A TALE OF THE MEXICAN WAR.
Mr. Hardy was rather surprised at Seth Harper, the Yankee, having
remained so long in his service, as the man had plainly stated,
when first engaged, that he thought it likely that he should not
fix himself, as he expressed it, for many weeks, However, he stayed
on, and had evidently taken a fancy to the boys; and was still more
interested in the girls, whose talk and ways must have been strange
and very pleasant to him after so many years' wandering as a
solitary man. He was generally a man of few words, using signs
where signs would suffice, and making his answers, when obliged to
speak, as brief as possible. This habit of taciturnity was no doubt
acquired from a long life passed either alone or amid dangers where
an unnecessary sound might have cost him his life. To the young
people, however, he would relax from his habitual rule of silence.
Of an evening, when work was over, they would go down to the bench
he had erected outside his hut, and would ask him to tell them
tales of his Indian experiences. Upon one of these occasions
Charley said to him: "But of all the near escapes that you have
had, which was the most hazardous you ever had? which do you
consider was the narrowest touch you ever had of being killed?"
Seth considered for some time in silence, turned his plug of
tobacco in his mouth, expectorated two or three times, as was his
custom when thinking, and then said, "That's not altogether an easy
question to answer. I've been so near wiped out such scores of
times, that it ain't no easy job to say which was the downright
nearest. In thinking it over, I conclude sometimes that one go was
the nearest, sometimes that another; it ain't no ways easy to say
now. But I think that, at the time, I never so much felt that Seth
Harper's time for going down had come, as I did in an affair near
San Louis."
"And how was that, Seth? Do tell us about it," Maud said.
"It's rather a long story, that is," the Yankee said.
"All the better, Seth," Charley said; "at least all the better as
far as we are concerned, if you don't mind telling it."
"No, I don't mind, no how," Seth answered. "I'll just think it
over, and see where to begin."
There was a silence for a few minutes, and the young Hardys
composed themselves comfortably for a good long sitting, and then
Seth Harper began his story.
"Better than five years back, in '47, I were fighting in Mexico. It
wasn't much regular up and down fighting we had, though we had some
toughish battles too, but it were skirmishing here, skirmishing
there, keeping one eye always open, for man, woman, and child hated
us like pison, and it was little mercy that a straggler might
expect if he got caught away from his friends. Their partisans
chiefs, half-soldier, half-robber, did us more harm than the
regulars, and mercy was never given or asked between them and us.
Me and Rube Pearson worked mostly together. We had 'fit' the
Indians out on the prairies for years side by side, and when Uncle
Sam wanted men to lick the Mexicans, we concluded to go in
together. We 'listed as scouts to the 'Rangers,' that is, we agreed
to fight as much as we were wanted to fight, and to go on in front
as scouts, in which way we had many a little scrimmage on our own
account; but we didn't wear any uniform, or do drill, which
couldn't have been expected of us. We shouldn't have been no good
as regulars, and every one knew that there were no better scouts in
the army than Rube Pearson and Seth Harper. Lor', what a fellow
Rube was, to be sure! I ain't a chicken," and the Yankee looked
down at his own bony limbs, "but I was a baby by the side of Rube.
He were six feet four if he were an inch, and so broad that he
looked short unless you saw him by the side of another man. I do
believe Rube Pearson were the strongest man in the world. I have
heard," Seth went on, meditating, "of a chap called Samson: folks
say he were a strong fellow. I never came across any one who had
rightly met him, but a good many have heard speak of him. I should
like to have seen him and Rube in the grips. I expect Rube would
have astonished him, Rube came from Missouri--most of them very big
chaps do. I shouldn't wonder if Samson did, though I never heard
for certain."
The young Hardys had great difficulty to prevent themselves from
laughing aloud at Seth's idea on the subject of Samson. Charley,
however, with a great effort, steadied himself to say, "Samson died
a great many years ago, Seth. His history is in the Bible."
