The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-04-25 00:00:00

SATURDAY, APRIL 25, Mk

[ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.]
STRIVE AND THRIVE.

CHAPTER XIH.
LOST ON THE PRAIRIE.

irIITAInLING with excitement and joy, Belmont spent
iiiany •
minutes in examining the body of the beast,
a thought occurred to him about his com-
rmus, or the distance he had wandered from them.
leoked up, and saw that the sun was sinking, and
8, .eye began to wander in search of some landmarks
Winch he could recognise.
4- vast blank landscape stretched around him, un-
illotted b..
„ y tree or bush, unrelieved by hill or stream.
I,ll' he believed that he knew the direction in which
had come, and after giving his horse a few more
;uahntes of rest, he re-mounted to ride back, resolving
,?return with his men on the morrow, and obtain the
Tote of the buffalo, and such part of its meat as was
"eetned most valuable.
He had ridden nearly an ho before before he began to
eai.
'ertain a doubt that he was going in the right
"'ection,
ut the timber land did not come into view, and
Ithe .
, instead of it, he began to catch glimpses of a
Vigle conical hill, very far to the north-west—a new
Leature in the landscape, which he was sure he had
hot before seen—the painful conviction forced itself
'Von his mind that he was lost.
-Lost on the prairie! He knew all that was com-
rised in that terrible phrase, though never until that
4'!stant had he contemplated the possibility of such a
,„'saster to himself. He had started in a wrong direc-
nu from the slain buffalo, and had ever since been
;_a..ereasing instead of diminishing the distance between
aariself and his late attendants.
rhe sun had now set, and the twilight was already
rguaning to fade. He was utterly at a loss to con-
4eelure in which direction he ought to travel in
Order to regain his lost companions. While he hesi-
t ted, his desponding heart was cheered by a ray of
pe
thlle had caught sight of the light of a camp fire in
};: distance, which he could not doubt was that of
eolurades ; and his jaded horse, which seemed to
Comprehend the signal quite as well as himself, re-
-sPouded freely to his persuasions to renewed speed.
-6,s Howard drew near the light, indulging in joyous
aticipations of rest and refreshment, his delight was
greatly modified, and indeed almost changed into
alarm by the view before him. The fire revealed the
„,_*erras of four men, wrapped in bear and buffalo skins,
who were lying with their feet towards the flames, and
aPParently asleep.
b The encampment was amidst a small cluster cf
ashes, near the margin of some woodland. No tent
°r Waggon was visible, but several horses and mules
W-ere tethered close at hand, and amongst the sleepers
c°Uple of dogs were crouched, one of which, while
I °Ward gazed, began to growl and bark, advancing a
eW steps towards him.
T• he noise, of course, awakened all the men, and
':eirriont remained silent, uncertain whether to ad-
vance or retreat. The party were all white men,
co
laharse and uncouth, and their dress as well as their
t -guage, which Belmont recognised as a corruption of
ttle Spanish tongue, seemed to render it probable that
keY were New Mexicans, who had crossed the Rocky
o untains on a hunting expedition.
t, listening intently, he was able to hear and coni-
'l4ehend part of their conversation (for he was well
Ze,cloainted with the Spanish language). He learned
Buat they were under apprehension of an attack from
°ale wild animal, and while he was watching them
it of the men suddenly presented his gun and fired
Zito the obscurity that enveloped the lone traveller.
bthis Was decidedly not pleasant, and it added to the
thesltation Howard felt about seeking the hospitality of
f:se wild-looking men. He was indeed well-armed,
-ving a pair of " five-shooters " in addition to his
Vs,aa ; but if the strangers should prove hostile or pre-
enew '
'erY h k he could offer no successful resistance
t° them
dio1:12 had just decided to turn back and await the
"
hielosures of the morning, when the whinnying of
b: horse elicited a low challenge from the strangers,
hat in Spanish and broken English. AS every man
Presented his gun, and a volley of bullets was
Z"Minent, Howard responded to the call of " Oo go
by
saying—
"J friend."
ju'rhe guns were lowered, and after a little colloquy,
AI Which the young man contrived to make them
vaderstand that he was alone, that he was lost, and
and hungry, he was told to come forward. He
Purposely abstained from speaking to the strangers
their own language, because by pretending an
'clgnorance of this, he hoped to learn whether their
eTgris were friendly or otherwise.
lah,he appearance of the men was certainly not calcu-
'''d tShabo inspire confidence. They were shaggy and
alto "Y; their costume was varied, and yet not
gether unpicturesque ; and their deportment
could not help thinking was altogether more
ize that of mountain brigands than of honest hunters.
The oldest of the party, a man of about fifty-five
