The Pirates of the Prairies

ageous for the Pirates to hesitate abo

ty determined companions, and had waged such a rude war on the adventurers or pirat

that crossed the desert, and protector of the trappers and hunters, whom they no longe

hitherto failed the pirates to deal a heavy blow, and free themselves from the crushing yoke Bloodso

at period they were still civilised brigands, if we may employ that expression when speaking of such fellows, prowling alo

d decimated them so thoroughly in many a fight, that the band, now reduced to only ten persons, was literally at bay, and compelled to live on the produ

ped them fancied they had been plundered by redskins. This disguise caused their security,

s composed of ten men, but we were i

she ruled over with all the force of a vast mind, indomitable courage, and an iron will. The brigands had a superstitious adoration for her which they cou

and abused it constantly, while they never attempted resistance. The Indians themselves, seduced by the grace, vivacity, and sympathetic char

eg, and imprisoned her little foot. To her heels were fastened heavy gold Mexican spurs; double-barrelled pistols and a dagger were passed through her China crape girdle, which confined her delicate waist. A jacket of violet velvet, buttoned over the bosom with a profusion of diamonds, displayed her exquisite bust. A brilliant-hued

red the cavern, and the pirates were acc

," Pedro Sandoval said, as he summed up the affair, "but w

iscussion will be useless, I think the best thing we ca

tures, grey eyes, and a mouth extending from ear to ear, while laughing so as to display tw

eepest silence prevailed in the grotto, whose inhabitants,

he hard bed on which he had rested, in order to stretc

he emerged, cigarette in mouth

e as to keep me longer," Red

atter continued, drawing his comrade to the entrance of the grotto. "And now, gossip, answer me

re much reflection to see t

Cedar said, with

I should not make the s

, there

y well there

e; and what

we must merely submit th

: I did not t

see

She wil

t. Still, we must

dertake it: while you are doing it, I will go and

y we

or the pres

er his shoulder and left the

ed to discharge his commission, w

as timid as he used to be: that results from

a gentle and melodious v

ravishing creature. She wore the costume we just now described; but she held in her hand a rifle, damascened w

hild; did you ha

better; I feel in glorio

; for I have to present to you an old comr

"I was not asleep last night when he arrived, and even suppos

our convers

end to t

t is you

ll me who are the peo

u not

nce I a

y are America

ericans? Are they Gr

me all Americans are alike; and provided

rl answered, with a little pout; "but

actly see th

suppose," she interrupted him, as

es-do not be angr

partners; they only serve him as a cat's paw in all his undertakings; and he abandons them unblushingly so soon as they are of no further use to him. The affair Red Cedar proposes to you i

opinion is

know what you intend doing, and

heir cells and ranged themselves round the speakers, w

Cedar spoke to me of the affair, and it appeared to us grand; but if it does not p

any point with you. At the slightest objection offered you flare

state facts. However, here is R

quatter, who entered the grotto, bearing on his shoulders a magnif

single questi

ing Gazelle," the bandit said, with a con

ient. Who are the peopl

ican f

o know th

e Zarate family, one of the m

over the girl's face, and she dis

his flush had not escaped, "to finish with that demon,

aid with incr

t, the Gazelle succeeded in reassuming an air of coolness; and, addressing the Pi

ur most cruel enemy. If I had known that at first,

"I consider the idea excellent; and the s

laimed. "I felt sure that

lle smil

nd women?" Sandoval mut

nimation, "let us hasten to make our preparations

said Orson, as he prepared to cut up the elk brought in by

horses; fetch them from the corral, and

Cedar; "talking about

rrived on foot yesterday; but I fancied

where I all but left my hide. Since

an we want, so Leonard

will make i

forming the rooms were taken down, and two or three Pirates, arming themselves with powerful levers, moved an enormous rock, under which was the hole, serving as cache to

oval shouted as he proceeded

men to

moment in the air, and hurled it into the precipice, down which it rolled, with a sound resembling the discharge of a

resent all is in order; we

mpatience, and who during all these lengthened preparati

h of about half an hour, entered a ravine, where the horses, under th

ed to remain a little in the rear. Then, approaching Red Cedar, she lo

concentrated voice, "it is really Don Miguel de Zara

red, feigning astonishment at this

th a shrug of her shoul

orward with a snort of pain, she rejoine

Red Cedar asked himself, so soon as he was alone

rs of his thin lips, and he added

well kept. Poor fool!