Carlota

“ Believing it to be a “war cry,” the vicissitudes of the morning ended in collapse. He caught a glimpse of Carlota being lifted from her burro and led away between two squaws. It seemed to him that these forced her up a steep ladder, then threw her downward into some invisible depth. Heaped with his own burdens, the Irishman sank to the ground. ”

“ It’s so good to know you are getting better!” answered Carlota, who was far less rosy and gay than when, so many weeks before, she had reached Camp Burnham, where they still remained.
On the morning after her arrival, Carlota had been awakened by a cry of alarm, and, half-aroused, had seen Mrs. Burnham unsteadily leaning against the wagon-end. A second later, the cry of pain was repeated and she saw the woman fall; and from that moment until now life had seemed a terrible dream.
[297] The frail Letitia, upon whose cheerful self-sacrifice rested everybody’s comfort, had suddenly collapsed. ”

“ But ’tis a fine headache you’ll be havin’ all your life, Miss Carlota. Och! You will that.”
“Knowing things doesn’t make your head ache, Dennis Fogarty. How can you think so?”
“Oh! I know, I know. Once, Miss Carlota, away back in Connemara, I was sent to the priest to be taught. Arrah musha, the day!” He bitterly groaned, remembering it.
[235] “Well, what of it? Come on, please. Don’t let your Cork drag along so or we shall never be there. That’s better. I don’t mean to hurry you, but I’m so glad to be moving, and I do think the broncho travels more and more slowly all the time. ”

“ I’ve been so homesick abroad just to look at a crooked apple tree in bloom that I didn’t know what to do. Each man to his ‘ain acre.’ Where were you born, Carlota?”
“At the Villa Marina. Ah, but you should see it.” Carlota’s dark face glowed with love and pride. “It is dull terra cotta color, and then dull green too, the mold of ages, I think, like the under side of an olive leaf, and flowers everywhere, and poplars in long avenues. My father laughs at our love for it, and says it is just a mouldy old ruin, but every summer we spend there. Some day perhaps you could come to see us, Jean. ”

“ But the little Carlota was no thin-blooded herb. Look again. There are many plants left unharmed and wonderfully green and fresh. Even of just such sturdy growth were the Manuel children. At will accustomed to sleeping out-of-doors, to a cold plunge each morning, to an almost wholly out-of-door life, sun-browned and of perfect health—why, they are sure to be alive and thriving somewhere. ”

“ A being whose nature, as yet, is all at sixes and sevens; but who will arrive at a true manhood, by and by, please God.”
As she spoke she smiled at her son and yet she sighed; and it was due to Carlota that as he hastily left the room he returned an answering smile. ”

“ First the little Carlota; I but whisper to her that which she should know and off she flies, screaming, louder than I dreamed she could. Then comes Anita where she had no business, listens what concerns her not, and off she races, likewise screaming. Now thou—if—what?”
“The podrida—the supper, heart’s idol!” wailed the housekeeper, and her sorely tried son burst into a laugh, which she arrested by a gesture and the words:
“‘He laughs best who laughs last,’ and that won’t be my Miguel, no. For the guests of the master to lose their supper, that is one thing, indeed; but what of Amador, no?” ”

“ The guides had taught Dennis how to draw the tethers around a bit of ground in such a manner as to keep all reptiles from intruding upon this circular space where the wanderers would safely sleep. Carlota began to watch the Irishman at his labors and, idly, to study the ground he enclosed. A last ray of sunlight stole through the branches overhead and touched to glory a bit of herbage almost at her very feet. ”

“ They had found the skirts and fitted bodice for Carlota, and the bagging overalls for Carlos, most annoying, and once more arrayed in their familiar garments they “felt like themselves.” Dennis, almost enviously, admired the simplicity of Carlota’s clothing and was proud to attend a maiden so picturesquely attired.
“Faith, me little lady, ye might be one o’ them Injun chiefseses’ daughters herself, so ye might! An’, if we meet up with any, they’ll go easy like, forby they’d be botherin’ their own kin.” ”

