s THE
9 -T R A S L 5
CHAPTER V.
The sun rose; Its beams played on the
trembling yellow leaves of the trees, and
tinged them with a thousand shades of
gold and purple. The birds, dozily nestled
In the bushes, struck up their matin
carol ; the awakening of nature was as
splendid and imposing as it Is in . all
mountainous countries. .
The leader of the caravan left his tent
and gave orders to strike the camp. The
tent was at once folded np, the mules
were loaded, and, so soon as the horses
were saddled, the party started without
waiting for the morning meal, for they
generally breakfasted at the 11 o'clock
halt.
The caravan advanced along the roa3
from Santa Fe to the United States, at
K speed unusual under such "circum
stances. When he left the camp, the chief of
the caravan spurred his horse and joined
the Indian, who' was marching alone in
front, examining the bushes and apparent
ly, performing all the duties of an expe
rienced guide. Curumilla, though he
beard the hurried paces of the Mexican's
horse, did not turn round, but continued
trotting along on his sorry mule.
'"Indian," said the caravan chief in
Spaulnu, "I tvisii to apeak with )id OU ail
Important subject ; be good enough to put
off your usual silence for a while and
answer like an honest man. You engag
ed with me at Santa Fe to lead me, for
the sum of four ounces, safely to the
frontiers" of Upper Mexico. Since you
have been in my service I must allow
that I have only had reason to praise
your prudence; but we are at this mo
ment in the heart of the Rocky Moun
tains, that is to say, we have reached
the most dangerous part of our Journey,
Two days ago you lifted the trail of
Crow Indians, very formidable enemies
of caravans, and I want to consult with
you as to the means to employ to foil
the snares in which these Indians will
try to catch us."
The Indian felt in a bag of striped
alico thrown over his shoulder, and pro
duced a greasy paper, which .he opened
end offered the Mexican. -
"What Is this?" the latter asked. "Oh,
yes, certainly; your engagement. Well,
what has this to do with the question I
sited you 7 '
Curumilla, still Impassive, laid his fin
.ers on the paper, at the last, paragraph
-or tne engagement. , ,
"Well, what then?" 'the Mexican ex
claimed ill-humoredly. "It Is said there.
It Is true, that I must trust entirely to
you, and leave youat liberty to act as
' you' please for the common welfare." What
proves to me that you are acting for our
-common welfare, and that you are not a
traitor?"
At this "word traitor, so distinctly ut
tered by the Mexican, Curumilla gave
-tiger glance at the speaker, while his
whole body was agitated by a convulsive
tremor; he uttered two or three incom
prehensible guttural exclamations, and
-ere the Mexican could suspect his inten
tions he was seized round the waist, lifted
from the saddle, and hurled on the
ground, where he lay stunned. Cur;
miua leaped irom his mule, drew from
.his belt four gold ounces, hurled them at
the Mexican, and then bounding over the
precipice that bordered the road, disap
peared.
The situation was becoming most crit
ical for the chief of the caravan; he
xouno nimseir abandoned without a guide,-
in unknown regions, doubtless watched by
hidden foes, and exposed at any moment
to an attack.
The march was continued : no busd!
Ious sign was discovered ; and the Mex
icans were Justified in bellevlnir that.
with the exception of the time they would
h compelled to lose, the flight of the
Indian would entail no disagreeable con
sequences.
Bingularly enough, Carnero seemed
ather pleased than annoyed at the die
ppearance of the guide. Far from com
plaining or deploring the delay in the con
tinuance of the journey he laughed at
wnat , bad happened and made an infini
tude of more or less witty Jests about
It, which considerably annoyed his mas
ter, whose joy was merely on the surface,
nd who, in his heart, cursed the mishap
which kept them In the .mountains and
-exposed them to the insults of the pluu
lerers. ,k
"Pray, what do you find so agreeable
In what has happened that you are or
ffeet to be so merry, No Carnero?" he
t length asked.
"Forgive me, ml amo," the capatas an
swered; "but ypu know the proverb,
vv nat can t be cured must be endured,
"Hum !" said the master.
"And besides," the capatas added, as
ne stooped down, however, bad our do-
Ition may be, is it not better to pretend
to consider it good?"
A little before 11 a. m. the caravan
reached the .terrace, and It was with a
feeling of joy, which they did not at
tempt .to conceal, that the peons recog
nised the strength of the position.
- "We shall stop here for the present,"
the, Mexican said. "Unload the mules,
nd light the fires. Immediately after
breakfast we will begin entrenching our
selves." - . .
