Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1891-03-12
AT HIGH NOON.

- AT HIGH NOON.
There was not more daring and active
scout in Bazaine's army than Pierre Dan
ton.
When Pierre volunteered to slip into
Quinquambo 10 sec what the Mexicans
were doing, 1t never occurred % him that
there was th 'ghtest danger.
Quinqu,.2 % was little mountain vii.
lage, with small garrison. and Pierre de-
tefmined to appear In the role Of desert
er. The son Of Spanish mother, he did
not look much like Frenchman, and
spoke ~ language of the country like
native.
But there was one thing that the scout
had not thought Of. Col. Campos, then
commanding the post Of Quinquambo,
had served on the eastern coast In the ear
" part Of the war II Pierre had known
this fact he wound have blown out his
brains rather than play the spy in tho vi.
ciniiy Of the terrible Campos
AT sunrise the Frcnchman walked boldly
mt, the village and gave himself up 10 the
81 sentinel he met
lis story was plausible enough. lie had
lest faith in Macmillan and his cause, and
Lad grown weary Of hard fighting and
scanty rations. Moreover he had fallen
IN love with black eyed scnorita. and
auld no longer bear arms against Mexico
10 sentinel called corporal. and the
was repeated. To these simple sol
Sc seemed that the deserier was tell
ihc truth, id nothing but the truth
"Ah, that French devil, Bazainel" said
corporal, "hc is frightened is he not7'
NV. amrade," replied Pierre "you have
<sHly Bazaino is in despair, His
''o i"fl 90 ffr ccserHng by hundreds. They
W|t :. ,,AIng 70 cat, and tue ursurper Is
,Foney 70 pay them"
ftg5 weeks they viii bc driven
a," said the enthusiastic cor
4p slak iiko a prophet. answered
lii6s presonco Of Col. Campos the
Frencrran measured his words. The vet
ofan s'ntl without showing any iptcrest
or ainia Ills brown. lcathei face
never changed us expression, and &c
eyes were pparcnly fixed u.t
ground. ~
And you would serve the RcpuiAtf
hs asked, coldiy
"Try me, )" was the enthusiastic response.
"liow am 70 know that your story Is
n
''Noi shouted the Colonel in voice of
thunder.
The officers and soldiers gave a start Of
surprise. aud for ;he first time Pierre felt
lIno1sys..as ee. ~
lIn.! lin sSnd and feost' y-s ,,'s IN
Despite His profestations two men cars
- red out the Colonel's instructions. and
then braced the prisoner in a sitting pos
flre against n convenient wall.
"A year ago, said Campos, Il captured
that fellow near Vera Cruz. / shot of the
little finger on his right hand. and he
= -ked me ,,oSvon the forehead with his
= T1S,.---El2'hs .tH1,ain escaped that night. bv
another p&6pner told me all about hilI
He Is moi soiIier. lie is spy. lie h5e
caused more trouble than any othec .do'
in Bazaines armyA- Now Pierre--i5sdton.
what have you 10 saEl--~
s"The Colonel Is mistaken" said Pierre
II never saw him before, and ] am no spy.
My name Is Jean Rouvile."
Look exclaimed a soldier.
A glance showed that the prisoners
right little finger was missing.
''Only a coincidence. mutiered Pierre.
Guard him well, said the Colonel.
'sNo court-martial Il wanted here, and
the grim soldier walked of.
Securely pinioned as he was, Pierre saw
that he could not escape. His eyes roved
resueosly ABOUT put lheic WIS nothlhB 10
encourage him.
FThe bArbarians." [" he growled. "'rhey
will butcher me in cold blood. doubt
whether they will be kind enough TO hang
me. That Campos looks like tiend, and
the chances are that he IS even now in
venting some disbolicsl torture. Well, 1t
Is the fortune Of war
Quinouambo did not look very interest
ing TO the spy as he sat there spropped up
a6inst the Colonel's headquarters. There
was a plaza and few scattered houses
around it, except on one side where they
mad been destroyed by fire. There were
---,6o citizens. The inhabitants had aban-
dom the town, leaving it to the garrison
-. There arc not more than 800 Of the
gellow rascals," unused the spy. 'Lordl
i0Nouldn't like 70 sec some Of our cavalry
pe@ome along. They would take the place
lin the twinkling Of an eye"
Dn.n Just then two soldiers came along and,
wa lifting Pierre in their arms, carried him TO
as the center OF the plaza. The captive at
ac first thought that his hour had come, but
30 the men proceeded in sullen silente 10 iie
M him 10 tie mouth of the solitary c,,nnon,
M an old.fashioned twelve FOUNDER pointed
~ al the vacant side Of tile square. 1'hey
: dashed him with his breast TO the muzzle
~ Of the gun so securely that 1t was impossi
bic for him 10 move.
Pierre thought OF the brutal British
fashion OF blowing lndlAn rcbels from tllt
mouth Of cannons and wondered whether
he was 10 be served IN the same way.
"It viii be talked about all over Mcxi
i" said Col. Campos, coming up 'Th
cnch viii get Il into their heads tina
t.ev are fall 10 be treated in this way
and very Few will be willing to face sucl
death"
sComrade, said Pierre. 10 one Of th
aidiers, after the Colonel had gone
ots be mean NJ
a q - soldier, 1t will be an over
flrf looked, and noted an iron frame
work bver the brcech Of the gun. Oh
ae Top Of this was a round object. s.
l1it and dazzling that il made hi
a 'inf
uot understand" he said.
ifc lurdngglass there explanel
il 2aier, is 50 placed that Il fires th
1865 Ncr cyncily NJ noon. II never fails.
It victim shuddcrcd. There wa
f0'nsn ne horrible in tlle idea Of hoin
kIaliiy Pc bright lumiuary whose ray
bod ~ iis hle given him light en
ufiU,h.
tie knew that even in the large cities O
AtAfeo puaf was called the midday gu
,4as ircd in this ingeni0us foshon durin
iho as aeaecn. For six months IN th
wear hcrf was neger n cloud In the sky
ana lht action u ihe leus vas as sure .
f,,,'- -....l ,..,...i ,,,, ,,,a 5o,,,, l,is l,oa