United States or Iraq ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Not a word from him or about him, except one letter from the Adjutant-General, which somehow evaded Coronado's brazier, gave her a moment of choking hope and fear, opened its white, official lips, acknowledged her "communication," and stopped there. The unseen tragedies in which souls suffer are numberless. Here was one.
He turned the last stone in the group, met Clara with a forced smile, and said gently, "There is nothing." She reined up, drew a long sigh, thought that here was another foolish hope crushed, and turned her horse's head toward the train. The tread of Coronado's horse passing within fifteen feet of Thurstane roused him from the troubled sleep into which he had sunk after his long fainting fit.
When a soldier came upon an Indian whose blanket was better than his, he compelled the unlucky fellow to exchange with him without more ado. Coronado's strenuous efforts to provide well for the comforts of his men made him much loved by them, but much hated by the Indians.
I never wanted to draw a bead on that man, and I don't want to now more 'n ever. Them army fellers hunt together. You hit one, an' you've got the rest after ye; an' four to one's a mighty slim chance." "Five hundred dollars down," was Coronado's only reply. After a moment of sullen reflection the desperado said, "Five hundred dollars! Wal, stranger, I'll take yer bet."
Whoever these people were, and whichever way they came from, the evidences of the great works they left behind them give ample proof that they were superior and different from other races around them, and these particular people may have been the "bearded white men," whom the Indians had traditions of when Coronado's followers first came through the Gila and Salt River valleys in 1526.
Further than this, that before they emigrated to the valley of the Ohio they were accustomed to snow, and to a moderate degree of winter cold; wore skin garments, and possibly woven mantles of cotton, as the Cibolans of New Mexico did at the time of Coronado's expedition.
Thurstane, an infantryman, and only a fair equestrian, would not have been half so effective in this combat of caballeros. Coronado's first bullet knocked a villainous-looking tatterdemalion clean into the happy hunting grounds.
There, far away, was the success for which he longed; here, close at hand, was the peril which must purchase it. At that moment he was willing to deny his bargain with Garcia and the devil. His boldest desire was, "Oh that I were in Santa Fé!" By Coronado's side rode a man who had not a thought for himself.
"He never went near the boat," heroically answered Clara, at the same time wishing she could see Coronado's face. "Of course not. He probably hired some one. I fear our rancheros are none too good to be bribed. I will confess to you, my cousin, that ever since that day I have been watching Smith." "Oh, Coronado!" repeated Clara.
Repose, however, was not for all, inasmuch as Thurstane had reorganized his system of guard duty, and seven of the party had to stand sentry. It was Coronado's tour; he had chosen to take his watch at the start; there would be three nights on this stretch, and the first would be the easiest.
Word Of The Day