Two of the freshest of the drove were left behind, for Don Estevan and the Senator. These would be enough to serve them as far as La Poza--the place of their intended night halt--which was only a few hours distant.
The other horses, guided by the bell-mare, were taken on in advance, and the drove soon disappeared behind the cloud of dust thrown up by their hoofs.
Shortly after, the Senator made his appearance at the door of the hut where he had taken his siesta--a necessity almost imperious in these hot climates. At the same time, Don Estevan presented himself in the open air. The atmosphere, though a little fresher than when they had gone inside, was still sufficiently stifling to be disagreeable.
"Carramba!" cried the Senator, after inhaling a few mouthfuls of it, "it is fire, _not_ air, one has to breathe here. If these hovels were not a complete nest of snakes and scorpions, I should prefer staying in them until night, rather than launch myself into this dreadful furnace."
After this doleful speech the Senator climbed reluctantly into his saddle, and he and Don Estevan took the route, riding side by side, as in the morning. Behind, at a few paces distance, followed Cuchillo and Baraja, and after these the little _recua_ of mules with the other domestics.
For the first hour of their march the shade of the trees rendered the heat supportable, but soon the forest ended, and the road debouched upon the open plains that appeared interminable.
It is hardly possible to conceive a more dreary prospect than that presented by those arid plains of Northern Mexico--naked, white, and almost dest.i.tute of vegetation. Here and there at long distances on the route, may be seen a tall pole which denotes the presence of some artificial well-cistern; but as you draw near, the leathern buckets, by which the water is to be raised, show by their stiff contracted outlines that for a long time they have held no water, and that the well is dried up--a sad fortune for the traveller whose evil star has guided him into these deserts during the dry season, especially if at the end of his day"s journey he reckons on a supply from these treacherous depositaries. If his canteen is not well filled, or if he is by any chance detained upon his route, his story is likely to be that of hundreds who have perished of thirst upon these plains, between a heaven and an earth that are equally unpitying.
"Is it true, then, Don Estevan," inquired the Senator, as he wiped the perspiration from his brow, "that you have been through this country before?"
"Certainly," replied Don Estevan; "and it is just because I have been here before that I am here now. But what brought me here formerly, and why I now return, is a secret I shall tell you presently. Let me say that it is a secret sufficient to turn a man"s brain, provided he is not one with a bold, firm heart. Are you that man, senor Senator?" added the Spaniard, fixing his eyes upon his companion, with a calm regard.
The Senator made no reply, farther than by giving a slight shiver that was perceptible through his frame, and which denoted that he felt some apprehension as to the role he might be called upon to play.
The Spaniard did not fail to observe his uneasiness, as he resumed:
"Meanwhile, senor, let me ask you, are you decided to follow my advice, and restore your fortunes by some rich matrimonial alliance which I shall arrange for you?"
"Without doubt I am," replied the Senator, "though I can"t see what interest that can be to you, Senor Don Estevan."
"That is my affair and my secret. I am not one of those who sell the skin of the bear before the animal is caught. It is enough for you to know, Don Vicente Tragaduros y Despilfarro, that I have a hundred thousand dollars at your disposal the moment you say the word--it only remains for you to hear my conditions, and subscribe to them."
"I don"t say no," replied the Senator, "but I candidly avow that for the life of me I cannot think of any one possessing such an inheritance as you mention--not one in the whole province."
"Do you know the daughter of the rich landowner Augusta Pena--at whose hacienda, please G.o.d, we shall sleep to-morrow night?"
"Oh!" exclaimed the Senator, "the proprietor of the Hacienda del Venado?
I have heard of her--_her_ dowry should be a million if report speaks true; but what folly it would be for me to pretend--"
"Bah!" interrupted the Spaniard. "It is a fortress that well besieged may capitulate like any other."
"It is said that the daughter of Pena is pretty."
"Beautiful."
"You know her, then?" said the Senator, regarding his companion with an astonished look. "Perhaps," he added, "it is to the hacienda of Venado that you make those periodical and mysterious journeys, so much talked about at Arispe?"
"Precisely so."
"Ah! I understand you," said the Senator, turning a sly look upon his companion, "it was the beautiful eyes of the daughter that attracted you, the--?"
"You are mistaken. It was the father, who was simply the banker from whom, from time to time, I drew the funds necessary for my expenses at Arispe."
"Is that also the object of our present journey?"
