Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1890-12-25

flllllllEtls becoming more ana SIlll more
closely packed Quick as thought he
formed his plan of action. Unslinging
his rifle, he prepared to shoot one of
the animals in front of him, hoping in
the confusion that would follow to
break through the line and find shelter
among some trees at the foot of the
hill Bringing the rifle to his shoulder.
he prepared to make his single shot al
effective as possible.
''Do not shoot Por Dios, hombre,
do not shoot"
The voice came from behind him
and he turned in surprise in that di
rection. His surprise was considerably
increased when he saw horse ap-
preaching at full speed, and upon his
back young girl, whose long black
hair, loosened by her riding, was
streaming out behind her while she
anxiously urged her horse onward. As
he looked her horse dashed into the
circle and the nearest cattle were
turned and headed down the hillside.
With a dexterity that astonished him
she rounded up" the herd, and soon
had them all started down the side of
the hill after the leaders, and then
halted her horse alongside of him.
The situation was an embarrassing
one for him, and for once in his life he
felt uncomfortable and i'll at ease. To
Yac,uira accicfanoa In, e,atfiro. <,,4 oe a
bad scrape was no new experience, but
to have the whole matter taken out of
his hands and to be rescued from his
peril while he stood idly by was un.
pleasant; to have this done by wom-
an was humiliating. He stood looking
at her awkwardly, while she sat shyly
returning his glance, Indeed, she felt
as uncomfortable as he, though he was
too confused to notice it, Finally he
recovered himself sufficiently to speak
II have to thank you," he said
"They would probably have killed me"
There was no trace in his voice of the
excitement of the situation from which
he had just been rescued.
She looked at him curiously, for evil
IDENTITY his mode Of address puzzled her
''Where do you come from, senior"
she inquired at length.
The tone of uncertainty and the alb
ruptness of the question discovered to
him the fact of her embarrassment.
and gave him that feeling of superior
ity that enabled him to regain his self
possession.
From the Blue mountains he an
swered with smile.
''The Blue mountains?"
Eyes; you have not heard of them2
They are far away to the north of here,
many hundred miles, have travelled
alone for many months Until now l
have not seen human being for
weeks"
''But how did you know we lived
hereW
81 did not know"
'"Then why did you Gomez
81 have Travelled for pleasure, for
curiosity. 1 wished to see this south
ern country, where the sun burns you
up. | am a King George man. You
do not understands l hunt and kill
game for the Hudson Bay company.
But have left them behind"
II do not understand, she said
simply. "Where are you going2"
81 do not know. Anywhere. am
going now to those mountains, point
ing to the distant line of hills.
But you will first come with me
You must rest until it is cooler. No
body travels here in the heat of the
day; it would kill you. You must
come and eat with us, and then we can
give you a horse to continue your jour
ney, and tell you how to go. Por mis-
de Dios TO think of walk
ingp
II thank you, no. l must go on"
In the heat2 You will die. You
must come with r4e The father and
mother will mecome you. / wish you
to come
He looked at her closely for the first
time, and then he wondered why he
had not noticed her beauty before.
She was dark, with that Spanish com
plexion through which the warm blood |
showed with rich color, heightening
tire brilliancy of her lustrous black eyes,
which lighted up her whole face with
q tender, trusting expression. Her
raven hair hung in masses upon her
shoulders, and as she leaned forward |
with a confiding, entreating gesture he
thought he had never seen so beauti-
full woman.
II will come, he said briefly, and as
she turned her horse in the direction of |
her home, he walked on by her side.
So they iouneyed in silence for time.
II must thank you for saving my
life, he said at length. They would
surely have killed me, and you ran
great risk yourself"
''If you had shot at them / could
not have turned them away, she an
swered. ''They would have been an
cry. You should not have walked
here. They do not attack one who
rides, but when you walk they will kill
you
Before long they came in sight of
the hacienda, long, low adobe hcuse,
upon fat with neither tree nor shrub
near, but upon one side the steep spurs
Of the range of hills came almost to the
house, forming deep canyons.
The old folks received him kindly.