The Gaucho
1
To this day, the gauchos,
those fast-disappearing,
picturesque cowboys of the
South American plains, tell
this story round their
camp-fires.
2
It is the story of one of
them who came to be
known as the Gaucho,
and of the usurper Ruiz,
and how these two came
together at the City of
the Miracle.
3
In this wise was the
beginning of the City
of the Miracle-
4
Upon this holy spot a
shrine was built....
5
....and after the passing
of ten years....
6
From the four corners of
the land they came
and into the coffers of
the church poured their
grateful gold.
7
A discordant note --
8
A victim of the Black
Doom -
9
The fame of the City of
the Miracle spread and
the legend of its gold grew.
10
Far in the North, an
outlaw -
11
"New worlds to conquer!"
12
"The Gaucho!"
13
"The Gaucho is over the Andes -
look to your town!"
14
"The Gaucho!"
15
"The Gaucho! The Gaucho!"
16
"I go in alone. You
ride down the pass."
17
"It is a good likeness.
Perhaps it flatters me -
a very little."
18
"I have thirst. We shall
drink - to The Gaucho."
19
"With my compliments."
20
"El Gaucho!"
21
"All my life I've dreamed
that I should really see
you. Always you have
been my hero. Gaucho
m�o!"
22
"Gaucho m�o!"
23
"I will dance for you."
24
Soldiers, sent by the
usurper, Ruiz, enter
the City of the Miracle -
25
"I act in the name of
Ruiz. Give over your
quarters, your records,
your perquisites."
26
"You have much wealth
here. What do you do
with it?"
27
"This belongs to Ruiz."
28
"But what of the poor?"
29
"Put them in jail."
30
"He refuses our help. He
makes his living out of
his affliction."
31
"Put him in a cell apart.
Beware his touch. It
means a lingering death."
32
Night.... Back in the North -
33
"To horse!"
34
"Adios, chatita. I go for
gold to the City of the
Miracle."
35
"I am going with you."
36
"Come on, then."
37
"I haven't finished my
supper!"
38
"I suppose you want me
to take the house along."
39
"Throw ropes around the
floor-beams. Hitch on a
hundred horses. We take
this place with us."
40
The next morning.... In the
City of the Miracle --
41
"The Gaucho is headed
this way!"
42
"Throw a guard about the
City. Barricade the gates."
43
Not far from the City -
44
"Don't do that! It means
bad luck tomorrow."
45
"Yesterday was yesterday.
Today is today. There
is no tomorrow until it's
today."
46
"I go in alone. Your
orders are as usual."
47
"When you see the flag
hoisted over the city,
bring on the men."
48
"Tell your commanding
officer the gaucho band
is just over the ridge."
49
"We have captured
The Gaucho."
50
"Hoist the flag."
51
"Stack arms and retire
to the barracks."
52
"Your teeth are drawn.
You're free to come and
go - if you behave."
53
"Now we'll visit the Shrine."
54
"Canalla! Perro! You
strike an old man!"
55
"What do you want
done with him?"
56
"Forgive him."
57
"Forgive him. He knows
not what he does."
58
"You can go. You don't
know what you do."
59
"You have strange notions,
Padre. Where do you learn
them?"
60
"From that Holy Book."
61
"You're a great judge,
Padre. You must come
to my feast tonight.
Bring your Book."
62
"Do you mock God and
His Holy Book?"
63
"I neither mock nor pay
homage."
64
"See that the Padre
arrives at the feast."
65
"You see, Padre, I get what
I want - without the help of
God and His Holy Book."
66
"Find where she lives.
Bring her tonight."
67
"When you find a dress that's
fit to clothe a princess and
jewels that outshine the stars,
buy them for tonight."
68
In the Capital, the
usurper, Ruiz --
69
"The Gaucho has taken
the City of the Miracle."
70
"This Gaucho has gone
too far! He sets himself
too high!"
71
"Order out all my troops.
I'll go up there myself."
72
"Vainglorious man, swept
on to dizzy heights, heeds
not the depths below."
73
"Tonight - while he drinks -
I'll take the men to Ca�on
Diablo."
74
"Fetch all the prisoners
from the jail. The Padre
will sit in judgment on
them."
75
The feast --
76
"More food! More wine! Be
merry, my guests! Yesterday
was yesterday. Today is
today. There is no tomorrow
until it's today."
77
"The prisoners are at
the gates."
78
"We'll hold court for your
entertainment. The Padre
is an excellent judge."
79
"What are these charged
with?"
80
"If the se�or pleases, they
are beggars."
81
"'Tis not for me to judge."
82
"I command you. Speak
up! What does your
Book say?"
83
"'Give to the poor'."
84
"What about the money?"
85
"Ruiz has taken it."
86
"We'll send for it."
87
"What has this one done?"
88
"Good se�or, he beat his
wife."
89
"It is just that he be
punished."
90
"Did she hit you first?"
91
"What's your next case?"
92
"A victim of the Black
Doom."
93
"He clings to his infirmity.
We cannot help him."
94
"I will pass sentence
on him."
95
"You poison the very air
we breathe! Go find some
hidden spot and kill
yourself."
96
"I only bid him do what
I would do."
97
"If you're not gone within
the hour, I'll do it for
you."
98
"Hola! More wine!"
99
"You're beautiful tonight.
Your eyes have caught
the moonbeams... Your
lips invite..."
100
"To horse! We start for
Ca�on Diablo at once."
101
"Now you find some
lonely spot and kill
yourself."
102
"When you can do this
and feel no pain, you'll
be what I am."
103
"Se�orita, I've loved you as
an eagle loves the wings
by which he soars!"
104
"Together we have been
so happy."
105
"But something has happened
that has changed my life. I
go now on a new adventure."
106
"Adios."
107
"All things whatsoever
ye shall ask in prayer,
believing, ye shall
receive."
108
"Do you believe?"
109
"I do not know. I do not
understand. I do not
understand you."
110
"You're like a beautiful
sunset - something I can't
embrace, yet I love...."
111
"You're like one night on
the pampas.... I was alone....
A full moon rose.... A bird
sang...."
112
"I believe in you."
113
"'If ye have faith.... nothing
shall be impossible unto
you.'"
114
"I have faith in you."
115
Ruiz, with his army,
arrives at the City
of the Miracle -
116
"Where is The Gaucho?"
117
"Excellency, I do not
know.... but his men are
in Ca�on Diablo."
118
"I'll catch him! I'll have
him slashed to ribbons
in the Public Square!"
119
"Teach me to pray."
120
"The Gaucho is in the
Shrine... with that girl."
121
"Arrest them both. Arrest
the Padre, too. I'll make
an example of them all!"
122
"Put the scaffold in the
Square. Rouse the towns-
folk. I'll give them such
a show as they have
never seen."
123
"I lied to you! I lied, I tell
you! He's not here!"
124
"Ca�on Diablo!"
125
"Bed-rock!"
126
".... to the town! Quick!
Your Chief! They will
kill him!"
127
"The gaucho band is
approaching the town."
128
"You coward! They can't
get through. The walls
are manned. We out-
number them ten to one."
129
"Fetch out the prisoners.
We'll have our show."
130
"The Gaucho has escaped."
131
"I'll stampede the great herd
of cattle through the town.
We'll go in under cover of
the dust."
132
"Let these doors be open
for all time."
133
"Live by these. You need
no other law."
134
"You're not of the earth.
Your spirit will live through
the ages. I understand now."
135
"We'll be married tomorrow."
136
"Yesterday was yesterday.
Today is today. There is
no tomorrow..... Make it
today."
The End
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