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

oiiy huOWu where eIerllal buuuel
reigns.
The American, too tired even tc
notice this, was nodding in his saddle,
and for long time had not spoken to
his companion. IT, was aroused by q
low cry from Filomeno. Turning to-
ward him and following the direction Of
his eyes, he saw largo body of horse
men galloping rapidly toward him. He
could see at once that they were not
regular soldiers. They advanced in
confusion, and no two men seemed
dressed alike. 1t was q squad of the
dreaded guerillas on a foraglng expedi
tion. With q terrible feeling of utter
despair he again looked around for
Filomeno. The American was alone,
with hundred wild and lawless Mexi.
can robbers bearing down on him, like
rushing wind across placid lake.
In q moment, as it seemed, they were
upon him, and around him, and under
him. Resistance was useless. A score
of pistols pointed at him, a score Of
swords were raised above his head, and
score of long sticks with knives on
the ends, called machetes were pricking
him in all directions. He was pulled
off his horse in q twinkling, stripped
of every garment, and left standing
stark-naked in the middle of dense
circle OF howling savages, who were
cursing and fighting for his various
articles of dress. At length his cloth.
ing, arms and valuables were divided.
The leader of the band, with the Ameri-
cans watch dangling from his belt,
shouted out an order to his men. The
troopers armed with mlchotes rode up
to the prisoner and commanded him to
walk before him.
"You American DEVIL" they exclaimed
in Spanish. "yon dog of a spy, be off to
Jalapa. When we get you there we'll
teach you to sneak around our lines
March p
In order to add emphasis to their
words they prodded the prisoner with
their machetes till tho blood started
from more than one wound on his arms
and legs. Angry, faint and sore, and
half blinded by tho fierce rays Of the
sun, the American wheeled around and
upbraided the leader for these indigni,
ties, and especially for depriying him of
his clothes. In reply, one of the SOL
diers pulled out from under his saddle
piece of coarse and filthy mating
which he carelessly tossed to the poor
prisoner.
"Take this" he said, "it is too small
for you, but the heas in it will keep
you warm"
Wrapping this dirty covering about
his shoulders, our countryman started
On his painful march to Jalapa.
At three o'clock in the afternoon they
reached the town. The American was
hurried into wretched adobe hut on
the outskirts OF the village, and the
Mexicans, after posting a guard around
the place, tied their horses under q
shed, and gave themselves up to rest
and boisterous recreation. Inside the
hut on a rude bench the American sat
silent hour after hour. AT length he
walked to little window and begged
for water. There was no response.
The bare walls only echoed his cry OF
"Water! Water!"
All the next day, too, the prisoner
was kept without food or drink or
clothes. At sunset the cool evening
breeze somewhat revived him. He
moved his bench under the window OF
the hut, and stretching himself underit
listened carelessly to the idle converse.
ton of the soldiers outside. Suddenly
his heart gave terrible throb cold
perspiration overwhelmed him, and lie
tainted.
Whit he heard was this: the soldiers
were talking about fair that was to
open in Jalapa on the morrow, and they
were detailing to a newcomer some of
the amusements that had been planned
for the occasion.
eve are going to have q shooting
match at noon," said one: eve have got
an American spy in that box yonder,
and we are going to tie him to stake
and shoot at him with our revolvers.
Who kills him will get five silver dol,
tars. The dogs hours are numbered. u
These were the words which had fallen
on the American like pail.
1t was probably much less than an
hour that the prisoner lay insensible.
Then he aroused himself, and, like the
brave man that lie was, looked his
doom in the face. So he was to die,
and die the death of miserable cur
he, the inhabitant of pleasant north.
ern city, with youth, health, kind
friends and fortune. TO be tied to a
stake in a Mexican market place and
shot at for paltry prize. These
thoughts were maddening. He called
fiercey to his captors to liberate him
he strobe furiously up and down the
room he rushed to the windows and
ratified the bars and finally from shee,
exhaustion he sank down on the floor in
despair.
He lay still for long time. He could
not mark the hours, but at length he
knew by the cool wind that crept in
between the bars, that day-his last
day-was not far away. Then he heard
a cock crow and then he saw bright
ray of sunlight come flashing int
his miserable hut, and he was sure that
he had but few hours more to live.
He made up his mind that he would die
bravely. He rose to his full hight,
stretched his limbs, and raised his head
proudly. As he did so, he heard q
sound of horses galloping toward him
He rushed to the window and looked
out. A cavalry officer in fine uniform
with flashing arms and equipments.
followed by squad of men, was coming
every moment nearer and nearer.
The lounging guerillas around his
prison started up and stood respectively
aside; several who fingered were
knocked over by the hurrying hoofs Of
the horsemen. The officer rode up tc
the hut, and pulling his horse almos
on to his launches, he leaped to the
ground. With q quick and angry com
mand to the guard at the door the boil
was drawn back.
The American, entirely naked, wa
standing in the middle of the room
Advancing, and speaking in English
the officer said {:
"Who are you, and where do yo'
come from"
q A I