“ Such, then was the messenger dispatched with the leaf-letter, and the twins watched him rapidly disappear, while Carlos said:
“He’ll surely get to Refugio long before the afternoon meal and I hope Marta will give him plenty of nice, clean food. I wish I could have some, too. Nuts and things like that are nice for a finish but a nice lamb chop—my!” Then he observed Carlota still gazing wistfully after the vanishing Pablo and added, sternly: “Carlota, don’t you stand and watch him that way. [105] First you know you’ll be running back yourself.” ”

“ Yet, with the deep emotions of those who live close to nature, they long lingered over the parting; and even Dennis, on his new and quiet mount, appeared thoughtful and serious. He seemed either to have adopted the silence of his Indian escort or to be afflicted by the prospect of another journey into unknown places and dangers.
Carlota had her botany-box piled with her other belongings upon her burro, and though Carlos had left his own cherished hammer in the Burnham’s wagon, he had been given another of Indian shaping which, because of its flint-stone head, he thought far superior. ”

“ Yet they looked more like children of some Indian race, which disdained the dress of civilization, than of white and cultured people. Unshorn and bare headed, their yellow curls floated backward over shoulders clad in kid-skin. Each wore a costume of the same pattern, save that Carlota’s tunic reached to her knees, while her brother’s was cut short at the waist, where a sash of crimson was loosely knotted. At the ankles, their leather leggings were met by gaily embroidered moccasins ”

“ Carlota sat up, amazed and indignant.
[10] “Girls don’t have gizzards, Carlos Manuel. Only chickens and geeses and things like those. You haven’t paid attention when my father teached you.”
Carlos laughed; so merrily and noisily that old Marta came to the door of the adobe house to see what was the fun. Nobody knew the housekeeper’s real age, it was so very great. None could remember things so far back as she, but she had ceased to count the years long, long ago, why not? What matter, if she still had the heart of a child, yes? ”

“ I feel like Pierrette beside her, but Cousin Beth says the girls of our age dress very simply abroad.
The Contessa is coming out to spend the week end with us, and will take Carlota and me back with her for a few days. I’ll tell you all about her next time. We go for a long trip in the car every day, but it is awfully cold and bleak still. I feel exactly like Queen Bess, the Angora cat, I want to hug the fires all the time, and Carlota says she can’t bear our New England winters. ”

“ Burnham will find his ‘lucky stone’ right here,” said Carlota, radiant at thought of a long quiet day “by themselves” with her precious brother. She knew, too, by the way he looked at her, lately, that he had something especial to say to her and only waited an opportunity to say it. So, taking a little luncheon with her and promising that they would surely come back before dark, the girl set off to find her brother, lounging on the rocks below.
“Oh! how nice it is to be alone, quite by our two selves! They are so good to us, and yet—I—Carlos, do you ever think of Refugio now?” ”

“ Now, this wise old dame knew that nothing would more easily lure her charges home in good season than this suggestion of songs and guitar. [17] To hear old Marta sing, in her cracked and toothless voice, was the funniest experience of their gay young lives. It was rarely she could be prevailed upon to so amuse them and Carlota hesitated and called to Carlos:
“Brother, did you hear that? This is the night when Marta sings. If we shouldn’t get back in time! But—they will be shearing for many days to come.” ”

“ I’m getting my things in the schoolroom.”
Carlota would have liked to linger, but now joined her brother in the pretty glen beside the spring; and, while he wound his riata and thrust his hammer and knife into his sash, she secured the basket which old Marta had given them with their luncheon. Little of that was now left; only a few scattered cakes, which she carefully gathered again, thinking they would answer very well for supper, in case they did not arrive at “anywhere” by that time. She also slung her botany-box across her shoulders, which made Carlos inquire:
“Why are you taking that? ”

“ It was the sure end of the severest lecture Carlota had ever received, and the worst of it was that she felt she deserved it. She could only say that she was truly sorry and resolve to “do a lot of thinking next time before she did any acting.” Then she added, as a bitter memory was stirred:
“I begin to understand that if we hadn’t run away from Refugio our Benoni wouldn’t have died.”
“Not so fast, little girl, toward that conclusion. [134] The issues of life and death belong to God. We have no concern with them. Our business is to do right, as nearly as we can, and—now let’s try a canter!” ”

