The last scene of our tale lies in the _pueblita_ of Santa Gertrudes; a
mining village chiefly supported by the _minera_ bearing the same name,
whose works, with the specialities of crushing-sheds, smelting-houses,
and tall chimneys, are seen just outside its suburbs.
All have a modern look, as well they may. On the ground where they
stand, but three years before grew a thick _chapparal_ of mezquite,
cactus, yucca, and other plants characteristic of desert vegetation.
For Santa Gertrudes is in the very heart of the Sonora desert, remote
from any other civilised settlement.
Its prosperity, however, has attracted settlers; for not only does the
population of the village itself receive constant increase, but many
fertile tracts in the country around have been taken up, and are
occupied by a goodly number of graziers and agriculturists, whose chief
purpose is to supply the comestibles required by the miners and their
dependants.
The growth of Santa Gertrudes has been remarkably rapid, almost
unprecedently so. From the first opening of the mine, every vein worked
has proved a _bonanza_, enriching the owners, Don Estevan Villanueva and
Robert Tresillian. For it is the _vela_ discovered, denounced, and made
over to them by Pedro Vicente.
The gold-seeker himself has also become rich, by the conditions already
mentioned as attached to the conveyance of the property. In short, all
concerned have benefited thereby--every one of that travelling party
delayed, with lives endangered, on the summit of the Cerro Perdido.
In and around Santa Gertrudes--name bestowed in honour of the Senora
Villanueva and her daughter, or rather their patroness saint--is every
evidence of advancement. The cottages of the miners are trim and clean,
the shops that supply them showing an abundance of goods, even to
articles of _luxe_ and adornment. A pretty _capella_, with spire and
belfry, stands central by the side of the public square, for, as in all
Spanish-American towns, Santa Gertrudes has its _plaza_.
Two other sides of the same are occupied by houses of superior
pretension, with ornamental grounds--the respective residences of Don
Estevan and his English partner--while here and there a house larger and
better than the common denotes the dwelling of an official of the
_minera_, some head of a department.
On this day Santa Gertrudes is _en fete_. Its _plaza_ is full of
people; the miners in their gala dresses, and, mingling with them,
_rancheros_--the new settlers from the country around--resplendent in
their picturesque costume. Soldiers, too, mix with the crowd, in the
gay uniform of the Zacatecas Lancers. For Colonel Requenes and his
regiment, on return from an expedition to the northern frontier, have
halted at the _pueblita_, and are encamped on the plain outside. The
tall chimneys of the _minera_ send forth no smoke, no sound proceeds
from the crushing-sheds or the smelting-houses; all is silent, and work
suspended as if it were a Sunday.
Different with the _capilla_, from whose belfry comes a continual
clanging of bells--merry bells--marriage bells. Nor needs any one
telling who are to be wedded. All know that the owners are about to
enter into relations different from that of a mere commercial
partnership; that Gertrudes Villanueva is about to become the wife of
Henry Tresillian.
The hour for the happy union has at length arrived, and from the two
grand houses on the _plaza_ issue the bride and bridegroom--each with
their train of attendants--and take their way to the _capella_, amidst
the enthusiastic plaudits of the assembled people, who cry out:
"_Viva la novia linda! Viva el novio valiente_--_nuestro Salvador_!"
(Long live the beautiful bride! Long live the gallant bridegroom--our
saviour!)
Inside the church the ceremony proceeds, relatives and friends from afar
assisting at it; among them Don Juliano Romero, and of course, also,
Colonel Requenes. And there is one present who not only disapproves of
the marriage, but would forbid it, were it only in his power. This the
young cornet of lancers, Colonel Requenes' aide-de-camp, now a captain,
who stands among the spectators, with an expression upon his features
telling of a heart torn with jealousy.
How different is that on the face of Pedro Vicente, luminous with
delight! Joyed and proud is he to see his young _protege_ of the chase
attain the desire of his heart, in its fullest happiness.
The procession returns to the house of the bride's father, followed by
the crowd, again vociferating, "_Viva la novia linda! Viva el novio
valiente_!"
Then the pre-arranged sports of the day commence on a grassy plain
outside the _pueblita_. There is _correr el gallo_ (running the cock),
_colear el toro_ (baiting the bull), with other feats of equitation, in
which Crusader bears a conspicuous part. Ridden by a famous _domidor_--
his owner for once but a looker-on--the beautiful black wins every
prize, in speed outstripping all horses on the ground.
The Lancer band makes music in accompaniment; and over an improvised
pavilion, ornamented with evergreens, in which stand the chief
spectators, waves the national flag--that same bit of bunting which,
three years before, was run up as a signal of distress on the *Lost
Mountain*.
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