dt at? the f ampas
By Q. A.
CHAPTER VI.-(Continued.)
" 'It hasn't been our fault we haven't
met before,' said Rube; which was true
enough, for we had only given him a
dose chaHe several times. El Zares on!y
gave an evil smile, but the other Mexi
can exclaimed savagely, 'You dog, do you
dare to answer?' and struck Rube ncross
the face vrtth all his force with a heavy
whip. .
"Rube turned quite white, and then,
with a tremendous effort, "he broke the
cowhide thongs which fastened his hands
not new rope, mind you, but cowhide
just as if it had been so much grass, and
went right at the fellow who had struck
him. The Mexicans gave a cry of as
tonishment and threw themselves upon
Rube, El Zeres shouting at the top of his
voice, 'Don't draw a knife! don't draw
a knife! I'll hang any man who injures
him!'
. "Rube had got the fellow by the thront
with both hands, and, though the crowd
of men who threw themselves upon him
pulled him to the ground, he never lot go,
but brought the man down, too. 1 know
it was uH over with hiia. I was quite
mad to join in anil help; but though I
tugged and strained at my thongs till they
cut right into my wrists I could not suc
ceed. For a while they lay in a strug
gling mass on the ground, and' then Rube
shook himself free of them for a moment
and got to his feet. A dozen men were
upon him in a moment; but he was blind
' with rage, and would not have minded if
it had been a thousand. Those who came
front went down as if shot before the
blows of his lists; but others leaped on
him from behind, and then the struggle
began ngiiin. It was downright awful.
They could not hold his arms. , Their
weight, over and over again, got him
upon the ground, and over and over again
lie was up. on his feet; but his arms,
somehow, they could not hold, and the
work he did with them was awful. Any
thing he hit went down, and when he
could not hit he gripped. It was like a
terrier with rats; he, caught 'em by the
throat, and when he did It was all up
with them. How long this went on I
can't say, when a Mexican snatched the
lasso from the saddle of El ZereiC horse
nud dropped the nooxe over Rube's Week.
In another moment he wag lying half
strangled upon the ground, and a dozen
hands bound his hands behind him and
his 'feet together with rawhide tltougs.
Seven Mexicans lay dead on the ground
and many more were lying, panting and
bleeding, around. El Zeres had never
moved; and except shouting to his men
not to use their knives he had taken no
part whatever in it watching the strug
gle with that cruel smile, as If it had
only been a terrier attacked by rats.
When it was over he mounted his horse
and said to one of his lieutenants who
was standing near: 'I must go now. I
leave these men in your charge, I'edro.
Fasten that one's hands behind him;
then take them inside. Put them in the
inner room. Clear my things out. Take
ten picked ,111011, and don't let anyone in
or out till I return. I shall be back be
fore daybreak. I shall amuse myself to
day with thinking how I shall try the
nerves of these Americanos. I can prom-
lse you all a handsome amusement of
ome sort, anyhow.' And ho rode off.
"I have often faced death, and ain't
afraid of it; but the unruilled face ami
the cruel smile of that man nrade my flesh
creep on my bones, as I thought of what
Rube and I had got to go through the
next day.
"Never in my life did I feel that the
game was up as I did then.
"In a short time we were both asleep,
for we had only been four hours in bed
for two nights. I was pretty well ac
customed to sleep on the ground, and I
slept without waking for nearly seven
hours. Wo did not altogether give up
hope, as we agreed that we must try, in
the short Interval between the visits of
the Mexicans, to untie the knots of each
other's cords with our teeth. Suddenly
an idea struck me. I squeezed myself
back to the wall and leaned against it.
'It's all right. Rube,' said I; 'our cords
are as good as on.' 'How's that?' said
Rube. 'This wall is undo of rough stones,
Rube, and there are plenty of sharp
edges sticking out tlirough the mud.
They will cut tlirough these wet thongs
like knives.' 'Honrah!' shouted Rube at
the top of his voice, with n yell that
startled the Mexicans from their seats
again, and then he commenced thunder
ing out one of the songs the soldiers used
to King on the march. Several Mexicans
came running up from the camp to ask
if anything was the matter, Rube's yell
ing having reached their ears. They
were told it was only those mad Ameri
canos amusing themselves, and with
many angry threat of the different sort
of yells we should give next day, they
sauntered off again. I longed for the
time when Rube a ud I should fall upon
them. In half an hour I gave the signal.
I had picked out a sharp stone in a con
venient position, and it was not a minute
before 1 felt the coll of cords loosen with
n sudden Jerk, and knew that I was free.