iv "IP) was the only one who essayed to speak English,
'Leh he did bunglingly enough, though he seemed
weaditY to understand it. He translated Howard's
Vs to his companions, with running comments.
euspier,Ything was -wanting to confirm Belmont's
ns of his new acquaintances, besides their close
and covetous looks at his dress, his weapons, and his
horse, their conversation supplied the deficiency, and
made
him conscious that he was in a position of
undoubted peril.
"Be is a rich prize," they said, chucklingly, to
each other, almost at the same instant that they were
Tiaking hands with him and bidding him welcome.
He is welcome."
Broad grins and grimaces accompanied these re-
ra
a arks, Which the Englishman affected to understand
8 amicable expressions.
iaatae lmont was not easily dismayed. His strength
greatly increased since he had resumed his
,ray.
ad, els, and every day upon the prairies seemed to
ta",_ioamensely to his vigour and his spirits. His
%tut's, perhaps, had the discernment to discover
t he would not prove a passive victim in their
444-sds.
pilreachery was safer than open violence, and as the
i•
tor seemed to have no suspicions, a semblance of
"lendship and hospitality was kept up.
He was asked to eat and drink, and this invitation
%readily accepted.
art of a bison's steak was produced, and some
ah-e‘t's, 'with them a flask of whisky and a jug of water,
Howard was invited to partake; Balda—for such,
ll aPPeared, was the name of the eldest of the
I„exicans—setting him the example by taking a pro-
,f,lged drink from the bottle. But the Englishman,
,70se thirst was torturing, seized eagerly upon the
"ater, and drank a delicious draught.
• next began to eat with great relish, but, with.
to watch, kept his eyes upon his enter-
'ainers, taking especial care to see that none of them
Ot behind hill.
b tut there was no such attempt. They seemed to
trying to inspire him with confidence—a result
oieh their actions might well have produced, had
IZat every word they uttered been understood by
41▪
I.e does not drink the whisky," they said; "he is
.
rale of us."
IC, °; he is a temperance man," said one. "I have
-1'„" of such things."
He suspects us."
aCeel‘rpo:t; he; he is a greenhorn. By-and-by he will be
tiet ut Belmont had no intention of sleeping; he
10„v°,ted as much time to his meal as possible;
ha-cltlig anxiously for the dawn. Three of the men
hi the meantime, bidden him good night, and
re tithed to their couches of skins- Balda alone
DiTeawill.ing up, sitting upon a bag which had been his
14 When Belmont had at length finished his meal, the
e‘ziean said—
Tc),‘,1(011 are tired; there is a spare blanket, and
'r saddle will make a pillow, if you need one.
04 e;aunot keep my eyes open any longer. Good
„/Nre do not give Balda's exact words, for his
tOlish was " broken " beyond repair, but this VMS
substanoe.
tilt, Mont took the offered blanket, and laid down,
thot„Cif course, not to sleep. His fears were too
4:4lghly roused.
la companions lay nearly still, but two of them
fac,:elled themselves into a position in which tier
i
that
tvjere turned towards him, and he did not doubt
hey were watching him.
lle freshed and strengthened by his food,
.Howard
qeb5..,44 to contemplate the possibility of recalling his
4eul4,:which wits grazing near, mounting him sud.
and datliing away, before his design. could be
" Zketed•
whe e animal was unfettered, and he believed that
4421,4 had eaten its full, it would, of its own volition,
Its master'
Ilia The decided, as far as possible, upon the details of
the -1;11.I. He would not attempt to saddle his
.horse;
'4 "'um which lay near him, he wound silently
out,, _ w
attailr Ws left arm, to be put on when he should
t a safe distance from the robbers. He resolved,
eal on ° abandon his German gun; and, encumbered
the'.
'n-th his double-barrelled .rifle, to spring upon
the 'are back of his horse, and dart off, freely taking
A:C of the bullets that might be sent after him.
rttilthr Waiting some time, he saw the faithful animal
d, rising quietly, advanced towards him,
n-a(da, who had been feigning the soundest
suddenly rose and came ft/ward, followed
1., 44 tie
is ram.
"lZfaitt• 8 ninning away," said the leader of the
loudly, as Belmont leaped upon the back of
Thr '• " Fire I Fire!"
ee
4,0 th, es were discharged almost simultaneously,
'ituta-trrse rearing and emitting a sound not unlike
sereana, dashed forward and away from his
uqtroz;put not before his rider had emptied all the
431elmout°fle of his revolvers towards the foe.
O be rod thought he heard a groan mingled with curses
th_lle of the band,
and doubted not that he had wounded
ss'cl. sn'ae band, and that he would be pur.
(red of °I! as they could mount. But knowing the
hi a chas,,Liis horse, he had little fear of the result
the frieuci:,except that it might drive him so far from
• agaco. as to diminish the hope ,Df hts finding
Avli.licitts cause iltlas he soon found that he had more
p s_ or alarm. His horse would not answer
Puri except by a slight or momentary effort,

