Your will is law, and we have
obeyed ” somewhat theatrically answered
Pedro

“ He is down in the dun eon, alive and await-
ing your pleasure, Don anuel,” added Jose
who was resolved to play at least an equal part
with his fellow.

A cry of delight broke from Don Camplido’s
li s—a look of ferocity leaped into his 6 es.

one who saw him then could have deemed im
handsome. He looked all over what he really
was—a heartless, brutal ﬁend in human shape,
as he clutched Jose by the shoulder and cried:

“ You speak the truth? Joaquin Murieta is
here, acaptive, alive, sensible to torture? Be-
ware how you attempt to deceive me! If you
lie, I will have on torn limb from limb!”

‘Why shoul I lie, when the question is so
readily settled?” quietly asked the vaquero,
never ﬂinching from that ﬁery glare. “’Tis
only a few steps to the hole where he lies.”

But Don Manuel had not really doubted the
man’s word, and now, with a low laugh so
devilish as to startle even those heartless
ruﬁ‘lans, he released Jose, and producing an
ample jug of brandy, bade them help them-
selves.

“You have earned your comfort, in fine
fellows?” he exclaimed, moving res lesst
about as though the welcome re ort had ﬂooded
his veins wit uicksilver. ‘ Drink hearty,
and then tell me ow it was. You had a ﬁght?”

An angry curse met the strong liquor mid-
way in Pa ro’s throat, and there was an. utter—
ing, chokin explosion. Amid his coug s and
strangling, 8 pointed to his torn and still
bleeding neck.

“He did that—after his hands were ironed
behind him, and with 3. r0 around his throat.
He is ten thousand dev s boiled down into
one!"

A ﬁt of coughing cut short his speech, and
Jose, seeing his coveted chance, at once pro-
ceeded to make the most of it.

He told how luckil the were put upon the
right scent. They ear and recognized the
nel h of the horse which the young Sonorian
be taken from Don Manuel, and they managed
to keep him in sight as he beat a. retreat, dog-
ging him to where he lay down to nd the
remainder of the night in slee . ere the
watched and waited until conﬁ cut that his
senses were fast locked in slumber; then he,
Jose, stole forward to turn the horse loose,
knowing that then the young vaquero would be
wholl at their mercy. The horse broke away
from imas he out he rope, and its snorting
aroused the sleeper.

There is no necessity of following Jose further
in his report, since he conﬁned himself strictly
to the truth, and that has alreadybeen placed
before the reader.

“You have done well” commented Don
Manuel Cam lido, “and ave nobly won the

oldI ledg But one thing bear in mind;

eep c ose tongues and never let fall a hint of
this affair as you value your lives. I am lay-
ing a bold game for a large stake, and hose
w o endanger my plans through treachery or
carelessness, must pay the pena ty.

“ This much by way of'Vvarning,” he added,
in a very diiferent tone of voice. “Who saw
you bring him in here 9”

“Only old Bias, the warder, and Agatone.
Jose cleared the way of the rest,” promptly re-
plied Cannles. “Even they could only guess
Who we had capﬂve, thanks to the precautions
we took.”

£11m are pu'fectly safeLand you have done

w . e, we will pay t e gentlemap a brief
v'mit, or he may charge me with being an un-
h itable ost.’

ekid pers obsequiously Ian bed at this
little bit of gleasmtry, and escorted their mas-
ter-Ito ﬂlie dmungwt: th had 1 fl hi
oaqu n e as ey e m
half—reel agninsthzie damp wall. He raised
his eyes as he door swung open, and dead]
hatred glowed in them as he recognized h
rival, but than lib face set like a mask of steel.
He readily divined the reason of this visit, and
resolved to make Camplido’s victory as bearer:

as posible.

“. mbnwencetﬂenorDenJ nix:

Marie and p6 somewhat sooner an

you an olpate ," modngly uttered Oampl'ido,
before‘lhis chained enemy. “ Can you

gums y you have been brought here?“

“ So that you mi ht wipe out the shame and
disgrace with whic I covered you this after—
noon!” undauntedly cried the prlsoner, his eyes
ablaze with hatred and scorn. “You can face
me boldly enough, now that I am shackled
hand and foot, and weighted down with a mule
load of iron. Bah! cowardly cur—I defy and
spit upon you!"

Don Manuel Camplido only laughed, low and
easily. He held all the trump cards. He could
afford to bide his time.

“Make what use of your tongue that best
pleases you, for it will soon pass beyond your
control. But if I might advise, you will use it
in making your peace with the world. Your
doom is sealed as surely as though you were al—
ready cold in the embrace of death. That you
may know I am not speaking at random—
listen:

“ Yesterday ou had an interview with Sono-
rita Carmela elix. You were interruptediby

. Don Carillo Felix. Naturally he was angered b

your audacious presumption, and bar wor s.
were s ken before he struck you with a whip.
You 5 unk away, after muttering a bitter
threat. That threat was overheard, and will be
sworn to when the roper time comes. '

“ Immediately a terward, you are jomed by
Tio Tomas, a servant of Don Felix. Seeking
cover you plot against him and his. You swear
revenge, and learnin that they are to start
upon a long journey in the morning, you decide
to waylay the party with a force disguised as
Indians, to kill Don Felix, abduct. his daughter-
and force her into a marria e with you. All
this was overheard by one w ose word will be
believed, especially when the damning testi»
mony is given under oath.”

Don Manuel paused to note the effect of his-
words, but there was not the faintest trace of'
emotion upon the hard—set face of his prisoner.
He laughed shortly, then continued:

“With the day-dawn, Don Felix and his
escort will set fort . Sometime during the day
they will be ambushed, recisely as you do-
cided .yestcrday. Don elix Will be killed,
Senorita Carmela abducted, by your men, led
by yourself 1. Hal he! that shot strikes home!”
the Villain cried exultantly as J on uin made a
convulsive motion as though to cap at the
throat of the mocking demon.

But the clank of the chains recalled him to a.
full sense of his helplessness, and with a smoth-
ered execration he resumed his tamer attitude.
Unspeakable hatred glowed in his eyes. Heaven
pity Manuel Camplido should fate ever cast

im into the hands of Joaquin Murietal

“ Let me draw another picture, sinco you like
this one sowell,” added Cam lido, enjoying this
foretaste of revenge, and ong'ing for more.
“Some of the escort will escape, and the story
of the terrible tragedy will spread like wildﬁre.
It will reach my ears, and I will at once set
forth to rescue to beautiful betrothed, or to
share her fate. erved by love, what power
can resist my arm? I succeed—I rescue the
lady, exterminate your, band of mock-In-
dians, and take you prisoner. I deliver you n
to 1ijusticc. My witnesses are well trained, an
te a straightforward story. The threat and
the plot are sworn to; you were recognized,

despite your disguise, by at least two of the
escort who escaped. They swear to this, I
swear that I capgued you red—handed. Your
guilt is proven yond the shadow of a doubt,
and you are sentenced —of course to suﬂer
death, but in just what she Ihave not yet
fully decided. If the trial to es Place before a
regular tribunal of law, you w11 be gamtgd.
If tried by the lynch law of your loved Amer—
icans then a hasty noose—either way a sure
and shameful death!

“And I? Carmela will redeem her plighted
troth, and I will teach her to strew curses over
the dishonored gravo of the wretch who mar-
dered her father.

“ There you have the programme, Don Joa-
quin Murieta. Sleep on , and may the Virgin
send you pleasant dreams. Adios!"

Laughing mockmglv, the exultant villain left
the dungeon, followed by his only less delighted
servants.

CHAPTER XI.

J i Banyan BY A KISS.

081! ntend to speak nothiu butthe lain
both when he declared to Dong Manuel -
phdo that none save old Bias and Agatone had
seen them enter with their prisoner, and that
absolute] no one save themselves so much as
suspec the identity of the captive. But im-
.811Ft‘h§t he lied.

er eyes had been upon the two rumans
whenthey drew rein to mums the features of
Sonorian, eyes that were rendered

penetrating,not‘byhah'ed,bntby

Atmdnd to the Campiido household was a
woman of mixed lood, Joeefa by name,

mm. of a forced alliance between an

the y
keen an
love

A heel: and a Mexican woman who had
sf captive to his bow and . The m
"of Josefa’s mwu one of romance and

thrilling adventure, but can ﬁnd no lace here.
Allusiontoit is made onlyto 1n peg-t

 
the share she played in the oomhg events.

 
‘CIoaquin, the Saddle King.

13

 
J osefa was, to some extent, a rivileged char-
acter in the Camplidc househo d, coming and
going as she chose, giving an account of her ac-
tions to no one, treating even the master himself
with disdain should the course of his inclinations
run counter to that of her o'wn.

Despite the cross in her blood, Joeefa was a
beauty, of the purely material sort, who might
have stood as a model for a Southern Venus.
Her shape was lithe and graceful, tyet voluptu-
ousl developed. Her hands an feet were
am and shapely, her jett hair a marvel of
luxurianoe, her even white th lealning like
twin rows of pearls, her great lack eyes, at
times soft and gentle as those of a timid fawn,
then ﬁery and menacing as those of the enraged
Jaguar.

Josefa had frequently visited the Santa Anna
hacienda, and while there had made the ac-
ggaintance of Joaquin Murieta. The young
. norian had not been wholl unmoved by her
sparkling beauty, and somet ing of a ﬂirtation
grew up between them, for Joaquin was no
misc ynist, as his after record in California
plain y evidences. But this was before he
rescued Senorita Carmela Felix from the in-
furiated bull; after that, to do him 'ustic he
may have uttered friendly words to osefa, ut
never more peech of love.

The beautiful young sav e must have suf-
fered intensely, for she love Joaquin as only
she, and such as she, can adore, but she ave no
outward sign of the tortures that rec edher
heart. Her love for him, instead of weakening,
grew the more hitense; her hatred was all re-
served for Carmela.

She was at home when the encounter took
place between Joaquin and Don Manuel but

earned the whole story layiznightfall: ven
better than himself she re ed the peril that
threatened the youiig Sonorian and calling all
her cunning into requisition, s e sought to foil
his enemies. Unfortunately she knew nothing
of the orders given Pedro Canales and Jose by
Don Manuel before he returned home, and she
only suspected the truth when she recognized
the horse which bore the prisoner, whose face
she had been unable to see. .

.Josefa followed the kidnappers into the build-
ing closely enou h to see that thev went to the
dungeon. She ared not follow lest they sur-
prise her and suspect her purpose, but her wits

vere keen, and worked swiftl .
“If it is he, they will make haste to report to

‘he master. He is in his room—I must bear
Int they say 1' O . _
And when Jose was givmg in his report,

very word was breathless] recorded By the
self: breed girl. More. t that, osefa,
wrought up to such a pitch of excitement that
she forgot all personal fears, followed the ruf-
ﬂans when they visited the prisoner, and with
her ear at the ke -hole overheard the jeering
taunts uttered b on anuel.

As she listene , J osefa grew calmer, and when
she learned that Joaquin was in no immediate
danger of death she stole silently away, know-
ing that should she excite suspicion, his only
chance would be ruined. '

Through the rest of the night J osefs brooded
deeply over what she had heard. The diabolical
plot against Don Felix gave her little uneasi-
ness, rather the contrary, and though there was
ample time for her to conve a warning to the
Felix hacienda, the idea of oing so never once
occurred to her. Let Don Camplido triumph
thus far. B doing so a den erous rival would
be removed rom her path. nly for Carmela,

she felt that Joe uin could not lon remain.
‘1 g

insensible to her ove. Her whole mind was
devoted to the discovery of some plan by which
Joaquin might be set at hberty.

Before day dawned a body ‘of horsemen left
the ranchc, led by Don Camphdo in person, and
Josefa had no trouble in guessing the motive of
their mission. Pedro Canales was left in charge,
and the half-breed girl knew not whether to
re oice or be sorry.

or months the burly groom had been ﬁercely
in love with Josefa, and it was the partiahty
shewn by her to Jon uin that caused him to
hate the oung Son an so bitterly. Helhad
not spa 1 his taunts and reproaches. eially
since Joaquin became infatuated with armela,
and more than one sh passage had, taken
place between him and osefa, for which she
now had deep cause of regret.

She frequently crossed the groom’s th that
day, but instead of accepting the chimes so

adroitly, yet with such seemin unconscious-
‘l less, thrown in his_way for a li tle ﬂirtation,

Pedro Canales perSistentl avoided her. She
knew what this meant. e feared to betray
his master’s secret. But Josefa smiled as she
saw him drinking freely to strengthen his resolu-
tion, for past experience told her that after
' g a’certain stage of intoxication, Pedro

es was asdwellavorkeg clay; “1:15:16 hands of

an experience er. a ry e watched
for that period 1‘33: the bug; groom was also
well aware g mww‘li: sad when his
eeyesbegmi an is 00 s, grow
unsteady, he wafgged his head ve y and beat
a retreat to 0 private c amber of Don

uel. .
'In desperation Josefa stole after him, only to

.rushed in calling for Pedro Canales, who

 
hear the key turned and the massive bolts shot
into place. For a moment she hesitated, her
black eyes glowinglike thoeeof a baﬁed
then hastened at once to the secret loophole
through which she had seen and heard on the
past night. .

It was lucky that she had lost no time, and
only by biting her red lips until the blood ﬂowed
freely did the girl Keep from utte ' an excla-
mation that mi ht have ruined all he it reached
the ears of the runken groom.

Pedro Canales was standing in the middle of
the room, suptportinlg himself against the table,
his gaze fixe ﬁshi y upon several keys lying
before him.

“Senor Don Pedro Canales, you’re drunk—and
a fool." he uttered huskily, seemingly unconsci-
ous that he was uttering his thoughts aloud.
" There’s the keys— Don Manuel said never
loosen my 'p u n them—but I’m getting
drunk. and ﬁll-int lit le devil-of-an-angel—there’s
mischief in her eyes or I never saw it before.
She hunts me, instead of. I her, today. Why?
Devil knows, not me. Maybe she suspects—
maybe she wants to bamboozle rue—maybe she
wants to get these keys and set Joaquin Dog-
of—a—devil ree—maybe I’m a fool on top of a
fool, but it won’t do any harm to be on the safe
side. I’ll hide the keys, takeana to steady my
brain then retend to humor li 1e Josefn, and
who lmows A live dog is better than a dead
lion—before he came, she used to smile on me I”

Had the stake for which she was playing
been less great, Josefa could have heartily en-
jo ed the scene. Pedro spoke by ﬁts and starts,
infamde by frequent hiccouglhs and devia—
tions from the perpendicular w ich was only
recovered by spasmodic eﬂo , each one caus-
ing the vertebra of the drunkarduto creek and
his teeth to snap together like those of an alli-
gator. But she ha thoughts only for Joaquin
and his danger, and eager] watched Pedro
Canales as he 1 ed around ore. secure hiding-
place in which to stow away the keys.

A pair of soiled, well worn ridin boots stood
in one corner of the room, and as edro noticed
them he nodded soviolent that he was only
saved by the table from top)? ing over headlong.
Recovering himself, he too the keys and man-
aged to place them in one of the boots.- Drunk
though he was, Pedro Canales was no fool. No
one would [think of looking in such a place for
what they sought. .

Satisﬁed that he had performed his duty, he
lay down on the floor and almost instantly fell
as eep.

Josefa stole. silently away, already ,devisi
some plan by which Pedro could, be enti
from the room long enough for her to gain DS-
sessicli of the keys, without which allher e orts
must be in vain. Yet she was in no haste to
accomplish this. She knew that it would be
imposmble for Joaquin to escape, even when
set free from his irons, from the dungeon and
house until after dark. So long as Canales left
the, keys in the boot, they were safer than in
her possession.

One point more J osefa learned. . Jose was on
guard efore the dungeon door, and she hardly
knew whether this fact was to be re ‘etted or
the contrary. J oee was that rarity o the Mexi-
can race: a man who cared little for liquor, and
who was never known to get drunk except on
his “ name-saint’s” day. _

0n the other side he was even more suscepti-
ble to the charms of the gentler sex than was
Pedro, without more than a moiet of that ras-
cal’s shrewdness. He, too, had elded to the
bewildering beauty .of the half-breed girl,
though a yet he had ventured only to worship
her in silence and from afar. _

Josefa had formed her plans, and was impa-
tiently waiting the proper time for setting them
in motion, when she was startled b the ra id
trampling of hoofs and then excite voices
yond the large gate. Old Bias, the warder,
soon
in de hisa pearance. .

osefa, t ough strongly interested by the few
words she had managed to catch, at once took
advantage of the confusiontc enter Don Manuel
Camplido’s chamber and secure the precious
keys. With these safely hidden in her bosom
the half-breed girl m' led with the excited
servants as the listeneld‘ﬁn breathless horror to
the words of t e two blood-stained horsemen
whom all rec nized \S servants Don Felix.

Their, ty ad been waylaidb Indians, Don
Felix ed, and Senorita Carine carried into
ca tivity..

osefa waited to hear no more, but, glad of a
laus1hle excuse, she hastened at once to where
ose stood on guard. Terror and horror were

in her face, her voice trembled asvshe poured out
the tragic news—a truly admirable bit of acting
which reached the climax when her limbs failed
her aéid she sunk limply into the arms of the

guar . . l - .
“ It brings it all back—the terrible story in
mother used to'tell ” she faltered, moving be);
head slightly so that her warm breath fanned
Jose’s cheeki her red lips pJoutm ' just belowhis.
“Itho ht should die; at I eel safer now.

You w' rotect me, dear Josef”
Pedro Banal“ might have seen something
strange in this unusual emotion, for which there

'1'» > .

was such slight cause. But not so Jose. He

:w only tlllie richdbeautt of that tug-thistle
ptuﬁ‘ ps~an.wi ,an audacl tat

caused a brain to whirl dizxily, he Based her.

The world did ‘not come to an end, nor did
J osefa seem mortally offended. True, she strn -
fled in little to free herself, but ceased her e -

orts when she felt Jose relaxing his arms. A
faint sigh, as.she nestled a little closer to him,
was enough. Aﬁn his lips fastened upon hers,
more ardently. a cat ﬁercely, and then Josefa

lided eel-like from his embrace, for she knew
hat her pu was med—that Jose would
be like wax in her han after this.

“We will be seen—some one will come to tell
you the news,” she said hastily, as the amorous
rascal sou ht to a sin embrace her. “When
you are c duty his evening, then I will see
you again.” .

A sullen curse broke from the fellow’s li

“ I am ﬁxed here as though chained ban and
foot " he growled. “That cursed Canales is so
stuck up because the master left him in charge,
that he refuses to stand his turn. and.I dare not
call any one else to relieve me.”

Jose paused abruptly with a suspicion t t he
was saying too much, but Josefa smiled li a
siren, and coking upon her charms, the suspi-
cion ﬂed from his brain. . .

-" I must go—there would be talk if one
were to see me here," she murmured, tbep cture
of maidenly modestly;a
_ "What matter? t thel‘ talk. The answer
is plain—unless you are play the fool with
3‘31} “n” ‘

...-..._—-—~——~.—_.~_~___._.. -..___.

suspicion crop into his thick _

“Wait—thereisnotlmenow.  asall I

is settled for the nightul will come to
keep you compan for a few minutes. And then
——then,” she add with scheming confusion
and a glowin . 'de— lance, that sent the hot
blood tingling hroug Joses veins, “you may
ﬂiish what you began so. ing.” 1 ,
Li ht as a fawn she caged to his side and
dain ily touched her lips to is, then gracefully‘
eluding his clumsy grasp, she glided» away.
Could Jose have seen the expression of utter
disgust that rested upon her face as she gained
her room, and there used soap and water rub-
hing her cheeks and li untilthe red laich
seemed on the point 0 bursting thro
skin, rhaps his castles in the air
have Egan so full of bliss. I
It was now nearly night, but Josefa had
weary hours to wait before she dared make the
gosperate attempt to free the man whom she.
l

h the

_ not i

loved so hopelessly. The news of the Felix '
tragedy was the cause of high excitement, and .

the usual hour for the, household to retire ar~ v

‘rived without any signs‘of, their dispersing, for

 
fresh tidings came to them just then.

Several of the escort who had escaped being
massacred, had come together, and venturing
back, had found Don Felix still living,.but ter-
ribl injured and scalplessl And more—one
of t 19 retainers swore positively that the attack-
ing party was composed of whites, led by none
0

er than Joaquin Murietal From tho.oovert, f i

into which he had crawled, he saw them close»
ly and heard them conversing; there could he
no mistake. _

J oeefa d wait no lo . - She _ knew, that
Don Manuel amplido mig t return at any mo
ment, when all her {letting would be (lusti-
ed. And so, with t e keys in her bosom, and a
small ﬂask of powerfully drug ed brandy in her
pocket, she‘hastenod to where use was
guard, his

0

nde from the rock 09' ‘ . .. » .
tthe first glance Josefa saw that Jose had
been doing some sturd t ' since the left
him, and with note ttle anxietytor the re-
sult she addresaed him: . . . - . I

“That terrible story hassoexaited them all,

we

at- A

still on ‘
grim face looking'moretlian usuallyxk
rbiddin in the ruddy glare of therude lamp .

that there is no thought of sit—tléﬁ dfwn for _
y pron:-

the night, hardly dared com

ised; and even now I am endangering my good: ‘ ‘

nam’e, very foolishly, I fear, fox-one who acorns
me.

4.

Jose drew himself up sturdin andIshopk his \ '

head. . ‘ r
“ That sounds mi ht ni tty one, and
I would give a good gen to (gag: tobelieve it,
but the change comes too sudden. First it was
Pedro Canales that ﬁlled your eyes,.then that
cursed dandy Joaquin came in for our sweet-
est smiles. All the time, an h
me on would not look at—” .
‘2 nd whylﬁicﬂy demanded Josefa, draw-
ing closcr. “

in that you~had promised to
t could a poor girl do?”
started forward and

long.

1 you stupid men are eoblindé 3

You never spoke—and than there was that is .

Lucius singing your praises all da longs—Qweara ' _ I
wed herere

grasped  .bythe

devil like '.

one
arm, alightinhis eyes, alook upon histace,‘ '

such as had never been there before His voice
“tdifimm‘m he'll" i.“ now“ “
, . you are . , me, you
had better never beer; bornl You live stirred
my heart and awakened
dream I could ever feel. I love you so madly
thetIcouldalmostteu you to pieces,

so that U
' no other eyes might look upon you. Just what

passions thatIdid not!

I feel, I can not put into wordsnow, but Iknow I 

.. ccl'x .

:{Fmevfggn- .

~ 1.3—2 a

".Zi-amsaiugtm :3 3-... ..

a? a... .a .....

_ 2.2“, 

"'3' "4:3: -: <

«5"...2. .

 L - ‘

»ful

' of thebetrayed guard gave we

<g

at

- One

v wildered
truth. In all his dreams of esca

Joaquin, the Saddle King.

 
 much; if you are playing me false, I will
on -

Hiyheouragedthou she undoubtedly was.
J ashrunk away the fellow, awedb
the terrible passion which she had aw ,
but on! for a moment. She remembered that
but for er. Joaquin Murieta must die a shame
death for a crime which he had never cour
mitted, and that to eﬂect his escape, this man
must be removed.

“ Look in my eyes and read the truth there,
Jose, if you can not believe my lips,” she
breathed softly, comingso close thather clothes
touched his. ‘ There is but one man in the
wide world for me—tbe rest are less than noth—

in i”

There was no acting in this last assertion, but
J osefa did not mean J ose. though that foolish
fellow believed she did.

_“ And his name is—what?” he asked, eagerly,

his maglow.

“ e day—not now,” laughed Josefa, co-
quettishl , then drawing fort the ﬂask, and
holding before his eyes. “Bee! though I
dare not stay here Ion er, en shall not stand
guard alone. Itis' 00 an damp here. This

willw you.” -
But ose shook his head, once more sus-
picious.

“No, I am on guard, and must not drink.

The master was tive, and on know what
he is when the de ‘ that is in im once breaks
loose. ' may urn at any mongent. ‘Put

up the bottle—give me a kiss instead.

Better for the unlucky rascal if—he had yielded
to the temptation and drank. There was on}
one com-m ft for Josefa to follow—a te -

_ his one, butshe remembered Joaquin, and took

it.

She yielded to his eager embrace—one little
hand nest/led playfully against his throat—then
closed u it like a vise as her right hand drov
a long e home to his very heart! ‘

CHAPTER XII.
Joaounv saunas noun.
8m and sire was the blow, though dealt
bye women’s hand. Checked only when its
struck against the quivering ﬂesh the
blade punctured the wildlydhmbbing
heart, cutting short the thread of life, scarce
gran the doomed wreich time sudlcient to
realise t he had been betrayed a kiss. '
No ﬁtno shouti onl upbgur‘g gig, hollow
groan was near 0 eree gras
whichthah y had {listened nponhs
ve shuddering that could
struggle, then the sinewy limbs
, and only for
Josefa, he woul have fallen eavily to the
floor. Instead, she pushed him back to the wall
andp himagainstitinasittingposi—
tion. even then did her deadly 'on
his throat relax—not until she saw that eath
had claimed its victim be end all doubt.
. Then she rose erect staggered back, one
handclesped overhere es,t e other reesed
convulsiver to her Now that t e fear-
deed was done, she realised its. enormity.
andherhsart tinned deathl sick within her
bosom. After all, she was ut a r, weak
girLdriventotheve vergeofm nessbythe
peril which three the man she loved.
An indistinct sound from beyond the heavy

 
V iron-bound door cemeto her ears. She

reco -
nixed the clankingof chains, and uickly rallied.
J was at a prisoner, yet danger, and
an be in- nfety, she could spare no
thought for herself. I
Fitting the heavy"? , she turned the rusty
bolt. then swung door open. In the dim
light, the white face of the young Sonorlan
looked like that of some specter, his eyes glow-
ing with deﬁance as the openipeg‘door attracted
his notice. Butasherecogni Josefa,instead
oftbemockingenem beexpectediosee, slow
cw wonder his lips.
half-breed girl sprung to his side, her
little bend pressing upon his mouth as she bur-

, new} I: .
“ ot asound—not a word as on value your

lifeand liberty! For my sake, not for your
own, place a upon your lips until the
open air is reac ." -

While she spoke, her hands were not idle.
one the bolts were turned and the heavy
shac fell from his limbs. In silence he suf-
fered hes- to perform this, gamng at her in a
be manner, unable as yet to ice the
, not one had
assumed thieuhape. Knﬁwing he fiery spirit
of the girl, he would‘ sooner look for aknife—

Josefa mailed a she read an; thoughts
in his face, but she said nothing then, only
arose when the last iron dropped off his limbs,
angnbeckoned his! iothfollohg. J u! '
' ce across e res n speedil
became hi1:in nesual leg, andd’a ﬁcignstgbagf
cameiuto as erecogmaed‘ t e ace 0
Jose—but onlyyfg: an instant. He saw death
in the-man’s face, and noticed ,the red

. streak
: "down his bosom where the blood had ﬂowed
’ from hiepunetm'edheart.

He turned nick]
toward Josefa, who had just closed andqiochei
thedoorofthedungeon. Her head droopedbe-

 
fore his in uiring , but there was no
ceptibIe trgmor in the voice that uttered: 

“There was no‘ other we . He refused the
drugged brandy I offered im. He stood be
tween you and freedom. To save your life, I
took his.” .

" I am sorry that his blood is on our hands
-—notbntthat the villain deserved is fate. I
had sworn to kill himif ever I won m free-
dom. I am only sorry for your sake. osefa.”

“Your life was in peril—I'thought only of
that and if a down lives he stood between, I
would have taken them wit out a. single pang
of remorse!” '

The girl’s voice was not so steady, and there
was a grewing light in her dark eyes that gave
Joaquin some uneasiness. They were not Iyet
out of danger, and should she give Way to er
gmﬁtions now, theresult might be fatal to them

i: .

“ You must tell me all when we once et out-
side of this cursed place, Josefa,” he sai , more
coldly than he should have spoken under the
circumstances, but the desired effect was ac-

com lished.

“ ake his wee then,” she said, all traces
of emotion havm vanished. “I have your
own arms conce edoutside. I did not dare
bringrthem with me, lost some one should no-'
tice them and suspect my purpose. I believe
the passage is clear, but We may meet some one,
and you must not be recaptured after this,’
with a glance at the dead man.

“ Not all the servants on the place'could bar

my while I hold these tools!” exclaimed
Joaquin,‘ king a knife and brace of revolvers
from the co . “ But‘ you, Josefa—-you must

run no flu-t er risk on m account.- Go on
, and when you are an e, I will follow.”

“No, if you have to ﬁght I will ﬁght too.
Unlen you can escape, my life is worse than
nothing.”

Quietly the words were spoken, but Joaquin
knew that it would be a waste of precious time
for him toattempt to change her determination.
Taking the dead man’s sombrero and ulling it
far down over his eyes, he satisﬁ himself
that his weapons were in working order, then
said:

“ Come, then. Keep behind me—”

For answer Josefa sprung lightl st him
and led the way up the stone steps. at a little
annoyed at her runnin this unnecessary risk,
Joaquin swiftly follow her. '

But fortune seemed to smile upon them. The
great hall was deserted by even old Bias, who
satisﬁed his conscience by boltin the door
then joined the other servants, w punished
man a ﬂask of good li uor while discussing the
mil “fig “ding; th tdy bm‘ﬂtt?memerged

ose ne e car, a ey
from the gliding. Both knew that there was
one more barrier to be before om
could fairly be claim , and anxiously they
looked toward the great gates beyond.

But the master was absent, and the old
proverb held good in this case. Pedro Canales
was too drunk to think of enforcing discipline
and those worthies whose duty it was to atten
to the great gates, the only mode of as or
egress, were quite as fond of crackin a bottle
as their temporary master, and he deserted
their of uty.

Wit a low, lad cry, J osefa sprung ahead to
the gates and ung them open, but even on ‘the
threshold of liberty J oaquin tJpaused.

The servants’ uarters, ough inclosed by
the same wall as t e hacienda proper, were un-
der a separate roof in one corner of the ex-
tensive courtyard. bright lights could be seen
glancing through the open Windows and door-
way. From within came the confused sound
of voices and clinking lanes. Then, as
Josefa flung wide the t barrier, a curse,
thick voice roaredout above the din: ‘

“Gentlemen and ladies, I give an a toast:
death and eternal damnation to oaquin Mu-
rieta, the traitorous assassin and kidnapper!”

The voice was that of Pedro Canales, and as
Joaquin remembered the brutal treatment he
had received when ehel'pless prisoner in his
hands, his blood began toboil, and drawing his
weapons he strode toward the building.

Josefa read his action aright. and swift as a
deer, selée intercepted him, her voice intense‘but

“Are you mad? Would §on ruin all that I
have dared for our sake? ou might kill him,
but there areot ere—one, two score. They are
half—crazed by liquor now. They believe you
murdered Don Carillo Felix and stole away his
daughter. One glimpse of you would render
them frantic—would chan them into demons,
and you would be torn lim from limb in their

x 7

“ Stand aside, Josefal” he muttered hoarsely.
“ I swore to kill that dog in human shape, and
not even on can hinder me!”

Sudd y releasin him, but still barring the
we , Josefa drew om her bosom a dagger
the still bore red stains.

“Look! with this blade I killed Jose to set
ypu free. The hand that could kill a man, can

'1] awoman. Becki abandon your mad pur-

, or I will drive this dagger home to my
even as it pierced his!”

 
Even in his madness, Joaquin saw that the
half-breed girl was making no idle threat, that
unless he yielded, she would send the blood-
stained steel" to her heart, and reluctantly be
abandoned his purpose.

“Come, then, quick!” he muttered hoarsely.
“If I hear him again, not even you can keep
me from leaping at his throat!” and turning he
rushed back through the gates.

“ At legion are freel” but the Words m r; i

sound of ness rather than joy. “ Go—m-m-
a horse and ﬂee far from here. Every meme: . L
you delay but increases your peril. y to—mur-
row the avengers of blood will be upon your
trail. Ride hard and fast, for there is nosaiety
for you this side of your far-away home!”

A low, hard laugh broke from the young So—
norian. r
“ You do not know me yet, little irl. From
whatﬁ'ou let drop a moment since, know that.
Don anuel Camplido has carried out the ﬁrst;
part of his diabolical plans. Don Felix has
given me no particular cause for loving him.
butIdo love his daughter, and for her sake I
swear to avenge her father. She, too, must be
in deadly peril, and while that is the case, I
bulge, no time or inclination to think of my»

se .

Josefa shrunk away with a low, gasping sob.
Joaquin understood only too well, and he drew
her to his side with gentle force, his voice
sounding strangely soft and swoet.

“Dear child—my sister I” and he gently
pressed his lips to her cold brow. “ To attempt,
to hide the truth would 'be cruel. If I had
never met Carmela Felix, both our fate and
mine might have been very d erent. While
she lives, my heart can never recognize another
love—”

“Stop!” cried the Indian girl, tearing herself
from his arms. “ Would ou kill me? You
know how Ilove you—how have fairly idolized
you from the day we ﬁrst met— et you can
coldly tell me of {for passion or another!
What has'she done deserve your love! l—I
have shed the heart’s blood of a man who
brutal though he may have been, loved me and
wanted to make me his wife. Could she have
done that?”

“Love where it wills, not where it is
sent, Jose a.” ‘
This was all Joaquin dared to 'say just then,
but it proved sufﬁcient With a‘ sobbing cry,
Josefa ﬂung her arms around his neck and
pressed her cold lips to his: then released Lim

and ﬂed back to the house.

J uin hesitated for a moment but thrn
turn away to the corral where he knew Don“-
Manuel Camplido kept his rivate saddle-homes.
A bit of rapid but thoroug scouting convinud
him that there was no guard on duty, and en-
tering the inclosure, he cautiously approached.
the horses.

,Like all true born horsemen, Joaquin was
gifted with that peculiar magnetism that is
rarely resisted by even the most suspicious
horse. A gentle ap reach, a few soft words.
and then his ﬂu rs c osed upon the forelock o
the noble anima which he had taken from Don
Manuel Camplido in exchange for his own’ black
stallion.

As he led the horse to the entrance, a gratin ‘
curse hissed through his teeth, and he erk
forth a pistol, for a human ure arose efore
him as though to -di ute passage. .But. \
only for snmstant di his alarm last, for he»
 J osefa, the half-breed girl.

