The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1902-10-31
By II. S. CANFlELD

Vavara smiled, showing brilliantly
white teeth, and bowed again even
more subsequently than before.
"For la Sonora Glynn. 1t is SO un-
questionably.'
1T is not so. My name is English
Lois English-the Senorita English"
vavara's knowledge Of the language
was limited, but he saw chance for
a jest. He smiled even more broadly
and said:
1.-THE Sonora is English; that is so
without doubt; but she must come
with us; patriots must live as we'll as
other men. Besides the brave Senior
Weston and the brave Cara must be
paid for"
"But tell you"
He waved his hand deprecatingly
and she paused.
"The Sonora will have much time
Tor talk hereafter. Time presses!'
He turned to his men with a slight
bod. Instantly four of them closed
round her. A scarf was slipped over
her eyes and knotted behind her head.
oAO AOAAdAACO pbSoANC, hAO"4A6 IAO
uselessness Of resistance. To struggle
or scream would have been fruitless.
She saw the error that had been made
and retained control of herself suf-
hciently to know that 1t would be
cleared up shortly. She felt herself
lifted to her saddle. A moment after
ward Vavara mounted upon a black
steed brought to him from the chap
arral near by and seized her bridle-
rein. She heard him give command
and then the splashing of the water
under the hoofs Of her horse. She
gathered from the sounds that the
mounted leader led the way, while his
men waded beside her, the river to
their middles. The scarf was tied
tightly and brought down below her
nostrils so that she was visionless and
breathed through her lips. but she
knew when the opposite bank was
reached and could feel her stout pony
laundering up the incline. After slow
progress for fifteen minutes or so,
here was halt. A little afterward
she heard the other members of the
band mounting horses which had been
left in the Mexican chaparral. Vavara
placed his hand on her shoulder with
. muttered apology, and then the scarf
was removed.
Looking about her, she saw that
they were in tangle of mesquite and
cactus. The view was limited to ten
feet in any direction. The trees
branching over them hid the sun so
that she could not tell whether she
faced north, south, east or west. Ahead
ran narrow trail. merely a goat-path,
that twisted crafty. Vavara said:
II ask a thousand pardons for the
scarf. but the Sonora will be returned
to the rancho soon-when she is paid
for-and she must not know the road
to our camp"
Lois made no reply. It was evident
from his manner, which was deferen-
tial in the extreme, that she would be
treated with respect. 1t was money
the gallant Captain wanted, not beau
ty AS for the others, sweeping her
~ 10 oSSA IASAA SAO SoulO uOI L6ll LudJ
they were aware Of her existence.
They sat their horses with the un-
graceful but sure seat of their kind.
They did not look at her, or away from
her. Some were whispering; others
were rolling cigaritos. It was merely
matter of business with them; so
much of a days work. II they had
an expression at all it was one of
gentle melancholy because their break
fasts were delayed. She learned after
wards that they had crossed the river
on the evening before, lain hidden in
the thicket all night and had intended
moving nearer to the rancho during
the day in desperate effort to bear
her of when she took her afternoon
walk. Her wild attempt to catch a
glimpse Of Weston had saved them
much trouble. There was some phil
osophy in the girl, much courage and
a strong dash Of romance. AS they
wound their way through the masses
of thorny vegetation she began partly
to enjoy her novel situation. She was
not fearful of any harm and looked
upon her release in little while as a
certainty. Here was sensation enough
to last any reasonable young woman
for lifetime, and whether the ex-
perience was to prove pleasant or the
reverse the memory of it was certain
to prove indelible. There was even a
sense OF the ludicrous in being mis-
taken for the tall, pale and languid
Mrs. Glynn and she smiled as she pic
tured the conduct of that novel-read-
Ing lady under similar circumstances.
vayara did not speak again, but rode
1t sharp trot. Her reins had been
restored to her, because there was no
possibility that she could diverge from
the trail in an effort to escape, and
she followed him closely. Behind her
cfattered the men, gay brides 1ing-
Hng, stirrup feathers creaking and the
+ frou-frou Of the slight, thorny
branches catching at their leggings.
8 Aftsr IN hours ride between high
Aills. vavara turned sharply to the left
Gussed : bold. clear stream which evil
lsntly made its way 70 the Rio Grande
~ mp the further slope at gallop
1angsd down Into . hollow, swept two
1 nalrsd yards 70 the lsft stu q I