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Show By FRANK H. SPEARMAN 63 FrflnV H. Sponrman WNU Sorvic Don Alfre.lo. wealthy. Spanish owner ot a .Noutr.ern Oalltomu ranchu, retuaes J hee.l several vmrnliitu ot a raUl l.v a P.nul ( iHUlawa. Sierra lmtUna. line ilav "er ,0 hoJ naUy ,K.ll)tll1 , S(H.K lMole-llon of tlio nearliy mission for hu to an.1 family, the ln.llnns strike, lion AKielo Is klllo.1 ,hI his two young itaushtera are torn from the arms ot the nh s faithful maul, Monica, and are carried away to the hills. Padre l's. Qual, missionary Mend of the family arrives t the ruins of the ranch and learns the story of the raid from Monica. After a try in and itllllcult trip across ne plains and mountains from Texas to t. alltornla. youthful Henry Howie a Texas Tex-as adventurer, with his friends, lien arol 'loe and Slmmle. an Indian scout. ichl the parly of Indians who have carried car-ried off the two little Klrls. The three Texans attack the war party of tlftv odd Indians. The girls are saved. The group makes Its way out of the hills and meets the distraught Monica, the children's maid. The girls are led with Monica and the friendly Padre at a mission, and the Texans proceed to Monterey. Here Howie completes his business for Hen. Sam Houston of Texas, who has commissioned htm to deliver an Important message. I'-owle decides to have a look at the wild untamed California. Howie disappears but returns eiht yeara later and makes the acquaintance of a friendly Spanish family at the R.mcho Guadalupe. He U attracted by the lovely Carmen, daughter daugh-ter of Hon Ramon, the rancho'a owner. Howie saves IVn Kamons life In a I hcrce tight with a huge grizzly bear. Don Kranctsco. youthful heir to the rancho'a acres. Is captured In a battle with Indi.in raiders. Howie sets out to help his friends. CHAPTER VIII Continued It was a bootless search with no sifins of the Indians. Daylight was well advanced by the time the four had covered the canyon and Pedro had signaled for the horses. RUing back, the quartette found the vaqueros riding in circles over the scene cf the fight of the day before. be-fore. They had counted, when Bowie Bow-ie rejoined them, the bodies of eleven elev-en dead Indians, but there was no sign of Don Francisco. Once more Bowie ordered the party up the canyon can-yon to pick up the trail. He himself him-self was riding slowly ahead, alone and under a driving rain, across a field of loose rock and shale when his eye was drawn from the trail by an object lying near to a clump of stunted trees. He reined toward It. locked again, hesitated, then sprang from his horse. It might be the naked body of a dead Indian. But a closer lock brought a shock; It was the rain-sodden body of Don Francisco. Fran-cisco. A saddle blanket was stretched on the grcund. The dead lad was Tapped in It and slung across the back of a horse, and with every precauUon Against ambush thai sober so-ber horsemen made their way back to open country and the ranch. At Bowie's insistence Pedro rod ahead to break the news; he himself did not feel equal to it. Loud wails greeted the little cavalcade caval-cade as it approached the rancho. Servants and children made no effort ef-fort to restrain their grief. At the ranch house dcor Don Ramon, stern faced and bitter, stood with Dona Maria, who was supported by Carmen, Car-men, the two women in tears. They suppressed their sobs as best they could while Don Francisco was awkwardly awk-wardly but tenderly carried In by the tall Texan and laid on the young Don's own bed and in his darkened room. Don Ramon summoned Dr. Doane from Monterey, and under his skillful skill-ful bands the features of Don Francisco, Fran-cisco, as he lay in the candlelight the next night in his rough coffin, were less terrible, more nearly natural nat-ural and, in some measure, more consoling to those who gathered around him to recite the prayers of the dead. Indeed the whole night heard their voices raised to heaven in intercession for a dear one. Hour by hour groups of the household, from master and mistress to the lowliest of the servants, relieved one another in vigil beside the rude bier. Next day, lying before the mission altar while Padre Martinez and his Franciscan assistant intoned the Mass of Requiem, the youthful victim vic-tim seemed in his repose almost to speak words of consolation to those I who still mourned him with unceas-I unceas-I ing sobs. Bowie had never seen just such a Catholic funeral. The ! solemn ritual, the marked reverence, rever-ence, the uplifted hands of the suppliant sup-pliant at the altar, joined by those uplifted