The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-07-10
CHAPTER ~.
At RAY.

Forward rushed the half casre IN pus.
suit Of the fugitive, and tho better to
come up with him, crafty savage that no
was, he climbed up to the natural ham
mock Of bindweed In order to follow
the same route Bacas had taken rather
than hurt himself against the impcne-
trable bushes which rose between him
and his prey. However. he was agile
enough, and in moment. with sure
footedness which Alfonso did not pos
sess. he had guessed at, found out and
gone through the passage which Alton
80 had prepared.
But here again he lost all trace of
the fugitive. Only from time to time
ne heard on his right some cracking
sounds, which indicated the presence of
Alfonso. 1t was evident that he was
trying to reach the river, that he might
escape by swimming. UA
The half caste then quickly formed
his resolution, which was to pursue
Bacas along the upper level of the for
est, since tho lower one was impracti-
cable. In fact, nothing could be easier
than reaching q given point by pass
ing from one branch TO another. He
first mounted an ebony tree and from
that to the summit Of gigantic oak,
and following the condemned man,
whom he could not see. but whose flight
ne could hear, this desperate fellow,
sure of ultimate success, came to the
conclusion that the capture was now
only question of time
Alfonso. on his part, becoming equal
ly sharp, glided like serpent from tree
TO tree, passing along only the thickest
branches. In one hand he held his gun,
rssdy for use against this tiger in hu-
,nan form who was hunting him.
All at once Bacas, who was thus TAX
.ng fight along the upper part of the
forest, could not refrain from uttering
a. cry Of despair. He found himself in
front Of a clearing, not very wide, 1t Is
true, but it made break in the CONT
nuity of tho trees. The only thing pos
Eible was to make q circuit He turned
20 the left and was fastening ON when
me found himself face to face with the
half caste, who was standing 90 PAGES
off on the trunk of an enormous tree
At tho sight Of tho escaped prisoner,
whose head first showed itself among
the leaves, the Argentine broke out into
peal of laughter, which sounded like
the howl of some wild beast But this
ferocious joy did not last very long, for
ON seeing Alfonso armed with q gun,
which he had not suspected, the rascal,
whose mind had all the baseness of q
hired assassin. turned pale and began to
iremble.
In his haste to pursue Alfonso he had
neglected, as we have seen, to reload
his gun, and the fugitive stood up, right
ON the broad branch Of tree, leaning
against the trunk and covering the half
caste with his muskct The latter made
a hasty retreat and hid himself behind
the tree. Alfonso felt sudden impulse
of generosity.
''Gregorio," he cried out to him,
''give up this pursuit Of me; let me es-
cape, aud will give you your life. But
II you will not at once pledge me your
word of honor and swear that you will
return to Salem. in one minute will
climb to the top Of this oak, and from
there will shoot you down like par
rot the moment you leave your retreat |"
There was short pause The half
caste was rejecting.
will you swearr" cried Alfonso in
n trembling voice.
II WILL" replied Gregorio
"On your honor?"
eyes, on my honor.
"It is well; 60 your way" replied
Alfonso.
The Argentine then came out Of his
hiding place and showed himself in the