Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-11-26
NO. 275.
Tales mud Sketehes.
ANADvENTURE IN MIxICO.


Nightfall found me in the "bush" dis
tricts, overtaken by one of the fiercest
gales that had ever experienced; and as
it steadily increased. gave up the idea
of reaching the station, and concluded that
it would be wiser to turn little from my
course and strike out for the grassy Sec
tons where possibly might find, in the
cabin of some shepherd. shelter from the
storm of sand. So gave Bonerges a few
reassuring pats, and scudded away before
the blast.
Hotter and fiercer blew the wind from
the interior, and we charged across
desert space with the sand drifting against
the good steed's ankles, and Kissing about
my ears and face, until my eyes smarted
severely. uff-chuff-through
the yielding and shifting sand, and now
we dash into q wooded belt. The gale
rushes through the evergreens-the palm
like ferns snap, and the air is full of torn
flowers. Here are the grassy districts,
and 1 ride on for about two hours: when
suddenly the baying Of dogs announces
that am nearing sheep rancho.
"Hi, Senior Captain p calls out a Span
ish-Mexican voice, and l bring Bonerges
down upon his launches in time to pre-
vent his vaulting into the enclosure. 4
joaquin ~ exclaim in astonishment.
why thought that you were situated a
little nearer the coast.''
81 am; this, Senior, is the upper rancho
l am here only once month, to look af-
ter things"
"Ah, that's it. Can l find a shelter
near? My beast Is almost blown. and
am as hungry as a wolf" sas
| II have hut on the other side, five
miles away. Fora is there, she came out
with me. Wen have broil and noggen
of coffee together"
"And," said l, as we struck across lots
towards the cabin of which he had spoken.
"how is the pretty Fora now P"
He cut his horse viciously with the
whip. ''No good. no good. l." a
had made false move it seemed, and
was somewhat abashed. / had been at
the other rancho several times and had
there seen Joaquin's Mexican wife.
never. be it confessed, with any emotions
OF envy; for although she had the beauty.
perhaps, of Spanish houri. she also had
the vicious nature of Mexican fiend.
Besides, Joaquin was furiously jealous of
her, and somehow imagined, in the few
times had seen her, that her fear of her
husband was only balanced by her hate.
Nevertheless, be that as it might, I was
only too glad to accept the hospitality of
the couple on this disagreeable night.
There was no light in the cabin as we
came up to it. was exceedingly weary,
and that, no doubt. had much to do with
the dizzy, sickenirg sensation that took
possession of my brain, as I dismounted
and CROPPED my way inside the building,
wondering that the usual loquacity OF Joa-
quin had SO suddenly ceased. He lighted
a candle and swept it about the apartment
first high up. then lower, while his eyes
burned and his face turned yellow. Not
word said he, as he kindled his fire, and
did not feel at liberty to comment upon
the matter. He soon had some large sill
ces of meat sputtering in the huge skillet
upon the Goals, the odor of which, to a
half-famshed traveller, was more strength
ing than meal of dainties TO satisfied ap-
petite. Meanwhile he brewed q pot of
coffee, that would have lost nothing by
comparison with the bitterness of quack
doctor so strong was the potion and flank
ing this with loaf Of black bread. we had
before us our evening meal. | was puZ-
zled at two things: first, at the absence of
Fora, and next, at the taciturnity of Joa-
quin; and the dreadful greenish yellow
tinge of the mans evil face. He ate with
the rapid greedniness of wild creature,
and no sooner was the meal ended, than
seizing and shading the light, he started
for the door, ...
"Senor, come out and see what I'll find"
was the strange remark, STOPPING to the
ground as soon as he was outside. A@
Plutonian darkness reigned, and the
gale. blowing now straight ahead, now in
whirlwinds, was severe beyond anything
that l had previously known. On his
hands and knees, with his candle sheltered
by some rude contrivance, the Mexican
crawled about the outside of the cabin. /
followed wonderingly. He had nearly
made the circuit of the building, passing.
in so doing, the rough structure used to
stable horses, when he uttered q fierce
malediction. The next instant his tongue
seemed to be loosened. and if had ever
before gloated over the invectives found
in our undulterated English language. l
immediately yielded the palm to Spanish.
Mexican and English hashed together.
Certainly there never before SO many
words spoken in the same space of time
as were uttered by Joaquin then and there.
"What does it meanp" l asked.
"Mean. Senor," and his snaky eyes
CLEANED; "mean?" Death. He has fol-
lowed her herein spite of warning
She has gone with him."
Perhaps not" calmly demonstrated.
sis She"
"Hi, Senor," he interrupted, shaking
my hand from his arm with an oath "my
horses are not stamping in the stalls yon-
der. Here is the hoof-print of Montezuma
and beside it is the slim track of the
brown mare. The English officer has
done it,"
"Are you certain ?-may not some out.
law have dragged her away?"
Dragged p"-My horses were not led
off-their tracks are too far apart for that.
No. Senior. both were ridden fairly and
squarely."
"Still your wife," li
1.-The brown mare-Zoras animal
would neither be mounted, or led away by
other than herself, without a curvetting
that would have plowed the earth into pits
all about here. l shall mount--"'
mot now. Joaquin; the night is black
0p thar Al..c 4 49,