“ hild,” he exclaimed, re roachfully, “you
should be more cautious. 011 y that the moon~
beams enabled me'to recognize you in time, I
would have taken you for an enemy and sent a

bullet thro your heart I”
“"I'hsl could not have en'me s more
deadly; pang than your wo s of a moment

since and] replied the rl, then addin in '
more’naturzl tone: “But ink not that cam:

back to reproach you. I forgot to show on

where I concealed your weapons and horse- up.
niture. Come, our escape may be discovered

at any moment. _ ‘

In silence Joaaum followed, leading his horse.
Josefa uncovers the articles, and seemed wait.—
ing for him to apply them. and take his depar—-
ture. urieta read her intention, but, as her-

“genes would interfere with a daring resolve
e had suddenlIy formed, he s ke: '

“Some day 110 tothan Ru for all on
have done for me, our child. ore is no t me
now, and my tongue would fail me were I to
make the attempt. As you say my esca may
be discovered at any moment. ’For myse f. now
that I am armed and housed, I have no fears.
but for you—man . (I begrof on to return to
thehouse and go bed he will avert sus-
picion that might otherwise fall upon you. Go,
dear sister, for my sake.” ‘

As he concluded Joaquin bowed his head and
drop a gentle kiss upo'n her forehead. J osefa
306111 about to speak. but then, doubtle- fear-
ing to trust horse f, she turned and glided away.

Joaquin watched hex-until he saw her vanish
inside the gates, and drew a long breath of re
lief as he saw that she made no attempt to close
the barrier. ' ’

“ It would only he one more obstacle; but, as
time is precious, I am glad that she left the way

Joaquin, the saddle 

 
 15

 
clear. Poor girl! I wish that my conscience
Was clearer concerning her i” ’

Fortunately for his own peace of mind, per-
haps, Joaquin had not leisure just then to devote
much thought to the hapless Indian girl. In
truth, he had treated her badly, though there
was much that could be urged in extenuation.
But his sin was destined to bear its own fruit.

Réaépidly he saddled and bridled his horse, then
car all ins ted his weapons, greatly. pleased
toﬂnd. '5 boy had suffered no hurt by the
rough usage he had been subjected to. Through
many a peril the had been his companions, and
never yet had ailed him when called upon.
With them in his ssession he felt doubly
armed yet he did no discard the weapons taken
from dead Jose. He was about enterin on a
struggle to the death a inst fear ful odds, and
the time might come w on he would need every
possible resource.

Removi his torn and stained jacket, Joaquin
cut it into our equal parts, and placing a layer
of sand on each one, be securely muﬂied his
horse’s hoofs. Then mounting, he rode slow}
back to the great gates and entered the pav
court-yard. Here the object of his precautions
was made apparent, for not the faintest sound
accompanied the footfalls of his steed.

The revels in the servants’ quarters were still
in progress, and Joaquin rode boldly up tothe
door, gazing quietly upon the riotous scene, but
with a dancin , glittering devil in each eye
that boded misc ief to somebody. 1

Pedro Canales occu led the position of honor
at the head of the tab 9, furthest from the door.
He was on his feet, kept there by leaning
heavxly against the board and so ' -

“Once more—death and et damnation to
Joe uin!”

“ 0a uin is here!” and bending low in the
saddle, uin leaped his horse into the room,
his lasso whirling round his head. '

A all of terror escaped Pedro Canales, but it
was is last.

The deadly noose settled around his throat,
and wheeling, Joaquin rode away, swee ing
the table clear with the body of his enemy

CHAPTER XIII.
cmmno AND ms cmwn.

“ My dear, your health will suffer and your
beauty fade away like a summer cloud, unless
you w more reasonable and partake of some
“digit” D M ‘ el Caniplid d

e 5 er was on sun 0 an

he addressed Senorita _ Canales Felix. There
was a mocking politeness, an e erated- soli-
citude in his tones that was insu ting, and so
the maiden considered as she turned away her
head with a gesture of aversion.
' The sun had just set. but the redé angry-look-
ing sky cast a ﬂood of lurid ligh overthe lit-
tle encam ment, perched there amid the thick-
lying roc s, a lone and dreary spot, but pecu-
liarly ammpriate for these desert vultures.

Don. nuel Camplido, bearing Carmela be-
iore him, had ridden hard and long after leav-
ing the spot where Don Felix had fallen 8. via»
mm to his atrocious treachery. He reached
the rendezvous first, but ere long his menbe
to drop in, having divided the more surely to
break and obliterate their trail. All were jovial
for they felt that a diﬂicult and dangerous ob
had been carried through most successf .
Fires were kindled and suppgr prepared.

After that one frantic ou urst, Carmela had
been like one stu ﬂed by the immeasurable
calamity whichh fallen. Don Camplido had
accounted himself lucky that such was the case,
since it saved him trouble while on the road,
but now he began to feel uneasy and tried tp
move the grief-frozen statue, caring little
whether it was to tears or reprhach

 
es.

“My dear, dainty lad -bird, you are acting
very foolishly ” he ded, seating '
bends her. “ The past is past, and school; he
recalled. Of course deeply regret all that has
happened, but for this you are to blame, not
me. _ I met and. loved you. I declared my
passion, and you accepted my suit only to
throw me over for a low-born dog of a cattle-
driver-r”

r A shail'lp céy ogdanlger broke from Garmela’s
isasseiirn sar u nthetauntin
sin, her clinched ban‘dystrllglng at his faceg,
to wage the insult Diiutu n the man whom
shelov _' But Don acne can hther hand in
his, la ' hing maliciouslyas-he he d her prisoner,
for be ad at length accomplished his purpose.

“So, you can feel thespur! Show om- native
W sense now, by eating some 0 this meat.

on will need all our powers of body ‘and
mind, remember he ore this pleasant captivity
can come to an slid.” _

Don Manuel succeeded evon better than he
emmled.’ A change as sudden as it was com-
piete came over the maiden. The traces of
tears 1m her eyes, seeming! dried up by the
steady, turning ﬁre that g0wed therein. A
cold, icy smile curled her 11 , and taking the
prepared meal with ﬁuge that Were far
steadier than his own, she ate heartily and with
seeming relish. She even laughed at his undis-
guiséd surprise-13 laliiilgh cold and metallic, that
cause! a peculiar ch' to creep over him for the
moment.

 
“ You see I take your advice. I have acted
the poor, silly, weak woman, but that is past
now. ’

Don Manuel Camplido began to wish he had
left well enough alone. A woman like this
would give him trouble before the end, - but
he quic ly disguised his fears, and in hopes of
undoing the work he had been so curious to
accomplish but a brief space before, he gave
full vent to his natural ma ignityy

“I am overjoyed to see that you are recover-
ing) your usual good sense, my dear. Not that
I lame you much for giving way for the
knowledge that naught of this sad aﬂrair would
have come about only for your ﬁckleness and
love of admiration, must be bitter indeed. You
are to be praised for bearing up so well, and no
doubt your father would feel verguproud of his
child as an honorto his race, alas! does
such knowledge reach beyond the gravel”

Carmela turned hastly pale, even to her li s,
at this hypocritica speech from the lips of t e
demon who had so treacheroust slain her pa-
rent; but her nerves were steeled, and she gave
no other sign of the torture she felt.

Camplido had been drinkin freely,both while
lying in ambush, and since he tragedy, while
conveying the captive to the rendezvous, Until
now he had given little si n. of feeling its .in-
ﬂuence, save in his b ng. eyes, his ﬂushed
countenance and his slighﬂytbickened speech.
But as he yielded to his malevolent one, he
lost all control of himself and per aps spoke
more freely than he would have deemed pru-
dent were he fairl himself.

“ léahl” he exclaimed, in a coarse, brutal tone.
“ I am tired of wearing a mask and keeping in
tongue under guard. You have seen enoug
this day to know that I am no saint; for’once
you shall see me as I am.

“I meant you and yours fairly eno h when
I first began to end my suit and conl I have
won your love en, I would have been a better
man than now. ‘But ou all looked down on
mod-- on most scornfu ly of all, Iady-bird—and
then swore a solemn oath to succeed, by foul
means if fair ones failed. It was not diﬂlcultto
read Don Felix, and when I sawthathisdearest
hopes lay in his heir, Don Luis, I laid my plans
accordingly. ' .

“It wo dtaketoo much time to go overin
detail all that I accomplished; enough that I se-
cured- the hold I desired—that by my agengﬁ
Don Luis was led over head and ears into
manner of extravagances, en in a crime
that will have to be expiated by oath, if ever
I am forced to make the whole truth known.”

The villain paused here, and gazed keenly at
Carmela, but she made no sign, u tered no word,
steadily eating her food.

ngh a short, ugly laugh Don Manuel con-
tinu :

“I admire the de th of your sisterly love—
but let that pass. on know how we were he-
trothed—how all went smoothly until that low-
born vaquero blundered into saving your life,
for which like a true-born heroine, you gave
him our ove.

“ was not long in learning of this, but for
your credit, rather than my own, I made) no
outward sign but tried to put the audacious
rascal out of the way of ivin us more trouble.
The devil, his sire, stood his riend then as he
has since, and I only lost the services of two

tools. But when one blow fails, I know
ow to strike another. and at length I have my
revexnge on Joaquin Muriel-a.” _

“ eater-day, when he defeated and disgraced
you—when be caused you to cringe and cower

umbly at his feet like a. sorely no ged hound—
he alone, you backed b at lea , a score of
armed men, all his enem esl’.’ sharply cried Car:
mela, promptly taking advantage of the open-

orough-paced villain though he was, Don
Manuel ﬂushed hotly with shame at the mem-
ory, but he quickly recovered and barbed his
words with sharper stings than ever. ,
“ That was his turn; mine came a few hours
later. But let me relate things in their proper

orde .

“Joaquin Murieta, ﬂushed With his brief trl-
Vumph, hastened to sun himself in your a prov-
ing smiles. He found you—if necessary, could
rep?” every, Word that passed between you de-
scribe faithfully each one your little an ear-
ments, for besides the spies whom Don Felix had
at work, I had men on the trail even more'cun-
nin than his. ,

“ hey saw Don Felix break in rigor) you——
saw him lash your low-born hero ea dog—-
saw him how to the' de ‘adation, but utter a
bitter threat that he would have revenge.”

“ A lie—foul as the tongue that gives it utter:
ance!” cried Carmela, indignation getting the
better of her resolution. ,

"Possibly. A gentleman never contradicts a
lady,” retorted Don Manuel, bowing low with
mock politeness. “Unfortunately for your
dandy cow-harder, my spies make no reten—
sions to gentili‘trv, and when questionec , they
willswear'tliat oaquin uttered that threat to
be bitterly avenged. Nor is that all. '

f‘After leaving you, Joaquin Murieta was
jomed by old Tio Tomas, and to ther the ‘con-
cocted a precious plot. Tio ,omas tol him

 
where you' were bound, and what trail your
tpsi-tynwould follow. He said that the only way
w you, waste ambush the escortand carry
on off by force—that ou would not be mor-
ally offended, andread y grant your for ive.
ness as soon as you caught the ﬂutter of a p est’s
gown‘ in the distance. Complimentary, but
true!

Carmela made no comment for she believed
Don Manuel was deliberately lying.

Senor Don Vagabundo lea w th joy at the
idea, and vowed that he wo d act upon it. He
proposed, but I disposed. Already I had put
two good men on his track, and when my s ies
reported the conversation they overheard, at
once resolved to take advantage of, the fact, to
reap the reward, while he should be made to
bear all the odium.

“I had scarcely plotted the details, when my
two good men brought in Joaquin a manner-—
Hal hat touches you!” and he laug ed mali-
ciously as Carmela gave a convulsive start, turn»
ing pale as a corpse as she pictured her lover a
be p ess captive in the power of this merciless.
scoundrel. ,

“ If startled, it was by your audacious ly.
mg,” she boldly retorted, even while the heart.
in or bosom was heavyas lead. “ No two men
in your employ could take him alive—nor any
two score, unless they called foul treacheryto
their aid !’

“All the same he is now chained hand and
foot in the death—dungeon underneath my be—
cie still living, but only by my suﬂerance.
Shall tell you why I have spared his life?
210 you _wish to know the fate in. store for

m

“ Remember what my spies are able and ready
to swear. In addition, two of the escort who
escaped will swear that they recognized Joa-
quin M’urieta as the leader of the banddis~
guisedas Apaches. They will tell the story—
search will be made—the discarded disguises
will be found' these will ove that the assas-
sins of Don F'elix were w ite men. In afew
minutes I will return home, the terrible news
having overtaken me on m way to the city.
I will take the ﬁeld at the end ’of my men—-
and in good time I will capture Joaquin Mu-
rieta, With, undoubted proo of his guilt—the
dying confession of one of his men.” . .

“I will light you to the bitter end!” cried
Camels, her eyes ing hotly. “Iwill ex-
pose G)éour foul plot-J

‘ ntly, my beauty,” lau hed Don Manuel.
“ To do this, you must ﬁrst ac 'eve your liberty,
and that you can gain onl after you have be
come my wife. Then it w be too late to save
your lover. I will never relax my vigilance
until I see him die the death of a dog, ither
by the garro or the noose of the hangm ”

“Heaven w ll not let you triumph so far—or
ifit does, then I will avenge him!” cried the
maiden, resold .

.“Thatisarisk ampreparedtorun. Ihave
httle fear but what I can manage you, when
once my wife—”
ﬂ “tillzliat time will never come—I will die
rs

“ Death does not always visit thosewho call
on him the loudest, lady-bird, and bear this in
mind: there’s more than one we to tame and
break the will of a woman. , on are now
wholly at m mercy. If I chose-and I warn
you not to y me too severely—I could make
you beg on your knees as the greatest boon,
what you now scorn; I will not descend tosuch
harsh measur until all else fails. But of '
this be sure. on are fated to become my
Wife, and struggle how you may, I will conquer

ou.

Y .

“You are a good Catholid Before takin
you where your ton , if unbridled, migh
work me harm, you ll take the most solemn
cubs never by word or deed to reveal the

t I have, or am still, to play in this little

3.

“You see, I am guarded at every oint.
Nothing has been forgotten, and I am 81?“ to,
win the. game. Think over what I have told
you, while I am ne, and tr to make up your
mind to yield to e inevitab 9.”

Without waiting for a reply Don Manuel'
arose and passed over to where his men were
busy eating. He drew _ aside. and gave
him particular instructions concerning his care
and treatment of Carmela, then mounted his
horse and rode rapidl _away.

Relieved of his ions fresence, Carmela
showedb her haggard an despondent coun—
tenance ow deep his infamous revelations
had mooted her. espite her bold denial, she
began to feel that her lover had indeed fallen
into the power of his bitter-est enemy. In no
other manner could the bold assurance of Com-
plido be explained. ~ 1

Her thoughts had carried her this far, when
Carmela, became conscious that a human bein
was tryin to attract her attention by protni -
ing ahan from aclum of dense bushes hard
by. and moving it up y. Her heart leaped
intoher throat with is glad hope, and she
glanced toward the outlaws. They snag;ch .
nothing, and she answered the signal. n a
face took. the (place of the hand—a face she at
once recognize .

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. CHAPTER XIV.
a mun 0N rim mun, I

T10 Tomas ve his advice in perfect good
faith, and y felt that he was wol‘kin for
the best interests of both Carmela an her
lover. Inlthis belief, be regarded the smoke
901mm With motive pleasure, never doubting
m"- that Joaquin Murieta was connected there-
with, vnd accepting it as a token that his coun-
nel “"1. she followed b the bold. lover. Yet
the veteran was not the east one surprised when
the ambush was finally sprung, though he noted
the peculiar advantages of the spot, and drew
nearer to Don Felix and Camels, feeling quite
confident that now if ever would the trap be

sprung.

The volle came, and to his horror and sure
prise, Tio omas found that the farce bade fair
to become a t edy as far as he was concerned.
One of the b ets razed his cheek, raisinga
purplish welt, as if mm a heavy blow with a
raw do, while another passed through his
clothes and broke the skin over his heart.

This double shock was severe. and he reeled
in his saddle, then. dropped to the ground like
one slain or disabled. ut, after the ﬁrst mo-
ment of confused dismay, the cunning old cam-
paigner recovered his presence of mind, and his
fall was purely voluntary.

The impetuous charge of the'mock Indians
came justas he fell and for a brief space it
seemed as though 0 Tomas must be crushed
beneath the trampling hoofs, but be displayed
in no meand , the skill and adroitness for
which he had on noted in days gone by, lid-
ing like a snake through the melee and crow
his body beneath a rock where his person was
safe from the dangers of hoof and weapon.

From this place of refuge, he looked out upon
the struggle, and his blood chilled as he saw
the weapons gleam and flash and the red life-
current be to ﬂow. ' ’

“ Holy other! that is no sham !”‘he mentally
exclaimed as Don Felix struck down his' ﬁrst
assailant. “I was a blind fool—those are real
savages. Hal” he cried aloud, forgetting him-
Self as he witnessed the desperate attempt at
revel: e of the mutilated mmans. “Guar thy-
. self, 11 Felix—blessedbe all the saints! The

v little one has courage ﬁt for the wife of the Cid
himself!” ‘

This as he saw Carmela shoot down the man
who threatened the life of her father and feel-
ing a return of the ﬁres of youth, Tio Tomas
_crawled out from beneath thero'ck, intending
to play a more manic! part in the game.’ But
he was too late. Don Felix and Carmela
wheeled and broke through the ranks of the
enemy, who quickly recovered from their
momentary confusion and thundered after in
swift pursuit.

Tio Tomas hesitated for a moment as he
watched that mad race. The escort had
vanished in some miraculous manner, and own
the two scouts were no longer where they had

fallen when the ambush was ﬁrstsprung. It all-

looked very much like treache of some sort,
and in his indignation for n'ﬁ the part he
himself had intended to p y, o Tomas re-

solved to ursue the pursuers and lend his
master all t e aid that lay in his power.

The veteran wasa true born Mexican, and
like all of his race; an inveterate opponent to
pedestrianism. There were several orses run-
ning loose, in addition to his own, and he
attempted to secure one of them. But the
creatures were ' hly excited by the recent
noise and can on, added "to the smell of
powder smoke and fresh blood. One after an<
other foiled his attempts and the veteran
narrowlyescaped having his brains kicked out
b his own horse,‘which then wheeled and set
0 in ursuit of the chase of i own accord; ~
Pan ing and breathless f in his unusually
severe exertions 'l‘io Tomas dropped down "on
a rock and stared after his runaway horse
anything but an amaible cast of countena .
And the ﬁrst use he made of his second wind
was to pour out curses on the treacherous crea-
ture, as only a thoroughly enraged Mexican

can.
' Even should be secure a horse, 'l‘io Tomas
saw that he could not overtake the chase in
time to be of service. At their present reckless,
breakneck pace, the matter must soon be de-
cided in one way or another, and as his old
limbs be to stiffen again, Tio Tomas was
not surelt at his bein la in the lurch by his
. horse was theworst t ' gthat- could have be-
fallen him.
,' “A man may be prudent without bein a
coward,” he mutte gingerly ﬁngering ihe
pu 1e wale on his c eek. “Old as I am I
cou d ﬁght for the little one as long as two limbs
held together, but it would be the act of a fool
to get butchered without the faintest £338 of
doing her or any one' else an iota of g . I
Will follow after,. to learn how the matter
ends, ready to strikea blow for the little one
and the master, if there comes a chance, but I
will go as the serpent, not as the lion.”

None knew better than old 'l‘io how full of

ii! sucha trailas this might prove, and as
, heredsnn leamedonthe weaponsinthe belt
of the man s at down by Carmela, be resolved
to increase his armament.

 
Scarcer had his ﬁngers touched the pistol
belt, when a red, blood-stained hand grasped his
wrist with a cold and clamm touch. Tio
Tomas, with an exclamation o mingled fear
and an er, leaped back, the effort raising the
man’w om he had supposed a corpse toa sit-

ting‘goeture.

‘ aterl for the love of God—waterl" came
in a husky 'rattle from the dying wretch’s
throat, and as be swayed unstead ly to and fro,
he resented a truly horrible picture.

io Tomas quickly recovered his usual nerve,
and fancying he saw a clew to. the mystery
which so perplexed him, he hastened to where a
dead horse lay, and removing the water gourd
luckily uninjured and nearly full, he returned
to the dying man and gave him adrink—but
barely enough to moisten his parched throat
and lips. The wounded wretched gasped and
moaned as the urd was wrested away, but
Tlo Tomas held t a priceless liquid above his
reach, crying sternly:

“ Answer my questions, and you shall have
all you can drink- refuse, and you may die like
the dog you have lived, for you are no Indian—
white man. Tell me—who planned
this ambuscade ?” ' '

I “ Joaquin Murieta—give me drink—I choke—
diel

With a strength lent b the horrible torture
he was suﬂering. the moc Indian leaped to his
feet and tore the water bottle from the veteran’s
grasp. But it was the last ﬂickerin of. the vital
far . Ere the bottle could touc his hps, he

led, and falling-heavily, the 1' uid he so coveted
ﬂowed from the ﬂask over his ace.

Tio Tomas was stupeﬂed by this totally un-
expected answer. me, he had believed
Joaquin meant to ambush the party, but not in
such a dead] manner. This man had tried to
kill Don Fe] x, and he‘could still hear the drop-
ping ﬁre of the pursuing party. '

But there was a still greater surprise in store
for him. He saw that the escapin water was

aduall soaking away the ' t t, at masked
Sindee. man’s features, an with one end of
his scarf, he removed paint suillcient to allow
him to recognize the wretch—one of Don Man-
uel Camplido’s retainers, and one who had been
particularly hostile to the young Sonorian.

“A liar you lived and with‘ a foul he hot on

our ll 5 you died, Sianchez varricol” muttered
{he ve eran. arising with the coveted weapons
in his hands. “Joaquin Murieta never enhsted
such as you in his service—yet why did he say
so, and him (1 ng at the very moment?”

All this h consumed some little time, and
Tio Tomas had not gone far before he came to
a sudden pause. ‘ . ‘

The ground where he stood was considerably
elevated above the level of the wuntry toward
the plain, and he saw the mishap which befell
Don Felix, though the distance was too great
for him to wholly comprehend what happened.

“ Holy Virgin! the master and little one are
both down—the encm are thrown into con-
fusion—they wheel an ride this way—they are
pursued, and by one man alone!" -

It did not seem possible, but despite his a 9,
Tie Tomas had unusually keen e es, and is
could distinguish 'the tiny blue p s of smoke
as the§shot out in advance of the solitary pur-
suer. et look as he might, he could see noth-
ing of other men in ‘chase, and was forced to
the conclusion that nearly a score of men were
ﬂeeing in hot haste from a single adversary.

“It is only of a icce with all the restl”he
muttered, in a tone f disgust. “If the devil
have not a ﬁn er in this pie, then it. is because
he no longer ta es leasure in mischief doing.”

Tio Tomas, thong rather fond of moralizinﬁ,
even when he had no other listener than himse ,
saw that the present was no time for suchin-
dulgence. The mock red-skins were ﬂeeing
along the back trail quitc‘as ra idly as they
had gone over it in pursuit, an should the

or ' he might fare but \illy at their
N21391:?" grazed lif  Th
'ce t y m e. e third
stroke may tie it. I had bitter hunt my hole
wﬁermw td fd' ' h ld
ere wasgrea anger 0 meme 5 cu
he turn either to the right or thelle ,so Tio
Tomas beat a hasty retreat, intending to con-
ceal himself amo the dense cover from whence
the ambush had n_ sprung, but all at once he
paused abruptl as hlseyee rested rppon the par-
tially chaired ace of the dead Va co. Should
the enbm also note this-and they couldscarceli
avoid do ng so—would they believe it the wor
of the dead man himself?

the ambush could be scrutinized from a consid-

erable distance along the trail, but, fortimately ,

for himself, Tio Tomas could both reason and

act uickl . Scraping up a handful of the‘
blood-moisﬁhed earth, he daubed it liberally 
over the dead man’s countenance, turned him 1
over pon his face, then glided like a human

36 nt into the cha - '

carcely had he one this than the leading 1
horseman crossed the bi best point of the trail, ‘

then almost immediate slackened his pace.
His example was follow by his comrades, and
the concealed watcher’s heart throbbed almost
painfully as he'feared they were about to form

 
an ambush for the man who had so gallantly
beaten them of! from their helpless prey.

“By all the saints! yonder'he comes, riding
straight into the trap—- ’ ‘ ‘

But the sentence was, never ended, for Tio
Tomas recogniked Don Manuel Camplido, and
more—he saw the supposed mortal enemies meet
in friend] conversation!

Don uel seemed to be the principal
speaker, and after a few moments be turned
and rode back the way he had come, while the
pamt-bedaubed crew came on to the chaparral,
where they dismounted and began removing
their Indian trappings. Tio Tomas saw that the
paints had been put on without oil. from the
ready manner in which they were removed, and
be nestled down closer in his covert as be recog-
nized one after another of the p y. He knew
that, were he found sp in upon hem, he would
receive short shrift indveedg.

From where he lay the veteran could catch
brief snatches of their talk, enough to tell him
Just how the ground lay, and to solve the col -
ma that had so thoroughly puzzled him. Hg
talk with Joaquin had been reported to Don
Manuel, and that worth{ had resolved to proﬁt
by the advice tendered t e young Sonorian.

He learned, too, that CampIido had killed Dcn
Felix and taken Carmela prisoner. Scarcely
were the men arrayed in their usual dress than
one of them exclaimed:

“Yonder risesthe master’s signal—to horse,
comrades!”

As they rode briskly) away, Tio Tomas crept
from his covert and 5 le af or them. His face
wasstern-set, and there was an unusal glitter
in his old eyes. No one could tell better than
he the great risk he would be running, but the
veteran was no coward when he saw something
worth ﬂghtin for, and he mentall' registered
an oath to to the villainous Camplyido, or yield
up his life as the penalty of failure.

From his former position amon the rocks, he
watched the movements of Don anuel and his
fellows. When he saw the former, bearing the
form of Garmela on the saddle before him,
head for his-position, he once more retreated to
cover. From thence he noted the course fol<
lowed by the head rascal, but dared not attempt
to follow him just then. The outlaws were in-
gaged 1n packing their dead fellows on horse-

ack, meaning to carry them aWay to some
spot where theywinight be hidden with little
fear of then- rug-unearthed as evidmce
against the living. " - ,

As they left the scene of bloodshed and death.
Tic Tomas followed after. It was ‘a diﬁlcult
and most dangerous task he had voluntarily as-
sumed, but he never ﬂinched.

The broken nature of the ound was rue
point in his favor, for while “afforded pol
cover for a spy, it also compelled the horsemen
to us?] caution in advancing: On a level,
smoot tract of country, poor io Tomas Would
soon have been left hopelessly behind." As it
was, success crowned his efforts, but the old
fellow was in a sad case when the party at
length went into camp. Yet, stiff and sore, his
breath coming in gasps, feelin to his parched
throat like puﬂ’s 0 air from a ieated oven, lhv
veteran dld not ive over his eﬂorts until he

succeeded in reac ing a dense clump of bushes
011%; afew feet from where poor Carmela sat.

om this ambush, Tio Tomas overhead
every word spoken by Don Manuel CnmpliCo,
and that rascal would scarcely have felt as
much at case had he even suspected the truth—
that he was he t covered by a revolver in the
hands of one w chad few superiors with that
weapon. And had his drunken insults went be-
yond words, Camplido 'would have died in his
tracks, though T10 Tomas knew that his own
death must surely follow;
‘ His hand it was that Carmela can ht sight of
soon after Don Manuel Camplida Feft her, his
face that she teetﬁlnized a moment later, his
vol e that came so y to her ears:

“ ear not, little one! old 'l‘io Tomas is ready
to die for you !”

CHAPTER XV.
a rumpus wnrarauus.

CAR LA bowed her h d and cover her
face wi her hands, both 2: hide her poevgerful
emotion from Gas ard, whose attention seemed
attracted, though it was hardly piossihle that he
could either have heard or seen 0 Tomas, and
to collect her suddenly scattered thou hts.

She remembered having seen the 01 man [at

 
_ :1 when the pretended Indians ﬁred their ﬁrst v0”-
There was no time to waste, for the scene of ,

leyfrom ambush, and though expecting nothing
less than death herself, his so posed death had
given her a sh pang even en. Now—as ry
a miracle he ha escaped, had dogged the kid-
nap rs to this lone spot, where he declared his
rea iness to die in her defense. But those can c
Words, however encouraging, proved him to to
alone, and what could one man, old and nearly
worn out, accomplish against nearly a score 0"
stout, reckless ruﬁlansi -

A heavy footfall checked her musings at this
peeint, and quickly raising her head, Carmela

held Gaspard before her. ' ..

A rough-spoken, brutal fellow, despite his
magniﬁcent form and really handsome face,

/

oaquin, til d1"

ng.

 
Carmela met his keen gaze heughtily, but Gas-
pard lacked no boldness where women alone
were concerned.

“A few plain words at the outset, senorita,
ma save a world of trouble and no end of hard
fee lugs. You know that Don Manuel Campiido
left me in charge 1" .

Carmela bowed in silence, fearing to trust
her tongue to speak. She sought to guess the
fellow’s real object, but only succeeded in dolp-
enin her own pe lexity.

“ so far. on must know, too, what a
precious prize Don Manuel considers you, tron
the trouble he has taken to secure possession. To
my mind he is a fool for his pains, for no woman
that ever lived could e no] the risks he is run—
nin —but that is his air.”

“l idl on intrude on my thoughts merely to
:say this ” a little sharpl demanded Carmela,
eager for, yet dreading t e end.

“ All in good time. A wise rider never 3 urs
a willing horse,” coolly retorted the fol ow,
dro ping to a sitting posture before the maiden.
“T is master left you in my care, and swore
that my life should pay the forfeit in case you
were not forthcoming when he returned. No
doubt he thought I would sit up and keep watch
over your slumbers, but we have 3. ion and a
hard ride before us on the marrow, an I did
not close my eyes in sleep all last night. For
the health of my own throat, I mean to keep
you snugly enough, even without losing my
rest. Just how depends upon you.”

“ Sa what you mean at once,” impatiently
cried ai‘mela.

“ You are an 00d Catholic, and know the
penalty for brea ring an oath when taken on
the cross. Swear that you will make no attempt
to escape unto-night, and you shall be left at
Ensigrefuser’ and I will ind you hand and

co . .

Carmela hesitated, but only foran instant, .,

“There is little hope of a feeble girl esca ing
from a force like yours, but it would be las-
shemy to subscribe to an oath dictated by such

astardly ruﬂians.” -

" You prefer the bonds, then?” . ‘

“Yes. Let me have a blanket to shield me
from the night air. That is the only favor I
ask of you.” !

Carmela. arose as she spoke, and as though
looking for a morecomfortable place to lie, drew

Gaspard shrugged his shoulders, but raised no
' ion as he removed the scrape from his own

 
" i: you are uncomfortable through the night,
blame yourself, not me. I must have my sleep,
though the devil knocked at my door. et it is
not too late, even now. Give me your pied e-—”

For answer Carmela. dra d the scrape a out
her, then held out her ands. With rapid
dexterity Gaspard tied them together so that i:
would beimpossible for her to release herself,
yet without giving positive pain. Then Cur-
mela sat down within arm’s length of the bushes,
and the ruﬂlan bound her ankles after the same
manner.

“ Safe bind, safe find, is a good rule, but should
you repent during the night, a word, to the man
on guard duty Will procure you relief, lady,” he
added as he arose, and after a moment’s pause,
turned away toward the camp-ﬁre.

“You acted preciser as you should, little
one,” came in a whisper from the bushes that
screened the veteran gambusiuo from view.
"When extorted by such yillains, a broken
oath Would be no great crime, but now you
need not be troubled even by such a feeble
scrupge.” ‘ ,

“ on heard what lie—Manuel Camplido—
s~:idl” asked the maiden, keeping close watch
upon the men by the camp-ﬁre; r

“ Every word—and my ﬁnger itchecl terribly
to send a bullet throu h his black heart! Only
for your sake could hold my hand,” replied
Tio Tomas, his voice trembling With passnon,

“ He has one to carry out his diabolical
revenge against Don Joaquin—your friend as
well as mine, Tio Tomas. Only you can save
him—and save him youmustl G0 at once—
stell away and hasten to m friends. My
aunt’s house is the nearest. 8 e is cold and
bard,‘ but she lovod her brother, my 01'
father, and will spare no pains to avenge im.
Go—tell her the whole truth—save Don Joa-
quin born the terrible doom that threatens
him, then friends -to rescue me from
these ruﬁans. asqyou love me, go 1’?

More than once rl‘io omas tried to ed e in a
word, but only when strong emotion an a lack
of breath cut short her eager pleadings, could
he make himself heard.

“I will do all that you say, little one, and
more besides, but to act as you wish, would be
fatal either to on or Don Joaquin—possibly to
both. It wo d be day, lon before I could
reach the hacienda of Senora side and night
again ere I could lead a force back ere, much
lessto Don Joaquin’s prison. You heard him
sav that along and hard ride was in store for
the marrow. You might be man a long mile
from here when I returned, and allowing even
a horse trail through a region like this, is a slow
and delicate job.” _ ' ,

“Go and save Don Joaquin—never think of

/

- suspects ought, be ready-.-—”

 
me-the blessed Virgin will guard and protect
me from evil.” - - . v -

“ Pardon little one,” said Tic Tomas, respect-
fully but ﬁrmly. “To serve you ismy first
duty—after that comes Don Joaquin. Na -
listen. The surest waytosave him isto t
rescue on. Once beyond the reach of these ac-
cui‘sed adrones, the rest will be one . 'l‘iere
would be doubt and hesitation when told such
a black story against a man like Don, Manuel
Culnplido, but one word from your lips would
raise the whole country in arms against him.
Before he could learn, or even sus t the truth,
he would be hemmed in beyond 1: e possibility
of escape.

