CHAPTER XXXVI.
THE FIRST NIGHT.
The plaintive song of the Texan did have a soothing effect upon both cattle and horses.
Thus the time passed away out in the grounds, while in the hacienda when all became quiet it seems that the spooks began to get in their work also.
The first the guards heard was a low moan which sounded like a man in suffering, but just where it came from the two guards could not tell.
The superstitious one of the two was for rousing the men at once, but his comrade said:
“What for? We see no one, and it is merely a trick to frighten us, for the chief is right; this is an outlaws’ haunt.”
When there joined in with the moaning the sound of a woman weeping, Mustang Frank began to show real fright, but Lone Star Sam calmed him, and the two listened to the strange sounds. As though a man’s moaning and woman’s weeping were not enough, there joined as a treble the sound of a child crying like one in pain.
“Let’s arouse the chief.”
“No, Frank, it is nearly midnight, and he’ll be on hand then. Besides, we cannot shoot, mind. This place is haunted by men whose interest it is to frighten us away; but we won’t scare a little bit, Frank.”