The Anaconda standard., 1890-07-04
A NARROW ESCAPE.


turning from n trip to the extreme South
ern portion Of Mexico. l was on my way
from Oajaca to Tuxtla and Vera Cruz, on
the gulf coast, intending to take train
at the latter place for the states. II was
one of the mos uncomfortable Journeys i
had ever undertaken. l had ridden for
the better part OF two days In a volan-
cochc, a vehicle with two wheels and no
seat, the bottom being made of ropes
holding up a mattress, OH which could
either recline or sit Turk fashion. The
motive power consisted of three little
mules abreast, spurred on by n swartby
native, Jose by name, who alternately
rode the left-hand mule and ran along
side, reeling of n string of Spanish pro-
family that was positively shocking when-
ever the little animals would not go ex-
actly as he wished them to. The road
was one of the toughest / ever Travelled
over. The rocking and pitching OF the
volancoche reminded me more than any
thing else of vessel in storm at sea,
only il was worse.
IL was nearing night when we drew up
al a small place called Oxitie. There had,
in times gone by, been quite n collection
Of houses at Oxitie, but now. since the
pack trains no longer passed through
there. the main road having been
somewhat changed and running about
three leagues to the west. there was
nothing there habitable but the posada or
hotel, which in its days had been quite a
large building. The walls of a court, with
sheds and sleeping apartments on the
interior. showed its former dimensions,
but only four of all the rooms were in "A
flt condition for a human being To live in.
All i'm all, the building had deserted and
forlorn appearance. The regular inhabi-
tants of the place were limited to three
souls, Senor Don Tivurcio Beltran, his
wife and daughter.
After supper sat on the hosts veranda
with his family, chatting as much as my
limited powers as a linguist would permit.
Miss Juaniat entertained me by singing
several old Spanish aud Mexican ballads
i'm way that thrilled me. She was very
piquant and what of music the dilapi-
dated guitar lacked was made up by her
really fine voice and our romantic sur
roundings. | was charmed, and, though
tired from my days travel, il was with re-
gret that heard Don Tivucio's
polite offer to show me my quarters
for the night. My room was one
somewhat removed from the others
and furnished, as well as l remember,
with broken stool. jar of water and a
bulls hide. The latter knew from expc-
rience was my bed, so spreading my
blanket upon il / lay down, but sleep
could not. The night was sultry. the
apartment poorly ventilated, and there
seemed to be "A thousand creeping things
on my body. bore this as long as possi-
BILE, and then, seizing my blanket, rushed
ont in the open air. After walking about
for while spread my blanket under a
stunted palm some distance from the
house and, disrobing. ! gave each of my
garments good shaking, and having
donned them, lay down. determined To
sleep as much of the night as possible.
Here" | said, "it is cool; / can sleep
now" The thousand voices of tropic
night seemed To invite to slumber, and my
feet were already on the threshold of
dreamland when there came a breezy,
whistling sound, and what took To he a
large night bird swept past me, actually
brushing my face. i must say this was
rather startling, but looking about me
and seeing nothing ] lay down again.
Though this time its wings did not touch
me, the creature passed quite near enough
to bring a decided GOODNESS to my face.
am not superstitious, but am ready To con-
fess that just then every wild story and
legend of ill-omened birds that | have
ever heard or read came back to
me with remarkable force. and for
the moment l was as much terri
fled as child listening to a
blood-curdling ghost story. ! lay still,
however, for what else was left me? at
will never do" said, "to go back TO the
those wings again! They came as regu-
larly as the movements of a clock. Yes,
with even fascinating precision; and fas-
cinating is the word, for those wings now
had an interest for me akin to magnet
ism. The regularity with which they
came and went seemed analogous TO the
well-tmed passes of mesmerist. Once
more-they are here and gone! / was
waiting anxiously now each time for their
coming; remember thinking that the
failure of my aerial visitor TO put in an
appearance at the proper moment would
render me wretched. "Now," l said, ~
can Sleep" and slept.
To my mind there is nothing well de-
fined as regards the remainder of that
night. Ihave n faint recollection of plac-
ing my hand on my neck and being
startled when il came in contact with a
large, living something's something that
struggled I'm my hand and was glued To
my throat. There was another creature
fastened TO my cheek near the left temple.
and yet another was clinging To my
breast, which l had left barred owing TO
the warmth of the night. Even i'm my
that these creatures were drawing
the life tide from my veins,
but had neither the strength nor the in
clination 10 rid myself of them. An utter
Indifference TO all things came over me,
My mind was troubled by no msgivings
as to things past or misgivings as to the
things of the future; for once in my life
at least, / experienced sense of absolute
rest. Another moment and sleep was
upon me. Not dreamless sleep, though
IL seemed that / was prone at noontidt
within some shady grove. while the ali
was heavy with the breath of countless
rare and beautiful flowers. Strange
shadowy forms. borne on huge pinions
circled about me, but their ever-restless
wings cooled my fevered frame, and
felt no fear of them whatever.
But at last | awoke. | was aroused bS
the frightened cries Of Juanita. She wa'
holding my head in her arms, and / re
member hearing her cry. awake, sir
awake, You should not sleep-my God
The blood, the blood! q mother. com,