"Is it, though?" Seth said, much interested. "Well now, what did he
do?"
"He carried away the gates of Gaza on his back, Seth."
Seth remained thoughtful for some time. "It all depends on how big
the gates were," he said at last. "That gate down there is a pretty
heavyish one, but Rube Pearson could have carried away two sich as
that, and me sitting on the top of them. What else did he do?"
"He was bound in new cords, and he broke them asunder, Seth."
Seth did not appear to attach much importance to this, and
inquired, "Did he do anything else?"
"He killed three hundred men with the jawbone of an ass."
"He killed--" Seth began, and then paused in sheer astonishment.
Then he looked sharply round: "You're making fun of me, lad."
"No, indeed, Seth," Charley said; "it is quite true."
"What! that a man killed three hundred men with the jawbone of an
ass? It couldn't have been; it was sheer impossible--unless they
were all asleep, and even then it would be an awful job."
"I don't know how it was, Seth, but the Bible tells us, and so it
must be true. I think it was a sort of miracle."
"Oh, it was a miracle!" Seth said thoughtfully, and then remained
silent, evidently pondering in his own mind as to what a miracle
was, but not liking to ask.
"It was a very long time ago, Seth, and they were no doubt a
different people then."
"Was it a very, very long time back?" Seth asked.
"Yes, Seth; a very, very, very long time."
"Ah!" Seth said in a thoughtful but more satisfied tone, "I
understand now. I expect it's that. It's the same thing among the
Indians: they have got stories of chiefs who died ever so long ago,
who used to be tremendous fellows--traditions they call 'em. I
don't expect they were any braver than they are now; but a thing
grows, you see, like a tree, with age. Lor' bless 'em! if they tell
such tales now about a Jew, what will they do some day about Rube
Pearson?"
The young Hardys could stand it no longer, but went off into a
scream of laughter, which even the surprised and offended looks of
the ignorant and simple minded, but shrewd, Yankee could not check.
So offended was he, indeed, that no entreaties or explanations were
sufficient to mollify him, and the story was abruptly broken off.
It was not for two or three days that the boys' explanation and
assurance sufficed; and then, when Charley had explained the whole
history of Samson to him, he said:
"I have no doubt that it is all true, and I wish I could read it
for myself. I can just remember that my mother put a great store on
her Bible, and called it the good book. I can't read myself, and
shouldn't have time to do it if I could; so it's all one as far as
that goes. I am just a hunter and Indian fighter, and I don't know
that for years I have ever stopped so long under a roof as I have
here. My religion is the religion of most of us out on the
prairies. Be honest and true to your word. Stick to a friend to
death, and never kill a man except in fair fight. That's about all,
and I hope it will do; at any rate, it's too late for me to try and
learn a new one now. I listen on a Sunday to your father's reading,
and I wish sometimes I had been taught; and yet it's better as it
is. A man who acted like that wouldn't be much good for a rough
life on the prairies, though I have no doubt it could be done in
the settlements. Now I must go on with my work. If you and the
others will come over to the hut this evening I will go on with
that yarn I was just beginning."
After tea the young Hardys went down to the hut, outside which they
found Seth awaiting their arrival. They were now comfortably
seated, and Seth, without further introduction, went on.
"One day our captain sent for Rube and me, and says, 'I've got a
job for you two scouts. It's a dangerous one, but you won't like it
any the worse for that, I know.'
"'Not a bit,' said Rube with a laugh. He was the lightest-hearted
fellow, was Rube; always gay and jolly, and wouldn't have hurt a
squirrel, except in stand-up fight and as a matter of business.
"'What is it, Cap?' said I; 'you've only got to give us the word,
and we're off.'
