The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1889-09-14
THE ROBBERS CROSS.

"They call Spain the land of adventure"
muttered Harry White, as he strolled
before breakfast around the outskirts of
a small Spanish town on the southern
slope of the Sierra Morena; "and I've
been in il three weeks, and not had one
adventure yet. A man gets no show at
all in travelling nowadays Hellol here
comes somebody in hurryp
Very much in a hurry, certainly,
seemed the sturdy Spanish peasant who
had just appeared on the topof the steep
ridge above the boys head, for he was
leaping from crag to crag as recklessly
as a wild cat, and at times even swing
ing himself over some deep cleft by the
bough of tree, as if in such haste that
he had no time to think of such tribe
as the chance of broken neck.
But in this case it was ''most haste,
worst speed" for all at once large stone
gave way beneath the Spaniard's feet,
and he came tumbling headlong down
into the road amid a whirlwind Of dust.
Harry, whose sympathies were already
enlisted in favor of n man capable of
such feats of strength and daring, flew
to the spot, feeling as if he had really
met with something like an adventure
at last. But when he reached the fallen
man he stopped short in sheer amaze
ment.
And well he might. The man whom
he had seen bounding along the ridge
had had long gray hair and beard; he
was quite sure of that, for he remem-
bered wondering that an old man should
be so active. The hair of the man be
fore him was short, thick and black as
night, and he haG no beard at all.
Meanwhile, the stranger had managed
to sit up, and was wiping the blood from
bad cut on his forehead. In doing sc
he discovered the loss of his false haii
and beard, and met Harry's eyes fixed
wonderingly upon him.
"Well," asked he, liercely, answering
the boys glance with defiant stare, edo
you know me?"
"No, and | don't want to know you,
said Harry, in broken Spanish. rather
nettled at the mans imperious tone. 81
suppose you're a smugglcr by your dis
guising yourself that way"
eyes, / am, )" replied the other, with 6
strange smile. care you going to give
me up to the police?"
"Not II" cried Harry. "Its not the
style of us Americans to give away G
man who can't stand up for himself"
"Ah, you're an American then?' saiC
the smuggler, looking curiously at him
"Well, if you are willing to help me, II
tell you how you can do it. Give mC
your arm as far as the chapel of st
James, about half a mile down the roat
for find I've sprained my ankle too
badly to walk alone-and then I'm al
right"
"Come along, then" rejoined Harry
offering his arm.
And the strangely assorted pair SCI
forth.
On the way our hero told his new
friend, who seemed in too much pair
to talk himself, that he was travelling
through Spain with his father, that ht
had picked pin Mexico what littleSpan
ish he knew, that his tour had hitherto
been provokingly bare Of adventures, anC
InaJ ine one llliilS Ill inc WORTH WHICH nt
most desired was to fall in with gang
of real Spanish brigands.
AT last they reached the chapel, ant
then, at peculiar whistle from Tho
smuggler, five wild looking horsemen
with long guns on their shoulders, start
ed out of the encircling thicllets, one o.
whom led by the bridloa fine black horse
on which they at once mounted the Grip
pied Spaniard, not without casting more
than one puzzled and suspicious look a
the wondering boy,
"Take this for your good deed" sait
the tall smuggler, taking small silver
cross from his neck and giving it tC
Harry. sit may be of use to you if we
ever meet again. And, as you seem anx
ious to meet with some Spanish brigands
it may please you to learn that you have
seen half a dozen of them today"
So saying, he spured his horse anG
vanished into the forest with his grim
comrades, while Harry turned slowly
back to the town, hardly knowing
whether he was awake or only dream
ing.