The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1871-12-09

side me and entered into conversation.
You are an otficer?' he said, glanc-
ing at my blouse, which was devoid OF
shoulder straps.
81 am, l replied, ''but was not on
duty when you captured me. | have
been sick, and was recruiting my
health before rejoininG my regiment,
which is with the main body OF the
army.
Il am sorry l had TO take you II you
are an invalid" he returned, "but we
want some information as to what Is
golng on among your folks there,
pointing back TO the city. Let me
give YOU a little bit OF advice. You
will be taken before General Rea be-
fore long. advise you to answer his
questions promptly, for 1T may go
worse with you ii you hesitate.
"Thank you," | replied, . for your
intimation, but [ shall reply to nothing
that may prejudice the cause of my
| countrymen
GAS you please, he answered, and
! touching his horse with the spur he
rode to the head of his command.
! The SUP was setting when we halted
! before few houses at the outsklrt OF
village. | was Immediately taken be-
fore u fat, swarthy officer, who an
nounced himself as General Rea.
GLOW many troops have you at Pue-
bla?" he asked in stern tone.
81 don't know, [ replied.
"What." he demanded, raising his
voice, 'syou don't know2 Come, sir,
[ have no time to waste tell me at
once how large is the American force at
| Peubla' -
81 really cannot tell YOU" l answer
ed, tor ! do not know"
g How many pieces of light artillery
have they z" he continued.
& am an infantry officer" | replied,
and do not know anything about it; .
Don't know again. he continued,
making memorandum with pencil.
do they expect reiniorcements If
SO, when r.
81 decline to answer that question, "
[ replied.
You do he exclaimed. ''Sup-
pose | shoot you?"
g shall endeavor to meet my fate as
q brave soldier, " / answered.
Here Captain Vasques, who was pres
ent, stepped to the generals side, and
whispered something. l only caught
the words can invalid officer" but
knew he was speaking in my behalf.
Take him away" said the general.
| arose aud was conducted out by a
couple of soldiers and thrust into o
small room, scarcely five feet square,
and lighted by an aperture only large
enough to admit my hand. | soon saw
that the place was used as prison, and
a sentinel was lazily sitting before the
door with his sabre dancing between
his heels. He asked me for some to-
bacco. This hole contained only a
rough bench and IA brown pither, half
full Of stale water For ten days /
lived in this vile howell feeding upon II
scanty supply of black beans and tor
ullas or corn cakes, and ] was never
permitted to go outside my prison ex-
cept upon cases of necessity, when ]
was always attended by couple Of sol
diers
1t was growing late in the afternoon
one day, as | was peeping out Of the
aperture that served 70 a window, l
saw a young man (as ! supposedly talk
ing to some soldiers directly i'll front
of my den The most remarkable thing
wore. | was confident 1t was the one |
| had handed Antonio the day of my
| capture. As L gazcd | got better
view OF the young mans face, when, to
my aetonishment, | became satisfied 1t
was Antonio Garcia herself in male at
tire. \ thousand thoughts passed
/ through my brain ntbat moment. Had
she come there to effect my release or
to denounce me- This could rot be,
for she was too good to iniure even an
enemy besides, she was in disguise. [
called to the guard outside and asked
him the time of the day
"a quarter to six, he replied, and
then commenced smoking a corn-shuck
cigar as he paced to and fro on his post
At last it grew dark and the lights
began to shine outside my prison |
was allowed none to cheer my gloomy
hours, SO | threw myself upon the bench
which served the purpose of a couch,
and began to think Of home and kin
dred. Ny confinement was making me
weak and morose, for | was far from
being strong when they captured me-
While stretched upon my bench, the
door OF my prison suddenly turned
upon It's hinges, and admitted D figure
and then closed again.
"Speak low" she said, for it was
Antonio, ''tCr [ can only remain here
a moment; my father is now on guard
at your door, that IS the way / got in
here. [ can release you, but before
doing SO | wished to obtain " III CON
sent TO what ] propose. Tomorrow
night there will be II sergeant on duty
here, and ] viii arrange il So that there
will be horse In waiting for your es-
cape. To be brief, this sergeant of
whom | speak Will set you free, if given
your watch and chain. Do you con-
sent? Act rs you please, and don't let
me- influence you. If you had taken
Angels advice and mine, you would
not now be here
l grasped her by the hand and told
her that | would freely give what she
proposed and even more.
II is enough" she replied "I
don't know al what hour you will get
clear, but my father is going to desert,
and he will accompany us, aud may
the saints aid you.
She shook the door, which was i'm
mediately opened, and [ was alone
Oh, how sweet is the boon of freedom
to one debarred from it's blessed priv
leges . ] slept but little that night, and
the next day feigned being ILL., The
doctor came to me, but he prescribed
nothing, and left me with the remark
that | would soon be better How
YEARLY dragged those hours along as !
watched the blue sky from my peep