"'I've had a message,' he said, 'from Colonel Cabra of their
service, that he is ready to turn traitor, and hand us over some
correspondence of Santa Anna, of which he has somehow got
possessed. Being a traitor, he won't trust any one, and the only
plan we can hit upon is, that he shall make a journey to San
Miguel, thirty miles north of this, as if on business. I am to make
an expedition in that direction, and am to take him prisoner. He
will then hand over the papers. We shall bring him here, and, after
keeping him for a time, let him go on parole. No suspicion will
therefore at any future time arise against him, which there might
be if we met in any other way. The papers are very important, and
the affair must not be suffered to slip through. The country
between this and San Miguel is peaceful enough, but we hear that El
Zeres' band is out somewhere in that direction. He has something
like two hundred cutthroats with him of his own, and there is a
rumor that other bands have joined him. Now I want you to go on
tomorrow to San Miguel. Go in there after dusk, and take up your
quarters at this address; it is a small wine-shop in a street off
the market. Get up as Mexicans; it only requires a big cloak and a
sombrero. You can both speak Spanish well enough to pass muster.
Stay all next day, and till daybreak on the morning afterward, and
then ride back on this road. You will find cut in the first place
whether Cabra has arrived, and in the next place whether El Zeres
is in the neighborhood. I shall only bring forty men, as I do not
wish it to be supposed that I am going on more than a mere scouting
expedition. You understand?'
"'All right, Cap; we'll do it,' I said, and we went off to our
quarters.
"I can't say I altogether liked the job. It was a long way from
headquarters, and, do what they may, two men can't fight more than,
say, ten or a dozen. I was rather surprised to see by Rube's face
that he rather liked it; but I did not find out till late that
night what it was pleased him--then the truth came out.
"'We had better start early, Seth,' said he; 'say at daybreak.'
"'What for, Rube?' I said; 'the Cap said we were to go in after
dusk. It's only thirty miles; we shan't want to start till three
o'clock.'
"Rube laughed. 'I don't want to get there before dusk, but I want
to start at daybreak, and I'll tell you why. You remember Pepita?'
"'There,' said I, 'if I didn't think it had something to do with a
woman. You are always running after some one, Rube. They will get
you into a scrape some day.'
"Rube laughed. 'I am big enough to get out of it if it does, Seth;
but you know I did feel uncommon soft toward Pepita, and really
thought of marrying and taking her back to Missouri.'
"'Only she wouldn't come, Rube?'
"'Just so, Seth,' said he, laughing. So we agreed we would be the
best friends; and she asked me, if ever I went out to San Miguel,
to go and see her. She said her father was generally out, but would
be glad to see me if he were in. She lives in a small hacienda, a
league this side of the town.
"I saw that it was of no use to argue, but I didn't like it. The
Mexican women hated us worse than the men did, and that warn't easy
to do; and many of our fellows had been murdered after being
enticed by them to out-of-the-way places. Still, in the present
case, I did not see that the girl could have expected that Rube
would be there unless the rest of us were near at hand, and I did
not attempt to oppose Rube's wishes."
"So next morning off we started, and by ten o'clock we rode up to
the door of the place which Rube said answered to the description
Pepita had given him. It was a pretty place, with trees round it,
and might have been the residence of a small proprietor such as
Pepita had described her father to be. As we rode up to the door it
opened, and I saw at once that Rube were right, for a dark-eyed
Mexican girl came out and looked at us inquiringly.
"'What can I do for you, senors?' she asked.
"'Don't you remember me, Donna Pepita?' Rube said, laughing, as he
lifted the sombrero which had shaded his face.
"The girl started violently. 'Ah, Signor Americano, is it you? I
might have known, indeed,' she said, smiling, 'by your size, even
wrapped up. This, of course, is Signor Seth--you are always
together. But come in,' she said.
"'Who have you got inside, Donna Pepita?' Rube asked. 'I know that
I can trust you, but I can't trust others, and I don't want it
known I am here.'
"'The house is empty,' Pepita said. 'My father is out. There is
only old Jacinta at home.'
"At this moment an old woman made her appearance at the door, and
at a word from Pepita took our horses, while Pepita signed to us to
enter.
