The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1891-10-31
SAVED BY NERVE.

SAVED BY NERVE.
Hardly had the beams OF the rising
ann, as II came up out OF, the Gulf OF
Mexico.s tinted the upper wall OF ST.
Juan do Ulloa, when q bugle sounded
inithe court yard Of Vera Cruz Pas
ada calling a small party together for
AN early morning start on long jour-
ney.- As the last notes of y the call
died away, three Americans, followed
lby. half a dozen Mexicans, entered the
yard, all booted and spurred ready to
DO of. With the. customary shouting
and chattering. the horses and pack
mules were brought out and with
many dos. the cavalcade set forth.
The Americans were bound for the
interior, where near Tehuacan, they
were TO look over q tract OF land re-
Gently purchased by one OF them, Jack
Morgan. The other two Americans
were friends OF Morgan taken along
for company. and also because they
were somewhat acquainted with greas-
ers and greascr ways, while Morgan
vas not. The Mexicans were hired to
go along as guides, guards and to do
ahe work. Morgan was typical Wes-
terner, and knew the ms and outs OF
rilne on the PLANE AZ. we'll as, the best
.of them. He was one of those chaps
:, who are quick on the trigger and cool
under all circumstances. He spoke
Spanish fairly well, but as stated be-
fore, had never been far into the inte-
rior OF Mexico.
The first days travel was unevent-
full. and the sMexicans selected fine
camping place for the night After
Gsupper the pipes were brought out,
and seated about the fire the Ameri-
cans discussed the first day Of their
Y tourney. l.& f.t .#lI
r-s Its all right so far" said Morgan.
: .'If we get through to- morrow as good
as we have to-day shall feel all right.
~ Tomorrow we'll 60 through the worst
part OF the trip, and the consul at
Vera Cruz said II we were not molest-
c-ed IN going through the hills we would
!. stand good chance OF getting
through without hold up"
>. : why. asked Marx. one of the
Americans, ARE we likely to be held
ups"
Unfortunately we are. There are
. gentlemen OF the highway on this side
y of the Rio Grande as we'll as the
other"
If you knew this. why didn't you
bring larger crowdP Did you know
1t, Hank?"
OF course knew it. and I'm pre-
{ pared for it." {tts
Then, as you was sort Of outfltter
for this expedition, why didn't you
hire more Mexicansp" queried Mark.
For the simple reason that six
Mexicans are as good as a field full.
II we are going to run up against road
agents, the more you hire the more Of
the gang you will be likely to have
along with you to turn against you at
the critical moment But 1t Is not at
all likely that we will be troubled,
though it Is not beyond the range Of
possibility"
While this conversation was going
Y on, one OF tho Mexicans had been ly-t
7. ing by the fire, rolled up in his manta,
= apparently asleep; but as soon as the
e1Americans turned into the tent for the
= night he unrolled himself and sneak
/. .ed off into the bushes.
The next morning. bright and early.
!. breakfast was served. the tent stuck
and the journey resumed. Upon count
ing noses 1t was discovered that there
was one missing and with it the Mexican
. whom 1t belonged to. The other Mex
leans disclaimcd all knowledge OF his
Y departure. Morgan did not fancy that
q incident, but Hank passed it of by
saying that the fellow had got home
4 sick and gone back home. ~
a.4N When they made halt for lunch
:. and q short rest in the middle OF the
day, Morgan and Mark took their
rifles and strolled of. intending to
shoot something. A short distance
from their companions they struck
another trail, and as they were looking
= up and down the sound OF an approach
I, ing horse greeted their ears. Hastily
-,cOncealing themselves behind boul-
n der, they were surprised to see their
Z missing Mexican ride up and pass
y along on the trail ,..tta,s
isia That chap Is up to some mischief"
assaid Morgan. We'd better get back
D7to the others and get out of this coun-
try rs soon rs we can. I've heard that
you cant trust greaser, and darn me
iii ! don't begin to believe it."
When they unfolded their story TO
Hank he was us apprehensive as they.
butt thought the best to DO done was
go ahead and tackle whatever came.
.Confound fool, anywayr' growled
Hank. when you catch me wander
ing about a strange woodpile again
: you can hang me for boss thief.
s6This fooling about In a heather land is
all right for some but I'm no mission
airy.
The pack animals were loaded again
and tho party resumed tho journey. not
In the best OF spirits. as can be imag-
lined Z, ~. "
The afternoon had nearly waned
: without an incident and the party was
almost feeling secure from interrupt
ton, when. as they were riding along.
the bushes beside the trail suddenly
parted, and Mexican with . revolver