FOOTNOTE:[20]River.
[20]River.
[20]River.
A SUCCESSFUL SEARCH
Therewas not a dull moment for Francisco during the weeks that followed. Don Carlos, the superintendent, lived in the great house the year through. He was a bachelor and a man of education, so that when the Colonel came each summer he insisted that he keep his usual quarters; for the house was very extensive and the Colonel enjoyed his company at meals and during the long evenings.
Francisco had accompanied Don Carlos on several excursions and once, with atropillaof horses (eight or ten riding horses driven loose by apeonfor fresh mounts on a long journey), they had gone on a journey of five days to a neighbouringestanciato purchase algarroba posts for the extensive fencing that was takingplace on the Tres Arroyas ranch. This algarroba wood is like iron and under water is almost imperishable.
They had passed by one smallestanciadevoted almost exclusively to peanut culture; there were leagues and leagues of them being raised to be shipped to the Mediterranean ports to be made intoolive oil. They had their dinner at thisestanciaand Francisco ate bread made from powdered peanuts mixed with wheat flour and he found it very delicious.
José had taken him on several fishing excursions, and once they had huntedarmadilloswith small dogs. Francisco had laughed heartily at the antics of one dog, who had almost caught the horny-plated little animal when it suddenly rolled up into a ball, its back of movable, bony bands enveloping it like an armour, and rolled off a bluff over the river bank, falling fully fifty feet; while the puzzleddog peeped cautiously over the brink to see it unroll itself and with its short legs hastily dig a retreat under the earth.
On Francisco's birthday his uncle had given afiestain his honour. There were fireworks and races, and cowboys from all parts of theestanciacame in their full cowboy regalia on their best horses to participate. It was very interesting, and then there was a dinner for everybody and after that a dance. Francisco, himself, presented the prizes, and his uncle made a speech.
After so much excitement Francisco overslept the next morning, and awoke to find that his uncle had ridden to a far corner of theestanciato inspect some of the new fencing; he had left word that he would not return until late that night.
Francisco sat under his favourite ombú tree, watching amangangá, or carpenter bee, that was humming loudly in the foliage above his head and looking like a shining ball of goldamong the green leaves. He had received a letter from his mother that morning, and he was a bit homesick.
"El Señorito istriste. No?" It was José's voice behind him.
Francisco brushed away a tear that had stolen down his cheek, and turned to greet the Indian with a smile. "I was wishing to see Elena, but it won't be long now; and I shall hate to leave this lovely place, too. But one can't have everything one wants, all at the same time, can one, José?"
"No, Señorito, but we always haveonehappiness; have you noticed it? There never comes a time when we haven't one, at least. Now I've one just now, and I am going to share it with you. It will take away your sadness."
"Is it—is it another fishing trip?"
"No, but it's better. Now listen, and I will tell you about it.
"While thegauchoswere dancing and makingmerry over your birthday, last night, some miserable robbers got into the horse corrals and stole all the horses' tails."
"The horses' tails!" gasped Francisco.
"Yes, you see that's partly what we raise wild horses for; their skins and their tails. South American horsehair for mattresses is famous all over the world, and it brings good prices. Now, these thieves make their living by visiting the differentestanciasand helping themselves to the horses' tails.
"Word came to your uncle, just before he left, that when one hundred of his horses were driven out of the Corral De Oeste this morning, they hadn't a single tail among them. So he has offered one hundredpesosto the one, or ones, who can catch these thieves. Would you like to try?"
Had José asked him if he would like to swing on to the new moon by his toes Francisco could not have been more startled.
"Try—! Why José, you can't be in earnest!"
"Como no?" grinned the Indian cheerfully.
"But José, wouldn't they shoot us, and, anyhow, I know you are jesting when you askif Iwould care to try. You,—you are a strong man, even if you are getting old, and I heard thepeonchildren down by the huts say that there was no man for leagues and leagues around that could wrestle as you do; that you learned how from a Japanese soldier years ago in Chile. And I know you can shoot; but I would just be in the way."
"No, Señorito, you wouldn't be in the way. Manuel and I want you to go with us because we need you."
"Needme!Oh, José!" and Francisco's eyes gleamed brightly. "Do you think Uncle would allow me to go with you?"
"He is not here to say, and we must leave before he returns. But he left you in my careand if I feel sure no harm can befall you, I see no reason why you should not go."
