THE DOUBLE TRAITOR.
There was no need of discussion or debate, so evidently correct was the
plan of the Partisan; nor, had his views been much more questionable
than they were, is it at all probable that any opposition would have
been made, so completely had he gained the confidence of the whole
party, by his promptitude, his gallantry, and his extraordinary
coolness in danger. The heads of all the horses, therefore, were turned
westward, and away they rode at as rapid a rate as the nature of the
ground permitted. In the present order of the march, the most danger
being anticipated from the rear, the oldest and most intelligent of
the dragoons was detached to a hundred yards in front, followed by
the three others; two leading the pack mules, and the third having
charge of the prisoner, about whose neck one end of the lasso was still
secured, while the other was made fast to the pummel of the soldier's
saddle.
After these, Gordon and his fair bride rode together, conversing at
times in a low voice, but yet oftener keeping silence.
In the rear of all rode the Partisan, alone, at nearly a hundred yards
distance from the little group which preceded him.
As they galloped onward, however, through the belt of timber which
bordered the Western as well as the Eastern marge of the Bravo del
Norte, time slipped away and brought no sounds of pursuit from the rear.
Just as they were approaching so nearly to the margin of the open
ground, that the dragoon, who acted as vidette, was looking round for
orders, Pierre uttered a shrill, long-drawn whistle, which was the
preconcerted signal for a halt; and, after the rest of the party had
pulled up their horses, galloped forward himself till he reached the
extreme verge of the covert, where, without speaking a single word, he
dismounted, fastening his charger to a tree, and advanced stealthily
into the open prairie.
After being absent about twenty minutes, during which the remainder
of his party had lost sight of him altogether, he returned with a
thoughtful expression on his strongly-marked features, and walked
through the little group of dragoons and pack mules, until he reached
Gordon and his fair bride, who sat on their panting horses, eagerly
awaiting his approach.
"Have you heard anything," he asked, quietly, "from the forest in our
rear?"
"Not a sound," replied the young officer.
"There are three smokes, one hereaway, some six miles to the southward.
Now there are three plans, of which we must choose one, and then act
on it for life or death. We must work twenty miles due north, up this
forest land, and so get above their posts--which were the safest plan
of all, if it would not carry us so far out of our route, and bring us
far too soon into the settled country, quite out of the line of our
communications--or we must strike due southward for that extinguished
fire, and so strive to make our way down to our posts at Mier and
Camargo, which would do well enough did not the whole of that country
swarm with guerilleros--or, again, we must drive right onward, and
take the chance of falling on the party at the little fire unawares,
and finding them as few that we can master them. If we succeed in
doing so, we have the best chance of reaching Monterey in safety. For,
once through these frontier parties, we shall, it is likely, find the
country clear until we reach our outposts."
"The risk of the three, then, is nearly equal," said Gordon, musing
deeply.
"The immediate risk of the last is greatest; the ultimate risk the
least; but, in truth, it is chance, anyhow."
Gordon desired him to help the lady to mount, replaced his slender
baggage on the back of the good horse Emperor, and then, without
setting a foot in the stirrup, laid his hand lightly on the pummel, and
vaulted into the saddle.
After this, miles and miles vanished beneath the feet of their horses,
as they pressed onward steadily and swiftly; Pierre, once again in
the van, leading them on, rifle unslung and ready, at Emperor's fast
slashing trot.
Now they were within a mile or less of the digy brow, steeper and more
abrupt than any which they had yet passed, from the other side of which
the smoke rose in grey volumes, having been fed with recent fuel. Here,
then, Pierre halted, and caused the pack-mules to be securely tethered
to stakes driven into the moist earth of the prairie bottom, together
with the horse of the Mexican.
The prisoner--after being once more interrogated, and persisting in
his tale that there were but six men; that there was a large stream
at the base of the descent; and that the fire was on this side of the
stream--was dismounted, gagged, bound hand and foot, and laid on his
back upon the grass.
This done, Gordon arranged his handful of men, himself leading on the
right, while Pierre rode forward some six horse-lengths in advance,
and Julia, who had refused positively to remain behind the pack-mules,
followed a length or two behind.
Now they were within twenty paces of the extreme brow of the ridge,
which alone separated them from their enemy--three paces more would
have brought their heads into relief against the sky above the summit
of the hill, and discovered them to the sentinel, if there were one,
on duty. At this moment, Pierre pulled his horse short up, dismounted
silently, and with a gesture to the well-trained and gallant animal,
which, it was evident, he understood--for he stood stock still on the
instant, with ears erect, expanded nostril, straining eye, quivering
in every limb with fiery eagerness--cast himself down, rifle in hand,
among the shorter herbage which clothed the steep ascent.
There were, as the prisoner had stated, six men only; two of whom
were awake, the one a sentinel stalking to and fro with the escopeta
in his hand, the other, a non-commissioned officer, who sat smoking
his cigarillo by the fire, over which a camp kettle, filled with some
savory mess, was simmering.
The death-shot, which sped its bullet crashing through the brain of the
hapless sentinel, aroused them all, and brought them to their feet,
amazed and terrified, and unprepared for action.
Meantime, the dragoons crossed the bridge and poured down all abreast,
receiving as they came, a straggling volley from the escopetas of the
lancers, who seeing that flight was hopeless, stood to their arms like
men, and making a desperate defense.
Then came a desperate race, for life or death, across the firm dry
prairie, which echoed under the thundering horse-tramps firm, solid,
and elastic.
The Mexican had, perhaps, gained a start of some fifty yards before his
foe was across the brook, and his small but high-bred horse, being the
fresher of the two, held his own for a little way, and even widened
the gap at first, between himself and his pursuer. Ere long, however,
the tremendous stride and power of the Anglo-American thorough-bred
horse began to tell; and, at every stroke, the Partisan closed on him.
Nor was the other slow to perceive the disadvantage. He stood up in
his stirrups, looked quietly behind him, and seeing that none of the
dragoons had passed the brook, but had dismounted and were now grouped
about the fire, deliberately pulled his horse up, and, unslinging his
escopeta, took a deliberate aim at Pierre Delacroix.
He fired. The ball whizzed through the air, so close to the head of the
Partisan, that it severed one of his long, dark locks; but it passed
onward harmless. Then, seeing the failure of his missile, the Mexican
couched his long lance and rode at the frontiers-man with a savage yell.
Silently Pierre charged right upon him; but, when he was within a
horse's length of the spear's point, he wheeled suddenly to the left,
and as the Mexican was borne past him, delivered a straight lounge,
_en carte_, which emptied his saddle in an instant, and left him but a
minute's life to wrestle out on the greensward.
The Partisan had no time to give mercy, and he rode away to join Gordon
and the lady; but, ere he did so, he met the prisoner in charge of the
two soldiers who had brought up the mules, and the fellow, looking at
him half askance, asked him in Spanish, with a sullen and almost savage
intonation, whether he had not told him truly.
Pierre replied only by two words--"Very truly." But he noted the accent
and half-sneering smile; and the first words he spoke as he joined the
lieutenant, were:
"Confound that scoundrel! I have half a mind to reward him with one
ounce of lead instead of two of gold."
"That were scarce worthy of you, Partisan," said Gordon, "and scarce
worth the time. What harm can one poor devil like that do to six stout,
well-armed fellows, such as we?"
"I do not know," answered Pierre, "I do not know; but right sure I am,
that he is a double traitor."