“And if––” But a snore floated up from the blanket.
When Murguía was gone, the sleeper awoke. He carefully poured out all the remaining whiskey. “It may be what they call ‘fine Italian,’” he muttered, with a disgusted shake of the head, but he neglected to throw the flask away as well. Next he saddled Demijohn and two of the pack horses, then lay down and slept in earnest, as an old campaigner snatches at rest.
The night was black, an hour before the dawn, when his eyes opened wide, and he sat up, listening. He heard it again, faint and far away, a feeble “pop-pop!” Then there were 106more, a sudden pigmy chorus of battle. He got to his feet, and ran to call the two women.
“So,” said Jacqueline, appearing under the stars, “monsieur does not wish to be relieved of us? He will not wait for his friends?”
“Get on these horses! Here, I’ll help you.”
Soon they three were riding through the forest, in the trail toward Valles. Behind them the fairy popping swelled louder, yet louder, and the man glanced resentfully at his two companions. He was missing the game.
Back in the village of Culebra a demon uproar hounded Don Anastasio out of serape and slumber. All about him were fleeing feet. They were shadows, bounding like frightened deer from the wood, across the clearing, and into the wood again. Some turned and fired as they ran. Screaming women and children hurried out of the jacales, and darted here and there. Dogs howled everywhere. A storm of crashing brush and a wild troop of horsemen, each among them a free lance of butchery, burst on the village. A second crashing storm, and they were in the forest again. They left quivering blots in their wake, and a moaning gave a lower and dreadfuller note to the wailing of women. Only the leader of the pursuers, with a few others, drew rein.
“Death of an ox!” the French oath rang out, “We’re in their very nest. Quick, you loafers, the torch, the torch!”
Flames began to crackle, and in the glare Murguía was seen frantically driving burros and peons to safety. The leader of the troop leaned over in his saddle and had him by the collar.
“Who the name of a name are you?”