IN THE OLD WEST 299 



stands before me as plain as Chimley Rock on 

 Platte, and thirty year and more harn't changed a 

 feature in her face, to me. 



" If you ask this child, he'll tell you to leave 

 the Spanish slut to her Greasers, and hold on till 

 you take the trail to old Missoura, whar white and 

 Christian gals are to be had for axing. Wagh ! " 



La Bonte rose to his feet. The mention of 

 Mary Brand's name decided him; and he said 



" Darn the Spaniard ! she can't shine with me. 

 Come, old hoss ! let's move." 



And shouldering their rifles, the two companeros 

 returned to the Ranch. More than one of the 

 mountaineers had fulfilled the object of their jour- 

 ney, and had taken to themselves a partner from 

 amongst the belles of Taos, and now they were pre- 

 paring for their return to the mountains. Dick 

 Wooton was the only unfortunate one. He had 

 wooed a damsel whose parents peremptorily for- 

 bade their daughter to wed the hunter, and he 

 therefore made ready for his departure with con- 

 siderable regret. 



The day came, however. The band of moun- 

 taineers were already mounted, and those with 

 wives in charge were some hours on the road, leav- 

 ing the remainder quaffing many a stirrup-cup be- 

 fore they left. Dick Wooton was as melancholy 

 as a buffalo bull in spring; and as he rode down 

 the village, and approached the house of his lady- 

 love, who stood wrapped in reboso, and cigarito in 



