The Bee Hunters

on has advanced with such giant strides, that only one region is still extant-a region of which very little is known-where the poet, or the dreamer who delig

nse oceans of alternate verdure and sand, which spread themselves out in striking contrast, yet wonderful

squatter's axe has not yet roused the s

des, whose mysteries are known only to themselves; hunting the bison and wild horse, waging war with each other, or pursuing

ustang, was carelessly following the banks of the Rio Bermejo, a tributary of the Rio Grande de

ty years of age, of tall and well-knit frame, and graceful in manner and action. His face was proud and determined; and hi

skin, and wantoned in disorder on his shoulders; the sallowish white of his skin, very different from the olive tint, approaching to bronz

htly effeminate exterior, a courage which nothing could daunt, nor even startle: the delicate and alm

his mustang to choose his own pace; and the beast, profiting by a liberty to which he was not accus

e extent, cut into two nearly equal parts by the Rio Bermejo, whos

eft in successive undulations, until they formed at the horizon high peaks

hout turning his head, he cast a searching glance around him, but betrayed no symptom of apprehension, which neve

; he was on the point of passing at about a hundred yards' distance from a rock which rose like a solitary watchtower on the bank of the

ller with the minutest attention: then, levelli

ream, flung up his arms, lost his stirrups, and rolled on the turf

and started off at full speed in the direction of the woods sca

utt of his weapon on the ground, and, doffing his cap of vicu?a skin,

at the venta that he was a sorcerer, who could not be hit without putting a silver ball into my rifle, if they could see him now, stretched out in that way? Capital! I have loyally earned my hundred

the worthy fellow was reloading his

ath? By Heaven, no; he might still be breathing, and treat me to a thrust of the knife. I'm no such fool. I prefer sitting here in peace, and smoking a cigare

ted a pajillo (straw cigarette), lit it, and commenced smoking with immense sangfroid, ne

to make the reader a little better acq

ular power; his forehead was low and receding like that of a wild beast; his nose, long and hooked, bent down over a mouth immense in size, but with

ntended to preserve the legs. A kind of half-jacket, half-blouse, also of leather, covered the upper part of his body, which garment, open in front like a shirt, had sleeves reaching to the elbow; a machete or straight sword, passed without sheath th

, who smoked cigarette after cigarette, appearing to be able to decide upon going to convinc

e slightest motion. The zopilotes (turkey buzzards) and the condors, in all probability attracted by the scent of the corpse, were beginning to circle in wide rings over it, u

ose, greatly a

f not his soul has turned to ashes in his heart. Let's go and look.

ken, he made up his mind, at last, to approach the body, still lying motionless on the spot where it had fallen. But in the American deserts there is an axiom the justice of which is acknowledged by all. It is this: That the shortest road from one point to another is a curve. Our friend took good care to pu

ue, and our man stopped almost within reach without discovering a single thing to

is chest, and contemplated the body,

fil my engagement. Curious! I see no blood! Pooh! It is a case of internal bleeding. So much the better for him, for his sufferings will have been less. However, to make doubly sure, I'll plant my knife

ement of unexampled rapidity, the supposed corpse rose with a bound like a jaguar, and oversetting the stupefied assassin, seized him by the throat,

cavalier in a jeering tone; "One mome

ch less time than we

as too much accustomed to strange vicissitudes in somewhat similar

he cavalier, "what have yo

a sneer; "?Caray! I say the

ne you are ac

was the mo

a little shar

continued, as if talking to himself, "the others were right; it is I w

re you

thi

you did sa

ery anxiou

nce I have aske

I would take a silv

at

to kil

are a fool! Do you fancy

the kind, the more so as you

you would

Yes, as soon

you ha

e least in

f not, what is

A man must sti

upon him, shaking his head t

se me not to attempt to escape

am obliged to confess that I find myself in a most f

he cavalier, h

e mandate to be repeated: in

grunt of satisfaction,

ow shall we t

y be the gainer by your conversation," replied

side by side, as if nothing extrao

ver astonishes anyone; and it often happens that the man just escaped falling a victim to an ambuscade, does not scruple to press the ha

was doing. He had a powerful motive, with which we shall become acquainted presently; for, in spite of his

regret-the shame of having missed his blow; but he promised himself, in petto, to take his r

of?" demanded the cav

nothing," was th

know what you are thinkin

hat, permit m

ing me," said the cavalier

; he contented himself with

e most hidden thoughts. On

, the questions I am about to put to y

ll as lies

far as your interest do

make war upon oneself! No one ought

right. Wh

have the honour to be a Mexican, My mother was an Opata

earn nothing from t

at whining tone the Mexicans know so well

! Well, pardon me once more. You h

you desire to know it, here it is: I am call

pote. Now proceed

ero (vagabond), muleteer, husbandman, soldier. Unhappily, I am o

id the cavalier

. The Juez de letras (magistrate) was annoyed; and under the pretence that I was guilty of six murders, he asserted I deserved the garotte; so, s

ted the cavalier i

alp. It is a pretty sum; and, on my honour, particularly so when want press

d now tell me,

eport; personal

y reasons fo

the honour to

have you attempted

signs of the utmost astonishme

u maintain such an imposture? Four times have I served as a target

d at you; it is even likely I shall fire at you again; but never, as I hoped for Paradise, have I drea

your intention

u, se?or; n

se murder is not

est degree, se?or;

rogue will make me

an honest man must

is to k

an understand that, under the conditions

ly the reasoning did not seem so concl

id the

us have don

tter of your

I suppose, that yo

fficult to asse

nfession you have fired on me with

t deny i

in my power, I should only

st even confess that you could not possi

gazed at him

content to d

not at all content. On the contrary, I only know that I am a thorough g

er seemed

in your throat, even as you yourself

made a sig

nued the cavalier, "leaving you the power

hook his hea

must stick to his word. I cannot betray the confi

er burst o

en well paid for this

kes many things be done. I hav

a gesture of disdain; "It is very little

the undertaking was difficult; but n

. Think of what has occurred up to today. I have already heard your balls whistle four times abo

er all, were you not aware

shrugged hi

who has ordered you to compass my death. Here, take your kn

and dismissed the bandit with a ge

motionless, then bowed profound

r than I. Never mind; I will prove to you that I am not the scoundrel you fancy me,

s to turn his back upon him,

atures would have seemed incapable: a mixture of sorrow and gratitude impre

loquy-"he does not believe me. Why, indeed, should he trust my words? It is sad; but an honest

ked up his rifle, then from the other side of the rock he brought his horse, which he had concealed in a hollow, replace

uld be to knock him over like an antelope, from behind a bush! ?Viva Dio

ily disappeared amongst the tall gra

usly lengthened shadows of the trees; and, after looking about him attentively, gave a whistle, sharp and prolonge

dible, followed almost immediately after by the sound of prec

e underwood was violently dashed aside, and the unknown's mustan

ck in all directions; then starting off, with a thousand capers he made the best of his

e that the lepero was gone, and that he was assuredly alone, he readjusted the trappings of hi

of the Rio Bermejo, he turned his back upon i

ght on his mustang, with limbs closely pressing its flanks; his face was overcast with dark shades of thought; his glances wandered about as if they would pierce the mysteries of the thick forest with which he was surrounded; with head slightly

uced our reader was for him only one of those thousand accidents, without consequences, to which his dese