Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-10-22

eight riders besides hjuself and the man
who. having had to resign his horse to
Senior Ormond. walked with a long stride
and 1.-THE bearing in advance of them.
All, with the exception of the stately
Irishinan. were Mexicans Of the purest
type. and all seemed to be his attend
ants.
As they proceeded down the mountaiu
Derwent looked about for some time il
the expectation Of finding the bullet rid
died bodies Of Fernandez. Amanda and
the aozos. 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.
81 cannot understand this" he said
presently to Senior Ormond. at is in
credible that my companions should have
deliberately abandoned me.
"If you will tell me who they are, said
that gentleman. Il can better tell You
whether or not it is incredible"
"One of them was a man from this
part of the country, Senior Aranda"-
II know him. Who elsey
"a man who accompanied me from
Guadalajara to show me a mine. His
name is Fernandez And two mozos."
II know also-by reputation, at least
the Fernandez of whom you speak.
May ask what mine he brought you to
seer"
1.-The Buena Esperanza. Do you know
itY"
Eyes" replied the other. smiling. ~
know the Buena Esperanza. Did you,
while there. see or hear anything of one
Senior Barreray
Il saw him yesterday at the mine. He
came and had fierce alteration with
Fernandez What passed between them
do not know, for, unfortunately. have
little knowledge of Spanish: but per-
ceived that there was trouble. and | de-
clined to buy the mine. You do not
think he looked at his companion with
a sudden. startled glance-'that it could
have been Barrera who shot meY'
mo" was the decided answer. at
certainly was not Barrera. He is man
of fiery temper and dauntless courage
capable of killing an enemy on sight.
without reckoning consequences. but alb
solutely incapable of shooting him from
an ambush. Besides, what quarrel had
he with you? No, senior, do not even in
your thoughts do SO great injustice to
one who is in all respects true gentle
man"
Il was favorably impressed by him.
said Derwent. But the whole thing is
SO strange. Why should | have been
picked off, and why have my compan-
ions made no search for me?"
''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 | can an
swer. ladvise you not to trouble your
self further about it now. consider
myself fortunate in having found you,
and really think it is fortunate also for
you. | am the only English speaking
resident of this part of the country, and
my hacienda is near at hand. where you
can rest and recover your strength"
you are more than kind, said Der
went. Il put myself entirely in your
hands. 1t was the greatest good fortune
that brought you along this road"
ut was a lucky chance, certainly"
said the other cheerfully. II have been
for several days visiting the outlying
ranches of my estate, and am now home
ward bound Our road turns off at the
foot of the mountain, and we viii reach
Mirafores in about two hours.
Two hoursl If he had said two days
Derwent could hardly at that moment
have felt more dismay. With the terri
Bile pain of his wound and the deadly
faintness from loss of blood how was he
possibly to maintain an erect position in
the saddle for that length of time. His
companion must have read his thoughts
in his paling face, for he said quickly:
whenever you feel too weak to go
on we will stop and rest. | know that
you are suffering horribly. All. have
a thought Antoniol" He turned. and
as young Mexican came forward spoke
at some length in Spanish. Isl. senior,
was the reply when he had finished, and
touching his horse with the spur the
Young man rode on in advance SO rapid
ly that he was soon lost to sight.
IL have sent him to the hacienda with
orders to bring a carriage TO meet us,
his master said to Derwent. I'VE shall
be out of the mountains and on the level
land of the valley by the time it reaches
us. Now, senior. if you can manage to
keep up
1t was hard work-the hardest. Der
went thought, that he had ever attempt
ed-but, by the aid of renewed stimu-
liant and desperate resolution. he fought
the constantly threatening faintness. en-
dured the pain which momentarily grew
worse, and kept his seat. Once or twice
he felt himself Keeling, but y strong arm
was instantly thrown around him and
halt commanded. He never consented
to descend from the saddle, for he felt
sure that if he did he could not regain