a coming cloud.
between lovers, those who truly love, the parting is ever painful frank hamersley, taking leave of adela miranda, feels this as does walt wilder separating from conchita.
there may be a difference in degree, in the intensity of their respective passions; perhaps also something in its character. still the sentiment is the same. both suffer at the thought of separation, feel it keenly. all the more as they reflect on what is before them—a prospect anything but cheerful. clouds in the sky; many chances they may never see their loved ones again. no wonder they turn towards the del norte with gloom in their glances and dark forebodings in their breasts. men of less loyal hearts, less prone to the promptings of humanity, would trifle and stay; spend longer time in a dalliance so surely agreeable, so truly delightful. not so the young kentuckian and his older companion, the texan. though the love of woman is enthroned in their hearts, each has kept a corner sacred to a sentiment almost as strong, and perhaps purer. the blood of their slaughtered comrades cries from the ground, from the sand through which they saw it filtering away. they cannot find peace without responding to its appeal; and for this even the fruition of their love is to be delayed. to seek retribution they must journey on to the settlements of the del norte; not sure of success on arrival there, but more likely to meet failure—perhaps imprisonment. in this there would be nothing new or strange. they would not be the first americans to suffer incarceration without cause in a new mexican calabozo, and lie there for long years without trial.
once more miranda represents the danger they are about to undergo. it does not daunt them.
“no matter,” is the reckless response. “whatever be the consequences, go we will. we must.”
thus determined to start off, after exchanging tender adieus with those left behind—two of them in tears.
according to promise, miranda has placed his mules at their disposal, and on these they are mounted. he has, moreover, furnished them with spare dresses from his wardrobe—costumes of his native country, which will enable them to travel through it without attracting attention.
starting at sunrise, it is still early morning when they reach the upper plain through the ravine between the two twin mountains. so far colonel miranda accompanies them, as also don prospero. there parting, the refugees return to the ranche, while the travellers strike out over the treeless waste, which spreads before their faces to the very verge of vision.
they have no landmark to guide them, neither rock nor tree; but the sky is without a cloud, and there is a sun in it gleaming like a globe of fire. to the experienced prairie man this is sufficient for telling every point of the compass, and they but want one. their course is due west till they strike the pecos; then along its bank to the crossing, thence west again through the sierras, and on to santa fé.
keeping the sun slightly on the left shoulder, they journey till near noon, when a dark object, seen a little to the right, attracts them. not to surprise, for they well know what it is—a grove. they can tell, too, that the trees composing it are oaks, of the species known as black-jack. notwithstanding their stunted growth, the black-jacks are umbrageous, and give good shade. though the sun has not yet reached meridian, its rays are of meridian heat, and strike down with fiery fervour on the surface of the parched plain.
this determines them to seek the shelter of the grove, and there make their noontide halt. it is a little but of their way; but, far as they can see ahead, no other spot offers a chance of protection against the burning beams.
the grove is a mere copse, covering scarce half an acre, and the topmost branches rise but a few feet above their heads. still is there shade, both for them and their animals; and cover, should they require to conceal themselves—the last a fortunate circumstance, as is soon proved. equally fortunate their not having need to kindle a fire. in their haversacks they carry provisions already cooked.
dismounting, they lead their males in among the trees, and there make them secure by looping the bridles to a branch. then, laying themselves along the earth, they eat their midday meal, pull out their pipes, and follow it with a smoke.
with little thought, they are burning the last bit of tobacco which remained to the refugees. at parting, their generous host, to comfort them on their journey, presented them with the ultimate ounce of his stock; with true spanish politeness saying nothing of this.
as they lie watching the blue film curling up among the branches of the black-jacks, as little do they reflect how fortunate for them it is not the smoke of a fire, nor visible at any great distance. were it so, there would not be much likelihood of their ever reaching the del norte or leaving the llano estacado alive.
not dreaming of danger in that desolate place—at least none caused by human kind—they remain tranquilly pulling at their pipes, now conversing of the past, anon speculating about their plans for the future.
three or four hours elapse; the sun having crossed the meridian, begins to stoop lower. its rays fall less fervently, and they think of continuing their journey. they have “unhitched” the mules, led them out to the edge of the copse, and are standing by the stirrup, ready to remount, when an object catches the quick eye of the ex-ranger, causing him to utter a sharp ejaculation.
something seen west, the way they want to go.
pointing it out to hamersley, the two stand observing. no great scrutiny needed to tell them ’tis a cloud of dust, although in breadth not bigger than a blanket. but while they are regarding it it gradually spreads out, at the same time showing higher above the surface of the plain.
it may be a swirl of the wind acting on the dry sand of the desert—the first commencement of a regular whirlwind—a thing common on the table lands of new mexico. but it has not the round pillar-like form of the molino, nor do they believe it to be one. both are too well acquainted with this phenomenon to be deceived by its counterfeit.
if they had any doubts, as they stand gazing these are resolved. the cloud presents a dense dark head, with a nucleus of something more solid than dust. and while guessing at the true character of this opaque central part, a circumstance occurs disclosing it. a puff of wind striking the dust causes it to swirl sideways, showing underneath a body of mounted men. men, too, in military array, marching in double file, armed, uniformed, with lances borne erect, their blades glinting in the sun.
“sogers!” exclaims the ex-ranger.
