The Bee Hunters

xious, as soon as his decision was made, to quit that part of the forest where the scene passed which we have recorded in our preceding chapter. His eyes wandered about continually

ed in a dry tone by the unknown, the peones of Don Pedro, and the hacendero himself, hastened to cut down some branches, in order to fashion a litter, which t

rl was raised with great precaution

wo were peones, or domestic Indians; the thir

extraordinarily thin; but one could truly say of him, he was nothing but muscle and sinew. His strength was wonderful. This man, call

astuteness, to which his eyes, black and well opened, added an appearance of energy and courage beyond the common. Don

Pedro and the capataz placed themselves one on the right, the other on the left

, who had remounted, the little

, the base of which was speedily attained. A narrow pathway serpentined along its side

ront by himself. Suddenly, on arriving at an angle of the road, round which their guide had already disappeared, a

of this?" murmured

," said the capataz casting

o change was perceptible in the land

first they had heard, was audible in different directions at th

his face pale, his gestures constrained

this," said he; "I wash m

at peril threatens us," rep

her, in a voice o

lost for that? You refused to believe me. Now, pray to God to help you; for n

; we are men, vive Dios, and, great as the peri

u; but it is to yourself alone you must address your reproaches; it

n accents of horror, "what na

n whose clutches you a

land for so long; that man who seems endowed with a diabolical power to accomplish th

r perhaps he hears you at this moment, a

ith caution, since we are once in the power of this demon; h

, Se?or Don Pedro de Luna?

, and recoiled a step,

me, had leaped upon the summit of an elevated rock which overhung the pathway s

examined each other with ardent curiosity. It was the first time the hacendero had seen the terrible partisan, the fame of whose thir

trait of this man, who is destined to

Coatepec, fell in disorder on his shoulders, and mingled with the grizzly beard that covered his breast. His forehead was broad and open; he had the eye of the eagle, under the brows of the lion; his whole person offered, in a word, a complete type of the man of the desert,-

ith hairs attached here and there, and his moccasins of different colours, embroidered with porcupine quills and ornamented with glass bead

, and powder horn, were slung from a girdle of

hite-headed eagle's plume was placed above his right ear, as if th

icent American rifle, damaskeened, a

ad given the name of Tigercat; a name he deserved in every respect, if hearsa

rom dwelling upon it for the present. We are persuaded the s

den as it was unexpected-of the dreaded freebooter, Do

he things I have heard reported about you be true, I can only expect, on your part, tr

t smiled sa

dread this treat

lly, no!" answered D

, with a glance towards the wou

d; a livid pallor ove

ur of humanity, I will not think so. The Apaches themselves, fierce

the reputation of being fiercer than the

in spite of repeated warnings, to place myself in your hands, dispose of me as y

igible words; but, by an extreme effort of his will, his features instantaneously resumed their habitua

h you seem to care so little, caballero, I

d overcome, in spite of his efforts, by

rase, not, as you may suppose, in mockery, b

be of little value

magine. But why thes

e. The Tigercat, his eyes fixed stead

as extreme. Believing himself to be thoroughly acquainted with the character of the freebooter, he could not u

s; right or wrong, he fancied he had perceived an accent of sad sinc

e that this conviction, which you inwardly possess, makes you extremely unhappy; for, notwithstanding the barbarous acts with which they reproach you

t seemed ab

Most of mankind are the architects of their own fortunes in this world; you have not escaped the common lot. Gifted with an energetic character, with vivid passions, you have not sought to overcome t

flickered over the

ill hanker after the opinion the world forms of you. And why? Because that sentiment of justice, which God has planted in the hearts of all, revolts in you at the universal reprobation heaped upon your nam

ening to his words; but suddenly lifting his head proudly, he cast a mocking glance around

evil instincts of the freebooter had resumed their sway over the bet

countenance of the Tigercat res

,-or, to speak more truly, in order to flatter your self-esteem by leaving you in the belief that you judge my feelings correctly,-I decree that you and your followers return to your H

exactly what

; "Then if I offer you the hospitali

the offer is ma

e you my word that you nor yours

you," said

ratic course of this conversation, and advancing abruptly

motion. "Stop! Do not let yourself be deceived by the assumed benevolence o

ight, stared disdainfully at the speaker, a

t least one which I have always respected, and have suffered no one to doubt,-my word,-my word, which I have given to this caballero. Come! Let us pass

parted as if to answer; but he remained silent, and retir

f the wilderness, you know that here I am all-powerful, and that here my will is law. Leave me to act as I pl

are how you treat these strangers, who placed themselves un

d not hesitate to revenge yourself even on me, if you fa

nt; think not I intend to desert these

to accompany them; on the contrary

his peace, smil

e Tigercat, turnin

following in the footsteps of the old freeb

of which caused the Mexicans no little difficulty, the Tigercat turned toward

oads; unfortunately they are the only ones leading to my d

," replied Don Pedro, vainly, scan

undred paces from the end of our journey; and I can assure you the abode t

lling is to be found, unless it be s

the strict sense of the word, is at least a dwelling covered by the gro

oundly the hacendero; "so much

eplied, in the light and careless tone

ndon the place they had chosen; and, perhaps with the object of leaving behind them ineffaceable traces of their passage through the wild countries they traversed, they constructed pyramids. Hence the numerous ruins littering the soil of Mexico, and the teocalis one meets with occasionally,-last and mournful vestiges of a people that has disappeared. These teocalis built on a system of incredible solidity fa

laimed Don Pedro

hat, thanks to the vegetable matter incessantly conveyed by the winds, nature has apparently resumed her rig

it," answered

fixed my dwelling. See, we have reached

n construction-which gave admittance to a subterranean building, in which

Immediately a dazzling light broke forth from the

the freebooter, pre

llow, after making a sign to his attendants

ith the hacendero, and bending swiftly down, whispered softl

ed the freebooter might perceive that he was

too late: hesitation would have be

hadows of a host of persons, who had started up around the strangers withou

f dread, into the terrible cavern, whose mouth opened yawni

of which a huge brazier was flaming; four long corridors crossed the rotunda at right angles. The Tigercat, s

h have no communication with the rest of the cave. By my orders you will be suppl

ons," replied Don Pedro. "I ha

now how to practise Mexican hospitality, i

endero, with a gest

your rest. In an hour I will send you a potion for the lady to drink. We shall meet again tomorrow." And, bowing with

orridor; then it was silenced. The travellers were alone, and the