In the Hands of the Cave-Dwellers Read online

  CHAPTER II

  A HEARTY WELCOME

  Early as Mexican households are awake, in order to enjoy thecomparatively cool hours of the morning, William Harland was the firstup, and, dressing hastily, he started out to fetch his kit-bag. At thebottom of this he had stowed away, before he went on board, the clothesthat he had worn when he left home, and also the contents of a smalltrunk that he had taken with him, buying an outfit for use on board froma slop-shop. He was back in an hour, for he had hidden the bag in aclump of bushes but two miles from the town. The servants were movingabout, but, with the exception of Juan, none of the others were yetdown. The latter met him as he entered.

  "I have been to your room, and when I found it empty, guessed the errandon which you were away. Why did you not tell me last night? You couldhave had a negro slave to go with you and carry that sack of yoursback."

  "Oh, I am not too proud to carry it myself, Don Juan, and I was reallyanxious to get it the first thing this morning, for I certainly shouldfeel very uncomfortable sitting down to breakfast with your friends inthis rough sailor suit. Luckily, I have some decent clothes in my bag,and half a dozen white jean jackets and trousers, which I bought forwearing ashore when I was on my last voyage; for then, as an apprenticeand in a ship chiefly belonging to my father, I had a good manyprivileges in the way of leave when we were in port."

  "You look desperately hot, and if you would like a swim, there is a pondin that clump of trees at the end of the garden--I have had a dip theremyself this morning."

  "Thank you, I should like it extremely, and I can then finish my toiletthere."

  The pond was an artificial one, the sides and bottom being lined withstone; a thick band of trees and undergrowth surrounded it; it haddoubtless been formed for the purpose of a bath, and also, as was shownby two or three seats placed around it, as a shady retreat during theheat of the day. In half an hour Will rejoined Juan, looking cool andcomfortable in his white jacket and trousers, and a white flannel shirt,with turn-down collar and black silk handkerchief around his neck.

  "That is a good deal better," Juan said; "you only want a sombrero tocomplete your costume. Sit down here; I told the servant to bringchocolate for us directly I saw you coming out from the trees. DonGuzman and Christina take their chocolate in their room. I don't supposethat we shall see them till breakfast, which will not be served for anhour and a half yet."

  "How is your arm, Don Juan?"

  "Drop the Don, please; I was always called simply Juan by my Englishfriends at Valparaiso. It is much more pleasant than our ceremonious wayof addressing each other. So call me Juan, please, and I will call youWill."

  "Now, Juan," Harland said, as they sipped their chocolate, "who do youbelieve set those ruffians on to you? I could see plainly enough thatboth you and the senorita had suspicions, though you did not choose tomention them to her father."

  "You are a sharp observer," Juan laughed. "Well, yes, I will tell youfrankly upon whom my suspicions fell. I must tell you first that DonGuzman is a connection of mine, my father having married a first cousinof his. When my father went out to this new ranch of his, twelve yearsago, he left me behind, under my cousin's charge, and I lived here forfive years, going to the mission to be educated by the fathers. Sincethen I have generally spent a month or two here, and not unnaturally, asyou who have seen her will doubtless admit, I have grown to be very fondof Christina. Of course till lately she has simply looked upon me as herbig cousin, but when I was last here, before going down to Valparaiso,she was a little changed; she had grown to be shy with me, which she hadnever been before, and I hoped that she had begun to return myaffection. Naturally enough, when I returned the other day, I spoke outto her, and learned, to my delight, that this was so, but of course shecould say nothing until our parents had been consulted--an indispensablestep, as you of course know, for in Mexico, although young people mayhave some voice in the matter, the parents' consent has to be obtained,and the preliminaries are, in fact, settled by them. In this case,happily, there is no fear of difficulty arising on that score. DonGuzman and my father are firm friends, and the alliance would be asuitable one in all respects, as, although my father may be more wealthythan Don Guzman, Christina is an only child, while I have a sister whois about her age."

  "But I still do not see, Juan, how this explains anyone having an enmitywith you."

