The Guerilla Chief Part 20

A SCATTERING OF SALTEADORES.

I was less astonished than delighted by a phenomenon that might have appeared mysterious.

But there was no mystery about the matter. The explanation had already reached me in the "crack, crack," quickly following each other, easily distinguished as the detonation of a brace of rifles, whose reports I had often heard before.

I raised my head, and looked in the direction whence the shots had proceeded. I could see no one; but the cloud of blue smoke fast scattering upon the edge of the chapparal, scarcely twenty paces from the spot, was sufficiently significant. I knew who had created that sulphureous vapour.

A wild cry arose among the terror-stricken brigands, who stood transfixed to the spot, as if uncertain how to act.

It was not until the "crack-crack" had been repeated, and two more of them went sprawling upon the gra.s.s, that the whole of the band put themselves fairly in motion, each running towards the horse that stood nearest him.

Their consternation was scarcely greater, when a loud "hurrah" was heard outside the skirts of the _rancheria_; and the heavy hoof-strokes of a troop of cavalry could be distinguished, approaching at full gallop along the road.

Their chief was the only one among the robbers who did not seem to have lost all presence of mind.

Alas! no. It was now displayed with fiendish effect.

On perceiving the surprise, so little expected by him in such a place, he had glided straight towards the Jarocha. Flinging his arms around the girl, he lifted her from the ground, and commenced carrying her towards his horse.

He was not even a.s.sisted by his subordinates--for each individual, yielding to the true instinct of _sauve qui peut_, was seeking his own safety.

I saw that Rayas employed both his arms in this effort--having disengaged the wounded one from its sling, before the surprise had taken place. It was only his hand that was wounded, and the arm was still sufficiently sound for his purpose.

Despite the screams and resistance of the Jarocha, he succeeded in placing her on the pommel of his saddle, and in springing behind her into the seat.

In another instant he was going at full gallop, his left hand directing the reins, both arms encircling the semi-nude body of the Jarocha, whose struggles to free herself were still further defeated, by the teeth of her captor fast clutching the long tresses of her hair.

It was a fearful crisis--the most painful I had yet experienced.

The "rangers" were already entering the outskirts of the _rancheria_, on its opposite side--their rifles were repeatedly ringing; and here and there I could see a fugitive salteador dropping dead from his saddle.

But Rayas, with his victim, was still continuing his flight. No one appeared to fire at _him_--for fear of injuring the girl--and this the wretch seemed to know, as he rode exultingly away.

Mounted as he was upon my own n.o.ble steed, I knew there would be no chance of any of my comrades overtaking him; and this it was that was driving me to distraction.

"Fire at the horse!" cried several of the "rangers," who seemed to be influenced by the thought, "Bring him down, and then--"

There was a moment of silence. I listened for the shots. They came not: the rifles of all had been discharged, and were empty. It was the earnest action of re-loading them that had caused that momentary interval of silence.

Fortunately it was so, else, in recovering my sweetheart, I should have lost the finest steed that ever carried rider. As it was, both were restored to me.

The silence gave me the opportunity I wanted, though only then did the thought occur to me.

With a wrench I raised my body half erect; and, concentrating all my energies into the effort, I gave utterance to a cry that, if heard, I knew that my steed would understand.

He both heard and understood it: for before its echoes had ceased to reverberate through the _rancheria_, the horse was seen to wheel suddenly round, and come galloping back!

In vain did Rayas strive to turn him to the track. He only succeeded in checking him, when a struggle commenced--my voice against the spurs of the robber.

During the strife Rayas found full occupation in the management of Moro, without thinking of the Jarocha. Even his teeth became disengaged from the plaits of her hair; and, seeing a chance for safety, the young girl made a desperate effort, and succeeded in getting clear of that unwelcome embrace.

In another instant she had reached the ground, and was seen running back towards the rancheria.

The robber cast a glance after her, that spoke unutterable disappointment; but seeing that his own liberty was in danger, and despairing of a conquest over the horse, he dropped the reins, sprang out of the saddle, and shot like an arrow into the chapparal--at that place an almost impervious thicket.

