Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-02-10

| y NOW i am Ieduyi uhNe Nit my
horse where it will be taken care of"
he said, and now on foot he fell into his
old place close behind the American's 3
mustang.
And so they journeyed on, up into the
clouds and then down again, over the
rich breasts OF valleys which are only
found in the tropics, and along the tracks
of old watercourses, and through brooks
and little rivers of peculiar greenish
hue. Around them was nature in all her
wasteful luxuriance, but no sign OF
anything human TO help or hinder them
That night they encamped in Il small
valley, and resumed their journey at
day eak. At eleven o'clock on the
morning of this day they were drawing
near Jalapa. The sun was beating down
out ola cloudless sky; the heat was in
tense; and deep stiffness seemed to
, have settled over the great plain. Be-
fore them was the valley of Jalapa; on
the right the volcano of Orizaba, its
cone white with snow and ice, its sides
covered with that luxuriance of foliage
only known where eternal summer
reigns.
The American, too tired even 10 notice
this, was nodding in his saddle, and for
IA long time had not spoken TO his COM
panion. He was aroused by low cry
from Filomeno. Turing toward him
and following the direction OF his eyes,
he saw a large body of horsemen gallop-
ing towayd him. He could see at once
that they were not regular soldiers.
They advanced in confusion, and no
two men seemed dressed alike. Il was
squad of the dreaded guerrillas on
foraging expedition. With q terrible
feeling OF despair the American again
looked around for Fiiomeno. He had
fed. The American was alone, with
100 wild and lawlcss Mexican robbers
bearing down on him, like rushing
wind across a placid lake.
In moment, as it seemed, they were
upon him and around him. Resistance
was useless. A score of pistols pointed
Mt him, a score Of swords were raised
above his head, and score Of long sticks
with knives on the ends, called matche-
zIes," were pricking him in all directions
He was pulled off his horse in a twink
ling, stripped naked in the midst OF
dense circle Of bowling savages. who
were cursing and fighting for his vAri-
Gus articles OF dress. At length bis
clothing, arms and valuables were
divided. The leader of the band, with
the Americans watch dangling from his
belt, shouted out an order TO his men.
The troopers armed with "matchezios"
rode up TO the prisoner and commanded
him TO walk before them. You Ameri.
can dog they exclaimed in Spksish.
you dog off spy, be of TO Jalapa. When
we get you there well teach you to sneak
around our lines. MarchF'
And in order TO add emphasis TO their
words they proddei the prisoner with
the points OF their "matchezies" 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 in
dignities, and especially for depriving
him Of his clothes. In reply one OF the
soldiers pulled out from under his saddle
a piece Of coarse and filthy mating.
which he careiessly tossed to the pris-
oner.
Take this" he said 4" 1t Is too small
for you, but the aeas in it will keep you
warm"
And so, wrapping his 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 a wretched adobe hut on
the outskirts of the village. and the
Mexicans, after posting a guard around
the place, tied their horses under a shed
and gave themselves up to rest and bois-
ferrous recreation. Inside the hut on a
rude bench the American sat silent hour
after hour. At length he walked 10 a
little window and begged for water.
There was no response. The bare walls
only echoed his cry of "Aqual aqual"
All the next day, too, the prisoner
was kept without food or drink or
clothes. At times his mind wandered
little. At sunset the cool evening air
somewhat revived him. He moved his
bench under the window OF the hut, and
stretching himself under IL listened
carelessly to the idle conversation of the
soldiers outside. Suddenly his heart
gave terrible throb; cold perspira-
ton overwhelmed him, and he tainted.
What he had hear was this: The sol E.
diers were talking about fair that was
to open in Jslapa on the morrow, and
they were detailing to newcomer
some of the amusements that had been
planned for the occasion.
1--WE ars going TO have . shooting