Show CARMEN 0 F TH E HANCHO by FRANK H SPEAR SPEARMAN N 0 frank H spearman service SYNOPSIS don alfredo Al tredo wealthy spanish owner of 0 a bouthern california rancho refuses to heed several everal warnings of a raid by a band of outlaw sierra indians indian one day after he be has finally decided to seek the protection of the nearby mission tor for hit his wife and family the indians don alfredo I 1 is killed and we hi two young oung daughters are torn from the arms arm of the fam ilys faithful maid monica and are carried away to the hills padre Fa pasqual squal missionary friend of the family arrives at the ruins of the ranch and learns the story of the raid from monica after a trying and difficult trip across the plains and mountains from texas to california youthful henry bowle bowie a texas adventurer with his friends ben Par daloe and gimmle an indian scout sight the party of indians who have carried oft the two little girls with teat great cunning and accurate timing the three texans attack the war party of filly odd indians and through a clever ruse scatter the savages to the hills the girls are saved but are still thoroughly frightened CHAPTER IV continued 4 the result was magical the rigid fear bound expression of the childs features brightened instantly to one of understanding the suspicious eyes softened this gest gesture tire was at least one she could comprehend A timid smile gradually spread over her face 1 I believe she understands said bowie she allowed him to put the cup to her lips drank lightly but gratefully looking up at him wonderingly between swallows her thirst was apparent then she spoke to her sister eister as bowie supposed her to be with her cruelly stiffened arm she offered the water to her the little one drinking ravenously finished the cup simmie ran to the stream and refilled it and the two girls emptied a second cupful they tasted lasted sparingly of the venison but they ate and afterward the two pitiful refugees rode with the formidably bearded texans down the long reaches of the foothill slopes after three days of riding they stumbled on a thing that gave them cheer they pulled up their horses before a traveled way under their feet a plainly marked trail that ran almost at right angles to the direction in which they were riding though it was winding along the plain across desert and over hills this was quite unknown to them the highway of the king linking up and down the stretches of the coast the missions that had brought to california authentic christianity they debated as to which way they should turn north or south it was a question only to be answered by another where were they none of the three had the vaguest idea bowie knew he wanted to get to monterey that was all evidences of cultivated fields lay to the south so for the south they headed toward nightfall they found themselves approaching something like a rancho they quickened their pace for thin streamers of smoke curled vaguely from what might be a house their surprise and disappointment was cruel when reaching the crest of a rise they saw in the fading light that the smoke rose from the ruins of a habitation the little charges carried by bowie and the long legged Par daloe had succumbed to the heat and fatigue of the long days ride and both were asleep on the breasts of their rescuers between the adventurers and ruins lay a river along the bed almost dry a slender stream trickled through margins of cress and rushes the horses stopped without invitation to slake their thirst chaparral fringed the farther bank of the stream and from this thicket there came a sudden cry it awoke the elder girl she raised her head again a cry almost a shriek came from the undergrowth the girl in bowies arms cried out in return the bushes across the river parted and a woman stood forth bowie had hardly time to inspect her before his charges called again to the woman in a frenzy of joy monical monica I 1 monical monica 1 the woman was a strange looking creature her gaunt face was framed by thin streams of disordered hair falling failing on her shoulders A scant gown covered her emaciated figure but when she heard the high plaintive cry from the little girls she quivered her outstretched arms flew up and down Carme lital she screamed terecita is it you the hurried words in spanish were not understood by the greatly surprised te janos now the little girl broke into a volley of responses her tongue was loosed she spoke so fast that bowie laughed as he listened CHAPTER V who are these men asked the indian woman looking suspiciously at the horsemen 1 I dont know piped the little one they brought us away from the bad indians monica many wicked indians are killed where are my iny mother and father where Is Is your sister carmelita the woman asked hysterically she is here mother of mercy sobbed the woman 1 I thank you the horses had taken the water allowed them the texans rode into the river and monica ran down to meet them the two girls crying hard held out their arms frantically to lp her bowie was nonplused nonplus ed but carmolita carmelita gave him no time to decide what he ought to do she wriggled with all her strength and this was surprising for her size almost out of his arms and when she failed to free L ree herself looked up at him with such a mute pleading