The Bee Hunters

, at certain distances, on the extreme limits of their possessions. These posts were called presidios, and were peopled by criminals of every d

solely of a fort built on the north bank, on a steep cliff which com

f hewn stone, and flanked by three bastions,-two on

er sides are the old dwelling places of the prisoners, spacious buildings for the co

tside, the government had also constructed vast granaries, a bakery, a mill, two worksh

for want of repair, are crumbling in all directions

into three sections,-two to the north

manifesting, by their want of vitality, how ungrateful is the soil from which they draw their existence. The

were seated at a table in the drinking room of a pulquería (a public house) of New San Lucar, which is situated on the south ban

ouis Pedrosa, our governor, persist in fleecing us in this fashion, the Tigercat is not too far off for a man to come to an understandin

another; "You had better swallow your word

who was washing the inside of

hing us from the shade, and that ears are ope

er: "always in fear, Carlocho! I have no more

the other, placing hi

Why does Don Louis be

gh. "Don Louis, on the contrary, is only too fon

fit for such a rascal as he," roar

us the end

let us drink,"

. Have we not Don Fernando Carril t

said Carlocho, striking the table in his irritation wit

able, exclaimed: "Do you pretend to give me a less

ng. "Caray these two hours you have been drinking like a sponge; you are full a

king his knife violently into the

. My hand itches to give you a navajada (a st

Pablito threw himself upon Carlo

s threw themselves between th

cessary to interfere. "Peace! in the name of God or the devil! No qua

!" screamed Pablito. "

o; and the two vaqueros

in the pockets of his calzoneras (loose trousers), and wh

ir hats and saluted with much affectation, drew their long knives from their girdl

consists in slashing the adversary in the face. A blow delivered below the

fixedly, in order to forestall a movement, parry a blow, or inflict a wound. The rest of the vaqueros, with th

ose sight was most likely obfuscated by his copious potations, came to the parry a second too

imed all the vaqueros

owed to the spectators, sheathed their knives, saluted one another with exquis

ed sanguinary habits, and their disregard of life is remarkable. Inveterate gamblers, the cards are never out of their hands; and play is a fruitful source of quarrels, in which the knife is constantly ca

Their character presents a curious mixture of good and evil, of unbridled vice and sterling qualities. They are at one and the same time idle, gamblers, quarrelsome, drunkards, ferocious, brave to rashness and devoted heart and soul to a friend, or the patron of their choice. From infancy blood runs like water from th

and mezcal (a coarse kind of brandy), a man entered, muffled in the folds of a thick cloak, and with the wide brim of his hat pulled over his eyes. Approaching the table without u

uddenly struck by an electric shock, and became as still as death. Pablito and Carlocho began to tremble, seeking all the while to disco

nto the brazier, and retired from the filth

locho, making a pretence of important business, quitted the pulquería. T

ho seem to be concocting some devil's job, in which more broken heads

at monte, and bending over their cards, appeared sca

he two vaqueros were walking close behind him, talking carelessly, as

in a gentle curve, gradually retired from the river, and led, little by little, into the fields. At the exit from the

en; but, immersed in their thoughts, neither stranger nor vaqueros took notice of him. As to the cavalier, he darted a rap

apote, has missed him again, then! What business can he have out here, in company with those two bandits, who look l

r it, the squareness of his shoulders, and thick-set limbs, gave unmistakable evidence of great muscular power. Little grey eyes, lively, and spa

w pueblo, it was almost a miracle to meet two persons passing through the streets at the same time. He stamped in anger, threw th

d is his horse-Don Torribio retraced his steps with the most minute

ent when he turned the angle of the lane: however, he soon saw them again as they were toiling up a steep and ro

e in case of surprise, or to prevent any casual suspicion of his intentions. Luckily, the vaqueros never looked

nto it. He first made a slight détour to the right; then, bending down to the ground, he commenced crawling

clearing close at hand, the figures of the three men, who had stopped, and were engage

shoulders against a tree, and, with his legs crossed, he was

oots,-a luxury unheard of in these distant regions. His costume, of amazing richness, was absolutely identical in shape with that of the vaqueros. A diamond o

hacienda a few leagues from San Lucar. Under pretence of defending it against the Indians, he fortified it, surrounded it with palisades and a moat, and furnished it with two small pieces of cannon. In this way he had kept his doings secret, and cu

whose post as governor gave him a right to be inquisitive, could not help feeling uneasy about the stranger; but, wearied with conjecture, he was obliged

rrupting Pablito, in a fit of passi

xclaimed t

ned to crush

ed the vaquero white with fu

hand, and gave it such a sudden and violent wrenc

or pardon!" the don went on, h

will di

ou are a b

s lips blue; his whole body trembled. He picked up his knife,

nevertheless, I am devoted to you. Forgiv

I tel

e no more to

st word; vex

go-to the devil!" And he rai

e you," said he: "but, if you still wish to

sses the hand extended to him. It was like a dog

n this scene, but remained a

r," muttered Don Torribio behind his ma

lence, Don Ferna

confidence in your fidelity; but you are a

no more," repl

do smiled

ds for which there is no remedy,-words more murderous than the dagger. It is

u c

e neighbourhood. At a short distance from the pueblo is t

t know Don P

extraordinary befalls Don Pedro or his daughter, Do?a Hermosa, one

bowed th

s, however incomprehensible, w

ar so,

of men to be depended on. Do this without exciting suspicion; she never sleeps with both eyes closed. Sta

him?" coolly

nt; only rid yourse

looked at each

med not to remar

nt money?"

; we have s

as well: better to have t

netted purse, across the meshes of which

blito, m

f the wood a magnificent charger. D

e and fidelity; one indiscret

the spur, and rode off in the direction of the pre

corner of the clearing began to shake, and a human

sen to his feet, his knife in one hand, a pistol in the oth

f me quietly! We shall see! we shall see, ?Santa Virge

ay to hear," said

ared the verado, as

bio, leaving his hiding place

ibio Quiroga? You are welc

I think I have profited by it, to g

the conversation, wha

black villain enough; but we w

!" muttered the v

t are your ow

d swims. Did you hear? They want to rid themselves of me quietly

a long time; they give me

e contrary, a

il! You are n

tter off; I am literally be

ou, the most daring hunt

whom Don Fernando has maliciously set upon my trail, are veritable demons, without faith or law, who would ble

a, and more in his lovely daughter. Don Fernando Carril, as we have just learnt, is concocting some infernal plot aga

partnership with

ou will; but an

it; for I have done with soft-heartedness. My position is completely changed. Rid themselves of me quietly! ?Vive Dios

easily come to a

understand each

ucceed: the game we are about to chase is wily.

o! He is my

llo is a resolute fellow, on w

eover, he is a caballero

ne hour after sunset to the Callejou

understand perfectl

ree will arrange

find a way to deliver you from this man,

o lie heavily

all, the longest liver will see. Don Fernando

will bring

im by force, we wo

re to do than to go abou

oad do y

ct to the hacien

rribio: do not broach

reason for say

llero as he is, has old-fashioned ideas, and would

had better know nothing of the

Now Don Torribio, go

e; and g

to regain his horse from the pulquero; while the verado, whose horse had been hidden somewher

ere ever such an idea? But we shall s