FullReads

Presently neighbour Chapaco rode up to me. He was a good-hearted man, well-spoken, half Indian and half Christian; but he also had another half, and that was devil.

“What! neighbour Lucero, are you riding on a donkey or a goat, that you remain here doing boy’s work?”

I began telling him about my horse, but he did not listen; he was looking at the parters.

“Who is that young stranger?” he asked.

“I see him to-day,” I replied, “and if I see him again to-morrow then I shall have seen him twice.”

“And in what country of which I have never heard did he learn cattle-parting?” said he.

“He rides,” I answered, “like one presuming on a good horse. But he is safe, his fellow-worker has all the danger.”

“I believe you,” said Chapaco.”He charges furiously and hurls the heifer before his comrade, who has all the work to keep it from doubling, and all the danger, for at any moment his horse may go over it and fall. This our young stranger does knowingly, thinking that no one here will resent it. No, Lucero, he is presuming more on his long knife than on his good horse.”

Even while we spoke, the two we were watching rode up to us. Chapaco saluted the young man, taking off his hat, and said–“Will you take me for a partner, friend?”

“Yes; why not, friend? ” returned the other; and together the two rode back to the herd.

Now I shall watch them, said I to myself, to see what this Indian devil intends doing. Soon they came out of the herd driving a very small animal. Then I knew what was coming.”May your guardian angel be with you to avert a calamity, young stranger!” I exclaimed. Whip and spur those two came towards me like men riding a race and not parting cattle. Chapaco kept close to the calf, so that he had the advantage, for his horse was well trained. At length he got a little ahead, then, quick as lightning, he forced the calf round square before the other. The piebald struck it full in the middle, and fell because it had to fall. But, Saints in Heaven! why did not the rider save himself? Those who were watching saw him throw up his feet to tread his horses neck and leap away; nevertheless man, horse, and calf came down together. They ploughed the ground for some distance, so great had been their speed, and the man was under. When we picked him up he was senseless, the blood flowing from his mouth. Next morning, when the sun rose and God’s light fell on the earth, he expired.

Of course there was no dancing that night. Some of the people, after eating, went away; others remained sitting about all night, talking in low tones, waiting for the end. A few of us were at his bedside watching his white face and closed eyes. He breathed, and that was all. When the sunlight came over the world he opened his eyes, and Sotelo asked him how he did. He took no notice, but presently his lips began to move, though they seemed to utter no sound. Sotelo bent his ear down to listen.”Where does she live?” he asked. He could not answer–he was dead.

“He seemed to be saying many things,” Sotelo told us, “but I understood only this– ‘Tell her to forgive me … I was wrong. She loved him from the first…. I was jealous and hated him…. Tell Elaria not to grieve–Anacleto will be good to her.’ Alas! my friends, where shall I find his relations to deliver this dying message to them?”