The Russellville Democrat., 1889-08-08

across huN tFdCc Oi DUuquchtH. A fair number of lizards he did succeed in bringing down; but then he had not come all the way from England for the sake of shooting lizards, and he was in- clined to be dissatisfied with the phleg- matic Cazaril, who merely shrugged his shoulders, remarking that it was no fault of his if bouquetins were not as common as sheep. And when, after various changes of quarters, the party arrived at the baths of PanticossA this rather cross-grained guide was greatly displeased to hear that his employer had secured the services Of two vil- lainous-looking Spaniards, who pro- fessed to know of a district in which the evasive quarry was pretty sure to | be encountered.
 They hunt a bouquetinm he OK claimed, scornfully; ''why, they don't so much as know what bouquetin isl What they would like to do would be to entice us into some out-of-the-way spot and cut our throats."
 Two can play that game" Mir. Bel ton observed. "and if they attempt any thing of the kind three Of us will play it You and 1 and the porter ought to be able to give tolerably good ac- count of those half-starved wretches, should think. However, if you arc afraid, by all means say so; l have no doubt that can replace you"
 | To suggestion so worded only one reply could be made. and Cazaril made it sullenly enough He knew very well that, if it came to stand-up fight, the | Spauiards could have no sort of chance; but he was equally we'll aware that they would never risk such thing, and he was certain that robbery was their object. You and l." he said privately to the porter, must take it in turns to keep watch every night Once let these seoundrels catch the three of us asleep and we shall be three dead men. you may be sure.
 To be proved wrong is never agree 1 able, but what Is much worse is to ap- pear to be wrong when you are really right all the time. This was the mortifying fate of Cazaril, who could not find it in his heart to rejoice when. 1 two days after the guidance of the | Spaniards had been forced upon him, Dick Belton shot a bouqdetin. To any l one conversant with such matters it 1 was manifest that this piece of luck was in no way due to their knowledge of sport or locality. for their ignorance Of both had been exhibited half a dozen times in as many hours.
 Dick stretched himself out luxurA ously upon the hard ground. with his l feet toward the bivouac fire, and was soon wrapped in a slumber more sweet and deep than any that those who l sleep in beds can ever hope to enjoy. He was aroused from it by terrific yell, followed by sound of flying foot steps; and then. before he had hall collected his wits, he found himself fighting for his life.
 By mere force of instinct he gfasped his rife and, clubbing it, struck down one of the Spaniards who had sprung upon him, while at the same instant the long knife of the other was plunged sideways into the muscles Of | his back. inhictiug wound which he scarcely felt. In point of physique he was more than match for his assail- ant but the latter was wiry, active and had bewildered Dick, who was still half asleep, and who was again stabbed in tho arm, while a blow which he aimed at the would-be assas- sin spent itself in the air and very nearly landed him upon his face. At his feet lay Cazaril. gagged and bound; the porter, who had taken to his heels,
 was already far away; and it is by no means certain that Mir. Belton would ever have seen his native land again il at this juncture an invaluable ally had not come to his assistance
 The Duffer, like Cazaril. was a heavy sleeper; unlike Cazaril, he had the misplaced confidence which all bull-headed dogs have in the integrity of the human race. Probably, there fore. he did not suspect foul play until he saw his master struck; but as soon as the true nature of the situation dawned upon him he threw himself uuhesitatingly into the fray. With one bound he landed upon the Span iard's chest and the next instant he had the fellow hard and last by the throat What followed can hardly be called struggle. inasmuch as victory -1 fsNg. . s.., right side. and, of course, 1t is easy enough to fell half-throttled man. Yet even the easiest of victories is not to be won without bloodshed, and al- though Dick Belton could not accuse himself of having acted with any lack of promptitude, he had to see the Spaniard's knife plunged again and again into his faithful servants body before all resistance collapsed. When he was kneeling upon the prostrate body of the foe he said; Al right DufFer. old man, you can let him go now But the Duffer still held on.
 Thcre is but one way of making a bulldog relax his grip, and this Dick was forced. somewhat against his ill, 10 employ; because. however much a miscreant may deserve death, il is al- ways a little embarrassing 10 have his dead body upon your hands But the Duffer. poor fellow, did not require a great deal of choking, and perhaps il was not the pressure of his master kuuckles that caused him 10 give a long sigh and roll over upon his side on the grass For some minutes Dick could pay no attention 10 him. he himself had lost good deal of blood and was beginning 10 feel faint; also he had to cut the cord by which Caz- aril's arms were bound and utilize it