The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-10-11

bre was loose, thete was no telling in what
license he would indulge.
Senior Don Ramon de Ayila. was then in
no little, danger, and when Jack looked
into our eyes, we knew the thoughts that
choked his utterance.
"All right, Jack, = said Branscombe, 1--WE
are with you. Lay your course for CASA
Avila, and we will follow in your wake. ~
Down the narrow street we could see q
band of vagabonds gathering, sasss- -culottes
evidently Of the worst type, the very rag
tag aud bob-tail of the city, armed with
stolen rifles, bearing torches, and cluster
ing around their leaders, who pointed
threateningly at us and toward Don
Ramon's house.
When they discovered US, they shout
ed with drunken rage the war-cry that
had greeted us on the ramparts, their
sullen, hoarse voices seeming as the growls
of half-maddened wild beasts, and teach
ing what we might hope from their hands.
Our English friend handed guns and
ammunition enough to last for short
time, at least, and on the double-quick we
started for Avila's residence, arriving in
the very nick of time, for scarcely had we
barred, bolted and temporarily barricaded
the doors and windows, when the head of
the mob surged into the street, and halt
ing in front of the house, babe Don Ramon
come forth.
With menacing voice, their leader,
drunken Jamaica negro, called to the trail
tor to appear and suffer death at the
hands of native gentlemen, men of worth
and standing in society, whe spat upon the
base-born foreigners, and deemed them as
the dust beneath their feet.
We warned the mob to depart, but their
only reply was wild, misdirected dis
charge of small arms, followed by curses
and enlivened by threats of speedy re-
turn, and in such numbers as could laugh
at the defenses of the place; then, in mad
confusion, they marched away with wild
shouts and imprecations, some of the more
jocose improving their opportunities by
shooting at indiscreet heads peering cur
iously from balconies or half-opened lat
tices, and presently debouching into the
Plaza, they waited for the threatened re-
enforcement.
In the interval we strengthed all assail-
able points to the best advantage, barri-
caded stairs and windows, and looked to
the distribution of arms and ammunition.
The three ladies and the women-ser-
wants were placed in one of the centre
rooms, and around it was built a breastwork
of spare mattresses and cots. Besides Don
Ramons wife and daughter, there was his
niece in the party-the only daughter
of brother then absent on Government
service | had often heard her praises
sung, but they fell far short of the reality,
and really think Maria de Avila was the
most beautiful woman had ever seen.
Born of an American lady whom Don
Felipe had welded during his service as a
diplomat, she possessed the charms and
graces of both nationalities, and at fiesta
or ball, in barracks or on shipboard, Seno-
rita Maria was the reigning toast as the
belle of the ancient city.
So, in all, there were six women whose
lives and honor depended upon our efforts
and, beautiful or not, the simple know,
ledge of their trust and faith was claim
enough upon our chiyalry and manhood
We did not hold our danger lightly, but
hoped for the best, believing relief must
come; and failing it, feeling we coulc
give, and give willingly, our lives in defend
ing the purity and modesty of the house
hold.
It was now somewhat clearer, for thu
moon had risen, and the housetops and th'
trees of the square stood out in bold relic
OF retreated, half hidden in shadow; ant
the breeze was so fragrant with the gift
of the sea, and the scene one so mateC
with peacefulness ana rest, tnat IL pc
lied the dangers around us. But tn
clang of bells and the interrupted, spas
modic discharges Of musketry told tina
the peaceful night foreboded carnival o
horror.
And already, as if in mockery, in on
quarter a lurid reflection, lighting the SIX.
and tapping the base Of the cones of smok
whirling wind-sped, proclaimed that tn
incendiary's torch had been added to tn
terrors of the revolution. Shouts of me-
maddened by dsuardiente and the wors
of pisco filed the air; and somewhere nea
we heard an ominous murmur, and ther
in lull when bells were hushed and th
sharp rattle of small-arms stilled, tn
tramp Of hurrying feet, the undiscipline
rush of savage mob; and in a momen
the pldzuela was crowded by a motley