Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1895-10-24

back on the following day. mus !
had still breakfast to get through
ut Ponil and 40 miles 10 ride after
ward under burning sun. TIL,
probable nature of this broakfas
was serious anxiety to me as / ate
my supper. and the meal was dis
posed of in solemn silence Whe1
it was finished, we adjourned to {
grassy bank outside tho house t.
smoke n quiet pipo. Tho sun haC
disappeared now, and the dusk was
creeping up swiftly from the east
! In less than an hour night would be
upon us. lay back at my case and
drowsily watched the girls, who
were sitting together little way of
busily sewing. jose was with them
lingering a piece of stutf-preSuma.
bly, new dress-which his vito had
placed upon his kneo for inspection.
It was pretty, homelike scene, and
the absurd hesitation / had felt AT
relinQuiShing my revolver. RcvOlv-
ers! Could anything be moro out of
place in such an atmosphere as this?
SO thinking l turned to knock
the ashes from my Pipe, which had
gone out, and was about to rolight
! it when my attention was caught by
an odd pattering sound, the distant
tramp of galloping horses. Some
body seemed to be in u hurry this
evening. | sat up and called to Jose.
He was smiling at the time, playful
ly pulling his wifo's hair At my
words and gesture no sprang to his
feet with startled look and ran
quickly to a place from whence the
road to CimarrOn was visible for two
miles.
He stood there nearly a minute,
shading his eyes with his hand, thon
he ran back to us, and such n change
had passed ovor tho man 5 face that
l stared ut him in amazomont. His
lips, naturally loose, were now COM
pressed into thin, blue line; his
eyes were strangely dilatod; he held
a knife in his hand. | sprang to my
feet, half believing that the knife
was meant for me. But Jose only
touched my arm and gasped be-
tween set teeth, pointing toward the
west:
"Vachoros come-vacheros from
Cimarron !"
l failed to see the point. Indeed,
oowboys-well, what's the matter?"
Jose stamped and swore aloud.
Matter Carrambas! You no
sabe! Desperate cowboys, these.
Ne know horses. All, vacheros dia-
volos! vamos, you"-turning to
the women and still speaking in
broken English-"in casa. P'r'aps
they no see you there. P'r'aps no.
And you, senior, run - run fast
away" pointing to the river. GO
very smart, and cowboys no catch
you at all.
l looked around without moving
as bewildorGd rs ever. The women
had scurricd into the ranch like rab-
bits into hole, and from two neigh
boring houses three MeXicans were
tearing up to us at full speed, their
faces as anxious rs JoSo'S
What are you afraid OFF" OK
claimed shortly, feeling strongly in
clined to laugh. I'VE are five to
two
Jose shook his head impatiently
and swore again.
Isl, 81, 81 But we have not one
pistol, and you arc a boy. They
have rifles, everything, and they are
vachcros with much whisky in
them. All, los diavolos! You do
not know. You know nothing"
The horSemcn were not far away
now, but had not seen them yet,
as they were riding from the west
and Jose's house lay between us
Now, the Mexican, finding me hope
lessly careless of my own safety,
went off hastily to confront the Wis
itors, followed by his friends.
The men had scarcely disappeared
around the corner of the house when
a solution of Jose's panic dawned
upon me. MeXicans have an intense
dread of the low class cowboy, for
these western DULLES, the sum of
whose education is good riding and
lasso throwing, quick shooting and
loud swearing, have no more scru-
ple-perhaps little less-in killing
Mexican than calf, and when
drunk light III the committal of
the most brutal crimes. They arc
not superlatively courageous, as a
rule; bat. having good deal of
devil may care recklessness about
them and being perfectly we'll aware
of the fear they inspire in the Mexi-
can breast, they are terrible scourge
to the poor half breeds.
But l remembered now the stories
which my partner had told me of
freaks of "vaoheros" in liquor. l
thought of the bright eyed little
senorita, and words came to my lips
which l will not repeat. What a
fool had been to stand gaping here
There was only one thing to do, and
now l hadn't left myself time to do
that. ran to the house and called.
Sonora, MIC pistola, quick :"
Their" wasa hustle inside. The rusty
hinges of the big door squcaked. a
little face, pale and haggard with
apprehension and looking at me
with great. appealing eyes, peered
out, and in another minute nv re.
Volver and knife were in their right
places. As fastened the buckle and
hitched tho belt into position heard