"'Excuse me, signora,' I said. 'We will go first and see our horses
stabled. It is our custom; one never knows when he may want them.'
"I thought Pepita looked annoyed, but it was only for a moment, and
then she said something in one of the country dialects to the old
woman. She nodded her head, and went off round to the back of the
house, we leading our horses, and following her. The stables, I
observed, were singularly large and well kept for a house of its
size; but, to my surprise, instead of going to the long range of
buildings, the old woman led the way to a small shed."
"'Ain't these stables?' said I.
"She shook her head, and said in Spanish, 'They were once, but we
have only two horses. Now they are used as a store for grain; the
master has the key.'
"I could not contradict her, though I believed she was telling me a
lie. However, we fastened our horses up in the shed, put the
pistols from our holsters into our belts, and, taking our rifles in
our hands, entered the house.
"Pepita received us very warmly, and busied herself assisting the
old woman to get us something to eat; after which she and Rube
began love-making, and it really seemed as if the girl meant to
change her mind, and go back with Rube, after all. There was
nothing, in fact, to justify my feeling uneasy, except that, while
Pepita had promised me when I entered the house not to tell the old
woman who we were, I was convinced that she had done so by the
glances of scowling hatred which the old hag threw at us whenever
she came into the room. Still I was uneasy, and shortly made some
excuse to leave the room and saunter round and about the house, to
assure myself that Pepita had spoken truly when she had said that
there was no one there except the old woman and herself. I found
nothing to excite the smallest suspicion, and was therefore content
to return to the room and to throw myself lazily down and go off
for a siesta, in the wakeful intervals of which I could hear that
Pepita had given way, and that the delighted Rube was arranging
with her how she should escape and join him when the army retired;
for of course neither had any idea that her father would consent to
her marrying one of the hated enemies of his country.
"At three o'clock I roused myself and soon after the old woman came
into the room with some lemonade. I observed that Pepita changed
color, but she said nothing, and a moment after, making some
excuse, she left the room. I was about to speak to Rube on the
subject, when the window was darkened with men, Five or six shots
were fired at us, and with a yell a crowd of Mexicans rushed into
the room.
"As they appeared Rube sprang up with the exclamation, 'Trapped, by
thunder!' and then fell flat on his back, shot, I believed, through
the head.
"I rushed to my rifle, seized it, but before I could get it to my
shoulder it was knocked from my hand. Half a dozen fellows threw
themselves upon me, and I was a prisoner. I didn't try to resist
when they laid hands on me, because I knew I should have a knife in
me at once; and though I knew my life was not worth an hour's
purchase--no, nor five minutes'--after I was caught, still upon the
whole it was as well to live that five minutes as not.
"There was such a hubbub and a shouting at first that I couldn't
hear a word, but at last I picked up that they were a party of the
band of El Zeres, who was in the neighborhood, and had been fetched
by a boy that traitress Pepita had dispatched for them directly we
arrived. Pepita herself was wife of one of the other chiefs of the
band. Much fun was made of poor Rube and myself about our courting.
I felt mad with myself for having been caught so foolishly. I
couldn't feel angry with Rube, with him lying dead there, but I was
angry with myself for having listened to him. I oughtn't to have
allowed him to have his own way. I warn't in love, and I ought to
have known that a man's head, when he's after a gal, is no more use
than a pumpkin. While I was thinking this out in my mind I had my
eyes fixed upon poor Rube, whom no one thought of noticing, when
all of a sudden I gave quite a start, for I saw him move. I
couldn't see his face, but I saw a hand stealing gradually out
toward the leg of a man who stood near. Then there was a pause, and
then the other hand began to move. It wasn't at all like the
aimless way that the arms of a badly hit man would move, and I saw
at once, that Rube had been playing 'possum' all along."
"Doing what, Seth?" Ethel asked.
"Just pretending to be dead. I held my breath, for I saw he had
come to the conclusion that he could not be overlooked much longer,
and was going to make a move.
