‘Tommy’s wig-wagging for us to catch up with him,’ Diamond-Hitch Brindley remarked, pointing to where the little Oriental was sitting his bay gelding just below the top of a slope about a quarter of a mile ahead. ‘Looks like there’s something on the other side’s he reckons we should see.’
‘But we shouldn’t let see us,’ Ole Devil Hardin supplemented, taking notice of how Tommy Okasi was carefully avoiding showing himself to whatever—or whoever—was beyond the rim. Reaching down, he eased the Browning rifle from its saddle boot and, as he made ready to load it, nodded at the flintlock across the crook of the girl’s left arm. ‘Make sure that the powder hasn’t shifted in the pan this time.’
‘Yah!’ Di scoffed, although she started to do as her companion suggested. ‘At least I can carry mine ready to be used.’
Listening to the girl’s response, Ole Devil was pleased to observe that she was more her usual cheerful self. She appeared to have thrown off the depression and gloom which had been caused by the thought of having left her home. It was clear that the decision to let her accompany Tommy and himself to Santa Cristobal Bay had been a wise one. It had come about because of the news which had been brought by Tommy and Joe Galton.
On learning that there must be a spy at his headquarters, General Houston had immediately started an investigation. However, the little Oriental had not waited to discover what had come of it. xxiii Instead, armed with a written authority from the General, he had set out to rejoin Ole Devil. Riding relay and changing horses at Guadalupe and Gonzales, but keeping his bay with him, he had made very fast time. Meeting Galton and the Tejas, he had identified himself as the man Ole Devil was expecting and had accompanied them for the remainder of the journey.
While it had not been completely successful, Galton’s mission had not proved a complete waste of time either. Without having produced definite confirmation, his findings implied that Galsworthy was not what he had pretended to be. What was more, despite his appearance, he had shown himself capable of covering his tracks along the route in which he was travelling. Even men as skilled as Galton and the two Tejas braves had had difficulty in following him. They had known that, as long as he kept moving, there was little chance of them catching up with him.
After having left the Gonzales trail about two miles from the Brindleys’ ranch, Galsworthy had ridden west and met five companions at a small, deserted cabin. From there, the party had headed south. As they were swinging clear of the town, one of their number had left them to take a westerly direction. After covering about ten miles, Galton had stopped following them. They had shown no sign of altering their direction and he had considered that he would be more usefully occupied with the pack train.
Discussing Galton’s information, Ole Devil and the Brindleys had decided that as long as Galsworthy had only four men with him he did not pose any direct threat to them. However, as he was travelling south, he might be making for a rendezvous with a force sent from the Mexican army. In which case, their position would be far more dangerous.
Taking into consideration the attempts upon his life and the fact that Galsworthy had sent a man to the west, Ole Devil had suggested that he might not have informed his employers about the shipment. If that should be so, he could be looking for assistance to deal with the situation. He was almost certain to be in possession of an identification document similar to the one which Ole Devil had taken from Halford’s body. So he would have the means to enforce his request with any of Santa Anna’s outfits that he came across. While it could prove serious, that possibility had not unduly alarmed Ole Devil and his companions. Unless Galsworthy or his men were fortunate enough to find the Mexicans in the next two days, he would reach Santa Cristobal Bay too late to prevent the shipment from being landed.
Having already explained the need to avoid the possibility of international repercussions, Ole Devil had warned his companions that the landing was the most critical period of the collection. Once the rifles were on shore and the ship had sailed, there was no way in which the Mexicans could prove that they had come from the United States. With that in mind, Ole Devil had proposed that he and Tommy should go ahead of the pack train at their best speed. When they reached Santa Cristobal Bay, they could make sure that there were neither Mexican troops nor Galsworthy and his renegades in the vicinity. If either should be around, they would find some way to alert the captain to the danger.
On her grandfather agreeing, Di had suggested that she should accompany Ole Devil and Tommy. Her argument had been that, if the ship arrived and there were no enemies present, she could help to prepare the rifles for being transported on the mules. They could, she had pointed out, remove the weapons from the crates and, using canvas and rope supplied by the captain of the ship, make them into bundles of a suitable size to be packed on the aparejos. xxiv
While conceding that the idea had merit, Brindley had suggested Galton or one of the men should go instead of his granddaughter. She had countered by reminding him that the cargador’s secondary, but equally important, duties as farrier made him indispensable. If there should be fighting, any of the packers would be of more use than herself. Lastly, capable as he was in other directions, Ole Devil lacked the technical knowledge required to make up the bundles.
