Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1891-12-12

mated him. 1t formed beautiful pic
ture for his parting glance, standing in
stately isolation at the head of the gorge,
its noble summit bathed in golden sun
shine, while the purple shadows of late
afternoon had gathered in the deep
chasms around its base. Knowing just
where to look his eye caught the light
CLEAN of the great lode running across
the mighty slope. and with a pang Of
disappointment keener than he had reck-
oned upon he bade adieu to the hopes
which it had kindled.
Since there was only an hour or two
of daylight remaining they made as
much haste as possible out of the bar
ranca. and then turning from the direct
road took their way to a ranch on the
slope of the mountains, where Senior Ar
anda had made arrangements for them
TO spend the night.
The next morning Fernandez proved
to be in the same mood as on the preced-
ing evening saying such few words as
We're necessary for Interpretation and
direction. so Derwent. as he swung him
self into his saddle, thought without
much cheerfuness of the long, silent
ride before hIm--for they hoped to make
Etzatlan by night. But tine ride was
not destined To be SO silent rs he had an
ticlpated Fernandez came to his side.
and. observing that they had both been
somewhat nasty the day before, pro
posed to explain fully the whole history
~ . q
brutal ineiwlity, of which Derwent was
Incapable 10 tell the man that he dis
trusted hIs statements altogether; so he
listened 10 ii sketch of Barrera's imprac-
ticable and fiery disposition, of the de-
sire OF the other owners 10 sell the mine,
Of the difficulty they had In inducing
him TO consent TO sale, and Of the man
ner III which he had since endeavored to
embarrass their efforts. On abstract
grounds De.xent agreed that it was
hard that one man should have power to
annoy others and injure their interests;
but he sad 10 hltnsef that he was by no
means surp on winch side the injury lay
and ne altogether declined TO reconsider
his own decision. The result was finally
the exchange Of few angry words
which cat deeply on each side, and then
the two men parted, Fernandez to join
Senior Arauda. and Derwent to soothe
himself with "a cigar alone.
AT noon they halted for short rest
and refreshments by the side of the only
water on their road. They were in the
midst of very wild and desolate coun
try. surrounded by mountains, with
savage looking deile before them,
through which their road lay. what
an inviting place for hrigandsF' thought
Derwent. regarding the narrow pass and
frowning heights But, knowing how
sternly this little amusement had been
put down in the country, he had no ap-
prehension of anything Of the kind. The
thought was merely suggested by the
recollection of the many bloody deeds
which such localities had witnessed in
times past. 1t was not even strong
enough to deter him little later from
falling behind the rest of the party as
they passed down a barranca with
steep mountain strewn with rocks on
one side and precipice which dropped
two thousand feet ON the other
The road at this point descended SO
sharply that Derwent, to relieve himself
as well as his mule, dismourted and
walked, with the animal following close
behind him. 1t was dangerous place,
for the almost precipitous incline Of the
road was strewn with fragments of
powders from the mountain above; and
his attention was altogether fixed upon
the path, when the sudden falling of a
rock Immediately before him caused him
to look quickly up the mountain side.
There was only time for glance-a
glance which showed him the partially
concealed form of a man behind great
bowlder-when there came flash, re-
port, a burning pain in his shoulder,
and simultaneously the frightened mule
dashed past, knocking him off his feet.
He was conscious of falling down the
precipice, of throwing out his hands
wildly to save himself, of crushing
blow upon the head-and darkness fol-
lowed.