The Pirates of the Prairies

our first chapter, and rejoin Red Cedar, who thanks to the weapons found in

g as his own. However large the desert may be-however perfect a man's knowledge may be of the prairie refuges-it is imp

rless difficulties that surrounded him, and could not dream of regaining his encampment. The enemies

to prepare his vengeance promptly. Like all evil natures, Red Cedar regarded as an insult all attempts persons made to escape from his perfidity. At this moment he had a rude account to settle wit

He resolved to carry out the project for which he had left his comrade

enly turned to his right, and retiring from the banks of the Gila, which he had hitherto followed, he left the road to th

oser together, served as the advanced guard of a gloomy virgin forest on the horizon. The landscape gradually assumed

right nor left, and apparently following a direction he was perfectly acquainted with. Smiling at his thoughts, he did not seem to notice t

ing of the prairie wolves-bands of which were already prowling at a short distance from the bandit. But he, apparently insensible to all the

sitation, he buried himself in a narrow path running between two hills, and boldly climbed up a very steep ascent. At length, after a fatiguing climb, that lasted nearly three

f this was the entrance of a natural grotto, in which the flames of a fire flashed up at intervals. Red Cedar sto

d, in a low voice, and a

e soft and cadenced note of the maukawis. An instant after, a similar

the fire, appeared in the entrance of the grotto, and a

goes

" the band

ntinued; "there are no friends in t

g into a hoarse laugh, "I see that Don

tone, "tell me what your name is, I say once again, or, by heaven, I'll lodge a

t recognise my voice, and have you so short a m

ted in surprise, "then you are

ge, gossip. I hope to p

s name; do not let us go on

ity, and drew off, uncocking his rifle. Not waiting for a second invitation, Red Cedar bounded on to the tree and c

of at least eight feet, and forming ten rooms or cells, five on either side the grotto, beginning at about twenty paces from the entrance-a space left fr

compartment, serving as storehouses; and beyond this a natural passage ran through

bode adopted for many years past, in which all the comfort had been collected whi

s hand eagerly, and with a species of respect. These men wore the garb of hunters or wood rangers: their marked features, their ferocious and crafty faces, on which the traces of the most disgracefu

led to fly to the desert to escape the iron hand of justice, had declared an obstinate war against those who had placed them b

having adopted the savage life of the Far West, have assumed all the vices of the white and red races, without retaining one of their qualities. Villains, i

of his place, and that his antecedents, on the contrary, gained him a certain de

comrades, "our friend, Red Cedar, has returned among us; let us greet him like a jo

he fire, "I thank you for your cordial reception, and

od news to impart to us? It would be welcome, deuce tak

t state?" the squatter

med him; "and Perico has on

went on, "I have come a

ts said, pricki

esert: there is no lack of white or red trappers, who every now and then can be saved the tro

friend, the desert is not worth a hang now; the white men are drawing too close together, they are gradually invading the territor

emark," Red Cedar observed, as

tunately, the remedy is difficu

iving at. "In the meanwhile," he added, "as I have made a long journey, feel very tired, and have a tremendo

followed his example, and for some time the conversation was naturally suspended. A hunter's meal is never long; the present one was so

igarette, "now that supper is over, suppose

d, as he settled himself comf

ng then-" Sand

hing. You were complaining, I believe, about the whites dest

was what I

rves me right, that the rem

ou answered

o, and re

yoursel

the whites have been gradually invading the desert, which, in a given time which is

is t

within a month you

e bandits exclaimed

leagues from here, I have left one hundred men devoted to my fortunes. Will you imitate them and fol

andoval; "It

cal simplicity, "and have come. Now, you know my plan; reflect on what

mself up in a zarapé, and fell asleep, leaving the bandits to discuss