at times at the altar rail-moved rail-moved him beyond any spectacle he had ever witnessed. Dr. Doane spent the night at Guadalupe and sat late with Bowie and Don Ramon. Again the master mas-ter of the rancho talked with the Texan about taking over the management man-agement of the great domain. Now more than ever I need you, Senor Bowie," said Don Ramon quietly. qui-etly. "My nephew was my right arm; without him, I am helpless. And without him, well-nigh defenseless. defense-less. He has handled the vaqueros, managed the matanzas, arranged the sale of the hides and tallow. These marauding Indians from now, on they will be bolder, encouraged encour-aged by this partial victory . . . Don Ricardo," he said, addressing Dr. Doane, "will you not also lend your voice to persuade our Texan friend to become, as you have, a Calif orniano?" "Give me tonight to think it over, Don Ramon," said Bowie at last. 'Tomorrow I will decide. In any event, I thank you. Good night." After breakfast next morning Bowie and Don Ramon sat down in the rancho office. "If you still feel you want to go ahead, Don Ramon," said Bowie. "I'm inclined to come to stay here with you." Don Raniun'i face llgtited. The details were winked out. The two scouts, rurdaloe und Slmmle, were offered, and Inter accepted, wink us vaqueros. Hut with the understanding under-standing that when the wanderlust seized them they were free to head for the mountains, where. In fact, they had spent most of their time In California. After the dilllculties had been Ironed out Don Ramon ordered horses. Howie was Introduced to Pedro and Ills vaqueros as major-domo. major-domo. Taking Pedro, Pancho, 1'nr-dnloe 1'nr-dnloe mid the Creek with them, Don Ramon and Bowie spent hours riding rid-ing over the valley und through the hills grunted by the king of Spain to his favored retainer, Don Ramon Estrada, grandfather to the present Don Ramon. Dona Maria had been told of the new arrangement. She was so pleased that she hastened to Carmen Car-men to tell her of the coming of Bowie. Carmen looked up with a face almost as black as a thundercloud. thunder-cloud. "Why, Carmen." protested her mother, "don't you like It?" "Like it?" exclulmed the impetuous impetu-ous girl. "An Americano to come to Guadalupe? Could not Father have picked anybody but an Americano to take poor Francisco's place?" But Carmen was at least mistress of her feelings and she kept them to herself. At dinner that night there was present a new member of the With a face almost as black as a thunder cloud. household, and he was received by the family with the perfect courtesy of their training and traditions. Bowie, Bow-ie, in spite of himself, was a bit self-conscious. self-conscious. Perhaps that was why he talked more than was his wont. He was likewise conscious of choosing choos-ing his words carefully in the new tongue because of listening ears at the lower end of the table. Within a short time the rancho routine had already become so established es-tablished that the presence of Bowie seemd a part of the considerable domain. Pedro, a full-blooded Mariposa Mari-posa Indian, took to Bowie from the start Simmle told him of one fairly stiil brush In company with the Texan and how he had taken stock of his bearing when baptized by a cloud of arrows. In the estimation esti-mation of an Indian one characteristic characteris-tic ranks above all others steadiness steadi-ness under fire. Every day Pedro and his fellow Indian vaquero, Pancho, Pan-cho, rode the valley and foothills of Guadalupe with Bowie, who gradually grad-ually applied to its better management manage-ment the experience and practice of a Texas cattleman. One morning word came to the rancho that the Indians had raided the mission. Two hundred horses were missing and fifteen women and girls taken. The storeroom was robbed and emptied. "Senor Bowie, what do you think of this raid?" Don Ramon asked the Texan at breakfast. "Pedro thinks this Is another of Yosco's jobs. Pedro knows these mountain Indians pretty well. But there's one thing certain: every time Indians make a successful raid they are bolder for the next. They need a lesson." He spoke slowly. "What shall we do?" asked Don Ramon, interrupting him. "I know of but one thing," continued con-tinued Bowie; "that is to go after them. Anyway, that's what we used to do down on the Staked Plain when they got too troublesome. There's another angle in this for me, Don Ramon. This Yosco led ihe raid that resulted in the death of Don Francisco murder I call it, for the boy was killed after he was wounded. He was my friend. I'd travel from here