The news boy., 1894-11-10

L
It lay in the department of Tolima, on
rhe eastern slope OF the central Cor
dilleras. On the 9th of September we
left the village of Cerrito, on the west
ern side. accompanied by five stout
burros and couple of lusty-lunged
muleteers. Their lungs We're the only
active organs they possessed. Jose
was F.zy, but Isaza, a typical specimen
OF the Mozo, could scarcely keep up
with the burros.
The grant lay at the source of the
Saldana river and our object was to
work the rich auriferous sands that
Leon had reason to suppose existed
there.
On the fifth day we had reached the
San Augustin pass and camped there
for the night, high among the clouds
and snow. The next morning we be-
gan the descent at an early hour. Com
ing to a sharp turn in the narrow
nountain trail, where the space was
scarcely wide enough for a burro to
glue his feet, the active services of
1saza were required.
That leisurely gent was far behind
Rnd very hesitating in his march. con.
tinually muttering "El Teredo' in al
most abject fear.
Ell Teredo was noted renegade and
bandalero who had taken refuge in the
mountains, where he soon acquired
some power over the uncivilized Yutua
Indians, who lived there in all their
aboriginal primitivcness. These re
quired little persuasion to accompany
him on his depredatory excursions in
TO the sparsely settled surrounding
country. The natives, with their usual
failing, shrouded him in hazy mys-
terry in which he appeared almost su-
perhuman.
A couple of energetic kicks some
what enlivened Isaza, and the mules
were safely "steered" along the ledge,
where a misstep would have precipi-
tated the unfortunate down The sheer
precipice for hundred feet or more.
Continuing to wind our way along the
steep and rocky path we We're soon
surprised to find, at some distance,
evidences of the very recent passage
of man. San Augustin pass is not
much frequented road and we made
all sorts of surmises as to who our fell
low travellers We're. say fellow trav-
elers, for In that lonely spot they
would have seemed such had they been
two days journey ahead instead of
only few hours
Isaza cried: "El Teredo! Ell grande
bandalero! Quire usted Il want togo)."
And for once suiting word with action,
y he turned and fed.
L.
perish from the cold before he could
reach any habitation on the route we
had just traversed, l leaped off my
burro and sprang after him. Already
he had disappeared from view amongst
the sharp turns and rocky crags of the
faint trail. Fearing nothing in my
eagerness dashed on, clinging to the
bare cliffs with the tenacity of the
mountain goat At last l sighted him
about two hundred feet away, on the
opposite side of an immense fissure in
the rocks, springing along with an
agility of which never should have
dreamed him capable.
A moment only. He vanished around
the narrow ledge of the morning Soon
I had rounded the fissure; ] had begun
70 enjoy tno race III tHe crisp IuOuu-
tain air; in flash / would pass the
ledge, and then a comparatively wide
sweep in which 1 could easily overtake
my God! Never will l forget that
moment as shot through space; the
rocks seemed to be rising around me
apowerful hand at my stomach, press
ing the breath out-my ears tingled-
remembered no more.
Iopened my eyes and looked around.
Why was everything SO dark? ! quick
ly tried to rise. but excrucating pains
in my body and left leg forced me
back upon the ground or rather bed of
dried ychu grass and skins. Then the
events of the muleteer's desertion and
consequent race and fall REQUIRED
to me.
But where was I? And how did
get there? As lay Illuminating on
these questions my eye wandered
around the apartment All was en-
veloped in q semitwilight, but bright
enough to show that was in cave
or grotto, On the door were several