The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1882-08-18
assed the first night in regular wood

passed the first night in a regular wood
house.
The second day Henrique became
more loquatcous, spoke of his intentions,
Of Mathilda, of the war, and he entered
into details of the organization of the
guerrillas. We had been on the road
nearly all day, constantly ascending
toward the summit of the table-lands OF
Mexico, when, at turn OF the road, a
Mexican stood up from the bushes; he
was dressed like peon, breast and legs
bare, wearing sandals. He uttered
word, to which Henrique answered, the
latter dismounting, giving me his horse
to hold; after while Henrique re-
turned, and said !:
"The roads are all patroIled and it
would be unsafe for me to pass through
Queretaro. If you wish to proceed you
can go through unmolested. We
separate here, as i have to take by
road"
"By no MEANS" answered. "You
and will proceed together, and what
ever dangers may be encountered | will
share them with you.
He seemed pleased with my determine
ton to go with him and he grasped my
hand.
"You and I will then be friends" he
said "but what ii we should be taken?"
eff we are captured, replied, "we
will then take the chances of escaping or
being shot.
Henrique called the Mexican, ordering
To oo6 fhf ell
y losing itself behind the high peaks of
the table. lands and the shadows of the
fast advancing darkness were making the
mountain paths almost invisible. Leav-
ing the main road we descended into a
mountain gorge by path so narrow that
we had to dismount and lead our horses,
our guide in the lead motioning when to
stop and when to go forward. Our steps
we're guided only by the dim twilight
reflected from the overtowering mountain
tops and by a stream, whose gurgling
clatter as it sped on its rocky bottom
2uided us to light ahead the light
proved to be small adobe hut.
"Give your horse to the man" said
Henrique, ''and follow me. ;"
We went down to enter the hut in
which were two men and woman the
men were lying down on their blankets,
the woman was leaning over charcoal
furnace preparing supper. Two or three
stools were lying about.
"Ramon What news?" said Hen
rique. addressing one of the men.
"Signor, the roads are alive with
troops Senior Cristoval has been cap
/ &c L.
executed at Queretaro this morning."
"Were you there?" asked Henrique.
"Yes, Signor, and they all died like
men, shouting viva the Republic r.
Ramon, I must be off before day.
You shall have to precede us and see if
the road to Toluca is clear in case of
any danger, retrace your steps to meet
u.s."
CHAPTER III.
Before day, OH the call Of our peon
guide, we mounted our horses held by
him at the door. Without word he
started, followed by Henrique and my
SELF We were ascending regular
road; the dark outlines of the
mountains we're plainly delineated
on the clear horizon, bespangled with
its myriad of stars and as the approach
ing daylight began to peep over the
towering head, each peak seemed decked
with a luminous crown. When we
reached the summit the sun was slowly
emerging from the mass of mountains, and
as its spreading rays illuminated the
valley, the uncertain, increasing light
appeared to dance from dome to dome
and roof to roof of the city of Queretaro,
lying directly under us. just then the
sharp blast of bugle, accompanied by
the roll of drums beating the reveille,
warning us to hurry up on our march,
and, leaving our guide, we then started
on brisk trot toward Toluca.
r. was some two hours by sun when
the sound of gallop behind us made
Henrique stop. A Mexican soon ever
took us, his horse in foam and painting
from the swiftness of the run.
In a gallop for your lives" he ex-
claimed, "the French are after you. By
speed you can reach hacienda and
hide for the night. You have been be-
trayed by your peon guide"
1t was no time for words lash of
the whip and both spurs in the tanks of
our horses sent us whirling on our road.
We had already covered a long dis
lance, at gait which was telling on our
steeds, when we came to a long ascend
ing road, whose winding course we could
see rising for some two miles ahead of us.
"Caramba," said Henrique, I" this is
the worst part OF the road. If we come
within sight of the French as we ascend
yon mountain, it will be race for life
and death. We ought to have overtaken
Ramon ere this"
The declining sun was almost touch
ing the dome of the mountain, and we
had barely reached midway of the rising
road when we heard the ominous clatter
of troop of cavalry; looking back, we
would see liz the dim twilight the French
emerging in the valley below. We must
have been seen by the French, for the
company raised a cheer which was
!. echoed and re. echoed from mountain
top to mountain-top.
Ramon had come back toward us. and
the three together we fastened up as
fast as our jaded steeds would permit.
Darkness had then fairly covered the
mountain and dale.
Once on the summit, ready to de-
scend, Henrique dismounted.
Dismount u he ordered. "Each
one fasten his reins to the pommel OF
his saddle so as not to interfere with the
horse; and hold the reins with one hand
and your whip with the other. At my
signal, on the French drawing near, let
go the reins, lash your horses, and fall
back on your face some distance from
the road. My horse knows the roads,
yours will follow, and the French can, il
they will.
We did as ordered, and waited il
silence on the declivity of the mountain
for the approaching of the French.
Nearer and nearer came the sound OF
the horses feet, the voices of the sol
dlers becoming more and more distinct.
They seemed to be almost upon us, so
close that Ramon and L held on nerv
ously to our reins. Henrique was as
immovable as q statue. Seconds counted
as minutes; we could hear the painting
of their horses.
Henrique whispered: "Readyl Let
go Lash p He rolled back from the