I was less astonished than delighted by a phenomenon that might have
appeared mysterious.
But there was no mystery about the matter. The explanation had already
reached me in the "crack, crack," quickly following each other, easily
distinguished as the detonation of a brace of rifles, whose reports I
had often heard before.
I raised my head, and looked in the direction whence the shots had
proceeded. I could see no one; but the cloud of blue smoke fast
scattering upon the edge of the chapparal, scarcely twenty paces from
the spot, was sufficiently significant. I knew who had created that
sulphureous vapour.
A wild cry arose among the terror-stricken brigands, who stood
transfixed to the spot, as if uncertain how to act.
It was not until the "crack-crack" had been repeated, and two more of
them went sprawling upon the grass, that the whole of the band put
themselves fairly in motion, each running towards the horse that stood
nearest him.
Their consternation was scarcely greater, when a loud "hurrah" was heard
outside the skirts of the _rancheria_; and the heavy hoof-strokes of a
troop of cavalry could be distinguished, approaching at full gallop
along the road.
Their chief was the only one among the robbers who did not seem to have
lost all presence of mind.
Alas! no. It was now displayed with fiendish effect.
On perceiving the surprise, so little expected by him in such a place,
he had glided straight towards the Jarocha. Flinging his arms around
the girl, he lifted her from the ground, and commenced carrying her
towards his horse.
He was not even assisted by his subordinates--for each individual,
yielding to the true instinct of _sauve qui peut_, was seeking his own
safety.
I saw that Rayas employed both his arms in this effort--having
disengaged the wounded one from its sling, before the surprise had taken
place. It was only his hand that was wounded, and the arm was still
sufficiently sound for his purpose.
Despite the screams and resistance of the Jarocha, he succeeded in
placing her on the pommel of his saddle, and in springing behind her
into the seat.
In another instant he was going at full gallop, his left hand directing
the reins, both arms encircling the semi-nude body of the Jarocha, whose
struggles to free herself were still further defeated, by the teeth of
her captor fast clutching the long tresses of her hair.
It was a fearful crisis--the most painful I had yet experienced.
The "rangers" were already entering the outskirts of the _rancheria_, on
its opposite side--their rifles were repeatedly ringing; and here and
there I could see a fugitive salteador dropping dead from his saddle.
But Rayas, with his victim, was still continuing his flight. No one
appeared to fire at _him_--for fear of injuring the girl--and this the
wretch seemed to know, as he rode exultingly away.
Mounted as he was upon my own noble steed, I knew there would be no
chance of any of my comrades overtaking him; and this it was that was
driving me to distraction.
"Fire at the horse!" cried several of the "rangers," who seemed to be
influenced by the thought, "Bring him down, and then--"
There was a moment of silence. I listened for the shots. They came
not: the rifles of all had been discharged, and were empty. It was the
earnest action of re-loading them that had caused that momentary
interval of silence.
Fortunately it was so, else, in recovering my sweetheart, I should have
lost the finest steed that ever carried rider. As it was, both were
restored to me.
The silence gave me the opportunity I wanted, though only then did the
thought occur to me.
With a wrench I raised my body half erect; and, concentrating all my
energies into the effort, I gave utterance to a cry that, if heard, I
knew that my steed would understand.
He both heard and understood it: for before its echoes had ceased to
reverberate through the _rancheria_, the horse was seen to wheel
suddenly round, and come galloping back!
In vain did Rayas strive to turn him to the track. He only succeeded in
checking him, when a struggle commenced--my voice against the spurs of
the robber.
During the strife Rayas found full occupation in the management of Moro,
without thinking of the Jarocha. Even his teeth became disengaged from
the plaits of her hair; and, seeing a chance for safety, the young girl
made a desperate effort, and succeeded in getting clear of that
unwelcome embrace.
In another instant she had reached the ground, and was seen running back
towards the rancheria.
The robber cast a glance after her, that spoke unutterable
disappointment; but seeing that his own liberty was in danger, and
despairing of a conquest over the horse, he dropped the reins, sprang
out of the saddle, and shot like an arrow into the chapparal--at that
place an almost impervious thicket.
Several shots were fired after him, and the thicket was entered in
search; but strange to say, no traces of the fugitive could be found.
In all likelihood he had made his escape by capturing some of the horses
of his comrades--several of which were at the time straying riderless
through the chapparal.
The rescue needed but slight explanation. On perceiving that I had
failed to return in due time to the halting-place at Corral Falso, my
men mounted their horses and rode forth in search of me. Guided by the
two trappers, Rube and Garey, they had no difficulty in following my
trail.
On entering the forest-road, the numerous hoof-prints of the robbers'
horses had filled them with fears for my safety; and having reached the
place where I had been "lazoed," the experienced trappers easily
interpreted the "sign."
From that point they had ridden at an increased rate of speed; and as
the robbers had no suspicion of being pursued, their slow march, with
the halt that succeeded it, had favoured the rangers in overtaking them.
Rube and Garey, acting as scouts, had kept in the advance.
On coming within sight of the rancheria, they had left their horses
behind, and had crept forward under cover of the thicket.
It was the double detonation of their rifles that had first given the
surprise to the salteadores--at the same time, as had been preconcerted,
it acted as a signal to the rangers to charge forward into the place.
The Jarocha's presence among the bandits has been already explained. My
conjecture was correct. On the way between Cerro Gordo and the village
of Rio del Plan, she had lingered behind the _cortege_ that accompanied
her wounded brother. At a turn on the road, some half-dozen of the
ruffians of Rayas' band had rushed out of an ambuscade and seized hold
of her. By stifling her cries, they had succeeded in conveying her off,
even without alarming the escort of Jarochos.
All this chapter of strange incidents occurred within the short space of
twenty-four hours: for before a second sun had set, I was once more at
the head of my troop, _en route_ for Jalapa; while the beautiful
Jarocha, with her honour still intact, but her heart, as I hoped,
sweetly affected towards her preserver, was on her way, this time with a
safer escort, to her native _rancheria_.
We did not part without a mutual promise to meet again. Need I say,
that the promise was kept.