The peons obeyed with the speed of
men who have made a long Journey and
re beginning to feel hungry; the fires
were lighted in an Instant, and a few mo
menta ' later the peons vigorously at
tacked their maize tortillas, their tocina
tad their cecina those Indispensable !-
RED ?
M
-
menta of every Mexican meal.' When
the hunger of his men was appeased the
chief rose.
"Now," be said, "to work."
CHAPTER VI.
The position which the leader of the
caravan fancied he had been the first to
discover, and where he had made up his
mind to halt, was admirably selected to
establish an intrenched camp. The im
mense voladero hovering at a prodigious
height above the precipices, and guarded
on the right and left by enormousmasses
of rock, offered such conditions of secur
ity that the peons regained all their merry
carelessness, and regarded the mysterious
night of the guide as an accident of no
real importance.
It was, hence, with well promising ar
dor that they rose on receiving their
chiefs command and prepared under his
directions to dig the trench which was
intended to protect them from a sur
prise. This trench was, to be bordered
by a line of tall stakes, running across
the open space between the rocks, which
gave tne sole access to the terrace.
At the moment when the leader oro-
ceded with several peons armed with picks
and Spades toward the entrance, with the
liiuliauie iuieuliuu- of luu.kiug tie fct&ct
spot where the trench was to be dug- the
capataz approached, and said with a re
spectful bow; ,
"Mi amo, I have an Important commu
nication to make to you." . .
His master turned and looked at him
with ill-concealed distrust.
"An important communication to make
to me?" he repeated.
, "Yes." . V '
"What is It? Speak, but be brief."
"I have discovered a grotto."
"What?" his master exclaimed, In sur
prise.
"Yes, excellency."
"Where?"
"There," he said, ' stretching out his
arm ; "behind, that mass of rocks."
A suspicious look flashed from behind
his master's eyelashes,
"Well, we will enter It together. Fetch
some torches of ocote,wood, and show
us the way. By the by, do not forget to
bring weapons, for we Snow not what
men or beasts we may find in caverns
thus opening on a high road."
- The Mexican selected six of his peons.
on whose courage he thought he - could
rely, ordered them to take their muskets,
and, bidding the others keep a good watch,
but not begin anything until he returned.
he made a signal to the capatas that he
was ready to follow him. Carnero' had
followed the arrangements made by his
master with an evil eye, but probably did
not deem it prudent to risk any remark.
for he silently bowed his head, and walk
ed toward the pile of rocks that masked
the entrance of the grotto.
" These granite blocks, piled one on top
of the other, did not appear, however to
have been brought there by accident, but.
on the contrary, they appeared to have
belonged in some early and remote age to
a clumsy but substantial edifice.
"It would not be prudent," said the
Chief, "to venture without precautions
into this cavern. Prepare your arms, mu
chachos, and keep your eyes open ; at the
slightest suspicious sound, or the small
est object that appears, fire. Capataz,
light tne torches."
The latter obeyed without a word ; the
leader of the caravan BRsnreH hlmonlf of
a glance that his orders had been prop
erly carried out; then taking his pistols
from bis belt, he cocked them, took one
in each hand, and said to Carnero
"Take the lead. It is only Just that
you should do the honors of this place
which you so unexpectedly discovered.
torward, you others, and be on your
guard.
The eight men went Into the cavern at
the heels of the capataz, who raised the
torches above his head, doubtless In order
to cast a greater light.
They thus reached a rather .large hall,
Into which several passages opened. All
at once the leader stopped and listened.
"Listen,", he said to the capatas, "do
you not bear something?"
The latter bent his body slightly for-.
ward and remained motionless for some
seconds.
"I do," be said, drawing himself up,
"it sounds like distant thunder."
"Is it not? or, perhaps, the rolling of
subterranean waters.
"I can swear that you are right. It
would be a piece of luck for us to find
water In the cave, for it would add great
ly to our security, as we should not be
obliged to lead our horses, perhaps, a long
distance to arink.-
"I will assure myself at once of the
(ruth. The noise proceeds from that pas
sage, so let us follow It As for our
men, they can wait here; we have nothing
to fear now, for If the pirates or the
Indians are ambushed to surprise us, they
would not have waited so long before
doing so, and hence the assistance of our
peons is unnecessary."
The capataz shook his head doubtfully.
"Hum," he said, "the Indians are very
clever. I believe It would be more pru
dent to let the peons accompany us."
