At length the day, the hour, is at hand when the young Kentuckian
purposes taking departure. He does not anticipate this with pleasure.
On the contrary, the prospect gives him pain. In that sequestered spot
he could linger long--for ever, if Adela Miranda were to be with him.
He is leaving it with reluctance, and would stay longer now, but that he
is stirred by a sense of duty. He has to seek justice for the
assassination of his teamsters, and, if possible, punish their
assassins. To obtain this he intends going on to the Del Norte--if need
be, to Albuquerque itself. The information given by the ex-commandant,
with all the suspicious circumstances attending, have determined him how
to act. He intends calling Uraga to account; but not by the honourable
action of a duel, but in a court of justice, if such can be found in New
Mexico.
"If it turns out as we have been conjecturing," he says, in conversation
with Miranda, "I shall seek the scoundrel in his own stronghold. If he
be not there, I shall follow him elsewhere--ay, all over Mexico."
"Hyar's one'll be wi' ye in that chase," cries the ex-Ranger, coming up
at the moment. "Yis, Frank, go wi' ye to the heart o' Mexiko, plum
centre; to the halls o' the Montezoomas, if ye like, enywhar to be in at
the death o' a skunk like that."
"Surely, Colonel Miranda," continues Hamersley, gratified, though not
carried away by his old comrade's enthusiastic offer of assistance,
"surely there is law in your land sufficient to give redress for such an
outrage as that."
"My dear Don Francisco," replies the Mexican, tranquilly twirling a
cigarrito between his fingers, "there is law for those who have the
power and money to obtain it. In New Mexico, as you must yourself know,
might makes right; and never more than at this present time. Don Manuel
Armijo is once more the governor of my unfortunate fatherland. When I
tell you that he rose to his present position by just such a crime as
that we've been speaking of, you may then understand the sort of law
administered under his rule. Manuel Armijo was a shepherd, employed on
one occasion to drive a flock of thirty thousand sheep--the property of
his employer, the Senor Chavez--to the market Chihuahua. While crossing
the Jornado del Muerte, he and one or two confederates, whom he had put
up to his plan, disguised themselves as Apache Indians, attacked their
fellow sheep-drivers, murdered them, and made themselves masters of the
flock. Then pulling the plumes from their heads, and washing the paint
off their faces, they drove their muttons to a different market, sold
them, and returned to Chavez to tell a tale of Indian spoliation, and
how they themselves had just escaped with their scalps. This is the
true history of General Don Manuel Armijo, Governor of New Mexico; at
least that of his first beginnings. With such and many similar deeds
since, is it likely he would look with any other than a lenient eye on
the doings of Gil Urago, his imitator? No, senor, not even if you could
prove the present commandant of Albuquerque, in full, open court, to
have been the individual who robbed yourself and murdered your men."
"I shall try, for all that," rejoins Hamersley, his heart wrung with
sorrow at the remembrance of his slaughtered comrades, and bursting with
the bitter thought of justice thus likely to be obstructed. "Don't
suppose Colonel Miranda, that I intend resting my cause on the clemency
of Don Manuel Armijo, or any chance of right to be expected at his
hands. There's a wide stretch of desert between the United States and
Mexico, but not wide enough to hinder the American eagle from flapping
its wings across, and giving protection to all who have a right to claim
it, even to a poor prairie trader. A thousand thanks, Colonel Miranda.
I owe you that for twice saving my life, and now for setting me on the
track of him who has twice endangered it. No use your trying to
dissuade me. I shall go in search of this _forban_ direct to the valley
of the Del Norte. Don't fear that I shall fail in obtaining justice,
whatever Don Manuel Armijo may do to defeat it."
"Well, if you are determined I shall not hold out against you. Only I
fear your errand may be fruitless, if not worse. The two mules are at
your service, and you can leave them at a place I shall indicate. When
Manuel returns I shall send him to bring them back."
"Possibly I may bring them myself. I do not intend making stay in New
Mexico; only long enough to communicate with the American Consul at
Santa Fe, and take some preliminary steps for the end in view. Then I
shall return to the--States to lay the whole affair before our
Government."
"And you think of coming this way?"
"Walt, here, has been making explorations down the stream that runs
through this valley; he has no doubt about its being one of the heads of
the Red River of Louisiana, if not the Texan Brazos. By keeping down it
we can reach the frontier settlements of Texas, then on to the States."
"I'm glad you intend returning this way. It will give us the pleasure
of soon again seeing you."
"Colonel Miranda," rejoins Hamersley, in a tone that tells of something
on his mind, a proposition he would make to his host, and feels delicacy
in declaring it, "in coming back by the Llano Estacado I have another
object in view besides the idea of a direct route."
"What other object, _amago mio_?"
"The hope of inducing you to accompany me to the States--you and yours."
"Senor Don Francisco, 'tis exceedingly kind of you. But the period of
our banishment may not be long. I've had late news from our friends,
telling me things are taking a turn and the political wheel must soon
make another revolution, the present party going below. Then I get back
to my country, returning triumphant. Meanwhile we are happy enough
here, and I think safe."
"In the last I disagree with you. I'm sorry to say, but have reasons.
Now that I know the real character of this ruffian Uraga--his deeds
actually done, and others we suspect--he's just the man who'll leave no
stone unturned to discover your hiding place. He has more than one
motive for doing so, but one that will move him to follow you here into
the desert--aye, to the uttermost end of the earth!"
The motive in the speaker's mind is Uraga's desire to possess Adela.