Carmela was only partially convinced by this
reasoning; ~

“ You eard that ruﬂian. so that I could ap
peal to the men on guard uty, shouldIﬂnd
these bonds imcomfortable during the night.
They would notice my absence, even should I
succeed in stealing aw {hand by scattering in
geursnit, we would see overtaken. I would

restored to captivity—you would be murder-
ed, and thus the est hope for both Don Joaquin
and myself be quenched. No, you must go at
once and tell the black sto of Manual Camp-
lido’s foul treachery. By t e duty you owe my
family, I bid you gol”

“ are you toask for my life,vlittle one, I
would lay it at your feet without moment’s
hesitation, but for your own good, must re<
fuse you obedience in this To comply

would be almost certain ruin to all your hopes.”

“ I ﬁnd a traitorous rebel. where thought to
ﬁnd a friend i” bitterly 11 red Carmela.

“You will feel sorry or those hard words,
little one, when on have time to reﬂect on their
injustice,” was t e si-m Ie reply, urtered with a
native dignity that 5 ar ly pricked the con-
science ofthe maiden, an she hastened to say:

“ Pardon me, old friend. I hardly knew
what I was saying. My brain is whirling—I
am not ﬁt to lead now—tell me how I must act,
and I will obey you without a murmur.”

A murmur of jo esca d the veteran as he
gained his point ut his words were humble
enou as he made reply: »

“ I is I who should ask forgiveness, little one,
for daring to run counter to your wishes, but
believe me, my advice is given for your best

, interests.” ' ‘
near the cover where T10 Tomas was hidden. ,

“Enough—I agree to follow your lead, but
speak quickl Every moment lost now is worth
a. life’s ransom i” .

“Make haste slowly, has won .more battles
than it has lost,” shrewdly replied the cool-
headed veteran. “Seal the rascals are pre
paring to turn in. A few minutes more patient
waiting, and then we can get to work. Hist!
that devil Gaspard is moving this way. If he

I is sibilant whisper- died awa as the tall
chief of the salteudores approac ed, but there
was no occasion for specnil alarm.. Gaspard
only asked whether Carmela had changed her
mind and was ready to give the regulred ledge,
but quietly retired when the mai en co dly re-
plied in the negative.

“Now listen,” a ain whispered Tio Tomas.
“Watch the r while I am speaking, and
check me if any one seems to row suspicious.

“ ,I marked the spot where ey put out their
horses, and unless theyare close] guarded, I
can easily steal aways. con la. there be a
horse-guard out, the job w: be more diﬁicult,
but still it can be done. The ammalronce so
cured, I will come backvhere and lead you to
them. Once in the saddle, we can laugh at the
heathen, and need not draw rein again until
you are safe with your friends, telling them the
story that will weave a halter for the throat of
that black-hearted dog, Manuel Campiido.”

Tio Tomas spoke so conﬁdently, andplaced
the part he was to rform in such a light that
Carmela overlooke its really perilous nature,
and as he reached forward to cut her bonds, she
felt almost as ood as rescued already.

T10 Tomas, espite his words. did not under-
estimate the danger he was incurring as he stole
like a human serpent away from the cover that
had rendered him such good service. He knew
that the chances were against, rather than in
tayor of, his success, and he knew, too that
tenure meant death. Yet he never hesitated
for one moment. His life belonged to his young
mistress, and he was ready to lay it down at
any moment in her service.

He expected to ﬁnd a horse-guard on duty.
and therefore exercised to the utmost his real y
wonderful skill as a scout, taking advantage of
every cover, and utilizing some that seemed
hardly sufﬁcient to shelter a rabbit. But his
chagrin may be imagined when he saw, occupy-
ing a t from whence a fair view could be
obtaine of all the animals, not one but a couple
of Mexicans, seated close together, smoking and
conversing in low tones.

“ Ma the foul ﬁend ﬂy away- with them
both i” e gr0wled ina r e, grating his teeth
together savage: as he ay.under cover, not
a score yards ‘ t from the men who alone
stood in the way of his success. “As if one
guard was not enough—or if two. why placed
rinse to nose after that ridiculous fashion.’ .

The comment was quaint enough, all things

.deadl steel to enter, then the
n escended, driven with all t we force of lis ‘.

" his throat.

 
considered, but Tic Tomas had no thoughts'of
'esting in that emergency He had expected to

d a nerd over the orses, and counted on
having use cold steel before all was ended,
but he knew what rank folly it would be for
him to think of killing these two stout fellows
without letting an alarm reach camp, when the
entire force would be upon-him.

Snarling indistinctiy through his teeth, the
veteran lay under cover and racked his brain
for some ruse which would divide the force be
had encountered, but despite his eﬂorts he ccqu
think of no ex edient that promised success
without also an ‘sting the main force of the
enemy.

At ength, in desperation be ﬁxed on’a ven-
ture that pr cruised a faint hope of success, but
fortunately he was not called upon to put the
project into execution. ‘ One of the Mexicans

arose and. stretched himself, with a prolonged

yawn.

“I am sleepy as a dog. Perioo, or I would
keep you company 10: er. There‘s no need of
watching the horses ut you must grin and
bear it. Gaspard is the very devil when he has
lost an sleep, and should you be caught at
guard, ’d not give a peso for your lease of life.
Adios!”

h ‘1‘, ,As if ofhgrtili’ienh didn’t negdgest, a; wiggles
a grow e e orse-gnar , iscon n ,
as his friend moved away. y

At any rate, he seemed resolved to take his
comfort, and lightingia fmsh cigar, he drew his
amps closer aroun him then settled down
with his back to the bowlder his face toward
the animals he was set to guard. ~

Slowly the minutes passed by, but Tic Tomas
was wel content to wait, for already he saw
that slee was stealing upon the man, his head
slowly pin forward, to be drawn erect
with a. sudden crk that almost dislocated his
neck. Twice' this happened, the somnolent
fellow growling and umblin at his hard fate
between spells, but t en the envy head sunk
upon his breast and the cigar fell from his lips.

A grim, silent laugh revealed the teeth of the
veteran as he drew. a long knife and felt of its
keen point and razor-like edge with his thumb,
then noiseleme cre t toward the luckiess
wretcli whom he had oomed to death. A true

Mexican, 'l‘io Tomas felt small scruple a ainst -

shedding blood when his interests deman ed it,
much less so now that he was workin for the
good of his idolized young mistress. ough he
had known this man for years, had eaten and

drank with him more times than he could num- ~

bur, and reall felt a calm sort of friendship for
him, despite t e well known fact of his beingan
unscrupulous rascal, the pulse of the veteran
gumbusino beat calmly, and he felt not the
faintest shade of regret at the thought of stab-
bing the fellow in his sleep. -As he would have

answered, it was all fate; the fate of one to .

slay, of the other to be slain, at that time and in
that manner. \ .

Crawlin forward like a serpent, he raised
upon his nees close to the bowlder against
which the sleeping man rested. One moment‘s
pause to note the most favorable spot for the
littering wea—

ny, shrunken yet powerful arm. .

A the same moment hisleft hand was pressed
ﬁrmly over the doomed guard’s mouth, smother-
ing t econvulsive groan that rcse gurgling in
But that was all, save a slight,
spasmodic uiverinﬁ‘pf the ﬂesh and straighten-
ing of his mbs. 'o Tomas had handled cold
steel too long to make botch-work when an op—
portunity was' given him to deal a deliberate
blow like this. .

“You can slee now, good Perico and never
fear the wrath 0 that sonof-a-devil Gas rd,"
'l‘io Tomas muttered with a low, in: c kie
as he drew the death-dealing 9 el from its
bloody sheath and wi ed the tarnished blade on
the dead gnani’s shon der. “Your guard duty
is over in this world—may Satan give you as
ea atask, when you ain the region below!”

9 carefully prwﬂpe the body aginst the
bowlder, then sun ﬂat upon his lly and
crawled awn to where he saw several saddles
and bridles ving near. Securing two of each
be mounted t em upon his back, then crawled
back toward the 'spot he had mentally chcsen
while forced to lie nactive.

“It is not likely that there was more than'

one guard placed over the horses,” he muttered,
after a momentary hesitation,” but it is better
to betoo careful than not cautious enough. if the

little one only does not grow impatient at the . '

delay. and sgeoil everything by some rash move 1”
Disinc'um
away he make sure that there were no more

men watching the horses. This dut consumed. , ‘,

some little time, for the storm-c onds were
breaking away, and the bright face of the full
moon was uni obscured at brief intervals.
The ground w are the horses were pieketed,
was comparatively free from cover, and he was
forced to choose his time careful] . But at
length the circuit was complet , and Tio
Tomas drew a'lon breath of relief as he found
that Perioo aloneiad been stationed as guard.

‘ g down into the natural corral, the
veteran was not long in selecting the best two

ring himself, Tlo Tomas crept:

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' again be struck, his wea

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' Gas

 
13

horses of the lot, and cutting the lariat of the
nearest, he led it oautiousl back to where he
had left the saddles and ridles. Equipping
the animal rapidly, be fastened it and then re-
turned for the other. .

Now as before, Tio Tomas experienced but
little difﬁculty in securin the animal he had
chosen, and was soon on his way back to where
he had left the first horse. But there a most
disagreeable surprise awaited him.

As he stooped over for the saddle, a man rose
from behind a bowlder just ahead of him, and
cried aloud:

“ Hold! who the foul ﬁend are you, and what
are you after?”

As though a. hidden spring had been touched,
the veteran rose erect. He saw that the man
held a leveled revolver, pointed strai lit at his
brain. But despite this, he ﬂashed orth his
knife, and with a how] of fury, leaped upon his
antagonist, just asthe pistol exploded. '

CHAPTER XVI.
A Toucunmss MAZEPPA.

T10 Toms felt more like a wild beast than a
human being when he leaped upon the man
,who had so suddenly and unexpectedly risen
between him and safety, just as he felt that the
goal was as good as won. He did not pause to
recognize the fellow, or even to make sure that
he wasa member of the ang under Gaspard.
He. saw the leveled revo ver, heard the per-
emptory challenge uttered in a. tone of voice
that could not help reaching the ears of those
who might still be awake around the camp-
ﬁre, and a mad thirst for blood such as he had
never before experienced came over him. A
bowl of rage and a snarling curse broke from

him as he leaped like a the}- upon the man.
The bright glare o the exploding pistol
blinded him, and he was dimly conscious of a
stinging pain somewherevabout his head, but
just then a bullet through the braincould bard-
ly have checked his mad ferocit in time to
save/the man. Swift as the lig tning’s ﬂash
fell and rose and fell again the gleaming steel.
Fiercer than ever snarled the veteran gamv

busino as be felt that his wea n was sinkin

deep down into the seat of ‘ e. ain an
guided on y by in-
stinct, for the glare o burning powder still
blinded his eyes. He even laughed aloud—a
laugh even more blood-curdling than his cry
of mad rage—as he heard hisantagonis't K-
.ing aloud or help. For the time being '0
Tomas was‘a madman forgetting Carmela and
heir: peril, alike with that which 111er him.
as . .
The loud challe was heard by the camp
guard and the c osely-following pistol-shot
rought each one of the slee _ rs. upon their
feet, and then a swift rus carried them to
,iwhere death-struggle was still raging in all

ts .

The keenest eye could not readily detect
friend from foe as the two men, both blood-
covered and dust , rolled over and over at their
feet but Gas called out:

“Lay hold and drag them apart, so we can
tell which is which 1”

He set the example himself, and strong hands
were fastened upon the feet of the two men, and
they were dragged forcibly a t.

. “Mercy—for the love of l” huskin nat-
tled the one whom Gaspard held, and a cry of
I wonder parted the salteado're’s lips. '

“ Antone—what the devil does all thi mean f”

But no answer came to his question. The
man—one of the most trusted of all his band—
lay, like one dead, blood oodng from a dozen

wound; h ' had fasten d Ti
w one pe e upon 0

Tomas ound thelrntask far less easy. Despite
the disadvantage at which he was held, he
fought like a, demon, bowling and cursin with
in , ceasing. only when his head was bed
vio tly against a corner of the bowlder.
Knocked senseless, his skull almost fractured,
the old man lay a. quivering heap at the feet of
his ca tors. ,
‘i he have you there, Diego—Cenobio?” de-
, arising from beside his foi-

OWGI'. ‘
“,The devil himself, judging from the way he

, . kicked and fought l" growled one of the men ad-

dressed, nursing an ugly gash in his thigh. “ An
old man from his white hair—more than that, 1
can’t say.”

bent over and wound his ﬁn ers in
thew itehair, raising the head until e vet-
eran’s face was ex to the bright moon-

light. ' For a moment the mingled blood and.

dirt confused the outlaw, but then a sounding
curse burst from his lips as he recognized the
old gambueim. '

_“ 'l‘io Tomas! what brought him here? I saw
him fall to our shots, and behaved him killed
back yonder where we ambushed Don Felix.
Who was it told me they saw him dead where
he had crawled in the bushes?”

No answer came to this ﬁerce question, and
‘ did not press it just then.
“ ng them both over to the ﬁre. All but

five men come with me four to these car-
casses and one to watc the girl. ere may
be others hovering around us. Scatter and

 
.l'oaquin, the Saddle King.

search every foot of cover. Kill or capture
every living being you ﬁnd who don’t belong to
our party.” -

Gaspard was not one to spare himself or his
men when he believed there was good cause
for exertion. and in less than ﬁve minutes more
the whole vicinity of the camp was under strict
surveillance, which ceased only when he was
satisﬁed that Tio Tomas had made the venture
alone, or else that his accom lices had saved
themselves by speedy ﬂi ht. ut one startling
discovery was made, an , when Gaspard sound-
ed the recall, the party bore back to the camp-
ﬁre with them the ghastly corpse of Perico, the
horse guard.

Gaspard was in a white heat, nor was his rage
at all appeased by what he saw as he returned
to camp.

Carmela Felix had waited the result of Tio
Tomas’s bold venture with what patience she
could summon. So to ofliope had been the
old man‘s words, the when the wild alarm
rung out, rousing the sleeping lad'rones, she was
fair y stunned, only recovering her senses when
she saw two men rudel draggin her old ser-
vant upto the ﬁre. he saw is white hair
gleam red in the rays of the freshened ﬁre, and
forgetting self, all save the misfortune of the
veteran who had been reduced to this sad plight
solely b his devotion to her, she arose and
hasten to his side, unheeding the amazement
of the outlaw at ﬁnding her limbs at liberty.

Tenderl she wiped the blood and dust from
the face 0 Tio Tomas, then raised highead and
sternly bade them hand her some water. If
there was any hesitation, it was only momen-
tary, for there was a glittering light in her
dar eyes that compelled obedience.

Gentl Carmela bathed the old man’s face and
head. he found a gash that laid bare the skull
just above the
track of the shot ed by Antone. Without a
tremor she probed the hurt with her white
ﬁnger, then gave a sigh of relief as she satisﬁed
herself that the skull had escaped being frac-

tured.

With a faint n Tio Tomas unclosed his
eyes. He seeme unable to comprehend the sit-
uation, and there Was a dull, vacant light in his
eyesawhen Carmela spoke to him.

This was the sight that Gaspard saw when he
returned to the camp, and his pent-up rage
broke bonds in a ﬁerce oath as he strode for-
ward and placed a heavy hand upon the
maiden’s shoulder. I ‘

“You free! who dared set you at liberty
without my orders?”
tallither the sound 0: hhis l:oice, gr the ingoluéid

cr 0 in w ic is ru e grasp orc
frgi Cirmeli’s lips, acted like magic upon the
veteran .gamb-usino, and a. wild yell of fury
broke from his lungs as he leaped erect and
sprung at the throat of the salteadore.

But now the old man had to deal with one to
whom at his best he was but a child in compari-
son, and weakened by all that he had so recent-
] undergone he was quickly beaten'back. A
ﬁYerce e ort forced him to the ground, then,
with a ferocious laugh Gaspard knelt upon his
chest and raised his murderous knife to cleave
his heart. ' But the blow fell not then.

ard’s men stood by, rather enjoying the
scene, and not oﬂering to prevent the impending
tragcedy but Carmela wit a cry of indigiation,
sna bed up a blazing brand and dealt e lad-
rone lieutenantaheagy blow upon the wrist
that temporarily disa ed him and knocked the
knife out of his hand.

Amurmur ran around the group, for they
well knew the satanic temper 0 their superior
when once fairer aroused, and they. expected
he would bitterly aveu e the blow thus dealt.
He leaped swiftly to is feet, but instead of
curses, a short, mocking laugh was all as he
rubbed the glowing sparks from his hand and

“A thousand thanks senorita, for recallin
me to my senses, though I very much doubt ’
'l'io Tomas will thank you when he learns all.
A knife-thrust, if given by a strong and experi-
enced hand, makes a short and easy death—too
merciful a doom for this rascal, who has killed
two brave fellow either one of whom was
worth ten thousan such as he.”

“ He was acting in my behalf," said Carmela
with outward ﬁrmness, but with a dreadful
sinking at her heart as she listened to hismalig-
nant tones. “The sin, if sin there be, is
mine, since Tio Tomas only obeyed orders;
If a’ny one must be punished, let it fall upon
me

“Don Manuel Camplido will know how to
deal with you on his return, never fear, lady,”
was the meaning reply. “ You are beyond my
jurisdiction, but not so this old fool. Hal he
set you free—he was stealing horses for your es-
cape? I overlqpked that for the moment, but
he shall answer for it with the rest.” ‘

“Spare him—see!” and Carmela sunk upon
her knees before the smiling villain. “I do
what I would scorn for myself—I kneel and beg

‘ you to spare his life.”

“You only waste our breath, lady,” was the
cold response. “ c has slain two men—he
must die.”

Until now the man who had foiled Tio Tomas

right ear, which marked the-

 
even as success seemed assured, lay like one
dead, but as Ga ard spoke, he raised himself
on one elbow an faint y asped: .

“I demand—the law 0 the band—to name
penalty.”

He was unable to say more, and his head fell
back, a small gantity1 of frothy blood oozing
through his tig ti o 'nched teeth. But his
meaning was er ectl clear to his comrades.

“You hear, ady! his is one of the n (st
sacred laws we have, and has et to be brcl r n
for the ﬁrst time. Were Tic omas my broth r
I could do nothing to save him. now that Al:-
tone has spoken.”

But Carmela was not yet conquered. She
arose to her fket as Gaspard utteicd this ﬂat
the movement bringing her close to him, an
before he could suspect her desperate purpOSe
she snatched a revolver frim his belt, cocked
and thrust it almost against his breast.

“Spare his life or yours is forfeited, villain!”
she cried sternly, and Gaspard knew that she
was in deadly earnest. “Swear on the holy
cross that he may leave this camp, alive and un-
harmed, with weapons and on horseback, or you
die the death your dastmdly crimes have de-
served a thousand-fold!”

There was no one within aim’s-levglh of Car-
mela save Ga ard himself.and none knew leltr r
than he thatt e desperate girl would slay him at
the ﬁrst move any of,his men made to rescue
liim. Never before had he stood nearer death
than at that moment yet he neVer quailed,
never even changed co or. instead, a low, mel.
low laugh parted his bearded lips.

“I admire your pluck little lady, but it will
avail you nothing. 'U’nfortunately for your
plans, you have taken the wrong istol—one
that has not been reloaded since the ght.”

“Bah! do not think to deceive me by such a
shallow trick. Take the oath I dictate. and at
once, or ou die!” cried Carmela, but her face
grew a ade paler at his words, and keenryed
G did not overlook this point in his fa-
vor.

“ If you doubt my word, pull the trigger and
see—ha!”

Carmela was convinced, and her hand trem-
bled as she felt that she had played her last
card, only to lose Quick as thought Ga aid
swept her hand aside, knocking the pistol tom
her 1grasd  As the Weapon struck the ground it
ex 0 '

ith a diabolical laugh of exultation, Gas-
pard clasped her in his arms, holding her safe
despite her struggles.

“ Next time’do not despise even the advise of
an enemy, in little spitﬁrel Had you tried tie
triggler, as I do you, I would now be bait for
the uzzards. As it is—Diego, take her and
bind her hands and feet. She is too full of mis-
chief to be allowed even so much liberty.”

For the moment the maiden’s proud spirit
seemed utterly broken, for she made not the
slightest resistanre when Ga ard turned hir
ovar to the care of the young exican.

“ Now Antone, your turn. Can you speak?"

“ Brandy 1” faintly asped the dying outlaw.

Without a word, aspard held a» ﬂask (f
liquor to his lips, and the wounded man nearly
drained its contents ere he relinquished his
ﬁring)“. As so often bapipens in similar cases,
he liquor lent the ying man a factitious
streng , actingA with wonderful quickness, tut
neither he nor is comrades Were deceived by
what their rough experience had enabled them
to frequently note, and he spoke with feverish
impatience as Gaspard propped him up against
a roll of blankets: _ ‘

i;  I must see him punished before I die
— astel - >

“ As soon as you name the penalty, it shall be
inﬂicted.” '

“ Bring my horse—it is hot and high-spirited
enough. The sou-of-a-devil wanted'a ride, and
he shall have itl” uttered Antone with a hollow
laugh that sounded trul diabolical. -‘

Gaspard frowned, an glanced swiftly over the
circle of faces. They, too, were shadowed, and
their 9 es sou ht each other with the same
doubt t at ﬁll _those of their leader.

“ Do on heSitate?” cried Antone, with re-
markab e energy for a dying man. “You dare
not! The law is sacred—one and all you are
solemnly sworn to abide by it!”

“ We have not yet refused,” coldly ndr-d
Gaspard. “  on and ﬁnish what on ave to
say. What is the punishment you emand f<r
your death l” ~

“ You shall bind the rascal n the bore lock
of my horse, his head to its ' .‘ You will bind
the horse, and ut a spine of cactus under it-
tail, then turn it loose.

“You forget one point in tige- very law you
up to,” said Gaspard, With a cold simm.
“ t expressly states that no person shail de—
mand a penalty that, in, be 'executed. shall
seriously endanger the lives or iberty of any of
his lo al comrades.” _ _

“Nbr do I ask it—v” mlmvely cried An-
tone. onl to be interrup by his superior.
“Tia omas is no chicken, *no fool, ,but a.
tough hardsheaded and cool-witted rascal. Such
men do not die easy. 'l‘rue,on a hhnd horse.
and bound in the manner you say, he would
not have more than one chance in a hundred of

4--

.. s”

 
escaping with life——hut that chance is one too
many. -He knowstoomuch for us to run the
slightest risk. Let him tell what he has seen
this day, and the price of hempen rope would
double itself. No, Antone, you must be satis—
ﬁed with some less romantic revenge.”

A low, bitter laugh came from the dying out-

w.
“You do not know how a man like me can

hate when he is brought to death’s door, and

knows that he can wreak a bitter revenge u n
the one who laid him low. Tio Tomas shall is
and as I said. You cut me short before I had
ﬁnished the sentence.

“ You all know Tic Tomas—many of you
have known him for years. How many of you
have ever heard him read or write?”

The outlaWs interchanged quxck glances, and
their faces lightened u , or now they began to
understand more clear

“ No one,” responde Gaspard, “He can do
neither.” .

“ Goodl bring my horse here and repare to
carry out my orders to the very let er. Even
should Tio Tomas escape with his life from their!
little pleasure ride. be sure he .will never betray
us, for before we bid him adieu, I will cutout
his tongue, roast it and than force it down his
own throat I” ,

For a brief space the outlaws, blood-stained
and crimevhardened as they were, stood aghast
at this truly diabolical speech. None of them
were saints, all brutal and ferocious as a life
training in crime could make them, yet this
devilish proposal took them by surprise and for
the moment awed them. v

But only for a moment. It would be a new
sensation. They all hated the honest old gam-
busi'no. His life meant danger if not death to
them. Then there was the sac od law of the
band to which they had all su cribed. This
remembrance was the hair that turned the
scale, and a wild cheer arose as they joined in
the satanic laugh raised by the dyinglman.

“ Good!” cried Gaspard, his w its teeth

leaming wolﬁsbl in the ﬁrelight. “ A tongue-
ﬁess Maaeppal ~ hat think you of that, Tio
Tomas?” as he turned to where the old man still

la .

There was no reply, only a glare of deadly
hatred from the veteran’s eyes. He knew that
he was doomed to death, and resolved that he
would not add tothe trium h of his enemies by

leading for the mercy w ich he knew would
he denied him.

“Bring up the horse, some of you 1” cried
Gaspard, his worst passions in. the ascendancy,
and eager to witness the punishment inﬂicted.
“ Now Antone, here is a knife—the very one the
old villain carved you so neatly With. See if
you can use it as deftly.”

As he spoke‘ Gaspard asped Tio Tomas by
the throat an dra ing 'm towhere the dying
outlaw sat, forced im to his knees. The men
came up, leading a young and spirited horse,
Sudden crowded around .to witness the horrible

ee

'Antone ﬂourished the steel, still stained with
his own blood, before the hoe of the old man,
but Tio Tomas never flinched, his black eyes
looking deﬁant hatred into those of his enemy.

Antone grasped him by the beard and
wrenched his mouth open, but just at that in-
stant came a startling interruption.

CHAPTER XVII.
PEANTOKS or rim mom.

JOAQUIN uttered a ﬁerce, wild or as he saw
the noose of his lasso close around e throat of
Pedro Canales, and felt the sudden pluck that
jerked the drunken rascal of! his feet and upon
the table as the oung Sonorian wheeled his
horse and dashed back across the court—yard to
the root tea.

Tge fella-servants of the doomed man stood
as though triﬁed when Joaquin entered and
uttered his ld deﬁance, but when Pedro Cana-
les was lassoed and dragged helplessly the
length of the table, scattering wme and
cups, abject terror seized'upon them one and
all, and there was a general- rush for cover the
majority diving under the hea table w ere
they bolped to escape the doom w ich had over-
taken t eir chief, for that one ni ht.

But this pa‘nic was only of rief duration.
As the daring deed was not prom tly followed
up b a general attack, hot rage Eager. to take
the p of ab‘ fear, and gradually the wild,
an ry shout 0 blood for blood arose. First the
boﬁiest men crept forth from beneath the
table, and. their exam le lent the remainder the
necessary nerve. 0 one demu when
Sanchez the One-eyed assumed command.

“Get arms and then to horse, comrades!” he
shouted as he rushed from the building. f‘If
too late to savgmthe lilfenof our friend, at least
we canaven e aeat _ . ‘

Joaquin lifurieta had anticipated hot .and
Speedy pursuit, if indeed he was ever rmitted
to leave the court-yard alive. Ye , had be
known that his own death must pay the forfeit
he would not then have paused for asecou
thought so intensely bitter was the memory of
the ties be had suffered when tem ra-
rily M . in the brutal grasp of Pedro ana-
les. was forgot save that blind, unreason-

 
—_..

 
Joaquintthejaddle King.

1?

 
ing thirst for vengeance, and as his ood horse
dashed throu h the great tea at ll speed,
dragging a eaml clog hind it, Joaquin
laughed ong and loud, an unearthly echo inhis
voice that spoke of incipient madness.

In that moment was born the spasmodic fury
for lack of a better germ—which in after days
rendered the name 0 Joaquin Murieta a terror
on the Paciﬁc slope. At such times he was a
madman, whose devilish thirst on] human
blood could quench. Those who know im best,
declare it their belief that he was no more re-

nsible for what he did in such moments,
I: an an wild beast that had been baited to
fury an madness.

On this occasion, as on those which it fore-
shadowed, the terrible outburst was of brief
duration, and Joe uin suddenly drew rein,
glancing over his s oulder to where lay the
dead and mutilated mass which had onco been
Pedro Canales.

A convulsive shudder ran over his frame and
his head was raised to cast the lasso with its
horrible weight from off his saddle—bow, but at
that moment came a fresh outburst of fury
from the direction of the corrals.

Among the shouts and yells Joaquin could
detect black and bitter threats against himself
as the comrades of Pedro Canales hastily led
forth their horses, and the dark, ugly scow]
again disﬁgured his countenance. The outburst
of emotional insanity had ssed away, but
with it also vanished the man y regrets for that
terrible revenge he had inﬂicted, and after that
night’s work, Joaquin Muncta was a greatly
changed man, for then he ﬁrst realized how
sweet was revenge for revenge’s own sake.

“ If they will hunt the jaguar, let them beware
his claws 2'”

The words fell from his lips with a ﬁerce dis-
tinctness that caused the young Sonorian to
start as though some other person had uttered
them, then, with a short laugh at his stupidity
in failing to recognize his own voice, Joaquin
cast a swift and comprehensive glance around

111- l

During all the evening a storm had been
threatening in the heavens, black clouds chasing
one another 'in broken masses athwart. the
round face of the moon. Such was still the
case, though in a lesser degree and Joaquin
knew that the storm had passed them by for
the time being.

A dare-dew thought struck him as the bright
moon sailed from under a cloud, and gathering
up his reins he lanced back to where there-
tainers of ﬁon nuel Camplido were pouring
forth from the corrals. A clear yell o mock-
ing defiance poured from his lungs, and as an
angry response ﬂoated back to his ears, he shook
aloft his clinched right hand and shouted aloud:

“I am Jon uin Murietal Follow me ye who
dare—but al who come will never return on
their own feet I”

The odds were more than a score to one, and
that score with their brains ﬁred by strong
drink. Wild yells and ﬁerce curse rent the air
as, with one accord, they plied their quirts and
thundered awa over t 6 level plain eager to
drink the h ’s blood of the undue ous aven-
ar. Thegcould see that the body of Pedro

miles '11 hung at the end of the lasso that
had torn him from their midst, making at
bounds as the speed of the fu 'tive’s orse
increased, and this soul-sicken ng sight but
increased their lust for vengeance.

Joaquin lau bed aloud as he heard them. for
he knew that Es had but to cut or slip the lasso
with its dread we' ht that acted as a dra , in
orderto easily dis co the best and sw
footed animal among his pursuers, but the fact
that the leading men were slowly gamuig on
him, gave him not the slightest uneasiness.

v Swiftlyas he had decided, it was not without

fully weighing all the chances, pro and con, and
th h his enemies were but fairly warming
up to the chase, he knew that it was rapidly
drawing to an end.

AsWift glance upward showed him a dense
cloud of considerable extent just beginning to
creep over the face of the full moon, and a grim
smile curled his ‘lip a the lance was turned
backward at his pursuers. hey were riding
hard on his track, already strung out as the
swutest horses forged ahead—then all vanished
in the gloom.

Joaquin, as a lure, laughed long and loudly
as he kept on his former course, but then
wheeled a ruptly to the left and ut his horse
to full , the mufﬂed boots on}; givin out
a dull, umpm sound that no ear coul dis-
tin uish more t two score ards away.

or several hundred yar s Joaquin raced
thus, then once more described an acute angle
to the left, now riding direct for the rancho it-
self, by a course lying parallel to that of his
pursuersl .

Drawintiup his horse to a walk, Joaquin bent
over in e saddle and listened intently. A
grim smile showed his teeth who heard the
ragid thumping of man
so , and as e strained is keen eyes throng
the gloom, he could just distinguish his ene-
mies, like links in some gigantic chain. or

 
phantom of the night blindly chasing a will-o’-
the-wisp!

hoofson the sandy ‘

 
“They half believe me a devil aim—when
yonder cloud rolls away and the can .see
naught human before them, the know I
am a ﬁend!” he muttered wi a low, bard
long as he once more urged his good horse on.

As he irregular outlines of the rancho and
its outbuildings loomed up before him, Joaquin
made sure that his wea one were in working
order, then. rode fearle y up to the great gate,

ausing beneath the stone archway and pull—
ing in the weighty lasso, hand over band.
When sufﬁcient slack was gained, he loosened
the end from the saddle-bow, and cast it over
the archway. Securing it again, he fastened it
to the pommel, then rods slowly away, only
pausing when he saw the mangled cor ‘e of

edro Canales clear of the ground an dan-
gling beneath the arch.

Thanks to the rough masonry, it was no great
task for Joaquin to old the body in place while
taking in the lasso hand over hand as his horse
slowly ap reached the egiate, and then knotting
the rope lii'mly the de was done, just as the
heavy cloud rolled away from the moon whose
clear beams lighted up all surrounding objects
with almost the distinctness of noonday.

Joaquin laughed harshly as be surveyed the
grim evidence of his vengeance. .

“ No doubt but what the story will spread far
and fast enough, but there is one to whom it
must speak lou er than to others,” he muttered,

producing pencil and paper and hastily writing: ‘ I

“Let the fate of this miserable tool warn Don
Manuel Camplldo how strictly I keep my oaths. On
this corpse. I swear to ban the master of this
ranclio in the same manner. i‘om his own gateway,
within one week from date.

“Signed JOAQUIN Mums-rs.”

Impaliug the note on his knife-blade, he drove
the weapon to its hilt in the breast of the~dan-

gling carcass, then wheeled his horse and rode

swiftly away.

Far away over the plains he could just dis-
tinguish those who had set out to avenge Pedro
Canales, huddled in a close group, no doubt dis»
cussing his mysterious vanishment. A grim
smile curled his li , but Joaquin felt no partic-
ular desire for t eir closer acquaintance, 'ust
then, and bearing to the left, they were soonlost
to view. . ~

His dread vengeance accomplished, there came
reaction.

The future looked very black to the young
Sonorian.

He knew that his beloved Carmela was a cap—
tive in the s{iower of Don Manuel Complidc—
knew that 9 had been on tured while on it.
way to her aunt’s hacienda; ut beyond that Le
was all at sea, and hardly knew which way

to turn. Alone, it did not seem possible for,

him to accomplish anything, without a more
deﬁnite clew to work u on, and he dare not
apply for aid to any 0 the rancheros, for be
doubted not that the black calumny had been
spread far and wide. Should he make such a
venture, he would be mind and held as a mur-
derous outlaw, if indeed the popular indigna-
tion did not culminate in his 5 edy h.ngi'ng
for the murder of Don Carillo Fe ix.

“ To Don Manuel Camplido I owe it elk-ten
thousand curses rest 11 n hisheadl” he cried
aloud, half—erased by e terrible situation in
which he found himself. “ If I can only ﬁnd
him—onl meet him face to face on equal
terms, With no one to interfere—I ask no more
of fate!”

Asort of stupor crept over him. The reins
fell upon the neck of his horse, his head drooped
forward upon his chest, and his almost nerve-
less form swayed unsteadin in the saddle at
each movement of his horse. like that of a
drunken man. And such would one in igno-
rance of the facts have deemed him.