"Nonsense," said his master, -"It Is un
necessary ; we are two resolute and well
armed men; we have nothing to fear I
tell you." '
They then entered the passage. It was
very narrow, and ran downward a steep
incline. The further they proceeded the
more distinct the sound of water became ;
It was evident that at a very short dis
tance from the spot where they weis, per
haps but a few steps, there ran one of '
those subterranean streams so frequently
lound in natural caverns.
Ail at once, without beinr warned hv
the slightest sound, the leader o( the cara
van lelt himself seized round the waist,
his torch snatched roughly from his hand,
and extinguished against a rock, and him
self thrown down and securely bound, be
fore he was able to attempt the slightest
resistance, so sudden and well calculated
naa tne attack been. Carnero had been
thrown down at the same time as his
master, and bound.
"Cowards, demons!" the MnUn -.all.
ed, "show yourselves, at least, so that I
may Know with whom I have to deal."
"Silence! Gen. Don Sebastian rin.r.
rero, resign yourself to your fate, for you
nave laiien Into the power of men who
will not liberate you."
Gen. Guerrero made a mowm.nt nf lm.
potent rage, but be was silent; he per
ceived that the originators of the snare
of which he was a. victim were Implaca
ble enemies.
When his conauerora had hnma M
to the hall, where his neon. wr. HI..
armed and guarded, he saw, by the light
ui me iorcn that lalntly illumined the
hail, that amonr th HIM whn annAiinilsit
. - """"
mm lew wore the Mexican costume, It
was true, and they had their faces hidden
by a pieceof black crape, forming a
species of mask, and an well r..tent
round their necks, that It was entirely
unpossioie to recognize them.
"What do these men want with me?"
he muttered, as he let hi. head f.u n
his chest sadly., .
Patience !" said the man who had al
ready spoken, "you will soon know."
CHAPTER VII.
There was a short delav. durtnp which
the conqueror appeared to he cnn.nltln
together in a low voice; while doing so,
an inoian chief, who was no other than
the Jester, entered the hall. The general
and the capatas were then again picked
up by the redskins, and at a sign from
one of the masked men, transported on
to the voladero.
One hundred and fifty to two hundred
Indians, mostly ' armed with guns, and
ranged In good order round the terrace,
the center of which remained free. faraA
the cavern, having among them the dis
armed Mexicans, the baggage, horses and
muies. . .
The tent still stood In the middle of
what was to have been the encampment ;
but the curtain was raised, and a horse
man was standing In front of it, as If to
defend the entrance.
At the moment when the party emerged
from the cave and appeared on the ten
race, the horsemen drawn up at the en
trance of the defile opened out to the
right and left, leaving a passage for a
small troop of men dressed In hunter's
garb, and whom It was easy to recognize
as white men; two ladies, mounted on
ambling mules, were In the midst of them.
This troops of strangers was composed
of eight persons altogether, leading with
them two baggage mules. As the men
were disarmed, and walked on foot amid
some fifty Indian horsemen, they had. In
all probability, beed surprised by a party
of redskins.
The two .ladies, one of whom was of
a certain age, while the other appeared
scarce 18, and who might be supposed
closely related, through the resemblance
of their features, were treated with an
exquisite politeness they were far from
expecting by the Indians, and conducted
to the tent. The curtain was then low
ered, to conceal tbem from the glances
of the Indians.
The newcomers, at a signal from their
conductors, ranged themselves with the.
other prisoners; they were powerful men
whom the Indians had probably not given
a chance to defend ; otherwise they look
ed as if they would sooner be killed than
yield.
Two masked men took their seats on
the granite blocks, and the Indians who
carried the general laid him on the ground
in front of this species of tribunal. The
person, who seemed to be the president ot
this sinister assembly gave a sign, the
prisoner's bonds at once fell off. and h
found ' himself once more able to move
his limbs. ,
The eeneral drew himself tin. crrva.oH
his hands on his chest, threw M hul
back haughtily, raised his head and look-.
ed at bis judges witb a glance of with
ering contempt.
"What do you want with me, bandits?"
he said; "enough of this; these insolent
maneuvers will not alarm me."
"Silencet" the president said, coldly ;
"it is not your place to speak thus."
Then he remarked to the Jester, who
was standing a few paces from him ; '
"Bring up the other prisoners, pld and
new; everybody must hear what is going
to be said."