to hell-fire to punish his murderer." His speech and manner were still deliberate, almost cold, but his tone carried conviction of deadly intent Again he was cut short Pedro, hat in hand, had run hurriedly to the doorway. "Vaquero from the mission!" he exclaimed. The Don with Bowie, followed closely by Dona Maria and Carmen, hastened to the portico. The messenger mes-senger was bareheaded and his horse foam flecked and restive. He spoke fast "Padre Martinez has sent me. The Indians were led by Yosco. He has curried uway twenty-five glrla and women and three hundred horses. Padre Mur-tlnez Mur-tlnez begs you will send help toiluy. Ho fears they will be back tonight to carry olT more of the women." Don Ramon ruined his hand. "Tell ruilte Martinez we will send help," The horseman, touching his forehead, fore-head, whirled away. A clatter of hoofs and a trull of dust marked his way across the valley to the southern runchos. Hie group on the porch watched him. Don Ramon looked to Bowie. "We must act," he auld. "The mission must be protected." "What about their soldiers?" demanded de-manded Bowie of Pedro. "Hasn't tills worthless government enough regard for the property to supply guards for It?" He did not wuit for an answer. "Pedro," he said sharply, sharp-ly, "fetch Pardnloe and Simmle . . . Who Is this?" he osked. A second unobtrusive vaquero had stood at Pedro's elbow, listening to every word. "This Is Sanchez, my right-hand trailer," answered Pedro. "He is fruntic. Among the girls Yosco has stolen is his sweetheart Amelitn." "He knows the mountains?" asked Bowie. "Born and lived there. He Is down here only two years." "And Yosco has stolen his girl?" mused Pedro. "They were to be married soon." "You should have some idea of where this Yosco hides." said Bowie, Bow-ie, eying Sanchez closely. "He Is no doubt the same wretch that killed Don Francisco. We must get him. Where does Yosco hide?" "Senor," muttered the stolid Mariposa, Mar-iposa, "he has three places." "Which is the closest?" "If he is In the closest he cannot be taken. You must wait till he goes farther up In the mountains." Bowie was impatient "Tell me, talk faster: where is this closest place?" he asked curtly. "In a canyon of the Santa Maria River, high up In ( cave " Pedro interrupted. "I know that big cave, senor. It opens on a canyon can-yon wall five hundred feet high. The cave is halfway up, reached by a ledge not three feet wide. You see. there is no chance to attack while Yosco hides there. You must wait" "This cave it opens out on a canyon can-yon wall Is the opening narrow or wide?" . "Wide, senor." r "We will try for the cave, Pedro." "But icnor!" Bowie shook his head. "We will start tonight What say. Sanchez?" The Mariposa did not speak. He looked at the ground, thinking. Don Ramon, Dona Maria, Carmen, waited wait-ed in suspense. "Sanchez," asked Bowie casually, "are you afraid?" The taunt stung the Indian into words, "For himself. Sanchez fears nothing. Yosco has stolen his Am-elita. Am-elita. Sometime," Sanchez spoke slowly on, "sometime Sanchez will kill him." "You speak like a man, Sanchez. But help us now to get back the horses and the mission women. Can you take us to the cave?" Again the Mariposa paused. "I can take you to the cave, senor. But the only chance would be to surprise sur-prise them. If they discover you first every man you take along will be killed. Do you want to take that chance?" "Why not? And we must start tonight" Sanchez nodded assent "We must get to the cave before daybreak." The Indian nodded again. "We shall need you for a guide." A small cloud of dust could be seen on the northern horizon. "Those are rancheros," said Bowie. "They will be here soon." The rancheros rode up in twos and threes. Felipe and Jose Martinez Marti-nez from Pinole; Antonio Bernal from Santa Teresa, Francisco Soto from El Molino; Pedro Arguello from San Miguel; Sebastian Pache-co Pache-co and Ignacio Alviso from Vicenti. The sun was hot Francisco Soto, who was pugnacious but fat suggested sug-gested moving to the shade of the portico Bowie vetoed the suggestion. sugges-tion. "Let us keep away from the servants' ears," he suggested. "These Indians are not all to be trusted. If we don't surprise Yosco, he will surprise us: that Indian must be a smart hombre." The conference moved, as a compromise, com-promise, to the shade of a spreading spread-ing oak. Two hours went to impressing im-pressing on the group the details of the plan of attack. "And I don't want anyone to ride into this without warning him of the danger," said Bowie as the meeting broke up. "It is a dash into