A stouter-hearted man than Joaquin Murieta
was at that date, never drew the breath of

life, yet when all that he had undergone dur~ _

ing the last thirty hours he remembered, the
wonder is not that he failed now, but that he
had upheld so long_ against such odds. First
the trial of skill With Don Manuel Csmplido
and the quarrel which followed—and there is
a much greater waste of bodily strength as
will wer, in facin and cowing a score of
arm enemies, even if they be cowardly than
the careless reader may believe—then the in-
terview with Carmela, the bitter insults of
Don Felix and’the after encounter with Don
Luis. where he had to ﬁght harder against him—
self than against the brother of his loved one.
Then came the ni ht surprise and capture, tie
deadly strugege w th Pedro Canales ending in
being dra by. the neck—but why recapitu»
late? In t t hr of time. as measured by bonus:
and minutes, the young Sonorinn. only a boy,
after all, had undergone enough to utterly
break down the strongest veteran. Add to it.
all that neither bite nor sup had passed his lips
since noon of the prevmus day, and there can

. be no marvel at his fallin _into a stupor that

unnerved mind and body a ike.

How long he rode thus, Joaquin Murieta

.never knew, but he was aroused to conscious.

i-‘s‘i by " tbipysi‘ﬂl’vefimg “fwd if“
is ace, an ms 0 i eca u '

dle-reins and checked his ho .ug’ p e W

As he stared half-vacantly around him, Joa- \

 
l

 
,

 
/

 
/

20 

J oaqiiin, the Saei. 7

 
quin saw that he was near the outskirts of a
small patch of timber. The moonlight was
suﬁcient to reveal this, but beyond that, he
was all at sea, and turned his horse to clear the
cover knowing that a short survey of the-sur—
rounding country would soon enable him to
place himself. .
Scarcer had he worked clear of the bushes
when the dull beating of a horse’s hoofs in full
‘ gallop upon the sandv soil tartled him, and like
magic Joaquin was himself again, every sense
1' my aroused and on the alert.
_ There was no need to search for the rider.
He was passing abreast of the timber island,

not more than two hundred ards away.’
Short though the distance by ayli h, the

moon seemed to cast a peculiar haze a at the
horseman that rendered the outlines indistinct
and phantom-like. Yet at the ﬁrst glance, Joa-
quin’s heart gave a great bound, his eyes ﬁlled
,with the same deadly light that Pedro Canales
bare] had time to notice are the death—noose
cl around his throat, and his breath came
fast and hot as he believed he recognized the
horseman—that fate had listened to his bitter
prayer and now threw Don Manual Camplido
across ' th with none to interferel Anda
shrill, in yell nearly split his throat as he
buried the rowels of his spurs in the ﬂanks of
his horse, and leaped forward in chase.

Yet it must have been instinct rather than
eyesight that served him, for the phantom-like
rider was indeed Don Manuel Camplido, on his
way to his rancho, after the parting with his
fair captive which the reader has witnessed.
The ex-captain of lancers heard that mad

yell—saw the wild rider burst out from the
shadowy haze which surrounded the matte, and
' knew that lie was the object of that impetuous
charge. .116 did not recognize the horseman—
did not pause for a second glance to learnhis
r identity orto see whether or no he had com-
nians. A coward born, he thou ht only of
nding safet in ﬂight. His horse as jaded,
but the ran was not so far distant, and if he
could hold his own fora half-score‘miles, all
would be well. g/

Searcer had thistremembrance ﬂashed u on
him when a summons came from the rear t at
fairly curdled his blood with horror, for be now
knew the avenger on his track!

“ Halt! cowardly dog and son-of-a-dog I” cried
the young Sonorian, his voice rinsing out like
the trump of doom. “ Haiti Don lManuel Cam-
plido—Iam Joaquin Murietal Turn and face
me like a man, or I will kill you as you runl”

Perhaps the race Would have ended sooner
had Joaquin been content to pursue in silence,
for after that ﬁrst brief stupor, Camplido plied
both spurs and whip in frantic fear. t no
time would he have dared to meet a man like

, the vaquero in deadly combat on anlything like

equal terms, much less now, when ocquin had
risen like a ghost out of the night, miles from
where be supposed him lying in irons, a helpless
captive, subJect whis evil will. There seemed
to be something supernatural about it, and Don
Manuel was bathed in a. cold perspiration from
head to foot as he urged his snorting horse on in
mad ﬂight. ’ >
As thoug‘llis realizing his error, Joaquin did
not repeat ' challenge, but devoted every en—
ergy to overhauling his craven enemy. Once
again were the equestrian rivals pitted against
each other, but now the conditions were more
equal. There was no Pedro Canales near to
alter the ﬂat of fortune. Above them the clear
and now cloud-free moon, before them a broad,
sandy level. The best horse must win, for of
the men there could be no comparison. And
yet a cornered coward will sometimes ﬁght
des ratcly and to the bitter end.
ith a degree of ﬁerce joy that no words can
ﬂtly describe, Joaquin saw that he was gaining
ground, slowly but surely. Either his horse
was the superior animal, or less wearied—per—
liaps both. Don Manuel was assuredly getting
every ounce of work out of his mount, for he
felt that he was ridin for lifel ‘
4 Time and again di Joaquin raise his cocked
. I'revolver as he drew on the fugitive until only a
ﬂew rods separated them, but as often was his
., and 10wered. Not that he doubted his skill.
Even b that uncertain light, he could have
sent be after ball. home to the black heart of
the wretch before him, but as often there came
to him the memory of Carmela Felix and her
eril. The villain should die, but not at once.
emust be made to confess all, ﬁrst.
Don Manuel Camplido knew that he was
stea ilygbein overhauled, for he could hear the
.ipi thud o hoofs drawing nearer and nearer,
yet he could not pluck up courage enough to
iii-aw his pistols and ﬁre upon his enemy. His
failing horse had already stumbled more than
once. To relax his gripe upon the reins might
be fatal to hisirhopes, faint as those were, and.
shivering With mortaJ terror, he still lied the
merciless qulrt, still scored the bl uy ﬂanks
with his spurs.
But his most desperate efforts could not long
, the unequal race. Joaquin struck his
noble mount twice with the whip, then dro ped
it and leaned far forward as he forged ailing-
Side his enemy, ,making a swift and sure gras
at the reins, tJeh drew‘himself erect in the sa -

l

I dle, halting the fugitiva’s horse in its track by
an exertion of strength that seemed more than
mortal. ' .

“ At last, Don Manuel Cam 01” he cried,.his
voice ringing with a doe 1y exultation, his

a. veritable demon by bitter passions.

Don Manuel read his doom in those blazing
e es, and a narlinghcurse hissed through his
tightly clinched tee as he drew his saber and
made a savage blow at his rival.

Once a ain nothing but his marvelous quick-
ness coul have saved Joaquin from death. The
sava attack was wholly unexpected, but he
swift y threw himself to one side, and the keen
weapon instead of taking effect as its owner
intend , struck the horse ridden by Joaquin
on the neck with such force that its'head was
nearly severed from its body!

CHAPTER XVIII.
“ comes ALL, on ma!”

ALMOST decapitated, the horse ridden by J oa-
quin Murieta‘ gave one spasmodic plunge for-
ward, then fell heavily together with the young
Sonorian, who was unable to recover his bal—
ance in time to revent his own fall. Luckily
he managed to ree his feet from the stiiggps
and escape from being crushed beneath the y
of the death-stricken am‘mal. Don Manuel Cam-
plido, the fury of despair still upon him, sought
tofollow u the advantage thus unexpectedl

ined, and) urged his jaded horse forward, h s
good-stained saber ﬂashin in the moonlight as
he dealt a second blow at oaquin, who was just
scrambling to his feet. But once more he was
doomed to bitter disappointment—and worse.

Catlike, Joaquin avoided the stroke, the same
motion carrying him under and beyond the
horse ridden By his enemy. And then,'before
Don Manuel amplido could recover ‘his bal-
ance, destroyed the force of his unresisted
blow, the young norian leafped into the air
ﬁnd alighted‘ on the croup 0 his adversary’s

orse.

Uttering a howliu
Don Manuel swung

curse of angry despair,
is keen weapon around,
but Joaquin caught his rist and tore the saber
from his grasp, hurling it far awa . Then his
sinewy ﬁngers closed about Camp idols throat
like the stern gripe of relentless fate.

“ Dog—devil—you are mine—mine at last i”
he hissed, his voice more like that of a. demon
than the man whom Don Manuel Camplido had
formerly known.

Fiercer and more deadly grew his grasp, and,
though he felt himSelf but a child in the gripe of
the youth whom he' had so bitterly wronged,
Don Manuel made one more effort to ‘save him-
self—ahd failed! Yet the struggle was suﬂicient
to destroy their balance, and the rivals fell head-
long from the back of the horse, who made a few
frightened bounds, then stood still with droop-
ing head and caving ﬂanks. . '

Joaquin in do no attempt to save himself, but
clung to the throat of his enemy 'like a leech,
nor did the shock, as they struck the ground
heavily, separate them. That horrible lust for
blood was again upon him, and for the time
being he was more demon than man.

Not until the form of Don Manuel Camplido
lay in his grasp like a mass of lifeless clay did
the‘ blood—red mist that danced before his vision
fade away—not until then did Joaquin remem-
ber that throu h the confession of this man
aFlolne could he ope to learn aught of Carmela

e ix.

Again that strong reaction overtook him, and
if the ghastly, distorted countenance into which
he gazed so anxiously, Was not already that of a
dead man, Don Manuel Camplido was insured in
fresh lease of life. Where Joaquin had tried his
utmost to destrloiy, he now sought to restore by
every means in s power, and after a space of

were rewarded.

A husk , spasmodic groan, and then Don
Manuel amplido fully opened his e es. He
was like one dazed, and uncertain w other he
was in this-world or the next, but then his eyes
fell.u n the dark face bending over‘him, and
a hol ow groan of utter despair told that reason
had returned.

“Curse you!” he asped, “why did you not
ﬁnish our work -w y bring me bahk to life
when had passed all the bitterness of death?”

The dark, handsome face above him, lightened
up with a smile that was almost satanic, fltly
matching the short, hard laugh that bore it
com ny. ,

‘,‘ ah! did you think my vengeance could he’so
easily satisﬁed? You say you have suffered all
the bitterness of death; oor fool! the tune is
near when you will recs this experience with
re t-——when its memory will seem like a taste
0!! eaven’s purest bliss in comparison With the
tortures on then endure! Instead of one, you
shall suffer the agony of ten thousand deaths
and as you ﬁnally yield to the horrible strain, l
will curse in self for having so poorly satis-
ﬂed the hatr I hear you!” I

_ “Mgrcy, demon—401' you cannot be a man

 
“ I am what‘you and yours made me, dog!”
I hoarser cried oaquin, his sinewy fingers hov-
' ei'ing close to his wretched rival’s throat.

\

handsome countenance transformed to that of i

almost breathless doubt- and anxiety his efforts.

‘ and patience—and there I would fail.

 
lowers, and the macho was notso

“ Until your blows fell, where was a happier,
lighter-hearted youth than I? But I chanced
to cross your cpath. You were rich and power-
ful, Ipoor an standing all alone in the world.
You thought it would be so easy to brush me
aside forever, and you made the attempt. But
I still live, and you—you sowed the wind, and
now you must reap the whirlwind l”

“ I was wrong—I see it now—but I will make
amends. I am rich—name your price—”

“The last drop of blood from your black
heart!” ﬁercely interrupted Murieta. “True,
you shall make amends, but it must be when
and as I choose. Little by little I will extort
ﬁayment of the measureless debt you owe me.

ut ﬁrst, as the shadow of atonement you shall
acknowledge the truth of this foul plot against
Don Felix and his daughter—"

While Joaquin was speakin ,a sudden change
came over Don Manuel Camp ido for he‘believed
that one chance was left him which, if ri htly
managed, might insure him both life an . lib-
erty. The thought inspired him with a sort of
desperation, and be interrupted his rival with a
hollow laugh. ‘ ‘

“'Kill me—murder me, and by doing so, dash
your dearest hopes'to the ground forever!" he
cried, hoarsely.

A no less complete change came over the
young Sonorian. The malignant scowl faded
away, and asmile took its lace—a smile, et
so truly diabolical even in ts gentleness, t at
Don Manuel felt his blood curdle with renewed
horror. »

“So! even aworm will turn when trodden
upon I” and Joaquin coughed softly. “ Will
you kindly explain your words?”

The de. rate villain shuddered, for that seem-
ing miit was more terrible to him than the
ﬁercest outburst of rage, but he mustered up
courage enough £0 reply:

“ U on my Ii hangs that of Carmela Felix.
1 left er in the handsof men who know no will
but mine. If aught disastrous happensto me,
or if I fail to returnwithin a certain time, she
will be put to death. Knowing this, you will
not harm me or even hold me prisoner.”

“Indeed!” sneered the young“ Sonorian.
“Every word you utter is a he. You had no
thought of personal danger when you left the
lady. You believed mes. helplesscaptive in
your foul dun eon, and your plans were so
careful] laid t at none save your comrades in
evil cou ever suspect the truth, consequently
you left no such orders.‘ But even granting
that youdz‘ql so order, the remed is simple
enough. You will give me an or er on your
ruﬂ‘ians‘for the lady—” . ‘-

“Nev'erl” cried Don Manuel Camplido des-
perately. '- '

“Never is a strong word, and should not be
spoken lightly,” softly laughed Joaquin,
“ "especially, by a man occupying your critical
pesition. eculiar arguments can be brcu ht
to bear, and if managed rightly, cannot fa' to
convince you that obstinacy is a sad mistake."

“ You mean to torture me?” .

“I mean to make you confess the whole
truth—yes.” ‘

u‘énYou will give me life and liberty if I tell
a ' .

“I make no terms with sueh as You, Don
Manuel,” was the cold response. “ ou shall
speak out, freely or by force. After! that we
will discuss the end of all.”

Don Manuel Qamplido said no more, but
relapsed into a sullen silence, seemingly yield-
ing to his fate, yet covertly watching] for an
opening by taking advanta eof which 9 might
possibly turn the tables on is enemy. It came
sooner than he eXpected. '

Joaquin turned his head toward the spot
where his dead horse lay, and the bright moon-
beams fell 11 n the polished haft'of aknife at
his waist. wift as thought Camplido made a

asp at this, and as he felt the weapon come away
in his hand, he madea vicious stroke at Joa-
quln’s heart. ' But he had to deal with one who
was never more on uard than when seemingly
wholly 03 it, and t e _keen weapon only slit
open the young ' Sonorian’s shirt as its wearer,
warned by the pluck at his girdle, twisted his
lithe body to one side. And then a revolver
butt fell‘heavﬂy u on the desperate villain’s
head, knocking him ack senseless.

First satisfying himself that this unconscious-
ness was genuine, Joaquin replaced his Weapons
and arose, sweerping his limited horizon with an
eagle glance. othi l1g human was in sight save
his enein and himse . -

“Yet lt‘WOllld not be safe,” he muttered,
thoughtfully. “ The rancho is only a few miles
away, and few eyes will be locked in slumber
there this ni htl The villain, coward though
he is, known t at’his only hope hes in keeping
close the information I seek and love of life
would lend him strengthto hear considerable
torture before yielding. It Will take both bugle

.e

begin to taste my revenge, and I feel that I
would go mad—I would lose all self-contiol,
and never let up until I had drained his heart

drvl” ' . r ‘ ’ . .
There was the possibility, too, ‘of bang inter-
rupted by some of Don-Manuel’s frhnds or fol-
far distan‘ t

l

4.10

 
Joaquin, the Saddle King.

 
21

 
but that the cries and shrieks of one being put
to the torture might reach the ears of his ser-
vants. An investigation, open or secret, would
be made, and J uin run the risk'of losing the
reward he was to' ing for, even at the last mo-
ment. ‘ ,

Joaquin did not long stand in doubt. Cutting
the bridle reins of his dead horse, he rolled Don
Manuel Camplido over upon his face, then
drawing his arms back bound them ﬁrmly at
both elbows and wrist. His rough and ready
method of handling served to restore the ranch-
?rogslscattered senses, and he began to struggle

ee .

“ Qyuiet, dog 1” and Joaquin’s foot bore heavi-
ly upon his neck, pressing his face deep into the
loose sand. “ I have humored you for the last
time. Attempt to make me any more trouble,
and, by the Virgin of Atocha, I swear to cripple

on so that any further offense will be impossi-

lei”

The tone in which they were uttered, more
than the words themselves, quelled the prisoner,
and as his stiffened muscles relaxed, Joaquin re-
moved his foot, stoo d and grasping Don Man-
uel by the collar, raised him to his knees.

“ Now listen to me, Don Manuel Camplido,
and bear in mind that every word I now utter
is as good as sworn to.

“i am about to convey you to a safeyspot,
where you can be made to confess all, if you re—
main obstinate and refuse to make a clean
breast of your own accord. You shall tell the
foul plot from beginnin to end, shall acknowl-
edge the black lies whic you have caused to be
spread about me, and you shall give me full in-
formation concerning tue Senorita Carmela
Felix, her present whereabouts, who holds her
in charge, and with what force. There may be
other questions put, but these are the principal

ints. If you confess openly, so much the

tter for you. Refuse, and you will bitterly
curse the hour of your birth, for all the tortures
that human brain can invent, or mortal hands
inﬂict, will be showered upon you. You will
be 'ven no respite until you have confessed,
an if necessary the torture will be cprolonged,
not only for- hours, but for days—an each mo-
ment shall be even more bitter to you than
death itself 1”

Joaquin paused, but‘ Don Manuel made no
reply. Indeed his tongue would have refused
him utterance had he made the attempt. He
could only tremble and shiver as though under
an icy shower hath yet all the time his throb—
bing veins seemed dl ed with molten metal. .

In a colder, more measured tone, J oaquin

added:
“I tell. on this without reserve so that you
may weig the situation well before the mo-
ment comes when you must ﬁnall decide.
Then there will be no argument. I Will sim 1y
place the alternative before you—con ess al or
die! The only point for you to consi or is this:
whether ’you prefer confession with torture or
without.

Taming on his heel, Joaquin strode toward
the horse ridden b Don Manuel, but before he
reached the uni , he heard the fear-maddened
villain leap to his feet and rush away at full
. It was a foolish venture, for escape was
impossible, and the young Sonorian laughed
morkingly as he leaped into the saddle and took
the coiled lasso from where it hung around’the
high pommeL

A touch of the spurs, and the horse stretched
out in pursuit, and jaded though it was, the

ham red fugitive was re idly overhauled.
Swi t1 the snake-er coils w irled throu h the

moon ht and with a choking cry, Don nuel
Camphdo was hurled to thsiﬁround.

For one moment that de 'sh lust for blood
overmastered the youn Sonorian, and he
wheeled his horse to d away and drag his
captive to death, but the pale face of Carmela
rose before him, and the mad impulse ﬂed.

CHAPTER XIX.
marina run QUESTION.

Asaoon as he recovered his self-command,
J uin rodou to where Don Manuel Camp'
lido ay, parti ly stunned by his fall, at With
consciousness enough left to undo d the
worth addressed him.

“ Get up, i” steme cried the yoaﬁSono-
rian, jerking s arply on the lasso. “ 1; this
convince you that escape is in: 'ble—that you
are doomed tosuffer the fill penalty of our
times. Up, I say! else I will lash the ﬂesh om
df ourbonesl"

eeny the wrekhcd rascal arose, mggex-ing
the a drunken man, me please of misery. But
Joaquin was not touched by pity; instead, the
depth of degradation and dawnin- into which his
mera'leas enemy had been out, was to him but
a faint forehsbe of tho exquisite revenge in

store. .
Leaning over inthemddhhomisedthelamo-

noose from about Don Manuel’s shoulders and

ﬁned it closely around his neck, laughing ﬂange.

Dy as he mid: _
"Instnigh’t Iwasledataham’s inilhia like

manner by your man doubtlem by your orders.

the tables now; see how relish

83‘ own 8“

a dose of ' Han-
uel Gainme

 
The miserable ca tive made no answer to this
taunting speech. or the time being his sp'y'it
was utterl crushed.

Shortenm the lariat SO that Don Manuel was
forced to wa k close to the horse’s heels, Joaquin
cast one keen glance around him, then another
at the twinkling stars above them. These evi-
dently gave him all the information he needed
concerning the course he must ursue in order
to reach the goal he had in his mind’s e e, for he
urged his horse forward at a rapid wal , (paying
not the slightest attention to the wretche being
who was forced to exert himself to keep from
being dragged from his feet and suffocated.

A more exquisite mental torture could hardly
have been devised for the proud, haughty
Spaniard. In like manner were sometimes
punished refractory slaves and the lowest class
of criminals. A thousand times he was tempted
to ﬂing himself down and end it all—but as often
his ingrained cowardice restrained him. Yet
there was not one ray of hope to which he might
look forward for encouragement. He was he] —
less in the power of a man whom he had deep y
wronged and ruthlessly abused—a man whose
capacity for hatred and love of reven e was at
least equal to his own. He knew tha Joaquin
Murieta had not uttered an idle threat when he
swore that the onl alternative was confession
or torture. In eit or event he felt that his death
was assured, (yet he could not muster up courage
enough to en all at once. The craven wretch
felt that life was worth living, even with a rope
around his neck, and being thus led at a horse’s
tail.

As the horse he bestrode gradually recovered
its wind, Joa uin ressed along at a more rapid
rate, keeping on anuel at a rapid dog-trot,
and only slackening his from time to time
lest he should defeat his own ends by strangling

‘his prisoner.

It was a barbarous reven e, and one ssibly
not wholly justiﬁed by the acts given, ut the
young Sonorian had suffered terribly both in
body and mind. It was aretaliation in kind,
strongly characteristic oflthe day and country.

For two hours or more the Journey lasted,
when rou h and broken (ground was reached,
where the orse was force to pick its way ata
slow walk. This respite was most welcome to
the wretched ca tive, who was now more dead
than alive. On y the aw1u1 horror which he
felt of death had enabled him to bear-up so long.
His limbs Seemed heavy as though composed of
lead, yet every motion sent acute pains tinglin
along each nerve and muscle until he coul
have shrieked out in agon , only breath was so
precious and his parched t roat would only suf-

er faint, as ing groans to pass.

At len h oaquin drew rein and the instant
he did so, Don Manuel fell in a on ,utterl ex-
hausted. Even to save his life 8 coul not
have risen to his feet unaided.

“Good!” muttered Joaquin, as he lanced
down at the miserable creature. “ It wi 1 make
our work easier when we come to put the ques-
tion. Now if they are only at home!”

Putting a ﬁnger in his mouth, Joaquin gave
vent to a long, peculiarly modulate whistle,
then, after a brie pause, uttered the cry of the
prowling gaguar, twice re ating the startling
sound Wit marvelous ﬂde ty to nature.

Before him. rose a nearl per ndicular mass
of rock, wreathed and fes ne with climbing
plants, and midway up this the eyes of the

aim Sonorian were fixed. There were no vis—
ible signs of a human habitation, yet he evi—
dently expected an answerto his wild signaling.
Nor was he disappointed.

From above, ap arently at or near the spot
on which his lm ient regards were ﬁxed, there
sounded the split ing1 snarl of a wild-cat.

“ Enough, _‘igue ——-Serapiol” Joaquin called
out. “ It is I oaquin Murieta—and in need of
your help.” ,

An eager exclamation greeted this announce-
ment, and the form of a man shot swiftly down
the face of the rock. His hand grasped that of
the young Bonorian with an ardor that evi—
denced the power of the friendship existing be-
tween them.

“ Miguel is up yonder, asleep, senor,” said the
man, at the same time giving a glance of curi-
osity to the shapeless mass at the end of t
lasso. “You were lucky to ﬁnd us at hom
We only got in from along hunt at sunset. But
we are read and equal to whatever service
you may —be sure of that i”

His bone was hearty as his words, and
Joaquin know that he could place full depend-
ence on them. I

“I knevgﬂyou would not fail me in time of
need, old and I do not think the task will
be a hard one, thth the results may be of
the greatest importance to me, and to one far
dearer than even my own life. Yon see that
fellow?”

“Aman, is it? and Berapio bent over the
shapelass mass. "He looks as tho he had
seen hard times— Soulof thed litisDon
Manuel Campidol' he exclaimed, wit a

start.
“Ly! Don Manuel Complido, and my dead-
semliesteuanl y” cool] uttered Joaquin. “The
oe

withhhn. That 'lg nyou?‘

' and Miguel were pro essional scalp-hunters!

 
asked ouandlﬂ elisoonncoted'
dominifi

“Not enough to turn my hair ay. Say
what you wish, and it is done, even t ough you
ask for his scalp, hide and all!”

“It may come to that in the end,” seriously
answered the young Sonorian. “But ﬁrst let»
us get him up to the den. Then I will explain
all to you and Miguel."

Serapio said no' more, but cast off the lasso
from around Don Manuel’s neck, then cast the
limp carcass over his shoulder With an case that
seemed incredible in one of his medium build.
Advancing to the foot of the cliff he gras ed.
the rude rope ladder by which he had descended,
and slowly mounted upward, holding the body
steady by ﬁxing his strong teeth upon Don
Manuel’s clothing.

Joaquin stripped bridle and saddle from the.
jaded animal, feeling assured that it would not
wander far, then followed Serupio up to the
strange dwellin of his friends.

He found iguel awake, replenishing the
fire which had been allowed to smolder, and re.
ceived from him a warm but respectful wel-
come, such as a man 'ves a loved superior.

It was a stran 6 ha itation, and still stranger
men who lived t ere. A long, narrow hole in
the solid rock hill, the entrance hidden from
casual view by a endent screen of vines. A
contracted neck, t rou h which a man could
enter only in a stoop ng posture, but which
made an abrupt curve to the left before spread-
ing out into the chamber where the men lived,
thus guarding perfectly against betrayal by in—
tercepting a1 rays of the e or torch light.

The two men were both beyond the middle
stage of life, and Mexicans, as indeed their
names indicated. Serapio was of medium hi ht.
and build, Miguel was almost gigantic' ut
neither of them carried an ounce of super nous
ﬂesh; each one might have stood as a model for
a sculptor in search of varying but still per-
fect types of muscular manhood.

Neither was what could be called handsome in
the face. The lines were raven too deeply,
the expression too sterna even sanguinar .
Both were men whom even a novice woud
have felt led no common life, whose earthly
ex'pﬁrience had been won in no ordin school.

eir garments were rudely made. 0 tanned

skins throughout, and bore man stains of
varying darkne, but all seeming y made b
the same agent. The broad belts about the r
waists were full of was ns, richly ornamented
and of the ﬁnest qua ity, while many others
hung against the walls— istols and guns, bows
and arrows, knives and ances. But there was
one other object to be seen more noticeable
than all the rest, and which, if inspected, would
ex lain all the rest.

uspended from a cord, han 'ng in the smoke
tbs; rqse from the fire, was a undle of human
sca

T a mystery is a m stery no longer. Serapio

What had induced or driven t em to adopt
this terrible pursuit no living mortal save
themselves could tell, even Joaquin Murieta
being kept in ignorance, though on ever other

oint they were frank and open as day oward

him. They two would set out to ether and
penetrate to the very heart of t e Indian
country, rarely returning without a goole
share of trophies, which in time found their
way to the governor’s edge, where they were
paid for in good round terms.

Such were the men to whom Joaquin Murieta
turned for aid in his hour of need, knowing
that they would not fail him.

In silent, close attention they listened tothe

oung Sonarian as he placed the situation fairly

fore them, their grave bearing closely resem-
bling that of the uman game which theyso
mercilessly hunted. Not until Joaquin ceased
s king did the faintest change come over
t eir stern faces; then Serapio, who seemed to
be the usual spokesman for both, said:

“ Don Manuel Camplido knows something
which he refuses to tell you. He attempted your
life and failed. In turn you took him captive.
That makes his life ours, and life includes the
tongue, brain, h and all. If he refuses to
speak what you desire to hear you have the
right to crush his obstinacy, an by the use of
such means and tools asyou deem best. Miguel
and I are your tools. Do you put the questions,
and we Will see that they are answers .”

“Too h talk,” sententigus uttaeerleig3a the
nt seal unter, gras ing on u m-
glli‘do by the collar, raging him clear of the

ﬂoor and 'vfh him a short shake as thou to
clear the gnksgout of both- body and mind.ark

“lacy, gentlemen!” gasped the wretched
vmain. “Spare my life and I will make you
rich—I will pay any ramom—_"

“ 863p!” owled )1 6] will a m violent-
shake an ore. “ aituntﬂyou croquet
tioned, than k "

Thegiantmuihisfeetfmunderhimmd
hidhimdownmﬂslmhclosebesidetheﬂxn,
then squatted beside him, looking WW
toward the 370qu Sonorian.‘ _

.101:un laugh ‘ as no noted the
look espair wh setded over the
face of his enemy.

“ For once, Don Manuel Campiido, {our
boasted wealth can avail you nothing. our

8.12th»:— -—-t4 .xs. .5

262??

e i. 1—: ‘ftf‘a'k

. fzﬁhia?‘ was:

. so often answers the

22

Joaquin, the Saddle King.

 
only hope lies in frankl answering the ques—
tions I am about to put 0 you."

“If I confess all, may I 0 free, unharmed?”

“It is not in your p ace to impose con-
ditions,” was the stern response. “ You are the
slave now, and I the master. ”

“ That means 1 am to be murdered by inches
whether I tell all or not," cried Don Manuel,
nerving himself with the desperation that
art of courage. "Do
your worst, thenl I w l have my revenge in
spite of all, for in killing me, know that you
are signing the death-warrant of her you pre-
tend to love—Carmela Felix I"

“The trail to death is a long and crooked
one, where you have such uides as Mi el and
myself, senor," laughed rapio. “ ill you
please put the ﬁrst question, Don J oaquin?”

“Don Manuel Camplido, you have s read or
caused to be 5 read abroad the foul 16 that I,
at the head 0 a band of ruﬁians disguised as
Apache Indians, waylaid the escort of Don
Carillo Felix, murdering the leader and abduc-
ting his daughter. Retract that calumny and
confess the whole truth, or suffer the conse-
quence of your obstinacy.” -

The prisoner turned a shade more livid, but
his lips closed more ﬁrmly instead of opening,
while the black scowl deepened upon his brows.

The scalp-hunters glanced inquirineg at J oa-
quin, who gravely bowed his head.

“Scrr, to give you trouble, Don Manuel,”

inncd erapin, “ but our honor is pledged to

ring you to full confession. In mercy to you
We will proceed by easy degrees. Speak!”

As he spoke, the scalp-hunter wound a lock of
hair which grew over the temple, around his
forefinger and pulled steadily until it‘came
away i y the roots. Don Manuel turned white
as a corpse with pain, but a snarling 0 passed
his lips. Swift as thought Miguel caug t one of
his mustaches between his thumb and ﬁnger,

. tearing it out by the roots with a single power-

ful twist. So suddenly was this done that the
wretched man had no time to steel his nerves,
and a horrible scream of agony broke from
him.

“Bah!” sneered Serapio, “had I a child one
year old that would not laugh'with pleasure at
such a triﬂing attention, I would drown it in
the nearest buffalo-hole as a bastardl”

“Gag his jaws or his bellowing may betray
us to some prow er,” coldly uttered the young
Sonorian. ‘ When he concludes to spare him-
self further pin and us trouble, he can nod his
head as a token.”

As in all else, the scalp-hunter promptly
obleiyed. the speaker, and then resumed their tor—
tu n . It wouldbe [painful and dis stin to
recor all that was one. Enough t at t ey
were t masters of the art, and that are long
Don anuel was forcedtogive thesi for which
Joaquin was so keenly watching. nstantly the
gag was removed from the wretched creature’s
ﬂaws, and a leather ﬂask of water held to his

ps.

“Now speak,” said Joaquin, sternly, “and
beware how you attempt an evasion or deceit.
And you, good friends, mar his words, for the
time may come when I shall be forced to pro<
duce you to_bear evidence to my innocence.

Don Manuel Camplido was utterly unmanned,
and feebl gasped out a full confession only re-
serving t e fact that his bullet had laid Don Ca-
rillo Felix low.

“So far good; but there is more to come "
added Joaquin. “ Tell me where the Senori
Carmela is held prisoner, how many men guard
her, and what were your final instructions to
them when you left.” '

Don Manuel hesitated, but only for a mo-
ment. Serapio made a signiﬁcant esture, and
knowin that open Speech alone con d save him
from st 11 more diabolical torture, he answered
the demand in full.

“For your own sake, quiteas much as my
own, I trust you have spoken the truth, Don
Manuel Camp ido. I mean to act prom tly on
your information, and should it prove else in
any articular, you will be the greatest sufferer.
I will leave you in charge of these gentlemen—”

“Pardon, Don Joaquin," eagerly interrupted:
Serapio. “ You surely forget! He s ke of
some twenty rascals. Alone, they wou d mas-
sacre you—with Miguel and I, the odds would
be nearer even. You could look-after the lady,
while we would amuse the rascals—eh, Miguel?”

“ Good!” rumbled the giant. “ His tongue is
long and uneasy as a woman’s, senor, but some-
times it goes straight to the mark, as now. We
will bear you company.” . _ .

“ Nay, good friends, I ride alone in this,”
said J Malina, advancing and cutting the thongs
that con ed the captain’s hands. “ You must
watch over this villain—"

“We can truss him up, Indian fashion, and
he cannot escape. No one, save we that are
here, knows aught of this den. He might lie
here alone for a thousand years—"

“Thereis too much.at stake for me to run
the risk of his esca mg before he has been
forced to clear me o guilt in the eyes of all
honest man.”

” If you are murdered by his wretched as-
sassins, that will be but a r consolation to
your friends, senor,” grumb ed Serapio.

Joaquin uttered a low laugh as he responded:

“ He shall give me a safeguard never fear,”
tearing a blank leaf from a notebook and ex-
tending it, t ether with a lead pencil, to the
prisoner. “ ake these, Don Manuel Camplido,
and write as I dictate. Refuse, or omit a single
word, and I swear to you that what on have
already undergone shall seem like eavenl
bliss to the tortures which will be inﬂicte .
Listen, and write:

“ Gasman: Treat the bearer of this, Don Joaquin
Murieta, with all respect and guard his life as you
would my own. If aug t of harm befalls him, my
doom is sealed, for I am helpless in the hand of his
faithful friends, who have solemnly sworn to ut
me to death after horrible tortures, in case on
J oa uin fails to return safe and sound within a rea-
sons 1e length of time.

