The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-05-02 00:00:00

[ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.]
STRIVE AND THRIVE.

CHAPTER XW.
AMONG THE BRIGANDS.
eededHoward was securely bound, the brigands pro-
to
la examine their comrade, whom they found
I,od3ring condition, and quite insensible.
inced that they could do nothing for him, and
jug to leave him, they sat down beside him,
naealulpatiently waited for him to die, venting in the
bicirrue many curses upon their prisoner, and
11,111 g him behold the work he had done.
13tr:eY had not long to wait for the final groan and
tZgiles of Hubal, and when assured that he had
lire to breathe, his impatient comrades lost no time
sil
to taing their journey, out of any undue respect
his remains.
The body was placed astride on Belmont's horse, in
IP„,,rtlY Prone position, and in this way, after half-an-
-4,47's march, they reached the camp where Balda,
the'ed oti a pile of skins, and smoking his pipe with
reachaPparent placidity of a Turk, was awaiting their
eP.
44}3eellt the Mexican's calmness was only in appear-
his wound, which was in the thigh, was a very
'ere one, incapacitating him from standing or walk-
oansing him constant and severe pain, and excit-
-1110 little apprehension as to its result.
pe'dded to these causes of irritation was now the
evident fact, that one of his followers was badly
1311" unded, if not killed, by the author of his own
, erings the sight of whom approaching as a
4.Ptir
was at the same time a source of exultation
,71,1211, and a provocation to inextinguishable wrath.
B.llubal badly hurt?" was his b first eager ques-
ot Howard's guard, who with his prisoner was
C'tie in advance of the dead horseman and his con-
hrieS! Don't you see that he is dead? And I
411.11, not much better, for my head is nearly broken.
e You ready to have us finish him? It ought to be
—Y Privilege, you know."
rours I" said the other, grinding his teeth with
"We will all have a hand in it. Never fear!"
he body was lifted off the horse (who looked
upisly back to see the strange load with which he
been freighted), and was laid upon the ground
,„‘ll some show of tenderness. Then, without further
4"entlon to the remains, the spoils were produced
alid handed over to Balda, who clutched at them with
t:;.?•Pacious air, and proceeded eagerly and rapidly to
11ate their value.
Here is over a thousand dollars in money," said
a 1 Here
joyfully; "besides a watch worth not less than
IA: hundred; two rifles, two revolvers, a horse and
Wkequipments, and a host of knick-knacks besides.
4137, boys, our fortune is nearly made!"
ti:l3Y St. Paul! but that is a dismal sight," he con-
at,looking at the corpse. "Let his grave be dug
,ouce, and see that it is wide enough for two."
'toward shuddered involuntarily as he heard this
crd
toer, , which was given in a cool and business-like
that did not, by any means, seem intended for
pi,"lidation. Indeed, his distance from the speaker
ofass, such, as rather to have precluded the probability
hearing it at all.
houvinced of his utter helplessness, and of the
hi able doom impending over him, he called Balda
aame, and asked permission to speak to him—a
,Oltest which was at once accorded, although with a
•risive laugh.
lai."l'Les, bring him this way," he said; "and leave
toluere, while you go on with your work. I want
„ ear what he has to say."
bisl,Vou want to speak to me," said Balda, resuming
"',token English. "Say on, for your time is short."
b by should you kill me ?"
tocalda pointed first to his bandaged limb, and then
„the body of Hubal.
1,411 have only defended myself," replied Howard,
1 a calm dignity. "Would Balda, have done

I.‘lt's a lie! You have cheated us. Besides, you
th? a Yank-ee • and I hate your whole filibustering,
th eying nation. First, you stole Texas from us—
, 419 When we tried to get it baek, you sent a great
e0t,37, of robbers and heretics, and overrun our
Look you! I lost everything in that war.
'set a little of it back to-day. Ha! ha !"
talda shook Howard's pocket-book before his eyes
htelie said this. His speech had been so very rapid
‘-t violent that the young man believed it would
ti:t:nly be useless to interrupt him, but would in-
pa his wrath still more. But when he came to a
1-18 e for sheer want of breath, Howard replied
-4ttlestly
Thr ut lam hot an American. lam an English-
' I have not been three months in the country."
tal“ It's a lie! None of you are Yankees when you
into my hands. Oh, no! I have heard that story
te-ore.r
a "tut
in which will make you wealthy too. I will
YOU want money. lam rich. I can give you
Av.l4allso
•Car to send it to you whenever you wish. Come!
'Periment is worth trying, as there is no risk to
Puries! but there is risk. You are a sharp race,
eLI Yankees; but you shall not outwit me. I should
a ver dare to go inside a town again if I were to let
You go. Every policeman would have a description of
the brigand Balda and his men. No, no. I say, are
You almost ready over there?"
Balda received an answer from an unexpected
Zilarter in a long, loud " Hilloa ! " which rang
oross the prairie, and which brought him for the
;IQ nlent to an upright position, despite his wounded

