The Bee Hunters

of that long day made them feel the imperious necessity of recruiting their strength; so, after a few gloomy reflections o

ace them in; appetite and sleep never fail them. The reason is simple: constantly exposed to Titanic struggles with man or the elements, their natural

ssed by the approach of night, the time habitually chosen by th

ind the high mountaintops; thick darkness enveloped the earth as with a shroud; not a star twinkle

orm, so that he might not be visible if an unseen enemy were lying in wait, he anxiously scanned the dark line of the wate

ey saw black shapes moving for a few seconds, with hoarse and angry growls, and then disappearing. These b

a deep and determined voice

a cry of astonishment; the hunter

the fire which had been lighted for the evening m

late," said

prevent your reaching the hacienda. A party of Apaches is on our trail. All my precautions have not availed to conceal our tracks from these cunning demons

of them?" inquir

es; the rest have but bows and lances. Knowing you to be without arms, or at

who is so invete

abyss which no one has dared to sound, the depths of which even he himself, who fears nothing in the world, would dread to fathom

ese chances?" sa

ce. The Apaches, alarmed at finding armed and on their guard the men whom the

ound of voices, had approached

r if our enemies succeeded in setting foot on the rock, they would overp

ably be the case," sa

ance; the one already prop

ce from the place where we now are. I will lead you to that rock; when we get there, we will embark in the canoe

e not so worn out that a night flight across th

rock on which we have taken refuge. Most likely they have al

"With all your good intention to help us,

it does not depend upon m

edro, with much resignation

d dangerous undertaking, which might perhaps offer a hope of success if we had not wit

," said the hacendero, with a

nly good one. Explain, se?or," continued she, addressing the hunter. "After all you have done for us, we should be ungrateful not

but I repeat, se?orita, that the mean

about her rosy lips, and, commencing her sp

think I have proved to you, in the few hours during which we have travelled together, that my heart is above vulgar fears; and that if my physical str

of impassiveness which covered his features melted away at the s

hich the secret feelings agitating him caus

pleasant smile; "I knew w

rewater, and await the time for attacking you. We are six men, well armed and determined; we know that our safety depends on the success of our expedition. Let us land on the island, surprise the reds

lence; it was Do?a

it is the only one practicable. It is better to meet danger halfway than to tremble in

are mad! Remember, we are going to exp

ur fate is in the hands of God, whose protection has been so

unter, to whom I make my most humble apologies for having suspected his loyalty for an instant,

best," said the

needs must," said the

ion, seized their rifles with an air of determin

er, lighting a torch of oc

f the cavern, taking with them the horses whose strength ha

and ceaseless noise of the waters; thousands of night birds, dazzled by the unwonted light of

n hour's rapid march

d passed on rapidly, after deli

fter, he

d he, "all

faces, and through the obscurity before them they saw two or t

f light you see shining through the mist are the campfires of the Ap

, the capataz, at the stern of the frail bark, hold

minutes, and the canoe soon g

ock threw over the water, to a considerable distance, so dark a shado

the shore, offered, amongst its thicket

peon to guard the horses," said the hunte

re. You would miss the man you wish to leave with me. Give

eless, s

remptorily exclaimed. "

sively pressed his d

ied, while she embraced him;

rom him, and left h

anions to be cautious; and the men set off,

ndian file, they saw the fires o

to crawl forward in silence, advancing with extreme precaution inch by inch, their

lunged, as Stoneheart had asserted, in the brutal

ture plumes they wore in their hair, were squatting around the fire

slowly arose, and each man sheltered

ter the camp. Keep still as death; and, whatever may happen

red among t

t took place in the camp of the redskins, and even hear what was said; for on

triggers of their rifles, their eyes fixed in feverish impati

ve he may be, feels himself seized by an instinctive dread, which sends a cold shudder thrilling through his frame. In that supreme hour he sees his whole life pass, as

r, when a slight noise was heard in the brushwood on the oppo

he bushes parted, and Stoneheart made his appearanc

. When close to them, he stopped, and b

alute with the innate good

said a chief. "Will he

hunter; "my t

d the palefaces, because he knows that the Tigercat has deli

my brother deceives himself. I have

t the orders of

eachery. I will not let the redskin b

very high. I have heard the hawk mock at the eagle, bu

consent to become the agent of an infamous treachery. The Tigercat has received these travelle

burst int

ief; he would neither eat n

unworthy

vish dogs. The Apaches

er; "I too am a paleface

ich covered his head, and at the same instant precipitated him

ction, and the remaining chiefs sitting round th

e the only Indi

izing his rifle by the muzzle, he hurled himse

rst fire, rushed into the c

fifteen-a struggle all the more fierce and desper

ols. These they discharged point-blank in the face of t

m the earth, and whose numbers they were far from suspecting-that half of them had been killed before the rest could recover from their fright, or attempt se

houted th

kins lowered th

Warriors of the Apaches

he guide, the Mexicans bound their

waited, with complete apathy and their usual fatalism, th

es, only eight remained a

and release you from your bonds. Till then,

ethered at one side of the camp, drove them into the forest

the hunter, "let us r

s it really your intention to

ve me leave them to be d

misfortune," answered

ot men, lik

elves, that it is hardly wort

hese ferocious beings, exasperated as they are by defeat?" as

he hunter in disdain;

d not repress

the most vindictiv

ly; "but I am not a

t th

urmured the hunter

ached the place where th

come by the very natural fear she experienced, understood the importance of the post confided to her, and remained firmly on her guard, a pistol in eac

at had occurred, they began their jou

e. At sunrise they had cleared the forest, and ther

route for two more ho

e spoke in a firm, voice, yet unable completely t

said the

I must go. You are but a few miles from your hacien

d the hacendero, holding out his ha

r roads are far apart; for your sake and for mine, pray that we never again stand face to face. Only," he added, lifting his eyes to the se?orita, "I carry

orse, and began to gallop away. But, looking b

she ex

ed mech

all my possessions, I value this ring the most; it belonged t

ng the ring in his hand with