thundered Vizcarra and Roblado in a breath, at the same time grasping the hilts of their swords, and frowning in a fierce threatening manner.
“Oh! gentlemen, don’t be offended,” said Carlos, half sneeringly. “It only slipped from my tongue. I meant no insult, I assure you.”
“Then keep your tongue behind your teeth, my good fellow,” threatened Vizcarra. “Another slip of the kind may cost you a fall.”
“Thank you, Señor Comandante,” replied Carlos, still laughing. “Perhaps I’ll take your advice.”
The only rejoinder uttered by the Comandante was a fierce “Carrajo!” which Carlos did not notice; for at this moment his sister, having heard of his intention, sprang down from the carreta and came running forward, evidently in great distress.
“Oh, brother Carlos!” she cried, reaching out her arms, and grasping him by the knees, “Is it true? Surely it is not true?”
“What, hermanita?” (little sister), he asked with a smile.
“That you – ”
She could utter no more, but turned her eyes, and pointed to the cliff.
“Certainly, Rosita, and why not? For shame, girl! Don’t be alarmed – there’s nought to fear, I assure you – I’ve done the like before.”
“Dear, dear Carlos, I know you are a brave horseman – none braver – but oh! think of the danger —Dios de mi alma! think of – ”
“Pshaw, sister! don’t shame me before the people – come to mother! – hear what she will say. I warrant she won’t regard it.” And, so saying, the cibolero rode up to the carreta, followed by his sister.
Poor Rosita! Eyes gleamed upon you at that moment that saw you for the first time – eyes in whose dark orbs lay an expression that boded you no good. Your fair form, the angelic beauty of your face – perhaps your very grief – awakened interest in a heart whose love never meant else than ruin to its object. It was the heart of Colonel Vizcarra.
“Mira! Roblado!” muttered he to his subordinate and fellow-villain. “See yonder! Santisima Virgen! Saint Guadalupe! Look, man! Venus, as I’m a Christian and a soldier! In the name of all the saints, what sky has she fallen from?”
“For Dios! I never saw her before,” replied the captain; “she must be the sister of this fellow: yes – hear them! they address each other as brother and sister! She is pretty!”
“Ay de mi!” sighed the Comandante. “What a godsend! I was growing dull – very dull of this monotonous frontier life. With this new excitement, perhaps, I may kill another month. Will she last me that long, think you?”
“Scarcely – if she come and go as easily as the rest. What! already tired of Inez?”
“Poh! poh! loved me too much; and that I can’t bear. I would rather too little if anything.”
“Perhaps this blonde may please you better in that respect. But, see! they are off!”
As Roblado spoke, Carlos and his sister had moved forward to the carreta which held their aged mother, and were soon in conversation with her.
The Comandante and his captain, as well as a large number of the spectators, followed, and crowded around to listen.
“She wants to persuade me against it, mother,” Carlos was heard to say. He had already communicated his design. “Without your consent, I will not. But hear me, dear mother; I have half pledged myself, and I wish to make good my pledge. It is a point of honour, mother.”
The last phrase was spoken loudly and emphatically in the ear of the old woman, who appeared to be a little deaf.
“Who wants to dissuade you?” she asked, raising her head, and glancing upon the circle of faces. “Who?”
“Rosita, mother.”
“Let Rosita to her loom, and weave rebosos – that’s what she’s fit for. You, my son, can do great things – deeds, ay, deeds; else have you not in your veins the blood of your father. He did deeds —he– ha! ha! ha!”
The strange laugh caused the spectators to start, accompanied, as it was, with the wild look of her who uttered it.
“Go!” cried she, tossing back her long flax-coloured locks, and waving her arms in the air – “go, Carlos the cibolero, and show the tawny cowards – slaves that they are – what a free American can do. To the cliff! to the cliff!”
As she uttered the awful command, she sank back into the carreta, and relapsed into her former silence.
Carlos interrogated her no further. The expressions she had let slip had rendered him somewhat eager to close the conversation; for he noticed that they were not lost on several of the bystanders. The officers, as well as the priests and alcalde, exchanged significant glances while she was uttering them.
Placing his sister once more in the carreta, and giving her a parting embrace, Carlos leaped to the back of his steed, and rode forth upon the plain. When at some distance he reined in, and bent his eyes for a moment upon the tiers of benches where sat the señoras and señoritas of the town. A commotion could be observed among them. They had heard of the intended feat, and many would have dissuaded the cibolero from the perilous attempt.
There was one whose heart was full to bursting – full as that of Carlos’ own sister; and yet she dared not show it to those around. She was constrained to sit in silent agony, and suffer.
Carlos knew this. He drew a white handkerchief from his bosom, and waved it in the air, as though bidding some one an adieu. Whether he was answered could not be told; but the next moment he wheeled his horse, and galloped off towards the cliffs.
There were conjectures among the señoras and señoritas, among the poblanas too, as to who was the recipient of that parting salute. Many guesses were made, many names mentioned, and scandal ran the rounds. One only of all knew in her heart for whom the compliment was meant – in her heart overflowing with love and fear.
Chapter Six
All who had horses followed the cibolero, who now directed himself towards a path that led from the valley to the table above. This path wound up the cliffs by zigzag turnings, and was the only one by which the upper plain could be reached at that point. A corresponding road traversed the opposite bluff, so that the valley might be here crossed; and this was the only practicable crossing for several miles up and down.
Though but a thousand feet separated the valley and table-land, the path leading from one to the other was nearly a mile in length; and as it was several miles from the scene of the festival to the bottom of the cliff, only those accompanied Carlos who were mounted, with a few others determined to witness every manoeuvre of this fearful attempt. Of course, the officers were of the party who went up. The rest of the people remained in the valley, but moved forward in the direction of the cliffs, so that they would be able to observe the more interesting and thrilling part of the spectacle.
For more than an hour those on the plain were kept waiting; but they did not allow the time to pass unimproved. A monte table had been spread out over which both gold and silver changed hands rapidly, the two padrés of the mission being among the highest bettors; and the señoras, among themselves,