“Deliver into his hands the Senorita Carmela
Felix, and suffer them both to depart at will, with-
out let or hinderance.

“ﬁmember, on your prompt obedience depends
in 1 e.

y “Signed Dos Mmuni. CAMPLIDO."

Slowly, and with a degree of mental torture
but little if any less than that he had suffered
in the ﬂesh, the miserable wretch wrote down
the words dictated, then bowed his head upon
his hands with a bitter groan. Truly, the
wages of sin in his case were more bitter than
death!

Closely Joaquin scrutinized the note, then
carefully stowed it away in his bosom. There
was an almost cheerful smile upon his face as
he turned to the scalp-hunters:

“ You see, my friends, I am not so foolhardy
as on at ﬁrst believed. Not but that I would
fee doubly guarded, with you two as an escort,
and under other circumstances I would ask no
better sport than to  ourselves against that
score of ruﬁlans; but ‘ t of all the lady is to be
considered. We would whi them, no doubt,
but she might come to harm in the melee.”

“We could wait until you had safely ridden
away with the lady, then itch into the la-
droncs," coaxingly sugges Serapio, but J oa-
quin shook his head decidedly. .

“Lct'me once settle this affair, and then, if
you still wish it, I will join you in a raid on
those murderous devils. But now I must ask
you to fall in with my humor. Bind that dog
again, and (fund him as a miser guards his
treasure. ive him food and drink sufﬁcient to
keep him from starving, but not an ounce
more. If I fail to return here within eight-
and-forty hours, put him to death and if you
give him a slight token of what Satan, his
master, holds in store for him, be sure my spirit
will not mourn deeply.”

“We will ﬂay him alive, inch b inch, with
red-hot knives that will soar his ssh so that
there will be no danger of his bleedin to
deat ," replied Serapio, with a matter-o -fact
coolness that was more dreadful than the hot-
test anger.

“Good enough—I need say no more. Now
give me some food and drink, and I will set out
at once.”

The young Sonorian ate and drank ravenous-
ly, then the rope ladder was cast down the face
of the rock, and he descended in company with
Serapio. The horse ridden by Don Manuel
Camplido was found hard by, the saddle and
bridle were quickly adjusted. Then, with one
warm hand—clasp, oaquin rode away to rescue
his loved one.

 
CHAPTER XX.

AGAINST DESPERATE ODDS.
CAEMELA FELIX seemed like one whose ever
hope had ﬂed, whose spirit was utterly crush ,
when Gaspard handed her over to the care of
Diego, the young Mexican, with orders to bind
her securer hand and foot. And it was not so

much to be wondered at. '

Tio Tomas had convinced her that escape
from the power of Don Manuel’s tools was as
good as assured. She believed that the crisis of
her perils was past, that in a few minutcs more
she would be riding at speed along the trail
'which' would end in the rescue of Joaquin Mu-
rieta and their united bliss. But now—Tie
Tomas a prisoner and surely death-doomed—
herself in bondage, and liberty seemingly more
distant than ever i

.For one moment utter despair did ﬁll her
heart—soul—sick, she felt like giving up the un-
equal battle, and as Gas ard relaxed his cruel
gras , she would have fa len to the ground but
for t 9 quick support afforded by Diego.

The young man was one who had occasionally
attended Don Manuel Cam lido in the capacity
of groom, and had been foo henough to secret-
ly entertain a romantic passion for the fair
lady. 'On one occasion whe he had drank
more heartily than usual, Die 0, unconsciousl
to himself, betrayed his secret to the keen-wi
ted senorita. She was too high above him. and
possessed too much sense, to take mortal offense
at his presumption, and before the hour was

, she had entirely forgotten the discovery.

ut now, as Diego ntly raised her form in his

arms, Carmela con (1 feel his lithe sha quiver

with strong emotion, and like ma 0 t e mem-
ory of that afternoon returned to er.

At best this was a frail foundation for hope

 
to build upon; but Carmela sprung from a ﬁght-

 
ing race, which bad man a time turned defeat
into victory, and from t at instant her resolve
was taken.

Diego bore her back to where she had passed
the hours until the wild outburst followed the
disastrous venture of Tie Tomas, then gently
lowered her to the ground.

“ Pardon, lady,” he muttered, in a tone of
confusion, as he produced a stout rawhide
thong. “ You heard his orders. I must carry
them out, or else suffer death in his ra e."

Silently Carmela held out her hands, ut there
was a sad, reproachful light in her dark, lus-
trous 6 es, that caused the young groom to ﬂush
painfu y. Still he did not neglect his duty, and
as_ Carmela felt the thong drawing tighter, a.
faint c rose to her lips, and she quivered
as thong in pain. Diego trembled from head
to foot, even more violently than she, and his
unstead ﬁngers could scarcely loosen the knot
they ha formed.

‘ Thanks!” softly murmured Carmela, sinking
down upon the ground and putting her ankles
together. “ The gain is not quite so severe now.
I may be able to ear it.”

Every word out to the'heart like a keen knife,
and Diego made haste to comglete his disagree-
able dut , cursing Gaspard ercely, if inaudi-
bly, for aving pitched uponhim for such ser-
vice.

“Never mind me,” sobbed the maiden, in a
voice that hardly rose above her breath. “ Go
do what you can for my poor old friend-save
him and my undyin gratitude is yours.”

“I would do muc for your sake. lad , but
what you ask is an impossibility. Tio omas
has slain two members of the band—for Antone
is dyin -and the law appealed to is a sacred
one. ere I to interfere, I would only beslain,
without serving either you‘ or him.”

“I ask not for impossibilities; but you can de-
lay the horrible crime—give my poor friend
time to make his peace with Heaven—gain him
what respite you can—gel”

Diego was only too g ad to obey this last com-
mand. On that one glint his heart was very
tender and he knew at, unless he was speedily
beyond the personal in etism of this rarely
beautifulimaiden be we d be undone. Should
she beg him to set her at liberty, he felt that he
could not refuse, and he felt not the all htest de-
sire to fall a martyr in a cause where. e could
ex ct no reward.

hen too, the horrible fascination was upon
him that was felt bahis comrades—he was eager
to witness, if not ta 0 an active part in, the ex-
piation of blood. Therefore he gladly skurried
away, nor was Carmela less pleased.

. She had played her part most admirably on a
moment’s notice, aided by the curious infatua-
tion of Diego. An one in his usual senses
would have seen the. her cry of in, however
natural it sounded, was assumed or a ;
would have noticed the manner in w ic she
bowed 'her wrists a where the rawhide thong
crossed them, and' own that when the muscles
were relaxed she could readily slip out ﬁrst one
small hand, then the other, without the knots
being untied. And scarcely had Diego turned
his back before this was done.

, Carmela saw that the attention of the outlaws
was wholly occupied by the  man' and
their prisoner, and tossing asi e t e rawhide
thong, she drew from her air the little silver
dagger that answered the purpose of a fastemn‘ g
to or looks, and bendin over, quickly cut the
bonds that conﬁned her eet.

Now she was at libe One ,quick lea
would carry her into the c um of bushes whi
had served Tio Tomas so we , and with that
friendly shelter interposed between herself and
her enemies, Carmela could speedily steal awa
to a safe distance among the thick-lying bow -
ders. Once out of sight, there would be little
dan er of her recapture, provided she was at all

ru cut, and a human trail could only be fol-

owed through that re 'on under the broad li ht
of day, and even then y only the most skill ul.

Reason told Carniela this, yet she hesitated to
take the one step which divided her and com-

rative safety. Prudence dictated instant

ight, lest the golden moment should vanish
never more tore urn' but the maiden recalled
all that r old Tio Tomas had dared for her
sake, an the momentary temptation ﬂed.

Yet how could she save him from the horrible
fate which the dying outlaw was even then ro-
nouncmg? What could she do pitted one
against nearly a score well armed men with no
wea n save a toy-dagger in her ssion?
Tru y It was a wild and desperate i , such as
few women could have entertained even for a
moment, and still fewer ﬁnd the courage suﬁi-
ment to attempt its accomplishment.

Her face was white and steme ﬁxed as Car-
mela keenly overlooked the ground and weighed
the chances for and against the desperate project
that was gradually shaping itself in her busy

ram.

The outlaws were gathered around the spot
where Antone half reclined, where Gaspard
held Tio Tomas in his stron grasp, all listening
eagerly to the words of eir death-stricken
comrade. ' Beyond them was the natural
corral where the horses were staked out,
while some little distance to the left grazed the

-I»

J»

 
Joaquin, the Saddle King. 

 
two animals which Tio Tomas had led away
from the rest and equipped for the road. Closer
not far from midway between the crowd an

her present ition, lay the corpse of Perico,
and Carine a’s eyes began to (glow with a
steadier light as she saw the ru dy beams of
ﬁre-light reﬂected from the silver ornamented
weapons that still remained in the dead man’s
belt.

“It can—it shall be done!” she mentally ex-
claimed, as she prostrated herself and began
creeping1 toward the corpse. “ They are fu 1y
occupie —they have eyes and ears or naught
else—the very audacity of the plan is its best
guarantee of success.

Unobserved Carmela reached the body of
Perico, and slip the keen knife and brace of
pistols from his 1t. These she secured in the
silken sash that encircled her own waist, then
takin advantage of the scattered bowlders and
scrub y bushes with a skill and adroitiiess that
would not have discredited a Veteran scout, she
stole toward the spot where the two horses

zed.

There was no time to lose. Carmela heard the
ﬁerce shout which greeted the demand of
Antone, the command of Gaspard to produce
the horse which was to bear the ton ueless
Mazeppa; she saw the hasty rush which to lowed
to obe , and knew that on her alone depended
the o y hope for Tio Tomas. . _

Had the emergency been less critical, her
coura might have failed her; as it was, nothin
couldl; more admirable than the coolness an
skill with which she set to work. With but
little difﬁculty she secured the two horses, knot-
ﬁng the ends of their lariats together, then
crouching low down, leading them in a gradua
manner toward the enemy.

The ﬁery young horse was brought nip, and
from its actions seemed to sus ct somet ing of
the torture that was in store or it biting, kick-
ing and rearing iii a manner that speedily
cleared that side of the circle.

Carmela heard the mali ant laughter of the
dyin man as he gras Tio Tomas by, the

and ﬂourishing the bloodstamed knife be-
fore his eyes, and she knew that now or never
must she act. .

Springin into the saddle, she drew arevolver
and urged t e two horses forward. So sudden
and unexpected was the onset, that she was
fairlyu nthe outlaws before they could realize
the trut , and as G rd turned his head with
aﬂerce curse of ming ed amazement and anger,
a bullet crashed its way through his brain.

“ You are surrounded—draw a wee n, and
you die like dogs!” cried Carmela, er eyes
glowing, the picture of a beautiful fury. '

Another leap her horse made. Antone was
knocked over backward, and one heavy hoof
was planted u n his chest, crushing the feeble
remnant of l' e out of his carcass forever.

“Quick! Into the saddle, Tio Tomas!” cried
Carmela, threatening the bewildered ruﬂlan
“3mg”: 11d ad h dra dth t

e e e g e vs 9 n
gambusim down with him, butgzhe love of me
was still'stron in the old man’s heart, and
wresting himse free from the death-gripe, he
climbed into the saddle with an agility lent by
the emergency. -

“Take this and ﬁght your way out—shoot
strai ht!” cried Carmela, thrusting a revolver
into is hand, then cutting the lariats which
bound the horses together with one sWift stroke.
“ Wheel and follow—’tis for life i”

The outlaws were beginnin to recover from
the s rise and confusion in which they had
been t rown by the sudden charge of the
maiden‘and the death of their leader. They
saw that she was alone—that no armed force
responded to her call, and asTio Tomasclimbed
into the saddle beside her, they realized the
shameful truth—that they had been cowed and
almost put to headlong ﬂight b a Single girl!

Yells of anger burst forth— here was a mad
rush forward as the two horses wheeled above
the dead men and thundered away 3.1011 the
winding trail that led to the open groun far
away. Rapidly detonating revolvers sent a
storm of lead after the fugitives, and at such
short range, escape for those bold hearts seemed
an utter impossibility:

Carmela saw Tio omas bend low along the
neck of his steed, to lessen the size of the mark
presented by his bodyhimd she mechanically
imitated his action. leavm her horse to pick its
own way through the thic dying obstac es. ‘

All at‘ once the animal she rode gave a s
modic lea that almost unseated its fair rl er,
As b ins nct Carmela divined the truth—that
her arse was struck heavil if not mortally
wounded—but before she c ('1 do might to pre—
vent the catastrophe the stricken animal
plunged headlon to the ground, 'hurlin her
violently from t saddle. A painful s ock,
then all was blank. ,

The new day was dawning when Carmela
Felix recovered her consciousness, not all at
once but gradually. At ﬁrst she felt like one
awakening from some horrible nightmare, not

at certain whether all was stern reahty or only
{he baseless fabric of atroubled dream. Her
head pained her. She attempted to raise her

 
hand to still its acute throbbing, but was unable
to do so—thecy were bound together with stout
thongs. An then, like a dread revelation, she
realized the truth. -

She remembered the daring attempt she had
made to rescue Tio Tomas from mutilation and
death. She could recall the stumble of her
wounded horse and her fall. She knew that
she must have been reca tured by the outlaws,
else why these bonds? gill} Tio Tomas—had he
succeeded in making his escape?

If so, Carmela knew that he would lose no
time in seeking aid and returning to rescue her
from these bloodthirst rascals.

With a des rate e ort, she raised herself to
a sitting posi 'on and gazed eagerly around her.

Near the smolderin camp-ﬁre stood the
horses of the party, sad led, bridled and all in
readiness for he road. Close by, in little knots,
stood or sat the outlaws, their faces dark and
u 1y with frowns, while a little to the right——

ercifiil heavens! what was that?

A low, gasping cry burst from Carmela’s lips
as shebowed her head and closed her eyes to
shut out the soul-sickening sight!

Bound toarock, facing her position, was a
human form. Its eyes were open, but that
ghastl ,stony stare spoke of death, not life.
Dark 'nes across the ashenegray face told where
blood had trickled and (iii . No need to ask
from whence it had flown, for the ruddy beams
that heralded the rising sun, shone one. bare
and ﬂeshless skull where the scalp had been
barbarousl tom 0 .

And in t at one lance, Carmela reco ized
the corpse of her fai' hful old servant, Tio omas.

The cr which had been extorted from her
li 'by t is fearful si ht, attracted the attention
0 the outlaws, an Diego app‘roached h'er,
bearin a supply of food and drin .

“Ta e this ood, lady,” he said as he knelt be-
fore her and severed her bonds. “You will
need all your streii th, for there isalong and
hard ride before us his morning.”

Carmela raised her head as her bonds fell
awadv, and snatching the wee. n from Diego’s
ban , buried the long blade its very hilt in
his bosom. Then, with an almost maniacal
laugh she rose erect, sped across to the horses
lea upon one and dashed away before a ban
co d be raised tostop her!

CHAPTER XXI.
FOR Lin: AND LIBERTY. ,

Foa a brief 3 e the outlaws were thrown
into utter con usion. The aﬂrighted horses
lunged here and there, and it was only by
vely motions that some of the Mexicans es-
caped bein trampled under foot. Added to
to this the esperately daring deed of the mai-
den who, but a minute before, they more than
half-believed would never waken from that
deathlike swoon, and a strong sus iciou that
Diego waspaliisiying them foul, and t e momen-
tary demor zation is not greatly to be won.
dared at.

The ﬁrst thou ht was that Die had set Car-
mela free, bidd ng her ﬂee, an promising to
cover her ﬂi ht, for more than once since the
departure 0 Don Manuel Cam lido had the
young Mexican revealed the so t spot in his

cart. Naturally they turned toward him as
they drew their weapons, but a sin 1e glance
revealed the truth. Diego 19. upon is back
the red beams from the eas rn sky reﬂected
from the silver haft of the knife whose blade
was invisible, whose guard rested directly over

his heart.
devils!” cried Sanchez the one-

 
“Thousan
e ed, “ the girl has murdfred Diego, and is 03!

0 horse! mount and fo ow—if we let her give
usthe slip now, I’d rather face the devil himself
than tell Don Manuel!” -

Active as cats the outlaws sprun to their
horses, mounting in hot haste and undering
away after the ﬂeeing maiden. Only a few
moments had been lost but Carmela had made
the most of them. Already she was beyond
pistol range, urging her horse on with voice

and heel.

I This de rate burst for liberty was made en-
tirely wi out premeditation. The frightful
discovery whichCarmela made the moment she
recovered consciousness for the moment un-
settled her brain, and it was more as a mad—
woman than a rational being that she caught
up the oung Mexican’s kni e and drove it so
surely ome to his heart. She felt a blind im-
pulse to ﬂee from the horrible object, and the
ruﬂlans near the horses were no more to her
then than so many stocks and stones.

But the em“ motion through the cool morn-
ing air acted as a restorative, and the blood-red
mist suddenly faded awa from before her eyes.

The angry yell of chez the one-e ed
reached her ears. and lancing back over er
shoulder, Carmela saw t e outlaws mounting in
hot haste and stretching out in chase.

The horse she had so blindly chosen seemed
to be a good one, and as Carmela watched his
movements for a few rods her heart grew
lighter and her hopes of ultimate escape m-
creased. Her mount was both strong and ac-
tive. She knew that there were few who were
her superiors in the saddle for skill or courage;
whether on level racing ground, or as now,

’ mocking

 
among thick-lying rocks, bristling cacti and
stiff t orn-bushes, to successfully thread which
mi ht well puzzle the best of rough-riders.

nce more Carmela glanced over her shoulder
as she heard the shouts of Sanchez the one-eyed
ring out anew, and her eyes dilated with a look
of terror, while her face grew white as that of
a co , for she feared she had made a fatal
mista 8.

Instead of following directly in her tracks,
the outlaws were veeringI to the right along
another trail, as though in opes of thus cutting
her off. In no other way could she account for
the yells of triumph which rung upon the mom-
in air, yet still her more than womanly nerve
di not fail her.

She cried encouragineg to her good horse,
lashing him with the reins and pl ing her little
heels with vigor. Louder yell the ruﬂlans,
paler grew her 'countenance, as the trail she was
followmg seemed to end abruptly against a high
rock; but still she urged her horse on, pre-
ferrin death by dashing against the cul de sac
to ﬁling again into the hands of those brutal
assassms.

The fateful collision seemed inevitable, but
still her good steed dashed on, and then, just as
Carmela was about to close her eyes to shut out
the death that she felt could notbe avoided,
the way seemed to open for them like magic.

In fact the narrow trail made an acute bend
to the right just before the perpendicular rock
was reac ed, and then ran on, apparently free
and unobstructed.

Again Carmela took hope, but she knew that
the chances of escape were indeed des rate.
By its unlucky choice of trails where the ivision
occurred, her horse was forced to cover nearly
double the distance those were who kept to the
direct trail. Not that there was any doubt but
what she would reach the int where the
severed trail united ahead of er pursuers, but
a glance showed Carmela that she would lose
nearly all the vanta e ground gained by her at
the start, and shoud the enemy attempt to
cripple her mount, as they had once before,
escape was hardly ' le

Her fair face 3 rirset, Carmela drew the
silver dagger from her hair and pricked her
horse sharply with the toy weapon. With a
sharp snort, its pica quickened, the ground
seemed to glide ckward, and then the old
trail was regained.

,But Sanchez the one-eyed and his comrades
had improved their advantage to the utmost,
and now were less than two-score yards away.
The cunning villains who had assumed com-
mand on the death 0 Ga ard, knew the horse
thoroughly, and knewthat fmana edskillfully,
with Carmela’s light weight upon t, there was
little hope of its being overtaken in a fair chase
by any other horse in the t . He had
ho to confuse the maiden by is exultant

e when the trail divided, and to fr hten

er into turning aside where the thick-{mg
rocks and man chasms would y u an
end to her ﬂig t, but when disa pointed £1 this,
he drew his pistol and bade Es men try to
crip le or kill her mount.

‘ e low, comrades!” he cried, rallying his

“ e evil

already blood urs vicious] .
will be to pug e is killed— ut better even
that that an er her to escape!”

Few persons can handle ﬁrearms with any-
thing li ecertaiiity from the saddle, more es-
pecially while riding at full speed over a break-
neck course and thus a doub e peril threatened

r Carmela. An erring shot might cut short
er thread of life, or if er horse should fall
broken limbs or instant death against the cruel
rocks might'be her portion. The chances were

heaVily against her. but not the sli htest '

of ﬂinchin did she show. Swif y the :53:
were lashe from side to side. Again the sil-
ver dagger was buried in the haunches of the
snorting steed.

Spite ully the revolver of Sanchez the
eyed rung out and Carmela felt a faint t ll
run up her bridle arm. Though she could not
divine the cause then, the bullet had struck the
taut bridle reins and almost cut them in twain.

Ra idly the pistols of the outlaws ex oded,
and armela’s eart sunk low as she felt er gal-
lant horse give a spasmodic spring, for instinct
told her that at least one of t e leaden missiles
had found its mark. But the collapse she ex—

cted, did not come. Her horse wheeled into
be straight trail, and bounded along with in.
creased speed.

Loud and furious were the curses which broke
from the brigands as the horse d away, seem-
ingly uninjured, and faster t an ever were
their pistols dischar ed. And to increase their
mad. cha h, fa si very laugh ﬂoated back,

9 ury.

“ The devil is in that horse!” snarled Sanchez
manna-eyed, exchangin his now em t 'stol
for its mate. "Ha! a b ood trail! Klfofnour
lead was not wasted! Si your spurs deep,
bo s—it’s only a question of time, now. ”

are and there along the trail were distinct-
ly Visible edrops of blood u n the white
stones, and he rumans urged eir animals
with renewed eagerness.

“ Ha! look-the devil of a horse gives in at
last i” screamed the one—eyed rumau. as the uni-

‘334: .A-A

r horse sherode was

24

\

Joaquin, the Saddle King.

 
mal ridden by Carmela stumbled and almost
pitched headlong.
Almost, but not ' uite; nor was it the weak—

ness of coming dent that caused the orse
to miss its footing. One hoof struc u n a
round stone which gave wa beneat his

weight, nearly producing a fa which would
have been fatal to the hopes of its new mis—
tress.

Carmela felt his footing yield, and drew hard
on the reins to lend it that an port given in-
stinctively by a good rider. he strain was
too great on the weakened leather, and the
maiden lost her balance as both reins gave way.
A less practiced rider would have been hurled
to the ground, but by a desperate effort Car-
mela recovered her seat. Her face was pale as
death as the severed reins fell tothe ground,
for now she knew that her wounded horse would
be wholly beyond her control.

Sanchez cut his exultant speech short with a
furious curse‘as he saw the fugitive’s horse re,
cover its footing and dash on with what seemed
redoubled speed. Boiling over with rage, he
resumed his ﬁring, and once more a ﬁerce yell
of joy rent the air as he saw his ﬂying target
toss is head high with a sharp snort of pain.

I “Qpce more! ﬁ‘ill the infernal brute full of
cad! ..

A rattling Volley was sent in response, and
then arose a general cry of dismay. More
than one heart seemed to stop its beating, and
bronzed faces grew Is as the outlaws saw
the maiden raise her ands convulsiver to her
h then sink forward on her horses neck,
seemmgly dead or dying! ‘

Scarce had Sanchez time to note this terrible
fact, when his own 'horse stumbled and fell.
Caster he alighted upon his feet, but the un-
expected shock sent him, with a rebound, and
overend into a clump'of'thorn bushes. The
two nearest horses stumbled over his fallen
animal and the remainder were erked up
barely  time to avert the same fate rom their

/ Sanchez, even before extricating himself from
the thorns, noted the temporary check, and
howled out in fury: ‘

,. “On, curse ye! Take her, dead or alive !”

Unconscious of all this, poor Carmela droo
forward in the (lee seated saddle, the p lor
of death u :1 her ace, intensiﬁed by the rill
of blood w ch trickled along her brow. She
was not dead, but hers had been, a fearftu
narrow escape. A bullet grased‘ hei- temple,
brealrlng‘the skin and ving her brain such a
shock that hersenses ' , ‘

It was fortunate for her that she was Mexi-
can born and bred. To morg’ononhern e es, it
looks sh-angexand indelicate see a y rid,-
ing astride, but Carmela, followed the rule of‘
her country, and to that she undoubtedly owed‘
her from death. Sitting astride, the

saddle kept her from fallingto the
nd, which, at the mad pace heriwounded
was going, would have been almost cer-

tain death.~ ' ‘

It seemed {almost as if oneeyed Sanchez had ‘
spoken the truth, when ' he declared that the
possessed of the foul ﬁend.
Though scatter-in its life-blood at every stride,
its speed increa rather than diminished. The
ranklin wounds acted as savanna like a
demon orse, it rushed along e now winding
trail, steadily gain und on its pursuers,
though these were gfree use of both raw-
hide and cold steel. .

Carmela was dimly conscious of all this,
though her person seemed paralysed, and her
will greatly weakened. She knew that she was
in great danger of being hurled from the saddle
at each one of the sharp curves in the trail, but

'shecouldnoteven trytorslee her head. She
dream. '

was like one in a l.‘m.lf~v¢'aln'ngl

To her it seemed as the hours were con-

‘suned in that mad ride or life and liberty.

Faintly theyells of her ursuers fell n bar
can, but she-no km er fglt dread of  It
was a strange con ' on ofmind, one that words
cminot describe.

0:: sped the gallant horse, without any per-

ceptible ﬂaggin in either speed or stren th.
On thundered tie outlaws in pursuit, thogigh
the were ning to loss of over over-

this emonsteedwhxchoonldlqa
bloody trail formila, andraceallthefasterat
the end of it '

-How longtbe mad race had lasted, Carmela
never knew, but at length she was roused from
her strangestupor by a human voice which re
peated hernamo—ovolce which she instantly
moognhd—o‘ad with a cry she
rose erect in the middle her 00d arms
outstretched amt-ad . '

Again that then hereyes beheld
him, barbero ha- loved one! Riding hi
toward her, leaping over bowlders and '13
{ longing down sleeps which a me man would
rave deemed im' e, turning aside tom
‘° smear-mm,“ x:-
- our , y e V u
“like M shill off. ridegb-cnme Ila

, la meagn' him, on aloud his
blood-red m seemed to
Shutdownbotwsa; an. Whatpeinandfear

sob

 
were. unable, to wholly accomplish, great joy
had wrought. Once more the maiden drooped
forward in her’saddle, now wholly lost to con-
sciousness. ‘

 
CHAPTER XXII.
JOAQUIN TO THE RESCUE.

IT was indeed Joaquin Murieta whom Car-
mela Felix saw riding to her rescue, and how he
came upon the scene so opportunely, may be
brieﬂy explained.

After leaving the curious home of the scalp-
hunters, Joaquin rode hard and fast, pushing
his steed to the utmost extent of its powers,
ho ingto reach the spot named by Don Man-
uePCamplido before the tools of the latter could
leaVe it with their fair captive. But the region
lying between was sobroken and cut up that
very rapid progress was 'out of the question.
More than once the impatient lover, in attempt-
in ashort cut’cross lots,” found himself cut
ogb some barrier which not even his match-
less s '11 could enable the 'aded animal to over—
leap. The noble creatur had covered many a
weary league since last leaving its corral, and
though its generous spirit promptly responded
to each call upon its powers, the end of equine
endurance must be reached at last,

The eastern horizon was growmg 'rosy with
the red, rafys of the rising sun asJoa um reached
a point 0 high ground and eager y sought to
recognize the spot where Don ‘Manuel had left
his men in charge of Carmela Felix.

Almost instantly his trained e es caught the
spot, far away to his right as he' d suspected.

nluc ily, he had taken a trail which, once
entere upon, could not be left save at one end
or the other, and long are he reached the out-
come, J oatauin felt sure he was losing plrlecious
time. An so itproved. Only for t ‘s last
vexatious‘ dela , he would have gained the
rendezvous be ore Carmela roused u fromber
swoon and was drivan to tempera nsanity by
the sight of r Tio Tomas’s mut ated corpse.
As it was, oaquin scarcely reached the high
ground before the rapid ﬁring of revolvers
came faintly to his ears. One breathless moment
—-then his eagle vision read the startling truth.

“- Mother 0 Mercy!” he gasped, rather than
exclaimed. “ ’Tis Carmela—she is ﬂeeing, and
those hell-hounds—are ﬁring upon her—may
the ﬁres of heaven blast their eyeSIght and
palsy their arms I” _

Then began a mad race, such as few men in
their sober senses ever undertook, and fewer
still ever came to the' end without broken bones.
I'l‘here was only one chance of success, and
Joaquin made the most of it. .

Straight ahead,  ng no further ,atten-
tion to the .windf but forcing his mount
to take the o ' cles as they came, rode

the‘ young Sonorhm in'hopes of intercepting,

those in ursuit of his lored one., None but an
utterl earlessman wo‘uld.have even thought
of lug such a course; none but the king of
goggh-ri ers could have‘ followed it for a hun-
rods. Even Joaquin would have hesitated
at someof the leaps had he beenin hiscooler
senses, an even with a perfectly fresh horse
between sthi hs: but now he saw nothing‘but
the form of his oved one in the distance—heard
nothin savefthe ra id disch e of revolvers—
realize only that s ould he ail her now, the
fate of her whom he held far dearer than life
was sealed. Both‘ man and animal seem
in ired by more than mortal powers. Roe
an rift were taken in their stride. Ra idly
the lines followed by the fa itiv'e an the
rescuer drew closer, and as his one descended
a. steep slope, the rise beyond. cutting off his
view of the chase, Joaquin felt that he wOuld

But his mount was rapidly failing. Only the

superb riding of the youn v uero 'had he t it
afoot this 10 , and the sgeeaqwhich was Row
to be br prove the last

V threatened
{imgsm timid. m“? “‘° “3"”
us ng e no an
to the crest. urged up
A wild crybursth‘om hisli' ashe leaped
again into the sadle cryt at reached the
ears of Carmela and for a moment drove the
benumbing stupor tom her brain! Her droop-
ing form was raised'erect her arms sketched
u spﬁealingly, and from her lips came a faint
— e name of her here her lover!

e ﬁercest es of ﬁades could not have
checked 5 then. Nerving his failing
steed wiﬁ :ﬁur and . ,, he dashed straight
down the h‘ , more , a demon rider than

ught of mortal blood. But swifter still sped

e wean horse , 0 open trail, and
Joaquin sawmatyw d beunableto inter.
ce t the ‘ “active. ’

ow theootlawzwmridinginacl ,

hlv‘ing to far ahead of their fellows, t
to the glen speodnnd bottom of their horses.
They saw the astonishing revival of the maiden
whom can themtbey had believed either dead
or dying and following the direction of bar
outstretched m‘for theflrhtime they noted
the mad rid . ‘

lie-sham y they
be no debt as to thezlntention d the new-comer
on the scene, but as
and him as htttoaly hated enemy

drewreln, formers mold-

 
tha‘iamw last he was'alone, ,.

of their master their indecision ﬂed and with
loud, ﬁerce oils they spurred on to meet the
audacious fe ow before he could entirel recover
control of his horse after that frightf descent.
Joaquin saw and read their actions aright'
and once more that awful thirst for blood seize
upon him. He knew that Carmela had recog-
nized him and ' orant of the real facts, be
felt that she wo d soon come to a halt now
that he stood between her and the enemy. He
knew that he must kill these ruﬂlans or be
killed, and without a second thought of the
long odds against him, he uttered a deﬁant
shout and drew his revolver. I
The trail was'neared but the gallant horse
which had home the éaddle Kingso far and
nobly had shot its bolt. With an almost human
groan, its strained muscles relaxed, black blood
gushed from its mouth and nostrils as its eat
heart burst, but Joaquin drove his 5 urs ome
and supported the dyln creature wit the reins,
slip ing his feet from t estirrups and preparing
for he fall. ,Only a dozen ards more of the
steep slope and the level tra would be reached.
Down plunged the dying—the dead animal,
for the last few strides were purely mechanical,
and only the taut reins kept the poor beast in
an upright attitude.
'Then the level was struck, and the dead horse
plunged heavily upon its head, shooting Joaquin
rom the saddle as though hurled b a cata ult.
He lit fair] upon his feet, but a erce yel of
excitation urst from the four outlaws as they
saw him rebound and fall behind a clump of
bushes.
Feelin
hopeless y crippled by that frightful fall, they
rushed on, each one eager to be the ﬁrst to
strike the man they feared uite as much as
they hated—only to see him riseup from behind
the bushes, a leveled revolver in each hand!
It was not wholly throggh (design that Joa—
uin so fectly deceiv his enemies. , He
ighted air] enough, but the impetus with
which he was urled from thesaddle forced him
on and he stumbled behind the cover. For a
moment he was stunned, but the exultant cries
of the enemy aroused him, and like a ravening
ti r be] up and confronted them.
wiftly revolvers exploded and the two
foremost men fell dead almost before they could
reahzetheir‘penl. The Other cou le wrencbed
in their animals, thus mapin ‘ e lead that
whistled viciously lpast them. e two hors s,
as their masters e , plunged forwardin alarm.
but J cacgum Jumped out, and, graspin the neu-
estone y the mane, swung himsel into 11.”
saddle. I ‘ ,
This maneuver consumed hardly a moment,
but it came near grieving. fatal to the Saddle

King. The,er vlng outlaws. how.‘ [that

the must either ' or be' killed speed to-

gh had their self-control and dashe , straig t at
eir foeman ﬁring at every jump.  ,,

Joa um felt astinging pam in is left shoul-
der as e wrenched his new mount around, and
knew thathe was wounded, but how badly be
neither knew nor cared. His bitter enemies
were before him. The mad thirst for blood had
taken’ complete possession of him,.body and.

scul- .

