Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-02-21
MEXICAN BANDIT,

In the spring of 1876, Mexico was in
tumult. Lerdo, the chief justice, sue.
ceeded to the presidency at the death of
/ Juarez, and afterward elected for a second
term, announced himself as O. candidate
for the third term. His political oppo-
nents enraged at the thought of third
term, uprose in all directions and de-
clared for Diaz. In March of this year
only the rumblings OF the rebellion
were heard, but society was daily be,
coming more and moro disturbed
Armed men were everywhere about, and
many bands Of lawless ruilians were
securing the outskirts of the cities and
towns, stealing from the farmers, and
leaving behind them desolation and
despair. Truly peculiarly dangerous
and unfortunate time for foreigner to
set out on journey.
On a lovely morning in early March,
young American gentleman left the
town of Matanzas to travel to Jalapa.
The narrow road at first winds up the
side of the mountain, turning sharply
around sudden bends, where a single
misstep of the horse Or mule would hurl
the rider far down into the valley be-
low. 1t is as if the great mountain had
been followed out, and the jagged sides
left standing, with rude path tending
| from the base to the summit. The
American was accompanied by six native
horsemen mounted on mustangs similar
to his own, and four footmen. The
whole party were armed. After passing
about half way up the mountain side
the traveller halted, and motioned to
his followers to do the same. For n
| long time he sat motionless in his
saddle gazing out at the exquisite pic.
ture before him. In the distance, far
below, lay the wonderful valley OF Ma.
tanzas, the "Garden of Mexico" The
rich, excessive vegetation could plainly
be discerned, and few light and grace
full clouds hung drifted against the tow.
ering rocks. The beams of the lately
risen sun were pouring over the hill
tops and Illuminating the vast plain
beneath with fresh and rosy light. He
must have been indeed prosaic and
unappreciative man who could pass
carelessly by such wonder work OF
Nature
His re,rH2 vas suddenly broken by a
shout fro.E above. Looking up he saw
single horseman picking his way care.
fully toward him. He was soon recog
nized by the men as a resident of Ma
tarzas. When he drew near he spoke
rapidly and excitedly to the escort in
their peculiar patojs, gesticulating VIC.
lently all the while.
The effect was immediate and start
ling. The entire body of native horse
men, with one exception, and ali the
footmen, turned sharply around and
made their way rapidly down the
mountain side without word OF expla-
nation or farewell to their employer.
The only one who remained was Flo
memo, who had been sent by his master,
friend of the traveller, to accompany
him to Jalapa, and who understood
English after fashion. He sat mo.
tionless in his saddle gazing after his
countrymen, now fast disappearing
around the curves OF the pathway.
"What's the matter, Filomeno p said
the American at length, rising in his
saddle as he spoke, and shading his
hand, as he too looked after the desert.
ers, "what did that fellow say that has
made all this fuss %
"He said" said the Mexican. slowly,
"that the revolution had already broken
out at Jaapa, and that the terrible sol,
diers Of the plains are before us, and
that if you proceed you will be sur
rounded and killed"
"StuH, said the American, 81 am not
AFRAID. F'ilomeno, let us go on And
as he spoke he frightened his hold on his
horses rein, and was about to proceed,
when he saw that Filomeno had not
stirred. "Come, Filomeno," said he,
slime is slipping by, and we must be
of. Surely you are not afraid to ac'
company me?"
mo, MASTER" answered the Mexican,
"but cannot go on as 1 am. All these
robbers know Filomeno, and would
give good price formy head. If l go
with you 1 must be disguised. Wait !"
and turning around he scrambled
lightly and quickly back from the road
toward little hut near by, from whence
thin wreath OF smoke was curling lazily
up through the clear morning air. He
WAS gone scarcely fifteen minutes, and
when he again drew near, the American
hardly knew him. Filomeno had reap.
peared under the guise of a charcoal
burner.
"Now / am ready I have left my
horse where it will be taken care of,
and now on foot he fell into his old
place close behind the American mus
tang.
And so they journed 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 water courses, and through
brooks and little rivers OF peculiar
greenlsh hue. Around them was Ma
ture in all her wasteful luxuriance bu
no sign OF anything human to hinder
them.
That night they encamped in small
valley and resumed their journey a
daybreak. At eleven o'clock on th,
morning of this day they were drawing
neal. .Jalapa. The.sui. was beating dow
out of n cloudless sky; the heat wa