The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-08-01


was time to seek shelter for the night.
| and l knew that in these tropical soli-
tudes there was no twilight. / saw no
cultivated fields, no houses. no signs of
the hacienda of Don Francisco Mendez
The situation was growing serious.
Occasionally stone weighing pound
or two was hurled at me from some
leafy covert, and then the gigantic
monkey would give horrible laugh
and scamper away. He was funny
looking chap in my blue flannel coat.
but was too angry to enjoy the comic
aspect of the matter, II struck me that
if the brute caught me in the dark he
would make an end of me in no time.
1t was both horrible and humiliating,
such death in the tangled forests Of
this savage land.
just then | saw short distance of,
in clearing, square stone hut. Here
was shelter and protection. was not
disappointed much to find it uninhab-
tied. 1t was strongly built, with no
windows, and one entrance from which
the door had long since rotted away. A
stepladder led to the loft. Ascending.
l found small apartment dimly lighted
by round holes in the wall, which had
evidently been used by sharpshooters
at some revolutionary period in the his
tory of the country. Ny mind was
made up in an instant went back to
my mustang and picketed him about
one hundred and sixty yards from the
hut in the bushes. Then | returned to
my fortress just as the darkness closed
in upon me, and sought refuge in the
loft, pulling up the ladder after me-
was safe here, even from the monkeys,
and lay down feeling sense of per-
feet sec urity.
1t must have been late in the night
when | heard something moving in the
room under me. Looking through the
opening in the floor could see moth
ing. struck a match, and by the flick
ering flame recognized the monkey
The w reich still wore my coat, and in
the dim. uncertain light his appearance
was more repulsive than ever
/ lay down again, knowing that the
beast could not get into the loft, and
commenced planning for his destruc-
tion IN the morning. | was satisfied
that the animal belonged to species
of mountain apes of great strength and
terrible ferocity. Their cunning, /
heard, was almost human. and they did
not scruple to atSck men and rend
them limb from lirab. i concluded,
when the morning light appeared, 10
draw the brute's attention nd shoot
him ia cbe of his eyes. Having settled
on this plan. / was about dropping into
II doze, when i heard voices outside the
hut. listened with alert ears.
''If, as you say, Pedro. this American !
is inside, we should ambush him and I
shoot him when he comes out in the /
Now, by all the saints, Juan, was
the reply of Pedro, you are q coward /
II fool. The Englishman. like all his 1
has his eyes open, and may 4
get the drop on us"
Wonder what they'll do with the
monkey?" / said to myself with
chuckle.
AZ hear the American moving" said
Pedro.
6ic ne E1DlttfE
was walking in circle all the time.
and the dead leaves that had drifted
into the but rustled under his feet.
There was another whispered consulta-
lion, and the Mexicans rushed into the
-oom below. The outlaws saw a dark
'orm and charged with their long, rnur.
lerous knives
! heard two dull thuds. and knew
hat Pedro and Juan had been dashed
against the walls.
Mother Of Mosesp gasped Juan
Knife him.
The robbers made another rush
"Ah, ah.'' yelled Pedro. Where are
'ou. ,Juan7 This hog of an American !
las me by the throat and have lost
NJ knife"
lie IS demon" groaBed Juan +;
He Is pounding my head against the !
Faiif'
A TolIeT of yeils followed and then .
horns Of grOans Through il all {
card an orninOus dull thad. At lenzta Z
Hence preSSiIed. and then kuew that &
II was over.
Ny last match was sroEe, bat 20 ray =
reat delight Il was aisr1ost morning 7
'i.h the hrs. rays oi daylight peered I;
srcugh the hole IN the floor. Il gvaS {
hastily sight .hzt met uF gaze The