  "No, I am just coming to that. You must know that the militarycommandant of San Diego, Colonel Pedros Melos, has a son Enriques, whois a captain in the regiment stationed here. Christina told me before Iwent down to Chile that Captain Melos was a frequent visitor, and thathe was very attentive to her father, and frequently brought bouquets ofchoice flowers. She added that, although he was very civil to her, asfar as the customs of the country permit a caballero to be civil to anyyoung lady not related to him, she did not like him. Well, it happenedthe other day, that, just as Christina and I were coming to anunderstanding, exactly where we are sitting now, this Captain Melosstepped out from the window of the drawing-room. I should imagine thathe had no great difficulty in understanding the situation. A youngcouple who have just declared their love for each other are apt to looka little awkward when suddenly interrupted.

  "The sound of his foot, as he stepped out on the veranda, caused us tolook round sharply. As his eye fell on us he turned as pale as if he hadreceived a blow, and if ever man's face wore for a moment an expressionof intense rage his did then. However, he checked himself, murmured aword or two about believing that Senor Guzman was in the veranda, andthen turned on his heel and went back into the room. Christina caught myarm. 'Beware, Juan, that man will be your deadly enemy!' And I felt thatshe spoke truly. She said that his attentions of late had been verymarked, and she had been in constant fear that his father would call onhers to ask for her hand for his son. We agreed that I should, withoutloss of time, speak to her father on the subject of my suit, and I didso on the same day.

  "He was good enough to say that when a request from my father reachedhim to that effect, he should most willingly accede to it. Colonel Melosdid, in fact, call the day before yesterday, and formally proposed thealliance, to which Don Guzman replied that his daughter's affectionswere already engaged with his perfect consent and approval. The colonel,of course, had nothing to do but to bow himself out with as good agrace as he could muster. I fancy from what I have heard that he is agood officer and an honest man. He has played a part in all the civilwars that we have had here, but, unlike most others, he always stuck tothe same side, which, fortunately for him, turned out in the end to bethe successful one. His son bears an altogether different character.Here, indeed, there has been nothing much against him; the fact of hisfather being commandant has no doubt acted as a check upon him, andpossibly the hope that he may have entertained of winning Christina'shand may have helped to render him discreet, but I have heard that inother places where his regiment has been in garrison, he bore the worstof characters.

  "Thus, you see, as a bitterly-disappointed man and as an unscrupulousone, he might well have been the author of this attack upon me; and, asyou noticed, the idea occurred to Christina as well as myself,remembering as we did the expression of his face when he saw ustogether. That the affair was his work, however, we have no shadow ofproof, and I should not think of whispering my suspicions to anyone.Still, I shall take every precaution for the three or four days that Iremain here, and shall not be out in the unfrequented streets afternightfall. And now about yourself; tell me, frankly, what are youthinking of doing? Do you intend to continue at sea, or are you thinkingof returning to your home, where, no doubt, you would be gladly receivedby your father?"

  "I have not thought it fully over yet, but I certainly shall not go backto my father with the tale that I found my life unbearable and desertedmy ship. When I go it must be with a better record than that. He mayhave objected most strongly to my taking to the sea, but I think itwould be an even greater annoyance to him to find that having, indefiance of his wishes, done so, I had
so soon backed out of it. Hehimself is a man who carries through anything that he undertakes, nomatter if he incurs loss in so doing. I do not say that if I saw someother opening and made a success of it, he would mind; but when I do goback it must not be as a returned prodigal, but as a man who has donesomething, who has in one line or another achieved a certain amount ofsuccess. As far as I have thought it over, my ideas have been to take apassage down to Valparaiso, which seems to me the most go-ahead place onthis coast, and there look round. I have money enough to last for somelittle time, for my father, on my return from my last voyage, gave me acheque for five hundred dollars, and, beyond twenty or thirty dollarsexpended on my sea-kit, I still have it all in my belt."

  "But what do you think of doing in Valparaiso?"

  "I would take anything that turned up except a clerkship. Then, if intwo or three months I could see nothing that seemed likely to lead to agood thing, I would ship again."

