The diamond drill., 1894-09-15

ohuly IN the tOul air OF the place, ana
not seeing 10 | stumbled presently
over an object that lay across the path.
l leaned forward To see what IL was,
and had just recognized with a thrill
Of horror that IL was the body of a
man most sickeningly swollen and
discolored, when the man with me
suddenly jerlked me TO one side and
discharged his pistol at a dark, gliding
shape that was making at me. Back,
back, senor." he cried. dragging at me.
1T is the black deathT' Impelled by
him, though not understanding the
danger, / backed out of the place, and
was then told that had narrowly es-
capped bite from Gila monster, and
that the man we mad seen was In all
probability my poor servant, though
would never have known that ghastly,
battened shape for him.
could scarcely prevail on the man
10 go oack with me into the shaft, but
at last ne consented 20 walk behind
me and 20 hold the torch that might
kill the deadly creature and bring out
the body of the poor boy for burial.
We found the monster that the Mexi-
can had fred at writhing about, evil
IDENTIFY wounded by the shot, and,
quickly dispatching him, we stopped
20 lift the dead boy when my nostrils
were smitten by fresh Whit of inde-
scribably offensive odor resembling
that of decaying raw meat which filled
the place. The Mexican and sprang
about TO see crawling out of the gloom
at the far end OF the shaft n second
monster. Aiming carefully l fred at
the moving form, but must have
missed the reptile, for with incredible
swiftness of movement II reached ms
and seized my left foot. Fortunately
had on thick hunting boots reach
ing 20 my knee, 80 that as far as
! was concerned the creature was
harmless, out che Mexican with me
was barefooted, and cried out 20 me TO
kill the monster before il could turn
on him, SO leaning down ! placed my
weapon almost TO the things head and
blew its brains out.
During the same year OF this occur
renee young mining engineer from
the east ran away with the daughter
of wealthy Mexican ranchman, who
objected TO the marriage on the score
OF the young mans poverty. The
couple, pursued by 'he angry father, a
man who had the reputation OF being
swift TO kill, made for Fort Grant, but
were obliged to cross the mountains. A
storm was coming up, and their driver
sought shelter in deserted adobe hut,
where they were kept all night TO
this place they were traced by the
| 4,s l..t hn .Vlx 1fsuf 4
and swollen bodies in the hut with two
Gila monsters. These showed fight,
but were killed, and the heart broken
father returned home.
On the river from which these rep
tiles take their name are the remains
OF an extensive dwelling house which
in its day was marvel of architecture
and elegance TO the MeXicans. Its
owner was n Sig Mcsilla, who had
been educated In the cast, and who
had brought home bride from some
northern state when his college days
were over. But for all his adoption OF
American manners and customs the re
vengoful nature OF his race lived In
him. A short time after his marriage
he grew Jealous OF n friend who had
been n classmate of his and who haC
accompanied him home to see some
thing OF the country. To the sus
picious Mexican IL seemed that his
young wife looked with too smiling &
countenance on her countrymau, and
In his dark mind he planned n reveng,
unique in its way. He procured paii
of Gila monsters and promised. hi
ranchmcn rare treat, something
, better and more novel than n bull
fight Monarch OF the country fol
miles about, there was no one To in
: terfcre with his grim pleasure, so on'
day without warming he caused hi
, guest TO be stripped of hi
, clothing except one light carmen
, and shut in the court of the place
formed by the blank walls Of the foui
! connected buildings that formed th'
ranchhouse. The victim was provide,
= with knife and then the monster
a were let into this improvised arena
, Mesilla and his men sat upon the Low
| roofs and watched the combat witt
4 shouts of laughter and cheers as tn
: reptiles and the man fought. TIL
. American was unaware of the deadl,
: character OF the creatures he vas ar
rayed against, and, while bitten agar
4 and again, thought he was ighting 70
. his life, and succeeded in finally kill
: ing one OF the reptiles, though tn
: poison was fast rendering him blin,
and sick. At last he fell dead on tn
!, body OF the monster he had slain
!. while the other, though wounded
|. fastened itself upon the corpse.
= Messilla had forced his wife 10 wit
4 ness this horrible scene until she ha'
/, tainted, and now that the man wa
! dead the cruel husband had her low
! cred into the yard. As she reached Tn
: stone paving Of the place, she recoy
!, cred consciousness and, seeing th
dreadful form Of the monster crawlin
4 toward her, hastily snatched from tn
!, dead mans hand the knife with whic
\ he had fought and plunged II In lac
: breast, falling lifeless beside her cour
: tryman. Mesilla wishing, however, [
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