The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1877-08-07

On, still on, through the soft light
The centaurs were mounted on fresh |
teeds. for the people of the village had
hem ready, while the don's horse could
rot be called fresh, though an animal of
Ickno wledged bottom. f. |
He mapaged to keep beyond the reach
,f their arrows for five miles, and was
himself, when his Anda-
usian stepped into the retreat of q bur-
owing animal, and fell hesdlong to the
ground .. Tr....
Don Miguel was thrown in advance
Of bis horse. bat quickly recovered, and
fastened back to find that he could nev-
sr mount him again, for one OF the sup
Pile legs had snapped like q pipe stem
The cries Of his foes now rent the air,
for they had witnessed the catastrophe
Don Miguel bit his lips, cursed his i'll
luck, and drew bis pistols.
Down.! he said to the girl, pointing
10 spot beside his PROSTATE and dis.
abled horse, and the terrified creature
crouched at his command.
Come on, devils!" he shouted at the
centaurs. Don Miguel has treat in
store Of which you do not dream. By
the bones Of the saints he will yet win
Senior Estevan's pesos d oro!"
The Indians were not 10th to accept
his challenge.
They dashed down upon him like a
whirlwind, as If they would pierce him
with their spears, and then relentlessly
ride him down.
But he knew the Chacos charging
iactics--knew that their ranks would
open when destruction seemed imminent,
and that they would whirl and encom.
pass him with certain death.
Sure enough they did so. When al
most within pistol shot, the yellow ranks
opened with good military precision,
and . whirlwind of death rushed by on
either side, leaving him unscathed. He
turned, and despite his peril admired
the sight But with pistol in either
hand, be awaited the deadly onset.
The naked giants dashed on for sov-
ersl hundred yards, when they suddenly
wheeled, and with united ranks came
trooping back.
Don Miguel never took his eyes from
his foes.
He knew that the ranks would not
open again, and be saw the fanks stretch
out, and then ride together to form the
circle In which they had doomed him to
die. ar,. ...rz.....s. --.-,-.
All at once Don Miguel raised his pis.
tolls, and the next instant two reports
rent the air about him.
His famous. workmanship told upon
the Cnaco ranks, for two centaurs tum.
bled from their slight saddles of jaguar
skin, and their steeds dashed on straight
towards the better.
With foot planted firmly like an ath.
lete the Portuguese awaited the onset of
the riderless horses. for his shots had
thrown the Indian ranks into confusion
and they we're drawing rein. He felt
himself equal to the emergency, and all
at once he threw his scarf into the face
of one Of the steeds.
The animal gave snort of terror,
and started back on his very launches,
but before he couldrecover, DON Miguel
gripped the strip of rein hide that serv.
ed as bride, and held him in his pow
er.
When the steed did scramble to his
feet, master whom he had never car.
ried sat upon him, and a moment later
he was carrying two persons through
the Indian ranks.
The dandy's feat had not occupied the
space of minute.
Straight for the river he rode again,
holding the Chaco girl between him and
the spears of her people, and replying
to their vengeful cries with shouts of
defiance and victory.
But the terrible chase was not to end
so triumphantly for the don.
He found his new horse an animal oil
great speed, and one which, unlike his
own unfortunate beast, knew how to
avoid the viscacha burrows.
The race was now at the height of it:
interest. .'a'a g
"The riverp suddenly burst from the
dare.devil's throat, and the Indians
catching sight of the silvery waves, ut
tered cries of victory, and urged theil
horses on. @ -
Don Miguel laughed, and imagined
the wager won. 9'
But fate seemed against him, for al
at once a viscacha burrow which tn,
best horse on the Chaco could not have
avoided, hurried him to the ground.
The fall stunned him slightly. but ht
soon recovered and seized his prey be
fore she could comprehend the disaster
to her. abduCtor. But the horse wa
dashing towards the Indian ranks.
Don Miguel ran for the river with tn
girl in his arms, and arrows fell abou
him like hail stones. They clipped hi
black curls and tore his gold bande,
sombrero from his head, pierced hi
scarf that streamed like flag behin'
him, but none entered his flesh.
He reached the river bank, and sa,
the island that lay like a pearl in tn
middle of the stream. But he did nc
look long, for the spears were fyin
from Chaco hands, and the archers wer
drawing aim in order to transfix him Il
the ground. d. .c3T
4 He flung himself into the water whic
touched his waist. The spears and al
rows continued to fall around him, an
he sent shouts of insult back to his foe,
i The water deepened; he was swim
ming with the Indian girl, throug
whose naked shoulder barbed shs
!. was sticking.
! The charm over bis life ended in Ii
waters of the Paraguay. A spear struc
him in the back; as if determined
reach him, it plunged into the water
) draw bis blood. But he did not CT
] with pain, though an expression {
awful torture contorted bis face. Z
, swan on as best he could, with the sha
. in his body.
8 At Last the water grew shallow;
!. was in the shadow of the island, az
? the Indians were urging their steeds in
e the stream. r2
y Suddenly they drew rein; for Dr.
Miguel. with loud cry, raised himst
/; from the waves. tottered forward, to I