I:toward's face lighted, and his heart thrilled with
lie xpressibte as he listened to the shout, which
Aulie'ved to proceed from some of his friends.
II round the bend in the outline of the wood four
t.:ptmen were seen approaching, on such a wild,
that 1' gallop, that Balda's first impression of them was
they were Apache or Navajo Indians. But their
prts rae quickly negatived this idea, and the exulting
fa,, er recognised in the foremost of the men the
toltili.fral Hugh, who was holding . his master's spy-glass
00,:,11s eyes as he rode, and who, doubtless, had dis-
ered in this way the peril in which he stood.
that first malignant impulse, when convinced
t the new corners were friends of his prisoner, was
Out the latter beyond the possibility of benefiting,
tiY their arrival. But he feared the terrible retribu-
,,:h Which he was sure would be visited upon him for
an act, for his party was now too much reduced
tho strength to cope with the new arrivals, and he
t4,llght it wise to seek to make terms with his
vtrve.
44 Are these men your comrades?" he asked.
heY are my servants," replied the Englishman,
th had decided upon his course, and who now spoke
IV Parrish language, in order that all the men might
io,r,rStand him. "They are my servants, and are
Do'tng for me. They have a telescope of great
ThiWer, and they have already seen me in your camp
eY can see, too, that I am bound and a prisoner
°ll would escape an attack, loosen my hands, arra
1311,•ille make a signal to them. Any instant may
it a bullet, and there is one of my men who would
13 a wild turkey at twice the distance which they
k,ably now are from us."
k4o,4Btonished to hear the prisoner speak their lan
14s,.ge, and alarmed at his last remark, the two met
tih'alatly laid down their guns on the grass, and put
ctleprecating bands towards the woods, in. token
theY did not occupy a belligerent position.
tbl:alda
gave orders for Belmont's release, which were
theYl:u 'with the utmost promptness by his men, and
l'igand chief even rose again himself, and eagerly
Ced at the work of unbinding the prisoner.
ie cs,„„s°on as one of Howard's hands was at liberty,
tro,;;Ted for a handkerchief which had been taken
ht and waved it repeatedly towards the woods.
Loe signal was misconstrued by old Noll, whc
-Cersteed it as a token of extremity of danger on
to4ol3art of his employer. A report from his rifle
°l4t-ed, and Balda fell, shot through the head, with-
the chance to utter a dying malediction.
%A appalled followers called out "Treachery !"
&lid were rushing to regain their arms, when Howard
Ito them, mildly:
tie (14 You touch your guns you are both dead men.
/ -°W,n, and you are safe."
'03,1111 'ew moments old Noll and Hugh, and the two
tf Vl:lade their appearance on foot, in the margin
14.„ e woods, whence, having reconnoitred the
1)ri;"Y for a moment, they ran rapidly down to the
camp, and gathered around their rescued
with every demonstration of Joy.
lert„T story was soon told to his eacrer and in-
listeners, and when it was concluded, old Noll

Ile.ld,les very. strange •, and unless this is the outlaw
laepj„ and Ids men, I don't understand it. But I've
r4(2,1„,% heard of their being seen so far from the
A %let •
is the name of the man you have shot," said
14. " I have heard his men frequently call him
ee• I have been in their power."
IS announcement the ofd hunter shouted, and
cap
-N.Oll has made Er good thing of it this time, any
I'44la' 'lO said, for there is a reward of five hundred_
414, lf 01:1 that man, dead or alive, in Santa Fe, and
;net; 11:tuch more on one of his followers. They were
I,"ley from the Mexican army during the war, and
"ghu,Tave been a sort of cross betwixt hunters and
13103' robbers ever since, tending to either branch
ess, jist as opportunity served. But they are
401/ CY the mountings, or on the other side. Have
2
.I,.eard the name Antonio amongst them .
t.
1)11e ofets, tliere he is," replied Belmont, pointing to
iat(ls a;s'ile two men, Who had risen and stood a few
-ow cAstant, eyeinc, them and talking together in a
1,,1vh/1-°lll,„e* "But I promised them my protection
in their power, and I must keep my
t 04,
,I)Dear,°,' the men, who evidently did not like the
'qr,,,oekij'ee of the old hunter, came forward, and
ISpesSing Howard in Spanish, reminded In
'llelll Which, to their' great relief, he assured
fi'lci 13e kePt-
°,- ,us ---ugers had crept Achingly towards the trigger
weia.vhor, ,v4a; but Howard's hand was upon his, and the
,it s lowered.
h.,1144 tnust not be," he said; "not if they were worse
for-rabbas. My promise is morally binding on
‘hey when it was made I was in their power, and
40 441'j:bore to kill me. They must go unharmed by
0,;k.11,s as a blow"
mtlaw e''Peetations of profit by the death of the
'were dashed : for when he was about. clelibe-

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