CHAPTER XVIII.
ROSARIO BEGINS TO HOPE.
The Captain went up to the hunter quickly, and briskly extending hishand, bade him welcome. But the other was so busy filling his shortmeerschaum pipe, that he did not apparently perceive the hand, andsimply thanked him.
"When do we make a start, captain?" he inquired.
"Right away," replied Kidd in a feverish voice.
He issued orders forthwith, so that the greatest animation soon stirredthe encampment, everybody being delighted to get out of the bad spot.In a couple of hours subsequently the train was on the move, withDearborn scouting in the van.
A two-mule litter carried Dona Rosario, whilst the other womenwere "piled in, somehow, anyhow" in the huge wagons covered with awaterproof cloth.
Behind the captain, the men sauntered along, their guns quite ready ontheir shoulders, keeping one eye on the wagons and the other on thecountry, so to say.
From seven to midday nothing occurred of any moment. The roads, if theycould be called such where none were traced save by wild beasts goingto water, were in such a condition that wheeled traffic was bound to beslow. Now and again a gang of men took to axes or spades, as the casemight be, and hewed or levelled a path.
In "the nooning," the cattle were breathed and rested. In five hours,not twenty miles had been covered.
The halting place chosen was in a rather broad open land in the thickof a cedar and piney wood, through which brawled a torrent havingaccessible banks only in one spot.
A little on one side, a tent was hastily run up for Dona Rosario. Theother women were strictly, even cruelly severely guarded, and kept fromspeaking together, still less to the adventurer, as much as possible.
Since the Englishman's introduction into the camp, Miss Maclan hadcheered up wonderfully. No nods or rebukes constrained her fromdisplaying her relief, and soon she set to singing. In a brief spaceshe became the licensed songstress of the band, for the rudestAmericans have a fondness for music. She was so liked after this, thatthe men would have rebelled if she had been silenced by the Captain, orCorky Joe, though, to tell the truth, these smiled patronizingly on herefforts.
Ulla had conceived a genuine affection for Rosario, if only becauseshe was so sad and pale. On her part, the Southerner was touched byher delicate attentions, and it was a great consolation for her tomeet with a loving soul and tender heart, to say nothing of a vigorousintelligence. Once the ice was broken, they became inseparable.
Kidd marked this connection with pleasure; he favoured it rather thanfettered it. He had been vexed by his captive's pining away, and hopedthat the different temperament of the Scotch young lady would exert apowerful influence on the Spaniard's mind, and act healthily on herreflections.
The halt had hardly been cried before the scout looked close to his gun.
"In two hours we must be off again," he remarked; "this is no spotto make a prolonged stay in. One good thing is, that the weather isclearing up, and the ground will be good for travelling. We must do ourbest whilst things are on our side."
"Excellent advice!" coincided the leader; "But how about dinner withus?"
"No, no," returned the other, shaking his head; "your salt horse andboiled beans do not go down with me. I am not tired, and I am nothungry. So I prefer to sweep the country and try to find a bit of gameto tickle my palate."
"A good idea again," said the captain, laughing. "You are the firstscout I ever came across who had no appetite. Well, good luck!"
"Many thanks," replied the other, with one of those smiles which theSpanish call half sour grapes, half-sweet figs, to which he seemedaddicted for Kidd's benefit.
He strode away rapidly, and was speedily lost to view.
"A queer character," observed the adventurer; "but they are all queerthe farther up north one gets! However, we must take men as we findthem. He seems true and faithful, and that's the main thing. Besides,where's his interest in betraying me? What a fool I am! Is there notalways something to be gained by betraying a man like me? Tut, tut I amI going daft like Dave Steelder, or, rather," he went on with a cunningsmile, "crazy in the real vein. It has come to this, that lately I amworrying myself into a fever."
At this point up came Corky Joe.
"Oh, here you are, eh? How's that wretch Paul getting on?"
"Paul's as lucky as an Injin doctor!" answered the lieutenant,laughing. "He hardly feels the knocking about. He heals up like a manwho never soaked in whisky. When I left him he was packing away coldbeef like an Injin warrior after a fast, and drinking like the GreatAmerican Desert when the rum cask is staved. He's going to get roundit, don't you fret."
"I reckoned he would!"
"I'll be fair to him, besides--he don't want no nursing; he wants tobuckle to his work right off."