enemy country. If our attack fails some of us will not come back, and if anyone wishes to drop out now there will be no hard feelings. We meet at eight o'clock at the mission." That night the Spanish blood was up. Every don who had been summoned sum-moned was on hand at the evening rendezvous. Their numbers had been handsomely hand-somely supplemented by rancheros from the south in all, twenty-eight men rode from the mission that night for the stronghold of the outlaw out-law Indians in Santa Maria Canyon. It was only a handful of men for an invasion, but they were twenty-eight twenty-eight men, each capable of giving an account of himself. ciirTi:it ix At Don Ramon's suggestion Bowie was made captain of the company, and It wus agreed to obey his orders. "You oil understand, I suppose, that we must depend on Sanchez to take us to the canyon?" explained Bowie. "If we fail to find the Indians Indi-ans in the cuve our work is lost because we can't follow them Into the mountains with a skeleton company. com-pany. Wo are taking the chance of finding them. I think, a good chance. Sanchez, we are ready to start when you give word." "A few moments, senor. When the big star shows In the east we start." said the Indian In a very low voice. "And when the column moves, not a word Is to be spoken by anyone," added Bowie to the company. "Nut a whisper nor a cough nor a laugh nor a sneeze. This Is no holiday ride some of us may not come buck. You ore going against a chief with the reputation of being the wiliest of the mountain outlaws. Sanchez San-chez says we need every precaution. precau-tion. Are you ull in moccasins? If not, provide yourselves here. Look to your rilles, carbines, knives and your ammunition. If there is a fight there will be no time to correct our mistakes. Yosco will do that for us." At midnight the ghostlike column hud penetrated the higher moun-tuins. moun-tuins. Sanchez halted the party in a small grassy glade. Here they dismounted. dis-mounted. Three men, Don Ramon and two vaqueros, were detailed to guard Die horses above the glade the trail could be followed only on foot The advance was begun single file, and like a writhing black serpent ser-pent the column of armed men wound Its way, at times faintly visible vis-ible in the light of the stars, and at times disappearing into the eclipse of a mountain shoulder. Not a word was spoken the Texan knew the tricks of Indians and left nothing to chance. The going grew rougher than that of the sierra they had crossed. Bowie Bow-ie halted at times to give the col-i col-i i 111 "We are two hundred feet from the cave." umn a chance to close up; and an occasional cautious "Hist!" checked the movement while Sanchez felt out the rocks for further ascent. He was following a trail along which each man was cautioned in the lowest low-est whisper to hug the face of the precipice they were mounting where a misstep would have plunged a man hundreds of feet into the canyon below. At long last the struggling rancheros. ranch-eros. who, had they not been men of spirit would have sunk under tha exhaustion of their long and dangerous danger-ous climb, were led in the darkness dark-ness to a rock chimney in the sheer face of the precipice. Within the walls of this they could stand in a group. "We are two hundred feet from the cave," whispered Bowie to those nearest him. The splashing of a small waterfall in the canyon made it possible to speak in whispers; the news was cautiously reiayed to the whole company. "Take a last look at your carbines car-bines and rifles. Have your knives! handy if we're rushed. The trail splits here. Sanchez wants six volunteers vol-unteers to follow him up another hundred feet He will post them high above the save where they cm fire down at the raiders or roll boulders boul-ders on their heads who wants ti go? But," he added truthfully, "you should know that if we're licked there's no possible salvation for these six." Every man of the twenty-ught volunteered. Three rancheros and three vaqueros were chosen. Like men chosen for death, the six with their guide crept and crawled to the last difficult post. Even Bowie, with keen ears, awaiting with the main body the return of Sanchez, could hear nothing of the volunteers after they had gone fifty feet "Now," whispered Sanchez on his return, "you have kept quiet Keep quieter. Try not to start a single chip of rock under your feet, for it will rattle all the way down the canyon can-yon wall. They are in the cave that much I know now. Get on your hands and knees this time for the bst climb. I think we've got thera." (TO BE CONTINUED) |