With a hoarse, snarling cry he hurled his
horse upon them, thrusting the munle of his re-
volver _mto the face of. the one on his right,
shattering the skull of the doomed wretch to
atoms, while his left hand fastened upon the
throat of the second rufl‘lan, tearing him. from
the saddle as with the ' or a gian

A pistol shot almost (led the avenger, but
the outlaw never ﬁred another. With a su'epgth
lent by madness Joaquin drew his enemy
across the pomxnel of the saddle, dropping re- v
volver and ﬂashing forth his knif' e. furious
slash—then the y fell on one side, the head.
onIthe other! t H, w '

na. momen as seemed, e tinged wee
begun and ended. Four men against Dug—and
now that one drew rein in the midst of four

w l I

gaffe with has, the three horses wheeled
and dash swa along the back trail, their ap-
pearance whatemation to the other
outlaws. who had n too far in the rear to
fully understand what was going on in front,
 Wild clamorof ﬁghting came clears

ears. .

It was fortunate, '  J that
mchwasthecasemslygqumortdmeni
couldexpecttowin two such victoriesin suc-.
cesswn, and live to tell the tale. . Beddes, he.
gave no _thought to them. _ The intoxi— —
outing thirst for blood vanished, in a case.
came the memo of Carmela’s up ’ ory~~
and gesture. lthoﬁ a second 1.
"seesaw . screws...“

w h on ' e.
be blood from husbands—sate  ’ .

conﬁdent that he was either dead or _

mature!

JoaQuin, the saddle King.

“M.—

25

 
manner, the pain-maddened steed ridden by
Carmela could have covered much space in that
interval.

The truth of this began to dawn upon the
young Sonorian as he dashed around the curve,
only to ﬁnd the course clear before him as far
as the eye could mark its windings.

“ She recognized me—shc called me by name,”
he muttered, his face darkening with a iiush
fear.
Izir, unless— Ha! the horse was running away
—'.vas beyond her control l”

His keen eye fell 11 on the bloody drops that
marked the course of? the runawa steed, and he
instantly divined the truth. . A erce impreca-
tion grated between his clinched teeth as he

lied his keen s urs mercilessly. None knew

tter than he w at frightful peril threatened
the maiden—how unmanageable becomes a
wounded horse at times, or how often they
plunge wildly to the death not only of them-
selves but of their riders as well.

A minute more carried him to Where the
sloping walls on each side of the trail spread out
abruptly and orrew more level. Here-also the
trail along which he had dashed divided and
offered a choice of nearly a dozen diverging

aths.

p Mechanically he wrenched up his horse as his
keen eyes aiiXiously scanned the roughbut com-
paratively level ground he 0nd. To his rapid!
owing horror, he coul see nothing of his
oved one. It was as though the earth had
opened to swallow up the maddened horse and
its fair rider. But a more natural fear assailed
Joa -iin. ‘

“' he brute has fallen and killed itself—per—
haps slain her!” fell painfully from} his livid
lips as a horrible vision rose before his brain—
of that fair and matchless form lying in a
shapeless mass u n the cruel rocks, perhaps
crushed out of a l semblance to humanity by
falling beneath the dying steed!

For a brief space Joa uin was wholly unman-
ned, reeling in the sadd e like a_ drunken man,
groaning aloud as he covered his eyes as though
trying to shut out .,the horrible Viswn his over-
ta.~.£:ed brain had conjured up. But then his
:st'cel‘llke nerves re ained their wonted elastici-
ty. He ﬂung out his hands and tossed back his
he; i as though he could thus cast aside his tor-
turing fears. His face was white as that of a
corpse, l ut stern and hard-set as iron. _

Hi: self-control thus asserting itself, Joaquin
'pru: eded to learn the truth with as much out-
w_::: l com osure as the veriest stranger could
her» exhibited. Where there were so many
trnf-v, any one of which the runaway hOi'se
mi wt have taken, there was nothing) for it but
to pick out the trail by the drops of lood. This
was no difﬁcult task, and Joaquin set his teeth
more firmly as he noticed h0w rapidly the tellg
talc “rops thickened, for this served to conﬁrm
his r. orst fears. '

steadily he rode along the crimson spoor,
castiu frequent glances ahead of him in ex-
pe‘tntlon of beholding the terrible sight that
would'crush his heart forever—and at length
he beheld the carcass of a horse lying in a mo:
tiouless heap at the foot of a huge rock, a. hun-
dred yards ahead. ‘ v

One suffocating leap his heart gave then
seemed to suspen its functions. Joaquin turned
deathly faint, but outwardly he was cold and
composed as his horse bore him up to its dead
mate. ~ _

A bloody mist was before his eyes, but he
looked in vain for the man led corpse of his
loved one. Still he never esmed that there
was even the shadow of a hope left, feeling that
his worst fears had come true—that Carmela
'had been caught beneath the fallen carcass and
there crushed to death. ' '

Joaquin dismounted, and stoopmlg, grasped
the dead horse by the heels. With w at seemed
a supernatural strength. he rolled the carcass
over, then stag ered back with a gasping cry—
a cry not of son sickening horror, but of amaze-
ment, for there were no signs of the maiden!

Again and again the young Sonorian rubbed
his eyes as he stared stupidly around him, un-
able to solve the mystery—but then a glad
h0pe sprung up in his breast, and he shouted

aloud the name of his loved one, thinking that .

she had seen ed uninjured when the horse fell ,

dead; but on y the- mocking echoes from tho 1
surrounding rocky crags made answer, and

‘ almost as soon as born, the new ho e died. .

A single glance showed him t at Carmela
could not have fled from there. Surrounding
the carcass was a patch of smooth, moist sand,
but only his footprints marred it.

“She must have fallen (.l‘ been thrown off
along the trail.”

Such was Joe uin’s thought as he turned
back along the b oody spoor, thou h he knew
that had such occurred, he could ardly have
overlooked the fact while coming.

Five minutes later he made a truly startling
discovery. He saw that three horses had recently
passed over that rtion of the, ground, and that
the third animalmby an abruptan is. had left
the inn and headed for the rocky ills, a. mile
awe . I

“ f saw only four—yet one of the cunning
devils must have slipped by me, and overtaking

l
l

l

“Surely she would not have ridden so ‘

 
, “ Surely

the horse, snatched poor Carmela from the sad-
dle!" he muttered, as he turned aside u nthe
new trail. “ God grant that she sti lives!
And may Satan have mercy upon her abductor
when we meet!"

Rapidly J on uin followed the trail, leading
his horse, and w en two-thirds of the distance
to the bill was crossed, he uttered a wild cry of
joy —for there, upon a rock, wreathed with
vii.es, he beheld Carmela, gesticulating frantic-
ully. He could hear her voice, but failed to
distinguish her words. He leaped into the sad-
dle and dashed toward her at breakneck speed.
He saw her suddenly sink d0wn as though in a
swoon—and then!

He saw the coils of a lasso settle about his
horse’s neck, and before he could do ought, he
was hurled from the saddle!

CHAPTER XXIII.

“ mom THE FRYING-PAN INTO THE FIRE.”

IN the mean time, what had befallen Carmela
Felix?

She had swooned away on recognizing Joa-
quin Murieta, her overtasked nerves being un-
able to bear the almost ecstatic joy following
so closely u n the heels of utter despair. She
had believe him helpless in the power of that
ﬁend incarnate, Don Manuel Camplido, subject
to his infernal malice, and the sight of him here,
alive and at liberty, generously speeding to her
rescue—the shock was too great for her weak-
ened wers to bear, and once more her senses
reele once more her nerveless form drooped
forward, only kept from bein hurled to the
ground b the high pommel an the instinctive
grasp of er ﬁngers on the heavy mane of the
madly ﬂ ing horse.

On an still on the maiden was borne in that
wild race that was to end in death—it might
have been for hours of time and leagues of space
for an ht she could tell. But then, as once be-
fore, or brain began to recover before her
weakened frame showed an signs of rall ing.

Faint and indistinct, her rain recorde the
rapid thud—thud of a h rse’s hoofs—not her
own, for the strokes anno ced a. shorter and
more rapid stride. Like a ﬂash- returned the
vision she had beheld fora moment. She be-
lieved that Joaquin Murieta was riding to over-
take and rescue her. She sought to raise her
head—to utter his name in a glad, encouraging
cry——hut her faith‘less body would not obey her
active brain.

Truly, a strange experience, but one not with-
out its parallel. Her brain could work, but her
body was henumbed by a trance.

Nearer and. nearer came the echoing hoof-
strokes. and so little doubt did Carmela feel that
it was Joaquin speeding to her rescue, that she
wondered and even felt a little hurt in her mind
that he uttered no sound, called not her name
aloud in encouragement. She knew that only a
few feet se arated them. She could feel the ot
breath of t 6 horse puffingl past her bared arm,
and with all the power of or brain she sou ht to
throw off that horrible numbnes, so the she
might arise and greet her noble lover‘as he de-
served. -

Then—a strong arm stole around her, and she
felt the steel-like muscles strain as she Was lifted
clear of the saddle. She was drawn a ainst a
broad breast, and then the strange ape which
bound her was shattered.

f‘Joa uin—my hero—my god! Thanks to the
blessed irgin, we are once more united!” burst
from her lips in an ecstasy of joy, and the long-
pent up tears rained from her 2 es.

But t was only for an instan that sheiiestled
against the broad bosom of her rescuer. Some
subtle instinct warned her of the terrible mis-
take—and a faint, gasping cry of horror came
to her lips as she raise her eyes tc—not the face
of Joaquin Murieta, but to a forbidding visage
heavily bearded, from which two blcared an
{ﬂood-shot eyes looked gloatingly down upon
ier!

“ Quiet, girl—would you commit suicide?”
came a deep, harsh tone, and the muscular arm
tightened around the distracted maiden as she
struggled‘frantically to free herself. “ A fall
on t ose rocks at the pace we are riding would
shatter every bone in your dainty body l”

Almost ﬁercely he held her, and Carmela. felt
her senses reefing as a band of steel seemed to
crush in her ribs. And then once more'came a
merciful blank.

“The devil be tbahked for that, anyhow!”
growled the abductor, cautiously relaxing his
pressure until assured that Carmela. had indeed
swooned away, “ I dare sa I am a bloody
feel for taking somuch trouh e— Ha i”

For the ﬁrst time he obtained a fair view of
the face of the maiden, and despite its pallor,
despite the deep-drawn lines of care and pain,
despite the blood marks which stained her coun-
tenance, an exclamation of recognition broke
from him, followed by an oath of delight.

“Ye gods!” he cried, a satanic exultation
written upon his truly villainous countenance.
my patron saint put it into my head
to pla them all this little trick! Who would
have reamed of ﬁnding her here, and in such
an extremity? How did it happen? Who were
those fellows in Obese? Not friends, since they
were ﬁring upon her! i; .l the other? A true

 
dare devil to take a. ride like that! But what
matters who or what, Black Lopez—hold ye your
gri on the prize, for there’ both revenge and
stil sweeter gold in the air l”

A wild laugh concluded this muttered solilo—
quy, and then Black Lopez. as be entitled him-
self, plied his spurs vigiorously, sending the mag-
niﬁcent animal whic he bestrode, along the
winding trail almost with the speed of wind.

It the truth was written upon his features,
then indeed had poor Carmela fallen from the
frying—pan into the ﬁre, for his look was
that of a satyr as his blood shot eyes rested upon
her pallid features.

Swiftly Black Lopez urged his horse on, only
slacking his pace as he neared the rocky emi‘
nence, raising one hznd with aquick gesture.
As by ma ic nearly a score of men leaped out
from the t ick cover which lined both sides of
the trail, all armed to the teeth, all looking in-
guiringly at the rider, as though awaiting or-

e

rs.

“ Back to cover 1” cried Black Lrpez. “ Guard
the. trail, and 1 any one follows, take them
alive, if possible, but joke them dead or alive.
Not one must escape you l"

Like magic the armed men vanished. Black
Lopez loosened the reins and sent his spurs home.
Like a ﬂash the cream-colored horse darted
ahead, following a sharp curve in the trail that
led around a shoulder in the rocky hight. Once
more came that sinister laugh, for now the evil.
browed rascal ‘Mt assured that his hastily
formed scheme would prove successful. ,

Alighting from his horse, he left it to feed at
will, and carrying the senseless maiden with
apparent case, ie niuibly ascended a steep path
which appeared to have been frequently trav-
eled by either human or animal feet.

In a few minutes he reached the t for
which he had been aiming, and lowering islimp
and lifeless burden to the ground, he leaped
upon a vine-wreathed rock and gazed eageily
down upon the comparatively level ground.

He took in the scene at a single comprehensive
glance.

Far away he beheld three riderless horses
dashing madly along the back trail as though
frantic with fear. Beyond these he noted a
number of horsemen who were buddlin to-
gether as if thrown into confusion by the ﬁear-

ully sudden fate which had overtaken their

i

better mounted fellows.

Only for a moment‘did he devote to these-J

then an oath of strangely mingled surprise
anger and admiration hisse through his tangl
beard as his gaze rested upon a single horseman
who was das
ing over in the saddle, but casting many quick
glances ahead. v

“That dare-devil, break-neck rider! A diﬁer~
ent horse, but the same man. Ye gods! who
and what is he? Not one man in a thousand
would have dared taken that ride—not one in
ten thousand could haVe escaped a broken neck
——but this fellow not only accomplished the
feat but he must have whipped those four men

—killed them all, by the Eternal!" be ex»

claimed, as his keen eye roved back and rested
fora moment upon the scene of the combat,
without much difﬁculty distinguishing the
bodies of the four outla we. '

Reckless dare-devil though he himself was, a.
sober frown settled upon the face of Black
Lopez, for he had seen enough of the chase be-
fore taking a part in it to feel assured that the
mad rider was seeking to rescue Carmela from
her enemies, and he now saw enoughto con-
vin e him that the enmity of such a man was to
be readed. But only for a brief same; then
an angry light crept into his blea eyes, and
his stained teeth showed themselves wolﬁshly.

“ With that man as a partner, I could sweep
the whole country, hit he mustn’t interfere
now. I’d hate to see him die, but if he‘picks
out the puzzle 1 have laid for him, his doom is
sealed! Revenge and gold lotb—I can’t give
them'up to satisfy an idle fancy for a brave
man.

A low cry from Carmela caused Black Lopez
todleap down from the rock and hasten to er
si e.
ruﬂian laughed harshly as she shrunk away,
rutting her hands to her eyes as though to shut
out some disagreeable vision. _

“You recognize me, then, Senorita Carmela
Felix?" he sneered. his red eyes glowing, his
harsh features rendered even more than usual]

forbidding by the forozd grin which distorted. 1

them. “ You have not forgotten Black Lo iez.
the faithful servant of your honored fat er?
You still remember that day, when the lashes

ing swiftly along the trail, bend— ~

She had recovered her lenses, and the‘

fell thick‘ and heavy—when the knife of the“

butcher was br- ught linto playmwhen the
hounds were held ready to be turred loose on
the trail of a man. instead of a wolf! If you

have forgotten. I still remember! Nor have I 

et forgotten the oath which I recorded, on my

nded knees, that night, after I had thrown
the bloodthuntei‘s 03 my track. Not a day
since then, though years have passed, have I
forgotten to repeat that vow of bitter ven-
geaﬁice. Every thing worked against me, and
eac month seemed to put the fulﬁllment of my
oath still further from me but Inever despairec.
I knew that the day would come, soon or i: ter

4_

 
"than

.he tried to ex lain.

A ‘ He may

,rock, then followed after.

' toward him.

‘ lurel Look again.

26

Joaquin,» the Saddle King.

 
-and now it has! Carmela Felix, you were

the cause of my being treated thus, and you

labillﬁpay the ﬁrst installment of the black
e t!

With indescribable fury these sentenCes were
uttered and the ruﬂian ceased only when the
lack of breath forced him. ,

It was a dark and forbidding leaf of the past
which was thus recalled, an one that could
hard]
exico, at least on this continent.

Black Lopez, three years before, was ac—
counted one of, if not the very best vaquero on
the Felix estate. His one eat fault was an
inordinate love of strong rink, which grew
stronger as he grew older. One day, while in—
toxicated, Carmela, then but a child, chanced
to encounter him some little distance from the
house. Really meaning no harm Lopez caught
her up in his arms and repeatedly kissed her.
She was frightened and screaming, struggled
so desperame that she slipped from his uncer-
tain gr and fell to the ground. She received
some bruises, but fear prevenind her from feel-
ing them, and still shrieking for help, she ﬂed
for the rancho. Black Lopez. was partially
sobered by the accident, and in his desire to re—
assure the child, he hastened after her, shout—
ing for her to stop, just as Don Felix and a
number of his friends rushed forth from the
building, alarmed by the shrieks.

At ﬁrst glance the case looked black enough
for Lopez, and he was at once seized. In vain
He was judged beforea
word was s en, and the wine-excited ran-
cheroes lost ittle time in executing the bar—
barous sentence. The lash was applied until
the drunkard’s back dripped blood. The knife
of the butcher shaved of! both ears, and then
horses and‘hounds were brought to hunt the
wretched criminal to death. But, maddened
by pain and a sense of his horrible doom, Black

pez tore the knife from the executioner’s
hand, buried it to the hilt in the heart of the
nearest rancher-0, leaped into the saddle of the
dead man’s horse, and rode away at top speed,
knowin that ca ture meant death.

It so c anced t at the horse he appropriated
was the fastest one of the lot, and ﬁnally Black
Lopez succeeded in making his escape. And
until this day. Carmela had never since heard
of the man who had suffered so terribly through
her fear. I ,

Stunned, her very brain benumbed by what
she had under no during the past two days,
Carmela coul onl shrink away from that
hideous face. Blac Lopez saw the motion, and
a hard laugh was his oul comment. He saw
that she was comparative y helEless, and again
leaped upon the rock, peering t rough the vines
that nded from a scrubby bush, eager to
learn w at the dare-devil rider was doing.

. He saw Joaquin Murieta dragging wide the

.body ofthe horse ridden by Carmela, then saw
him hastily scanning the ground around the

cues.

“ He is no fool—so much the worse for him 1”
muttered the outlaw, his bleared eyes lowing.
“Hal he suspects the truth—he is [aging the
back trail—now for it l”
~ Breathlessly he watched, and a curse grated
betwixt his teeth as he saw the rough-rider
strike the trail that led to the hill.

“ Pd rather have him for a friend than a foe!
smell mischief—curse the dogs! why
don’t they lie closer?” he growled, for the mo-
ment forgetting that his elevated position
enabled him to see much more of the ambush
than was possible from the same level with it.
“She must know who he is— Ha!” as a sudden
thought struck him. “He was after her—be
risked his neck a dozen times over in his haste
to rescue her from those four—he must love her
intensely. One glim of her now would
make him blind to all e se—hal he! she shall be

"m decoy duck, to lure her lover to death!”
It

was a diabolicall cunning scheme. and
laughing maliciously, lack Lopez leaped down
from the rock to ut it into execution. Grasp-
ing Carmela, he ifted her to the top of the
Holding her so
that he himself was invisible to an one below,
he pointed out the young Sonorian and de-
manded if she knew him. 1

The eyes of true love are very keen,‘and a
wild cry burst from Carmela’s lips as she recog-
nized her lover. Her arms were outstretched
She for ot all elem—forgot that
dan must surely lur in his path.

B ack Lopez lau hed malignantly as he saw
Joaquin look in t at direction. for he knew
the ' cunning scheme‘ was a success. He
saw . hat the maiden was recognized—saw Joa-
quin leap upon his horse and. dash furiously to—
ward the hill. No fear of his suspecting an
ambush now. He had eyes, thoughts only for

‘ . his loved one, whose outstretched arm called

to him even louder than her voice.

“See 2”“ and his voice sounded more like that
of a devil than aught human. “Your lover is
riding straight into the snare, and you are the
Do you see my men yon-
der in ambush on both sides of .y the trail he
must follow? I stationed them there and bade
them care for all who came. to take ,t em, dead

[or alive. If he is slain, you are the cause of

have happened in any other country'

 
his death. If captured alive, then he shall suf-
fer all the tortures your accursed father in—
ﬂicted upon me—you shall stand byand wit-
ness'his bitter agonies, and that will be my
ﬁrst blow for revenge. After—bah!” and he
laughed malignantly as the poor girl, realizing
now the fearful mistake she had committed as
she saw the armed men in ambush awaiting
the coming of her lover, frantically motioned
Joaquin to turn and ﬂee, crying out a warning
that was tendered inarticulate by her deep
anxiety. "As we]! try to choke off the fam-
ished Jaguar when it has tasted blood, as to
think of checking him, now that he has caught
sight of on! t is almost a pity—for he is a
brave fe low— ut you love him, and through
him I can punish you most deeply.”

Again Carmela shrieked forth a warning, and
fearin lest her words should be understood,
now that the mad rider was. drawing near
Black Lopez forcibly dragged her down behin
the leafy smeen, holding her prostrate with
one hand while he eagerly peered down upon
the level. And then, as Joaquin was hurled
headlong from his horse, he laughed like a de-
mon!

 
CHAPTER XXIV.
A MAN OF BUSINESS.

No sooner did Black Lopez witness the down-
fall of the dare-devil rough-rider than he rose
erect on the vine-wreathed rock and uttered a.
clear, farmeachit: g whistle. 1t attracted the
attention of his fellows, and he bade them, by
motions, bring their prisoner up the hill.

Satisﬁed that he was understood, the outlaw
descended from his perch, and raising Carmela
in his powerful arms, bore her rapidly away.
Only for a comparatively short distance, how-
ever, for a leve sort of plateau was reached,
surrounded by a wall of stone and thorny
bushes. Here and there were scattered rude
huts of brush and grass wattled to ther.

Beside one of t are little huts lack Lopez
esusm and lowered the maiden to the ground.

ith the contents of a leather liquor-bottle, he
began bathing her face, as though eager to re-
store her consciousness, but ceased as several of
his men entered upon the scene .bearing the
soiled and blood-stained form of the oung So—
norian between them. He motions them to
lower the nerveless body, then bent over it and
curiously scanned each feature, as though seek-
ing to recognize some one whom he had known
in the past.

“The face is a strange one to me,” he mut-
tered, then adding, as he turned to his fellows:
“ Have none of you met him before? Can you
tell his name, or what he is?”

Simultaneously the men shook their heads.
They could give their chief no information con-
cerningethe rough rider.

N 
to her, and I have sworn vengeance— Hal you
here et?” he exclaimed, in a louder tone, as he
no the curious lances with which his men
were regarding the insensible maiden;

\“ Awaiting our further orders, captain,” re-
spectful] rep ied one of the men, a. tall, ﬁne-
looking allow.

“ Return to where you captured this fellow.
There are more riders beyond, and they may
incline to make us trouble. ﬁend out one or
two 'scouts to learn who an what they are.
Tell Cagatinta to on no account allow any one
to reach the hill, but not to 0 en ﬁre until he is
sure the are our enemies. o—lively!” .

Black pez was clearly a. bit of a. niartinet
after his own fashion, for the men obe ed with-
out a word or the slightest hesitation, astemng
back the way they had come.

Scarcer had they disappeared when the

oung Sonorian began to show signs of return-
mg consciousness, 'and Black Lopez quickly re-

.moved the weapons from the person of his cap-

tive, then dexterously bound his hands and
feet. Rapidly as this was performed, there was
scant time to , for Joaquin made a. desper-
ate eﬂort to arise, all his powers of both mind
and body seeming to return instantaneously.

“ Do not be impatient, my dear sir,” uttered
Black Lopez, wit a mockin laugh. “ You
have already taken too muc severe exercise
for the good of your health, and as your physi—
cian, I have taken measures to insure your
quiet obedience.”

Joaquin glared at him ﬁercely, but then Car-
mela uttered a 10W, gasping cry, throwin her-
self beside her lover and tearing frantica 1y at
his bonds. Swiftly the outlaw’s muscular arm
shot armnd her waist and drew her forcibly
away, while he laughed in grim derision alike
at her futile struggles and the desperate efforts
which Joaquin made to burst his bonds.

“ Release that lady. scoundrel, or I’ll tear you

‘ limb from limb!” snarled the young Sonorian.

“Will you not grant me time to say my my-
ers before you annihilate me, Senor .Don n»
050?” grinned the outlaw. “Bah! Silly boy—
the powers of life or death lie in my hands, not
yours. From the moment of your ﬁrst crossmg
my th, you were doomed!” _

“ pare him—have mercy on him. and do
what you will with me!” gas d Carmela, scarce
realizing what she said, but oaquin turned pale
as death as he saw what a satanic expression

I

An.

rall. it don’t matter much. He is dear

 
1crept over the brutal countenance of the out-
aw.

“ No more, Carmela—plead not with that
demon. Let him work his will upon me—but
may the ﬁercest ﬂames of hell blast him forever
if he dares to harm one hair of your head 1”

Black Lopez lau hed mockingly. He could
aﬂz‘ord to bear hart words while the game was
so wholl in his own hands, when the vengeance
over which he had so long dreamed was almost
as good as acccmplished.

“ You two are lovers, if I mistake not,” I 8
said, his harsh voice softening, but with a mo.
lignant ﬁre in his eyes that ave the lie to his
tones. “You, I know, are t e Senorita Car-
mela, daughter of Don Curillo Felix; but be—
what and who is he?” . '

“A man, as I will force you to admit, if you
dare out these bonds and set me at libei'ly.
You may keep your weapons—I ask only the
use of my bare hands—”

“Your death will come soon enough, foolish
boy, never fear,” laughed Black Lo 2, but as
he was really a bold, reckless man imself, he
could appreciate the same qualities in another,
and there was something of admiration in the
look with which he regarded the young Son:—

n. ;

At this moment one of his men hurriedly
approached.

“ Senor Capitan, an armed force has made its
up misuse, and their leader has advanced with
a g of truce. requesting the honor of a personal
interview with you.”

“Who and what is he?” sharply demanded
Black Lopez. ,

“ An old acquaintance of ours, capitan, and
if I mistake not, one who da bles a little in our
own line. He gave his name as Sanchez, the
one—e ed—”

“ a! old Sanchez—and he demands an intrr-
view with me. Well, escort him hithei—lut
blindfold him ﬁrst.”

As the messenger departed, Black Lopez
removed the long crape scarf from about his
waist and with it bound Carmela’s arms to her
side, Ipaving no attention to the violent threats
whic Joaquin showered upon his head, then
turned away toward the entrance to the little
plateau.

He was not kept ion in waiting. One-eyed
Sanchez, looking somet ing the worse for his
headlong plunge from the saddle into the them—
bush, was ed inblindfolded. Black Lopez made
a signal, and the bandage was removed from the
one serpent-like eye of the ruﬁian. .

“Sol’ exclaimed the outlaw, “the devil Les
not yet claimed his own!”

“As you say—and Iain oveit‘ljo ed to orce
more meet my old friend in the es ,” retomed
Sanchez, with a low bow.

Black Lopez laughe nowise offended by the
cool manner in whic the adroit old rascal
turned the left-handed compliment.

“No doubt he been lienu n us both; but
thisis not business. You did not come here
onlv to pass com liments?”

"No, but to c aim runaway propert ,” and
the keen eye wandered toward Carmela, who
was new kneeling beside Joaquin.

“ You mean the girl?” and the face of Black
Lopez darkened. .

“Yes; she killed one of my men and made
her escape this morning. We followed in hot
haste—” ,

“But failed to overtake her, and I took her
captive. Finders keepers is a wise old‘ maxim,
Sanchez.”

“When it can be followed without losing
one’s own life, Lope

inted retort, but the outlaw only laughed

arshly as he added:

“ Your force is hardly large enough to.justify
threats, old comrade. You are wit in reach of
my arm, and a si le word from me would con-
vert your gang own yonder into wolf and
buuarclbait.” - , ,

“All that may be true,” coolly replied San—
chez, “but there are more where I came from,
and once let Don Manuel Camplido strike your
trail, our death would not long go unavenged.
Come, we are both men of the world. Let me
tell you just how the case stands, and then you
can answer.’

In as few words as possible, the 'one-e ed
rascal gave a clear synofpsis of the rat er
complicated case, thong l 0 course he was still
in ignorance of what had befallen Don Manuel
Cam‘plldo, nor could he explain how Joaquin
Murieta happened to come upon the scene.

“Now you have a bird s-eye view of, the
whole case,” he added, speaking with an assump—
tion of conﬁdence which he was real] far from
feeling, knowing Black Lo z so we 1.
must see that our claim is t 8 best—”

“You lost them—I found them,” doggedly
uttered the outlaw. “ Only for me, you would
never have laid eyes on them again, unless when
they”caine to Wilmess your death by the gar-
rotel ‘ ' ,

“What do you intend doing, then?” .

“ First, to send word to Don Carillo Felix—”

“I'd hate to be your messenger,” hint-*3
Sanchez “1 tell you that the old man is d: M
and scalped!”

“Then to Don Luis, or whoever may Lat.

   
z-not unless,” was the‘

“You.

‘ l

 
.

 
Joaquin, the Saddle King. ~ ,

27

 
charge of the estate. I will offer the (girl for
ransom. If they refuse,'or make any clay, I
will restore her to them— iecemeal !”

“Listen, old friend. know what bitter
cause you have for hating the Felix family,
but a man is a rank fool to cut off his own nose
to s ite his face."

“ hat do you mean '4” sharply demanded the
other.

“ Just this. You have a glorious chance now
to gain both revenge and gold. You mi ht
gain the last by surrendering the girl to er
friends, but unless she was delivered up un—
harmed in the slightest particular. you would
be foiled. Now wh not ask the .same reward
from my master? e would pay'it—afte-r I ex-
plained the im sibility of rescuing her in any
other way. on would have the ransom money
and the sweetest of revenge besides on the girl-
who was the means of your being treated so
barbarously, three years ago, for she'hates Don
Manuel so intensely that I verily believe she
would take a poison-blind rattlesnake to her
bosom in preference!” . .

Black Lopez gazed keenly into the face of his
brother rascal, but Sanchez was bold. in the
novel conﬁdence of s aking the truth, and his
sinole eye never ﬂinc ed. .

‘ If you are lying to melg’ began Lopez,
threateningly, but Sanchez interrupted im
with a sinister laugh, at the same time pointing
to where Carmela nelt beside Joaquin.

“Don Manuel Camplido is her betrothed
husband, and he means to marry her—but look
yonder! A blind man could see that those two
are lovers—that her heart is bound up in him.
Satan himself could not devise a more exquisite
wiiguge for her than to make her Eon Manuel’s
w e.

Black Lopez was convinced at last, but he
suffered no signs of this to appear upon his
countenance and his voice was harsh as ever
when he spoke:

“ Business is business, and these three years of
Wandering from pillarto post have taught me
to value 0d gold even above revenge.  Will
put the girl up at auction, and the highest bidder
may take her. Say no more, for my mind is
made up.” '

“ Concerning her, all ii ht; now for the man.”

“ He shall never troub 9 Don Manuel, never
fear,” and Black Lopez laughed maligiiantly.
“ He is a bold dare—devil, suc as does my heart
good to meet, but she loves him, and that is
enough to damn him ten times over. While
waiting for the bids to come in, I Will amuse the
dainty lady by putting her lover through a
course of sprouts—” _ _

“And, by so doing, drive her mad, or kill her
outright! True, you would have a taste of re-
venge, but where would your gold be? Don
Manuel would hardly pay much for her then.
Instead, he would raise the whole country in
arms against you. You would be hunted to
death like a mad-dog!” _

He paused for a moment in order to let his
words have their full effect, than resumed:

“ Come, old friend, listen to reason. In Don
Manuel’s name I promise you a reasonable ran-
som for the man, too. It will increase histri—
um hand add doubly to the torture she will
feePto have the marriage ceremony rformed
before his eyes. You can realize t _a 3”

Once more Black Lopez was convmced b the
Satanic ingenuity of t e keener-witted in,
and reluctant] admitted as much.

“Good! I p edge you my honor that you shall
receive ﬁfty onzas for the fellow. I will take
him back with me as a token to Don Manuel
that you mean to deal squarely With him, and
that the stungr I tell is a true one. Don Manuel
will return with me to settle the other matter.
We will find you here?”

“lf.you two come alone, es. '_But beware!
If any treachery is attempte , I Will know who
to strike ﬁrst!"

“She is your safeguard. Keep her securely
hidden in some other spot until you ﬁnger the
gold,” laughed Sanchez.

His men were signaled by Black Lopez, and
Carmela torn shrieking from the Side of her
lover. Joaquin was borne down the hill, bound
securely u on a horse, then Sanchez gave the
word to ri e for the Camplido rancho.

CHAPTER ' XXV.
TRAILING A main).

THOUGH silenced, the two scal hunters were
not convinced by the reasoning 0 Joe. uin Murj-
eta, and they saw him depart upon h perilous
mission with many forebodings. Their fati e
was forgotten, and li hting their pipes, t ey
squatted down by the e, oppomte each other.
As was natural, Serapio di the most of the

alkin .
t “Wge did wrong in listening to him, Miguel,
or if we listened, then we should not have obey-
ed. Don Joaquin is oung and headstrong. He
is the soul of honor,
Cid Campeadorwbut he does not always know
wag; is best for baselfil e5}; Miguel 3” t d_
e ‘ant run w e er in assen or map-
rovelgiione gave himself and Serapio could have
1d, but there was an. anxious Jig t in his great
dark eyes as the rested upon the face of his
talkative comradsd.

 
I

rave and generous as the‘

 
“Don Joaquin is in love, too, Miguel. That

will not render his brain clearer or his eyesight
keener. A man in love is only half a man, at
best but worst of all when he is on the trail of
his lady—bird. He is blind, then, to the signs
that would have spoken to him in his sober
senses louder than thunder. You know how
cunning and we an old buck is, Miguel—but
you know, too, t at when he is ‘running’ that
same war old buck would not leave the scent
thou li a ozen hunters stood on the trail.”
' “ ell?” uttered the giant, his brows contract-
ing and a look in his eyes as though he thought
the garrulous Serapio was losing time in beating
about the bush. i

“ I’m fearing it is had, not well,” added Ser-
apio, the uﬂls of blue smoke coming faster than
ever. “ on Joaquin is something like that old
buck. He is on the love-trail, and signs that .he
would have read easily enough at any other
time, be overlooked now. See, brother Miguel!
is not that the face of a snake?” he cried in a
tone of intense earnestness. bending forward
and- pointing one ﬁnger at Don Manuel Cam
lido, who had been eagerly listening to their
words.

The wretched prisoner closed his eyes, unable
to withstand the ﬁery litter of one pair of eyes,
the lurid glow of the 0 her.

