The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1888-01-21
AT HIGH NOON.

scout in Dazine's army than Pierre Danton.
When Pierre volunteered to slip into
Qunqambo, to see what the Mexicans were
doing IL never occurred 10 him that there
was the slightest danger.
Quinqambo was little mountain village,
with small garrison. and Pierre deter
mined to appear in the role of deserter.
The son of Spanish mother, he did not
look much like a Frenchman, and spoke
the language of the country like a native.
But there was one thing that the scout
had not thought Of Col. Campos, then
commanding the post of Quinquambo, had
served on the eastern coast in the early part
of the war. If Pierre had known this fact
he would have blown out his brains rather
than play the spy in the vicinity of the ter
rible Campos.
AT sunrise the Frenchman walked boldly
into the little village and gave himself up
TO the first sentinel he met.
His story was plausible enough He had
lost faith in Macmillan and his cause, and
had grown weary of hard fighting and scan-
ty rations. Moreover he had fallen in love
with black-eyed senorita, and could no
longer bear arms against Mexico.
The sentinel called corporal, and the
story was repeated. To these simple SOL
diers it seemed that the deserter was telling
the truth. and nothing but the truth.
"Ah, that French devil, Bazine," said
the corporal, "he is frightened, is he notp''
"Comrade," replied Pierre, "you haye
spoken truly. Bazine is in dispair. His
men are deserving by hundreds. They haye
nothing to eat, and the usurper is without
money to pay them"
SIN few weeks they will be driven into
the sea-" said the enthusiastic corporal.
"You speak like prophet" answered
the spy.
In the presence of Col. Campos, the
Frenchman measured his words. The vet
eran listened without showing any interes
or surprise. His brown, ,leathery face nevel
changed its expression, and his eagle eye'
were apparently fixed upon the ground.
"And you wsuld serve the republic?" h,
asked. coldly.
city me-" was the enthusiastic reply.
"How am 10 know that your story i
| true?"
"Let me swear" began Pierre.
Mop shouted the colonel in a voice o
thunder.
| ha nf oil
surprise, and for the first time Pierre fel
uneasy.
"Bind him hand d-and footP' was the un
expected order.
Despite his protestaions two men car
rled out the colonel's instructions and the
braced the prisoner in a sitting postur
against convenient wall.
"A year ago." said Campos, 81 capture
that fellow near Vera Cruz. shot off tn
little finger on his right hand, and h
marked me here ON the forehead with hi
sa5er. The villain escaped that night, bu
another prisoner told me all about him
He is not a soldier. He is a SPY. lie ha
caused more trouble than any other man 4
Bazaine's army, Now, Pierre Danton
what have you to say?'
"'rhe colonel is mistaken" said Pierre
II never saw him before, and ] am no spy
My name is Jean Rouville."
''Lookw exclaimed soldier
A glance showed that the prisoners righ
little finger was missing.
"Only a coincidence" said Pierre.
Guard him well" said the colonel. IN
court-lnartal is wanted here" and the grlr
soldier walked off.
Securely pnioned as be was, Pierre sa'
that he could not escape. His eyes rove
restlessly about, but there was nothing I
encourage him.
"The barbarians," he grcwled. "The
will butcher me in cold blood / doul
whether they will be kind enough to han
me. That Campos looks like fend, an
the chances are that he is even now inven
ing some diabolical torture. Well, it is ii
fortune Of war"
Qunquambo did not look very interes
ing to the spy as he sat there propped u
, against the colonel's headquarters. Thel
was plaza and a few scattered hous'
around it, except on one side, where the
had been DESTROYED by fire. There were n
], citizens. The inhabitants had abandone
: the town, leaving it TO the garrison.
There are not more than 800 of the ye
low rascals," unused the spy Lord bl
wouldn't like to see some of our cavall
come along. They would take the place
the twinkling of an eye"
Just then two soldiers came along, ar
] lifting Pierre in their arms, carried him
the center of the plaza. The captive
first thought his hour lad come, but Il
men proceeded In Eullen silence 10 tie hi