Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1907-05-17

attentlVely, general, for assure
YOU lnat have reached the most intar
estlng part OF my narrative
AS you fancied, for cor+o;n
"hlcn 1t is unnecessary 70 rorn;nd o Us
Oh that your enemies might trv - ~
some ambush for YOU Won +borrL+ 10y y
necessary to take the FOLLOWING 80,
tlcns, the inutility of soma 80 be"u
eleSuhne tnat you have recognized. While
w 'ne purpose of deceiving your enemies
sou oIarteo IN disguise, and only accom-
ponleu ny few men, for California in
D. D. 70 return to Mexico across the
oAy mountains; while you gave oues-
oneis the fullest details of the road Won
lnlenued to follow, with your men-vour
-edi ooJect was different. The man in
WHO w.om you placed your confidence. Don
isioro vargas, who had known Won when
cnlld' and whom you had converted
in'o your tool, took the shortest and
consequently, most direct route for the
pi'ol' having with him not only twelve
tnu!es Ioaded with gold and silver, the
h.ulI OF your plumber during the period
o. your command, but more precious ar
tlcle stlll, the body of your unhappv
| daughter, which you had embalmed. and
winch the captain had orders to infer
with your ancestors at YOUR Hacienda dol
dinlar. Your object in acting thus was
~ only TO divert attention from your
Hl-gotten riches, but also to attract YOUR
enemles after yourself. Unfortunately,
am an old hunter so difficult to deceive
tnat my comrades gave me long ago the
glorious title of the Trail-hunter, and
hence, l alone was not deceived"
StlIl your presence here gives strik-
ing denial to the assertion" the general
interrupted
You think so, senior. That proves you
are not thoroughly acquainted with me;
out patience, l hope that you will, ere
long, appreciate me better. Again, you
nave not reflected on the time that has
elapsed since your departure from Her
mosillo"
What do you mean?" the general ask
ed, with sudden start of apprehension.
Il mean that before attacking you, 1
resolved to settle matters first with the
captain"
"Ah!'
"Well, general, it is my painful duty
to inform you that four days after he left
Pitic, our brave friend Don Isidro fell
into an ambuscade resembling the one
into which you fell to-day with this ex-
ception-"
what e1ception?" the general asked,
with greater interest than he would have
liked to display.
MY men were so imprudent," the
hunter continued, "as to leave the captain
the means of defending himself. The re-
suit was that he died, bravely fighting to
save the gold you had intrusted to him,
and the coffin containing your daughters
corpse"
"Well, and 1 presume you plundered
the caravan, and carried off the gold and
silver?" he asked, contemptuously.
$50, most probably, you would have
acted under the circumstances, Don He
bastian," the hunter answered, ''but I
thought it my duty to act differently.
What could you expect? /, a coarse, I'M
educated hunter, do not know how to
plumber, for 1 did not learn it when 1 had
the honor to serve my country. This is
what I did; so soon as the captain and
the poems he commanded were killed-for
the poor devils, I must do them the JUS
tice to say, offered a desperate resistance
i myself, you understand, friend, | my
self conveyed the money to your Hacienda
del Palmar, where it now remains in safe
ty."
The general breathed again, and smiled
Ironically. Instead of blaming you,
senor," he said, Il, on the contrary, owe
Won thanks for this chivalrous conduct"
do not be in such hurry to thank
me-" the hunter answered; II have not
told YOU all. Captain Don Isidro Vargas
not only escorted the money, but there
was also a coffin Well, general, why do
YOU not ask me what has become of that
cofin?"
An electric shock ran through the audi
ence on hearing the ironical question so
coldly asked by the hunter.
"Whatv" Don Sebastian exclaimed.
"The assassin can have no claim to the
bodv of his victim, and you are morally
vour daughters murderer, I have robbed
you of this body, which must rest by the
side of him for whom she died"
There was a moments silence. The
generals face, hitherto pale, assumed
rreenish hue. At length he yelled IN
toarse and kissing voice:
..It is not true; you have not done
+bis You cannot have dared to rob
fo+ thor Of his child's body"
81 have done it, l tell you," the hunter
said coldly. 81 have taken possession OF
the body of your victim, and now you
understand me; never shall you know
where this poor body rests. But THIS is
on!- the beginning of my vengeance. what
T wish to kill in you is the soul and not
the body: and now BECOME, and remember
that YOU will find me in your path every
where and ever"
"One last word" the general exclalm-
ed affected by the deepest despair re-
store me my daughters body; she was the
onIv human creature I ever loved"
The hunter regarded him for moment
With an undefnable expression, and then
IN q harsh and coldly mocking voice.
Then. turning away, he re-entered the
orotto followed by his assistants.
Non Sebastian, who was the more over
1xbelmed by the last blow because 1t was
,'nexpected, stood for moment IKE
nan struck by lightning. At last heart
hnS0m-