“He lied to us—his tongue is double forked!
He thought we all three would go to redeem the
lad , and he made a false confession, hoping
stilYto bafﬂe us all by slipping away while we
were absent. He has sent Don Joaquin to meet
his death in a trap—J’

“ No, no, I spoke the truth, gentlemen l” cried
Don Manuel but Serapio continued without
noticing the interruption: -

“ We cannot stay here, Miguel, idly suckin
our thumbs while Don J an inn, our riend an
benefactor, is riskin his 1i 6 through the treach-
ery of this man-sn e. If our fears should prove
mistaken, he may reproach us for leaving this
man-devil alone unguarded—”

The giant arose and with one stride stood over
the helpless prisoner. One hand gras d a long
knife, and the red glow in his 9 es as estoo
and felt for the heart of Don anuel with he
other, could not be mistaken.

Serapio laughed softly, but a word from him
caused the giant to pause.

“ No, Miguel, not that. A touch of the knife
would indeed insure us against his escape, but
Don Joa uin would then have solid cause for
complain . Besides, where would be our ex-
cuse then for following his trail? Be quiet, fall
Each, and listen. I must have your evidence,

00!

Without a word the big scalp-hunter replaced
his knife and stood aside. In the hands of Se-
rapio, be was like a little child, until the mo
merit of action came; then he was a human tor-
nado, that naught mortal seemed able to With-
stand.

“ Don Manuel Cam lido,” slowly uttered Se-
rapio as he knelt besi e the captive, holdin the
keen int of a knife against his throat. “ ou-
fess t at your words were false—that you lied
to Don Joaquin Murieta—”

“ I oke the truth, so help ine—”

The nife-point lowered until it ierced the
skip'raﬁid cut short the trembling ’pro station.

ink again, my dear sir, and Serapio
grinned down into the fear and pain distorted
ace of the ranchero, with a diabolical cunning
ﬁlitteringin his eyes. “ Your confession was a
'e— ou sent Don Joaquin to meet his death in
a bi den snare—etc 1 Your brain is confused,
and you do not fair y understand me. Unless
ou confess, freely and franld , I will measure
he thickness of your neck wi this bit of steel.
Remember: one false word, and you die!

“ Now answer: your pretended confession to
Don Joaquin was a false one. The lady he seeks
is not at the spot you described. Instead, there
is an ambush hian there for the purpose of
killin him. peak—am I not right

At ength Don Manuel began to understand
what was e ted of him, and he faltered out
an assent. ith a short, mockin laugh Se-
ra ioroseerect his e as blazing With triumph
as e turned to his fe ow seal -hunter.

“You hear, Miguel? Don anuelioamplido,
of his_own free will and accord, without force
or intimidation, acknowledges that he imposed
upon Don Joaquin with 8. also confession, that
he has sent him to his death, unless we can save
him from falling into the snare, by following
and warning him.”

The giant nodded, his face grave as that of a
'udge, ut there was a humorous twinkle in his

jg eyes that told how thoroughly he ap-

reciated the cunning ruse of his comrade.

ow they were thorou hly armed against the
displeasure of Joaquin urieta. He could not
blame them for their disobedience when they
could swear that Don Manuel admitted his con-
fession was only the plausible coyer to a deadly
snare! ’
, Thus far, Serapio had acted with an almost
annoyin deliberation but now he sprung to
work asliveliy as a cricket. . ,

“ Buckle own to it, Miguel my son!” he

cried, forming a gag which he dexterously ap-
lied to the prisoner. “ We’re going to follow
on Joaquin, but we must make sure of this

\

 
two-1 god snake ﬁrst. 0 n the treasure
cache—it will hold our game, guess, with some
squeezing!”

The giant strode to the rear of the cave, and
brushing aside some sand and gravel, inserted
his ﬁngers in an irregular crack, then raised up
a long, flat stone slab, revealing a cofﬁn-like
cavity, half full of powder-kc s, canvas-bags
and other articles. All but t e money~hags
were removed, they being crowded down into
the lower corners. Then Serapio steadied the
slab while his herculean comrade picked Don
Manuel Camplido u and crowded him feet fore—
most into the singu or cache.

It proved to be a snug ﬁt, and the‘ miserable
wretch must have felt as thou h in his cofﬁn
especially when the heavy sla Was lowere
over him. He expected no less than death by
suffocation, but such .was not the purpose of the
seal hunters. The knew that the irregular
crab at the head 0 the prisoner would furnish
him air sufﬁcient, and that he would live
through the ordeal, unless the themselves were
killed while seeking to serve t eir friend.

“And if we are, Don Joaquin will still be
avenged,” chuckled Serapio. “Unless we 0 u
it that cache will remain sealed until the ay
of doom!”

“No loss, either!
cold.” ,

Well supplied with weapons and ammunition,
the two scalp-hunters left the cave, descending
by means of the shrubs and vines, lest the skin
ladderilif left dan ling in the wind, should be-

Come—the trail will grow

tray t e secret o the den to some prowling
human.
The giant turned toward the t where their
gorses were kept hidden, when rapio checked
im. .

“ We can make the trip quicker afoot than
mounted. Besides, we are only to show our—-
selves in case Don Joaquin runs into danger.
If mounted, he would spy us out belore we
could dod e back. No need to use the excuse
we ﬁt a the knife point, unless we are oli—

h .

gMiguel said not a word in reply, but followed
Serapio, who always took the lead until the
moment of actual ﬁghting came. Then no one‘“
man could show the giant the way.

Knowing every foot of the ground, the seal
hunters lost no time by forced detours, ll :
Joaquin, but he had started a full hour ahead
of them, and, as the reader has seen, pushed his
horse on at breakneck peed. Hence itwas that
the scalp—hunters reached the rendezvous foo
late—for the Were yet half a mile awe when
Carmela m e her desperate break for l1b( rty.

From the higher ground on which they stood
tithe two men noted the course of the chase, an

9)’
cut the outlaws o

A torrent of curses burst from Serapio’s lips
but Miguel said nothing. With one com re-
hensive glance, he took in the whole scene, t en
set off at full speed, his long legs covering the
ground in a wonderful manner, taking rocks
and bushes in their stride. And at his heels‘
ran Sera io, making up in activity what he
lacked in ength of legs.

No horse could have followed the course they
took, save at a walk, and! few men could have
kept pace with them, but the task they sought
to accomplish was far beyond mortal 'lpowers in
the limited time at their disposal. he chase
led directly away from them, and at the very-
outset the were thrown far behind. Still they
perseve , though reason told them that the
end must come long before they could reach the

goal.

From far away they heard the ﬂriii which
accompanied the swift and deadly attac made
by Joaquin upon the four leading outlaws but
when they reached a int from whence they
could view the groun beyond, it was onl .to
behold their friend rushing mad] to his fate,
led into the cunning ambush pro ded by Black.

Lopez, through his love for Carmela, whomv

they recognized as she stood upon the rock.

‘ Ha!” panted Sera io,
ahead! she ismotioning in back, but the blind
box does not understand. Ah 1” x . ~

ﬁerce groan burst from his lips as he saw
Joaquin dragged to the ground by the lessees
of the ambushed outlaws, who rushed out and
Bounced lipon him like wolves on e wounded.
uﬂalo. or once Serapio fairly lost his head,
and was about to dash madly forward, when
the giant grasped his arm and forced him down.
behind cover. . r

“ lf living we’ll rescue him; if dead—may
the Blessed ,Virgin forbidl—we will bitterly
aven him. Until one or the other is done,
our hves are not our own to throw away, Re—
member that, and be a man, comrade!”

This was a wonderfully long speech for the
tacitum scalp-hunter to make, and it produced
the effect intended. His madirage cooled, an
Serapio was once more himself. ‘

From under cover they watched keenly every
movement made by the enemyn They saw Joan'

uin lifted and carried away, and this gave
t em new hope, for it was not likely that so
much trouble would be taken for a dead man.

Stealthily they crept forward, and exercising
their utmost skill as scouts, soon succeeded in

also saw Joaéiuin Min-iota riding hard to q

“ there’s trouble '

 
-.- .Asr. :.;_,.. . ;. «4., ..,.. med»..- .i. ....

 28

‘ Joaquin, a... Saddle King.

 
I gaining a position from whence they could look
own upon the little lateau, where they saw
Black Lopez and Sanc ez, the one-eyed, in con-
, sultation.
. They were too far distant to overhear the
' words spoken, but when they saw the two ruf-
; ﬂans clas hands, and heard Black Lopez suin-
, monha a dozen of the one-eyed rascal’s men
1' from belew, the had no difﬁculty in divining
i. ' the truth. Stil , they waited until they saw
!' Carmela torn away from her helpless over,
' until the saw Sanchez and his men bearing
1 Joaquin ward the path which led to the level,
‘ then they beat a hasty retreat, only pausing
« when they reached a point from whence they
1] could number the_force of the enemy, and see

 
which way they headed.
g 1 “ Nine besides old One-eye—ouly a mouthful
 for us!" said Serapio, coolly. “See! they are
.) taking the buck trail. Come!"

5., Swiftly they ran, feeling sure that they would
 be in time to intercs t the enemy, who would
3 now have no object or pressing their wearied

horses hard. Besides, there was a short cut
,, phrzcticable to footmen, which greatly lessened
. distance.

At intervals One or the other ran up to the

crest of the ridge, to make sure that the enemy
H , had not turned into another trail, but each time
1 they were reassured.
,1 ‘ “ We are far enough now from the hill,” said
Hi Sera '0, after nearly an hour’s racing. “ Over
a you er is a snug spot for an ambush. We can
reach it and have time enough to catch breath
 beforethe rascals come up. ”
a. Five minutes later they were lying in am-
- ’ bush at a point where the narrow trail abrupt-

ly spread out into an oval-shaped space, feel.
L .ing sure that here the enemy would close ranks.
' I And the result justiﬁed their reasoning. From
3! ‘ double ﬁle, the outlaws came together in a
clump, and then, like the crack of doom, the
3! revolvers of the two scal hunters opened ﬁre,
' nota bullet being wast , but each one claim-
ing a. life!

CHAPTER XXVI.
aansousn. .

THE terrible execution which can be done b
a. single man armed with revolvers, is well-nig
incredible, despite the many illustrations given
during the war for the Union, along the South-
WP’SH rn borders. It was this wonderful skill
that rendered the guerrillas of Quantrell, Todd
and Anderson such dreaded foes. Whether
riding or standing, at a ﬂying or stationary
mark. they could lant each ullet within a
band’s breadth of t e center, and seldom had to
:ﬁre twice at the same mark. Their weapons
would work as rapidly as the ticking of a
watch.

50 it was when the two scalp-hunters rose in
ambush and opened ﬁre upon the astounded
outlaws having Joaquin Murieta in charge.
swiftly were their revolvers worked that the
diﬂerent reports were blended together in one
roll that ended almost as soon as it began—for
taclé of living target)!

The enemy were not given time tol’realize the
terrible situation. Not one was given time to
draw a weapon or make a single motion toward

  
,f.
\

1..» (.7...

.me ~'

32‘:

l
.2- ,
L!» ‘
a.

 
3,  ’ escape. In swift succession they were shot
i  _ down, dead or dying, and almost before Joaquin
, ‘ Murieta could realize that an ambush was bein
31111113 by those who were friendly to himse
was i.-ver.*

With a tell of delight, Sera io leaped forward

' and caug t the frightened orseto which the
young S:;norian was bound, before it could take
to ﬂight. Miguel quickly cut his bonds, and
lifting him to the ground, supported him until
his'benuuibed limbs were capable of performing

ofﬁce.

“After all, Don J oaquin, it is not so had to
have friends within reach, in case of accidents,
is it?" chuckled Serapio.

“Look out; to- cover—somebody coming!”
rumbled the giant, snatching a brace of revolv-

, ore from the nearest body and thrusting them
into the hands of the yonn Sonoriau.

From up the pass came 6 trampling of iron-

'. shod hoofs, proclaiming a strong force, whether
friendly or mimical- ’
' Serapio cut two belts with his knife, and
carried weapons and all with him as he leaped
k to coger. ,
Scarcer had the three friends reached this,
‘ when the head of the column dashed into the
"oval space, abruptly drawing rein as they be-
held the prancing horses and the dead men. It
seemed the wor of evil spirits—so swiftly had
all occurred. Scarce a minute since the ﬁring
began, and now ten stout men lay weltering in
' their ol'ood, while naught was to be seen of the
.. ers. ‘
nly for a moment. Joaquin recognized sev-
eral of the horsemen, among them Don Luis

'To those who may object to this incident as
highly improbable, I would state that proof can be
raven where one of _antrell‘s men waylald and
lulled nine Union sol: ms in as man successive
,‘iotswith revolvers, before a single s ot could be
ﬁred in return—B. _

 
v‘

 
Felix, and he shouted for his friends to hold
their ﬁre as he leaped into the open.

It was a rash movement, for Don Luis in-
stantly recognized him, and whipped forth his
saber crying:

“’Tis the foul assassin of my fatherl ’Tis
Joaquin Murietal Charge—and take him, dead
or alive!” ,

“Hold! or you’re a dead man!” screamed
Serapio, and with ready revolvers the two
scalp-hunters leaped out and placed themselves
beside Joaquin.

Involuntaril Don Luis recoiled, and his
friends also he (1 back. It was clear that these
men had wrought the bloody work before them,
and with such terrible evidence of their
prowess, the hesitation on their part was but
natural.

“ You know me for a man of my word, Don
Luis Felix,” added Serapio, more calmly. “ I
swear to you that Don Joaquin never committed
the crime which you lay at his door. The real
assassin has confessed, and is now in our power.
Pledge your honor as a Spanish gentleman to
give us time to prove this, and we will quietly
surrender. Refuse—and you may take us as
best you can—but best sa your prayers ﬁrst,
for my ﬁrst bullet will re your brain.”

The young Spaniar was not all evil. He
could be both generous and just when not
under the baneful influence of Don 'Manuel
Cam lido. He had been kept in ignorance of
the youl plot which his pretended friend had
formed, and really believed that the account
given by the treacherous escort was true in
every particular. When his father, scalpless
and otherwise terribly injured, was brought
home and the black charges made against the
young Sonorian, he at once collected a stronn'
force and set out to avenge the dastardly deed
and rescue his sister from the ravisher.

He knew the scalphunters well, and for the
ﬁrst time a. doubt. of Joaquin Murieta’s guilt

came into his mind.

“ You have my pledge, backed/ by that of
these gentlemen, ’ he replied. “ Prove your
words, and I will apologize to your friend. But
if you fail, he dies the death beﬁtting a. foul
assassin and kidnapperi” , .

“I accept the alternative, Don Luis Felix,”
said Joaquin, advancing with his revolve) s
reversed in his hands. “I charge Don Manual
Camplido with'the crime, and will prove it by
his own confession. These dead dogs were a.
part of his tools—ha!” he exclaimed as Sanchez
the one-eyed uttereda hollow roan and strug-
gled to a sitting posture. “ 6 can bear on-
dence. Quick! question him before he dies!”

Don Luis turned pale as a ghost as he began
to realize the fearful truth; but he leaped to the
ground, and, supporting the dying wretch, de-
manded from him the truth. _

“ Tell all, and you may die in ace. Refuse,
and I will tie you between four orses and drag
you'h'mb from limb!” _

Bold enough when well. Sanchez, like the ma-
jority of rascals, was cowed by the approach of
death, and sinfully gasped forth the truth,
wholly excu pating the young Sonoriau.

Don Luis arose as the villain fell back, dead,
and in a cold, constrained manner, asked Joa-
quin’s pardon for his unjustsuspicions.

“ Granted, senor,” was the quiet response. “ A
man might be excused for doubting his own
brother on such evidence as was given you.
But now our sister is held a captive for ransom
by Black pez, formerly a servant on your es-
tate. Heis not far from here, and his position
is a strong one, but we are enough to carry it
by storm—” 0 I

“And so insure her death,” broke in Serapio.
“Black Lopez would send a bullet through her
brain, or sink a knife to her heart, before you
could win your way u that hill.”

“Pay the price he emands, and then, when
the Senorita Felix is safe beyond his reach, we
can take ample vengeance on the audacious ras-
cal,” suggested one of the rancheroes.

‘ Trust to me, and you shall secure both
the lady and revenge without risking a
peso," conﬁdently declared Serapio. f' Give me
the three best hands with a pistol among you.
and we six—adding Don Joaquin, Miguel and
myself—will do the work.”

‘Your lan uickl” demanded Don Luis.

“Migue and know a secret trail by which
we can reach the plateau where the villains are
located. While we are doing this, let the rest
of you ride forward and summon the rascals to
a parley. It may be that they will be expect-
ing you, if the sounds of our ﬁring reached their
ears, but even so, so much the better. Their
whole attention will be given to the trail by
which you must approach them. Show that
you know where they are located, before they
can spring an ambush upon you. State that

on surprised and killed these rascals but that
ganchez lived long enough to make full confes-
sion. Pretend that you ﬁe Willing to ransom
the lady—use any subte go to keep them in
play until we can get in our work. At the ﬁrst
pistol shot from the hill, charge boldly in.”

Rapidly the words were uttered, placing the
matter in such a clear light that there was no
need of asking questions.

Don Luis at once declared that he would be

’ I

k g ,4; -.n._,g\_   r“ I

 
one of the three to accompany the scalphunters
and Joaquin, but Serapio objected.

“ You can aid us more surely in front, senor.
The chief rascal will be more ready to parley
with you than an other.”

So it was ﬁne. y decided. Serapio selected
three men of whose skill with weapons he was
satisﬁed, and then he led the way at a rapid

ace to strike the rear of the hill on which Black

0 2 had formed his head-quarters.

t was nearly the same trail which he and
Miguel had already traversed over that day,
and the present attempt equaled the ﬁrst in its
success.

The paused under cover from whence they
could 00k down upon the plateau. They could
hear the loud, coarse voice of Black Lopez hail-
ing their allies on the level below, but as be cc.
copied it 'tion on the rock from whence J oa-
quin had 11 lured into the snare, his form was
hidden from them.

Only a few of the outlaws were in sight, and
those near the entrance to the plateau. Car-
mela was lying close by one of the huts, bound,
but otherWise unguarded. Joaquin caught sight
of her, and forgetting all else, rushed recklessly
down the slope. ‘

He was instantly followed, but the noise un-
avoidably made by such a hasty ch arge,attracted
the attention of the enemy, and. the instantly
gave the alarm, which brought Black pez rush-
ing‘ to defend his rize.

he two scalp- unters discharged one shot
each, but this was to give the signal for charg-
ing-to their allies, since aim was impracticable
while plunging down such a steep. r

J oaquin reached the plateau ﬁrst, and paused
not until he gained the side of Carmela, who ut-
tered his name with a sobbing cry of great joy.
He steadied himself for an instant and covered
the hideous ﬁgure of Black ‘Lopez. Straight
home sped the lead, and leaping high into the
air with a wild-beast howl the outlaw crashed
heavily upon his face, dead ere his carcass
touched the ground.

Joaquin waited not to witness the result of
his shot, but caught up the maiden and bounded
away with her to a safe cover among the rocks.
She was all in all tq him, and her safety was
his maincare. But still he did not shirk the
fight, when once satisﬁed that the enemy were
al in front. ’

.Side by side the ix men fought, their uncr-
rmg revolverscutting down the panic-stricken
out aws as they rushed into the level. After the
ﬁrst brief skirmish, the ﬁght degenerated into
a massacre. Taken so utterly by surprise, be-
tween two ﬁres, their leader killed at the very
outset, the outlaws were like a gang of terriﬁed
wolves, whom the hunters have closel sur-
rounded. A few died snapping and shut ing in
desperation, but those were the exceptions. And.
in ten minutes after the ﬁrst shot was ﬁred, the
end came. '

Don Luis clasped his sister to his breast with
more real affection than he had shown her for
many a long day but he was only coldly polite
toward Joaquin lilurieta, and the hearts of the
lovers grew heavy as they realized that there
were yet dark clouds still overhanging their
pathway.

{haforo being put to death, the few wounded
out aws were forced to tell where their horses
were hidden and their ill-gotten booty stored.
Then the rude huts were ﬁred, and the victorious
cavalcade turned their faces toward the hidden
home of the seal hunters.

This was reac ed late in the afternoon, and
Don Manuel Camplido dragged from his place
of concealment by Serapio and Miguel, who
refused permission for any one to hear them
company. The wretched villain was nearly
suffocated when lowered from the den by means
of the ladder of skins, and his senses ve
entirely away when he recognized Joaq at
liberty, beside Carmela Felix.

He was bound upon a. horse, then the caval-
cadebresumed their march toward the Felix.
mac 0.

\

CHAPTER XXVII.
AN oumons BRIDAL.

I'r was late in the night succeeding that on
which Carmela Felix was restored to the arms
of her suﬂermg father. For hours after that
meeting he lay like one in a trance, and all who
were permitted access to his bedside, feared
that his spirit would leave its earthly tenement
Without another interval of consciousness. .But
then he seemed to rally, and insisted on hearing
the whole story of the. tragedy and her subse-

uent adventures from tize lips of his daughtei's.

hough the surgeon and the priests feared the
worst from this indiscretion, Don Felix r-
sistedin having his own, way, just as be ad
done all his life, and they could on] submit.

Carmela, despite her great grie at his pre-
carious condition, could not help setting forth
the conduct of her lover  the most favorable
light, and her heart grew lighter asshe saw that
helr words were not without the hoped-for re-
su t. . x ./

Don Felix was hot-tempered and very proud,

1*

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i’d

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' terious manner remove

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oaquin, the Saddle King.

29

 
but at bottom he was just and generous. He
knew that he had bitterly wronged the young
Sonorian, and though it caused his family pride
a heavy blow, be resolved to make what amends
lay in his power. This mu have been gartly
because he was convinced t iat his son an heir
was no ﬁt guardian for Carmela, but if so, he
never gave utterance to the doubt in plain
words. ‘

After Carmela left him, in obedience to his
wishes, be summoned Don Luis. and they were
closeted together for hours. What passed be-
tween them was never known, but at the end
Don Luis, white and angry-looking. left the
building and rode away as fast as his good horse
could carry him. i

It was not until late in the iught that Don
Felix again roused up and issued a set of orders
that put the whole household in a ﬂutter. Joa-
quin, who had lingered near in hopes of securin
a. parting word with his loved one, was foun
and hurried without ex lanation into the room
where Don Felix lay. e saw the priests in at-
tendance—saw Carmela kneeling beside the
death-bed, and his heart grew full of strangely
conﬂictin emotions. _

Don Fe ix held out his thin, white hand, and
as if drawn by a magnet, Joaquin advanced and
took it’ in his own. . '

“ Senor,” began Don Felix, his VOIce low, but
very distinct, “ I have deeply wronged you b
both deed and word. As a man of honor,
wish to make what re ration lies in my power.
Once you told me the you loved in diuohter,
and that she loved you in return. arme a. has
since conﬂrme your words. And now, senor,
as the surest method of proving the sincerity of
my repentance, I ask you, before these witnesses1
have your sentiments changed, or do on stil
desire to make my daughter your wife ’

Joaquin turne ale as a corpse, and sta -
gored as though a eavg blow had been dea t
him. But then he saw armela raise her head
-he read the love-light in her eyes, and once
more he was himself.

“Don Felix, I would die for her sake—then
think what a heaven this earth would be to me,
united to her i” '

A faint smile crept over the face of the dying
man. The answer dpleased him, and he added:

“ May Heaven eal with you, as you deal
with her! Pedro—I am growing fain Per-
form our duty—I must give my ch11 ren‘a
father s blessing ere I die l” _ ’ v
It was a strange, weird bridal!

 
The ﬁnal words were spoken that united,

Carmela and J uin Murieta.’ for life. The dy-
ing man raised is trembling hands to bless
them, but the action was never completed.

From the group of domestics near the door,
a dark form, covered with hood and cowl,
glided swiftly forward and with a sharp cr
raised along, slender poniard above the bride s
bosom. Like lightning the won on descended
but with wonderful dexterity uin caught
the‘wrist of the assassinand hurled er firei ly
away. Her, tor the hood ﬂew back, revealin
the' convulsed et still beautiful features 0
Josefa, the half— reed girl] - r

Ashriek'of bafﬂed rage and anguish burst
from her livid lips as she ell,t‘o the cor. And
then, before a hand could be raised, she plun ed
the littering weapon to the very hilt in er
own in. No need. of a second blow. The
steel had pierced her heart, and she died without
a mean. ‘

'With 3. ga in ‘ cry of terror, Carmela ﬂung
herself uponsghe roast of her father—upon his
co se for the terrible dangler which so unex-
pegedly menaced his dang tor, had snapped
the slender thread of life. _ _

'l‘rul this was an ominous bridal, and term-
bly did? after events conﬁrm the superstition!

 
There was one more startling occurrence in
store for that never-to—be-forgotten night.
While all was confusion in the chamber of
death a tremblin servant entered and reported
that Don Manue Cam lido had In some mys—
ghis irOns and vanished
from the strong-room where he had been con-
ﬁned. Nor could the closest search discover
an ht of him, in or about the hacienda.
here is little more to add to this record of
the early days of Joaquin Murieta. He and
Carmela. did not tarry long at the hacienda, for
Don Luis was not an agreeable host. Heiclearly
deemed his race disgraced by the alliance
Carmela. had made, and .the young couple
started for the young Sonorian's paternal home.
During one riet year, they were hapPy and
contented; life to them was like a peasant
dream—but then the storm-clouds gathered, and
the heavy dorms, which were to transform the
hot-tempered but honest and even noblezhearted
apath into an outczfist {gem Eggetyhhis 11%;);
‘theson orloodirstyeedsn
to yn ‘ym " ' to fall, thick and
fast: «but the race ose dark days does not
belong to this story, My p e isto show
What Joe uin Marielle. was, fore he was
driven to i 9 bad, and this} have already done,
to the best of my poor ability.

FRIEND

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; 37 Bucx EYES AND BLUE. Corinne Cushman. 10c 72 THE YBT'ERIOUS GUARDIAN. By Cushman. 10c 101 F0“.P“Y' 5’ C "183 We and mo"
as Bum: 13mm By-QorinneCushman .. 10c 78 WAS SHE le. By RettWinwood .... .. lOc 3°“C'Caun- Rad" “"9 3°“ -------- ~ 10°
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40 OUIDA‘e LOVE. B Henrietta E. DeConde.. 10c 75 Film ANIrPRoUD. ByCorinne Cushmen. 10c 103 A wow HATER By Charles Reade.
2; aloe-r: A gum. B Corinne Clllgslhmatn   gs; Eﬂngmzn  B JenniiDﬁBurt/on“ 10c Ready July 14th ' . . . .. 100
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 43 A WOMAN'S HEART. .

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jg 4 45 LoRnLIeLE’s DAUGHTER. By C. M. Breeme. 10c ‘ 80 Dwoncno BUTNOT rvmnn. ByAParson‘s A “W “W9 “"7"? m

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‘ i , 47 VIALSOFWEATE. MreMe R. Crowell.. 10c i 81 ALMOBTMARRIED. B APereonls. Don ihtle‘r'. 100
. 48 A WILD GIRL. EgyCOI-inne Crashman" . . 10c 82 Two FAIR WOEEN. yB Wm. M. Pox-bin.” 10c Pain 0“ receipt of twelve 09m“- BEADLE AND
49 TuMAnDEsr MARRIAGE Em WAS. Burton. 10c 83 THE INEERI'PANCE 0! Earn. By Burton  10c ADAMS. Publishers, 98 William street. N. Y.

we! 3 Limit? '

 _, s The Only Young Ladies’ Library of First-Class Copyright Novels Published. Price, Five Cents.

z,» 1 The MISkGd Bride 01'.me SHE MA-B- 31 A Mad Marriage. ByMery A. Denieon. 64 What Jealousy bid; or In! Em “2H
 2 an it ove? or omxgsoygg'Sme 32 Mirn'“ a“ “'1'” Donn" °r‘ wo G I By “we F1 '
Wm. MAS” Turner M D Rowena) Lune. By A. Southworth. 85 The Wife’l Secret. By Col. Juan Lewis

11

 
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nuns. . .
a The GII'Blefé. By Bar-tie in Campbell, 33 The Three Sisters. By Alice Flemmg. 88 A Brother’s Sin. By Rachel Bernhardt.
. I 4 Ann'O “Glﬂ- By 30‘“ Wonh- 34 A Mannie ofConvenience: or, Wm 67 Forbidden Bans. Arabella Southwonh.
iEi’ ‘ 5 §°%' “ﬁgmer‘lrnwﬂk 6"“ 35 g: A 030;? :3!  es Weaver. and Wen. ByM. E. Braddon.
3/: . 8 he secret Mun-Ii e'. ' SmClexto ' “3° 3“ n' ' 3 “3mm 69 Camille' or Tan FArE or A time:
1,, 7 A Daughter of E59; 13;, 3mm 5-; 86 su- Archer-9| Bride. ByA. Southworth. By Alex Dlimas.’ cog ;
l? ' ' ‘ 1'0". M“ M cmweu- 37 The Country Con-In. Rose Kennedy. 70 The Two Orphans. By D’Ennery. 1

By Mri. ry ‘
. 8 gemggggfggwngymm ID"- 38 m- own Again. Arabella. Southworth. 71 My Young Wife. ByMy Young Wild:
9 Alone in the World; or, TEE YOUNG 39 Fllrtatlon. By Ralph Royal. Hquand.

i
§ , ' , M'EWARD B the authorof "Clifton." 40 pledged to Man-y, By Sam 013mm. 72 The Two Widows. ByAnnie Thomas. ,

 
. 10 A Pair or rat I! e-' or, TEE Em- .

-~ .. mm. .- 8%: em. 2:; 3“1$”°2‘£‘°£;.§i.ﬂ§° 2°23... '3 £f:%%i°“n°5’miiame mmm °' ‘ 
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‘ or ADOPTION. re. 1: . Ste ens. Sam maxto _ 0 no a y o Inna. . .
‘1‘ . 18 Made. , the Little Quakgreu. By 43 The Bmmnev' secret n LeFanu.

‘y' ' '. man 44 The On] Dan hter: or, BROTHER ’

 14 $23". Mharried Him: or, m WoxAN mum“ Levin. By ce Fleming. 76 Chirlotte Temple- By Mrs. Rowaon.
.P . m Gnu. By Sara Claxtou. 45 Her Hidden Foe. Arabella Southwprt‘n. 7'7 ﬁggggflﬁgogfnklﬁ’n; awaken, BY tbs
‘5 A 1"" F3“; @110" 1“ m W03!”- 46 The Little Heiress. By M. A. Denieon. ' m

Berti ’1'. Camp . 78 My Young Husband. ByMyeell.
, 47 Because She Loved Him or, How
. 16 Erma £11333; or, THE TRUE KNIGHT. WILL” END. By Am)er I g. 5 79 A Queen Among" women“ Bym

‘ author of “ Dora Thoma." \
17 1 Lo 1 Lower. ByA. Southworth. 48 In Spite ofﬁereelf. Bys. R. Sherwood. 80 Her Lord ""1 Manor. By Florence I

18 Ill- 1 ol; or.TEE ILIrS’i‘AmD MARRIAGE. 49 H“ Heart’s “lune... or Low M.
Mrs Mary Reed Croweu. FIRST SIGHT. By Arabella Soilthw’orth. mama“

19 he ﬁrokeu Betrothal; or. LOVE VER- 81 Lucy Temple. v ‘ V
as Mary mc Ha; - 50 The (‘uban Hell-ens or. THE Pmeom
5 Hum By G e pme‘ OFLA VINTREseE. ByMrs.‘Mary A. Denison. 82 A Long Time Ago' By Meta oned' “‘i .

20 Orphan Nelifqthe Orange Girl; or, 33 Playing for High Stakes. By Ann“. ‘ 

 
1 11:11: WINES“: “You. Agile Pglne. 51 ;‘§gngogfﬁiglﬁgmmg' THE BRIDE °’ Thomas. Readly June 14th. 
2‘ no: 3:; 5.523%”le S" 52 fir-pvhﬁigﬂgrenzen  84 332:.  egasgniymm‘? 
' LI. OR A . Mary Reed we . ’

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23 Lou. Year ' or Wm SEE PeoposEn By mom or A Rm mm" W‘ M' e" M' D' 8.6 mmﬁylgfhlfenmnceo By (300st Eliot.
. m 81mg. ’ ’ ' 54 One Woman’s Heart; or, 3mm R a
g: 24 “or F.“ Wu nu, Fortune By qum STREET. ByGeoxge S. Knime. 87 By‘wé;c§euﬁf a PoorJYou Man. ‘
31' memo;- mame. ' 55 She Did Not Love Him' or. s'roorme 88 A T H et- My “KY 1
i a 25 On] - Sch oolml-treel' or HER UN- 7° Comm By when“ so“ worm By 23:31:13 ma; or‘Rf‘l‘ '3” G°"°'
.2 ' row m1. By Arabella Sou’thworth. 56 govecglmtgr. ngmrv m, " mm W W 1% , I §
 28 Without 3 Heart. By P. lngrahnm. 57 Alvg‘rnve Girl. ‘ By Auée ﬂaming.‘ A new lame every M. .

2'! C?“  gycﬁ’qneg‘egl Orkeéag’f'm“ 58 The Ebon Mask. BYMN'Y 3- CYOWGIL TEE WAvnm LIBRARY is for Ede hr  ‘
28 Sybil Chm: or Ta: Gmm's Wm. 59 A widow’s wnes' . he! B.“ mm‘ Newsdedemy ﬁve 0011“ P“ 00W: 0' “in” h!
:. 3, mg, Ann 8. step as, 80 000W! DOM!"- 33’ “we Dam 3W“. mail on receipt oral: cents each. ‘
‘: 81 A Wicked Heart. BySmClaxton. , V

. 29 For “or M lake. By Sara 01120011. mm m mm Publishers.

