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Read Ebook: Chronicles of an Old Inn; Or A Few Words about Gray's Inn by Hope Andr E
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Ebook has 668 lines and 39472 words, and 14 pages
MY CAPTIVE.
"A woman?" said I, feigning astonishment. My interrogatory was unheeded; she did not even look up.
As she made this reply, she rose to her feet, and stood confronting me without the slightest semblance of fear. So unexpected was the answer, both in tone and sentiment, that for the life of me I could not help breaking into a laugh.
I shall not easily forget the look that accompanied these words--sorrow, anger, contempt, defiance, were expressed in one and the same glance. My laughter was suddenly checked; I felt humiliated in that proud presence.
"Senorita," I replied, "I deeply regret the necessity I have been under: it might have been worse--"
"And how, pray?--how worse?" demanded she, interrupting me.
And as she thus wildly expressed herself, she bent down, passed her arms around the neck of the mustang, and once more pressed her lips to its velvet muzzle. Then gently closing its eyelids, she rose to an erect attitude, and stood with folded arms, regarding the lifeless form with a sad and bitter expression of countenance.
I scarcely knew what to do. I was in a dilemma with my fair captive. I would have given a month of my "payroll" to have restored the spotted mustang to life; but as that was out of the question, I bethought me of some means of making restitution to its owner. An offer of money would not be delicate. What then?
I made the offer as delicately as I could. It was rejected with scorn!
"But, senorita," stammered I apologisingly, "these are horses of native race. The one I propose to--"
A personal slight would not have called forth a contradiction; yet this defiance had that effect. She had touched the chord of my vanity--I might almost say, of my affection. With some pique I replied--
I looked towards Moro as I spoke. Her eyes followed mine, and she stood for some moments gazing at him in silence. I watched the expression of her eye; I saw it kindle into admiration as it swept over the gracefully curving outlines of my noble steed. He looked at the moment superb; the short skurry had drawn the foam from his lips, and flakes of it clung against his neck and counter, contrasting finely with the shining black of his skin; his sides heaved and fell in regular undulations, and the smoke issued from his blood-red nostrils; his eye was still on fire, and his neck proudly arched, as though conscious of his late triumph, and the interest he was now exciting.
For a long while she stood gazing upon him, and though she spoke not a word, I saw that she recognised his fine points.
My position was a delicate one; fortunately, I was relieved from it by an incident that carried our thoughts into a new current: the troopers who had followed me at that moment rode up.
She seemed uneasy at their presence; that could not be wondered at, considering their wild garb and fierce looks. I ordered them back to their quarters. They stared for a moment at the fallen mustang with its rich blood-stained trappings, at its late rider, and her picturesque garments; and then, muttering a few words to one another, obeyed the order. I was once more alone with my captive.
ISOLINA DE VARGAS.
"Some of them are Texans--not all."
"You are their chief?"
"I am."
"Capitan, I presume?"
"That is my rank."
"And now, Senor Capitan, am I your captive?"
Such a supposition was by no means improbable, as my old campaigner can testify. "Fair ladies--though never one so fair as she--have, ere now, served their country in this fashion. She may be the bearer of some important dispatch for the enemy. If so, and I permit her to go free, the consequences may be serious--unpleasant even to myself." So ran my reflections.
I knew not how to reply. She saw that I hesitated, and again put the question--
"Am I your captive?"
I was prompted to this declaration, partly to escape from a direct answer, and partly giving way to the passion already fast gathering in my bosom. It was no coquetry on my part, no desire to make a pretty passage of words. Though I spoke only from impulse, I was serious; and with no little anxiety did I watch the effect of my speech.
"Come, cavallero; this is idle compliment. Am I free to go?"
I wavered betwixt duty and over-politeness: a compromise offered itself.
I prescribed these conditions rather in a tone of entreaty than command. I affected sternness, but my countenance must have mocked me.
My captive broke into unrestrained laughter, crying out at intervals--
"I a spy!--a spy! Ha, ha, ha! Senor Capitan, you are jesting?"
"Nothing of the sort, mio capitan;" and she continued her light laughter.
"Why, then, did you try to make away from us?"
"Ah, cavallero! are you not Tejanos? Do not be offended when I tell you that your people bear but an indifferent reputation among us Mexicans."
"But your attempt to escape was, to say the least, rash and imprudent: you risked life by it."
As she uttered these words, her large brown eyes were once more turned upon me--not in a fixed gaze, but wandering. She scanned me from the forage-cap on my crown to the spur upon my heel. I watched her eye with eager interest: I fancied that its scornful expression was giving way; I fancied there was a ray of tenderness in the glance, I would have given the world to have divined her thoughts at that moment.
Our eyes met, and parted in mutual embarrassment--at least I fancied so; for on turning again, I saw that her head drooped, and her gaze was directed downward, as if some new thought occupied her.
For some moments, both were silent. We might have remained longer thus, but it occurred to me that I was acting rudely. The lady was still my captive. I had not yet given her permission to depart: I hastened to tender it.
"Spy or no spy, senorita, I shall not detain you. I shall bear the risk: you are free to go."
"You perceive, mio capita I was not your captive after all? Ha! ha! ha!"
"Lady, you are too general not to pardon the rudeness to which you have been subjected?"
"Freely, capitan--freely."
"I shudder at thought of the risk you have run. Why did you act with such imprudence? Your sudden flight at sight of our picket caused suspicion, and of course it was our duty to follow and capture you. With the safeguard, you had no cause for flight."
"Ha! it was that very safe-guard that caused me to fly."
"The safe-guard, senorita? Pray, explain!"
"I promise--"
I now fully comprehended the motive of her flight.
As she uttered the last exclamation, her feelings once more overcame her; and sinking down upon her knees, she passed her arms around the neck of the mustang, now stiff and cold. Her face was buried in the long thick mane, and I could perceive the tears sparkling like dew-drops over the tossed hair.
All this was uttered in a tone of extreme bitterness; and I--I who so loved my own brave steed--could appreciate her feelings. With the hope of imparting even a little consolation, I repeated my offer.
"Senorita," I said, "I have swift horses in my troop--some of noble race--"
"You have no horse in your troop I value."
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