As I had anticipated, the visits of our
guards were rather less frequent now
that they believed us to bo asleep. In
half an hour I heard a snore, which I
answered. The moment the next visit
was over I crawled to the door, and then,
lying pretty nigh ou my stomach, crept
round to where the rllles were plied. The
tire was burning low, and the guard were
alttlng so closely round It that the lower
part of the room was In black shadow;
s that, though I was looking out for
Rube, I didn't see him till ho was close
enough to touch me. It wan a delicate
Job opening all the pans, but we did It
without making as much noise at would
1
HF.NTY J$
scare a deer, and then, each taking a rifle
by the barrel, we were ready. Pedro
was just telling a story of how he had
forced, an old man to say where his
money was hid, by torturing his daugh
ters before his eyes, and how, when he
had told his secret, and the money was
obtained, he had fastened them up, and
set the house alight a story which was
received with shouts of approving laugh
ter. As he finished down came the butt
of Rube's rifle on his head with a squelch,
while mine did the same on the head of
the next man. For an instant there was
a pause of astonishment, for no one knew
exactly what had happened; then there
was a wild yell of surprise und fear, as
our rifles came down again with a crash
ing thud. All leaped to their feet, the
man I aimed my next blow at roiling over,
and just escaping it. Rube was more
lucky, and just got his man as he was
risiug. 'Hoorah! Seth,' he shouted, 'five
down out of eleven.' .We drew back now
to our posts as agreed on, and the Mexi
cans, drawing their knives, made a rush
forward. They ain't cowards, the Mex
icans-! will say that for them: and
when these fellows found they were
caught like rats in a trap, they fought
desperately. They knew there was 'no
mercy to expect from Rube and me. They
divided, and three came at each of us,
Two went down as if they were shot,
and I was just whirling my rifle for an
other blow, when I heard a crash, and
then a shout from Rube, 'Help, Sethi I
saw at once what had happened. Rube's
rifle, as he was making a blow at a man,
had struck a beam over his head, and the
shock had made it fly from his hands
across the room. In another moment the
two Mexicans were upon him with their
knives. He hit out wildly, but he got a
gash across the forehead and another on
the arm in a moment. I made two strides
ncross the hut, and the Mexicans who
were attacking me, instead of trying to
prevent me, made a rush to the corner
where their rifles were, which I had left
unguarded. It was a fatal mistake. My
gun came down crash upon the head of
one of Rube s assailants before he knew
of my approach, and another minute did
for the second. As I turned from him the
remaining two Mexicans leveled at Rube,
who had rushed across to pick up his
gun, and myself and gave a cry as the
flints fell and there vfas m report. For
a minute or two they fought desperately
with the guns; but it was no use, and it
was soon over, and we stood the masters
of the hut, with eleven dead men round
us. An hour later saw us safely on our
way to headquarters."
"Oh, thank you very much, Seth. It Is
a most exciting story. And what became
of Rube?" asked Maud.
"Rube married a year after we got back
to the States, and took up a clearing and
settled down. It was then I felt lone
some, and made up my mind to go south
for awhile. I promised Rube that I
would go and settle down by him after a
bit, and I've concluded that it's about
time to do so. I've saved a few hun
dred dollars out here, and I am going
to start to-morrow morning at daybreak
to catch the steamer at Rosario. I shall
go up straight from liuenos Ayres to New
Orleans, and a steamer will take me up
the river in three days to Rube's loca
tion. Oood-by, all of you. I told your
father this afternoon."
There was a hearty leave-taking, and
many expressions of regret at his leav
ing; and after a shake of the hand and
many good wishes, the young I lardy s
went up to the house, really sorry to part
wit htheir Yankee friend.
CHAPTER VII.
As soon as Mrs. Hardy had arrived all
their neighbors came over to call, and
very friendly intercourse wag quickly es
tablished between them. As there was
no spare bedroom at Mount Pleasant,
some hammocks were made, and hooks
wero put into the sitting room walls, so
that the hammocks could bo slung at
night and taken down in the morning.
The English party always rode back to
Canterbury, as the distance was so short,
and the Jamiesous generally did the
same; but Messrs. Percy, Williams and
Markham usually came over in the after
noon and rode back again next morning.
