Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1894-04-19
d~oNTINUED.l
rHAPTFR VIII.


Whatever might have been his other
moral attributes, Pasqual Morales had
borne name for desperate courage that
seemed justified in this supreme moment
surprise and stampede. What he saw
rs he leaned out of the bounding vehicle
was certainly enough to disgust ban
dit and demoralize many a leader.
Scattering like chaff before the gale his
followers were scudding out across the
desert. every man for himself, rs though
the very devil were in pursuit of each
Individual member of the gang. Eight
br ten at least, squirting, lashinG their
horses to the top of their speed, were
already far beyond reach Of his voice.
Close at hand, however, six or seven Of
the fellows, desperadoes of the first
water, had unslung their henry rifles
and blazing away for all they were
worth showed evidence of Il determina-
ton to die game. Behind them. scream
ing at the tops of their shrill strident
voices. Sonora Moreno and her daughter
We're clinging stoutly to the iron rail
Ct their seats as the blackboard was
whirled and dashed across the plain.
Already both the wounded men had
been flung helplessly out upon the sands,
and even as he looked the off fore
wheel struck stout cactus stump; flew
into fragments; the tire rolled off in
one direction, and MOreno's lucklCss
...Dy ahot. Cometlike, into space and
l.chcd up shrieking i'll the midst of
plentiful crop of thorns and spines,
The husband and father, gazing upon
the incident from over his shoulder and
afar, blessed the saints for their bene-
fcence in having landed his loved ones
on soft soil instead of among the jag
ged rocks across the plain. But for
himself the sooner he reached the rocks
the better. \ tall gringo, who cast
aside a dark blue blouse as he rode,
STOPPING low over his horses neck,
seemed bent ON racing the late ranch
owner TO the goal where both would
he, and there was none to dispute with
them the doubtful honor. Even those
who had stampeded at the first yell Of
alarm We're now refining back in broad,
sweeping circle, lnslinging the ready
rife and pouring in a long range fire on
the distant rank of cavalry, just burst
ing into the triumph of tho charge.
Here, there and everywhere across the
plain little puffs Of blue white smoke
We're shooting up, telling of the leaden
missiles hurled at the charging line.
But on like the wind came the troopers
in blue, never pausing to fire IL shot,
their leader at racing speed.
Wounded though he was Pasqual
Morales was not the man to fail III the
fight. Yelling orders and curses at his
driver, he succeeded in getting him tc
control his frantic team just long
enough to enable the outlaw captain
to tumble out. Then away they dashed
again, the stiffening body of Ramon and
the woighty little safe being now sole
occupants Of the interior. In the mad
excitement Of the first rush Two or three
horses had broken loose, leaving theiI
owners afoot. and believing that nc
quarter would he the rule these aban-
dOned roughs We're fighting TO tho last
selling their lives, as they called it, as
dearly as possible. From their rifles
and from others the shots rained fast
upon the troopers, but never seemed TO
check tho charge. The rush was glori
Gus. Drawing their REVIEWERS now.
for they carried no sabers, the soldier
fired as they rode down those would be
Instructors, and two poor Wretches were
flattened out upon the plain when the
main body OF the troop dashed by, max
ing straight for the fleeing Concord
with the white canvas top. Drum
mond had not fired at all. Every
thought was concentrated on the occu-
pants of the wagon. Every shot might
be needed when he got to them
Chester was running grandly The
designated four who We're to follow the
lieutenant We're already over 100 yard:
behind when, from the trail of the am
bulance, from a little patch Of cactus
there came flash and report, and thu
beautiful horse swerved, reeled, bu
pushed gamely on. Noting the spot
two Of the following troopers emptieC
a cartridge into the clump, but left TN
lurking foe to be looked after later
They were too close to the Concord t.
think of anything else-so close the,
could hear the cries and pleadings of
woman S voice, the terrified scream o