The Wolf Cub

ey had been in the saddle since daybreak, persistently pushing southward. The cobs were dog-weary but as steady-paced as m

unger and taller of the two was slung a pair of binoculars. The one, and then the other, trained these glasse

nal high-soaring falcon or an ugly, three-foot-long eyed-lizard. And this time was not the first time they had paused to peer through the binoculars; they had

Not even a solitary salteador de camino

" returned his compa?ero; vehemently dissenting. "How could they

ican in the ferocity of its passion. The sun glare tortured their eyes. It caused their lacquered three-cornered police hats, made of shiny pa

n making throughout the whole hideous day. The foothills billowed away, in undulations rising even higher and higher, until fina

the two policemen-he called Miguel-drew from his breast a yellow paper on whic

onaire and of high social position in his own country. Both the American Ambassador and the Bank of Spain desire to ascertain his whereabouts, his reason for carrying such a large sum of money upon his person, a

t them a week and, traveling together, rode southward towards the Sierra Morena. They were well-armed, having bought carbi

give them escort. Report all information

ze back over the long monotony of purgatorial desert. It was the words, scribbled in ink in a strong hand a

raversing is lawless and sparsely-populated, a country infested w

rican Ambassador should this John Fremont Carson be not safeguarded. The Constabulary will please give

faced with red, the younger policeman, Miguel, rode on up the slope

you know that magnificent one, Moral

e I not watched him mu

ully, the apel

ls-errant of Manuel Morales. We know these plains and foothills; they do not. And they are a large troop and must make a great to-do of noise and d

k to do than any twenty other lawbreakers in Spain. If Morales and his fools-errant-as you call them, Pascual-conceal their movements but half so w

er man

n hereabouts could describe him, I think; he does not go abroad much to fiestas and wedding feasts, since he took to the highroads, you know. And the few folk that have met him since he bec

vain pleasure in the thought, his flattered conceit in himself. He sat a little straighter in the saddle

ck mustache rather heightened than detracted from. He did not resemble any of his immediate progenitors who had been men of Aragon and Guardias Civiles every one.

the apelike Pascual a moment

en hard-pressed, you know; the Gypsies look upon them as blood-brothers, for the Gypsies are all thieves. And it is strange, Pascual, but these Gypsies of my acquaintance have told

s, indeed, that policeman called Miguel. He was lea

ascual, quoting an old Spanish proverb. Then, barbing it wi

lice hat which was tumbling in a quick succession of flip-flops down the hill. He had knocked it from his own head

ess near the place where he had picked up the hat, peering down as at a nugget of gold half hidden in the dust and grass. Then, becoming altogether inexplicable in his actio

Pascual to mutter. "Caspi

the very ground. It was as though, each time, he discovered somet

es. At last, as the curious performance persisted,

thful and handsome Miguel came back to the spot where he

!" he called. "T

ted a finger to the ground before him and s

amente

is it,

ndful of grass, plucked and left

it, then, and left it in

know? Who is it plu

le of Grand Inquisitor. He smiled a superior smi

?" he demanded, pointi

ying with me? It is only another hilloc

nquisitor had moved on

e you better. The Devil take you and you

ior smile had moved on up the hillside. But this ti

made by two sticks that have fall

the longest arm

p and down

verything to you, then. Chew upo

tarted on. The apelike Pascual, his fac

rado," he said. "Now I will thank you a thousand t

ead that you perceive any great mystery here. There a

of plucked grass spe

ypsies' trail-what they call their patteran. They leave them in their wake that t

of that? It is a matter of no moment to me.

Morales and the rest upon the plains, or even have heard of their presence abroad, they will tell me

where his fellow goes not; the men of the Guardia Civil hunt forever in braces. The

lly or dingle, but it was cool and reposeful with wild olive and algarroba trees, white buckthorn, holly and arbutus. Through gutters strewn with m

nd ancient wild olive at its portal and plunged into the secret, beautiful place. Instantly

filled with a hasty but mighty desire to linger in this barranca, smokin

barely discernible trail up the canyon's deep long alley; along this trail he now ran, leading his po

eir tents just beyond the fi

of their sign writing in

ff, the other points to the right. I knew, if it was here, it would be found to the left of the trail. It is a signpo

the younger man seemed possessed o

look as gallant as possible when we ride into the camp of the Zincali. Besides, the Gypsy girls may not be overclean them

nches are all jad

ked altogether the gay and haughty cavalier after his ablutions. Pascual could not help eyeing in admiration his camarada's lean, clean-cut youthful profile,

, senor caballero of my sou

g in his glance, the apelike one continued to eye him. Then, as if he were a

le-is it not? You are enamored of them; they captivate you

e adobe of posadas and providencias; your trick of reading hillocks of grass and crosses of sticks placed beside the road; and your trick, too, of ordering your pony about in the thie

ghtly, he remarked, "The Gypsy wenches are like she-leopards, soft and caressing of

hering dusk, very much in the manner of a man companioned by one possessed of a demon-full of a certain respect but also full of reserve and caution.

s of the Gypsies cannot shake off the fascination; they follow after the wandering Roms like the slaves of an evil eye; they cultivate the Cales, the Black Men of Zend, wherever met; t

then, beyond, to a Gypsy camp set in an opening among the trees. The brown tents were patched with rags of a hundred hues, a

rees. From the limbs of the trees dangled all manner of saddles, traces, and other odds and ends of harness. There were three fires sending black smoke and dancing sparks up in

ly Pascual Montara, thinking to give the Gypsi

up idly. Only the rabble of children seemed affrighted; they scurried away, those tousle-headed, chocolate-brown, r

arby, a Gypsy woman of seventeen nursed a new-born bantling, her breast uncovered. A slim young girl leaned against the trunk of an algarroba, pensively brushing the calf of one nut-brown

d. What with his gigantic body, herculean shoulders, monolithic throat, and haughty, savagely beautiful head, he looked

ng nut-brown girl under the algarroba tree. He went deathly pale. He clutched at

Pepe Flammenca. He is a Gypsy count and lords it over the clan encamped here. Find

rd obediently. Meanwhile, the other policeman turned his horse in between the t