"Partly," replied the Spaniard, "but not altogether--there is another object, which I will communicate to you hereafter."
"Well, senor," answered the Senator, "you are a mystery to me from head to foot; but I abandon myself blindly to your guidance."
"You do well," said Don Estevan, "and in all likelihood your sun, for a while eclipsed, will shine out again with more than its former splendour."
CHAPTER ELEVEN.
AN UNFORTUNATE TRAVELLER.
It was now near sunset; the travellers were still about two leagues from La Poza, and the desert plains were nearly pa.s.sed. Some _mezquite_ trees appeared in front thinly covering the calcareous soil, but the twilight sun began to render less visible the objects here and there scattered over the plain.
All at once the horse of Don Estevan came to a stand, and showed signs of affright. The steed of the Senator acted in a similar fashion, though neither of the two hors.e.m.e.n could perceive the cause of this strange behaviour.
"It is the body of some dead mule?" suggested the Mexican.
Don Estevan spurred his horse forward, despite the repugnance of the animal to advance; and a few paces further on, behind a clump of wild aloe plants, he perceived the body of a horse stretched out upon the sand. Such a sight in these dry plains is by no means uncommon; and the travellers would not have given a moment"s thought to it, but for the fact that the horse in question appeared to be saddled and bridled.
This circ.u.mstance indicated some extraordinary occurrence.
Cuchillo had meanwhile ridden forward to the spot.
"Ah!" said he, after glancing a moment at the dead horse, "the poor devil who has ridden him has met with a double accident: he has not only lost his horse, but also his water-bottle. See!"
The guide pointed to an object lying upon the ground by the shoulder of the fallen horse, and still attached by a strap to the saddle. It was a leathern water-bottle apparently broken and empty. In fact, its position proved that the horse, enfeebled by the heat and thirst, had fallen suddenly to the earth, and the bottle, hardened by the sun, and coming in contact with the animal"s shoulder, had got crushed either by the fall, or in the struggle that succeeded it. A large fracture was visible in the side of the vessel, through which the water had escaped to the very last drop.
"We are likely enough by and by to stumble upon his owner:" suggested Cuchillo, while he examined the trappings of the dead horse, to see if there might be anything worth picking up. "_Por Dios_!" he continued, "this reminds me that I have the very devil"s thirst myself," and as he said this, he raised his own bottle to his head, and swallowed some gulps from it.
The tracks of a man upon the sandy surface, indicated that the traveller had continued his route on foot; but the footmarks showed also, that he must have tottered rather than walked. They were unequally distant from each other, and wanted that distinctness of shape, that would have been exhibited by the footsteps of a man standing properly on his legs.
These points did not escape the keen eyes of Cuchillo, who was one of those individuals who could read such dumb signs with an unfailing certainty.
"Beyond a doubt," said he, taking another gulp from his bottle, "the traveller cannot be far off."
His conjecture proved correct. A few moments after, the body of a man was seen by the side of the path, lying upon the ground, and perfectly motionless. As if this individual had intended that his countenance should be hidden from the eyes of any one pa.s.sing, a broad palm-leaf hat covered the whole of his face.
The costume of this traveller in distress, betrayed a certain degree of poverty. Besides the hat already mentioned, which appeared old and battered, a rusty-coloured Indian shirt, somewhat torn, and a pair of pantaloons of nankeen, with common filigree b.u.t.tons, appeared to be his only garments. At least they were all that could be noticed in the obscure twilight.
"Benito," said Don Estevan, calling to one of his servants, "knock off with the b.u.t.t of your lance the hat that covers this man"s face--perhaps he is only asleep?"
Benito obeyed the order, and tossed aside the hat without dismounting; but the man stretched on the ground did not appear to know what had been done--at least he made not the slightest movement.
When the hat was removed, however, the darkness, which had suddenly increased, rendered it impossible to distinguish his features.
"Although it is not exactly your speciality, Senor Cuchillo," said Don Estevan, addressing himself to the outlaw, "if you will do an act of humanity in trying to save the life of this poor devil, you shall have half an ounce of gold if you succeed."
"Cospita! Senor Don Estevan," cried Cuchillo, "you surely mistake my character. I am the most humane of mortals--that is," continued he in an undertone, "when it is my interest to be so. You may ride forward then; and it will not be my fault, if I don"t bring this poor fellow safe to our halting-place at La Poza."