Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1886-11-18
ON A MOUNTAIN LEDGE.


Mercedes Guadaloupe Grenados, as she
swung lazily in the hammock on the
wide Verandah.
"Who is it?" she asked in Spanish.
"Pablor' came in the same low
whisper
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.
"Well, Pablo, what ncwsP" eagerly
demanded the young girl.
IAN lost, senorIta! All lost!'
"And Don Enriquc?'
''Out in de bush dar, hidin' n de
canes"
''But why don't he come IMP What
does he want to stay there for?"
'Indians chasin' of him-de Canca-
nos" answered the peon gravely.
''Whatr'
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 moment
and then said. sharply:
pablo, go to Don Enrique, and tell
him to 90 to the old hut down in the
swamp. III 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 do 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 bloodhounds; 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 lashed to cross-pieces, and the roof
heavily thatched. Here, sitting on a
log in the shadow, was Don Enrique, a
young fellow about twenty-seven, while
lying on the ground was the peon,
Pablo.
Suddenly the Peon raised his head.
'.Somethin comm, senorr'
The two listened for minute, and
then through the only path to the hat
came large mule, saddled and bridled,
followed by another one, upon which
was the senorta.
Don Enrique had the girl in his arms
almost before the animal stopped mov-
ing, 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
habitp" he asked at last.
use-because- Oh 'Riaue,
you must let me 60 with yon''' she said,
trembling as she spoke. :.
impossible! You do not know what
this trip means"
''But must! To-day" she went on,
with blush, would have been our
wedding, and cannot-I cannot-let
you 60 alone!"
'.1n great perpIexity, Don Enrique
looked at peon for advice.
Pablo had served his father as we'll as
himself. and Pablo's forefathers had
served the house, first as slaves, and
then as freemen, ever since the first
Gonzales had settled in the valley. In
reply to the look, the peon gave grunt.
"But-but, Mercedes" said the young
man, turning to her, chow could you
cross the mountains?"
pablo can carry me-can you not,
Pablop'
Eyes. senorita," the peon answered.
every WE'LL" he answered in q re-
signed tone "But we've got to start
now. Come on, Pablo"
Placing the girl on 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 at first was good,
gradually got wilder and rougher, un-
til, as they went 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
ing back, said
look, senor." ......
And Don Enrique, turning, saw far
below string of what seemed like lit
tie brown boys. carrying long sticks,
crossing an open space.
Eight nine, ten" he counted, in
tone Of some bitterness. "Well, if we
must fight, we 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 q peak about
three miles from them.
''Ali right, Pablo"
And once more the mules were urged
along by voice and spur. But ii the
fugitiyes had seen their pursuers, they
had in turn been seen, and the race
began between them. The road was