The Lone Ranch | Page 4

the Zacatecas Lancers, was in receipt of a challenge from the
Kentuckian--Colonel Miranda being its bearer.
With such a voucher the lancer officer could not do otherwise than
accept, which he did with cooler confidence for the very reason
Miranda had made known. A Tejano, was his reflection--what should
he know of the sword?
And swords were the weapons chosen.
Had the captain of Zacatecas Lancers been told that his intended
adversary had spent a portion of his life among the Creoles of New
Orleans, he would have been less reliant on the chances likely to turn
up in his favour.
We need not describe the duel, which, if different from other
encounters of the kind, was by being on both sides bitter, and of deadly
intent. Suffice it to say, that the young Kentuckian displayed a skill in
swordsmanship sufficient to disarrange several of Gil Uraga's front
teeth, and make an ugly gash in his cheek. He had barely left to him
sufficient command of his mouth to cry "Basta!" and so the affair
ended.

"Senor Hamersley," said the man who had so effectively befriended
him, after they had returned from the encounter, and were drinking a
bottle of Paso wine in the posada, "may I ask where you intend going
when you leave Chihuahua?"
"To Santa Fe, in New Mexico; thence to the United States, along with
one of the return caravans."
"When do you propose starting?"
"As to that, I am not tied to time. The train with which I am to cross the
plains will not be going for six months to come. I can get to Santa Fe
by a month's travel, I suppose?"
"Less than that. It is not a question of how soon you may arrive there,
but when you leave here. I advise you to start at once. I admit that two
days is but a short time to see the sights of even so small a place as
Chihuahua. But you have witnessed one of them--enough, I should say.
If you take my advice you will let it content you, and kick the
Chihuahua-ense dust from your feet before another twenty-four hours
have passed over your head."
"But why, Colonel Miranda?"
"Because so long as you remain here you will be in danger of losing
your life. You don't know the character of the man with whom you
have crossed swords. I do. Although wearing the uniform of an officer
in our army, he is simply a salteador. A coward, as I told you, too. He
would never have met you if he had thought I would have given him a
chance to get out of it. Perhaps he might have been tempted by the
hopes of an easy conquest from your supposed want of skill. It would
have given him something to boast about among the dames of
Chihuahua, for Captain Gil deems himself no little of a lady-killer. You
have spoilt his physiognomy for life; and, depend upon it, as long as
life lasts, he will neither forget nor forgive that. I shall also come in for
a share of his spite, and it behoves both of us to beware of him."
"But what can he do to us?"

"Caballero, that question shows you have not been very long in this
country, and are yet ignorant of its customs. In Mexico we have some
callings not congenial to your people. Know that stilettoes can here be
purchased cheaply, with the arms of assassins to use them. Do you
understand me?"
"I do. But how do you counsel me to act?"
"As I intend acting myself--take departure from Chihuahua this very
day. Our roads are the same as far as Albuquerque, where you will be
out of reach of this little danger. I am returning thither from the city of
Mexico, where I've had business with the Government. I have an escort;
and if you choose to avail yourself of it you'll be welcome to its
protection."
"Colonel Miranda, again I know not how to thank you. I accept your
friendly offer."
"Reserve your thanks till I have done you some service beyond the
simple duty of a gentleman, who sees another gentleman in a dilemma
he had no hand in creating. But enough, senor; we have no time to
spend in talking. Even now there may be a couple of poignards
preparing for us. Get your things ready at once, as I start two hours
before sunset. In this sultry weather we are accustomed to travel in the
cool of the evening."
"I shall be ready."
That same afternoon, two hours before the going down of the sun, a
party of horsemen, wearing the uniform of Mexican dragoons of the
line, issued from the garita of Chihuahua, and took the northern