Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-10-04
Gales and Skftfbts.
Az ADVENTURE n THE PrRESEEs.
By HENRY HoLLrER.
Confined from yesterdsy.)

Continued from Yesterday
..Drive on as hard as yon can. and get
that COMPOUNDED row over as quickly as
possible" said one Of my companions,
Stan6eld BY name. TO the driver.
The coachman obeyed, and with grin
whipped up.his horses. The animals were
Young and fresh, and, notwithstanding
the unwieldiness Of the vehicle. they rat
tied along at fine pace.
This IS more enjoyable. said Stanfleld,
settling himself and lighting cigar.
The words had scarcely escaped his lips
when the coach began to sway dangerous
" from side to side and uneasy groans
came from its body. Before the speed
could be slackened there was first squeal
Of warning, and then crash, and IN an
instant we were living in various parts OF
the road. while the coach was a mass OF
shattered and worm eaten woodwork
Luckily none of Us were injured by the
fall, and we soon regained our feet and
commenced an examination OF the runs
of the coach.
There has been some treachery at
work here,'' said, pointing to the wood
en- axletree Of the coach.
You are right" Stanfeld replied !;
1.-THE axle has been almost sawn IN two.
and it has only been done lately, the cut
il 20 fresh"
The driver was then interrogated, but
he was az astonIshed as ourselves at the
unlooked-for catastrophe, and could only
shake his head in wonderment when we
pointed to the cut axletree. OF course 1t
was necessary some one should 60 back
to the inn ard settle with the landlord for
his wrecked vehicle. There appeared to
be some game about this spot, and being
an ardent sportsman ! begged my com
panions to let me have few hours with
nv gun, while they went back to the ham
let. This was agreed to. and ! arranged
10 return tn the inn in time for the meal
which served as dinner,
Thus pleasantly emp'oyed. the time
slipps d away almost impercephbly. and
as the shades of evening began to fall
found that ! had reached the end OF the
table land, and had unconsciously strayed
among the small rocky hills and spurs.
was about to start back in search Of
my comrades, when flight Of cartridges
rising almost under my nose caused me 10
ascend higher up the mountain side, lad
ing and firing as went. II was warm
work, and as WAS wiping the perspira-
ton from my brow | was startled by a
voice at my elbow.
''Senor is true sportsman ~
turned round in establishment, for
standing at nv side. as though he had
sprung ont of the earth. was t ne strange
looking priest had observed when we
left the inn. He looked most weird and
mysterious as he stood in the dim evening
n
his thick overhanging eyebrows.
As he spoke thought flashed through
my mind. Could this man be in any WAY
connected with our carriage accident
Though clad in priests garment, he
looked so unlike \ priest that was al
most forced to believe that the dress was
only an assumed one. remembered the
warning my uncle had given me at the
outset Of my journey. Perhaps, thought.
this man is brigand in disguise it might
be even the famous Don Diego himself.
"Senor's gun is of excellent workman
ship he said. with a bow. and. ceremon-
iously apologizing. he craved permission
to examine 1t. felt bali inclined to re-
fuse, but on second thoughts deemed it
best not to appear suspicious. and so put
the fowling-piece into his hands.
He weighed it carefully. brought il to
the present, and scanned it with the eye of
connois seur from butt to muzzle. His
acts were so very unpriestlike that was
convinced he had no legitimate right to
the dress he wore. But upon this convic-
ton. became cautious rs To my own
safety. and determined to- act with the ut
most wariness in what said and did.
He then courteously inquired if | in
tended to stay in the neighborhood for n
few days. Upon my replying in the mega
tive, he replied that for sporting purposes
| should find il we'll worthy of stay. and
promised me upon the honor of a Cas-
tellano good days sport ii would ac-
company him on the following morning
begged to be excused from accepting
his kind offer on the ground that | and
my friends had several important engage
ments to keep. then wished him po-
lite good evening. and was about to pro
coed on my journey.
.'Senor's inn. am afraid said the
priest. lis too far for him to reach il to-
night. and was about to beg his accept
ance OF such hospitality as my hut can
afford until the morning"
What he said was quite correct. and.
as did not care about spending the night
on the bleak mountains. At all risks. priest
or no priest. decided to accept his hos
pitality. which must 10 him the justice
to say was very genially offered.
''You are very kind. reverend Padre.
I replied. land if shall not be en-
croaching on your good nature. the shell
ter OF your house will be most welcome
to me-
The Padre begged me to follow him,
and we soon reached his hut. which wa>
situated upon the brink of II dark ravine
which intersected one of the mountain
ridges. He requested me to make myself
at home. and assisted me by making him
self perfectly so. both at the table and in
the chimney corner. The meal being
over, with a sly wink. nv friend. the Pa
DIRE, produced flask of unimpeachahle
Catalonian wine. and on this we made
merry and toasted each other at regular
intervals.
Perhaps it was the strength of the wine
or perhaps ! was worn out by my day :
adventures. but very soon began to ge,
drowsy. and asked il | might be allowed
to go 10 rest. The Padre accompanied
me to my sleeping apartment. which was
species Of lott. and formed the upper
story of the hut, and was reached b,
means Of = short ladder. He apologized