"No, no, stop that. Compel him to rest a day or two, which will makehim more useful and bother us less."
"Oh, I say, cap.! I've put extra sentinels out all round."
"You did quite right; though there's nothing _scary_, we had better beon our guard. Those Red River Half-breeds are no more to be trustedthan the purebred red men; and I wish they were both drowned in thenearest salt pool! But hurry up to dinner; I feel as sharp as a meatsaw freshly filed!"
"That's me!" added "Corky Joe," promptly as an echo.
Long before the men were through their meal, voraciously though theyate, the two young ladies, who met in the wilderness from such oppositedirections, had finished theirs--of which they had made but a mockery.
"Something unusual is about us, senorita," said Miss Maclan to Rosario,with an arch look. "There is a gay expression on your features, towhich they are not habituated. Surely, now, something new is at hand; Ihope you are going to tell me?"
"How curious we are!" returned the Southerner, smiling.
"Do not judge me wrongfully, indolent creature! It is notinquisitiveness that moves me, but friendship."
"I am well aware of that, darling; so I shall not make you languish. Iam going to tell you everything."
"That is nice; and I do love you in the same frank way. But wait a bit,until I make sure that we have no eavesdroppers. It is a sensible thingto be prudent hereabouts, with persons handy who make no scruples aboutlistening!"
She set up a song to express unconcern, and went out of the tent fora short absence. When she reappeared, she laid her finger on her lipsto impress caution, and sat down close beside her, so that they couldconverse in whispers.
"Do you mean they are watching us?" queried Dona Rosario.
"We are always watched," was the answer; "but this time more sharplythan ever!"
"I wonder why?"
"I cannot say."
"But cannot you guess, as the Yankees do?"
"No; nor even suppose. What do you think of this?--There are sentriesposted all around the camp!"
"That's not strange, silly! That is done every time they stop."
"I daresay, senorita; but--"
"Why, that's to keep the Indians off--not to keep us in!"
"But why are they put everywhere except just behind this tent?"
"What do you say?"
"You can see for yourself, Rosario!"
"What do you conclude from this arrangement?"
"To my mind, for some hidden reason, they want to fill us with an ideaon which we should be gulled into acting. I am certain of this--thatLieutenant Joe placed the men on the watch himself. It is some trick,in spite, of that wretch, who hates you worse than the captain!"
"You are out of your wits, dear!" responded the Mexican, laughing."Your reasoning is all askew!"
"Much obliged! Does not the Lieutenant plague you all he can?"
The dark girl approached her lips to the other's quick car, and gentlybreathed--
"Joe is our friend--our only friend!"
"Eh?" exclaimed Miss Maclan, unable to believe she had heard aright,as she fastened a frightened look on the speaker; "The Lieutenant ourfriend--you are jesting!"
"I repeat tha
t he is our most devoted friend; I more than know it--Ihold the proof of it."
"Oh, dear me!" ejaculated Ulla, in almost comic surprise, it was soextreme.
"Yes," went on Rosario, "when I was left by myself, he came to me,profiting by Captain Kidd's absence. He made his true character knownto me, and pledged entire devotion. He said that he was in the caravanto guard and save me. After recommending me to be as wise as possible,he left me the most undeniable proof of his good faith, proof thatwould turn terribly against him if he were to betray me instead ofserving me. What do you think of that?"
"Oh, that explains your having been so strange and excited when I cameback to you," cried Miss Maclan, clapping her hands incautiously."I understand now. But why did you not let me know before? This wasunkind, as I was so uneasy about you."
"Don't bear me any ill will, for I was distraught with sudden gladness."
"What an amazing thing. That Joe fellow is very ugly," said MissMaclan, merrily; "but I shall try to love him now!"
"Now it is you who are excited, girl. Calm yourself, lest we beoverheard."
"No, no, there is nothing to fear, at least, in the immediate present.Oh, dear Rosario, what a blessing this is for you, and perhaps for me,for I am to keep by you, am I not? What a mercy it will be to flitthrough the grip of that nasty Captain Kidd, a gallows bird, who nevereven blinks behind his spectacles."
