The Bee Hunters

n the preceding chapter, the travellers saw a tolera

h feelings of lively satisfaction, that the horses and mules

ers have been compelled

ered the old man, with a s

stance from the teocali. He himself had dismounted, and w

d in your enterprise," the Tigerca

e hunter laconically,

ssing Don Pedro; "thanks to it, you will reach your home on your

ligations I owe you, se?or?" said

you has been very simple, and solely dictated b

such a hissing accent, his voice was so ironical, and his tone so sarcastic, that the effect produced was quite contrary to

e sun is already high; and it is time to set out

I feel at seeing you depart, it is my duty to warn you that, if no

e, and, accompanied by the two h

the mounted Indians had disappeared, leaving the animals

ed his head several times in the direc

" asked the old man, uneas

d to enter without a guide into that pathless forest; and

re you, se?or," said the Tig

to be your guide; and I give you my sacred word, that in despite of sava

spoken for his behoof; he contented himself by shrugging his shou

ar if you are to be our guide, se?or; the generosity of

ter briefly, "we have alr

s mounted wit

aid the Tigercat, when he

llero," exclaimed the hacender

tter; "is there any further

e motives which prompted your actions towards me, your conduct has apparently been so cordial and noble, that I must try to express to you the extent of my gratitude. Wha

as not quite his dupe, had recovered, the Mexican had given both spurs to his horse

vellers, until they had finally disappeared within the for

ssible; but his suspicion is aroused, and I

under the guidance of Stoneheart, who rode alone in advance,

were alone, without troubling himself in the least about those who followed him; wi

day before, was expecting a certain oddness of character on his part. Nevertheless, he was hurt by the coldness and indifference displayed

hed forth, from the fissures of a rock, which rose to a grand height in the form of a pyramid, a spring of

gantic trees surrounding it, offered a delic

day is over," said the guide, breaking silence f

smiling; "indeed, you could n

refreshment, of which you may avail yourself, if

not join us?" as

do not trouble yourself about me

rom her saddle, and placed her on the turf beside the brook. The horses we

ried the provisions, and spreading them out before Don Pedro and his daugh

d the capataz, while doing h

comprehensible," a

manner," said Do?a Hermosa; "up to the present hi

t he seems to display a coldness

kindness hitherto," replied Do?a Hermosa, with a certain degree of warmth of manner; "w

yet all this is most di

entiousness, and the reserve of their manners. What you consider coldness, is probably no more than bashfulness in the

er, I intend to ease my mind of this anxiety; and I will not

g from him, beyond leading us in safety to the hacienda. Let

t you must confess that we should be seriously at a

horse is feeding with ours; besides, for what purp

e an Indian than an individual of our colour; and, right

at urgent business could induce him to leave

girl shrewdly; "It may be he is g

s not come back again, our position is still more frightful than it was yesterday, for then we had our rifles

us while we slept. I never thought of them before. What can be the meaning of

"he is innocent; I am sure of it. You will soo

" said Don Ped

r's horse, which had been browsing peaceably, pricked up his ears, and darting in the direct

orita?" cried the capataz

an to be a traitor. Strong as appearances may be against

Don Luciano; it is evident that, for reason

ook her head, b

ndero co

upon something or other; we cann

leave this place directly. Who knows whether the wretch is not preparing to swo

o? None of us knows the roa

o direct them to inhabited places. Let us throw the rei

y; it might succeed. Let us

out to do. Do not act with a precipitation you would soon regret. Wait a little wh

exclaimed the hacendero, rising to his feet. "Here,

s hastene

I hear the sound of a horse's hoofs in

daughter's earnest appeal. He dropped on the turf

tainly the step-not perhaps of a horse, for it was slow and heavy, but

rizzly bear," mutt

of prey," added the c

s to defend themselves, it was clear that they were lost if a wild beast should

ved her presence of mind; "no danger threatens us. Look! Th

e perceived the scent of a wild beast-have been

the hunter made his appearance,

triumph; while her father and the capata

ed the clearing, only their expression was more sombre. His horse carried on his bac

ad been deprived of your weapons,-at least I suppose that to be the case; for you cannot have forgotten to take them when you left the teoc

reason why

here in the desert, to serve us in time of need. But," he added in a bitter tone, "it has been discovered and pillaged. On that account I whistled for my horse, whose help

thout emphasis, and in the tone of a man co

ntained five American rifles, knives, straight sw

good; they will not fail you whe

to be asked twice; they we

n defend yourselves like men, instead of

osa, "I was convinced

s his response; "thank

ecame animated, and his eyes flashed; but

in safety to your home,"

er to be feared?"

e replied bitterly, "in the

eatened wit

scalps, you must place implicit confidence in me, whatever I may do, and obey me, without fear or hesitation, in ev

; "we will not doubt your loyalty, and wi

," said the

erything. Put aside all anxiety. Do not spea

elf to a little distance, and sea

r was planning means to avert it; but now that they had excellent weapons, horns full of powder, and balls, they looked at their position i

y half an hour, raised his head, calculated the time by the

; it is t

saddled, and the trav

le," continued the hunter; "

l he reached a spot where two other brooks contributed their waters. Stoneheart chose the left hand brook, and followed its windings.

tible. The deepest calm prevailed through the forest; the birds, nestled under the leaves, had ceased their songs;

cots (trees uprooted and carried down by the rivers, often forming serious obstacles to navigation) began to make their appearance, on which ro

d the green dome formed by the trees capriciously bending over its banks, presented to the eye a

d an immense vault overhanging the stream, Stoneheart slipped from his horse, whose bridle he gave to Don Pedro, and swam under the arch, making a sign to the others to pursue their course. He soon reappeared in one of those Indian canoes which are built of birch b

lty in keeping her seat on her horse, although she exerted herself to the utmost to conceal her fatigue.

space, to a prodigious height, and hemmed in the stream between two walls of rock terminating in peaks. In the centre of the river arose a block of grayish granite, about sixty yards in circumference, and towards it the hunter guided the canoe. The

sembarked, and hastened to bring the horses to

houldering the canoe; and

der water to a great distance. The horses were s

n light a fire without hesitation; the fissures in the rock, which afford you light, will divide the smoke, and render it invisible. Although I believe I have hidden our trail from those in pursuit of us, it is still incumbent on m

some great danger threatened, they could not foresee either whence or in what manner it would fall on them, and bec