Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1892-10-27
A MEXICAN'S REVENGE.
Adventure with O Man-Rat,nc
Troe Ia Central America.
experience OF Two Hunters Who war.
Iur'd Into Traachcrous Trap
assistance Comes 70 Thorn Ia
Time to Save Their Liycs.

! have spent, in all, three years in
central America. | went there with n
surveying party which was running the
me OF . projected railroad, one of
Shosc railroads which are bunt on
paper alone. II has never vet mote.
rallied. While the line was being
run ! made the acquaintance of an
American citizen who was the owner of
large coffee plantation, and he In.
vited Inc to spend some time with him.
accepted, and In little while mn.
,ual friendship sprGng up between us.
The result was that before the time
came Tor my departure he told he that
~ was necessary for him 10 pay visit
10 his old home in Ohio with his wife.
10 settle up scmc legal business, and
he had been trying to find some one
VINO could take charge of his plantation
during his absence. lie urged me to
take th position, and accepted. An
other week found me at the head of
one OF the finest coffee plantations in
Nicaragua.
My duties were light enough. Bland
mad competent general manager, and
about all that had to do was to act ms
the power behind the throne in the
masters absence. | had but one diff.
iiculty during this time. The manager,
a Cuban named Carlinos, was popular
with the laborers, and all went smooth
ly until one day Mexican, Michael
Ferrara, positively refused to obey
some order that Carlinos had given
him, and Carliuos appealed to me.
Upon investigation | calmly told the
Mexican either to obey orders or to
leave the place. With n sidelong scowl
ct Car!inos and myself he did what
the manager had commanded, and tho
storm seemed to have blown over, but
did not feel quito confident about it.
The Mexican's look troubled me and
mentioned it to Carlinos but he treated
the matter lightly and was inclined to
be scornful in regard to Ferrara. 'lIe
is coward" he said, Struggling his
shoulders, and SO dismissed the matter.
let the subject drop, ashamed of
seeming afraid OF man whom this
slender Cuban regarded with such dis
dain, and yet could have sworn that
when ! walked that night, startled at
some slight noise on the terrace out
side my window, it was Ferrara's dark
face saw in the moonlight pcering in
Mt me- In an instant it was gone, and
] was out of the room, running along
the terrace, searching here and there
But no, though | gave the terrace q
thorough search and even went around
to the end Of the house and the grove
Of banana trees beyond, saw nothing
moving anywhere save an owl that
fitted out of the trees. went back
to my room, concluding that had
dreamed the whole affair.
The next morning felt quite sure Of
it. met Ferrara several times in the
course of the day, and he was especial
~ pleasant He was better educated
than the majority of his class, and his
position OH the plantation gave him u
kind of precedence over the others. !
was near him several times before the
day was over, and ! noticed that on
each occasion he took pains to speak
pleasantly and greet me with his most
courteous smile. thought he was sorry
for the bad temper he had shown the
day before. didn't know him as well
then as | do now.
The next day Carlinos and had de-
cidcd upon n hunt in the mountains
that made jagged outline against the
sky off to the south. While VIC were
getting guns and cartridges into con-
dition for use Ferrara approached and
said in his smoothest tones:
IF the senors went to the valley,
down beyond the Contadino pass. they
would find where great panther
roams, and has been seen many times.
myself saw it but two days ago, but
was unarmed, so put spurs to my
horse and galloped away"
Carlinos turned to me with look OF
interest. "Thats good idea" he said
"We'll look for the panther first, and
If we fail to find him we can try the
mountains"
We were about to turn away when
yerrara stopped us, with many apol-
ogics. beyond the Contadino pass,
he said, "you will find narrow trail
leading off eastward down the valley.
Follow that trail half mile, until you
see huge white cliff. hundred yards
to the right. At the foot Of that cliff
the panther has been seen again and
again. Adios, senors!"
And SO Carlnos and went walking
of, with swinging stride, toward the
pass, glad of day in the woods and
ready for any adventure that came
along. 49,,
Except the one that actually did
come. For within the next hour we
passed through the most horrible ex'
periencc that ever fell to the lot OF NOR
tails am sure.
We found the pass--a mere gap IN
the mountains, not used for travel, as
another pass, few miles further
south, furnished the nearest road to
tho town. The pass was strewn with
rough powders and jagged masses OF
rock. difficult to make ones way over,
and for half an hour I'VE had all the eS-
.,ercisc we needed in climbing over and
saround these distractions. At last,
however. we were clear of them, and
we shouldercd our guns again after o
brief rest, and went on until we iouno
tho trail among the bushes IL was
sncb n path as would be made by cows
or sheep, going to and from watering
Mace, and | was going along paying
vorv little attention to it, when Gar
limos, who was in the lead, suddenly
stopped and muttered; THAT is very
strange" ..
7 looked over his shoulder, and there
IN the yellow sand was the bareioo.
traclx OF man. We easily traced IL
along down the trail for several nun
dred yards and then it suddenly a,s-
appeared, as though the owner OF .n ,
traclk had Turned off into the thica