The Smuggler Chief

to his rancho one evening after a day's hunting, when suddenly, before he could notice it, a magnificent panther, probably pursuing him in the tall grass, leaped, with an enormous bound, on his horse's neck. The animal, s

the saints in paradise, and reciting, in a choking voice, all the scraps of prayers which he could call to mind,

ream of black blood, and after a terrible convulsion, which se

its trembling feet, and a man helped the Va

ade, do you think of

e certain that he was perfectly sound and free from any wound, he gave a sigh of satisfaction, devoutly crossed himself, and

e, that I may retain it in my

he other

ame is Diego; you have saved my life; at prese

ly pressing the hard, rugged hand

where is y

swered, with a cloud o

all alone, then, in the middle of th

a moment, and then, regainin

dying of hunger in the most philosophical way

; I have some charqui in my rancho. I repeat to you, you have saved my life, and hencef

ould not live without one another; but however great was the intimacy existing between them, never had a word been excha

great aptitude in bodily exercises, his skill as an excellent horseman,

ritical moments to get out of a difficulty, Diego regarded him with a specie

wn to regard Leon as a being placed on his path by Providence, in order that he might have someone to love; and f

quero had made him, had gradually come to feel for him a sincere

uit Leon, who had dreamed of an active and brilliant existence when he set foot on American soil. Gifted with an adventurous and enterprising character, he had left his nati

for some days at San Luis de Mendoza, they entered the passes of the Cordilleras, which they got throu

st scale, and a few months later fifty men obeyed his orders and those of Diego, whom he made his

aracters of our story, we will resume our narrative at the moment when we left our

mself that no one could hear his words, walked up to Diego, w

ght? Why did you remain so silent

errupted; "but by the way," he added, looking Leon in the face, "

n the cause, confidence for confidence,

eshold of this house; but do not try to penetrate the motive. It is not the time yet to tell you the things which you must know some day. Th

ther, I will refrain from an

and tremble when a word that fell from the lips of the

ertain death the novice of the convent of the Purísima Concepción,

common between that

quero's observation, "that I swore to see the maiden again, even

gain I

t I have learned her name, and

re you

ter of our host, Don Juan

e her?" Dieg

again?" Leon rem

n!" said th

he will take the veil shortly, and the hopes I entertained of bein

" Diego remark

u, the smuggler, marry a Se?ora, the daughter of

t I feel the impossibility of possessing t

hed by sorrow, fell int

after a moment's silence, "that there is n

as you said just now-can I think of the dau

rb-'Nothing is certain but

ingular expression, which would not have escaped Leon, had not the la

u mean?" he

am going to ask you is intended to fix

ing," the yo

ally love

er frowned angrily; but on noticing the half-breed's serious face, he understood that it was not for th

in, I shall die," the yo

r, for within a fortnight

ver promised in vain: hence he did not dare doubt, and

owly repeated; "but till then, not a word, not a sign of recollec

elf with answering, as he held out his

row our foreheads may be less burnin

es on their beds, without exchanging another word, for ea

he pledge he had made; while Diego had in his head a ready-traced plan, whose suc

ve been astonished who had overheard what these two men asked of God-the God of mercy and goodness! Their prayer ended, they went down into the g

ived the general, who came to meet them

to them, so soon as he saw the

"and my friend and myself both thank y

h a sigh of regret, "happy time, which flies, alas! too quickly." Then becoming serious; "As for the slight serv

veral times, and, to Leon's great surprise, Diego did not allude to their departure; but as the y

he first to br

y walk, "be good enough, I pray, not to take in ill pa

go, amazed at the old g

ged by the two friends. "I have frequently had dealings with gentlemen of your profession, and have had always cause to be pl

ak,

e general with a distrust which the latte

esides; now, your arrival at my house has made me think of making the journey under your escort, and I wish to propose to you, as I shall take

the honour of being the captain of a band of fifty men, who know how to put down the custom

ndertake business of that nature; but the general has shown himself too hospitable to us to refuse him our assistance. Captain, remember, too, that

he must accept. "I fancied that I must return to Valparaíso; but what my frie

n the part of the captain a mode of demanding a large sum, "be good enough to step

at your

a dozen mules to carry the baggage, and that they should start the following morning. When this arrangement was made, Leon and Diego asked

iago. Leon was dying to turn the conversation to the Convent of the Purísima Concepción, and could have most easily done so by telling the event of the previous day; but he remembered the promise made to Diego, and fearing lest he

ey left the house, and found in the courtyard their horses ready saddled and held by a peon. At the moment of starting, Do

ween two lofty mountains, and at a sufficient distance from the beaten road for the band to be safe from any surprise, of which there was not much apprehe

ere finishing their breakfast of charqui and tortillas. They were mostly men in the prime of life,

n the existence which he led the charm of an adventurous life studded with perils, pleasures, and emotions, had completely forgotten the name of his country, only to rememb

discipline which, by the way, allowed them to do whatever they pleased when not actually engaged with their smuggling duties. Some were drunkards, others gambler

rom the stings of reptiles, left them perfect liberty of motion. Their hats alone might be regarded as the distinctive mark either of their nationality or the difference of

perceiving their chiefs, and, e

"I am rather behind my time, but you must blame the night sto

tain," the

e of Don Juan y Soto-Mayor, and place yourselves at the orders of that gentleman, whom you will accompany to Valdivia." Diego set

minique the Italian's, at the Almendral. Above all," he added, "be prudent, and do not attract attention; amuse yourselves

in," they a

er your expenses, and do not forget that I may want you at

eding to Valparaíso the final instructions which they might need. The smugglers removed all traces of their meal, and each of t

forjas which he had taken off his horse; he examined the place where Leon was seated, and finding it as he wished, he sat down by his side; then taking out of the bag a clumsy carved earther

en him and Diego, and waited. At the expiration of five minutes, the latter passed him his pipe; Leon

as of Buenos Aires; since that moment-and I shall never forget it, brother-

the affirmative, and th

r remained silent, and it is the one which refers to the

d at him i

hich alone is the cause. Of what use is it to know the past life of a man, if from the day when you first saw him he has n

oming to?" Leon

wish to tell you something you must know. The moment has arrived to speak; and tho

then," s

forehead, and for a moment collected h