The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1914-07-31
CHAPTER v.

CHRP En- v.
The journey to Fortuna Is scant
fifty miles by measure, but WITHIN
these eight kilometers there Is lapse
of centuries in standards. AS Bud and
De Lancey rode out of battle-scarred
Aqua Negra they travelled good road,
we'll worn by the Mexican wood-Wag-
ons that hauled in mesqult from the
hills. Then, as they left the town and
the wood roads scattered, the highway
changed by degrees to broad trail,
dug deep by the feet Of pack-animals
and marked but lightly with wheels. 1t
followed along the railroad, cutting
over hills and down through gulches,
and by evening they were in the heart
OF Old Mexico.
Here were men in sandals and wom-
an barefoot; chickens tied up by the
legs outside of brush jacales; long
nosed hogs, grunting flercely as they
skirmished for food; and half-naked
children. staring like startled rabbits
at the strangers.
The smell of garlic and fresh-roast.
ing coffee was In the air as they drew
into town for the night, and their
room was an adobe chamber with tile
door and iron bars across the win.
dows. Riding south the next day they
met vaqueros, mounted on wiry mus
tangs, who saluted them gravely, TAX
ing no shame for their primitive wood.
en- saddle-trees and pommels as broad
as soup-plates.
AS they left the broad plain and
clambered up over the back of a noun
tain they passed Indian houses, brush.
built and matched with long. coarse
grasses, and by the fires the women
ground corn on stone metates as their
ancestors had done before the fall.
For In Mexico there are two peoples,
the,Spaniards and the natives, and the
Indians still remember the days when
they were free.
1t was through such, q land that Phil
, saass Hooker rode ON their gallant
ponies, leading a pack-animal well
loaded with supplies from the north,
and as the people gazed from their
miserable novels and saw their outfit
they wondered at their wealth.
But If they were moved to envy, the
bulk of heavy pistol. showing through
the swell of each coat, discouraged
them from going farther; and the cold
searching look Of the tall cowboy af
he ambled past stayed in their mem
DRY long after the pleasant "Adios!'
Of De Lancey had been forgotten.
Americans were scarce in those
days, and what few came by were rid
ing to the north. How bold. then, mus
this big man be who rode in 'front.'
and certainly he had some great re
ward before him to risk such horse
among the revoltosos! So reasoned
the simple-minded natives of the noun
tains, gazing in admiration at Cope
Bottom, and for that look in their eye
Bud returned his forbidding stare,
There is something about a goo,
horse that fascinates the average Mex
ican-perhaps because they breed tn
finest themselves and are in position
to judge-but Hooker had developed
romantic attachment for his trim littl
chestnut mount and he resented thei
wide-eyed gapings as lover resent
glances at his lady. This, and frontie
education, rendered him short-spoke
and gruff with the paisanos and 1t wa
left to the cavalier De Lancey to d
the courtesies Of the road.
AS the second day wore on the
dipped down into rocky canyon, wit
huge cliffs Of red and yellow sandston
glowing In the slanting sun, and 500
they broke out into narrow vale.
we'll wooded with sycamores and me
quits and giant blackberry trees.
The shrill toots of dummy engin
came suddenly from down below an
q mantle of black smoke rose MAZE
tically against the sky-then. at tur
Of the trail, they topped the last hi
and Fortuna lay before them.
In that one moment they were g.
back again fifty miles-clear bat
across the line-for Fortuna ";
American, from the power-house {
the creek bank to the mammoth co
centrator on the hill.
All the buildings were Of ston
square and uniform. First centr
plaza, fanked with offices and wal
houses; then behind them barracl
and lodging houses and trim cottag
IN orderly rows: and over across Il
canyon loomed the huge bulk Of the m
and the concentration with Its aeri
.tramway and endless row Of glidi
buckets.
Only on the lower hills. where t
rough country rock cropped up a
mature was at Its worst. only there 4
the real Mexico creep In and assert
self In a crude huddle Of half-Indi
nuts: the dwellings of the care.free
tives.
well, by Jove!" exclaimed De L
csy. surveying the scene with an