The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1892-07-21

Dly horse SHE'D and stumbled at
every step in the midst Of this conyul-
sion Of nature, and [ was obliged to
watch him with the greatest care to
avoid being dropped in the mud.
| was literary drenched by the rain,
and | cursed my obstinacy in refusing
Don Iorribio's obliging offer, and
choosing thus TO plow along blind
roads III the middle OF the night
T came near breaking my neck TWEEN
ty times, and I was nearly at my wits
end, when | remembered an old build
ing that could not be far off, and
which might afford temporary shelter
from the tempest.
| laid my course as we'll as | could
IN the pitchy darkness, and succeeded,
at the end of few moments, in reach
ing the hospitable roof 1t was an
Old tower the relic of some feudal
manor, which time had undermined
and wrecked; it was abandoned. at
most falling to pieces, and served as
a retreat for night-birds The coun-
try people called it the THE Night
Owls lowers a name that fitted it In
every way.
/ dismounted and passing the bride
over my arm, entered, followed by my
horse.
Strange stories were told about this
place, which | know not by what fatal
ity, came back to my morbid magma
ton with vividness and force which
sent shudder through my limbs, and
1t was only with a certain anxiety that
looked around on a place which
must serve me for shelter for some
hours at least.
As / said, / found myself in vast
hall, occupying the entire breadth Of
the tower. 1t was pierced by narrow
windows, long since deprived of their
shutters, through which the rain,
driven by the wind, was whirled into
the interior. At the end a dilapidated
staircase assembled spirally to the up
per stories; IN one corner heap Of
rubbish Of all kinds rose to the arch
ed ceiling, and did not seem to have
keen disturbed for a century at least.
But what really terrified me was to
see a heap of brush and dead wood
blazing in the middle OF the hail
Where We're the occupants Of this
strange plsce? Not wishing to blum
der stupidity into peril, [ returned to
to the road and looked out keenly in
every directions; but the night was too
dark for me to discover anything and
though L listened attentively. [ heard
only the furious kissing of the wind.
to which no human sound was added
Somewhat relieved by this silence
and solitude. determined to 90
around the old fortress; my investiga
ton had no result, only | found kind
of old shed, in which L put my horse.
Then, convinced that. for the time at
least, | was the only inhabitant of the
tower, and consequently had nothing
TO fear, | re-entered the hall, but wish
ing not to be taken by surprise. re-
solved to ascend to the top story.
As far as | could Judge in the midst
of the darkness in which / was plunc
ed the upper hall was exactly like that
l had left: the same decay, the same
heap of filth, and the same stairway
leading to a higher story.
Not to be surprised without defense.
L examined the caps of my pistols:
then wrapping myself III my cloak.
after II fervent prayer, [ lay down
near the staircase, resolved to keep
awake, but tired as | was. my ewes
closed In spite of myself. my ideas be
came confused, and | was dropping
asleep, when all at once the sound of
footsteps ringing In my ears suddenly
reused me from my torpor and restor-
ed me to myself
A dozen persons had just entered
the tower. From the place where
was lying, by advancing my head
slightly. 1T was possible to see them
without being seen myself They
were men with tanned skins. dark
faces, and stout limbs, dressed in the
rich and striking Andalusian costume.
and armed to the teeth. They were
seated around the blazing fire and
talking earnestly while they threw
covetous looks on two large Golfers
they had placed IN corner.
The first words | heard did not Der
init me to preserve the slightest doubt
as to their profession. They were
highway robbers. and belonged 10 the
band of Ell Nino. famous bandit chief.
who had succeeded Jose Maria. whose
name had become the terror of Anda
lusa. Their gestures We're animated: ::
sometimes they had their hands on
their weapons. | thought [ under
derstood that they differed about the
division of the booty contained in the
chests. The dispute finally became
SO hot that | thought. the wretches
would slay each other.