Intelligent and logical as the girl’s reasoning had been, Ole Devil and her grandfather had realized that it had had a secondary motive. Ever since they had set off from the ranch, she had been growing increasingly restless, moody and irritable. The cause of the change in her normally merry, happy-go-lucky disposition had not been difficult to surmise. While the train was travelling, due to the capability of the Tejas packers and the excellent training which the mules had received, there had been far too little requiring her attention and occupying her active mind. So she had had very little to divert her thoughts from the possible loss of the only home she had ever known. With that in mind, Brindley had acceded to her wishes.
Once again Ole Devil had considered that he was being given evidence of Brindley’s faith in him. Having made the decision, apart from requesting that he took very good care of the girl, the old man had not shown the slightest apprehension or hesitation over letting her accompany him. Even though they would be travelling alone—apart from having his very loyal servant with them—for at least two and probably three days and nights, the latter being spent of necessity under the stars and far from other human beings, Brindley had obviously accepted that the young Texian would not attempt to take advantage of the situation.
Ole Devil had fully Justified the old man’s faith and trust While possessing an eye for the ladies and being far from being a monk xxv (although he was not a promiscuous libertine) his sense of honor and duty had been effective barriers against him making advances to the girl. While aware of her physical charms, he had treated her as he would have a well-liked tomboy cousin.
Nor had Di given her companion cause to behave differently. Despite having grown up on the ranch, she was anything but innocent and naive where sexual matters were concerned. Accompanying her grandfather on his packing trips had allowed her to travel extensively in and around Texas. Knowing the dangers, Brindley had considered it advisable to acquaint her with the facts of life. So, although she had been aware that Ole Devil was a virile, good-looking young man, she had shown no indication of it. In fact, her behavior towards him was almost identical to his own with regards to her.
Riding a two-horse relay required too much attention and effort for Di to be able to find time to brood about the possible fate of her home. She, Ole Devil and Tommy were covering between thirty and thirty-five miles a day as opposed to the twenty-five maximum of the pack train. Although only the cook’s and farrier’s mules had been carrying a full load, Brindley had wanted to conserve the animals’ strength for transporting the shipment. So he was maintaining an economical pace.
Apart from when answering the calls of nature, Di, Ole Devil and Tommy had made only one concession to her sex. On reaching the Navidad River about two miles south of the town of Edna, they had found the ford over which they had planned to make their crossing was far deeper than usual due to recent heavy rain. Wanting to save their clothing from being soaked, they had decided to go over wearing as little as possible. Without debating the matter, the girl had waited behind a clump of bushes while her companions undressed and made their way to the other side. Then, after they had gone out of sight, she had disrobed and followed them.
On making their plans for the journey, Ole Devil and the Brindleys had taken into consideration that Santa Anna had spies, or supporters, in most Texas communities. So they had decided to avoid such towns as lay between the ranch and their destination. As Di, Ole Devil and Tommy had by-passed Edna, so they swung around Matagorda. They were about five miles from Santa Cristobal Bay and had not seen any other human beings since leaving the pack train. Being so close to the rendezvous, Tommy had been ranging ahead as scout and now his actions suggested that there might be some kind of danger ahead.
Advancing cautiously, after having prepared their weapons, Di and Ole Devil joined Tommy who had withdrawn a little way below the top of the slope.
‘Two Mexicans with a white woman, Devil-san,’ the little Oriental reported. ‘I think she is their prisoner.’
‘Let’s take a look,’ Ole Devil suggested, slipping from his saddle and allowing the dun’s reins to fall free.
Joining the young Texian on the ground, Di eased back the hammer of her flintlock and Tommy nocked an arrow to his bow’s string. With the girl in the centre, they edged their way towards the rim. Crouching low, they peered over the top at the riders who had attracted Tommy’s attention.
Even at a distance of something over a quarter of a mile, it seemed that the small Oriental’s summation was correct. The woman, who was approaching from the direction of a large post oak grove, did not appear to be a free agent. Riding sidesaddle on a good-looking black horse, she wore an expensive black riding habit that was somewhat dirty and disheveled and a frilly bosomed white blouse. The brim of her head-dress—a masculine ‘planter’s’ instead of the more usual top hat—prevented the watchers from making out the details of her face. However, they could see that her hands were either held or tied behind her back and that the horse was being led by a man at her right side. Well-mounted, clad in the fashion of working vaqueros, he and his companion were hard-looking Mexicans. In addition to a pistol and a knife on their belts, each of them had a rifle cradled across his knees.