"In another minute there was a crash and a shout as the two men
fell to the ground with their legs knocked clean from under them,
catching hold of other men and dragging them down with them. From
the midst of the confusion Rube leaped to his feet and made a rush
for the window; one man he leveled with a blow of his fist; another
he caught up as if he had been a baby, and hurling him against two
others, brought them on the ground together, and then leaping over
their bodies, dashed through the window before the Mexicans had
recovered from their astonishment. I could have laughed out loud at
the yell of rage and amazement with which they set off in pursuit;
but two or three of them remained to guard me, and I might have got
a knife in my ribs, so I kept quiet. I did just feel so glad to see
Rube was alive, that I hardly remembered that it warn't likely that
either he or I would be so long, for I did not for a moment expect
that he would make good his escape. The odds were too great against
it, especially in broad daylight. Even on horseback it would be
next to impossible. No one but Rube would have attempted such a
thing; but he never stopped to think about odds or chances when his
dander was up. In less than no time I heard a shot or two, then was
a silence for a time, then a shout of triumph. I knew it was all
over, and that Rube was taken again.
"He told me afterward that he had made a dash round to the stable,
where he had found seven or eight Mexicans looking after the
horses; that he had knocked down one or two who were in his way,
had leaped upon the nearest animal, and had made off at the top of
his speed, but that a dozen others were after him in an instant;
and seeing that he would be lassoed and thrown from his horse, he
had stopped and thrown up his arms in token of surrender. Rube's
hands were bound tightly behind him, and he was led back into the
room.
"He gave a loud laugh when he saw me: 'That was a boy's trick;
wasn't it, Seth? But I couldn't have helped it if I had been shot a
minute afterward. There were those fellows' legs moving about me
just as if I was a log of wood. The thoughts came across me, "A
good sharp rap above the ankle and over you'd go;" and when I'd once
thought of it, I was obliged to do it. It was fun, though,
Seth; wasn't it?'
"'It was, as you say, Rube, a boy's trick, and just at present is
hardly the time for that. But don't let us say anything we don't
want overheard, Rube; some of these fellows may understand.'
"'Right you are, Seth. I am main sorry, old hoss, that I've got you
into this scrape, but I expect we shall get out again somehow. I
don't think Rube Pearson is going to be wiped out yet.
"I hoped not too. I warn't a bit tired of life, but I did not see
my way out of it. However, I had one comfort: I knew if any two men
could get out of an ugly mess, those two men were Rube and I.
"We were now told to sit down on the ground in one corner of the
room, two fellows taking up their station by our sides. Then there
was a hot discussion about our fate, which warn't exactly pleasant
to listen to. Some were in favor of hanging us at once, but the
majority were for taking us to the main body under El Zeres
himself, because the chief would be so glad to have us in his
power. He had frequently vowed vengeance against us, for we were
known as the most active scouts in the army, and had led troops in
his pursuit many a time, and had once or twice come very near to
catching him. He had vowed solemnly to his patron saint that if we
fell into his hands he would put us to death with unheard-of
tortures; and as El Zeres was rather celebrated that way--and it
was the anticipation of an unusual treat which decided the majority
to reserve us--it warn't altogether pleasant to listen to. But we
put a good face on the matter, for it would never have done to let
those Mexican varmints see that two backwoodsmen who had 'fit' them
and beaten them time after time were afraid to die when their time
came. Presently there was a little stir, and Pepita came into the
room. I rather think that, though the girl hated us like pison, she
didn't like to come into the room where one of us was, she thought,
laying dead. Now she came in, looking, I will say for her,
uncommonly pretty. She came straight up to us, and looked us full
in the face. I paid no attention to her, but Rube nodded quite
cheerfully.
"'Well, signora, so you were making fools of us, after all! Well, I
ain't the first chap that's been fooled by a pretty woman; that's
one comfort, anyhow. I suppose our engagement is to be considered
at an end, eh?' and he laughed.
