CHAPTER XLIII.THE FAIR HERMIT.
“Visitors are not allowed here, and, were the cowboy king at home, he would not have admitted you,” said the man to Cody, as though determined to make another effort to talk.
“My visit is to the Señorita Suelo, not to her servant, the cowboy chief,” was the stern reply.
The gateman winced, for the cowboy king evidently was all powerful in that hacienda.
The gateman did not lead the visitor into the hacienda, but, halting at the flower-garden gate, said:
“The señor will find the señorita in yonder arbor.”
“She does not intend to have any eavesdroppers, that is certain,” muttered the scout to himself.
A short walk brought him to the arbor, a perfect bower of beauty amid the flowers that were upon all sides.
The señorita arose from a hammock, a book in her hand, as the caller approached.
“Señor, be seated,” she said, and she appeared embarrassed.
“Señorita, I have no right, perhaps, to intrude myself upon you, knowing the unwritten law of your house that no stranger must enter, but I have done so to return to you a trinket that belongs to you—one I picked up upon the scene when last we met.”
As Buffalo Bill spoke, he held out the bracelet he had found upon the spot where he had rescued the Mexican officer and the maiden from the outlaws.
The face of the fair Mexican flushed and paled in turn, and, stepping forward, she said earnestly:
“Señor, can you ever forgive me for my treatment of you that day, leaving you, as we did, after your saving the señor captain from certain death, and rescuing me from the power of cruel foes?
“Yes, the bracelet must have been torn from my wrist unnoticed by my captors in the struggle.
“You read what is written within it, señor, so the charm is broken. I will never wear it again; no, never! For what is there graven has come true—the charm is broken.”
She turned her head, and for a moment was silent, when Buffalo Bill spoke:
“I am sorry you no longer have faith in the charm; but I am glad to have returned it to you.”
“Señor, I am glad you have done so, for it has given me the chance to meet you to tell you how I appreciate all you did that day. Why we left you so unceremoniously I cannot tell, for my lips are sealed.”
“And who were those foes of yours, señorita?”
“I do not know.”
“And the señor captain—did he recover from the cruel treatment they gave him?”
“Yes, señor.”
“Señorita, I have a request to make.”
“I will grant it.”
“The favor I would ask is that when I come again to see you, you will see me.”
“I have promised; but you must not come when the cowboy king is here, señor.”
Buffalo Bill’s face did not change a muscle at this remarkable request of the fair recluse.
The girl looked at him somewhat anxiously, while he answered graciously:
“It shall be as you wish, señorita. I will now bid you adios and thank you for having received me.”
“Then thanks are due to you, señor, and I wish you would tell me if in any way I can serve you.”
“By allowing me to call again, as you have promised, if I deem it best to come.”
“You have my promise.”
“And may I again ask if you have any idea of who the men were who attacked you that day?”
“I have not.”
“Were they not the secret foes?”
“No, señor.”
“I did not know but that they might be,” said Buffalo Bill, in a peculiar way.
“No, señor, they were not of that band. Their masked leader was a foe to—to—the señor captain, and to me. I know; but, just who he is I am not aware.He wanted gold, and revenge, as well, it seemed, but he thwarted his purpose as far as getting money was concerned, for, but for your coming, as you so bravely did, he would have killed the señor captain, and from me he would have obtained nothing. The outlaws were strangers in the valley, señor, save their chief, and just who he was I do not know, as I have stated.”
“Perhaps when I call again, señorita, I may be able to inform you as to his identity.”
“Ah! can you?”
“I may,” was the cautious reply, and, declining the offer of refreshments, the scout took his leave, the señorita offering her hand as she bade him farewell.
“Señor, this valley is full of dangerous characters, and one knows not whom to trust. You are going alone upon a dangerous trail, and I warn you that you may be halted and held up, as they say here. This will protect you from robbery, perhaps from death. Wear it!” and she took from the silk scarf about her neck a pin of unique design and fastened it upon the lapel of Buffalo Bill’s jacket.
“Señorita, I will keep it as a souvenir of you; it will doubtless be a charm to protect me. I thank you.”
Again bidding the beautiful girl good-by, Buffalo Bill left the garden, crossed the plaza to where his horse awaited him, and rode toward the gate.
There stood the keeper, who now saluted him with marked respect, again saying:
“You are the first stranger, señor, who ever gained entrance to this hacienda.”
As Buffalo Bill rode along he was not forgetful of being in great danger, and he was surprised when he did not see the ranch cowboys he had seen when he was on his way to visit the fair hermit. He was riding quietly along when he saw a horseman approaching, a splendid-looking man, well mounted, and with silver-mounted Mexican saddle and bridle.
Buffalo Bill knew him at once from what he had heard of the cowboy king.
Both saluted and halted, the cowboy king saying:
“Off your trail, señor?”
“No, for I have been to the hacienda.”
“And why?”
“That I consider none of your business.”
“I shall make it my affair, Señor Cody, and you are covered by my men,” responded the cowboy king.
It was true, for four men were peering over a rock with rifles leveled at the scout, who said:
“So it seems; but do you not respect this badge?” and he pointed to the pin Suelo had given him.
“Not this time, for you are too dangerous a man to be at large. I know you, Buffalo Bill.”
“And I know you, now, for you were a deserter from the army, and later became a finished cutthroat; but I thought you were dead, Dallas Mowbray.”
“No, I left the northern country several years ago,as it became too hot for me, and came back to the Southwest, for I am really a Mexican, you know, and was once an officer of the Mexican army, but was exiled for certain acts. You see, I don’t mind telling you, as I regard you as good as dead.”
“Thanks; but while there is life, there is hope.”
“So I have found out; but I’ll fix you now—ho, men, come here!”
The four men came, their rifles still loaded; but as they neared the scout there were several shots heard—then one.
The first came from some thick timber close at hand, and the four men with rifles dropped dead.
The single shot was from Buffalo Bill’s revolver, who was quick to take advantage of the volley in his favor. He had sent a bullet through the heart of the cowboy king.
The next moment Texas Jack, four of his pards, with Señor Otega and his cowboy chief, Palma, came into view.
“You were just in time, Jack, and I thank you all.
“Find the horses of those four men, strap the bodies in the saddles, and we’ll take them to our ranch to-night, and to-morrow there will be two visits for us to make, and in full force, for I can see the beginning of the end of our trail.”
“As I also can, chief,” answered Texas Jack.