, 1889-09-12
ATTACKED BY ROBBERS

eign, mounted or on loot, in companies
of their own forming or In the regular
dillgencia for passengers; and so much of
matter of course had this become that,
up to within score of years, the natives
generally prepared themselves with
purses to be given away at the first de-
maiid, and counted these forced contri-
buttons among theirin Incidental expenses.
AS u general thing the highwaymen
were not blood-thirsty, II met In u spirit
of peace and submission. They wanted
money rather than life and seldom took
life except In cases Of resistance, or in
revenge for some former defeat IL was
their custom, when attacking II diligen-
cia, to order the driver to halt and the
passengers to throw themselves ON their
faces; and whenever this order was
promptly complied with, they took their
booty with few merry jests or witt.
cisms, wished the plundered party Il
safe and pleasant journey and rode otlin
the best Of good humor.
Whenever the highwuyman had only
natives to deal with, such was generally
the rcsult--ior the MexlCans, more dis
posed to pay than to fight, We're seldom
without purse, prepared beforehand,
for los caballGros del canino, the gentle
man of the road; but when they encoun-
NtNSh ibltlEntAN II was UhiN' dilbbli'l tl-
fair, for the latter often preferred parting
with the lead in their pistols to the more
precious metals In their pockets. The
difference was, that whereas one bandit
might rob nine Mexicans with impunity,
1t as often required nine robbers 10 make
sure of one American or Engllshman
In the year 1915, Captain jacob Will
Jams and Lieutenant Henry SinCoe,
both Americans, who bad been spending
some weeks in the City of Mexico, took
passage in the regular diligencia for
Vera Cruz.
AS they had gone over the national
road on (hcir visit to the capital, and
had learned a good deal of the Mexican
manners and customs during Jhcir so
journ in the country, they knew exactly
what they had to be prepared for and,
being strong courageous mon, they re.
solved, ifattacked, to defend themselves
to the death.
In the same diligcncia four others took
passage, two men and two women; and
scarcely were the horses well on the road
ere the subject of robbery and tho ROB
bers was started by one of the females, u
rather pretty woman, who, addressing
herself to CAPTAIN Williams, inquired Il
nc thought there was any danger Of the
party being molested by the bad knights
of the road.
IL cannot tell any more about that
than YOU cun,' somewhat gmihy an.
swcred the captain, who was rather noted
for his honesty thlu his polisnj but |
Know one thing scnorita; 1t Will bo "a
blessed sight better for them If they
don't"
AZ this the McXicuns looked horrihed,
and one of the men exclaimed, I'm u
trcmulous voice:
Ave Marie, Purissimal God be mer-
cifull You don't think of resisting, Sc
nor2'
The captain with an angry f'own sur
vcYcd the other from head to foot; and
then, with an expression of COntemp pit,
turned to his own companion, and re-
marked, in English
"Why should not highway robbery
flourish In this cursed country, filled us
it is with such miserable towards? Yes" "
he continued in Spanish, addressing the
whole party rather than the timid
questioaer, "l do think Of resisting II
attackod-l should count myself worse
than iackass If / didn't; and if you
miserable paltroons would only learn to
do the same, there would soon be an end
of this detcstablc business"
"Ah ~ exclaimed the other male pas
scnger, There would soon be AN end oi
Us, rather, senior. The knights of the
road don't now kill those who dom t re-
sist; but then they would kill everybody
saints protect us!'
"Mell, in this case in particular, you
might rs we'll fight as sit STILL growled
the captain. "fur as both my friend and
| are sworn to resist, the scOuudrels
won't be able TO tell who're for them or
who against them, and 40 you'll come in
for the same treatment as ourselves"
Here the captain produced two brace
of pistols, ana his companion was equal
/ ly armed, and remarked that there were
eight good shots ready, and if the Mcxi-
cans would pluck up courage, and swear
/ to do their duty like men, he would lend
each of them a weapon.
| The wrctches held UP their hands IN
| horror, and shrank from the acceptance
of the proposition; whereupon the
Youngest female audibly declared them
/ towards, and said il she only knew how
/ to handle the weapons herself, she would
take them and put the Others to shame.
Thank heaven for some redGeminl
| qualities IN the race, even it In the sex
where it least belongs" said the cap
| tain.
"for which, ladies'" put in the lieu,
/ tenant, "we will protect you with oui
/ lives"
one of the two men now wanted to
/ get out to speak with the.iriver he said
/ but Captain Williams, suspcCting his
/ purpose, told him he must remain in
/ side; and that, should he attempt to
| communicate with any one except The
/ party present before the danger should
I be pasl or show any sign of troachery
whatever, lac would blow his brains ont
I first
"Whether you choose to fight or not, y
| he added, ''you have got to remain here
! and take the consequences"
1t is not pleasant thing to be pas
senger in n coach through wild, lonely
/ region that YOU know is infested with
/ robbers, and be in constant expectation
| of an assault that may result In the loss
of all your personal possessions, II not
your life, and to n brave, determined
man, the suspense, the uncertainty, the
constant dread of attack, is really NOR,
trying upon the nervous system than
! the moment of action itself.
/ So IL was with our two friends, as they
watched the gradual decline of day, til
the night had set in, and then, minute
after minute aud hour after hour, wnitcC
still more anxiouly for the crisis o
heir Journey, if not their fate,
1t cannot last. The dlligenCia wal
slowly working its tortuous way up
steep and dangerous hill, with a high
wall-like bank on the right, and q, dan
gerous precipice on the left, when {
hoarsc voice suddenly called out:
"Hnlt, and surrender your purses t,
the knights of the roadp'
The diligcnciu stopped and the tw,
cowartlly MeXicans groaned audibly.
In am instant our American friend
were ready, pistol in each hand.
"Mgke the slightest noise, you COW
ards" hissed the captain through hi
shut teeth, addressing the trembling
wretches inside, "und you shall hav,
the first bullets in your worthless
bodcsw
"Come out and throw Yourselves OF