The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1892-02-05

"No, no." pleaded Jack, sT rather
like him, too, for his Castiliau airs. We
have weapons. Let us keep HIM. That
he is useful you cannot deny"
We finally gave up arguing with Jack,
and let the matter drop. Months SER
vices were not dispensed with the next
day. He continued to tutor Jack in
Spanish, carry our packs when we made
our little excursions thereabouts, and to
religiously collect his pay at eventide
each day.
Thus did week slip by. On one of
our rambles during that time. we came
upon fissure in q ravine's rocky sid1
where We thought gold might be found.
1t lay about two miles east of tie camp
in little bit of timberland.
We had worked day or so in tito
shafts sunk by the miners of the camp,
for the novelty of the experience, and
when we discovered this opening, one
OF us suggested that we put blast in il
and see if we could lay bare any veins of
precious metal. The proposition was
received with favor, ahd we settled on u
day for the experiment.
On the morning of that day, we set
out for the promising spot, Monti carry
ing can OF powder and other accessories
for the blast. Hugh and took our guns
with us. We reached the spot in about
an hour and half. Then Montl dropped
his load at the edge of the fissurc, aud
we started to prepare the blast. But our
drill was missing. 1t had either slipped
from Months load or been left behind.
"Monti," said Hugh disgustcdly, "get
back to the cabin, as quick as your thin
shanks will carry you, and bring drill.
Look along the ground, too, rs you go
you may find ours dropped by some
stone"
"Si, senor,n the fellow returned.
"We will take little run down the
ravine for game while you are gone
hey, Cad2" Hugh added.
"All right" exclaimed.
"And will try snooze here, mean
WHILE" said Jack.
He stretched himself lazily upon a
mossy knoll as he spoke, threw his coat
over the powder keg for pillow, and
putfed ut his corncob contentedly. 1t
was pleasant spot for nap. A stunted
little maple gave him shade; the stream
| flowing through the rocks, ten feet dis
tant, sang u melodious, slccpiuducing
lullaby.
81 should have bad dreams with such
head-rest" said Hugh looking down at
| Jacks blond locks and smiling face.
''And /, too, senor," added Monti.
"You won't forget to put that pipe
out2"
"Oh, no" laughed Jack.
| We separated then. Monti hurried
| off toward the cabin and Hugh aud I
walked up the ravine.
''If we get anything out of that hole
in the wall, what do you say making it
into wedding present tor Belle Has
| tings?" asked Hugh, rs we went on.
"a tirst-class idea?" / exclaimed.
cit may be n gorgeous dinner SET"
''Or glove buttoner."
EYES," laughed Hugh.
We went on a little further, and our
way was finally barred by steep ascent.
| | proposed that we return to Jack.
High was willing aud we retraced our
| steps.
We said little. Each was OH the alert
for game. A rabbit would make very
acceptable stew, but not a single cotton
tail crossed our path. Hugh tugged at
his refractory mustachc spitefully in his
disappointment as he preceded me.
A walk Of ten minutes brought us to
! the bend in the ravinc where Jack
awaited us. When we turned it we be-
held Il tableau 1 shall long remember.
Jack lay sleeping quietly and over
him bent the pauther-ike form of Monti.
The Srcaser's sallow face bore tiendish
smile. He rested on one knee, and in
his right hand he held u burning match.
He had not heard our approach, and he
was on thcpoint of applying the match
to bit of fuse he had inserted in the
stopper of the powder kcg on which
Jacks head rested.
Hugh threw bis rifle to his shoulder
and pulled the trigger. Monti sprang
back and fell with low groan. would
have fired if had not just unlouded my
weapon. Jack started up and looked
about him in surprise.
"Your Spanish professor was getting
a little too officious" exclaimed Hugh
grimly, to him, as we came forward, and
he told Jack of what we had caught
Monti at, while made sure that the
| tlCdCneTOuS Nllldlu uatCn Hau not lg-
nited the fuse.
"What's up herc?" cried one of three
men, from the camp, coming upon Vi
just then. "We heard shot"
Monti lay groaning and cursing by the
naples roots, and crying out that we
had tried to murder him. SO l tolt
them the facts of the case; and Jacks
pocket.book which fell from Months
pocket confirmed our suspicion that
MontI intended to rob Jack aud have tho
powder explosion cover his crime. The
miners listened attentively to the ex-
planation, and chen one of them seized
the wounded greaser and started of
campward, beckoning for his compan.
ions to follow, which they did, after q
"aood by, gents" to US.
"a miss is as good as mile," criet
Jack, shortly, picking up the drill Mont
had brought while we were away. "Nov
for our gold mine"
"You will not engage another Spanish
instructor" quericd Hugh.
| HNOt if / live to be n hundred In re