The lands were so extensive that there were many portions from which not the first glimpse could be gained of the adobe3 structure that was erected4 nearly a half century before.
The little party pushed onward5, and before the sun dipped below the horizon began the[223] ascent6 of a moderate slope, from the top of which the coveted7 view could be obtained.
Since Rickard and his companion must have known of the pursuit, they would be on the lookout8 for the Texans, who were eager to befriend Nick Ribsam. It was decided9 not to allow them to know the cowboys had arrived in the vicinity before the following day. Strubell hinted that important events might be brought about between the setting and the rising of the sun.
Herbert, who began to feel a natural nervousness as the crisis approached, made several inquiries10 about Jim-John, the half-breed, and his companion, who had been left behind. Were they not likely to abandon the pack horses on discovering they had been flanked by the Texans, and hasten to the help of the couple that had been the first to cross over from Western Texas to New Mexico? But when Eph Bozeman agreed with Strubell and Lattin that there was nothing to be feared of that nature, Herbert bade good-by to his fears and fixed11 his attention on that which was in front.
[224]
Leaving their animals in the hollow, where they were safe against disturbance12, the four climbed the elevation13, the youth carrying one field glass, while Strubell had the other. The trapper had never used anything of the kind, and refused to do so now. He claimed that his eyes were as good as ever—and he was undoubtedly14 right—and he needed no artificial aid.
It looked like useless precaution, but on reaching the crest15 the party crouched16 low in order to render themselves less conspicuous17.
“Thar she is!” said old Eph, extending his left hand to westward18, while his right grasped his inseparable rifle; “and I’ll bet them new-fangled machines won’t show you anything more than I see this very minute.”
A mile away stood a broad, firm building, of a slatish yellow color as seen through the clear air. It was of adobe or sun-dried bricks, which, in the course of time, had become compact and hard enough to resist a bombardment of six-pounders better than many forts erected for that purpose.
“A mile away stood a broad, firm building.”
Page 224.
[225]
The land immediately surrounding the structure was smooth and quite level, and covered with grass which wore a soft, beautiful tint19, mellowed20 by the intervening distance. On the further side of the building were a few bushes, bearing a resemblance to the well known mesquite growth so common in many portions of the Southwest.
These were the main features of the scene when viewed by the unaided eye, but the helpful field glass added something.
Lying on his face, with his instrument pointed21 at the building, Herbert Watrous studied it closely. He offered the instrument to Lattin, but he, seeing how much the youth was interested, declined, and waited until Strubell was ready to pass the other to him.
The youth noted22 the broad door in the middle, with a small narrow window on either side of the upper story. The front was like that of an immense box, there being little slope to the roof. It was probably one of those mission houses built in the preceding century by the Jesuits, who devoted23 their lives to the conversion24 of the Indians, and that,[226] having been abandoned by them as civilization advanced, had been taken possession of by those who secured a claim to the extensive tract25 which surrounded it.
Being questioned on this point, Bozeman as well as the Texans replied that such was undoubtedly the fact, for it was far different from the flimsy structures of wood used by ranchmen in other sections. There was a court inside, after the fashion of the older houses in Spanish countries, the building itself enclosing this open space, so that when manned by only a few, it was capable of withstanding the attack of a large force.
Bozeman stated further that the ranch was abandoned because of the Indians. While the men who made their homes there were safe so long as they stayed behind the wall, they could not afford to remain there. Hundreds of cattle had been killed or run off by the Apaches, whose chief hunting grounds are further west, until the ranchmen who essayed the business became discouraged and gave it up.
As a consequence, the place had been[227] allowed to run to waste for years. During that time the grazing had improved, though a large part of the thousands of acres had paid tribute to other cattlemen. Besides this, the marauding Apaches, with which our government was having much trouble at that time, were mainly in the western part of the territory and in Arizona. This made the ranch so inviting26 that it was beginning to attract attention, and when Mr. Lord, in San Antonio, was offered it for what was really a small sum, he was warranted in sending a couple of trustworthy experts to examine and report upon it.
This was the destination toward which the Texans and Herbert Watrous had been riding through many long days, and that was now in sight. By a strange order of things, which at present he could not understand, the ranch was the objective point also of the two evil men who held Nick Ribsam as prisoner.
He had puzzled his brain many times to read the meaning of all this; but though he had formed his theory, he forced himself to be[228] content to wait until the Texans or events themselves should reveal the truth.
The most careful scrutiny27 of the front and eastern side of the adobe building failed to show any sign of life. That, however, was no proof that it was not there. The horsemen might have ridden abreast28 through the broad door, closing it after them, placed their horses within the numerous quarters facing the court within, and then, climbing to the roof, watch the eastern horizon for a sign of their pursuers.
Fully29 ten minutes passed without a word being spoken by our friends, who were inspecting the building from the crest of the elevation. They were so intent on their work that nothing else was thought of.
Having studied every foot that was visible, Herbert went over it again several times, but with no better success than at first. He was gifted with fine eyesight, and, when he finally lowered his glass with a sigh, he glanced across at Strubell, who, having passed the other instrument to Lattin, was looking expectantly into the face of the youth.
[229]
“How did you make out?” he asked.
“I couldn’t find anything at all,” replied Herbert. “Did you?”
“Well, yes; Rickard, Slidham, and Nick are there, but a bigger surprise awaits them than us.”
“What do you mean?”
“Point your glass over to the left,” replied the Texan, “and I think you will see something that will surprise you.”
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1
junction
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| n.连接，接合；交叉点，接合处，枢纽站 | |
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2
ranch
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| n.大牧场，大农场 | |
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3
adobe
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| n.泥砖，土坯，美国Adobe公司 | |
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4
ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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5
onward
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| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
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6
ascent
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| n.(声望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高 | |
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7
coveted
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| adj.令人垂涎的；垂涎的，梦寐以求的v.贪求，觊觎(covet的过去分词)；垂涎；贪图 | |
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8
lookout
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| n.注意，前途，瞭望台 | |
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9
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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10
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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11
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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12
disturbance
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| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
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13
elevation
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| n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高 | |
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14
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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15
crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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16
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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17
conspicuous
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| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
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18
westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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19
tint
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| n.淡色，浅色；染发剂；vt.着以淡淡的颜色 | |
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20
mellowed
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| （使）成熟( mellow的过去式和过去分词 )； 使色彩更加柔和，使酒更加醇香 | |
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21
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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22
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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23
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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24
conversion
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| n.转化，转换，转变 | |
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25
tract
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| n.传单，小册子，大片(土地或森林) | |
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26
inviting
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| adj.诱人的，引人注目的 | |
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27
scrutiny
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| n.详细检查，仔细观察 | |
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28
abreast
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| adv.并排地；跟上(时代)的步伐，与…并进地 | |
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29
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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