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He wore a purplish-coloured manga, that covered his whole body, and his feet were cased in the red leather boots of the country, with heavy silver spurs strapped over them. A black sombrero, with its band of gold bullion and tags of the same material, completed the tout ensemble of his costume. Such was the Padre Jarauta.
"Well, Captain," broke in the sharp voice of Jarauta, "what do you think of it? A nice soft floor to dance upon, isn't it, Lopez?" "Yes, Captain." "All ready there? Stop! some music; we must have music: how can he dance without music? Hola, Sanchez, where's your bugle?" "Here, Captain!" "Strike up, then! Play `Yankee Doodle'. Ha! ha! ha! `Yankee Doodle', do you hear?"
"Bah! Captain; it would be bad if I could not defend my own calling," replied my comrade, with a laugh. "You think, then, that we are in the hands of Cenobio's men." "I am sure of it, Captain. Sacre! had it been Jarauta's band, we would have been in heaven that is, our souls and our bodies would now be embellishing some of the trees upon Don Cosme's plantation. Heaven protect us from Jarauta!
As Raoul said this the clatter of hoofs sounded along the narrow road; and a horseman came galloping up to the rancho, riding over everything and everybody with a perfect recklessness. "That's Jarauta," whispered Raoul. "If he sees me but it don't matter much," he added, in a lower tone: "we'll have a quick shrift all the same: he can't more than hang and that he'll be sure to do."
Oyez, Padre Jarauta!" continued he, calling out in a tone of irony; "have you found Marguerita yet?" We could see between us and the dim rushlight that the Jarocho started, as if a shot had passed through his heart. "Hold!" he shouted to the men, who were about taking aim; "drag those scoundrels hither! A light there! fire the thatch! Vaya!"
We were not long in learning into whose hands we had fallen; for the name "Jarauta" was on every tongue. They were the dreaded "Jarochos" of the bandit priest. "We're in for it now," said Raoul, deeply mortified at the part he had taken in the affair with the cure. "It's a wonder they have kept us so long. Perhaps he's not here himself, and they're waiting for him."
After we had remained about half an hour on the brow of the cliff, an exclamation from one of the men drew our attention; and, looking round, we perceived a band of horsemen straggling up the hill at a slow gallop. It was Jarauta, with about fifty of his followers. They were soon close up to us. "Buenos dias, caballeros!" Lopez, I am sure, provided you with good beds. Didn't you, Lopez?"
"I shall keep you to the last, Monsieur," said the priest, addressing Raoul; "you will have the pleasure of bringing up the rear in your passage through purgatory. Ha! ha! ha! Won't he, Lopez?" "Yes, Captain." "Maybe some of you would like a priest, gentlemen." This Jarauta uttered with an ironical grin that was revolting to behold. "If you would," he continued, "say so.
Expert in the handling of ropes, as all Mexicans are, they were not long in completing their preparations, and we soon beheld our gallows. "According to rank, Lopez," cried Jarauta, seeing that all was ready; "the captain first do you hear?" "Yes, Captain," answered the imperturbable brigand who superintended the operations.
"You think he will exchange them, then?" "It is not unlikely." "And yet he wouldn't trouble much if you or I had been taken. No no; he'd let us be hanged like dogs!" "Well; that's always the way, you know." "I begin to get tired of him. By the Virgin! Jose, I've half a mind to slip off and join the Padre." "Jarauta?"
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