, 1886-08-10

large sum in the hands OF Barlow, and
that II the sum of 1900 was not forth
coming inside of three days he would cut
my throat. l told him that 1t wouli be a
waste of time to wait three days, and that
he had better do the business then. H.
was puzzled how to take me, but a torch
was lighted. pencil and paper laid before
me. and 1 was ordered to write to Barlow
for the money. As the chances were that
none OF them could read writing, l wrote
Barlow the particulars OF my capture. the
sum named for ransom, and instructed
him not to pay more han 900 on any con-
sideration- This sun was not only to In
clude my liberty. but that Of Yu and the
return OF my weapons.
This note was to be sent by my man.
AS near as | could make out by their ges-
lures they promised him good treatment
and his liberty in case he carried out their
instructions. II he played them false,
they would have his life, no matter where
he tried to hide away. He was greatly
cheered up by the Information, and when
the note was finished he took 1t and de-
parted. 1t was only after this that 1 was
searched. / had a silver watch and eco In
gold, and made no resistance about hand
ing over. We had upper after that, and
wnen the meal was over 1 lay down and
went to sleep. 1t was 10 O'Clock at night
before Yu returned. Tn fellows prooa-
bly, looked to see him bring the money,
but they were sadly disappointed. He
brought a note from Barlow which l
alone could read. He wrote that l had
been captured by a professional bandit
known as Campeche Terror, and that
there was no doubt Of my being put to
death in case a ransom was not paid. He
was by no means a rich man, but he
w-n,,ll .Il egAa - 49, Aara T. IL. I--l-
and he hoped the bandit might be induced
to let me off for that. I interpreted the
the note In my own way to the band. l
made Mr.. Barlow say that he hal 600 of
my money in trust, aud would send it to
the scoundrels whenever l directed. They
were terrible indignant to find they had
picked up a fiat, and the fellow with the
wooden leg iourished mis- big knife around
and demanded my death. While they
were arguing pro and con / lighted my
pipe and settled back on the bed for a
comfortable SMOKE Such a ratified
headed, excitable set of men l never saw,
but they finally got though %wrangling,
and the Terror gave me his ultimatum.
Tue ransom had been reduced to 81 ,O00,
and l must have it there before shutdown
next day or die.
"You do not seem to understand the
case" l replied. an the first place, l am
nobody at home; in the next, the doctors
sent me off here expecting me to die; in
the third, | couldn't raise 81. 900 no more
than l could fly; fourthly, l have no OBJ
j~ections to being killed. as / am likely to
die wltIin two weeks at the furtnest.n
l am honest in what l write. / really
didn't care what they did with me, and
went to sleep with Yu shedding tears and
the gang jawing, and slept until daylight
without "a break. When the chief again
approached me l noticed a change in his
demeanor. He wanted to know just how
much money / could raise. l told him I
had landed with 800 in money, and Of
that sum he had already robbed me of
80. If he wanted that Tor my liberty, and
would restore my arms and allow Yu to
accompany me. he could lave It. 1t was
all he could get, anyway, and / left the
matter entirely in his hands. / expected
he would rant and rave, and he did, but
/ turned my back and gave him no further
attention. After n stormy consultation
with his fellows he came back to me and
announced that my proposition was ac-
cepted. My man should be sent for the
money, and as soon as he returned with
it we were to be set at liberty. OF course,
l could not be sure hat they would not
kill me after getting the cash; but 1t was
n risk l had to run. / wrote a note to
Barlow telling him what the arrangements
were, and what sum to send, and o
after noon Yu returned with the gold. 1t
was counted and found correct, and the
chief toll me to get really to leave. He
was good-natured, as were all the Others
except the one with the wooden leg, and
something like IN apology was male me
for The capture and detention. The chief
himself escorted US down the road almost
to the ruins, and when we parted he shook
hands and said:
Il hope the gentleman may soon find
better health. AS for me l am going to
the south at once. We should starve II
we remained here"
i gave him my goodbye and the a
venture was ended.-New York Sun.