The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1890-10-17

burdens, as their way IL, and the soldier
opened slightly to let them pass through
Don Walter appeared riding only as i
with and not Of them. The real ant
false market people were mingled to
gether.
A whistle was heard and nearly al
stopped where they were. No great
number had yet come in sight Capt
Perez dreaded the i'll effect on Walter OF
the situation of affairs, and he pushed
over towards him to counsel prudence.
."Surely there can be no reason for de-
tanning or annoying these friends from
the hacienda Of Las Delicias," said Wal
ter to the Jefe; 'there must be some mis-.
take here"
"Oh, of course, we shall account for
it to you ut leisure. Meanwhile you are
my prisoner, too" presenting revolver
at his head.
81 your prisoner? he returned, calmly,
thrilled through every fiber with sense
Of the danger, yet DESTROYS to retain his
utmost GOODNESS on account Of the vast
ness Of the interests at stake; land pray
on what account
"You are charged with converting the
public domain to your own use, and
demand an account Of what your follow
ers here are taking away"
He had signaled to part Of his men
to guard the first prisoners, and to the
rest to close up around himself. The
two groups were not a little mixed to.
gether. At the sight Of the pistol aimed
ut Walter, Amy Colebrook, whose anx-
ious eye had been upon all this, was SO
wrought upon by an intensity of dread
that she gave utterance to most pierc-
ing feminine shrek. She saw not only
the personal danger Of her hero, but the
ruin impending over his grand project.
So penetrated with exquisite agony was
this shrek, SO vivid and startling, that
it irresistibly drew the attention of every
one.
In this instant of diversion, while the
eyes of the Jefe Politico unwittingly
turned with the rest, a figure which ap-
peared to be woman, but was in real
ity Trinidad Jose, sprang swiftly upon
him, caught his extended arm, and drag
ged him down from the saddle. Capt.
Perez at the same time made his broad
breasted charger wheel and plunge
roughly among the crowd, and cried in
a stentorian voice:
"a mistake mistake! Stand back!
do not fire! Some mistake is here!"
"Pin him, Corcovedo! pin him, bcy!'
called Trinidad Jose; and the dog de-
voted himself with gusto to helping at
last sweet, long deferred vengeance.
The men, disorganized by the fall of
their chief and the cry Of Perez, knew
not at first what to do. But they were
regulars, and soon recovered their equa-
nimity. They fired at Jose and his dog
though both miraculously escaped I'M
hurt-set the Jefe again on his horse.
then formed in good order and sent u
telling volley after the scattering peas
ants. They began to follow them, but
soon, realizing that discretion was the
better part of valor, they retired to the
ruined country house, still keeping the
del Prado family as prisoners.
A loud, shrill call summoned into sight
q much larger force Of the peasants.
Those in disguise threw off their wo-
mems costumes, and all prepared for the
In the melee some shouts for
the iberator had inadvertently been
raised; the war cry was thus heard, and
the movement identified henceforth
with that of the revolution.
THE campaign has begun" COM
mented Perez, philosophically. Every
well, it can't be helped; we are in for it.
and we'll take the consequences.
It was clearly necessary, in the sequel,
that they should retreat, but they deter
mined first to cripple the enemy, to pre-
vent too speedy pursuit. Still more
in Walters eyes was the res
;uing of the prisoners. A plan of at
TACK was quickly arranged; one body
was to advance along the road, another
to make feint in flank, while third
should steal round under cover of thick
ield of bananas and take the enemy in
he rear. But these latter were no nov
ces in this kind of warfare, and, as
without the help of artillery every adobe
vail may become redoubt, they stoutly
leld their own. 1t was not till another
'orce under young Don Angel-who had
been notified at the hacienda of what
vas going on-came l~rrying and yell
ng across the fields that they finally
rave up. They broke from their in.
and fled in wild confusion.
With much loss.
Amy Colebrook had brief glimpse of
Walter under guise in which it is rare
y given to women to see their heroes.
'he hardly knew him, and was almost
fraid of him. The rage Of battle was
till upon him, he was bleeding from a
light bullet wound across the cheek, and
revolver smoked in his hand. He was
ursting in gate at the head Of a storm
ng party when the enemy took to flight.
But this in no way interfered with his
ffectionate consideration for her. He
vas inclined to retire from view, as il
is appearance were an offense against
tiquette. He quickly detailed Capt
'erez to guard the generals party to Rio
rio, leaving him, Don Walter, to his
wn resources. Perez strongly expostu- .
tied at this, but the other would not he v
ainsaid.
$50 at oncew insisted Walter, almos, =
nperiously. "They must be conveyed
place of safety. Nowtha they are
opposed to be identified with the insur-
,ction, there is no telling what penalties
ley would suffer if captured. You are
ght, and can keep the start you have
It,"
"And your? s.-
ave shall retire up the pass again to
le Barranca, and go out by Lake Jor-
ada. Be sure you see we have some