in her burning eyes that he felt sure it must be all right half laughing he eased her down into monicas donicas Mo nicas arms at this the smaller sister set up such a commotion that Par daloe released her likewise and with her short fat legs not noticeably stiffened by her long ride she dashed to monica seems like they knowel her observed Par daloe as the three men watched the animated scene bowie sat perplexed if we could understand their lingo he said this woman certainly does know them and they know her and ashes an indian she must be their nurse belongs to their family anyway talk to her simmie but jimmies Sim mies efforts to make the woman understand his creek or seminole were as fruitless as the ef cf I 1 I 1 00 4 1 1 I believe she understands said bowie forts to make the girls understand english had been he tried his sign language it was a passport with any tribe east of the sierras but not here with all three chattering at the same time monica took the children down to the river washed their faces vigorously with only sand for soap talking excitedly while this went on the men had dismounted hobbled the horses and turned them out on the grass that bordered the banks and made ready to camp simmie opened the reserves of venison when monica saw there was no salt she ran all the way to the half burned ranch house and returned with a supply it was mixed with ashes but to the travelers it was more welcome than gold she brought too earthenware cups and two loaves of badly scorched bread for the strange men it was ravenously dug into and ravenously devoured by men who had tasted no bread for weeks it was a happy supper for three ragged bearded and bronzed frontiersmen tiers fiers men one keen and bustling indian woman and two delicately shy promises for Cali fornias future womanhood monica seemed to know even the horses she talked volubly to the children while she patted on the neck the horse bowie rode inspecting the saddle and mo chila her voice broke her eyes filled but she covertly brus brushed bed the tears away lest the girls see them after the repast bowie engaged monica in a sign conversation forged of sheer necessity she slowly succeeded in getting him and his companions to comprehend that these ru ins ms to which she pointed with excessive grief had been her home and the home of these girls whence they had been stolen in improvised mummery bowie asked what he should do with the children monica made many gestures uttered and repeated one word san diego 1 san diego bowie shook his head in dissent no no san diego but yes urged monica adding that is where their mother is bowie understood san diego but the rest was greek and he refused positively to go to san diego that said he to monica though she understood not at all is where they like to lock up tezanos and starve them to death no san diego 92 his refusal she at last grasped then with abundance abundance of signs she suggested a place nearer Mis misiona loril she exclaimed and pointed with much energy and with a vigorous finger again and again to the south bowie watched her closely about all he could grasp was her emphatic earnestness her big hollow eyes flashed and appeal filled her voice he talked with his men neither could imagine the meaning of mis the situation was baffling and after some delay bowie agreed to accompany her to learn exactly what she meant the girls needing much reassurance from monica were taken up again by the texans and with mon men ica walking fast the party rode south for more than two hours night had now fallen there was no moon but the stars were 0 out ut the horses as well as monica seemed to know the trail and at length brought within sight a group of buildings one of which was surmounted by a cross bowie understood this at least and when the horsemen drew up monica pounded for sol some me time on the gate of the stockade that enclosed the place but without results she then bethought herself of a high bell handle at the side of the gate at which she tugged vigorously A man appeared and opening a peephole asked questions monica seemed known for when she had eap exp explained I 1 ai ned her presence and argued long and convincingly the big gate was swung reluctantly open and the party rode in the gate was closed and the man disappeared after fur tur r ther waiting a light appeared at a window within the residence of the padres and presently one of them opened a door handing the girls to monica bowie and Par daloe dismounted simmie taking the horses the two men followed monica and her charges as the padre led them along a dark passageway sag eway on one side of it he paused a at an open door and bowed the visitors visitor I 1 s into a commodious room meagerly furnished and lighted by two candles standing on a small oval table in the middle of the room motioning his callers to seats the Ahe padre dark featured tall and spare looked to monica for explanation with expressive gestures and in a few words monica told her story pointing at times to bowie and indicating again the little girls who clung to her as if afraid she might escape them the padre listened gravely following with his eyes the recital of the indian woman when she had finished he asked a few questions and turned his gaze across the sputtering candles to bowie no habla espanol he asked