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Volume 3 (1858-1859) (592 pages)
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Page: of 592
363 HUTCHINGS’ CALIFORNIA MAGAZINE.
ribly lacerated with some sharp weapon.
He heard her approaching, and asked
her to help him from that horrible place.
She unhesitatingly complied, and attempted to raise him, when she discovered that he was tied to a tree. She immediately cut the riata with her fishingknife ; he then, with her assistance, succeeded in reaching the path, which led
along the bank to the house. At every
step his wounds bled afresh; and it was
with much difficulty they reached the
house before dark.
Miramontes was becoming quite uneasy at his daughter’s prolonged absence,
when she made her appearance, with her
twig full of trout and wounded companion, exclaiming:
“See, father, some one has tried to
kill this man. I found him tied in the
willows, unable to extricate himself.”
Miramontes affected surprise and concern, and immediately assisted the unfortunate man to a couch, while Elbana
washed and dressed his wounds. She
then hastened to prepare some nourishment, of which he evidently stood much
in need.
Miramontes was much troubled at his
daughter finding this man—the very one
that had fought to the last, while they
were stampeding his large drove of cattle and killing all his companions. They
had hidden the bodies in different places
among the willows, and tied them fast to
some trees, to prevent the wolves from
dragging them into sight; but here he
was, and alive. Miramontes decided
to watch the man closely, and, if he recognized him, he determined that he
should die before he could expose him.
The name of the wounded man was
Alfred Bruner. He and his brother,
James, had been engaged in driving
cattle through the Mexican territory to
California. This was their third trip,
and was to have been their last, as they
had cleared many thousands of dollars by
their enterprise. Poor James had lost
his life, as also the faithful few who accompanied him and his brother, and the
cattle were driven off by their murderers,
Alfred did not recognise Miramontes,
but had perfect confidence in him asa
friend and gentleman. He frequently
expressed his gratitude to him for his
many kind and friendly attentions to his
wants and distresses—never once dreaming that he was the author of them all.
The young drover had been with them
over a week, when he began to feel his
strength rapidly returning. He was one
day seated upon the grass, leaning up
against the old adobe house, when his
thoughts turned upon his own situation,
and tears for the fate of his brother were
fast and unconsciously falling down his
cheeks.
“Oh!” thought he, “if I could but
once find the rascally devils that murdered my poor brother, I would annihilate every one of them. I wish I could
prevail upon Miramontes to ferret them
out; he appears to be a noble fellow,
uncommonly kind and hospitable; and
his lovely daughter is as lady-like as if
she had been brought up in the midst of
the most polite society; her walk could
not be more easy, or her carriage more
graceful—and I never knew any one
that excelled her in womanly beauty.
Why, I believe I am half in love with
this little Spanish nymph; but how my
friends would spurn the very idea of
a Spanish relation! In love in so short a
time, too, ~—ha, ha, ha!—ridiculous!—
but here she comes with acother string
of those delicious trout.”
“See my fish,” said Elbana, “are
they not beautiful?” as she playfully
held them up before him.
“Yes,” said Alfred, withdrawing his
enraptured gaze from her ravishing
beauty; “yes—very fine. I think you
must be @ great adept in the angling
art.”