"Yes, yes, no parting between us, dear Ulla. We will remain friendsalways. Columbia and Caledonia forever. Hip, hip, hur--"
But she did not conclude her burlesque cheering. The two girls were inone another's arms, weeping tears of hope and joyfulness, when a sharp,yet low hiss pierced the silence, and made Dona Rosario prick up herears. She came from a climate where abounded reptiles making such asound.
Presently, a spent revolver cartridge shell was neatly cast so as toroll in under the tent edge, almost to the girls' feet. Miss Maclanpicked up the cylinder, being the nearer and the more courageous. Apaper was curled up in it, and slightly protruded. She pulled it outwith trembling fingers. It opened, and she saw it was addressed to her.She rapidly ran her eyes over it, and then slowly and thankfully readit aloud.
These were the contents:--
"Dear Miss Maclan,--All obstacles are overcome, so that I have beenmore than happy enough to discover your whereabouts, for I am evenclose to you. I am on the watch, so hope! I may even succeed in gettingspeech with you. Much to say. Ranald Dearborn."
There was a postscript, wishing her hope and courage, and bidding herburn the note.
"That must come from a friend, no doubt?" observed Rosario, slyly.
"Oh, indeed," replied the Scotch girl, suppressing a sigh, "a verydear, leal friend, in whose promises I can place complete trust."
"Why, things go better and better. I should not wonder if we were freedbefore a great while."
"Heaven grant it."
"Don't you forget what was told you."
"What?"
"The burning the paper, goose. It is important, I rather agree."
"Must it be destroyed?"
"Decidedly, my dear; were the captain to find a line of it, you andyour friend would be lost. Dearborn is the name of the new guide, whoread Mr. Kidd a lesson in behaviour to a lady. He known as our friend,too, and a correspondent, we would be separated."
"Very well, then, I shall not hesitate. It's a painful sacrifice, for,somehow, that message seems written with a consoling angel's feather."
She began to tear the paper with an unsteady hand. But at that sameinstant a heavy foot was heard at the door. Ulla dropped the writing.But before it was half way to the ground, the Southerner had caught it,and snatching some tobacco, shredded, she began to make a cigarette asshe lolled back with a good assumption of ease.
"Can a body come in without disturbing you too much?" inquired CaptainKidd in his well-known and little-liked voice at the door.
"There is no need, captain, for you to feign a politeness you littlecare for," was Rosario's reply. "Am I not your very slave, and as suchobliged to obey you? As you are the master, come in if you like."
In came the chief of the gold grabbers with a little bow.
"Really, young lady," he said, "my presence must be very odious to youif you receive me always so poorly. Still, it does seem to me that Iam trying continually to please you in every way, I am not aware ofanybody round here failing to treat you properly."
"Moral constraint is a hundred times more irksome than physical, sir. Iam not free; that's the whole question; I cannot be contented as longas I an prohibited from leaving your camp forever, and never settingeyes on you or your scoundrelly followers."
"Poor little lady!" he answered, with ironical kindliness, "Whitherwould she go if I were to present her with the freedom she longs for?My child, you might not go five miles, nay, not three, before downyou would go--shot by an Indian, one of these Half-breeds, or intosome alkali sink pit, or wild beasts' lair. I should never have donereproaching myself if I let you incur any such fate."
"Oh, it is not today that I have become acquainted with your humanity,sir, and your love for your neighbour. But let us no longer discussfruitless subjects, which I daresay interest you most feebly. I beg yourather to inform me of the object of your visit. Your time is valuable,and you would not waste it chatting with a young lady."
This speech was made with so strong an accent of scornful fun, that herhearer only overcame his anger by a powerful effort.
"I am still waiting," resumed his tormentor after a minute. "Have younothing, after all, to say?"
"You must forgive me, senorita," said he, "but your reception was sosurprisingly charming, that it made me forget what I came for."
"Perhaps I may smoke whilst it comes again, by your leave, of course?"said the impudent minx, with a sly glance at Miss Maclan, whom Kiddaffected to regard as a mere companion, a kind of better class servant."I am in such a way, lately, of _palliating anything disagreeable_ witha smoke, that I really cannot get along without my cigar while you areby!"
She accepted a match from Ulla and lighted up.
"Now then, master, you can fire away too if you are ready!"
All this was said and done with the free and easy manner of an Americangirl. The malicious thing thoroughly enjoyed puffing into the very faceof their persecutor the smoke of the letter which conveyed a vexationto him. So much satisfaction was in this unsuspected revenge before theonly person able to measure it, that Rosario felt even a little lessspiteful towards the man who for once was her victim.
