Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-04-25
9 THE RED ,
U v r D
. 7 II A IL ,
CHAPTER Y.

trembling yellow leaves of the trees, and
tinged them with a thousand shades OF
gold and purple. The birds, cozily nestled
In the bushes, struck up their matin
carol; the awakening Of nature was as
splendid and imposing as it is in all
mountainous countries.
The leader of the caravan left his tent
and gave orders to strike the camp. The
tent was at once folded up, the mules
were loaded. and. so soon as the horses
were saddled, the party started without
waiting for the morning meal, for they
generally breakfasted at the II o'clock
halt
The caravan advanced along the road
from Santa Fe to the United States, at
a speed unusual under such circum-
stances.
When he left the camp, the chief of
the caravan spurred his horse and joined
the Indian, who was marching alone in
front, examining the bushes and apparent
ly performing all the duties of an expe-
rienced guide. Curumilla. though he
heard the hurried PAGES of the Mexican's
horse did not turn round, but continued
trotting along on his sorry mule.
Indian" said the caravan chief in
Spanish, Il wish to speak with you on an
important subject: be good enough to put
off your usual silence for a while and
answer like an honest man. You engag
ed with me at Santa Fe to lead me, for
the sum of four ounces, safely to the
frontiers of Upper Mexico. Since you
have been in my service I must allow
that / have only had reason to praise
b,,f
ment in the heart of the Rocky Noun
tains, that is to say. we have reached
the most dangerous part of our journey.
Two days ago you lifted the trail of
Crow Indians very formidable enemies
of caravans, and I want TO consult with
you as to the means to employ to foil
the snares in which these Indians will
try to catch u.s."
The Indian felt in a bag of striped
calico thrown over his shoulder. and pro-
duced a greasy paper, which he opened
and offered the Mexican.
What is this?" the latter asked. ooh
yes, certainly; your engagement. Well,
what has this to do with the question /
asked you?"
Curumilla still impas i've, laid his fin
gers on the paper. at the last paragraph
OF the engagement.
well, what then?" the Mexican ex-
claimed ill-humoredly. at is said there,
it is true, that I must trust entirely to
you, and leave you at liberty to act as
you please for the common welfare What
proves to me that you are acting for our
common welfare, and that you are not a
traitor?"
AT this word traitor, so distinctly ut
tered by the Mexican, Curumilla gave a
tiger glance at the speaker while his
whole body was agitated by a convulsive
tremor; he uttered two or three incom-
prehensDle cultural ordinations. and
ere the Mexican could suspect his inten-
tons he was seized round the waist lifted
from the saddle. and hurled on the
ground, where he lay stunned Curu-
milla leaped from his mule, drew from
his belt four gold ounces, hurled them at
the Mexican, and then bounding over the
precipice that bordered the road, disap-
peared.
The situation was becoming most crit
zeal for the chief OF the caravan: he
found himself abandoned without guide,
in unknown regions, doubtless watched by
hidden foes. and exposed at any moment
to an attack.
The march was continued; no suspi-
cious sign was discovered; and the Mex
leans were justified in believing that,
with the exception of the time they would
be compelled to lose, the flight of the
Indian would entail no disagreeable con-
sequences.
Singularly enough, Carnero seemed
rather pleased than annoyed at the dis
appearance of the guide Far from com
planning or deploring the delay in the con-
unuance of the journey he laughed at
what had happened and made an infini-
tude OF more or less witty jests about
it, which considerably annoyed his mas
ter, whose JOY was merely on the surface,
and who, in his heart, cursed the mishap
which kept them in the mountains and
exposed them to the insults of the plum
dererS.
Pray, what do you find so agreeable
in what has happened that you are or
affect to be SO merry, No Carnero?" he
at length asked.
Forgive me, mi amo," the capataz an
| swered; but you know the proverb.
What can't be cured must be endured >"
Hum - said the master.
And BESIDES" the capataz added, as
he stopped down, however bad our no.
sition may be, is it not better to pretend
TO consider it good?"
A little before II a. m. the caravan
reached the terrace. and it was with a
feeling of joy, which they did not at
tempt to conceal, that the poems recog-
nized the strength of the position.
I'VE shall stop here for the present. ~
the Mexican said. Unload the mules
and light the fires. Immediately after
breakfast We will begin entrenching our
selves"
The poems obeyed with the speed of
men who have made a long journey and
are beginning to feel hungry; the fires
were lighted in an instant, and a few mo-
ments later the poems vigorously at
tackled their maize tortillas, their tocina
and their cecina-those Indispensable ele-
ments of every Mexican meal. When
the hunger of his men was appeased the
CHEF rose.
Now he said, ito work"