Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-12-11

 Irishman, were Mexicans of the purest | type, and all seemed to be his attend | ants
 AS they proceeded down the mountain | Derwent looked about for some time in the expectation of finding the bullet rid dled bodies of Fernandez, Aranda and the mozos. But, since no sign of them appeared, his wonder increased over the remarkable fact that they had apparently not concerned themselves in the least about his fate
 Il cannot understand this," he said presently to Senor Ormond. Ut is in- credible that my companions should have deliberately abandoned me-"
 If you will tell me who they are" said that gentleman, "l can better tell you whether or not it is incredible"
 "One of them was a man from this part of the country, Senor Aranda" -
 ''I know him Who else?"
 "A man who accompanied me from Guadalajara to show me a mine. His name is Fernandez. And two mozos."
 "I know also-by reputation, at least the Fernandez of whom you speak. May ask what mine he brought you to see?'
 "The Buena Esperanza. Do you know it?'
 "Yes," replied the other, smiling, 'I know the Buena Esperanza. Did you, while there, see or hear anything of one Senor Barrera?"
 "I saw him yesterday at the mine. He came and had fierce altercation with Fernandez. What passed between them do not know, for, unfortunately, 1 have little knowledge of Spanish; but 1 per ceived that there was trouble, and 1 de- clined to buy the mine. You do not think'- he looked at his companion with sudden, startled glance-''that it could have been Barrera who shot me?"
 "No," was the decided answer. "1t certainly was not Barrera. He is man of fiery temper and dauntless courage, capable of killing an enemy on sight, without reckoning consequences, but ab- solutely incapable of shooting him from an ambush. Besides, what quarrel had he with you? No, senor, do not even in your thoughts do so great injustice to , one who is in all respects true gentle man."
 ''I was favorably impressed by him, |" said Derwent. "But the whole thing is so strange. Why should l have been picked off, and why have my compan- ions made no search for mel"
 You were probably picked off be- cause you were lingering in the rear of your party-a foolish thing to do had you been aware of the danger-and so offered an excellent opportunity to the
 robber. Why your companions have not returned for you is more than 1 can an : swer. advise you not to trouble your self further about it now. 1 consider myself fortunate in having found you, . and really think it is fortunate also fol
 you. 1 am the only English speaking p resident of this part of the country, and z my hacienda is near at hand, where you
 can rest and recover your strength" ys You are more than kind," said Der. went Il put myself entirely in youl = hands. It was the greatest good fortune Q Q that brought you along this road" !, Ut was a lucky chance, certainly, 4 said the other cheerfully. ''I have beer e ee for several days visiting the outlying
 ranches of my estate. and am now home
 ward bound. Our road turns off at tn Y, foot of the mountain, and we will reacl ! Mirahores in about two hours."
 Two hoursl If he had said two day v Derwent could hardly at that momen have felt more dismay. With the terri "a ble pain of his wound and the deadl II faintness from loss of blood how was h
 possibly to maintain an erect position i If the saddle for that length of time? Hi if companion must have read his thought
 in his paling face, for he said quickly: Ia Whenever you feel too weak to g a. on we will stop and rest. know tha
 you are suffering horribly. An, hay F. a thought. Antonio!" He turned, an
 as a young Mexican came forward spok If at some length in Spanish. ''Si, senor, s, was the reply when he had finished, an ,h touching his horse with the spur th ia young man rode on in advance so rapit V ly that he was soon lost to sight
 'l have sent him to the hacienda wit
 orders to bring carriage to meet us, ,t his master said to Derwent We sha ii. be out of the mountains and on the lev IT, land of the valley by the time it reach, al us. Now, senor. if you can manage { ,k keep up"-
 ,d It was hard work-the hardest, De
 went thought, that he had ever attemp id ed-but, by the aid of renewed stint m lant and desperate resolution, he fougl
 the constantly threatening faintness, el 
 er worse, and kept his seat. Once or twit ed he felt himself reeling, but strong ar ri- was instantly thrown around him and st. halt commanded. He never consente
 to descend from the saddle, for he fe lid sure that if he did he could not rega III. it, but, after the rest of few minute is insisted on going on. It was like da1
 and evil dream to him afterward, tn l." passage through the mountain defle if until suddenly, even to his pain dar
 ened sight, there unrolled glorious pi ed ture-a vast extent of wide, beautif ice plain, green with cultivation, broken | Ike stretches of forest, and with dista
 silver lake gleaming in the last rays ow the setting sun.
 zee "Couragep said his companion. w on are over the bad road now; the carria
 must meet us before long, and Mir ,re flores is not five miles away"