"Oh! Oh! Oh!" shouted the happy boy, dancing around José and clapping his hands.
"This is the greatest adventure I ever had. To hunt brigands! Why, it's too good to be true. Won't Ricardo grow green with envy when I tell him about it, and won't the little English boy sit with his eyes wide open, while I recount the story to him. He will hush up about his ostriches and guanacos after this," and Francisco sat on the ground hugging his knees, and rocking to and fro gleefully.
"Well, don't clean your turtles till you've tied them, Señorito. We may not get them. It's only because I have a clue and a scheme that I am willing to try; for they are pretty clever fellows and they won't be easy to catch. We want to take you for a decoy, and besides, I think you would enjoy it. A Lacevera, even at nine years of age, is no coward."
"A coward, I should say not. Why, José, I amneverafraid. But what is a decoy?"
"A decoy? Well, that's what we used when we caught flamingoes the other night. Do you remember how we put young frogs on the end of a string and then lay low in the grass and waited?"
"But, you can't tie a string to me, José—and—and—besides I don't be—believe I want to be a decoy. It isn't that I'm not brave; no, indeed, José—but I think I would rather you would decoy them with something else."
"Leave that to me, Señorito, and I promise they won't hurt you. You must have forgotten you are a Lacevera. They shall not gobble you up as the flamingoes did the frogs. Just what would you buy, anyhow, if you got your share of the reward?"
"Buy!—Let me see. There are so many things to buy. But now that I have my lovelysaddle and silver stirrups I don't need much for myself. I think I would buy a beautiful parasol, all lace and chiffon, for Guillerma, for young ladies don't care for anything much but clothes. Then I should buy a jewelled fan for Mamá, and then—well, I believe Elena and I would spend the balance for Carnival as it comes next month. But José, what did you say about not cleaning your turtles till you had tied them?"
José laughed and patted him on the back. "True, Don Francisco. But let me tell you our plan, or part of it. I have reason to believe that these two horsetail thieves are taking shelter with some charcoal burners over near the river. These charcoal burners are rough men, who live almost like savages. They injure no one, however, and it is only when they quarrel among themselves that they do any harm. They may not know who these men are, and are allowing them to tarry with them,believing them to be beggars, orgauchoshunting employment.
"I feel sure they are too loyal to theestanciato harbour them if they knew who they were. Now be ready immediately after breakfast, for we must start in time to reach the charcoal kilns before dusk."
It was twelve o'clock, when José, Manuel and Francisco galloped off in the direction of the river, and it was justmatetime when they came in sight of the charcoal kilns and adobe huts near the river's bank.
Gathered about the fires, over which hung boiling water for making themáte, were several clusters of these uncouth appearing men. Dirty looking women sat in groups apart, with dozens of dirtier children rolling about on the hard earth at their feet. A pack of dogs ran out to greet them, yelping in front of their horses, until they were called off by their respective owners.
José and Manuel approached one group, and after greeting and being greeted, asked for boiling water with which to makemate. This was given willingly, and with Francisco they sat down on the ground among the men and began leisurely to sipmatefrom the gourd that Manuel always carried in his saddle bags.
They talked in friendly fashion with the dirtycarboneros, who were as black as the fuel they made. Francisco noticed two men, who were less grimy in appearance and who sat quietly side by side, taking no part in the conversation.
They glanced occasionally at José and Manuel in a hostile manner, and suspicion seemed to lurk in their attitude towards them. Francisco felt sure these were the thieves, but José and Manuel took no notice whatever of them and Francisco feared his friends had not seen them.
AftermateFrancisco asked to see the kilns and José and Manuel took him over to examinethem and explain to him how the willow was made into charcoal. It was quite dark when they returned to the huts and proposed that they return to thecasa.
"Can the boy take another long ride in the same day?" asked one of thecarboneros, more kindly in manner than the rest. "Is he not exhausted? We have no shelter here, but you are welcome to roll up in your blankets by the fires, for the night wind from the Pampas is cool."
"No, it is moonlight. A thousand 'gracias'[21]for your offer, but the lad is a good rider and we shall be home before midnight;" and bidding themadios, José and Manuel with Francisco, wondering at their behaviour, started towards the enclosure where the horses had been staked together with several other animals.
