The Lone Ranch | Page 6

reasons, he did not in speech declare it.
"It is to be hoped we shall meet again, Colonel Miranda," was his
ingenious rejoinder. "If I did not have this hope, I should now be
parting from you with greater regret. Indeed, I have more than a
presentiment we shall meet again; since I've made up my mind on a
certain thing."
"On what, Don Francisco?"
"On returning to New Mexico."
"To settle in the country?"
"Not exactly that; only for a time--long enough to enable me to dispose
of a cargo of merchandise in exchange for a bag of your big Mexican
dollars."
"Ah! you intend to become one of the prairie merchants, then?"
"I do. That intention has been the cause of my visiting your country. I
am old enough to think of some calling, and have always had a fancy
for the adventurous life of the prairie trader. As I have sufficient means
to stock a small caravan for myself, I think now of trying it. My present
trip has been merely one of experiment and exploration. I am satisfied
with the result, and, if no accident arise, you may see me back on the
Del Norte before either of us be twelve months older."
"Then, indeed, is there a hope of our meeting again. I am rejoiced at it.
But, Senor Don Francisco," continued his host, changing to a serious
tone, "a word lest I might forget it--a word of counsel, or warning, I
may call it. I have observed that you are too unsuspicious, too
regardless of danger. It does not all lie upon the prairies, or among
red-skinned savages. There is as much of it here, amid the abodes of
our so-called civilisation. When you are travelling through this country
bear your late antagonist in mind, and should you at any time meet,
beware of him. I have given you some hints about the character of Gil

Uraga. I have not told you all. He is worse than you can even imagine. I
know him well. Do you see that little house, out yonder on the other
side of the river?"
Hamersley nodded assent.
"In that hovel he was born. His father was what we call a pelado--a
poor devil, with scarce a coat to his back. Himself the same, but
something worse. He has left in his native place a record of crimes well
known, with others more than suspected. In short, he is, as I have told
you, a robber. No doubt you wonder that such a man should be an
officer in our army. That is because you are ignorant of the state of our
service--our society as well. It is but the result of constantly recurring
changes in our political system. Still you may feel surprise at his
holding this commission, with the patriotic party--the pure one-- in
power, as it now is. That might be inexplicable even to myself, since I
know that he will be traitor to our cause when convenient to him. But I
also know the explanation. There is a power, even when the party
exercising it is not in the ascendant--an influence that works by sap and
secrecy. It is that of our hierarchy. Gil Uraga is one of its tools, since it
exactly suits his low instincts and treacherous training. Whenever the
day is ripe for a fresh pronunciamento against our liberties--if we are so
unfortunate as to have one--he will be amongst the foremost of the
traitors. Carrai! I can think of him only with disgust and loathing.
Would you believe it, senor, that this fellow, now that epaulettes have
been set on his shoulders--placed there for some vile service--has the
audacity to aspire to the hand of my sister? Adela Miranda standing in
bridal robes by the side of Gil Uraga! I would rather see her in her
shroud!"
Hamersley's bosom heaved up as he listened to the last words, and with
emotion almost equalling that which excited his host. He had just been
thinking about the portrait upon the wall, and how beautiful the original
must be. Now hearing her name coupled with that of the ruffian whose
blow he had felt, and whose blood he had spilled, he almost regretted
not having ended that duel by killing his adversary outright.
"But surely, Colonel Miranda," he said at length, "there could be no

danger of such an event as that you speak of?"
"Never, so long as I live. But, amigo, as you have learnt, this is a
strange land--a country of quick changes. I am here to-day,
commanding in this district, with power, I may almost say, over the
lives of all around me. To-morrow I may be a fugitive, or dead. If the
latter, where is she, my poor sister, going to