The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-08-28

the camp. AS thew paused a moment to
take breath they could hear the Mexicans
joking and laughing as they cleaned their
guns, while the hunter, Tomas. whom in
the past they had all liked SO we'll. was
softly humming to himself in Spanish.
AS the three men arose the Mexicans
looked up in astonishment. 1t was the first
time the Americans had com among them
since the discovery of the gold mine on the
mountai top.
For an instant each side looked at the
other in silence, and then Tomas, arising
and stepping toward the Americans. asked
them in Spanish what they wanted.
W want you to get out of here, for we
know what you are cleaning up these guns
for" replied Jack.
"To 80 home WITH" answered Thomas,
adding: 1--WE do not care to mine here any
you are doing it to murder us and steal
our gold, and you have got to leave here at
once" said Jack.
I'VE are going to leave just as we told
you. But, when you say We are murderers,
you lie!" angrily answered Tomas, partly
turning to face his comrades to lave them
verify his statement.
Almost before thess words had left his
Jack reached out his left arm and, throw
ing it around Tomas neck, drew him back
ward till the Mexican's head lay on his
shoulder. As he felt the %strangling grasp
of the arm, Tomas dropped his gun, and,
raising his hands, tried to pull the arm
from his throat. HIS hands had hardly
touched the arm when a long-bladed knife
rose above his face, grasped SO tightly that
| the hand that held it, with its taut muscles
and tense knuckles, looked almost as white
as marble. For an instant the knife hung
in the air that the force eyes looking down
over the upturned face of the Mexican
might pick the surest place to drive it into
the throat, d, 30 tightly backward that
one could see the arteries throbbmg be-
meath the skin. But only for an instant,
and then, so fast that it seemed like u
flash of light, il fell, and entered the neck
i'll the muscles just below the left ear.
For a moment it stopped, and then, as the
Mexican's arm reached out rs if to push
away tho arm that held it. the knife was
pulled from loft to right. As it swept
through the throat, the arm that had held
the head backward, that the knife might
have q clean sweep, was raised, and the
man whose throat had been cut stood
alone. For an instant, to those who
had seen it, it seemed like Il
dream, and then, as in Il moment, the dark.
brown face grew ashen gray, as if Il painter
had drawn Il brush across it. Tomas caught
with both hands his throat, and from the
cash across it, through his tightly closed
fingers, spurted jets OF blood At first
slowly, as il the hands were striving to hold
within the body the escaping life, and from
NAe Z NoaAe AoaoStS VAtANA No
il pleading for help, while the eyes swept
the face Of friend and foe implorinely.
Only for an instant, though. Then the Jets
OF blood grew stronger as the strength in
the hands relaxed. The eyes grew dim and
CLASSY. and the body for an instant tot
tered, IA II no longer able TO stand erect.
One or two steps, al ii blindly striving not
to fall even i'll death. and then, as the hands
stretch out, grssping at the air, the blood
that they have held back pours out in tor
rents. and down, with the face into the dirt.
goes what was once Tomas. the hunter.
Both sides are on their feet now. and, as
they stand. the Americans cover the Mexi-
cans with their n
"By God! ,You had better so and go at
once, and leave our arms" says Jack.
The Mexiosns look at him for an instant,
n then. with a glance at the body, they
turn and start across the desert. The
Americans watch Them until they are out
Of sight.