The Bee Hunters

hacienda; in fact, the hunter had scarcely left the persons he was guiding, when the cloud of sand was blown away by th

n Estevan Diaz, chiding his companions,

on met, and mingle

t some accident might have occurred, he had assembled all the most resolute men belonging to the hacienda,

he strength and courage of the little party were oozing away together, it is probable that the search would

hey had scarcely hoped to see again, and the whole company gaily took the

oon as she had dismounted, excusing hersel

ished appurtenances, and then threw herself with a feeling of instinctive gratitude, at the knees of the Vir

long. For more than an hour she remained on her kn

ign of the cross, and, traversing the room, cast herself on a couch, whe

e herself up

en one unbroken succession of gentle joys,-for whom the sky had had no cloud, the past no regrets, and the future no apprehensions Why

erself could not, perhaps,

long slumber; her heart beat more quickly, her blood coursed more rapidly in her veins, a flood of unknown t

and a burning tear show like a pearl on her eyelashes; then her purple lips would part under the influence of a charming smile, the refle

m her couch with the grace of a startle

Possessed by the spirit whose voice was evoking her inward agitation, s

d deeply, and, urged by a charming impulse of maiden modesty, ran to

this delicate distinction; perhaps she mistrusted herself; perhaps the feeling which had been so suddenly and violently awakened in her heart did n

of her heavenly protectress, Do?a Hermosa regained her couch, and touched a silver bell standing beside her. At the sound, t

aid her mistress, making a

, like that of all half-breeds kneeled gracefully at the feet of her mistres

ve answer, "only to see

asping her hands together; "It is so long since

e distress you

I not love you like a sister? Do they

?" asked Hermo

s in the prairie. All the peones have left their w

dee

not know what saint to commend you to; I vowed

said she, w

madman, accusing himself as the cause of all that had happened: he tore his hair, asserting that

ewhere, and who began to get weary of the chattering o

ch a thing shall not happen to you again, and that

y in such ala

s, particularly as they said you had fallen into th

the man who gave us shelter overwhel

e has known this man for a long time; that his kindness was

ad suddenly be

taken. But you remind me that I escaped from him the moment after my arrival without offering him a wo

he is,

k him to come here, if h

rose and

n as she was alone, "I will make him sp

atiently the retur

ess, and made such haste to execute her commission that sc

; his carriage full of grace and suppleness, betrayed his race. He entered, saluting the lady with a winn

ut her hand gaily, "how happy I am to

ered Don Estevan, gladly entering

hica, and then go; I do

eyed withou

the do?a. "But first excuse me for running away from you. My so

nderstand that,

not angry with

in the world,

e?" said she, pout

counter such dangers as you have been exposed to without fe

selves, my dear Estevan, these dangers have not been

in token of his want of

angers have been much more seri

e people we met treated us wit

t will reply wi

I will answer

d you with this cordial hospitality?" And h

ot know it, but that I did not

r he would have answered that

execrable miscreant who for years has spread terror over

ruth of my assertion. I can have no doubt,

eceived us so kindly, and that he should have prof

an's heart. Besides, who can prove he was not laying a

s to the devotion of our guide." And she

Estevan ironically "But the guid

us his name, in spite of the pr

ng so, ni?a; the name would

and what i

he Tigercat; he is

stinctive terror, and hi

ot be a monster; this man who proved himself

Don Estevan: "He

it? Has not my fathe

did not say any

n may be, I must render him justice. I owe it to him

eaven, explain yo

were expecting the death that could not be long in coming,-I felt my foot bitten by a snake of the most

e your strength and

that my strength failed me, in spite of my courage. At that moment God sent to our

ful!" said Do

poison, so that, shortly after having been bitten, I felt no pain from the

aved you indeed. Yet for what pu

onduct sufficiently proves it. It is to him alone we owe our

rehensible dream; I do not know whether I

guilty of the infamous actions

: he seemed embarrassed; an

our deliverer is. I will tell you all I know of him myself; and perhaps this knowledge may be usef

ing attentiv

ty, too well known for me to enter into its details. The infamy of the father has reflected on the son, and enveloped him in a halo of murder and rapine which makes him almost as much dreaded as his father. However, in justice to the man, I must confess that, although he is accused of a thousand evil dee

ot true," s

s to be found at the bottom of every suspicion; and, strictly speaking, this man's trade

you, Estevan. What

rt is a b

th a burst of laughter. "Truly th

ortion as the whites push forward in America, bury themselves deeper in the prairies, and take refuge in more inaccessible wildernesses, require a s

ve told me, there seems nothing that is not highly honourab

h the same indifference as they smoke the bees from the tree, and often, for mere pastime, fire on the approaching stranger, white or redskin. For this reason, the Indians dread them more than the fiercest animals, and, unless they happen to be in force, fly before a bee-hunter with more terror and precipitation than from the grizzly bear, that redoubtable inhabitant of our American forests. Believe me, ni?a, I am not exaggerating. It results

nexperienced girl; but were I bidden to open my heart, and speak frankly, I should answer: 'My friend, this man, condemned from infancy to a life of shame and trial, has striven valiantly against the current which was dragging him away, and the force of bad example assailing him on every side. Son of a criminal father, associated, against his will, with bandits to whom every restraint is an abomination, and by whom every sentiment of honour has been trodden under foot, this man, far from imitating thei

he turned towards the girl, took her hand, pressed i

oble, your sentiments are exalted; you are indeed perfect-a chosen soul. I do not blame you for following the impulse of your heart-you are only obeying the instinct for good or evil which sways you in spite of yourself; bu

h, speak; I shall be so happy

reaty has no connection with

n for my granting it," she

emand the continuance of that confidence. My only desire is to see you happy; all my thoughts, all my actions, tend to that goal. Never believe that I dream of betraying you or thwarting your projects. If I am tenacious on

face; "I promise, Estevan, my brother-for you are in truth a bro

the name of brother. Come tomorrow, in the afternoon, to my mother's rancho (farmhouse); I

n?" cried she, i

ear child; leave me to

ortance to my words than I attach to them myself. Involuntarily I have been c

nversation. I understand that you have avowed an immense amount of gratitude to the man who saved your life. I see it

and I think the wish natural, and o

hings interdicted to a woman, I will try if I can lift the mysterious, veil which conceals the life of you

I will thank you from t

mile to this passionate outbreak:

o which she had been led, or was she afraid of herself? Only women can decide the question, and only Spanish-

undred yards of the first houses, he slackened his pace to a walk, and cast glances right and left, as if in the expectation of meeting some person he wished to see.