adding in very difficult english you do speak nothing spanish I 1 speak poco english I 1 understand a few monica tell me how you come to los alamos with these hermanas where from you come how you have the children who you are he spoke very slowly bowie responded with more energy the padre with a smile raised his hand Pl easel slow bowie nodded we are tezanos Te janos padre cannot speak spanish we took these girls from indians a war party in the sierras do you know these youngsters the padre nodded fast 1 I know them much much haltingly and brokenly he related to bowie and his companions the story of the raiding of los alamos and the burning of the rancho with little difficulty the texan followed and comprehended just how he and his men had chanced on the fleeing warriors and robbed them at least of their human victims it was not the first time the padre said sadly that spanish girls and women had been carried away by bad indians raiding the ranchos ranches and rarely had rescue parties however expeditious or well equipped been able to recover the unhappy captives if the raiders could deac reach h the high mountains first and he added these thrice unhappy victims of their savagery had been made creatures to the chiefs so it had been learned from neophytes the southern indians he added were even more warlike and ferocious than the tribes about the northern missions these wretches were Que mayas or both had been scourges urges of their missions and settlers for sixty years or more and now he asked in conclusion raising his hands as he regarded gar ed the orphans with a world of pity what shall be done monica he said in spanish you know th the quarters for the unmarried women take the children and find lodging for them and for yourself for the night in the morning we shall see when the three had left the rooms room the padre explained to bowie that he could not speak freely before the innocent victims of the savages or disclose that these had murdered their father he added that the mother was at san diego at the home of a relative and that her son brother to the little ones was with her he suggested that the tezanos Te janos supplied with a guard of soldiers from the mission take the rescued girls to san diego in the morning to receive the thanks and gratitude of their mother and relatives where he doubted not a generous reward would in part recompense them for the dangers they had incurred in battling the savages and for the hardships incurred in restoring the precious ones to their despairing family bowie listened carefully he liked the padre he felt fell instinctively that he could trust hi him yet he felt too the need of caution in all his movements and contacts in california 1 I appreciate all you say padre but there are difficulties such as what my son let me ask a question are you mexican or spanish the padre looked quizzically grave he spoke with a twinkle in his eye my son spanish priests are not now supposed to be in california missions bowie caught the implication then as a spaniard you too have felt the tyranny of the mexican government ern ment may I 1 give you a confidence it involves no crime or wrongdoing certainly not what is your name 1 I am from the east padre we are tezanos Te janos 11 granted so we are worse than americanos and we are now helpless we used our slender stock of ammunition in that fight with the indians but you say worse than americanos how so padre do you remember the al amo the priest knit his brow in momentary perplexity id remember it then well may Texan sl said bowie gravely my scout ben par daloe lost his uncle in that damnable massacre by santa anas mexicans few are the texans who cannot count a friend or relative murdered there that argued the priest pacifically was some time ago there is peace now his visitor nodded not for long I 1 fear padre there will be more fighting predicted bowie almost casually what brings you to california my son that is not my personal secret or I 1 would willingly tell you but I 1 am treading here on delicate ground I 1 cannot risk going to san diego I 1 had an american friend who was starved to death in prison there not so long ago by a mexican wretch the governor you mean echeandia bowie nodded even if I 1 were inclined to trust him I 1 would not go there might be fighting fig Sting somei 1 appreciate all you say padre one might be killed for we would not submit to detention my business on the coast demands speed excuse us from that venture then what is your wish padre we were forced to kill our horses when we were starving these horses we ride were captured from the savages no doubt they belong to the ranchero wh who 0 was murdered they should be returned to his family th the e trappings are valuable but we shall be left horseless I 1 have no money what shall we do what do you want to do my son to leave your hospitable roof before daybreak to continue our journey north where to the texan smiled again padre I 1 have chave not given you my name excuse that I 1 say only I 1 am bound north As far as mission san francisco de asis probably then I 1 can help you but why should you help me P padre adre because he went on in broken english you have done an inestimable charity to my dearest friends none but a humane an honorable man would have endangered his life to rescue the |