Taking in the scene, Di let out an angry sniff. Always impulsive, she started to rise.
‘Let’s—!’ she began.
‘Keep down!’ Ole Devil snapped, taking his left hand from the Browning rifle to catch her by the shoulder and enforce the command
‘What the—’ Di protested, but the very urgency of the Texian’s behavior caused her to obey.
‘Old Nipponese saying, which I’ve just made up,’ Tommy said quietly, bringing the girl’s attention to him. ‘Is foolish to try to rescue lady in distress if the way you do it gets her killed.’
‘Hell, yes!’ Di ejaculated and swung her gaze back to Ole Devil. ‘I could have hit my man at that range, but you—’
‘I don’t think they saw you,’ the Texian interrupted. ‘So let’s-’
Whatever Ole Devil intended to suggest would never be known. Even as he started speaking, they heard a feminine yell such as was used to encourage a horse to go faster. Next there came a shouted exclamation in Spanish, followed by the crack of a rifle shot.
Realizing that something must be happening to preclude the need for remaining concealed, Di and her companions rose. They found that, in some way, the woman had pulled the lead rope from the Mexican’s hand and was galloping away from her captors. Smoke was drifting from the muzzle of the rifle in the hands of the man at the left. Clearly her actions had taken him by surprise. Despite being fired at what must have been very close range, the bullet had missed. At least, she was showing no sign of having been struck by it. She was not, however, out of danger. The other man was already raising his weapon.
Whipping the butt of the Browning to his shoulder, Ole Devil was conscious of the girl duplicating his actions. He sighted fast, knowing that he had a more distant mark at which to aim than the vaquero. Even as his finger tightened on the trigger, Di’s flintlock roared. Ole Devil’s shot sounded an instant after the girl’s. One of them came very close to making a hit. The man’s sombrero was torn from his head. Startled, he jerked the barrel of his rifle out of alignment and sent his bullet into the air.
Taking her right hand from the rifle and sending it flashing towards the powder horn and bullet pouch which were hanging at her left hip, Di allowed the butt to sink to the ground so as to reload. She saw that the Mexicans were staring in their direction and thought of the surprise that Ole Devil’s repeating-fire weapon would hand them if they should attack or go after the woman. They did neither.
‘Vamos, amigo!’ yelled the man who had lost his hat, reining his horse around and putting his spurs to work, an example which his companion followed.
Watching the vaqueros racing off in the direction from which they had come, Ole Devil thumbed down the Browning’s loading lever without requiring to think. He doubted whether there would be any need for the loaded cylinder which was moving into position. There was, however, something far more urgent requiring his attention. Turning his gaze from the fleeting pair, Ole Devil looked at the woman. Her horse was galloping at an angle in front of his party’s position. Riding sidesaddle, with her hands tied behind her back, she had no way of controlling or halting the fast-moving animal.
‘Here, Di, take mine!’ Ole Devil ordered, thrusting the Browning rifle towards the girl. ‘I’ll go after her!’
Realizing what was expected of her, Di let go of the powder horn and her flintlock. Ignoring the empty weapon as it fell from her hand, she accepted the Browning. Ole Devil had taught her how to use it on the first night of their journey and she understood its mysteries. A glance assured her that he had made it ready to fire, the position of the magazine bar in the aperture supplying the information.
Confident that the girl could defend herself, or give him covering fire if the vaqueros returned, Ole Devil turned and ran to the waiting horses. Catching hold of the dun’s saddlehorn, he vaulted astride its back. He had gathered up the reins in passing and gave a jerk which liberated those of his reserve mount. Having done so, he sent the dun bounding forward.
‘Go get her, Devil!’ Di whooped as the Texian went by. ‘I’ll stop them from billing in.’
Urging his mount to go faster, Ole Devil heard the girl’s encouraging words but did not attempt to acknowledge them. Instead, he concentrated his attention upon the woman and guided the dun at an angle which would bring them together.
‘Look at that damned black go!’ Di ejaculated. ‘She’s right lucky that she can ride so good the way it’s running.’