Several shots were fired after him, and the thicket was entered in search; but strange to say, no traces of the fugitive could be found.

In all likelihood he had made his escape by capturing some of the horses of his comrades--several of which were at the time straying riderless through the chapparal.

The rescue needed but slight explanation. On perceiving that I had failed to return in due time to the halting-place at Corral Falso, my men mounted their horses and rode forth in search of me. Guided by the two trappers, Rube and Garey, they had no difficulty in following my trail.

On entering the forest-road, the numerous hoof-prints of the robbers'

horses had filled them with fears for my safety; and having reached the place where I had been "lazoed," the experienced trappers easily interpreted the "sign."

From that point they had ridden at an increased rate of speed; and as the robbers had no suspicion of being pursued, their slow march, with the halt that succeeded it, had favoured the rangers in overtaking them.

Rube and Garey, acting as scouts, had kept in the advance.

On coming within sight of the rancheria, they had left their horses behind, and had crept forward under cover of the thicket.

It was the double detonation of their rifles that had first given the surprise to the salteadores--at the same time, as had been preconcerted, it acted as a signal to the rangers to charge forward into the place.

The Jarocha's presence among the bandits has been already explained. My conjecture was correct. On the way between Cerro Gordo and the village of Rio del Plan, she had lingered behind the _cortege_ that accompanied her wounded brother. At a turn on the road, some half-dozen of the ruffians of Rayas' band had rushed out of an ambuscade and seized hold of her. By stifling her cries, they had succeeded in conveying her off, even without alarming the escort of Jarochos.

All this chapter of strange incidents occurred within the short s.p.a.ce of twenty-four hours: for before a second sun had set, I was once more at the head of my troop, _en route_ for Jalapa; while the beautiful Jarocha, with her honour still intact, but her heart, as I hoped, sweetly affected towards her preserver, was on her way, this time with a safer escort, to her native _rancheria_.

We did not part without a mutual promise to meet again. Need I say, that the promise was kept.

END OF THE GUERILLA CHIEF.

Story 2, Chapter I.

DESPARD, THE SPORTSMAN.

A CITY OF DUELLISTS.

Among the cities of America, New Orleans enjoys a special reputation.

The important position it holds as the key to the great valley of the Mississippi, of whose commerce it is the natural _entrepot_ as well as _decharge_--its late rapid growth and aggrandis.e.m.e.nt--all combine to render the "Crescent City" one of the most interesting places in the world, and by far the most interesting in the United States.

A variety of other circ.u.mstances have contributed to invest New Orleans with a peculiar character in the eyes of the American people. The romantic history of its early settlement--the sub-tropical stamp of its vegetation, and the truly tropical character of its climate--the repeated changing of its early owners; the influx and commingling of the most varied and opposite nationalities; and the _bizarrerie_ of manners and customs resulting therefrom, could not otherwise than produce a community of a peculiar kind.

And such has been the result. Go where you will throughout the Atlantic states, or even through the states of the West, you will find a certain sentiment of interest attached to the name of the "Crescent City;" and no one talks of it with indifference. The young Kentuckian, who has not yet been "down the river," looks forward with pleasant antic.i.p.ation to the hour, when he may indulge in a visit to that place of infinite luxury and pleasure--the Mecca of the Western world.

The growth of New Orleans has been rapid, almost beyond parallel--that is, dating from the day it became a republican city. Up to that time its history is scarcely worth recording.

Sixty years have witnessed its increase from a village of 10,000--of little trade and less importance--to a grand commercial city, numbering a population of 200,000 souls. And this in the teeth of a pestilential epidemic, that annually robs it of its thousands of inhabitants.

But for the drawback of climate, New Orleans would, ere this, have rivalled New York; but it looks forward to a still grander future. Its people believe it destined to become the metropolis of the world; and in view of its peculiar position, there is no great presumption in the prophecy.

New Orleans is not looked upon as a provincial city--it never was one.