Upon Sunday morning Mr. Hardy had
service, ami to this the whole of their
friends generally came. U was held early,
so that the Jamleson and the English
men could ride back to their homes be
fore the heat of the day, the other three
remaining to dine, and returning In the
cold of the evening. Canterbury was en
tirely a sheep and cattle farm. The own
ers hnd five thousand sheep, and some
hundreds of cattle; but they had com
paratively a good deal of time upon their
hands, as stock and sheep farming does
not require so much personal care and
supervision as must be bestowed upon ag
ricultural farms. The Jamiesous. ou the
contrary, were entirely occupied lu til
lage; they had uo sheep and only a few
head of cattle.
Mrs. Hardy was remarking upon this
one day to Mr. Percy, who replVd, "Ah,
the poor fellows are very unfortunate.
They brought out a fair capital, and had
as largo a stock of sheep and cattle as
the Canterbury party have. About six
months, however, before you arrived the
Indians swept down upon them and car
ried off every animal they had. That
puts one In mind, Hardy, of a matter
upon which I had Intended to speak to
you. We aro Just getting now to the
time of the year when Indian attacks are
most likely to take place. Sometimes they
are quiet for a year or two, then they
are very troublesome again. Five or six
years ago, Just after I first came out,
we had terrible times with them. Vast
numbers oi cattle were eriven off; the
sheep they less seldom take, because they
cannot travel so fast, but they do drive
them off sometimes. You are now tha
furthest settler, and consequently the
most exposed. Your estancia is strong
and well built, and you are all well arm
ed and good shots. You are, I think,
in that respect, safe, except from sudden
surprise.' The dogs are sure to give an
alarm; still I should sleep with every
thing in readiness."
This conversation caused Mr. Hardy
great uneasiness. It was a possibility-he
had been quite prepared for; but he could
not feet that the danger was really at
hand withopt an anxious feeling. His
thousand sheep had cost him twelve hun
dred and fifty dollars, and his cattle as
much more. The lambing season had
come and gone, and the flock of sheep
had doubled in number. The cattle, too,
had greatly increased, and the sheep
were nearly ready for shearing. Alto
gether the value of the stock was over
five thousand dollars. The loss would not
be absolute ruin, as he had still three
thousand dollars of his original capital
in the bank at Buenos Ayres; but it
would be a very serious loss.
Mr. Hardy told the boys as much as he
thought proper of the state of things,
and gave them their Instructions. The
girls, who had no idea there was any real
danger, and who had besides an unlimit
ed confidence In their father and broth
ers, were disposed to look upon it as fun,
and Mr. Hardy had to speak quite seri
ously to be sure that his orders would be
strictly attended to. A box had been
placed in the storeroom on the upper
floor of the tower, and the boys were
given screwdrivers and hammers to open
it. The astonishment of all was un
bounded to find that it contained four
dozen large rockets and a dozen blue
lights. One dozen of these rockets were
ordinary signal rockets, but the rest were
covered with strong tin cases.
"Fireworks!" they all exclaimed in in
tense surprise. "What have you brought
fireworks all this way for, papa?"
"I will tell you, my dears. I knew
that the Indians of the pampas were
horse Indians, and the idea struck me
that as they could never have seen rock
ets, they would be horribly scared at
night by them. Rockets, you know, are
used in war; and even if the riders are
not frightened, it is quite certain that the
horses would be horribly alarmed by one
or two of these rushing, fiery things
charging Into their midst. I therefore
had them specially made for me by a py
rotechnist in London. One dozen, as you
see, are ordinary rookets of the largest
size; they contain colored balls, which
will give out a most brilliant light. One
o.f them thrown into the air, even where
we believe any Indfans to be, will light
p the plata, and give us a fair view of
(hem. The other three dozen are loaded
with crackers. As you see, I have had a
strong case of tin placed over the' ordi
nary case; and one of them striking a
man will certainly knock him 'off his
horse, and probably kill him. The Toar,
the rush, the train of fire, and finally the
explosion and the volley of crackers in
their midst would be enough to frighten
their horses altogether beyond control.
What do you think of my idea?"
"Capital, capital!" they all cried.
"But how, papa," Hubert asked, "will
you manage to make your rockets go
straight at the Indians? All the rockets
I ever saw went straight up into the air."
"Yes, Hubert, because they were point
ed up. A rocket goes whichever way ft
Is pointed. Rockets in war are fired
through a tube, or from a trough. We
will use the trough. Set to at once, boys,
and make a trough about four feet long,
without ends. It must stand on legs high
enough to raise it above the level of the
wall round the top of the tower. Let
there be two legs on the front end, and
one leg behind; and this leg behind must
have a hinge, so that, when it stands
upright, it will be six or eight inches
higher than the front, in case we want
to fire at anything close at hand. When
we want to elevate the head of the rock
et to fire at anything at a distance, we
puH the hind leg back, so that that end
Is lower than the front. Put a spike at
the end of. the leg, to let it have a firm
hold on the floor."