Tha .Tenter cava a slmal tn tl
rlors ; - some of tbem dismounted, ap
proached tne prisoners ana, alter loosen
ing the cord that bound the capatas, they
led him. as well as the peons' and nri-
oners of the second caravan, In front
of the tribunal. J. hen, at a signal from
the Jester, the horsemen closed up round
the white men.
. ' (To be continued.)
Hardest ot All Metals.
-Tantalum has been .hammered Into
sheets, which are extremely hard. Sir
William Crookes, F. R. S., states that
"a hole had to be bored through a plate
of this metal and a diamond drill was
used, revolving at the date of 5,000 rev
olutions per minute. This whirling
force was continued ceaselessly for
4hree days and nights, when it was
found that only a small depression 25
mm. deep bad been drilled, and It was
a moot point which had suffered the
more damage the diamond or the tan
talum." ' " , " ' .
It Is only a waste of time to look
at the ashes after you hare burnW
tha money.
"Why Is Jones growing a beard?"
"Oh, I believe his wife made him a
present of some ties." Punch.
"Do you think we should let women
vote?" "Certainly. Why not? We let
them earn money all other ways."
Life.
"So she's about to be married aguln.
Do you know who Is the lucky niun?"
"Yes,, the dead one." Detroit Free
Press.
The Man None of their relatives
will speak to them since their elope
ment. The Girl They ought to be a
very happy couple. Puck.
"I notice your daughter dances with
such gruceful, free movements." "They
ain't free; she takes reg'lar paid les
sons." Baltimore American.
Little Girl (after a domestic scene
with her mother) The best thing for
us to do, mamma, Is to -agree to a sep
aration. Transatlantic Tales.
Duff Rowell believes in the eternal
fitues of things. Cuff That's so; he
wouldn't run for a car if he had a
walking suit on. Town Topics.
"Willie Greeu," said the teacher,
"juu uiuj uclliie tLo word memory."
"Memory," said Willie, "is what we
forget with." Philadelphia Record.
"Do you favor any particular school
of music ?" asked the ludy. "Xes, in
deed," replied the young mun who Uvea
in a flat "I ' favor the pianissimo
school." Puck.
Rector (showing a stranger the
church monuments) My grandfather
has slept ,lu this church for eighty
years. Stranger is he living; lonn-
ers Statesman.
Mrs. Neighbors Are you aware that
your new hired girl is a somnambulist?
Mrs. Meadowgrass My goodness, not
She told me she was a Baptist Chi
cago Dally News.
Little Girl (telling of the Garden of
Eden) Yes, Mummy, Aduin and Eve
lived very happily there till the Evil
One came In the form of a servant
Canadian Courier.
' First Little Girl When you grow
up are you going to advertise for a
husband? Second Little Girl No; I'm
going to be-a widow. They don't have
to. Harper's Weekly.
Mother:ln-Law Has the young man
who saved my life yesterday called
upou you yt? Sou-lu-Law Yes, -indeed,,
he. has already made his apolo
gies. Fllcgende Blaetter.
Clara You may not believe if, but
I said "No" to seven different men
during the past winter. Maude Oh, I
don't doubt it. What were they (tell
ing.; Chicago Dally News.
Mistress Why.don't you boll the
eggs ! , Cook Sure, I've no clock In the
kitchen to go by.' Mistress Oh, yes,
you have. Cook What good is it? It's
ten 'minutes fast. Philadelphia In
quirer. "May I "ask' your father for your
hand to-night, Miss Keteueui?" "Can't
you wait until to-morrow night,
George? I think Charlie Chumpley is
going to ask hliu to-night." Cleveluud
Plain Dealer.
Anxious Housewife (startled by a
crash in the room below) There! An
other of my best porcelain tureens
gone. Husband Never mind, dear; it
has stopped the cook's singing. Port
land Oregonlan.
Voice from the parlor Mary Ann,
did you get the milk for the children
and Fldo in separate bottles? Mary
Ann Yes, ma'am. The voice Have'
Fido's milk 'sterilized. Mary Ann
Yes, ma'am. Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Geckv (who tas already wearied the
guests with many songs) Now I will
sing you- one more song and then go
home. Lady Pardon me, but do you
attach much' importance to the order
of your program ?--Fl.legeude -Blaetter.
" "Dd" yoil think you will learn to like
your "titled sou-ln-low?" "I don't
know," answered -Mr. Cumrox. "I cau't
quite tell where to place him In my
expense' account. He is neither a recre
ation nor au luvestiueut." Washing
ton Star.
