The Columbus journal., 1886-09-15
ON A LEDGE

I'LL "a " IA nv
Mercedes Guadalupe GrenadOs, as she
swung lazily in the hammock on the
wide verandah.
..Who is it?" she asked in Spanish.
"Pab|oi' came in the same low
whisper. r.as
Good Pablo, come here"
A tall negro, showing in the slightly
coppery hue of the skin the mixture of
Indian blood, stole cautiously across the
open space between the house and the
thick bushes, and almost crawling,
reached the place where his young mis-
tress was.
.!Wel, Pablo, what news?" eagerly
demanded the young girl.
..AIl lost, senorlta! All lost!!'
'.And Don E~nrigueP"
.'Out In de bush dar, hidin' n de
canes"
but why don't he come in? What
does he want to stay there for?"
Indians chasin' of him-de Canca-
nos answered the peOn gravely.
What"
Eyes, senorita. Fo' for days now.
And Don Enrique he say mus get t
mountains now. quick"
''What does he want!
..Want some money, an some food,
an some clothes, senorita."
The young girl hesitated a moment
and then said. sharply:
pablo. go to Don Enrique. and tell
him to 90 to the old hut down in the
swamp. I'll be there in half an hour"
As the peon turned to execute the Or
der. the girl ran into the house, and
once more silence fell upon the place.
The revolution, one of those unsuccess-
full revolutions of which the history of
Columbia is full, was just over, and Don
Enrique Gonzales found himself on the
losing side.
Under ordinary circumstances he
might have surrendered; but when he
heard that the dreaded Indians of the
great Canca Valley had been placed
upon his track, he knew there was moth
ing to Go but TO fly. For these men are
noted in the northern part of South
America for the fact that they never
give or take quarter. They are like hui
man b~looGhounds; their one idea is to
kill. Don Enrique had good reason to
make most OF his time with the Canca-
nos after him
Down in the cane swamp stood an
old palm house, the sides made of up
right sticks split from the black palm,
and dashed to crOss-pieceS, and the roo
heavily matched. Here. sitting on q
LOG in the shadow, was Don Enrique, q
young fellow about ~twenty-seven, while
lying on the ground was the peon,
Pablo.
Suddenly the Peon raised his head.
.-Somethin' comm, senor..'
The two listened for 4 minute. and
then through the only path 10 the hut
came a large mule, saddled and bridled,
followed by another one. upon which
was the Senorita.
Don Enrique had the girl in his arms
almost before the animal stopped NOV
inc. and the whispered words of en-
dearment. the rapturous kisses and
looks which the TWO gave each other,
told the old, old story plainly.
'.But. dearest, why have you got your
habit" he asked at last.
'.Because-because- Oh 'Rique,
you must let me 90 with your she said,
trembling rs she spoke.
Impossible! You do not know what
this trip means"
But | must! To-day" she went on.
with a blush, would have been our
wedding. and l cannot-I cannot-let
you 90 alone!'
I'm great p~erpIexity. Don Enrique
looked ut peon for advice.
Pablo had served his father as well as
himself. and Pablo's forefathers had
served the house. first as slaves. and
then rs freemen, ever since the first
Gonzales had settled i'm the valley. In
reply TO the look. the peon gave a grunt-
"But-but, Mercedes said the young
man, turning to her, chow could you
cross the momtains?"
pablo can carry me-can you not,
Pablo?"
YES. senorita," the peon answered.
Every WELL" he answered in a re-
signed tone. But we've got to start
now. Come on. Pablo"
Placing the girl OH her mule again.
Don Enrique mounted his. and, led by
the peon. the party made their way out
of the cane into the main road. Once
on this. they pushed ahead rapidly,
Pablo keeping up without the slightest
difficulty.
The road, which ut first was good,
gradually got wilder and rougher, I'M
til, rs they e up the mountains, the
mules would stop and pant every now
and then before beginning one of the
frightful climbs, during which they had
to almost spring from rock to rock.
Still up, and up. the mules climbed,
urged on as much as possible by their
riders.
Suddenly Pablo, who had been look
inc back, said
Look. Senor."
And Don Enrique. turning. saw far
below 4 string of what seemed like lit
tie brown boys. carrying long sticks.
crossing an open space.
Eight, nine. ten," he counted, in a
tone of some bitterness. well, if we
Has fight. WI must" he went on, set
ting his teeth hard, and mechanically
loosening his revolver.
mo fight here. senor." said the peon
earnestly. mo good here. Up dere,"
pointing as he spoke to a peak about
three miles from them.
Ali right. Pablo"
And nee more the mules were urged
along by voice and spur. But if the
fugitives had seen their pursuers. they
had in turn been seen. and the race
began between them. The road was
frightful.
At one side the rocks lowered above
them until if seemed as though they
reached the sky; while. on the other
hand. a hideous, yawning barrGncd, as
they call those strange c~revices in the
Andes and their associate ranges, went
down sheer some six Or seven hundred
feet.
More and more frightful became the
pass until the young girl was forced t
cover her eyes with her hand, unable to
look out any longer. Long before Pablo
had taken her bride rein, while Don
Enrique rode behind. The mules. with
the wonderful instinct which marks
them. stepped as carefully as cats, try
ing every stone before resting their
weight upon il. Suddenly Pablo stop