LITMIR.BIZ

      CHAPTER VII.

       THE CAMP IN THE DESERT

       Table of Contents

      Without unnecessary delay, they took the train from Mendoza to Zacatecas, which was a much larger place.

      In Zacatecas they set about the task of finding a reliable guide, which was no easy matter, as they soon discovered.

      The Mexican half-bloods were a lazy, shiftless set, and the full-blooded Spaniards did not seem to care about taking the trip across the desert.

      Till late that night Frank searched in vain for the man he wanted, and he was finally forced to give up the task till another day.

      Such a delay made him very impatient, and he felt much like starting out without a guide, depending on a compass, with which he believed he would be able to make his way due west to Huejugilla el Alto.

      The landlord of the hotel at which they stopped that night was a fine-appearing man, and Frank ventured to lay the matter before him.

      The landlord listened to the entire story, looking very grave, shook his head warningly, and said:

      "Do not think of attempting to cross the desert alone, young señors. Without a guide you might get lost and perish for water. By all means, take a guide."

      "But how are we to obtain a trustworthy guide, sir?"

      "That is truly a problem, but I think I may be able to assist you in the morning."

      "If you can, it will be a great favor."

      "Many thanks, young señor. I will see what can be done. If you would take my advice, you would not go to Huejugilla el Alto."

      "Why not?"

      "It is far from the railroad, and is situated in a very wild region. If you were to go there and should never be heard of again, it would not be easy for your friends to discover what had become of you. Pacheco directed you to go there, and he means you no good. It is likely you will walk into a trap that Pacheco has set for you."

      "I have considered that," said Frank, quietly; "and I have decided to go."

      "Oh, very well," with a gesture expressive of regret. "I know it is quite impossible to change the determination of you Americans. If you have firmly decided to go, you will go, even though you knew all the deadly dangers that may lie in wait for you."

      Being again assured that the landlord would do his best to obtain a guide, Frank proposed to retire for the night.

      For all of the troubles that beset him, Frank was able to sleep soundly, having trained himself to sleep under almost any circumstances. Hans also slept and snored, to be awakened in the morning by Frank, who was shaking him roughly.

      "Come, Hans, it is time we were stirring."

      "Vot vos dot?" cried the Dutch lad, in surprise. "We don'd peen asleep more as fifteen minutes alretty yet."

      "It is morning."

      "I don'd toldt you so! Vell, dot peats der pand!"

      Hans got up and dressed with great reluctance, yawning, and declaring over and over that the nights in Mexico were not more than fifteen or twenty minutes in length.

      The landlord had prepared a special breakfast for them, and it proved the best they had found since leaving "the States," so they ate heartily and felt much better afterward.

      After breakfast the landlord himself informed them that he had been able to obtain a guide.

      "He is the very person you want, young señors, for he knows the desert and he knows the mountains. You may depend on him to lead you straight across to Huejugilla el Alto."

      The guide was waiting for them, wrapped to his chin in a crimson poncho, and smoking a cigarette. He was a dark-faced, somewhat sinister-looking fellow, and he gave his name as Pedro.

      While Frank did not like the appearance of the man, he felt that it was not policy to delay longer, and a bargain was soon made. Pedro not only agreed to take them quickly across the desert, but he contracted to furnish horses for them.

      The forenoon was not far advanced when they rode out of Zacatecas, and, with the sun at their backs, headed toward the west.

      Before the day passed Pedro showed by many things that he was quite familiar with the desert. He knew where shade and water were to be found, and, at noonday, they rested long beside a spring, with the sun beating on the wide waste of sand, over which the heat haze danced, and where no cooling breath seemed astir.

      The heat affected Hans much more than it did Frank. The Dutch boy suffered, but he made no complaint.

      With the sun well over into the western sky, they pushed onward again. They did not halt as the grateful shadows of night lay on the desert, but followed Pedro on and on.

      At last, far across the desert, they saw the twinkling of a light that seemed like a fallen star.

      "It's a camp-fire," declared Pedro, in Spanish. "Who can be there?"

      "It may be bandits," suggested Frank, somewhat wary.

      "No," declared the guide, "bandits do not build fires on the open plains. Bandits it cannot be."

      He did not hesitate to lead them straight toward the fire.

      Frank whispered to Hans:

      "Have your weapons ready. This may be the trap."

      As they approached the fire, they were able to make out the figures of two or three horses, but no human being was to be seen, although a coffeepot sat on some coals, fragrant steam rising from the nozzle.

      Pedro stopped, seeming somewhat uneasy for the first time.

      "What

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