And then José did a thing that made Francisco'seyes fairly start from his head. He deliberately lifted up the stake to which a piebald mare, belonging to one of the thieves, was tethered, and throwing the knotted end of the long bridle across the pommel of his own saddle, rode out at the far end of the enclosure.
As he galloped off, Manuel and Francisco followed and soon they were all abreast, their horses' swift feet brushing the evening dew from the pampas grass as they flew along the level prairie. They rode so fast that the little fellow could not venture a question, it required all of his wits to keep his seat.
They had gone thus for fifteen or twenty minutes when he heard the sound of horses' hoofs away off in the distance.
"Carramba! They are after us," cried Manuel. "Good! Now for the chase. Let your heart be glad, Señorito, they have taken the bait."
Still Francisco wondered, he could not yetsee through their plans, but excitement made his blood run hot through his veins; and he held on to Barboza's neck and spurred her on to keep the pace.
When a glimpse of water ahead of them, sparkling in the moonlight, told them they were near the river Salinas, a small tributary to the great river they had just left, the men slackened their speed and Francisco was able to get a full breath.
He could hear the soft thud of the pursuing horses' feet on the pampas grass plainer and plainer, and when their own horses were within a few hundred feet of the stream he could hear the men's shouts.
"Are there more than two?" asked José.
"No, just the two thieves, themselves. Thosecarboneroswould never give us pursuit. It is none of their affair and they seldom meddle. They probably loaned one a horse in place of this one you are leading."
"Or they helped themselves as we did," chuckled the Indian.
They were close to the ford now; in the bright moonlight the middle of the river gleamed and danced; but the two banks were in deep shadow because of the heavy clumps of willows and low growing trees.
The thieves were but a short distance behind them when their horses plunged into the water.
"Heaven be praised! So far—so good," whispered José to Francisco. "Now do just as I bid you; our time is come."
They crossed the ford and were leaving the water, enveloped in the dense shadows, when José dropped from his horse and threw the reins into Francisco's hand; Manuel did the same, as José's voice said in a whisper,
"Ride half a league and wait for us."
And now the boy saw their plan; he was to ride ahead, the hoof beats of the four horses indicating to the pursuers that they were allstill fleeing, and José and Manuel in ambush would have it all their own way.
He spurred his horse to its highest speed; but it seemed to him that his heart-beats would drown the hoof beats, so vigorously was it pounding against his side. It was an anxious interval and to the fleeing boy seemed an eternity; but it was really but half a minute when he heard a sharp cry, and then—a shot. But he rode on, fearing to stop until the half league was covered. He knew the fight was over and that either José and Manuel were being carried back to the huts beside the big river, or that they would soon overtake him with their prisoners.
Soon a shout came to his ears. It was José's voice and his mind was relieved. He reined in the horses, which was an easy matter for they were panting, and waited beside a shrine, whose white cross stood like a ghost beside the trail; and soon he saw four figures toilingalong, two in front and two behind. The two in the rear were José and Manuel, and they were holding their pistols close to the heads of the two in front, who walked with the shambling gait of men whose feet were hobbled, as they were, with stoutbolathongs; their hands were tied behind them, and as they shuffled unevenly along they were bawling out curses, the like of which Francisco's ears had never heard.
But the boy was so eager to hear about their capture that he paid no attention to the vile language, that at any other time would have made him cringe and tremble.
"Oh! José—Manuel—Do tell me all about it! How did you get them?"
"Well, you see, we grappled with them so unexpectedly that they had no time to defend themselves; thanks to the little frog on the end of the string," and José patted the boy on the shoulders encouragingly.
"One of them tried to shoot as he was regaining his feet, just after we dragged them from their horses, and Manuel has a scratch on his thigh, but otherwise, we are all well and doing finely. Manuel will ride on to thecasafor help and you and I will remain here to keep these gentlemen company. They are great on talking, just listen to them now. Maybe they will tell us the price of horsehair per kilo—eh, gentlemen?" and the Indian grinned derisively at the cursing men.
"But José, Manuel is not fit for the saddle; let me go to the house. Please, I beg of you—"
"What! Alone—and at night. Why, the Colonelwouldsay I had risked much should he see you ride in at midnight—alone."
"Uncle? Why uncle Juan is always pleased when I show any bravery; and besides there is nothing else to do. Manuel can't stay with just me here—he is suffering, and he can't ride—so it's the only thing to be done."