(To be continued.)
Against Fooling with a Revolver.
There are a few lines In "The Art of
Revolver-Shooting," a recent book by
Walter Winuns, the noted revolver shot
of Great Britain, which were specially
penned Tor a small but dangerous class
of people.
Mr. Wlnans once left a revolver lying
on a table in his tent at Blsley during
a competition. Some visitors dropped
In, one by one, to lunch. First came an
elderly lady. She sat down near the
table, aud her eye immediately fell on
the revolver. She snatched it up with
n laugh, and pointing it at Mr. Wlnans,
said:
"I'll shoot you!"
"Put It down!" said Mr. Wlnans,
speaking as peremptorily as a host
mny. The lady obeyed, and Mr. Wl
nans explained to her how injudicious
It wns to point a revolver at anv on.
how It might have been loaded, and so
on.
While lie was snenktnc In ram
clergyman. He sat down and began
talking pleasantly. All at once his eye
caught the revolver. Seizing It and
roaring with laughter, ho pointed it at
Mr. inans, saying:
"Now I'll shoot you'."
"I locked up that revolver!" la Mr.
WInnns' grim comment And he would
liihe been glad, we mny be sure, to
hnve made the same disposal, temnnrn.
rlly at least, of his silly guests. Had
the Joculnrity cf the' lady or the clergy
man resulted fatally, as similar con.
duct has often done, the nlea nt tin
coroner's Inquest would have been tha
old, wenfc one: "Didn't know it was
-loadedl"
German Potato Salad.
Peel twelve potatoes boiled in their
skins and cut Into small . dice; the
whites of three hard-boiled eggs; six
very young onions -chopped very fine;
salt and pepper to taste. Make a
dressing of two well-beaten eggs, a
scant half-cup of vinegar, two table
spoonfuls of sugar and butter the size
of a walnut, boiling all together until
thick. When cold thin with cream and
stir well into the potatoes. Line a salad
dish with lettuce leaves, pour into it
the salad and garnish with the yolks
of three hard-boiled eggs cut into slices
and a few leaves of parsley.
Ginger Pudding.
Take six ounces of finely chopped
suet, half a pound of flour, a teaspoon
ful of ground ginger, half a pound of
treacle, a little grated lemon rind, half
a pint of milk in which half a tea
spoon:;:: cr carscnarc cr soda is dis
solved, and one beaten egg. Mix all
these ingredients into a light batter,
pour into a greased mould and boil for
two hours and a half. Tie on the cloth
securely, as the pudding swells much
in cooking. Serve with any nice sweet
sauce.
To Take Spots Oat of Boards.
Make some lye of wood ashes and
mix it with a few galls, then put it
on the spots the evening before you
intend to clean them. In the morning
rub the boards over with a brush. Let
It be the way of the grain, and take
some fine sand in the second scouring.
When the boards have come to the
right color and you, can see the grain,
wash in cold water and sand. Hot
water will turn the best of boards or
tables a bad color.
Dinah's Corn Pone.
Sift a teaspoonful of salt into a quart
of southern corn-meal, add a table
spoonful of melted shortening and
enough cold water to make a soft
dough. Mold with the hands into thin,
oblong cakes and make upon the grid
dle, turning once. Eat while hot, split
ting,: not cutting, the pone open to but
ter it. This bread must be made with
genuine "water ground" cornmeal.
Northern meal will not do.
Stewed Cabbage and Celery.
If one has on, hand but little stew
ing celery not enough for the family
a nice dish may be made by adding
parboiled cabbage cut up into Inch
pieces and letting the cabbage cook
about twenty-flve minutes not longer
in the celery. It will be found that
the cabbage will partake of the flavor
of the celery. The dressing should be
the same as for stewed celery.
For Hlce Pancakes.
Boll some rice till perfectly cooked
in water, men drain and set it in a
clean saucepan with sufficient new
milk to cover. Sweeten to taste, add
half an ounce of dissolved butter fnr
each pint of milk used. Add an egg
niso xo eacn pint of milk. Beat in
enough flour to make the mixture stilt
enough to Just form a batter. Fry till
a goraen Drown on both Bides.
Canned Corn and Tnm.
Boll. the corn on the cob for twenty
minutes and cut off while- hot. hm
the skn from your tomatoes and rub
i a puip. io every one part of cut
corn add two of tomatoes. Salt to
taste, boll hard for a moment and can
Keep in a cool, dark place.
n IT treat in na.
