Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-10-15


helping hand. hoof strokes sounded
again on the rocky descent behind him.
He turned in time TO see the powerful
black horse and his rider pass and to re-
ceive courteous salutation. Whether
Or not Fernandez had rightly interpreted
him to Barrera-and this he knew was
doubtful-the latter obviously did not
include him in his anger There was
something almost friendly in the ''Adios
senior" with which he passed.
But there was nothing friendly in the
air and manner of Fernandez when he
appeared. If Derwent had ever doubted
| what was in the man he saw 1t now
saw the bitter and implacanle enmity OF
which he was capable in lowering brow
and angry glance There We're no words
exchanged. Derwent would have been
glad to be courteous as long rs the ex-
igencies of their Journey threw them to-
gether; but Fernandez for once seemed
unable to put any constraint upon him
self or else did not care to exercise It,
He mounted silently and rode off with
Amanda, leaving Derwent to follow with
the mozos.
As they passed down the canada the
young man turned in his saddle and
looked back at the majestic peak. the
first appearance OF which had so fasci-
mated him It formed a beautiful pic
ture for his parting glance, standing in
stately isolation at the bead of the gorge.
its noble summit bathed in golden sun
shine. while the purple shadows Of late
afternoon had gathered in the deep
chasms around its base. Knowing just
where to look his eye caught the light
CLEAN Of the great lode running across
the mighty slope. and with a pang of
disappointment keener than he had reck
oned upon he bade alden to the hopes
which it had kindled
Since there was only an hour or two
Of daylight remaining they made as
much haste as possible out Of the, b;.r
ranca. and t4nen turning from the direct
road took their way to "A ranch on the
slope Of the mountains. where Senior Ar
anda had made arrangements for them
to spend the night
The next morning Fernandez proved
TO be in the same mood as on the proceed
ing evening-saying such few words as
were necessary for Interpretation and
direction. so Derwent. as he swung him
self into his saddle. thought without
much cheerfulness of the long, silent
ride before him-for they hoped to make
Eitzatlan by night But the ride was
not destined to be so silent as he had an
ticipated Fernandez came to his side.
and. observing that they had both been
somewhat hasty the day before, pro
posed to explain fully the whole history
of the bond 1t would have been
brutal incivility Of which Derwent was
incapable. To tell the man that he dis
trusted his statements altogether; so he
listened TO sketch Of Barrera's imprac-
ticable and fiery disposition, of the de
sire of the other owners to sell the mine.
OF the difficulty they had in inducing
him to consent to sale. and of the man
ner in which he had since endeavored to
embarrass their efforts. On abstract
grounds Derwent agreed that II WAS
hard that one man should have power to
annoy others and injure their interests;
but he said to himself that he was by no
means sure on which side the injury lay !
and he altogether declined to reconsider
his own decision. The result was finally |
the exchange Of few angry words
which cut deeply on each side. and then
the two men parted. Fernandez to join |
Senior Amanda. and Derwent to soothe |
himself with a cigar alone
At noon they halted for short rest
and refreshments by the side Of the only |
water on their road. They were in the |
midst of very wild and desolate coun-
try. surrounded by mountains. with
savage looking dehle before them,
through which their road lay. What |
an inviting place for brigands" thought |
Derwent. regarding the narrow pass and |
frowning heights. But, knowing how
sternly this little amusement had been |
put down in the country, he had no APP
prehension of anything of the kind. The
thought was merely suggested by the
recollection of the many bloody deeds
which such localities had witnessed in
times past. 1t was not even strong
enough TO deter him little later from
falling behind the rest of the party as
they passed down barranca with a
steep mountain strewn with rocks on
one side and precipice which dropped
two thousand feet on the other.
The road at this point descended so
sharply that Derwent. to relieve himself |
as well as his mule. dismourted and
walked, with the animal following close
behind him 1t was a dangerous place.
for the almost precipitous incline Of the
road was strewn with fragments Of
powders from the mountain above: and
his attention was altogether fixed upon
the path when the sudden falling Of a
rock Immediately before him caused him
to look quickly up the mountain side
There was only time for glance-a
glance which showed him the partially
concealed form Of man behind a great
bowltler-when there came flash. re-
port. burning pain in his shoulder
/ l. I. 4.