and soon the 'enirrial came to a halt, tretn.hing -
violently, and uttering a repetition of the sound with
which he had started from the enemy.
"He is shot t" exclaimed Belmont, leaping off to
find a painful verification Of his: fears in a stream of
blood oozing from the animal's side aid droppinc,
upon the ground.
Great as was his peril, he was unwillint to abandon
his brute companion upon the prairie t be slaugh-
tered by his pursuers, or—still more melincholy fate
—to become a prey to the rapacious andt far-sighted
vultures, even before life was extinct. He would lead
him to the timber, which was not far distant, conceal
him in its thickest shades, and return if possible
when pursuit was past. _ _

To Carry this plan into effect, Howard had turned
nearly at right angles from the course from which he
had started from the robbers' camp, and soon heard
three of their horses clattering off in an easterly
direction along the margin of the wood. Relieved
from immediate fears of the brigands, he quickly
gained the timber land, leading his moaning animal,
and penetrated to what seemed a point of sufficient
obscurity for his purpose. Here he induced the
horse to lie down in the midst of some bushes upon
which he could browse; for it appeared that the
animal, though disabled, was not hurt in a vital
part.
Howard did not despair of his recovery, and be-
lieved it would be the safest course for himself, as
well as the most humane, to remain with and take
care of the wounded animal, keeping what watch he
could, meanwhile, for his friends, who, he did not
doubt, were faithfully looking for him.
While thus meditating, he was startled by the
crackling of a bush close behind him, and the sound
of advancing steps. Ere he could turn fully around,
a shout of exultation was in his ears, and both his
arms were grasped, while the swarthy and grinning
faces of two of the Mexicans peered triumphantly in
his own.