"'American dog!' the girl said, with her eyes flashing with rage,
'did you think you were so good-looking that the women of the
nation you tread upon are all to lose their hearts to you? We are
Mexicans, and we hate you!' and she stamped her foot with passion.
"Rube laughed unconcernedly. 'Well, signora, after what you now
permit me to see of you, I am really thankful that you are so kind
and lenient. Thunder! what a fate mine would have been if you had
taken it into your head to marry me!'
"There was a general laugh among the men at the cool way in which
Rube treated the girl, and the enraged Pepita struck him a box on
the ear. It was a hearty one; but Rube's face hardly changed, and
he said, still smiling:
"'We have a custom in the States, Pepita, that when a gal boxes a
man's ears, he has a right to give her a kiss. You are reversing
that; I had the kisses this afternoon, and now I have got the box
on the ear.'
"There was again a roar of laughter among the Mexicans, and the
enraged woman drew a knife, and would have stabbed Rube to the
heart had she not been seized by the men standing round her and
forced from the room. We were kept in that room under a guard so
watchful that any attempt to escape was out of the question, until
three o'clock the next morning. The horses were then saddled, and
we were soon off, Rube and I riding in the midst of the party with
our hands tied before us, so that we could just hold the bridle. We
had found out from the conversation that El Zeres with his band was
about twenty-five miles distant.
"Upon our ride I found an opportunity for the first time since our
capture for a talk with Rube.
"'What do you think of it, Seth?'
"'Looks bad, Rube,' I said. 'If we find El Zeres in camp, I expect
he will make short work of us; if he is away I suppose we shall get
till to-morrow morning. If we are to escape at all it must be
to-night.'
"'Escape!' Rube said scoffingly; 'of course we are going to escape.
The question is, Which one of all the ways open to us are we to
choose?' and he laughed merrily.
"'I don't quite see all the ways yet, Rube; however, we shall see
what sort of a place we are put in to-night, and can then come to
some conclusion. There comes the sun.'
"It was about nine o'clock when we rode into camp; and as we
approached it we acknowledged that a better place against a sudden
surprise could hardly have been chosen. The ground was flat for
miles round; but the site of the camp rose in a slight mound, of
nearly circular form and perhaps one hundred yards across; the
central part was thirty feet or so above the general level. Round
this the band of El Zeres was encamped. Rube and I guessed them at
four hundred strong. There was an attempt at military order, for,
by the bundles of wearing apparel, etc., it was evident that the
men slept round a series of bivouac fires, extending in a circle
round the foot of the mound. Within the line of fires the horses
were picketed in two rows. In the center of the circle, upon the
highest point of the rise, was a small house. As we approached we
could see a stir in the camp: a party of men were mounting their
horses as if for an expedition.
"'I hope El Zeres is on the point of starting somewhere, Rube,' I
said, 'and that he is in too great a hurry to stop to amuse himself
with us as he has threatened: it will give us another day."
"'I hope so,' Rube said; 'it's hard if we don't manage to make
tracks if we get twenty-four hours.'
"On reaching the camp we were ordered to alight; and upon its being
known who we were, there was as many shouts of triumph as if we had
been generals.
"'We are quite celebrated characters, Seth,' Rube said, with his
usual laugh.
"'Ah,' said I, 'we could do without such celebrity just at present.'
"'I don't know,' Rube said. 'If we were mere American soldiers they
would cut our throats at once: as it is they may keep us for a more
ceremonial killing.'
"As we were talking we were being led up toward the central hut,
which was evidently the abode of the chief. He was standing at the
door, tapping his riding-boot impatiently with a heavy whip; a man
was holding his horse in readiness. One of the other leaders was
standing talking to him. 'Jehoshophat!' said I, 'he is going out.
We are safe for awhile.'
