Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1877-06-02
GUN.BRIG ADVENTURE.
BYr. CLINTON HARRINGTON, U. s.N.

in Havana, left my lodgings to pass ar
hour or two at a friends house. The
protective administration of Tacon had
not then commenced, and 1 was there
fore well armed to protect myself; for
well knew that the streets were quite
unsafe, and one or two recent expert
ences had convinced me of the utility OF
a good pair of pistols and a short cut
lass, the latter the gift of chivalrous
young Pole, with whom l had travelled
many hundred miles.
Wrapping my roquelaure around me,
as well to shield my person from the
heavy dews as TO hide my weapons, l
issued from the gran querta of my man
sion, and directed my steps towards the
Governors square, across which my
way lay. | had to pass through long
and very narrow street without side
walks, keeping in the center, and only
driven TO the wall when a 10
lante, drawn by a pair of mules, and
guided by fantastic-loOking position
mounted on one of them, came dashing
towards me, bearing some dark-eyed
sonora 10 the theater.
1 had pursued my way without inter-
ruption for a quarter of a mile up this
long, close street, which was lined on
each side by Moorish looking ediices,
succeed and formidable with tall grated
windows, when l came under the dark
and gloomy walls of Roman church, l
was startled by the sounds of struggle
directly around the corner before me,
and not ten PAGES distant The spot
was quite in obscurity and secluded,
and knew that it had the reputation of
being famous "stand =" for the street |
ladrones to waylay passengers; and with |
this recollection, had pulled the belt |
my pistols round so as to !
have a ready grasp, and had loOsened |
my cloak, and taken firmer hold of
my trusty saber l had hardly done |
SO when l was startled by the noise |
of the struggle l have Just men,
toned. There was two-fold impulse |
that at once seized my mind; one to re-
treat and keep out of harms way, the |
other to rush forward and see if l could |
not aid some unlucky stranger. The
sound OF swords clashing, mingled with |
deep Spanish oaths, above which rose a
clear, rich voice in French, with the
tones of warrior hurting defiance in
battle, induced me to press forward and
what was going on, and if l
could aid any one in peril, to do SO; for
was satisfied that some passenger had
been set upon by piccaroons. l was
the next moment in sight of the parties,
who were in a nook or recess formed by
, tower of the church and its front walls
Or facade; a nice, snug place to conceal
IN assassin till he could pounce out, like
; wolf from his lair, upon his prey.
1t was light enough, for the moon was
just then showing her silvery shield in
he east, for me to see at a glance that
.hree persons were setting upon one,
who, with his back against plaster,
was bravely defending himself with a
word, using his cloak wrapped around
lis left arm as shield. l perceived at
,nce from his appearance that he was a
gentleman, and that his ASSISTANTS We're
! trio of villainous blackguards. They
we're armed with the short, curved
lnives peculiar to the assassins of Hav-
ina, and were doing their best
'ound him, now this side,
low that, aiming their knives at his /,
,eart, and always foiled by his skillful
Weapon. They could not take him be-
lind for the wall against which he stood.
They reminded me, as they leaped upon
i'm with a growling oath and then drew
ack again to spring TO better advan-
age, of three blood-hounds set upon a
iger; for the stranger fought like one
a comparison.
As came up, the backs of two of
hem were towards me- The third man
nd the stranger saw me at the same in
txnt.
Monsieuri Senori Par amor de
hos give me hand to rout these vii :,
Ains!'i he cried, in Spanish, with !