Much the same thought was passing through Ole Devil’s head as he was approaching the woman. Although the black was running at a gallop and, as he could see now, there was a rope knotted around her black gauntlet covered wrists, she was retaining her seat on the sidesaddle with considerable skill. The jolting which she was receiving had caused the hat to slide from her brunette head and dangle by its barbiquejo on her shoulders. It allowed him his first unimpeded view of her face. Flushed by the pounding she was taking from the saddle, her features were beautiful. They topped what the riding habit could not conceal, a very shapely figure. She would, he guessed, be about Di’s height and in her early thirties. However, there were other matters of even greater importance than her appearance to be considered.
With each successive sequence of the dun’s galloping gait bearing him closer to the woman, Ole Devil started to think about how he might bring about the rescue. He discarded the idea of trying to come alongside and lift her from the saddle. Approaching as he was from her right, she had her legs hidden from his view. Having fastened her hands behind her back, the Mexicans might also have tied her feet to the stirrup as a means of securing her to the sidesaddle. If so, he could throw the horses off balance and might even bring them down. Nor would there be time for him to go around and check whether she was tied on or not.
‘Help!’ the woman screeched, staring at the Texian. ‘Stop the horse, m’sieur!’
Coming alongside the black, Ole Devil did not bother to reply to die woman’s plea. Instead, he reached across towards the one-piece reins which were hanging over the horse’s neck. Having obtained a hold on them, he cued the dun with knee-pressure so that it began to move off to the right. Feeling the pull on its bit, the black followed without making any fuss. Guiding the two animals around and gradually reducing their speed, he brought them to a halt in front of his companions.
‘Nice going, Devil!’ Di praised, having laid down the Browning after the Mexicans had disappeared into the grove of post oaks,
While speaking, the girl was advancing to hold the black’s head. Dropping to the ground, Ole Devil went around the horses. He found that the woman’s feet were not fastened to the stirrup iron. Holding out his hands, he helped her to slide down. She stumbled into his arms, causing them to tighten about her. Pressing—almost rubbing—her well-developed bosom against him, she began to babble incoherent thanks in a voice which had a marked French accent
‘You saved my life, m’sieur,’ the woman stated, after recovering her composure and moving away from her rescuer. ‘I don’t know how to thank you.’
‘Here,’ Di said, stepping behind the woman. ‘Let’s get this rope off for you.’
On reaching for the rope, the girl noticed that it was tied around the stiff cuffs of the gauntlets. She gripped their fingers and pulled, liberating the woman’s hands without the need to unfasten the knot
Having been set free, the woman introduced herself as Madeline de Moreau. She explained how she had been the only passenger on a stagecoach heading for Texas City. It had been attacked by a gang of Mexican bandidos. The driver and the guard were both killed, but she had been saved from the same—or a worse—fate by being able to prove that her father was wealthy and would be willing to pay a high ransom for her safe return. The leader of the band had told the two men to escort her to their hideout while the rest went in search of fresh loot
‘A bunch of bandidos,’ Di growled. ‘That’s all we need!’
‘I don’t think they will come looking for you,’ Madeline replied. ‘They were afraid of meeting soldiers and I’m sure that they believe there are more of you—There are more, aren’t there?’
‘Not too close,’ Di warned. ‘But they’re coming.’
‘Then you will be able to see me safely to Texas City, Captain Hardin,’ the woman suggested, having learned her rescuers’ names after introducing herself.
‘I’ll make arrangements to do it as soon as possible,’ Ole Devil promised, but he could not shake off the feeling that something was wrong. ‘But I’m on a mission of importance and great urgency and can’t turn aside from it.’
‘Very well,’ Madeline said, accepting the situation without argument.
‘If you feel up to riding, we’ll move on,’ the Texian requested, then his eyes went to the black. ‘Hey! Where did they get the side-saddle?’
‘It’s mine,’ Madeline answered. ‘I had it with me on the coach and my horse was fastened to the boot. Would you help me up, please. I don’t want to delay you.’
Complying with the woman’s request, Ole Devil mounted the dun and retrieved his second horse. The party started moving and, as before, Tommy ranged ahead. In the late afternoon, as Ole Devil and the women were approaching a deserted building, they saw the little Oriental returning. They were about a mile from Santa Cristobal Bay, but could not see it as yet.
‘There’s a ship in the bay, Devil-san,’ Tommy announced, bringing his horses to a stop.
‘Is it the one we’ve come to meet?’ Di inquired, although she sensed that the answer would be negative.
‘No,’ Tommy replied, confirming her suspicions. ‘It’s a small warship, flying the Mexican flag.’