“ SHE STARTLED THE MAID
“Being thrice a widow might be trouble for some, yes. Yet not for Marta. I tell thee, Guadalupo Sanchez, sorrow has not come near me until now. It is so. In truth. Soul of my life, Carlota! Where sleepest thou, my angel? To the shearing would she go, no? Till I promised I would not sing to my guitar with her away. For I can sing, yes, in truth. She will come if I sing!” A moment later she startled the maid, who was serving the supper, with her sudden cry. “Anita, Anita!”
“What now, mother Marta? I am busy, I. Here is Señor Disbrow, and yonder is Miguel, of the heavy heart ”

“ Scooping a hole in the crust of the loaf he bestowed within it the butter, replaced the crust he had removed, and carefully wrapped the whole in the gaudy napkin. Then he thrust the parcel into the breast of his jacket and rejoined Carlota. The absent lad might now appear at any moment and his inevitable hunger was thus provided against.
“I s’pose there’s never a know ye know where he’ll pop out of, since there’s no spot in sight would hide Hop-o’-my-thumb, barrin’ [217] a well grown lad like your own. But sure, Miss Carlota, ’tis time he was shimmerin’ back. ”

“ He’ll kill you—or you him! Dennis—Cork! Oh! Dennis, Dennis!” screamed Carlota, lustily.
The wagon, now some distance in front, came to a halt, for the girl’s cries had reached and startled its occupants, so that Mr. Burnham and Jack ran back to see what caused the uproar. Yet, at that critical moment, even they dared not interfere. They ranged themselves beside Carlota and silently watched the strange contest.
“If ’tis a fight ye be wantin’ ’tis a fight ye shall have!” yelled the trackman, now indifferent to everything save the rebellious beast for which he had spent his hardly earned dollars. ”

“ Carlota ceased to argue the matter. Her attention and that of the others had been called to Carlos who, upon the broncho’s flight, had not wasted breath upon anybody but had set off in instant pursuit. “As swift as an arrow.” He had been trained by an Indian and could run like one. As he sped over it, his moccasined feet scarcely touched the ground, and his lithe [196] body seemed poised as lightly as a bird’s in its flight. As he ran his sister cried exultantly:
“See Carlos! Oh! see Carlos! He’ll catch him! He will—he will!” ”

“ She was a brave little thing, yet bravery counts for nought with a maddened redskin. They had found traces of the Apaches and knew they had struck the right trail. A conflict was inevitable. But Carlota only knew of her horse’s distress, as she cried:
“Benoni, dear! Darling Benoni! What is the matter? Can’t you, won’t you, get up? I’ll walk all the way. So will Carlos. But we can’t leave you here. You’ll have to come, too. You’ll feel better, by and by. With all these nice, nice horses to keep you company. Not alone any longer, Benoni. Lots of horses, Noni.” ”

“ Carlota and I are history-makers, too. If we should live as long as those old folks somebody might find us just as interesting as we do them.”
“Far more so, maybe. I find you extremely interesting even now. I would like to hear a great deal about your lives and doings.”
Carlos thoughtfully studied the young gentleman’s face, then asked:
“Would you, really? How strange that seems—just children like us. Let me see. We learn Spanish and behavior—when we don’t forget it—from the Mestizas. They are never, never rude. Even when they stab a man in the back they do it courteously. So Miguel says.” ”

“ At this, Carlota turned her gaze from her [198] brother to Jack, with that surprised expression that always disconcerted him, and, for the first time, fully observed his attire. Then she demanded:
“Why, boy, what are you going to fight? A bowie knife—a pair of rusty pistols—a gun! How an Apache, or a wild cat, would run if he saw you! But look! Carlos has caught the broncho—he surely has!”
This was so, and attention now centered upon the approaching victor of the race.
“A lad is swifter than a horse!” cried the sister, waving her sombrero in congratulation to her brother. ”

“ His daughter was about fifteen years old—a pretty girl, with hair of the unusual colour of chestnut, plaited into thick masses on the crown of her head. Her skin was fairer than is customary with her race—her eyes brown and soft in expression, her face oval, and her figure, even at this early age, very graceful, being somewhat more precocious than an English girl’s at those years. She was a favourite with the ladies of the garrison, who often employed her to procure feminine matters for them. Carlota, particularly, had always treated her with great kindness—and hence the present visit. ”