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Updated: May 29, 2025
It was dusk when I reached the debouchment of the "military road," and, tired and hungry, I was contemplating ruefully the long ride still before me, when rapid hoof-strokes behind me attracted my attention, and, turning my head, I recognized the bold figure of Mohun. He was mounted on a fine animal, and came at full speed.
Another year, with all its light, and joy, and beauty, slowly waned away, and had itself decently entombed beneath the thick, soft bed of yellow leaves, with nothing to disturb it but the rabbit's tread, or forest cries, or hoof-strokes of the deer.
Lying thus, he was aware of the slow, plodding hoof-strokes of a horse drawing near, of the twang of a lute, with a voice sweet and melodious intoning a chant; and the tune was plaintive and the words likewise, being these: "Alack and woe That love is so Akin to pain! That to my heart The bitter smart Returns again, Alack and woe!"
"Quien-viva?" he hailed as the two horsemen rode up, the hoof-strokes startling him out of a half-drunken doze. "El Coronel-Commandante!" responded the tall man in a tone that told of authority. It proved to be countersign sufficient, the speaker's voice being instantly recognised.
About an hour had passed, when the sound of heavy footsteps awakened him once more, and listening a moment, he distinguished them as the hoof-strokes of a horse. A few moments after, Pepe made his appearance within the circle of the blaze, leading a horse at the end of his lazo a magnificent animal, that snorted and started back at sight of the fire.
So it was with our solitary traveller; and when the hoof-strokes of a horse were heard at some distance off in the forest, he did nothing more than to make a slight change in the attitude in which he had been reclining; while his steed, also hearing the same sounds, tossed up his head and neighed joyously.
I rode with caution, directing my horse as well as I could upon the softer parts of the trail, so that his hoof-strokes might not be heard. At every turn I halted, and scanned the profile of each new prospect; but I did not halt longer than I could help. I knew that I had no time to waste. The road ascended through a thin wood of cedars and dwarf pinons.
It offered a chance of concealment: since it was even darker than within the canon itself. I hesitated not about accepting the shelter it promised; and, heading my horse into it, I rode rapidly but silently forward. When fairly concealed under its shadowy gloom, I again halted and listened. I heard the hoof-strokes of horses and the voices of men. I recognised the deep guttural of the Arapahoes.
"But you are going to discuss your private affairs, are you not?" "They are not private from you, since I have promised to relate my whole life to you." "Then I remain; but do you think our friend will keep his appointment?" "There he is," said Mohun, as hoof-strokes were heard without. "He is punctual." A moment afterward we heard the new-comer dismount.
There were short, exclamatory phrases, and hoof-strokes upon the prairie turf. "They are up, and preparing to start." With this thought, I leaped to my feet, and commenced hurrying towards the camp. I had not walked ten paces when I became conscious that the voices were behind me! I stopped and listened. Yes; beyond a doubt I was going from them.
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