THE FAIR HERMIT.
“Visitors are not allowed here, and, were the cowboy king at home,
he would not have admitted you,” said the man to Cody, as though
determined to make another effort to talk.
“My visit is to the Señorita Suelo, not to her servant, the cowboy
chief,” was the stern reply.
The gateman winced, for the cowboy king evidently was all powerful in
that hacienda.
The gateman did not lead the visitor into the hacienda, but, halting
at the flower-garden gate, said:
“The señor will find the señorita in yonder arbor.”
“She does not intend to have any eavesdroppers, that is certain,”
muttered the scout to himself.
A short walk brought him to the arbor, a perfect bower of beauty amid
the flowers that were upon all sides.
The señorita arose from a hammock, a book in her hand, as the caller
approached.
“Señor, be seated,” she said, and she appeared embarrassed.
“Señorita, I have no right, perhaps, to intrude myself upon you,
knowing the unwritten law of your house that no stranger must enter,
but I have done so to return to you a trinket that belongs to
you--one I picked up upon the scene when last we met.”
As Buffalo Bill spoke, he held out the bracelet he had found upon the
spot where he had rescued the Mexican officer and the maiden from the
outlaws.
The face of the fair Mexican flushed and paled in turn, and, stepping
forward, she said earnestly:
“Señor, can you ever forgive me for my treatment of you that day,
leaving you, as we did, after your saving the señor captain from
certain death, and rescuing me from the power of cruel foes?
“Yes, the bracelet must have been torn from my wrist unnoticed by my
captors in the struggle.
“You read what is written within it, señor, so the charm is broken.
I will never wear it again; no, never! For what is there graven has
come true--the charm is broken.”
She turned her head, and for a moment was silent, when Buffalo Bill
spoke:
“I am sorry you no longer have faith in the charm; but I am glad to
have returned it to you.”
“Señor, I am glad you have done so, for it has given me the chance to
meet you to tell you how I appreciate all you did that day. Why we
left you so unceremoniously I cannot tell, for my lips are sealed.”
“And who were those foes of yours, señorita?”
“I do not know.”
“And the señor captain--did he recover from the cruel treatment they
gave him?”
“Yes, señor.”
“Señorita, I have a request to make.”
“I will grant it.”
“The favor I would ask is that when I come again to see you, you will
see me.”
“I have promised; but you must not come when the cowboy king is here,
señor.”
Buffalo Bill’s face did not change a muscle at this remarkable
request of the fair recluse.
The girl looked at him somewhat anxiously, while he answered
graciously:
“It shall be as you wish, señorita. I will now bid you adios and
thank you for having received me.”
“Then thanks are due to you, señor, and I wish you would tell me if
in any way I can serve you.”
“By allowing me to call again, as you have promised, if I deem it
best to come.”
“You have my promise.”
“And may I again ask if you have any idea of who the men were who
attacked you that day?”
“I have not.”
“Were they not the secret foes?”
“No, señor.”
“I did not know but that they might be,” said Buffalo Bill, in a
peculiar way.
“No, señor, they were not of that band. Their masked leader was a
foe to--to--the señor captain, and to me. I know; but, just who he
is I am not aware. He wanted gold, and revenge, as well, it seemed,
but he thwarted his purpose as far as getting money was concerned,
for, but for your coming, as you so bravely did, he would have killed
the señor captain, and from me he would have obtained nothing. The
outlaws were strangers in the valley, señor, save their chief, and
just who he was I do not know, as I have stated.”
“Perhaps when I call again, señorita, I may be able to inform you as
to his identity.”
“Ah! can you?”
“I may,” was the cautious reply, and, declining the offer of
refreshments, the scout took his leave, the señorita offering her
hand as she bade him farewell.
“Señor, this valley is full of dangerous characters, and one knows
not whom to trust. You are going alone upon a dangerous trail, and I
warn you that you may be halted and held up, as they say here. This
will protect you from robbery, perhaps from death. Wear it!” and she
took from the silk scarf about her neck a pin of unique design and
fastened it upon the lapel of Buffalo Bill’s jacket.
“Señorita, I will keep it as a souvenir of you; it will doubtless be
a charm to protect me. I thank you.”
Again bidding the beautiful girl good-by, Buffalo Bill left the
garden, crossed the plaza to where his horse awaited him, and rode
toward the gate.
There stood the keeper, who now saluted him with marked respect,
again saying:
“You are the first stranger, señor, who ever gained entrance to this
hacienda.”
As Buffalo Bill rode along he was not forgetful of being in great
danger, and he was surprised when he did not see the ranch cowboys
he had seen when he was on his way to visit the fair hermit. He
was riding quietly along when he saw a horseman approaching, a
splendid-looking man, well mounted, and with silver-mounted Mexican
saddle and bridle.
Buffalo Bill knew him at once from what he had heard of the cowboy
king.
Both saluted and halted, the cowboy king saying:
“Off your trail, señor?”
“No, for I have been to the hacienda.”
“And why?”
“That I consider none of your business.”
“I shall make it my affair, Señor Cody, and you are covered by my
men,” responded the cowboy king.
It was true, for four men were peering over a rock with rifles
leveled at the scout, who said:
“So it seems; but do you not respect this badge?” and he pointed to
the pin Suelo had given him.
“Not this time, for you are too dangerous a man to be at large. I
know you, Buffalo Bill.”
“And I know you, now, for you were a deserter from the army, and
later became a finished cutthroat; but I thought you were dead,
Dallas Mowbray.”
“No, I left the northern country several years ago, as it became
too hot for me, and came back to the Southwest, for I am really a
Mexican, you know, and was once an officer of the Mexican army, but
was exiled for certain acts. You see, I don’t mind telling you, as I
regard you as good as dead.”
“Thanks; but while there is life, there is hope.”
“So I have found out; but I’ll fix you now--ho, men, come here!”
The four men came, their rifles still loaded; but as they neared the
scout there were several shots heard--then one.
The first came from some thick timber close at hand, and the four men
with rifles dropped dead.
The single shot was from Buffalo Bill’s revolver, who was quick to
take advantage of the volley in his favor. He had sent a bullet
through the heart of the cowboy king.
The next moment Texas Jack, four of his pards, with Señor Otega and
his cowboy chief, Palma, came into view.
“You were just in time, Jack, and I thank you all.
“Find the horses of those four men, strap the bodies in the saddles,
and we’ll take them to our ranch to-night, and to-morrow there will
be two visits for us to make, and in full force, for I can see the
beginning of the end of our trail.”
“As I also can, chief,” answered Texas Jack.