As he had not the ghost of a suspicion, the mute conference of thegirls had no meaning in his eyes, but he did notice with relief thatthe American girl looked less angry.
"Senorita," he said, "a serious motive impels me here. I can put itshortly. This morning we started off with the intention of turning ourbacks on the cheerless wilds and striking for quarters rather morehospitable."
"So far, sir, I do not hear anything much to interest me."
"I am coming to it. I hired a new guide, whom I presented to you--thatMr. Dearborn."
"Well!" she inquired loudly, to keep attention on her and away fromMiss Maclan, who could not help colouring at the name. "What's thiscold Englishman to me?"
"Of no account to you, very likely, miss! But he's everything to me.The worthy young fellow saved my life, as I told you. Over and above mygratitude, there's any amount of confidence I have in him."
"Go on; go on, sir. If you will bore me with your private business, letme hear all and be done with it. I suppose there's nothing to spur youon; and my time belongs to you if to anyone."
"There you are, joking me again, senorita. Still, I am not talking atrandom, and I would not go into these particulars if they could beomitted."
"Have your own way, I tell you, captain. You were saying that youentertained great confidence in your new guide, who had saved yourprecious life. You see I remember what you said."
"So you do. Well, senorita, this guide promises to save us three da
ys'march and to take us in one day into a region almost temperate."
"A very good thing for you! But you will again allow my remark that itdoes not concern me."
"But you have a vast interest in it! You shall see for yourself too. Itwas the guide himself who suggested my coming to you."
"This is getting extremely interesting at last!"
"Yes, while we were on the move this morning."
"More and more interesting," she said seriously, whilst Miss Maclanleaned forward eagerly.
"The guide said to me, then," went on the captain, smiling, "'I can,if you like, avoid the long way round and drop you in four-and-twentyhours into mild weather; but I must not hide from you that it is bya breakneck road, so dangerous that the bravest men never go throughwithout an attack of ague. There's only two ways of doing it, on footor on horseback. Your band is lumbered up with women and children.Reflect how you are going to get them along.' My answer to this was,'There's no need to fret about the women and girls, as they arefrontier bred and know how to rough it. There is only one person whosesafety is important to me, and I do not care to endanger her in a riskypath. That person is the Spanish dona.' 'If she is enough of a rider tostick to a horse, I warrant we'll get her through,' said he to that.'Can't you ask her anyway? Then we shall know whether we are in a fixor not.' So I said I would see about it; and here I am, senorita, cometo disturb you."
"If one is to go by your story, it was more you than the guide that ledto your coming."
"To tell the truth, my head is confused, and I do not carry a clearmemory of the exact phrases employed. But this does not matter muchone way or the other. The main point is to know, senorita, if you canride well enough to stay in the saddle in a bad bridle path."
"Either I am very dull, or you have left out part of your argument,senor, though of importance."
"Ah! I know what you are alluding to. You mean, what is to become ofthe baggage?"
"Yes, senor captain; you may even say 'plunder.' It's a popular word,which well covers your belongings."
Kidd laughed at the jest. Things were coming round nicely, after all.
"The wagons and loads are going to follow on, under safe guard, by thenext best road. They will come up three or four days after me in ournook."
"Oh, now I understand the whole matter clearly, and nothing can besimpler."
"Well, what is your answer, young lady?"
"Captain," was the sad reply, "the life you believe so valuable is avery mean thing to me. I attach little weight to it, so any road is thesame as another. I will go along with you anyway."
"I beg your pardon, senorita, but either you don't or you won'tunderstand. You are not answering me at all."
"No, captain? I thought I was! You asked me if I would go with you in anew path, and I say yes. That's straight enough."
"Yes. You mean you would trust to your horse?"
She remained silent, finishing the cigarette.
"I pause for a positive reply."
"Well, I will give you the frank reply that you require," she said,with an effort. "I am not only so poor a horsewoman that I should beafraid to trust to a horse, but I am so ignorant as to be afraid totrust myself on one. I never was in the saddle in my life. That was noteven among my 'extras' at the boarding school."
"That will do, senorita. I am going."
"What do you decide?"
"To push on in the original course. It's longer, but it's lesshazardous."
He made his bow and departed.