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

| IlelTe JnOuSnJ OF lne brutal BflJlSn faSh-
ion of blowing Indian rebels from the
mouths of cannon and wondered whether
| he was to be served the same way.
at will be talked about all over Mexico"
SAID Col. Campos, coming up. 1.-The French
will get il into their heads that they are all
10 be treated in this way, and very few will
be willing TO face such death"
"Comrade," said Pierre, TO one of the
soldiers after the colonel had gone. docs
he mean it?'' NJ
"When the MONDAY sun trikes that"
replied The soldier. "it will all be oyer"
Pierre looked and no ed an iron frame
work over the breach of the gun On the
top of this was round object so bright and
dazzling that made his eyes blink.
81 do not understand" he sad.
1.-THE burning glass there" explained
the soldier, lis so placed that it fires the
powder exactly at noon. 1t meyer fails"
The victim shuddered There was some
thing horrible in the lcea of being killed by
the bright luminary whose rays had all his
life given him light and warmth.
he kuew that even in the large cities of
Mexico what was called the midday gun
was fred in this ingenious fashion during
the dry season. For six months in the
year there was never a cloud in the sky,
and the action of the lense was as sure as
fate itself.
The guard paced up and down his beat
and Pierre was left to his meditations.
He struggled until his ftrength was gone
trying to loosen his bonds, bu; 1t was quite
useless.
His head fell upon his breast, and he
closed his eyes. But he could not keep
them closed, and he again looked around
the square. All Of the soldiers were march
| ing off with the exception of one company.
1t was evident that the French were not
supposed to be in the neighborhood.
| stranger things have happened,' said
Pierre; 81 may yet be rescued"
His eyes turned upward and he saw that
the sun was almost directly over head.
He glanced down the gun to the prim-
ing, and 1t seemed to him that he could
hear the fizzing noise of the powder.
The sun was intensely hot, and this in
spired terror
"Saints abover' groaned the poor wretch.
| "On such day as this the gun will go off
\ ahead of timep'
What did it matter? A few minutes
would net save him. The glass shone with
an Internal brilliancy, ard not speck Of
cloud was to be seen.
| ''If ever do get out Of this" grunted
Pierre
| He did not say what he would do. There
was no use in making any promises.
Higher and higher in the heavens moved
the flaming orb. Surely it was noon.
The half fainting prisoner held his breath.
The muscles of his face twitched nervous
| ly, and his eyes were fixed with an intense
stare upon the other end of the gun.
Like The echo Of an echo came familiar
sound waited upon the mountain breezes.
"God" gasped the miserable man
through his paIlid lips.
Was it a bugle? Even If it was it was
4
at once.
Louder, clearer, sounded the triumphant
note, giving forth the sweetest ring that the
listener ever heard. He threw his head
back, and the light of hope and courage
danced in his eyes.
"The devilr he shouted, whether am
| saved or not, these yellow dogs will soon
bite the dustr'
The Mexicans heard the French bugles
and in another moment Quinquambo was
in a tumult of disorder.
But the defenders of the town, weakened
by the departure of their comrades in the
morning, were unable to cope with any
thing like a strong force, and no sooner die
the French dash through the outposts thar
the Mexicans fed to the woods, fully hall
of them being shot down before they reached
shelter.
Pierre's bonds were cut by trooper
who with three whacks Of his saber cut thu
prisoner free
TO l'ierre's immeasureabe qualification
Col. Campos and his command had beer
captured on the way and brought 10 tow
by the raiders.
II must see him. SAID the spy. 81 hav'
little settlement to make with him"
Boom!
"Sacre!" yelled Pie re, II had forgotten
, all about the gunr'
The smoke slowly lifted, and on the oper
side OF the plaza was seen group of deaC
and dying Mexlcans. The discharge haC
occurred just as the prisoners were march
ing by,
One of the unfortunates was lying on hi,
face, but his uniform showed him to be al
officer of high rank.
Pierre turned this man oyer, gave one
. look at his face and then fell upon hi
knees in prayer of thanksgiving.
In the dead man he had recognized Col
n.