Mrs. Scrapplngton (In the midst of
her. reading) Here Is an Item which
says that full-grown rhinoceroses mat
$12,000 apiece. Mr. Scrapplngton
(meanly) Eh-yah I And Isn't It a pity
that women can't wear them on their
hats? Smart Set
oaloa Newabojr.
New Yorker (In Boston) I say
there, boy I Mave you an extra?"
Boston Newsboy I have an especial
edition Issued at 12 o'clock meridlau,
sir! Yonkers Statesman..
: '
Watch any man . long enough, anil
you will see him make a mighty bad
break.
HERE'S A TVEATHEB SHARP.
High Meteorological Standing ot tk
Green Tree Fror.
Few animals have survived the at
tacks made by science upon their repu
tation as weather prophets. The green
frog Is a conspicuous exception. He Is,
to be sure, a croaking prophet, but plen- '
ty of people still pin their faith to him.
Even so scientific a Journal as Symons'
Meteorological Magazine has a kind
Word to say of the little fellow.
Here Is a picture ot the frog's ladder
which Is provided for this weather
prophet In Germany and Switzerland.
In many houses the frog Is kept In a
bottle half filled with water and pro
vided with a ladder, and the little fel
low is carefully watched as to his be
havior in uncertain conditions of the
atmosphere. A number of weather max
ims are based upon his posture and ac
tivity. If he remains on one of the low
est steps of the ladder It is considered
a sure sign that bad weather Is com
ing. If he emerges from the water and
rests upon the steps above It fine weath
er may be expected, and the higher he
sits on the steps the -finer the weather
Is sure to be. He Is also supposed to
SWISS WEATI1EB PROPHET.
give warning of bad weather by croak
ing loudly before a storm.
The magazine says that there Is real
ly some reason to believe that the green
tree frog Is somewhat experienced as
regards climatic conditions and acts ac
cordingly. In fine weather he skips
about among the branches of trees,
when at liberty, catching flics. At tb
approach of winter he seeks the water
and finds himself a bed in the mud un
til the following spring calls him out
to resume his war on the flies.
Now the frog on the ladder without
doubt watches the weather conditions
keenly and rises to look out for flies
when the circumstances seem favorable.
On the other hand, when the weather la
cold' and damp be Is reminded of win
ter arid Instinctively retires to bury his
sorrows In tho imaginary mud which t
be sees, at the bottom of his prison.
The notions In regard to courtship
and marriage held by Tibbie, the young
Scotchwoman who presided over the
Jameson kitchen, were a never-ending
source of amusement to her mistress.
"I've taken me mind off Archie Mac
Lachlan, ma'am," Tibbie announced one
day, referring to a young carpenter who
had' haunted her domain for some
weeks. "He's no the man for me. I
can see that weel."
"What has poor Archie done?" asked
Mrs. Jameson, her heart filled With Joy
at the knowledge that she was not to
lose her domestic treasure, as she had
feared. ,t"."
"It's what he has na done, ma'am,"
responded Tibbie, briskly. "I put a
few tests to him. I said, 'Archie, If ye
had a wife, an' come home some day
to find she'd gone gadding with her kin
and left the hoose In disorder what'd
you do?' And he looked at me with
that foolish emlle o' hU, an' said he,
'I'd, put It to rights myselV
"Again I tried him with churchgolng.
Said I, 'Archie, if ye had a wife that
some Sawbeth morning would up an'
tell ye she was too tlredto bide the
thoughts o' sitting under the minister,
what'd you do?' An' again he smiled
foolish at me, au' said, 'I'd go an' lis
ten for two.' :''
t'And at last I tried htm, with tha
vanities o this world I said, 'Archie,
if ye had a wife that would take some
o' your hard-earned money 'an' spend It
for gay ribbons an' kickshaws to put on
hergpir, wbfit'd you do?'- An' he smiled
broader than ever, an' says he, 'I'd take
my pleasure lookln' at her wl 'em on
her ,
"So then I up an' told him he's
best be looking elsewhere for a wife.
"You'd be a fearfu' pleasant man to
wed,' I aald to him, 'but such easy
going ways would na train a lass like
me.'' '
"The answer to every one o' the three
questions should 'a' been, 'I'd take a.
stick to her,' an' yon know It I
"So now we've parted, ma'am."
England has 80,000 persona with a
ingle leg or arm.
; NOT A SAFE MAN TO WED.' ;
1 rWrWrNVrVSrVrWrV