Evening star., 1936-03-26
CHAPTER XXIII.

lJd were dlUIlt Ill CllC AllOyO
Cantova and this was as each
A desired it should be-. Juanita
likened their life together in that
lonely, lovely wilderness cannon to
that of Adam and Eve in the Garden
of Eden. But presently, entered the
serpent or rather two of them, in the
persons of Three-finger Jack and his
lost light GLOVE, Dolores Largo. At
sight of Juanita Three e-fngered Jack
beloved pleasurably. "Hola, Dolores,
light of my life! Behold. Our cap
tain has wearied of his monkish ex-
istence. Now, truly, do I rejoice"
and he advanced upon Joaquin to
embrace him.
There will be no familiarity here"
Joaquin warned him. Restrain your
self in the presence of love-you who
know only the satisfaction of lust.
And -bathe yourself. You have ridden
far and sweated much. So, old TOM
cat, you have returned with this fiery
kitten. Well, see to it that she be-
haves herself I am inclined to be
tolerant, but warn her that my Ju-
anita is not accustomed to associa-
ton with such as She"
Il hear and I obey, my captain.
Every man to his own fancy"
Dolores bent upon Joaquin look
of hatred. She had not forgotten
that once, when she would have
gladly given herself to him, he had
banished her. Juanita, recognizing
the wanton as social impossibility,
turned her back and walked over to
the little hut of branches and long
grass thatch that she and Joaquin
occupied. She had, like Lucifer, fallen
from high estate. but the scars Of
former caste remained. She still had
quite a distance to fall to be on a
level with Three-fingered Jacks fancy
woman.
Each day, during the succeeding
week, members of the company kept
riding in, each accompanied by his
light O. love. Three-fingered Jack
met each Lothario at little distance
and explained the situation to him
and the girl. after all" he declared,
lone cannot blame him. 1t is we'll
known to you all that our captain
is high born. Naturally he has Sc
lected one from his own social circle,
so we, who understand the code,
should have no difficulty living up
TO it."
With the oldtimers came other
rascals, anxious to be recruited into
the company. Each of these men
held audiences with Joaquin alone;
to them he administered the oath of
allegiance. They had brought their
own horses. arms and ammunition,
but had not been so presumptious as
to bring their ladies faire The num-
Der of these recruits surprised Joaquin.
He had so men in his company now.
He summoned 10 of his old men,
"You have done well,' he informed
them. II am pleased with the quail
jty of the recruits, butt would have
more. Go forth and return with
them"
While the 10 Jared forth over the
coast, Joaquin drilled hA company
in rough cavalry tactics. He tested
the horsemanship of each newcomer,
not only with well-broken horses but
with those unbroken. The remuda,
left to take care of Itself when the
company had first scattered, had re-
manned in the little valley and grown
fat on the strong feed there. Joaquin
set up targets and tried each recruit
out in rife Workmanship. Those who
qualified graduated Immediately;
those who did not he trained patiently.
He put through long and painstak-
ing course in pistol practice; for hours
he made them practice the lightning
fast draw and the cooking of the
weapon on the instant the hand set
tied over the butt He taught them
to shoot eyes wide open, since, in
furious action, one has no time to
close one eye and sight carefully. One
must come on the target instinctively;
with much practice it can be done
For all the hard work of training,
he did not risk permitting his men
to grow stale or bored. Into the
Arroyo Cantova very frequently grizzly
bears wandered, and then there was
sport. Six mounted men would sur
round the animal, which usually
reared, uncertain which horseman to
charge. Suddenly loop would settle
over one great forearm and be pulled
taught; at the same time a loop would
settle over the other and the horses,
sitting back to their task, would throw
the bear off balance, nor could he
reach the riatas with his fiercely snap
ping jaws. AS he pranced around,
roaring murderously, his hind legs
would be caught; soon a moose would
be around his neck and the bear would
be on his back, struggling frantically
but hopelessly until one rode up and
dispatched him with long knife.
Thus was created joyous excitement, a
diet in which these wild men reveled.
Hunting parties brought in antelope,