Part 17 (2/2)
Led by the majoress, the ladies filed down the stone stairway--the gentlemen after; and in a score of seconds the horse-hunter, still seated in his saddle, became, with his captive, the centre of the distinguished circle.
Henry Poindexter had hurried down before the rest, and already, in the frankest manner, bidden the stranger welcome.
Between the latter and Louise only a slight salutation could be exchanged. Familiarity with a horse-dealer--even supposing him to have had the honour of an introduction--would scarce have been tolerated by the ”society.”
Of the ladies, the major's wife alone addressed him in a familiar way; but that was in a tone that told of superior position, coupled with condescension. He was more gratified by a glance--quick and silent-- when his eye changed intelligence with that of the young Creole.
Hers was not the only one that rested approvingly upon him. In truth, the mustanger looked splendid, despite his travel-stained habiliments.
His journey of over twenty miles had done little to fatigue him. The prairie breeze had freshened the colour upon his cheeks; and his full round throat, naked to the breast-bone, and slightly bronzed with the sun, contributed to the manliness of his mien. Even the dust clinging to his curled hair could not altogether conceal its natural gloss, nor the luxuriance of its growth; while a figure tersely knit told of strength and endurance beyond the ordinary endowment of man. There were stolen glances, endeavouring to catch his, sent by more than one of the fair circle. The pretty niece of the commissary smiled admiringly upon him. Some said the commissary's wife; but this could be only a slander, to be traced, perhaps, to the doctor's better half--the Lady Teazle of the cantonment.
”Surely,” said Poindexter, after making an examination of the captured mustang, ”this must be the animal of which old Zeb Stump has been telling me?”
”It ur thet eyedenticul same,” answered the individual so described, making his way towards Maurice with the design of a.s.sisting him.
”Ye-es, Mister Peintdexter; the eyedenticul critter--a maar, es ye kin all see for yurselves--”
”Yes, yes,” hurriedly interposed the planter, not desiring any further elucidation.
”The young fellur hed grupped her afore I got thur; so I wur jess in the nick o' time 'bout it. She mout a been tuck elswhar, an then Miss Lewaze thur mout a missed hevin' her.”
”It is true indeed, Mr Stump! It was very thoughtful of you. I know not how I shall ever be able to reciprocate your kindness?”
”Reciperkate! Wal, I spose thet air means to do suthin in return. Ye kin do thet, miss, 'ithout much difeequilty. I han't dud nothin' for you, ceptin' make a bit o' a journey acrost the purayra. To see yur bewtyful self mounted on thet maar, wi' yur ploomed het upon yur head, an yur long-tailed pettykote streakin' it ahint you, 'ud pay old Zeb Stump to go clur to the Rockies, and back agin.”
”Oh, Mr Stump! you are an incorrigible flatterer! Look around you! you will see many here more deserving of your compliments than I.”
”Wal, wal!” rejoined Zeb, casting a look of careless scrutiny towards the ladies, ”I ain't a goin' to deny thet thur air gobs o' putty critters hyur--dog-goned putty critters; but es they used to say in ole Loozyanney, thur air but one Lewaze Peintdexter.”
A burst of laughter--in which only a few feminine voices bore part--was the reply to Zeb's gallant speech.
”I shall owe you two hundred dollars for this,” said the planter, addressing himself to Maurice, and pointing to the spotted mare. ”I think that was the sum stipulated for by Mr Stump.”
”I was not a party to the stipulation,” replied the mustanger, with a significant but well-intentioned smile. ”I cannot take your money.
_She_ is not for sale.”
”Oh, indeed!” said the planter, drawing back with an air of proud disappointment; while his brother planters, as well as the officers of the Fort, looked astonished at the refusal of such a munificent price.
Two hundred dollars for an untamed mustang, when the usual rate of price was from ten to twenty! The mustanger must be mad?
He gave them no time to descant upon his sanity.
”Mr Poindexter,” he continued, speaking in the same good-humoured strain, ”you have given me such a generous price for my other captives-- and before they were taken too--that I can afford to make a present-- what we over in Ireland call a 'luckpenny.' It is our custom there also, when a horse-trade takes place at the house, to give the _douceur_, not to the purchaser himself, but to one of the fair members of his family. May I have your permission to introduce this Hibernian fas.h.i.+on into the settlements of Texas?”
”Certainly, by all means!” responded several voices, two or three of them unmistakably with an Irish accentuation.
”Oh, certainly, Mr Gerald!” replied the planter, his conservatism giving way to the popular will--”as you please about that.”
”Thanks, gentlemen--thanks!” said the mustanger, with a patronising look towards men who believed themselves to be his masters. ”This mustang is my luckpenny; and if Miss Poindexter will condescend to accept of it, I shall feel more than repaid for the three days' chase which the creature has cost me. Had she been the most cruel of coquettes, she could scarce have been more difficult to subdue.”
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