When a window Is difficult to open
rub the sash cords with soft soon on
.... j. r
uie aimcuny win cease.
When polishing grates add a little
powdered alum to the black lead and
you win and it does Its work better.
Before polishing knives warm the
board by the fire, for knives polish
much better on a warm board than
on a cold one.
When cleaning windows don't forget
to add a few drops of ammonia to the
water. It will make your work easier
and the effect will be better.
Tarnished stair rods are easily clean
ed. Wash them with soap and water
and then polish with a slightly oiled
cloth dusted over with finely powdered
rotten stone.
Never tolerate a dirty sink. To in
sure cleanliness dissolve a little soda
every night in hot water and pour it
down the sink. This will remove any
grease, etc., which may adhere to the
waste pipe and thus prevent its eet
ting clogged. 6
At housecleanlng time to brighten
tins and other cooking utensils put
them all In the wash boiler and place
on the Are with nlontr
, - "icr ana
a liberal amount of washing soda. Let
uv.u uon ror twenty minutes, remove
the wash boiler from the fire, but do
not take the tins out for throe hours.
rim oi mat time they will be
When wnnhiwl i . '
Many women and doctors do
not recognize the real symptoms
of derangement of the female
organs until too late.
I had terrible pains along mr
spinal cord for two years and Buffered
dreadfully.i I was given different
medicines,' wore plasters; none of
these things helped me. Reading of
the cures that Lydia E. Pinkham's
Vegetable Compound has brought
about, I somehow felt that it was
what I needed and bought a bottle to
take. How glad I am that I did so j
two bottles brought me immense re
lief, and after using thuee bottles more
I ieit new life and blood surging
through my veins. It seemed T as
though there had been a regular house
cleaning through my system, that all
the sickness and poison had been taken
out and new life given me instead. I
have advised dozens of my friends to use
Lydia E. Pinkham's Vegetable
Compoy d. Good health is indis
pensable to complete happiness, and
Lydia E. Pinkham's Vegetable
Compound has secured this to me."
Mks. Lauba L. Bhemeb, Crown
Point, Indiana, Secretary Ladies Belief
Corps. $3000 forfeit If original of aboot Uttu
proving genulnentss cannot o producedf
Every sick woman who does not
understand her ailment should
write Mrs. Pinkham, Lynn
Mass. Her advice is free ana
always helpful.
A Natural Inquiry.
Little Nellie was out riding one day
with her mother, and as they passed
a cemetery she asked: "Mamma,
how long does it take for the tomb
stones to come up after they plant
people?
lOO KEWAllD 9100.
Tho readers of this paper -will be pleaaed to
fcarn that there is at leant one dreaded disease
that science bas been able to cure in all Its
stages, and that is catarrh. Hall's Catarrh Cnre
is the only positive cure known to the medical
fraternity. Catarrh being a constitutional dis
ease, requires a constitutional treatment.
Hall's Catarrh Cure Is taken internally, acting
directly upon the Mood and mucous surfaces
of the system, thereby destroying the founds
tion of the disease, and KiVlng the pstient
strength by building up the constitution end
assisting nature in doing- its work. The pro
prietors hare so much faith in its curstivs
powers, that they offer One Hundred Dollars
lor any case that it fails to cure. Send for lirt
of testimonials. Address
B ... F- J- CHENEY & CO., Toledo, 0.
Sold by druggists. 75c.
Hall's Family hills are the beat. '
The Real Thing.
"How cultured and polished that
Mrs. Kazamms is."
"I know it. Whenever a person
wings anything she always calls it
rendering it, doesn't she?" Chicago
Record-Herald.
Tor forty year's Fiso's Cure for Con
sumption has cured coughs and oolds. At
druggists. Price 25 cents.
f. i Pleased Too Soon.
Barber (testing razor) Do I hurt
you, sir?
Baird No; not so badly as the last
man who had me in his chair.
Barber (highly gratified) Who
was that?
Baird The dentist. Tid Bits.
TO BEAU77FV
YOU? HOMES
fV, T FOJ9 rJWSfiNG
o CMSsrlBLS
II Si i 1 ry jrrf '
DXS YARD.
rN. T'll MOT SCRATCH
TV! j 2 SHADE & COLORS,
r&OM DEALER
, .wunti mntne All tut rWLOt
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Id tlma. Sold by drnirsiM.
IfEsg J
1L
uii4Ul uuu uew looking. I