The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1895-08-03
MEXICAN

Tlerras, about one days travel west of
Guadalupe Y Calvo, the trail leading
from Morales leaves the ridge along
which it climbs and plunges down into
the depths of the Canyon de Muerto,
there winding in and out of the pines
and powders until it reaches the ford
of a stream, the Rio Chico. which
rushes through the gorge and on its
wild flight for the sea.
Down this trail, late in the afternoon
fOf a dag some few years ago. rode 4
young man, Jack Rawlston, the new
manager OF the Alta Mining company,
on his Vav to take charge of
their mines near Morales. lie was
wrapped close in an oilskin sllcker, for
h rain was falling as it falls only in
h mountains of Mexico. Reaching
the ford he drew his mule in under the
shelter of an ove-hanging bluff and i'm
patiently awaited the coming of his
men, whose shouts and curses could be
heard in the canyonside above as they
urged to greater speed some half a
dozen pack animals, slowly picking
their way down the slippery trail.
As they drew near, one of the men,
Pancho, who acted as a guide, hurried
to RawlstNn's side and, pointing to the
stream, now a rushing torrent, cried:
"Valgame Dios, the little river is
very great this day! There is much
water, senior, and deep. We no can
cross; not until tomorrow, when it
will be well. 81, senior, en- 10 nan
sta 'ueno.'
Yes, but tonight, man. We can't
camp here; there is not enough level
ground to raise a tent on. Get Us out of
this" exclaimed Rawlston.
"Senor." replied The man, rs he drew
his wet serape closer about him, "a lit
tie rancho lies down the river 4 short
way, where lives Juan Montana. viii
the senior go thcre?'
will the senior go there" shouted
Rawlston. Yes, confound you, bonn
bre, the senior will. Move on"
With a cry OF ''~Ad-e-lan-te, Vamon-
-os.' and swearing great mouth-flling
Mexican oaths at his assistants as we'll
as at the mules, Pancho started the
train down the canyon on its way to a
little valley of just a few hundred
acres, nestled there where the gorge
widcned out as either wall spread away
in great broken ridges, sweeping grand
iy off to the south.
1t was hardly i rancho, this place of
Juan Montano's. only a few patches of
growing maize and f~rijoles, amid which,
in 4 grove of pines, rested a house of
logs with a wide portico roughly
matched with bundles OF cornstalks,
while a jacal-a rooted palisade of
poles chinked and covered with adobe
mud-adjoined the house on IL side,
serving as a kitchen.
As Rawlstou, leading the way, APP
preached from the valley, a dog gave
the alarm, and an elderly man, muf-
fed in 4 serape and slowly putting a
cigarrito, came out into the portico,
while at the low door Of the jacal,
amid the whiffs of smoke within, APP
.peared a brown-faced m and be-
hind her three girls, shyly peeping
forth at the stranger as he drew up and
asked for accommodation for the night.
Isl, senor,'' replied Juan, in response
to his request. e'Dismount and come
in from the rain. My house is at yOur
service; entrar, senior, entrar," and he
took the Winchester that Rawlston
handed him, giving it a lingering
glance as he placed it carefully against
the wan.
And supper, senor," he continued,
Twill you have supper? 81? Sta '%ueno,"
and, reaching up, he seized one of a
number of chickens perched beneath
the roof, 4vrung its neck. tossed It over
to the woman, saying: For the senor;
and coffee and milk. pronto. And give
TO the mozos Of tortIll2s and frijoles a
plenty"
Turning, and with: Permit me,
senior" to Rawlston. who was engaged
in removing his wet Slicker. Juan drew
the Winchester from its scabbard and
critically examined il, eX~claiming as
he did 50: t'Muy bonito c2rbino, senior.
Once I possessed one; not like this,
sonora carbine-but caraEaba! an In
dian stole it-may the devil take his
soul-and l am too poor to buy a
other. miss it much, senior, for it
furnished me meat. Why, only yes
terday morning two deer stood just
over there eating the corn. but" He
paused for an instant. hen called:
''Chonita, mia, come here" U -
A girl clad in a simple garment of
rough material passed from the jacal,
a girl whose supple, rounded form pos
sessed perfect grace, and as she came
forward Rawlston started as he gazed
on her Latin-lndian beauty.
My daughter, Chonita, senior" said
Juan. The girl raised her dark eyes
to meet his, and her clear, olive-brown
skin became suddenly tinged with her
southern blood. "She can shoot" con-
tinued Juan, as he handed her the
rifle; Isl, senior, even better. .l
\ flock of chattering parrots passing
overhead caught his eye. Glancing at
them; then at Rawlston: Zone shot,
senior, permit her"
Rawlston nodded, then watched the
girl as she raised the gun, saying:
See. the one in the leadla report,
and the bird fell, a mangIed mass of
flesh and feathers. |
She handed the rife to Rawlston,
her lips parted, and her bosom slightly
heaving with the momentary excite
ment. Again their eyes met, then she
turned and hurried. back to the jacal.
~ 49, f-f t ~ g