A third was close behind, who came rapidly up, and
Howard, though strugglinc, violently for a while, soon
found it useless to contend against such odds. He was
disarmed; his wrists were tied together, and then his
pockets were deliberately rifled, while many a jibe and
taunt accompanied the process.
But as the unexpected prizes of a costly watch
and a large and well-filled pocket-book came into
view, the robbers were mollified into something like
good-humour, and having severally admired and
handled the former, two of them sat down to attempt
to count the money, while the third remained at his
side. _ _

The knot which tied the unfortunate man's wrists
together was a secure one, but the brigands had not
made allowance for the delicate smallness of his hands,
and Howard soon became certain that he could draw
one of them through the ligature. This he presently
attempted to do, watching his opportunity when the
attention of his guard was directed towards his com-
panions. But it was a slow and painful task, and
had frequently to be suspended, while the guard
turned from contemplating the tempting gold to
glance at his seemingly quiescent prisoner. Hope
died and revived, again and again, in the breast of
Howard, but the feat was at last accomplished. His
right arm was free, though bruised and bleeding, and
its tendons trembling with the strain 'which had been
put upon them.
Belmont kept his freed arms together in the position
in which they had been tied, the uppermost one still
retaining the rope, and no suspicion of their release
was awakened.

_
The hilarity of the Mexicans was unbounded in
view of the sudden wealth they had acquired. They
fairly danced around poor Belmont in the plenitude
of their joy.
"He must be a government officer to have so
much gold," said one. "It is not safe to let him
go. What does the captain mean to do with
him ?"

"What do you think, you fool? Isn't Balda's
own life in danger from the wound which this devil
gave? He will not leave him alive to follow us back
to Santa Fe, and tell tales."
"Why not finish him now ?"
"Because the captain wanted him brought
back; that's reason enough. Come—let us go to
him."

This was no favourable moment for resistance or
flight, and Howard, with his freed hands together,
suffered himself to be led away by two of his captors,
while a third followed them, leading the wounded
horse.

"His hide and shoes are worth something," he said,
"if we have to knock him in the head. Besides, we
can get a few nice steaks out of him, quite as good as
buffalo, to my taste."
Convinced by all that he had heard that his death
was resolved upon, Howard determined to make one
desperate effort for freedom. The odds were very
great against him, but he resolved not to wait until
they were increased by his being brought into the
presence of the brutal Balda, who, though wounded,
might still be able to wield a gun. His captors, of
course, were all fully armed, as they had, in addi-
tion to their own weapons, those taken from him.
But he hoped, by the suddenness and celerity of
his movements, to obtain possesion of at least one
of his revolvers, both of which projected temptingly
within his reach from the belts of the two men at
his side.

Seized with a sudden thought, which seemed to him
like inspiration, he shouted—
" Mira ! ii osa
.feroz "
While the frightened men stopped, and looked
tremblingly into the woods, doubtless believing that
they heard the tread of the terrible "grizzly," lie
dealt a powerful blow upon the head of the one on
his right, who fell like an ox in the shambles.
Turning quickly upon the other, he struck him also
with seemingly equal force; but the man did not
go down. He staggered backwards, and while trying
to recover his equilibrium, Howard sprang to his side,
snatched his own revolver from his belt, and dis-
charged the contents of two barrels into the body of
the villain, who fell to rise no more.
But the dreadful conflict was by no means ended,
for the third Mexican had by this time come up, and
leaping upon Howard from behind, bore him to the
earth, pinioning his arms to his side.
The other Mexican having drawn from his belt the
murderous "five-shooter," came forward and tried to
bring it to bear upon the Englishman, who, as he
was making the most violent struggles to throw off
his conqueror, involved the latter in his own danger.
Foiled for an instant, in the next Antonio remem-
bered his orders, and lowered his weapon.
"We must bring him in alive," he said.
"But—see there; he has murdered Hubal! Let
him have it! I will take the blame."
" Impossible ! Balda must be obeyed," said the
other, snatching his rifle, and compelling a cessation
of all further hostilities from Howard by a succession
a stunning blows upon his head. He then produced
some cord, and then again bound the arms of their
now quiescent victim, and this time left no room tc
doubt the efficiency of their work.
(To be continued.)