The Russellville Democrat., 1881-09-01

The next day, with guide, two pack mules and three horses, We left the city on our wanderings It was late in the day before we started, and our guide told us we would be compelled to ride fast in order to get through the mountain pass before nightfall.
 And it's not safe place, senors, to enter at nightfall," said the guide.
 "Why, Ricardo?" l asked.
 "That devil, Captain Risque, is some where in those mountains, and 8 worse cut-throat never lived, replied the guide
 had heard of noted Mexican guer- rilla named Risque, but this was the first intimation that we would have to pass through his territory.
 Harry was so completely absorbed in thoughts of his lady love, that he had not heard any of our conversation.
 "Arewe safe when we get keyond the pass2" asked.
 "Yes," replied Ricardo, "there is a hacienda just beyond, where we can remain over night in perfect security"
 The pack mules seemed lazier than usual. and the horses slower. while liar ", usually so light and merry. was silent and moody, and did not seem to care whether he was going or not.
 Try as we would, it seemed we could get no speed out of our animals.
 Night will be sure to overtake us in the pass" said Ricardo.
 Well we will have to make the best of it, if it does" replied sullenly.
 The sun had just dropped behind the great western mountain chain, as the pass loomed in sight.
 Harry" said 1, riding up to the side of my abstracted travehng companion, do try and have your wits about you. We are liable to have some trouble before we get through the mountain pass"
 Trouble! what kind of trouble?"
 ''The robber chief Risque, is said to inhabit these mountains, and we may meet with the gentleman" 1 "Well, what if we do?" he replied 1 boastingly. "0ne American is as good 1 as a dozen Mexican brigands, and we are ! both armed"
 You may find these Mexican brieands more than you barg&ined for my friend. 1 Some of them are not to be held in con- 1 tempt"
 1 It was dusk as we reached the end o l the pass, and the shades of night were 1 beginning to creep rapidly over the earth. 1 Way down the defile it was already black as midnight.
 We forced our mules into it and spur red our horses onward. | We had advanced obout one-fourth of the distance through it, when the guide, 1 trembling in every limb, said excitedly:
 There it is, there they are nowp
 "What, where?" demanded both my companion and myself Right there are the robbers" he said pointing his trembling hand toward g ] blockade of trees and stones across our pathway, not fifty paces distant. We could see no one, but the keen eyes oi our guide had.
 "Forwardw shouted Harry, drawing a pistol. lover the internal brush pile and shoot down the first person who dares to interfere"
 With shout he clapped spurs to bis horse, and dashed forward. A whirring sound, and lasso dropped neatly over the impetuous young Americans head and the nextinstanth he was dragged from the saddle, with his arms pinioned by the tightening moose to his side.
 Struggling and kicking was useless. In his fall one chamber of his revolver was discharged in the air.
 The cowardly Ricardo sprang from his horse and fell upon his knees, whining for mercy in most piteous tones.
 I drew my revolver, determined to sell my life as dearly as possible. All around on every side could be seen the heads oi bandits appearing from the thick clumps of chaparral. l fired at the first one saw.
 Scarce had the report rang out on the 1 air. than lasso was thrown over my ! T ! al, fOr 1 from my horse, as to render me momen- l tarily insensble.
 1 When I recovered consciousness, l found myself bound hand and foot, lying ! by the side of Harry Goodson. | Our captors were talking in Mexican ! Spanish, language that was my mother tongue. but which I only imperfectly understood.
 1 gathered However, from what they said, that we were to be removed from 1 the pass and robbed or murdered at leis- ure. Some of the brigands were rough 1 looking fellows, and some were rather genteel appearing Mexicans.
 We were taken up, borne up through a thick wood along the mountain side and finally came to hut. In this we ushered, still bound, and forced to stand up against the wall. It was intensely dark, for there was nothing to light the room.
 Some one stepped to a door in the apartment and called some person in another room, and presently we heard the sound of footsteps. A 1.-the, neat little form entered carrying burning taper.
 Harry started back with cry of as- tonshment. It was the Senorita Iza' dora Gomez, his betrothed. The pooi fellow could hartily believe his eyes.
 "Welcome senors" said the treacher. ous beauty. q am glad to know we have met again"
 "Izadora Gomez" said the young Americani in a reproachful manner, have you thus betrayed mel"
 II beg your pardon senor," she said with most cruel smile, while her large dark eyes sparkled with i'll concealed merriment But you have all along been laboring under a slight mistake, l am not lzadora Gomez, but lzadora Risque."
 What are you the daughter of the bandit chief?" asked Harry, bewildered
 "No, senor Americana" and she smiled like an angel on him.
 What relation do you bear then tC that blood-thirsty monster?" asked the bewildered youth.
 He is my husband" replied the beau ty, resting her head afiectionately on the shoulder of the man whom Harry had known in the city as Col, Gomez.
 The blow was crushing to Harry but