  "Well, you will not embark on any such wild-goose chase for some time,for I intend to take you off with me to my father's hacienda for a longvisit. You will receive the heartiest of welcomes when I tell them whatyou have done for me. I can promise you, I think, a pleasant time there,and you will see what will be quite a new side of life to you, and learnsomething of the ranching business, which, let me tell you, is as goodas another, though I admit that a considerable amount of capital isrequired for making a fair start."

  "I should like it extremely," Harland said, "but--"

  "There are no buts in it, Will," the other broke in. "You don't supposethat after what has happened you are going your way and I am going minein the course of a few days, as if we were but two passengers who hadmade a short voyage together. My father would never forgive me if I didnot bring you up with me. I expect to-morrow or next day we shall havethree or four of the men down with horses, blankets, and othernecessities for travel. I sent a messenger off on the day I arrived.There is generally a wagon or two that comes down every month forgroceries, wine, and other matters, and as I find that it is fully thattime since the last trip, I expect that the carts and men will botharrive to-morrow. Travelling comfortably, we shall take the best part ofa week to get there; of course, with relays of horses it could be donein less than half that time. The wagons take ten days, and that is goodtravelling, especially as there are three days' heavy work over thefirst range of hills. Here the mules will have a few days' rest and thenstart again."

  "You find mules better than horses for wagons?"

  "Beyond all comparison better; the value of a mule is six times that ofa horse, except for exceptionally good and fast animals. Feed a mulewell, and there is no better beast in the world. Of course the mules arebig animals, being bred from the finest donkeys that can be importedfrom Spain, and can drag as much as oxen and go half as fast again."

  Acting under his friend's advice, Will purchased the necessaries for hisjourney, the principal item being a Mexican poncho; this, inappearance, was like a large blanket made of a long, soft wool that waspractically water-proof. A hole edged with braid was cut in the middle.This was slipped on over the head, and a long riding-cloak, reaching tothe stirrups, was obtained, while at night it served all the purposes ofan ordinary blanket. Juan presented him with a rifle, a brace ofhandsomely mounted double-barrelled pistols, and a sword.

  "We always ride armed across the hills; we are on good terms with theIndians near us, but might fall in with some wandering bands, orpossibly a party of white cut-throats, fugitives from justice. Besides,"he added significantly, "there may possibly be dangers on this side ofthe first range of hills."

  "You think--" Will began.

  "Yes, I think it possible that the organizer of the first attempt on mylife may try again. It is not probable that he likes me any better forthe failure he then made."

  Some high riding-boots, a couple of pairs of fringed Mexican trousers,and a few other necessaries completed the equipment, most of which wasto be sent up in the wagon with the kit-bag. Will was in high spirits.Nothing could be more pleasant than the trip promised to be, and helooked eagerly forward to the start. The wagons had arrived, and withthem four mounted men who had overtaken them on the day before theyreached San Diego. They brought down with them two riding horses,intended for Juan's use.

  "My father always sends two down," Juan said, "so that I can have achange each day, and be beyond the reach of such accidents as a horsestraining himself or casting a shoe. Besides, on more than one occasionI have brought back a friend with me, as I am going to do now."

  "I suppose you breed a good many up there?"

  "We breed enough for the wants of our vaqueros, and a few high-classanimals for our own riding. We don't care about having more than isnecessary, for a good horse is a temptation that an Indian can scarcelywithstand. Cattle they don't care so much for, for up in the mountainsfeed would be scarce for them; besides, they have no difficulty ingetting meat--game is plentiful enough, deer and bear, while at timesthey go down into the great plains on the other side of the Rockies andkill as many buffalo as they please, jerk the meat, and bring it up totheir villages. In point of fact, we never refuse half a dozen or adozen cattle to any party of Indians who come down and ask for them. Itkeeps us on good terms with them, and practically costs us nothing, forthey do not often take the hides, preferring greatly deer-skins fortheir hunting-shirts and leggings, for which bullock hide is too heavy,while for their lariats and heel ropes, and so on, they use buffalohide, which is stronger and tougher. So practically, you see, it is onlythe value of the fat that we lose."