"Well, but you will have to ride pretty fast, Señorito, and tell them to send thepeonsimmediately. Here, ride the piebald mare. It's yours anyhow, I dare say, or will be. It has been all day in the corral and is fresh, while Barboza is tired."
José changed the saddle, and Francisco was off towards thecasa.
It was nearly two o'clock when Don Carlos awoke the Colonel, who had returned about midnight from his journey.
"Who calls, Colonel? It sounds like the Niño's voice."
They were out by the edge of the house corral, as Francisco rode up, and with almost the last breath he seemed to have left in his little body, he shouted,
"We've caught them! We've caught them! They are over by the 'Last Tribute' shrine near the Rio Salinas, and José and Manuel are waiting for help to bring them here; Josécould not bring them alone, and Manuel has a wound."
His uncle was lifting the tired Niño from the saddle, but he did not place him on the ground; he carried him close to his heart into the house and laid him on his soft bed. He left him saying he would go with Don Carlos to help rouse thepeons, and Francisco heard him blow his nose vigorously as he crossed thepatio, and knowing that his Uncle Juan had no cold, he accepted the tribute to his bravery with a proud smile, and was asleep before he knew it.
FOOTNOTE:[21]Thanks.
[21]Thanks.
[21]Thanks.
THE CARNIVAL
Franciscohad been at home now for a week. He had returned to find Elena rosy and well and the house in a turmoil of preparation, for Guillerma was to be married. Her fiancé was a wealthyestancierofrom the province of Mendoza, which lies almost at the foot of the Andes, and he had made a fortune from raising grapes for wine. Hisestancia, also, produced great quantities of figs, dates and sugar cane.
Guillerma was very happy, for although El Señor Conquero was older than she by fifteen years, theirs was a genuine love match. He had seen her at mass, one morning, and the following day, he had presented himself to her mother and her Uncle Juan with irreproachable credentials, and their engagement of sixmonths was to culminate in the celebration of their marriage during the early part of March.
It would be a very quiet wedding, for Señor Conquero was in mourning for his father, who had died over a year before; and the custom of mourning in Argentina demands two years of seclusion from all social events after the loss of a parent.
Her Uncle Juan had been most generous in his allowance for her trousseau, and she, with her mother, was busy all of each day visiting the dressmakers and shops.
Francisco, at first, was very much distressed because Guillerma was to live in Mendoza, as that fertile province is the seat of numerous earthquake disturbances. Scarcely a month passes that the inhabitants are not startled by one, and as a rule they sleep with open doors to insure a quick exit in case one occurs during the night.
But Guillerma assured him she did not fearthem, as there had been no serious ones since 1861, and when she began telling him of the beautiful home she would have, surrounded by wide vineyards and orchards of olives and figs, where he could come to visit her, and with Elena play just as they pleased, he became better reconciled to her marriage.
He was very busy, himself, for Carnival, the great festival, came early this year, and never before had he had so much money to spend in its celebration.
He and José and Manuel had divided the reward money they had received for capturing the horsetail thieves, and Francisco felt very proud of his share of it. He and Elena had counted it over and over, and planned how eachpesoshould be spent. Each one of the family, including the servant, should have a gift, and the balance would be their own to use as they chose for the celebration of the greatestfiestaof the whole year.
As in many Roman Catholic countries, Carnival comes during the week preceding Lent; and although it is really a church festival, it is the least religious of any celebration, whether of church or state.
In Buenos Aires everything dates from it and everything stops for it; even business is suspended. It is a festival of merriment and revelry, and every house and every street is decorated before its arrival in flags, banners, streamers and lanterns. There are processions and continuous parades, with crowds of people in masks and dominoes, blowing horns, dancing and singing.
This year, Francisco and Elena were to be allowed to enter thecorsoor Carnival parade, and Uncle Juan had offered his motor car, which was to be decorated with garlands of paper flowers; José was to be their chaperon and Enrique would drive the car.
Elena and Francisco owned their little costumes,which they had used on previous occasions, but as they had their own money this year, they had decided to buy new ones to wear in the parade.
children in car waiting"ELENA AND FRANCISCO WERE DRESSED AND READY."
Elena was to be dressed as a shepherdess, and Francisco as a Spanish king. Their mother had neglected Guillerma and her trousseau one entire day, in order to go with the children to help them select their costumes and masks; for no one enters into the streets in costume without a mask or domino.
