Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-02-18

ing OF THIS uay tney were drawing near
Jalapa. The sun YVES beating down out
of a cloudless sky ;ithe heat was intelse;
and deep stiffness seemed to have
settled over the great plain. Before
them was the Valley Of Jalapa; on the
right the volcano of Orizaba, its cone
white with snow and ice, its side COW
cred with that luxuriance Of foliage
only known where eternal summer
reigns.
The American, too tired even to no.
ticc this, was nodding in his saddle,
and for long time had not spoken to
his companion. BE was aroused by a
low cry from Filomeno. Turning to-
wards him and following the direction
of his eyes, he saw large body OF
horsemen galloping rapidly towards
him. He could see at once that they
were not regular soldiers. They al
vanced in confusion, and 10 two raen
seemed dressed alike. 1t was a squad
of the dreaded guerillas on a foraging
With terrible feeling OF
despair the American again looked
around for Filomeno. He had fled.
The American was alone, with hun.
bred wild and lawless Mexican robbers
bearing down on him, like a rushing
wind across placid lake.
In q moment, as it seemed, they were
upon him, and around him, and under
him. Resistance was useless. A score
of pistols pointed at him, score of
swords were raised above his head, and
q score Of long sticks with knives on the
ends, called matcheziSS were pricking
him in all directions. He was pulled
off his horse in twinkling, stripped OF
every garment and left standing stark
naked in the middle Of dense circle
of bowling savages, who were cursing
and fighting for his various articles Of
dress. At length his clothing, arms
and valuables were divided. The lead
er of the band, with the Ameri cans
watch dangling from his belt, shouted
out an order to his men. Two troopers
armed with matcheziss rode up to the
prisoner and commanded him to walk
before them. "You American DEVIL
they exclaimed in Spanish, You dog
of spy, be off to Jalapa. When we
get you there we'll teach you to sneak
around our lines. March"
And in order to add emphasis 10 their
words they prodded their prisoner with
their matchesiss till the blood started
from more than one wound on his arms
and legs. Angry, faint and sore, and
half blinded by the fierce rays of the
sun the American wheeled around and
upbraided the leader for these indigni-
ties, and especially for deprivirg him
of his clothes. In reply, one Of the
soldiers pulled out from under his sad
die q piece of coarse and filthy mating
which he carelessly tossed to the pris-
oner. "Take this" he said, it is too
small for you, but the heas in it will
keep you warm" And so, wrapping
this dirty covering about his shoulders
our countryman started on his painful
march to Jalapa.
At three o'clock in the afternoon they
reached the town. The American was
hustled into wretched adobe hut on
the outskirts of the village, and the
Mexicans, after posting guard around
the place, tied their horses under
q shed and gave themselves up to rest
and boisterous recreation. Inside the
nut, on o rude bench. the American sat
silent hour after hour. At length he
walked to little window and begged
for water. There was no response. The
bare walls only echoed his cry OF
f." Aqua! Aqua"
All the next day, too, the prisoner
was kept without food or drink or
clothes. At sunset the cool evening
air somewhat revived him. He moved
his b ench under the window of the hut
and stretching himself under it listened
carelessly to the idle conversation Of
the soldiers outside. Suddenly his
heart gave terrible throb; a cold
perspiration overwhelmed him, and he
tainted.
What he had heard was.this! The SOL
diers were talking about fair that was
to open in Jalapa on the morrow, and
they we're detailing to new conner
some of the amusements that had been
planned for the occasion.
1--WE are going to have shooting
ma tch at noon," said one; "we have
got an American spy in that box yondcr
and We are going to tie him to stake
and shoot ut him with our revolvers.
Who kills him will get five silver dol
lars. The dogs hours are numbered"
These are the words which had fallen
on the American like pail.
1t was probably much less thanan
hour that the prisoner lay insensible.
Then he reused himself, and, like the
brave man that he was, looked his doom
in the face. SO he was to die, and die
the death of a miserable cur; he, the
inhabitant of pleasant northern city,
with youth, health, kind friends and
fortune. To be tied to stake in a
Mexican market place and shot ut for a
paltry prize. These thoughts were
maddening. He called fercely to his
captors to liberate him; he strobe furi.
ously up and down the room; he rushed
to the window and ratified the bars; and
finally from sheer exhaustion he sank
down on the floor in despair.
He lay still for long time.
He could not mark the hours, but at
length he knew by the cool wind that
crept in between the bars, that day -
his last day-was not far away. Then
he heard cock crow; and then he saw a
bright ray of sunlight come flashing into
his miserable hut, and he was sure that
he had but a few more hours to live.
He made up his mind that he would die
braveIv He rnse n bic fr,1l ba;obf