"El Zeres was a slight, wiry man, with a small wicked-looking eye,
which gave one the 'squerms' to look at, and a thin mouth curved up
in a cruel smile. He was the savagest and most bloodthirsty of all
the Mexican partisans. The man with him was a tall, swarthy,
ferocious-looking villain.
"El Zeres looked at us for some time without a word. Then he said,
'I've got you at last; I've been on the lookout for you for a long
time past.'
"'It hasn't been our fault we haven't met before,' said Rube; which
was true enough, for we had given him a close chase several times.
El Zeres only gave an evil smile, but the other Mexican exclaimed
savagely, 'You dog, do you dare to answer?' and struck Rube across
the face with all his force with his heavy whip.
"Rube turned quite white, and then with a tremendous effort he
broke the cowhide thongs which fastened his hands--not new rope,
mind you, but cowhide--just as if it had been so much grass, and
went right at the fellow who had struck him. The Mexicans gave a
cry of astonishment, and threw themselves upon Rube, El Zeres
shouting at the top of his voice, 'Don't draw a knife, don't draw a
knife; I'll hang any man who injures him.'
"Rube had got the fellow by the throat with both hands, and though
the crowd of men who threw themselves upon him pulled him to the
ground, he never let go, but brought the man down too. I knew it
was all over with him. I was quite mad to join in and help; but
though I tugged and strained at my thongs till they cut right into
my wrists, I could not succeed. For awhile they lay in a struggling
mass on the ground, and then Rube shook himself free of them for a
moment and got to his feet. A dozen men were upon him in a moment;
but he was blind with rage, and would not have minded if it had
been a thousand. Those who came in front went down as if shot
before the blows of his fists; but others leaped on him from
behind, and then the struggle began again. I never saw sich a thing
before, and never shall again. It was downright awful. They could
not hold his arms. Their weight, over and over again, got him upon
the ground, and over and over again he was up on his feet; but his
arms, somehow, they could not hold, and the work he did with them
was awful. Anything he hit went down, and when he could not hit he
gripped. It was like a terrier with rats: he caught 'em by the
throat, and when he did it was all up with them. Some of them made
a grab for their knives, but they had no time to use them. In a
moment their eyes would seem to start from their heads; and then,
as he threw 'em away, they fell in a dead lump."
How long this went on I can't say--some minutes, though--when a
Mexican snatched the lasso, which every Mexican carries, from the
saddle of El Zeres' horse, and dropped the noose over Rube's neck.
In another moment he was lying half-strangled upon the ground, and
a dozen hands bound his hands behind him and his feet together with
cowhide thongs. Then they stood looking at him as if he was some
devil. And no wonder. Seven Mexicans lay dead on the ground, and
many more were lying panting and bleeding around. The Mexicans are
an active race of men, but not strong--nothing like an average
American--and Rube at any time was a giant even among us scouts;
and in his rage he seemed to have ten times his natural strength.
El Zeres had never moved; and except shouting to his men not to use
their knives, he had taken no part whatever in it--watching the
struggle with that cruel smile, as if it had only been a terrier
attacked by rats. When it was over he mounted his horse, and said
to one of his lieutenants who was standing near: 'I must go now. I
leave these men in your charge, Pedro. Fasten that one's hands
behind him; then take them inside. Put them in the inner room.
Clear my things out. Take ten picked men, and don't let any one in
or out till I return. I shall be back before daybreak. I shall
amuse myself to-day with thinking how I shall try the nerves of
these Americanos. I can promise you all a handsome amusement of
some sort, anyhow.' And he rode off.
"I have often faced death, and ain't afraid of it; but the
unruffled face and the cruel smile of that man made my flesh creep
on my bones, as I thought of what Rube and I had got to go through
the next day. And now," Seth said, breaking off, "it's getting
late, and I haven't talked such a heap for years. I will finish my
yarn another night."
Very warm were the young Hardys in their thanks to Seth for this
exciting story from his own experience, and great was the
discussion among themselves that arose as to how the two Americans
could possibly have made their escape from their terrible
predicament.