Connecticut western news., 1881-08-10

"Hush, Juan you are too nasty. The question is, Will it pay better to dispose of him ourselves and share the plumber or take him to Candles? He might come down handsome. Suppose the fellow should prove an officer of i'm. portance ?"
 "Bah You talk like 8 fool. Do you not see he is too young to have gained any importance. As for Candles, Car rajol You will get nothing for your pains from him.
 All this I heard distinctly and much more which it is unnecessary to repeat. That my life was doomed was beyond all doubt; but I was not disposed to make vacancy in the corps without a struggle, and especially after undergo ing what I had in escaping from the Ian cers.
 I felt the blood coursing through my veins with renewed vigor as I looked the situation square in the face. My brain grew clearer as the imminence of the peril was in grew more apparent.
 The dying embers of the fire emitted fitful gleams which fell across the pol ished arms of the scoundrels, piled pro- misouously together in the corner of the ranch.
 At that moment, and as I was casting wistfu glances at a carbine, the beetle browed rascal who had lighted me into the den glided across the floor, slipping stout bar across the door.
 "Now, boys, finish the job, and then share alike," were the words I heard.
 Every nerve in my body jared, the blood rushed back to my heart as the de- cisive moment arrived. Up to that time l had not stirred or changed my posi- t1on, leading the scoundrels to count upon an easy victory, no doubt. The odds were fearfully against me, and, as the four turned their wolfsh eyes in my direction, the clear ringing notes of a bugle came rising and falling, filling the air with its melody. A wild cry of joy burst involuntarily from my lips, a thrill of hope pervaded my whole being as listened. It came from my own gal lant lads-a detachment sent out in all probability in search for their missing officer. My four friends here paused, uncertain and undecided how to act. They turned for an instant toward the door, leaving me to take advantage of their stupidity.
 When they again confronted me I was in possession of the coveted corner, with rife to my shoulder, looking them grimly in the face, while my dog, his hair bristling with rage, stood bravely beside me, displaying his white fangs to the enraged gaze of the greasy four.
 "Kn1fe him, lads, before they are atop of us. Put him out of sight, or we'll all swing" but not one of them stirred.
 That dark, death dealing rife barrel had wonderfully tranquilizing effect.
 "Curse on ye," shouted the leader, foaming with rage, as he dashed for ward, knife in hand. "Are you all afraid of the Yankee2 I let him in here. and this knife shall give him permission to leave."
 Perhaps the villain expected to shake my nerves and cause me to throw away my shot, but never felt frmer, more determined, in my life. I covered his left breast with the sight of the weapon, and with the report the scoundrel fell headlong to the floor. Charging through the smoke the remaining three rushed upon me, but were met by the dog, who buried his teeth in the flesh of one of them. remember of striking out with my clubbed rife, of parrying rapid thrusts and cheering on the dog, when by some means in the melee 8 horn or canister of powder must have fallen amid the hot embers of the fire. It exploded with tremendous violence. blowing off the roof of the house, rending the walls and hurling me to one side half sufocated and nearly insensible. When l fully realized what was passing about me, my own troops were removing the debris of the ranch from my limbs, and the Newfoundland was licking my face. It was, as I supposed, party sent out in search of my unfortunate self, and they were returning from a bootless search when the report of rife, fol lowed by an explosion and the glare of flames, attracted their attention.
 Of course we made short work of the three miscreants, who were dragged forth from the burning wreck. They howled vigorously for mercy, but that was not thought of in their case. A swlng from the nearest bough termi- mated their career, and rode back to Vera Cruz with my mind firmly made up that during the remainder of the nothing should ever tempt me to wsnder alone among the hills of Mexi- co in quest of game.
 An Oath of Allegiance.