The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1891-03-13
AT HIGH NOON.

There was not a more daring and active
scout in Bazaines army than Pierre Dan
ton.
When Pierre volunteered to slip into
QuinQuambo to see what the Mexicans
were doing, it never occurred to him that
there was the slightest danger.
Quinquambo was little mountain vii
lage, with small garrison, and Pierre de-
termined to appear in the role of desert
er. The son of a Spanish mother, he did
not look much like Frenchman, and
spoke the language of the country like a
native
But there was one thing that the scout
had not thought of. Col. Campos, then
commanding the post of Quinquambo,
had served on the eastern coast in the ear
ly part of the war. If Pierre had known
this fact he would have blown out his
brains rather than play the spy in the vi
cinity of the terrible Csmpos.
At sunrise the Frenchman walked boldly
into the village and gave himself up to the
first sentinel he met
His story was plausible enough. He had
lost faith in Macmillan and his cause, and
had grown weary of hard fighting and
scanty rations. Moreover, he had fallen
in love with a black-eyed senorita, and
could no longer bear arms against Mexico
The sentinel called a corporal, and the
story was repeated. To these simple SOL
diers it seemed that the deserter was tell
ing the truth, and nothing but the truth.
''Ah, that French devil, BaZainep' said
the corporal, che is frightened, is he not?''
"Comrade," replied Pierre, lyon have
spoken truly. Bazaine is in despair, His
men are deserving by hundreds They
have nothing to eat, and the ursurper is
without money to pay them"
In few weeks they will be driven
into the sea-, said the enthusiastic cor
poral.
You speak like prophet, answered
the SPY.
In the presence of Col. Campos the
Frenchnan measured his words. The vet
Gran listened without showing any interest
OF surprise. His brown, leathery face
never changed its expression, and his eagle
eyes were apparently fixed upon the
ground.
And you would serve the Republic2"
he asked, coldly.
TRY me, ;" was the enthusiastic response.
How am to know that your story is
truef"
Let me swear" began Pierre.
Nor shouted the Colonel in a voice of
thunder.
The officers and soldiers gave start of
surprise, and for the first time Pierre felt
uneasy.
Bind him hand and fcotl" was the I'M
expected order.
Despite his protestations two men car
ried out the Colonel's instructions, and
then braced the prisoner in Il sitting pos
ture against q convenient wall.
"a year ago" said Campos, Il captured
that fellow near Vera Cruz. / shot off the
little finger on his right hand, and he
marked me here on the forehead with his
seber The villain escaped that night, but
another prisoner told me all about him.
He is not soldier. He is spy. He has
caused more trouble than any other man
in Bazsine's army. Now Pierre Danton,
what have you to say?"
The Colonel is mistaken" said Pierre.
Il never saw him before, and | am no spy.
Ny name is Jean Rouville."
Look exclaimed soldier.
A glance showed that the prisoners
right little finger was missing.
''Only a coincidence" muttered Pierre.
Guard him we'll" said the Colonel.
No court-martial is wanted here" and
the grim soldier walked off.
Securely pinioned as he was, Pierre saw
that he could not escape. His eyes roved
restleSSly about, but there was nothing to
encourage him.
THE barbarians," he growled. They
will butcher me in cold blood. ] doubt
whether they will be kind enough to hang
me- That Campos looks like tiend, and
the chances are that he Is even now in
venting some diabolical torture. Well, it
is the fortune of war"
Quinouambo did not look very interest
ing to the spy as he sat there propped up
against the Colonels headquarters. There
was a plaza and few scattered houses
around it, except on one side, where they
had been destroyed by fire. There were
no citizens. The inhabitants had aban-
doned the town, leaving it to the garrison.
There are not more than 800 of the
yellow rascals," unused the spy. Lord!
Wouldn't like to see some of our cavalry
come along. They would take the place
in the twinkling of an eye"
Just then two soldiers came along and,
Il
the center of the plaza. The captive at
first thought that his hour had come, but
the men proceeded in sullen silence 10 tie
him 70 the mouth of the solitary cannon,
an old-fashioned welve-pounder, pointed
at the vacant side of the square. They
dashed him with his breast to the .auzZle
of the gun so securely that it was impoSsi-
BILE for him to move.
Pierre thought of the brutal British
fashion of blowing Indian rebels from the
mouth of cannons, and wondered whether
he was to be served in the same way.
'It will be talked about all over Mexi-
CO" said Col. Campos, coming up. The
French will get it into their heads that
they are tail to be treated in this way,
and very few will be willing to face such
death"
''Comrade, said Pierre, to one of the
soldiers, after the Colonel had gone,
''does he mean it?"
when the MONDAY sun strikes that,
replied the soldier, lit will be all over"
Pierre looked, and noted an iron frame
work over the breech of the gun. On
the top of this was round object, so
bright and dazzling that it made his
eyes blink.
Il do not understand" he said.
The burning glass there" explained
the soldier, lis so placed that it fires the
powder exactly at noon. 1t never fails"
The victim shuddered. There wa
something horrible in the idea of being
killed BY the bright lumiHary whose rsyI
had all his life given him light and
warmth.
he knew thai even in the large CITIES Of