While resting here, the circus-rider gave a performance, and made the Mexican vaqueroes, who ride splendidly themselves, open their eyes with wonder and admiration.
They had never seen such riding before, and it was in vain that they tried to imitate it.
Notwithstanding all of their natural sharpness and their life on horseback, they could not do what the rider Barry Le Clare did on his famous horse Snow Cloud.
The little Frenchman was anxious to get back to “la belle France” with his renowned herb, and he and the guide soon took leave of the others.
Ralph promised that he would fix up his affairs in the West and come East to live with his old chum, Major Branrare. He privately whispered in Chauncy’s ear that he would be in New York in time to eat some of the wedding-cake, at which the young man laughed and promised to delay that ceremony, in case he, Ralph, should happen not to get in the city at the given time.
Two weeks afterward, a party left the hacienda for the East. It consisted of Mr. Montgomery, his daughter Iola, Chauncy, Barry Le Clare, and a dozen peons as guards.
The hacienda was left in the charge of Alvarez, an old and trusted servant, and the best trailer in the country.
They intended to come down during a part of every year and spend a month or two at the home which the runaway had made in the wilderness, and in which he had lived for years. He could not bring himself to sell it, and when Chauncy saw what a lovely place it was, his advice was against parting with it. The party reached Austin in safety, and here they parted with all but two of the peons.
From New Orleans they took passage in a steamboat up to Cincinnati, and from thence they went by rail to New York.
Chauncy’s father, a noble gentleman, welcomed his former friend and adopted brother, warmly.