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on our part. The horsemen--with the exception of the leader and his lieutenant--were to ride back to the distance of half-a-mile; the leader was to remain where he was; and halfway between him and us, Garey and the lieutenant were to meet, both of them on foot and unarmed. At an order from their chief, the guerrilleros fell back. The lieutenant dismounted, laid his lance along the ground, unbuckled his sabre, drew the pistols from his belt, and placing them beside the lance, advanced towards the appointed spot. Garey had likewise disarmed himself; and leaving his weapons in charge of Rube and myself, stepped forth to meet the Mexican. In another minute, the two stood face to face, and the "parley" began. It was of short duration. The speaking, which appeared to be principally done by the Mexican, was carried on in a low tone; and Rube and I saw that he pointed frequently in our direction, as if we were the subject of his discourse! We observed that his harangue was suddenly interrupted by Garey, who, turning round at the same instant, cried out to us in English-- "Hillow, Rube! what do yer think the skunk wants?" "How shed I know?" replied Rube. "What do 'e want?" "Why, he wants"--Garey's voice rose louder with indignation--"he wants us to give up the _ranger-captain_; an sez, if we do, you an me can go free. Ha, ha, ha!" and the young trapper ended his announcement with a scornful laugh. Simultaneous with Garey's laugh, I could hear Rube utter a low whistle, and the words, "Thet's how the stick floats;" and then raising his voice, he called out-- "An what answer hev you gin him, Billee?" "I hain't answered him yet," was the prompt reply: "but hyar's the answer!" I saw Garey's arm raised, with his huge fist clenched; I saw it descend like a trip-hammer upon the face of the Mexican, who under the blow fell heavily to the earth. CHAPTER THIRTY TWO. A DEAD SHOT. The unexpected closing of the conference elicited an angry shout from the Mexican horsemen; and, without waiting for orders, they galloped up to their chief. Halting at long-range, they fired their carbines and escopettes; but their bullets cut the grass far in front of us, and one or two that hurtled past were wide of the mark. The lieutenant, who had been only stunned, soon recovered his legs, but not his temper. His wrath overbalanced his prudence, else the moment he found his feet he would have made the best of
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