The morning of the day on which the great parade was to take place the children spent, dressed in their old costumes, playing with the neighbours' children in the streets.
Although the law had forbidden the custom of throwing water at pedestrians, the number of people who were drenched by unexpected pails of water thrown from upper balconies was not lessened, and the children broke dozens ofpomos, or rubber balls filled with perfumedwater, on each other and strangers, as well, who chanced to pass.
Aftersiestathat afternoon, Elena and Francisco began their preparations for the parade; and when the gayly decorated car drove up about six o'clock with a fiery red representation of His Majesty, the devil, on the front seat and apierrotor harlequin with one half of his costume a vivid green and the other half yellow, Elena and Francisco were dressed and ready.
The harlequin jumped out and bowed low to the ground, and Elena ran back into the house, for she was sure this comical looking fellow could never be José. But she was reassured when he lifted his mask, and soon the huge car was puffing along the street with the red driver in front and a dainty little shepherdess, a small king in velvet, gold lace and a crown, and a harlequin in green and yellow, all sitting on the back seat, throwing confetti and wavingbanners and shouting at the people gathered on the corners or on the balconies of the houses.
Enrique took them up one street and down another, among the crowds of the other carriages and automobiles, all full of gayly dressed maskers bent on making as much noise as possible.
As it grew darker the streets began to blaze with arches of electric lights, many of the bulbs being swung inside Chinese lanterns. The crowd grew denser and many times they were caught in a mass of carriages, that could move neither one way nor the other. Mounted police were everywhere, trying to disperse the people where the crowds were too thick, and even they were treated to the contents of hundreds ofpomosuntil their horsetail plumes and scarlet lined capes dripped perfume like water.
At eight Enrique stopped the car in a side street opening on to the great Plaza, where the procession was to form; his plan being to allowthe children a view of part of the parade from this vantage point, and then to slip out the side street and enter thecorsofrom the rear.
It was nine o'clock when the bands of music took their places at the head of the procession and they were followed by large fancifully decorated wagons, filled with young ladies dressed to represent well known allegories.
Then came floats with papier-mache figures caricaturing political events in the history of the Republic. These were followed by companies of horsemen dressed in every sort of fantastic costume; victorias filled with merry maskers, floats with goddesses, and burlesqued well-known public characters. King Carnival was seated on a high throne, very handsomely draped, and drawn by sixteen pure white horses. When the children grew tired of looking, Enrique joined the procession itself, and the hearts of Elena and Francisco were beating high with excitement, for their ambition wasrealized—to be apartof the great Carnivalcorso.
It was quite one o'clock before José could persuade them to leave it and be taken home; and it was many days before they ceased to talk of their wonderful experience.
But school would open immediately after Carnival and Francisco was anxious to reenter, as he was fond of books and made good progress in his studies.
His Aunt Sarita with her six daughters had returned from their summer outing and Uncle Juan was preparing for a trip abroad immediately after Guillerma's wedding should take place. Francisco saw him often, for they had grown very fond of each other during their summer together, and even Aunt Sarita began to love him more as she saw him oftener.
The first day of school had arrived, and Francisco, in his clean linen duster, had proudlyled Elena to the school, for this was to be her first year. He was very proud of his pretty sister, who was shy, and held on tightly to her protector's sunburned hand.
He introduced her to her teacher, kissed her, and then hurried out into the largepatioto greet his old school friends.
They were all there, like a flock of tan coloured butterflies in their linen coats, their hair brushed sleekly into place and their faces and hands smelling of recent cleansing with perfumed soaps.
Francisco was a favourite. Soon he was in the middle of a group of interested listeners, recounting to them his experiences on theestancia.
He was only human, and you must forgive him if he told of his adventure with the horsetail thieves. Even the little English boy grew excited and plied him with questions that seriously retarded Francisco in his account of their capture. The bell rang just as he finished,and they all fell into line in thepatio, where the beautiful Argentine national hymn was sung, and the Argentine flag of blue and white was saluted by each pupil as they passed it on their way into the school-rooms.
THE END.
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BORN TO THE BLUE.ByFlorence Kimball Russel.
12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.25
The atmosphere of army life on the plains breathes on every page of this delightful tale. The boy is the son of a captain of U. S. cavalry stationed at a frontier post in the days when our regulars earned the gratitude of a nation.
IN WEST POINT GRAY
ByFlorence Kimball Russel.