The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1888-12-06

ilSO euOuSH IOt my pOuy. AucH tan
ing my blankets and saddle / made a
bed by the fire and reclined thereon.
/ was asked by one of the pastores if
l wanted something to eat. Upon re-
spending in the affirmative one of the
MeXicans called:
Rita! Rita.'
In answer came the sound of sweet,
girlish voice, crying:
IN be there in few minutes
l took an opportunity to scan the
faces OF my Mexican friends before
the arrival of the sweet-voiced Maggie.
| had seen many Mexlcans, with whose
language / was somewhat familiar; but
/ verify believe that | never before
saw five men SO repulsive and brutal
looking.
They were not like those I had seen
in New Mexico, Arizona, or California
in years past. They appeared to me
to be more like savage Indians-not
like the bloodthirsty Apache, nor the
Navaios, nor yet like the brutal and
cowardly ''Diggers," of California, but
some unknown tribe whose indescriba-
Bile faces and glaring eyes. shaggy
brows and grinning mouths, displaying
tCCtu, NCtC Ius,OC W q y
pear doubly savage by the light of the
campfire, and red zarapeS wrapped
about their almost naked bodies. Ihad
misgivings as to my safety among
them, but what was / to do but trust to
my weapons of defense and remain
wakeful and watchfulP
Rita! RitaG" again called one of the
men.
''I'm coming, comingT cried again
that girlish voice, as she sprang to
view by the fire.
Looking at the suddenly appearing
girl / was struck with astonishment at
the sight of slight girlish figure bent
toward me. She was dressed in skirt
made of the many-colored Navajo
blanket, and another one thrown over
her shoulders. Her feet-very small
feet-were encased in beaded moe
casins. Her shining, long black hair
shone in the freight like glisten-
ing satin. But what exquisite and
delicate features, faultless in every
line; olive-tinted skin, with the bloom
of a ripe cactus pear on either cheek.
The eyes-how can / describe them
but by saying that they were like
those of the antelope of our prairies?
The mouth was a dainty one, with
beautiful, curving lines, parted, dis
playing the tiniest pearly teeth l ever
saw.
Before my scrutiny of the lovely Rita.
was completed | rose to my feet and
dotfed my hat in silent admiration,
and remained so until she addressed
me and said in a low, sweet voice:
.'Will the senior be pleased to have
some refreshments"
Bowing, replied: ''If the senorita
pleasesr' | could say no more.
She at once set about preparing the
refreshments for me, and as she patted
the t0rtittdS with her tiny hands could
not help gazing at her with wonder
and admiration. The five herders must
have noticed my action, for l heard
one of them say in a low tone:
'Que tienne el bobop" ("What's the
matter with the fool?")
| looked at them and saw by the fire.
light the speakers savage look of
hyena, but it molested me not for my
whole thought was of the lovely girl
preparing me food to eat.
Rita soon placed before me stack
of t0rttllas. some mutton, and goats
milk, and squatting herself by the
campfire she began slowly to roll a
cigarette.
1 ate heartily of the food because |
was hungry, and it tasted doubly sweet
because of having been prepared by
the strange maiden. When l had
finished and put from me the empty
tin plates, Rita arose and approached
me with the prepared cigarette, say
ing:
.'Will the senor be pleased to smokePn
IF it is the wish of the senorita l
win be happy to do So" reaching my
hand for the cigarette.
She smiled in Il shy way, and hold
ing one hand to her face with the deli
cate palm toward me. with the other
handed me the cigarette. As | took it
my hand touched hers, and while |
was thrilled by the touch l looked into
her beautiful eyes. l noticed a
troubled and yearning look in them.
While lighting the cigarette, Rita dis
appeared. | finished my smoke, ever
thinking of the girl in the camp of
those savage-looking murderers. Sure
ly she could not be anything to them,I
thought. Adjusting my pistol. laid
down with my saddle for pillow, de-
termined not to sleep. At the least
noise, would at all times raise my
head and look about me. l saw the
five Mexicans sitting by the fire with
zarapes pulled up about their eyes
and ears, appearing to be asleep. /
heard also my pony munching the
mesquite grass near me.
l must have fallen asleep. for l was
dreaming of beautiful, slender,
bright-eyed girl, with bewithing face
and timid smile, and jet black locks,
dressed in skirt of the Navajo
blanket and another wrapped about
her shoulders, struggling in the arms
of five rutfians, and crying: ''Help,
help, senorr l felt light hand pass
ing over and touching my face, and,
having become accustomed to surprises
of every sort when volunteer soldier,
| did not start from my reclining
position, but opened my eyes, when /
saw the very self-same face had been
all the while dreaming of, but what an
anxious look thereoni I was about to
speak, when she put her finger to her
lips, and, seeing that Iremained silent.
she whispered:
Something has disturbed the herd,
and they have gone to see what is the
matter, SO you must be quick, and
saddle your pony and leave this place.
for they are going to kin you, and,
and''-with n deep blush mantling her
cheek and neck-'I must go with you,
for they will kill me if they find you
are gone"
Without making a move. / replied:
Il viii do as you say. Have you
pony?"
There are six ponies in the camp,
one of which | shall take, but you
must make haste, for they will soon
return"
| sprang to my feet and in a minute
had saddled my pony and was in the
act of mounting, when Rita appeared
mounted by my side.
We hastily rode from the camp. but