Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1890-05-08

at once the sound of footsteps ringing
in my ears suddenly reused me from
my torpor and restored me TO myself.
A dozen persons had just entered the
tower. From the place where | was
lying, by advancing my head slightly,
il was possible to see them without be-
ing seen myself. They were men with
taned skins, dark faces, and stout
limbs, dressed in the rich and striking
Andalusian costume, and armed to the
teeth. They We're seated around the
blazing fire, and talking earnestly,
while they threw covetous looks on two
large Golfers they had placed in a cor
ner.
The first words heard did not per-
nit me TO preserve the slightest doubt
as to their profession. They were high
way robbers, and belonged to the band
of FL Nino, famous bandit chief, who
had succeeded jose Maria, whose name
had become the terror of Andalusia,
Their gestures were animated; some
times they had their hands on their
weapons. ] thought | understood that
they differed about the division of the
booty contained in the chests. The
dispute finally became so hot that |
thought the wrctches would Stay each
other.
They rose tumultuously, drew their
knives, and Glared at each other fierce
", when their chief suddenly appear
ed.
FL Nino was at this period n man of
forty, tall and strongly built; his broad
shoulders and muscular arms denoted
uncommon vigor; his features were
harsh. and his expression savage; the
fantastic iire-llashes playing on his
face, gave his physiognony a character
rendered yet more strange by the ironi-
cal smile which scanned his thick and
fleshv lips.
.'Quarrcls and disputes again!' he
said in stern. decided tone. Cant
you live in harmony, like honest rob
bers?"
The brigands attempted justilica-
ton which he instantly cut short.
"Silcnce!n he said. Il won't hear
anything. Good Heaven! you were
squatting around the fire like idiotic
monks, without thinking any more of
our common safety than if we were
alone in the universe. Luckily, | am
always on the alert. Where did the
man 20 TO whose horse | found in the
shed?n
At these words an involuntary shud-
der ran through me, and | reflected
with terror on the perilous position in
which chance and my evil destiny had
placed me.
| was literally in trap from which
there was no escape, and commended
my soul to Heaven, while resolving to
sell my live us dearly as possible to
these bandits, whose ferocity | knew
too well TO entertain the slightest
doubt rs to the fate which awaited me,
should fall into their hands.
Meanwhile the bandits, startled by
their captains words, had seized their
carbineS.
I'VE do not know where the man
you speak of is, said one of the men.
"NNhen we came here the tower was
empty"
Possibly" replied FL Nino. I'm
any case, two of YOU must search out
side the tower. lie may be in hiding
The men went out, and the captain
began slriding up and down the hall,
while awaiting their return.
They came back in minute.
"Well?' asked the chief.
1--WE have not seen him, " replied the
two bandits. The horse is still in the
shed. but there's no trace of the rider"
"Iumphm and the captain resumed
his tramp.
In Il moments time the captain
halted.
Has the inside of the tower been
searched?n he asked.
No" replied the bandits. mo
man would be insane enough to rush
into VOLTS dem
.Who knows?" muttcred the captain,
shaking his head. Perhaps the man
we seek was here before YOU, aud
hearing you coming. knowing whom
he had 10 deal with. and finding
his retreat cut of, has gone into the
upper stories. Let us search them. In
our trade two precautions are better
! than ONE
And followed by his men, FL Nino
went toward the staircase.
/ Immediately went up TO the second
story. Isoon heard the racket made
by the bandits as they searched and
rummaged in every corner.
You have seen no trace OF him" /
heard the captain SAY. Search higher
up
The tower had but two stores and
ended in a platform. which | reached,
gasping, 4 prey to the profoundest ter
ror. To me il was evident that no hui
man power could come TO my rescue.
| went back and forth and round and
round like wild beast. Below the
platform was precipice of hundred
I feet. My teeth chartered rs il they
/ would break, cold perspiration
/ bathed my face, and conyulsiye
/ tremor shook my whole body. heard
/ the bandits on the stairway. springing
I like blood-hounds in pursuit of me, and
4 | shuddered us | calculated how many
seconds were left TO me.
Finally, maddened by terror, l re-
! solved 10 spring off the tower rather
4 than fall alive into the hands of these
I Villains.
! Mechanically, before accomplishing
this desperate act, j leaned my head
over the abyss, doubtless to measure
! the chasm at the bottom of which /
/ would soon be crushed.
perceived then, about two feet be-
low me, an iron bar about three feet
long and an inch and half in dame
ter. which was set firmly in the wall,
from which it projected horizontally.
What had this bar been formerly used
forp
At that moment scarcely troubled
myself about this. A sudden idea had
occurred to me and given me the hope
of escaping from the assassins who
were pursuing me and soon would
reach me.
Time pressed. ! had not minute
to lose; so. without further reflection
bestrodc the ledge of the platform,
and scizing the iron bar with my
hands, let my body hang over the
abyss. and waited.
/ had no sooner assumed the posi-
ton than the bandits poured tumultu.
ously on the platform, which they be.
gan to cross in every direction. The
storm still continued, the rain fell in
torrents, the wind blew furiously, and
at intervals the lightning tore the
clouds asunder.
.sYou see. captaiu. there is nobodyrs