. Bou not em: or, A MmuoN or 62 Th" M‘m‘c'nﬂae' 8”“ mount ‘
, so PO ‘ By q I Mm 63 The Ono]. mm... ByAnnE E. ‘Porter 93 wmmn attest. New York. W

 
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2‘4 ‘ i ,

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i1 . ‘i ‘ . . , _, V .v : 4 ,. 7‘er

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61 The Bo B

 
-——‘ BEADLE’S

 
HALF-DIME

 
LIBRARY.

 
l Deadwood Dick TEE PRINCE OETEE ROAD.
1‘3;I Edward L. Whee er. ‘
2 ellowstone Jack. By JOE. E. Badger, Jr.
3 Kansas Kin ; or TEE RED BIGET HAND.
2y Buﬂalo Bill ( on. w... r. Cody).
4 he Wild-Horse Hunters. By Captain
Mayne Reid and Captain Frederick Whittaker.
5 Vagabond Joe, THE YOUNG WANDERING JEw;
or, PLO’I'I‘ING FOR A LEGACY. By 011 COOInes.
6 Bill Riddon Trapper . By E. S. Ellis.
7 The Flying il'ankee; or. TEE OCEAN OUT-
CAST. By 001. Prentiss Ingraham.
8 Seth Jones . By Edward S. Ellis.
9 Adventures oi Baron Munchausen.
0 Nat Todd. By E. S. Ellis.
The Ttvo Detectives. B A.W. Aiken.
Gulliver’s Travels. B ean Swift.
The Dumb Spi‘y. By 0 Coonies.
Aladdin; or. III: WONDERFUL LAMP.
The Sea-Cat. By Captain Fred. Whittaker.
Robinson Crusoe. (27 Illustrations.)
7 Ralph Roy, THE BOY BUCCANEER; or, TEE
FUGITIVE YACHT. By Col. Prentiss In whom.
18 Sindbad the Sal or. His Seven oyages.
19 The Phantom Spy. By Buffalo Bill.
20 The Double Daggers. By E. L. Wheeler.
21 The Frontier Angel. By Edward S. Ellis.
22 The Sea Serpent; or. TEE BOY ROBINSON
CRUSOE. By Juan Lewis.
23 Nick 0’ the Night; or, TEE BOY SPY or ’76.
1:; T. C. Harbaugh. '
24 iamond Dirk. By Colonel P. Ingraham.
25 The Bo Captain. By Roger Starbuck.
26 (.‘loven 001', THE BUFFALO DEMON; or, TEE
BORDER VULTUREs. By Edward L. Wheeler.
27 Antelope Abe, THE BOY GUIDE. Oll Coomes.
28 Buffalo Ben, TEE PRINCE OE TEE PIsTOL;
Or, DEADWOOD DICK IN DIsoUIsE. E. L. Wheeler.
29 The Dumb Page. B Captz F. Whittaker.
30 Roaring Ralph Roe wood, TEE RECE-
LEss RANGER. By Harry St. Georg:A
31 Keen-Knife, PRINCE or TEE mm. By
Oll Coomes. .
32 Bob Woolf, TEE BORDER RUFFIAN' or, TEE
GIRL DEAD-SEOT. By Edward L. Wheeler.
33 The Ocean Bloodhound. S. W. Pierce.
34 Oregon 801' or. NICE WEIEELEs’ BOY SPY
3&0... c. J. F. (5. Adams.
35 ii Ivan, TEE BOY CLAUDE DUYAL' or, TEE
BROTHEREOOD or DEATE. B Ed. L. Wheeler.
36 The Bo Clown . By R S. Finn.
37 The Hi den Lodge. By T. C. Harbaugh.
38 Ned W ide, TEE BOY SCOUT. By Texas Jack.
39 Death- ace, TEE DETECTIVE. By Wheeler.
40 Roving Ben. A STORY or A YOUNG AMERI-
CAN WEO WANTED To SEE TEE WORLD. Marshall.
41 Lasso Jack. By 011 Coomes.
42 The Phantom Miner; Or DEADWOOD
DiOK’S BONANzA. By Edward L. Wheeler.
43 Dick Darlin , TEE PONY ExrREss RIDER.
By Capt. Frede ck Whittaker.
44 an ing Rube. By Harry St. George.
45 old Avalanche TEE GREAT ANNIEILATOR;
or. WILD EDNA, TEE dim. BEIGAND. E. L. Wheeler.
46 Glass Eye, TEE GREAT SHOT or TEE WEsT.
1133' Capt. J. F'. C. Adams.
47 ightin ale Nat. By T. C. Earbauﬁh.
48 Black ohn, TEE ROAD-AGENT. By Edger.
49 Omaha Oll TEE MAEEED TERROR: or DEAD-
woon DICE IN DANGER. By Edward L. Wheeler.
50 Burt Bunker, Tn TM. 0. E. Lssalle.
i I. By Archie C. Irons.
52TheW to B ii‘alo. ByC.E. Lasalle.
53 Jim Bludsoe, Jr., TEE BOY Pram; or,
non To DEATE. By Edward L. Wheeler.
54 Ned Hazel, TEE BOY TRAPPEE;01‘, TEE PEAN-
TOE PRINCEss. By Capt. J. F. C. Adams.
55 Deadly Eye, TEE
BRAND

@MDNNH

l
l
l
l
l
l
l
l

- UNKNOWN SCOUT; or, TEE
Iii) BROTEEREOOD. B Buil'alo Bill.
6 Nick Whimes’ Pet. t. J. F. C. Adams.
7 Deadwood Dick’s Eag‘t‘zes' or, TEE PARDs

or OD‘BAR. ﬁEdwsrd Wheeler. ‘

58‘The Border imif ByOll Coomes.

59 Old Hickory. By erg 56.060156.

60 The White ndian. apt. J. F. . Adams.

61 Buckhorn Bili' or. TEE RED Rm TEAE.

Edward eeier. v

62 he Shadow Ship. B 001. P. I raham.

63 The Red Brotherhoo . .J. amilton.

64 Dand Jack. By T. C. Harbaug .

65 Hurr cane Bill. B Jos. E. Badger. Jr

66 Single Hand. 3y J Hamilton. .

67 Patent-leather oe. By Phili S. War-De.

68 Border Robin Hood. By uﬂalo Bill.

69 Gold Riﬂe, TEE SEARrsEOOTER' or TEE'BOY
DETECTIVE OTTEE BLACK RANGE. By Wheeler.

70 Old Zip’s Cabin; or, TEE GREENEORN IN
Tn WOODS. I J. 1". C. Adams.

71 Delaware ick. By Oil Coomes.

72 Mad Tom Western, TEE 'I‘ExAN RANGER;
01‘. THE QUEEN or TEE . By Hamilton.

'13 Deadwood Dick on Deck; or, CALAMITY
JANE, TEE HEROINE or WNOOp-Up. By Wheeler.

3: kirk-eye --Ha.rry. By 011 Coo

mes.

e Boy Duelist. By Col. P.In ham.
'76 Abe Colt, TEE CROW-KILLER. By A. . Aiken.
BRAVO, or,

77 CorduroB1 Charlie, TEE BOY -
DEADwOOD cx’s LAsT ACT. By E. L. Wheeler.

78 Blue Dick. B‘st tainMayne Reid.

'19 Sol Ginﬁer GIANT Tammi. ByA.W. Aiken.

80 Rosebu lfob ;' or NUGGETNED, TEEKNIGa-r.
or TEE GUICE. B ward L. Wheeler.

81 Li inning Jo. By Ca tainJ. F. C. Adams,

82 t Baretoot, TEE OOD-HAwr or. OLD
POWDER-FACE AND HIS DENONs. By ﬁarbaugh.

83 Rollo, the Boy Ban r. liyOll Gnomes.

84 ldyl, the Girlrvllline . By , L. Wheeler.

or TEE FINALE/
8‘ “$‘3‘B...“2 ..: To...
86 Dandy Kvock. By G. Waldo Browne.

 
87 The Land Pirates. By Capt. Mayne Reid.
88 Photowph Phil, TEE BOY SLEUTE; or.
ROSEBUD' B s REAEPEARANOE. By E. L.Wheeler.
89 island Jim. By Bracebri ..
90 The Dread Rider. By G. aldo rowne.
91 The Captain oi'the Club; or, TEE YOUNG
RIVAL ATELETEG. B Braoebridge Hemyng.
92 Canada Chet; or, Ln ANACONDA IN SITTING
BULL'E CAMP. By Edward L. Wheeler.
93 The Roy Miners. By Edward S. Ellis.
94 Midnight Jack, TEE ROAD-AGENT; or,
TIIE BOY TRAPPER. By T. C. Harbaugh.
95 The Rival Rovers. Lieut. Col. Hazeltine.
96 ‘Vatch-Eye, TEE SHADOW. By E. L. Wheeler.
97 The Outlaw Brothers. By J. J. Marshall.
98 Robin Hood, TEE OUTLAWED EARL; or, TEE
' MERRY MEN or GREENWOOD. Prof. Gildersleeve.
99 The Tiger of Taos; or WILD KATE. DANDY
Rocx's ANGEL. By Geor e aldo Browne.
100 Deadwood Dick In LeaJville; or. A
STRANGE STROKE rOR LIBERTY. B Wheeler.
101 Jack Harkaway in New ork. By
Bracebn'dge Hem mg.
102 Dick Dead- ‘ye, EE BOY SMDGGLER; or.
TEE CRUISE or TEE VIx By Col. in raham.
103 The Lion of the Sea. By Col. De eSara.
104 Deadwood DICk’s Device; or. TEE
SIGN OE TEE DOUBLE CROSS. B E. L. Wheeler.
105 old Rube, TEE HUNTER. a t. H. Holmes.
06 old Frosty TEEGUIDE. By .C.Harbangh.
0'1 One-Eyed Sim. By James L. Bowen.
08 Daring Dav¥i By Harry St. George.
09 Deadwood- ick as Detective. By
Edward L. Wheeler.
10 The. Black Steed of the Prairies. A
ThrilhDiStor of Texan Adventure. By Bowen.
11 The .‘ea- evil. By Col. P. Ingraham.
1 The Mad Hunter. By Burton Saxe.
1 gawk Hoyle, TEE YOUNG SPECULATOR; or,
EE ROAD To FORTUNE. By Ed. L. Wheeler.
1 The Black Schooner. Bo er Starbuok.
l The Mad Miner; or, DANDY E‘sDOOE.
B Gear e Waldo Browne. ' -

16 he nssar Ca taln; or, TEE HEEIIT
or HELL-GATE. By 01. Prentiss In raham.
l7 Gilt-Ed ed Dick, TEE SPORT ETECTIVE;

or. TEE ADAGENTs DAUGETER. Wheeler.
18 Will Somers, TEE BOY DETECTTVE. Morris.
1 Mustan Sam, TEE KING or TEE BLAINE.
B Jns. E. Edger Jr.
2 he Branded hand. B FrankDumont.
2 Cinnamon Chip TEE IRI. SPORT; or,
TEE GOLDEN 11301. or MT. ROSA. Ed. LWheeier.
2 Phil Hardy, TIIEBoss'BOY. B C. Morris.
2 Kiowa Charley, TEE Wm us-rANGEE.
2‘12 0. Harbaugh.
2 MW, Tm: TEXAN. By Gear? Gleason.
2 Bonanza Bill, MINER. By d. L. Wheeler.
2 Picayune Pete; or. NICODms, TEE DOG
DETECTIVE. B Charles Morris.
2 Wild-Fire, ossorTEE ROAD. B Dumont.
2 The Youn Privateer. By H. vendish.
2 Deadwoo Dick’s Double {Won TEE
GnosT or GOROON's GULCE. Ed. L. eeler.
3 Detective Dick. B Charles Morris.
3 The Golden Han ; or DANDY Roar To
on. B George W. Browne.
3 The Hunte Hunter. By Ed. S. Ellis.
33 Boss Bob, TEE KING or TEE Bears
3
8
3
3
3
8
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
5

n no @md own an no a

mans:
AWNDROEER‘s PLOT. Ed. L. Wheeler.
4 Sure Shot Seth, TEE‘BOY RIELEIIAN; or TEE
YOUNG PATRIOTs orTEE NORTH. By 011 Coomes.
5 Ca tain Paul,TEE KENTUCKY MOONSEINER;
or In BOY SPY or TEE MOUNTAINs. Clark
6 Night-Hawk Kit. ByJos. E.
7 The Helge" Hand.
8 Blonde
BAsE. By Edward L. Wheeler.
9 Judge Lynch, Jr. Herbs h.
0 Blue Blazes; or TEE
or ROGEY BAR... By 'Frank Dumont.
1 Solid Sam, TEE BOY ROAD-AGENT; or, TEE
BRANDED Bnows. By Edward L Wheeler.
2 Handsogse Ha , TEE Boorsu
TECTNE. y Charles orrls.
g %:aIr-tFa£e Salli. B s
a n ance TEE Y PORT. B Badger.
5 Captain FenzethEE NEW YORK: DErEC-
TIVE; or. Boss Ben’s Boss Jon.
6 Silver Star, TEE BOY KNIGHT.
'1 Will- Wildﬁre, TEE THOROUGHBRED; or,
TEE WINNING HAND. By Charles Morris.
8 Sharp Sam; or. TEE ADVENTURES or A
FRIENDLEss BOY. By J. Alexander Patten.
9 A Game of Gold; or, DEADWOOD DICE’s
BIG STRIKE. B Edward L. Wheeler.
0 Lance and asso. B Capt. F.Whittaker.
1 Panther Paul, TEE E Pm
DAINTY LANCE To TEE RESCUE. J. E. r.
2 Black Bess, WILL WnDrIRE‘s RACER; or.
WINNING AGAINsT ODDs. By Charles Morris.
3 Eagle Kit, TEE BOY DEMON. B Oll Coomes.
4 The Sword Hunters. By .Whittaker.
1 55 Gold Tri or m SPOET. '1‘. O. Harbsugh.
156 DeadWOo Dick of Deadwood or,
THE Prawn ARTY. By Edward L.Wh er.
157 Mike Merry, TEE HARDOR POLICE Boner,
Tm: NIGET-Hwas or PHILADELPHIA. Morris.
158 Fancy Frank of Colorado; or, TEE
1 L,5 :38“ u? “ﬁlo Po
159Tie os ap n'or PEN LAN.
SE... B Ca tain Fredei-Ick Whittaker.
130 The lac Giant i: or, DAINTY LANCE IN
JEOPAEDY. By Joseph . .
161 New York Neil TEE BOY DETECTIVE;
or OLD Emma's ONEY. By E. IAW'beeler.
162 Win Wildﬂrein the Woods. Morris.
163 Little Texas, THE YOUNG Mus-rme A
Tale of Texan Prairies. By 0 Coomes.
184 Dandy Rock’s Pledge. By G.W. Browne.

or. TEE P

ger, Jr:
Capt. Mayne Reid.

0’ DAY Is

C: DE-
Oli Coomes.

Bﬁ Wheeler.
y Coomes.

HH ﬂ HH H I‘ Hid HHH H H HH I‘HH H ‘H Hill HI‘ “Hid HH“ Hill HH Hid H H hill" HHH H HHHH

11; or. DEADwoon DICK's Hon .

 
165 Billy Ragga e, TEE RAILROAD BOY; or,
RUN To EARTH. y Charles Morris.

166 Hickory ﬂarléy. By Barry St. 

167 Asa Scott,TEE TEAEDOAT BOY. By ett.

168 Deadly Dash. By Joe. E, Badger, Jr.

169 Tornado Tom; or, INJ'C'N JACK FROII RED
CORE. ’1‘. C. Harbaugh.

170 A Trump Card; or, WILL WILDm WINS
AND LOHES. By Charles Morris.

171 Ebony Dan. By Frank Dumont.

1 72 Thu nderhoit Tour; or, TEE WOLF-HERD“.
or THE ROCKIES. By Her St. Geo e.

173 Dand Rock’s Riva . ByG. .Browne.

1 74 Bob orkctt, THE BOY DODGER. B Morris.

175 Captain Arizona. By Philip S. sme.

_ 176 The Boy Runaway‘ or, TEE BUOCANEEE

or THE BAY. Lieut. H. D. erry, USN.

177 Nobby Nick oI‘Nevnda' or. TEE SCAM?
OETI-IE SIERRAs. By Edwar L. Wheeler.

178 Old Solitary. By 0L1 Coomes.

179 Bob Beckett, TEE BANE RUNNER. Morris.

180 The Sea Trailer; Or AVOw WELL‘KBPI‘.
By Lieut. H. D. Perry, U. s. N.

181 “'ild Frank, TEE Bvcxser BRAVO; or,

r LILY's LOVE. By Edward L. Wheeler. -

182 Little Hurricane, THE BOY CAPTAIN.
By 011 00011168.

1 83 The Hidden Hand ; or,‘ WILLWKLDFIRE'B
REVENGE. By Chas. Morris.

184 The Do Trailers; or. DAINTY LANCE ON
THE WAR« ATE. By Joe. E. Badger. Jr.

1 85 Evil Eye, KING or CATTLE TmEvEs' or, TEE
VOLTUREs or TEE RIO GRANDE. By F. bumont.

186 Cool Desmond; or, TEE GANDLER‘G BIG
GAEE. By COL Della Sara. -

187 Fred Halyard, THE LINE BOAT BOY; or
TEE SMUGGLERS or TEE INLET. By C. Morris.

188 Ned Temple, TEE BORDER BOY. Barbeugh.

189 Bob Rockett, TEE CRACEsuAN. By Morris.

19,0 Dand Darke ' or, TEE TIOEEs OE HIGH
PINE. By Wm. R. Eyeter. , ‘

191 Buffalo Bill , THE BOY BULLw’IIAonR.
By Capt. A. B. aylor, U S.A.

192 Captain Kit. By Lieut. H. D. Perry.U.S.N.

193 Captain Mask TEE LADY ROAD-AG - or.
PATENT-LEATHER :TOE’S DnrsAT. By 6.

194 Buil‘alo Bill’s Bet. By Captain Taylor.

195 DeadwOod Dick’s Dream. ByWheelerI

198 Shadowed; or, Boa Boczm‘s FIGET EOE
Ln'E. By Charles Morris.

197 ‘Little Grit, TEE WILD RIDER. By Ingraham.

198 Arkansaw, TEE MAN WITH TEE Km.
By T. C. Harbaugh.

199 Featherweight; or. TEE BOY CEAErION
or TEE MusKINGUN. By Edward Willett. .

200 The Boy Bedouins. By Cspt.1‘rederick
Whittaker.

201 The Black Hills Jezebel or DEAD-
woon Dion’s WARD. By Edward Wheeler.

202 Prospect Pete, or TEE BOY BRIGADE; or,

TEE YOUNG Oumw HUNTEas. By Oil Coomes.
203 The 'Boy Pards. By Joe. E. Badger, Jr.
204 Gold Plume, TEE BOY BANDIT. inst-sham.

205 Deadw'ood Dick’b Doom. A'i‘sls 0t ‘ .
Death Notch. By Edward 1.. Wheeler.
206 Dark Paul, m Tran KING. By .0. Morris. .

207 Navalo Nick, TEE BOY GOLD HUNTER. A
Tale 0 Arizona. By T. C. Earhaugh.

208 The Boy Hercules. ByOll Coomes.

209 Fritz, TEE BOUND-BOY DETECTIVE. Wheeler.

210 Faro Frank of High Pin? or, DANDY
DAEEE‘s GO-DOWN PARDs. By .ILEysten

211 Crooked Cale, m CALIEAN or CELIBTIAI.

. By Joe. E. Badger, Jr.

212 Dashing Dave, TEE DANDY DITEOTIVE.

By Charles Morris.

213 Fritz to the Front. ByE. LWheeler.

214 Wolfganwm ROEEER or TEE REINE.
By Cap erlck Whittaker.

215 Ca tain Bullet, TEE RAIDEE KING. By
T. . Harbaugh.

216 Bison Bill, TEE PRINCE or TEE Esme. ‘
By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

217 Ca tain Crack-Shot, TEE Gnu. BEIGAND'
or, met! JACK molt Jnrrowx. By Edward
L. Wheeler.

\ ,

218 Tiger Tom, TEE Tum Tums. By Oil
Coomes.

219 Des ard, the Duelist ;Wor.'1‘ln MOUN-
TAIN AurIREs. By Philip S. mm.

220 Tom Tanner, SCALAWAG AND SCADEOEAOE.
By Charles Morris.

221 Sn ar Coated sun-Or 'I‘Es Nations
or an: Gown. By E.’L. Wheeler.

' th amble . C l elPren
2” 1m? gaudy Oct'ébegsti’. on a”

223 Ozark A KING or TEE MOUNTAIN.
Edward Whigt ResdyNovernber let. By

A new lulu my week.

The Halt-Dime Library is for sale  All
Newsdeslers, ﬁve cents per cog or sent by In on
reeeligg of six cents each. EADLE a ADAMS.
Pub ere, 98 William Street, New York.

 
BEADLE’S

 
32 Large 'rlnrae-Cnlulnu ‘ Pages.

1. A Hard Crowd. By P. S. Warne.

2. The Dare-Devil; OR, THE WINGED
WITCH or TEE SEA. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

3. Kit Carson, Jr., THE CRACK SHOT or
mWEsT. B Buckskin Sam.

:4. The 'dnapper. By P. S. Warne.

5. The Pire-Piends; 0R, HERCULES, THE
Emmett. By A. P. Morris.

6. Wildcat Bob, THE Boss BRUISER ;
on, TEE BORDER BwoDROUNDs. By Ed. L. Wheeler.

7. Death-Notch, THE DEBTROYER; on,
THE SPIRIT LAKE AVENGERs. By 011 Coomes.

8. TheHe ess Horseman. A strange
story of Texas. By Capt. Mayne Reid.

9. Handy Andy. By Samuel Lover.

10. Vidoeq, THE FRENCH POLICE SPY.
Written by himself.

1 1. Midshipman Easy. By Capt. Mar-

mat.
12. The Death-Shot; OR, TRACKED To
DEATH. By Capt. Mayne Reid.
. Pathawag; OR, NICK WHIFFLES, THE
“simmymzﬁ‘s “mm'BB Sahara
. an 2.. y un e.
15. The Tiger-myer; on; EAGLE-
HKAD 10 THE RESCUE. B Gustave Aimard.
16. The White hard. Ned Buntline.
1”. Nightshade, THE ROBEEE PRINCE

or HOUNSLOW HEATH. By Dr. J. H. Robinson.

18. The Sea Bandit. By Ned Buntline.
19. Red Cedar, THE PRAIRIE OUTLAW.
By Gustave Aimard.
3(1). TTile Bandit at Bay. By Aimard.
. o Tra per’s Da hter- 0
THE OUTLAw‘s FATE.p By Gusmvemid. , R,
22. Whitehw: OR, NATTEE on THE LAKE
SHORE. B Dr. J. H. Robinson.
, 23. e Red Warrior. By Ned Buntlne.
24. Prairie Flower. By G. Aimard.

26. The Gold-Guide; 0R. STEEL ARM, ‘

TEE REGULATOR. By Francis Johnson.
26. The Death- By F. Johnson.
27. The Spotter-Detective. By Aiken.
28. Three-Fingered Jack. THE ROAD-
AGENTOITEEROCKIES. B Jose hE. Badger, Jr.
E %A30 KING; or,
Philip S. Wame.
By J. E. Badger.
;’ OR, THE
Pugs or LIGHTNING. By Albert W. iken. .
2. B’hoyl of Yale; OR, THE SCRArEs
or‘A HARD SET or COLLEGIANs. By John D. Vose.
33. Overland Kit. By A. W. Aiken.
34. RockyMountain Rob. By Aiken.
35. Kentuek. the Sport. By Aiken.
38. Dick. By Albert W. Aiken.
37. Hirl. the Hunchback; OR, THE
SwosnnKER or m SANTEE. By Dr. J. H. Robinson.
38. Velvet Hand; on, TIIE IRON GRIP or
[MUN DICK. Albert W. Aiken.
39. The ulsian Spy. By,Whittaker.
40. The Haired ‘Pardsz’ ’OR,
Tu TARTAEs on THE , NB. By Joe. E. Badger. Jr.
41. Gold Dan; OR, THE WHITE SAVAGE
or 78! GREAT SALT LAKE, By Albert W. Aiken.
42. California Detective. By Aiken
43. Dakota Dan. THE RECKLEss RANGER;
or. TEE BEE-HUN'I-Ens‘ ExcunsION. By 011 Coomes.
44. Old Dan Rackback. Oll Coomes.
45. Old Bull’s Eye, TEE LIGHTNING
Sam on ms PLAINs. By Joseph E. Badger. JR.
46. Bowie-Knife Ben. By Oil Coomes.
47. Paciﬁc Pete, TEE PRINCE on THE
REVOLVER. By Joe. E. Badger. Jr.
48. Idaho Tom, THE YOUNG OUTLAW
or SILVERIAND. By 011 Coomes,
49. The Wolf Demon. 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. '
I 52. Death Trailer, THE CHIEF or
Scams. H'on. Wm. 1“. Cody, (Buﬂalo Bill.)
53. S ver Sam; or, THE MS'IERY or
- Deaiwoon Crn'. By Col. Delle Sara.
54. Alw s on Hand; or, THE SPORTIVE
SPOM' or run our HILLE. By Philip S. Warne.
55. TheScalp Hunters. 'Mayne Reid.
56. The Indian By Aiken.
57. The Silent Hunter; or, TEE SCOWL
HALL Mrsmr. B PereyB. SLJohn. ’ V
58. Silver ﬁnite. By Dr. J. H. Robinson.

 
LIBRARY. '

 
59. The Man From Texas. By Aiken.

60. Wide Awake; or, THE lDIOT OF
THE BLACK HILLS. Bv Frank Dumont.

61. Captain Seawaif. THE PRIVATEER.
By Ned Buntline.

62. Loyal Heart. By Gustave Aimard.

63. The Winged Whale. By Aiken.

64. Double- ight, the Death Shot.

1'.

By Jose h E. Badger,
a Red Raga: By F. Whittaker.
66. The Specter que. Mayne Reid.
67. The Boy Jock . By J. E. Badger.
68. The Fighting rapper; or, KIT
CARsON TO THE RESCUE. By Capt. J. F. C. Adams.
69. The Irish Captain. By Whittaker.
70. Hydrabad, THE STRANGLER; or,
Am. TEE CHILD on THE CORD. By Robinson.
71. Captain Cool-Blade, or, THE MAN
SHARK on THE MISSISSIPPI. By Jos. E. Badger. Jr.
72. The Phantom Hand. By Aiken.
73. The Knight of the Red Cross;
or, Tu; MAGIOIAN or RANADA. Dr. J. H. Robinson.
'74. Captain of the Riﬂes. Mayne Reid.
75. Gentleman Geor . By Aiken.
76. The 'Queen’s usketeer; or,
TnIsnE, THE PRINOEss PALmsT. By George Albony.
: 77. The Fresh of Frisco. By Aiken.
’ 78. The Mysterious Spy; or, GOLDEN
ERA TEE BucoANEER‘s DAUGHTER. By Grainger,
79. cc Phenix, POLICE Srv. By Aiken,
80. A Man of Nerve. By P. S. Warne.
81. The Human Tiger. By Aiken.
82. Iron Wrist, the Swordmaster.
By Col. Thomas H. Monstery.
83. Gold Bullet Sport. By Buﬂalo Bill.
84. Hunted Down. By A. W. Aiken.
85. The Cretan Rover. By Ingraham.
86. The Big Hunter; or, THE QUEEN
on THE Woons. By the author of “ Silent Hunter.”
87. The Scarlet Captain; or, THE
PRIsONER on THE TOWER. Col. Delle Sara.
88. BignGeoI-ggh nE GIANT on THE
Gown: or, FIVE w 3mm. By Badger.
89. The Pirate Prince. By Ingrnham.
90. Wild Will, THE MAD RANCIIERO;
or. TEE TERRIBLE TEXAN. B Buckskin Sam.
91. The Winning ar. By Aiken.
92. Buﬂalo' Bill, TEE BUCKSKIN KING;
By Major Dangerﬁeld Burr.’
93. Ca tain Dick Talbot, KING or
THE ROAD. y Albert W. Aiken.
9" “WW ’Eagof‘éffﬁﬁwe
War or m AVE. y n ,
'95. Ashort, TnEAquN. By A. P. Morris.
96. Double-Death. By 1“. Whittaker.
97. Bronle Jack. THE CALnronmA
THOROUGHBRED. By A. W. Aiken.
98. The Rock Rider: or. THE SPIRIT
on THE SIERRA. By Capt. Frederick Whittaker.
99. The Giant Riﬂeman; or, WILD
LIFE IN THE LUMBER REGIONS. By 011 Coomes.
l 00. The French Spy. By A. P. Morris.
101. The Man from New York; or,
TEE ROMANCE or A RICE YouNG WOMAN. By Aiken.
102. The Masked Band: or, THE MAN
WITHOUT A NAME. By George L. Aiken.
103. Merle, the Mutineer. Ingraham.
104. Montezuma. the Merciless; or,
TRE EAGLE AND TEE SEWT. By Col. P. Ingraham.
105. Dan Brown of Denver, TEE
ROCKY MOUNTAIN Dmc'nvs.’ By J os. E. Badger, Jr.
106. Shanius O'Brien, THE BOULD BOY
or GLINGAL. By Colonel Delle Siam.
- 07. Richard Talbot of Cinnabar:

or, THE BROTEERS OF THE RED HAND. By A.W. Aiken.

108. The Duke ofDlamondn; or, TEE '

FLOWER or CAIcu'I'rA. By Capt. Fred. Whittaker. .
109. Captain ,d. By Col. Ingraham.
110. The Ssilent I“. gala. By Hertaert.
111. The mugs“ aptdn; or, as

SKIrrER’s CRIEE. By _ed Buntline.

1 12. Joe Phenix, PRIVATE DETECTIVE;
or, TEE LEAGUE OF THE SKELETON KEYS. By Aiken.
113. The Sea Slip r; or, THE AMA-

TEUR FREEEOOTERE. By Pro . J. H. lngraham.
1 14. The Gentleman from Pike; or,

TEE GKosT on THE CANYON. By Philip S. Wame.

1 15. The Severed Head: or, TEE

SECRET or Cm COUCY. By Capt. Fred.Whittaker.
116. Black Plume, THE DEVIL on Tax

SEA; or, ran Sononuss or HELL-GATE. Bylngmham.

Each Number Complete. Price 10 (1....

1 1 7. Dashing Dandy, THE HOTspUR on
THE HILLS. By Major Dangerfield Burr. -‘

1 18. The Burglar Captain ;. or, THE.
KFALLEN STAR. By Prof. J. H. Ingraham.
119. Alabama Joe, By J. E. Badger.
120. The Texan Spy. By N. M. Curtis.
121. The Sea Cadet. By Ingraham.
122. Saul Sabberday,THE IDIOT SPY;
or, LULIONA, THE SEMINOLE. By Ned Buntline.
123. Alapaha, the Squaw; I r, THE
RENEGADES OF THE BORDER. By Francis Johnson.
124. Assowaum, the Avenger: or,
THE DOOM on THE DESTROYERS. .By FI‘anClS Johnson.
125. The Blacksmith Outlaw; or.
MERRY ENGLAND. By Harrison Ainsworth.
126. The Demon Duelist; or. THE.
LEAGUE OF STEEL. By Colonel Thos. H. Monstery.
127. Sol Scott. THE MASKED MINEB‘ or.
DAN BROWN’s DOUBLE. By Joseph E. Badger.
128. The Chevalier Corsair; or, TEN.
HERITAGE or HATRED. By the author of “ Merle."
129. Mississippi Mose. By Ed.Wi‘:lett.
130. Captain Volcano; or, THE MAN
on THE RED REVOLVERs. By Albert W. Aiken.
13 1. Buckskin Sam,THETEXAN TRAILER,
or, THE ans on THE BRAVO. By Col Ingraham.
132. Nemo, King of the Tramps; or,
TEE RouANY GIRL’s VENGEANCE. By Whittaker.
183. Body. the Rover; or, THE BID-
BONIIAN or IRELAND. By William Carleton.
134. Darkie Dan. THE COLORED DETEO
'mm; or. TI-IE MISSISSIPPI MYSTERY. By Ingraham
135. The Bush Ranger; or, Tm:
HALEBEEED BRIGADE. By Francxs Johnson.
136. The Outlaw-Hunter; 0:, RE:-
JOEN. TEE Buss RANGER. By Francis Johnson. \
137. Long Beard. TIIE GIANT SPY. B,
011 Coomes.
138. The Border Bandits; or, TEE
Hoses-Tmnr’s TRAIL. By Francis Johnson
139. Fire-Eye, THE SEA HYENA: or,
THE BRIDE or A BUCOANEEE. By Col. P lngraham.
140. The Three Spaniards. By
George Walker.
141. Equinox Tom, TEE BULLY or RED
ROCK. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.
142. Cagtain Crimson, THE MAN on THE
IRON FACE. y Major Dangerﬁeld Burr.
. 143. The Clar’s spy; or. TEE NIKILIsT
LEAGUE. By Col. Thos. Hoyer Monstery.
144. The Hunchback ofNotre-Dame.
By Victor Hugo,
145. Pistol Pards. By W. R. Eyster.
146. The Doctor Detective; or, THE
MYSTERY or m GOLDEN Comm. By Geo. Lemuel.
147. Gold Spur. THE GENTLEMAN FROM
TEXAS. By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham.
148. One - Armed Alf, THE GIANT
HUNTER on THE GREAT LAKES. By 0110901st
149. The Border Riﬂes. By Ainiard.

150. El Rubia Bravo. KING on Tim
SwoRDsEEN. By Col. Thomas Boyer Monetary.

151. The Preebootérs. By Aimnrd.

152. Captain Ironnerve. THE Coun-
TEanrrEn CHIEF. By Marmaduke Dey.

153. The White Scalper. By Aimard.

154. Joaquin, THE SADDLE KING. By
’ Joseph E. Badger, Jr. .
155. The Gipdes of the Sea. 'By
Colonel Prentiss lngraham. ,

156. Velvet Pace. By Major Danger-
ﬁeld Burr. Ready October 19th. '

1'57. Monra‘d. THE MANELUKE. B- ‘
Col. Thomas Boyer Monetary. Ready October mlh. d
' A imam even; met.-

Beadle’s Dime Library is tor-ale b all

Newsdealers tend ts cop. raentb n: on
receipt or n'veive gunﬁght ,BﬁADLEJADAm

 
Publishers. 98 Wilbamstreet. New York.

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