Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1854-06-08

personally, aud he knew they were mer
Mt used to fear They too. seemed
pleased with the commander who had
been given to them. and with one voice
they pledged themselves TO stand faith
fully by him It was nearly dusk when
the party set out bat theyall had strong
'orses and they started offsin good snir
| is. The distance to SAINT Jean Pied de
Pert was not over twenty miles and La
Mutt reached that place about an hour
after midnight. He had an order from
The king to the seneschal ef the town so
bis troop was at once provided for
Vi lth the first streak of dawn our hero
vas astir and bis first movement was to
see that none of bis men Exposed them
selves to observation. for he had reasons
for keeping their presence secret. For
an hour after lie arose he was closeted
with the seuesehal, and from that official
he learned that some Of the brigands had
been seen near the town on the afternoon
Il the previous day; SO there was little
doubt that Morillo was somewhere on the
Spanish side of the mountains He
ilearned the nature of the haunts that the
brigands frequented, and with this infor-
nation, seeing it was all he could get, he
resolved to set at work He was deter
mined first to go among the mountains
alone, and reconnoitre for he knew that
If he ventured among the rough Businesses
with his troop. he might be taken by sur
prise. and ut 2 disadvantage There were
many of tie passes of Saint lean where
! dozen men could hold at bay his fall
force. After lie lad made up his mind
upon this point, he called one of his men
to him. 1t was a young man who pos
sessed a face of more than ordinary intel
ligencc
= Francisco" he said, addressing his
man. :. | think you paint some
: / have been accounted 4 painter, Sir
Henry
So | have heard Do you think you
could paint face well 2'
: can paint one, and then you shall be
the Judge" returned Francisco \ fter
We get over this brigand business, if we
are both alive, | will try my hand, and
then you shall see for yourself"
: Ay but | want this done now" re-
sumed La Mutt aud it is my own face
that | want painted"
: \ oar portrait z"
" No, no-my face Now do you think
you could 50 paint my face my own in
diyidaal face, | mean-that it would look
like the face of very old man $50 that
a very close scrutiny would not detect the
cheat z"
IF | had the materials | could GER
tainly do it" returned Francisco. with as
toniehmeut
Z" can get the materials of the senes-
chal | see you look puzzled. Francisco.
and L will at once tell you what | mean
to do It will not answer to take our
wiiolc troop among the mountain passes
at venture and before we can set out
with any hopes of success it is absolutely
necessary that | should know towards
which point to turn That Information [
cannot gain here in Saint Jean and I am
going to find it for myself The seneschal
viii supply me with the necessary articles
for Disgusting everything bus my features.
and this latter is desideratum that you
must supply"
$ But my dear MASTER began Francis
co, : you are running into danger which
you"
But La Mutt stopped him. and babe him
do as he desired
:. Very we'll" said the soldier painter at
length Bring me the materials and
viii set at work Put on the disguise YOU
mean to wear, and | will paint you face
to SUI. it"
La Mutt was not long in preparing for
the trial Of Franci>cos skill The dis
gG:se that he obtained of the seneschal
he carefully adjusted II was pilgrims
dress iSti Of l,,rr h.,r
considerably soiled and worn pair Of
old sandals. and we'll fitting white wig ;
and he had also obtained the necessary
paints for finishing his work Francisco
went at 1t. and in the course of half an
hour. he had so transformed the young
mans face that the closest observer would
have given his age the benefit of sixty
years, at least. La Mutt looked into the
FURNISHED mirror, and expressed himself
more than satisfied He went out into
the small court, where his men were as
sembled, aud they greeted him with rev.
erence he walked around amongst them
aud they craved his blessing Not one of
them knew him Assured now that his
plan was feasible he revealed hi:uself To
his followers and. as soon as their aston
ishmeut was somewhat subsidized he told
them of his plan. At first, some of them
|remonstrafed, out of fear for their com
mauder's safety but they al! saw the ex-
cellence of the plan and they promised to
remain under cover until he returned.
CHAPTER TX
TIE MOUNTAIN BATTLE.
1t was yet morning when Henry la Mutt
set forth upon his dangerous mission
He was acquainted with some Of the pass
es of Saint Jean Pied de Port, and OF the
nature of others he had learned Of the
seneschal He walked very carefully
when there was chance Of his move
meDts being watched, but when lie was
where no prying eye could reach him, he
walked on far more rapidly than the age
be SO we'll represented would seem to
warrant In his hand lie carried stout
Il - -bar Il. -