  Three days later Juan and Will said good-bye to Senor Guzman and hisdaughter and set out, the four mounted men riding behind them with twoled animals carrying provisions and water-skins.

  "How far is it before we get beyond the settled country?"

  "The country is cultivated as far as the Chocolate Hills, as there areseveral small rivers, whose water is used for irrigating the fields.Beyond these hills there are scattered villages and haciendas, theirpositions being determined by the existence of streams coming down froma great mountain range, for although rain seldom falls near the coast,there are heavy showers there occasionally. Except in the rainy season,the beds of these streams are dry, but wells sunk in them at all timesyield a plentiful supply of water. It is drawn up by the labour ofbullocks, and the ground irrigated; and they grow oranges, bananas,grapes, melons, and all kinds of fruit, in fact, in abundance. Some ofthese irrigated estates are of considerable size. For the last fiftymiles we shall come across no settlements until we reach our ownhacienda, for the country is too much open to Indian forays. Though wedo not suffer as much as they do on the other side of the Colorado;still the risk is great--too great for men who embark their capital, tosay nothing of risking their lives. We are fortunate in the fact thatthe tribe immediately in our neighbourhood is a small one, and far lesswarlike than many of their neighbours. The goods they receive from us,and the cattle, make them comparatively rich, and they have never shownany signs whatever of enmity against us. We have promised them that ifthey are attacked by any of their savage neighbours we will, if theycome down to us, assist them, and as the hacienda is strongly built andwe have a supply of arms sufficient for all our men, we could resist anyattack. I think this understanding has quite as much to do with theirfriendly feeling towards us as the benefits they receive from us."

  "It must be a large valley to be capable of sustaining so vast a herd asthat of your father?"

  "Yes; the valley is not very wide at the lower end near the river, butthe hills open out and form a basin some ten miles wide and twenty mileslong. Beyond that it extends a considerable distance, but narrows fast;a stream runs down the centre, and during the rainy season and at thetime of the melting of the snows there are innumerable rivulets comingdown from the hills, and in consequence the grass is sweet and long. Ourherds amount to about forty thousand head, and we do not let them exceedthat number. We do not use the upper part of the valley. By ouragreement with the Indians that
is to remain untouched as ahunting-ground for them."

  That night they slept at the hacienda of some acquaintances of SenorSarasta, where they were most hospitably entertained; the next day theyhalted for a few hours at San Felice, and rode on as soon as the sun hadlost its full power. They were now beyond the region of generalcultivation; the plain was, however, fairly green, as a short timebefore the unusual circumstance of a heavy rain had occurred, with theresult that in the course of a few days the whole face of the countrywas changed. As soon as the horses were unsaddled the men scattered tocollect dead brushwood, and in a short time a fire was blazing, and aslice from a hindquarter of venison that had been presented to them bytheir host of the night before was skewered on a ramrod and placed overit. They had made sixty-five miles in two days' journey. They had notbeen following any beaten track, but the men had all made the journey sooften that no path was needed. In the morning they would begin theascent of the lower slopes of the mountains, whose crest rose somethirty miles ahead of them, although, seen in the clear air, they didnot seem to Will Harland to be more than a fifth of that distance.Rather to the surprise of the men, Juan ordered that a watch should bekept, a precaution they had never taken before.

  "I have an idea," he said to Will, "that we shall be attacked eitherto-night or while mounting the hill to-morrow. It is just as well totake the precaution to set a guard to-night, but I do not really thinkthat if a party are out after us they will trouble us to-night. Theycould not know exactly the road we should take, but will be sure that weshall cross the hills and come down on the north side of the Great DryLake, and probably stop at Martinez. From there the country is bettercultivated, as we go along the Chatenezonais Valley, in which there areseveral villages. To-morrow's journey is, therefore, the most lonely anddangerous, and they would have no motive whatever in going farther, so Ithink that for to-night we can sleep tranquilly. To-morrow we shall haveto be on our guard."