The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1895-10-29

not saperlatively courageous, as a
rule; but, having good deal of
devil may care recklessness about
them and being perfectly well aware
of the fear they inspire in the Mexi-
can breast, they are terrible scourge
to the poor half breeds.
But remembered now the stories
which my partner had told me of
freaks of "vacheros'' in liquor. /
thought of the bright eyed little
senorita, and words came to my lips
which / will not repeat. What a
fool had been to stand gaping here
There was only one thing to do, and
now I hadn't left myself time to do
that. / ran to the house and called.
Sonora, milo pistola, quick !"
There was a hustle inside. The rusty
hinges of the big door squeaked. A
little face, pale and haggard with
apprehension and looking at me
with great, appealing eyes, peered
out, and in another minute my re-
volver and knife were in their right
places. AS fastened the buckle and
hitohed the belt into position heard
the loud voices of the cowboys thick
in utterance hailing Jose. Twas just
in time, after all. The men had
stopped to speak to the Mexican and
listen to a polite expression of re-
greet that his family were from home,
in reply to which they vouchsafed a |
volley of oaths and tipsy laughter.
Now came the jingle of spur and |
bride as the vacheros approached |
the house with the intention of see-
ing for themselves.
My time had come. / set my teeth,
loosened my revolver in its sheath,
stepped around the corner of the
house and came face to face with
the visitors.
AT the sight of white man they
gave an exclamation of surprise and
pulled up sharply. Then there was
a profound silence.
The position was a delicate one
for all parties. The fingers of my
right hand rested upon the hilt of
my revolver, and my eyes were fixed
with great steadfastness upon the
center button of the foremost cow
boys coat. 1t was therefore patent
that 1 meant business. On the other
hand, / had two men against me
more heavily armed than myself,
probably better shots and excited
with whisky, so that ! was not hap
py or confident at all and not in the
least inclined to begin.
At least the man nearest to me
observed in an off hand but sober
voice:
Located here, captainp"
yes"
For the night?"
yes" II
"Taken your own quarters?"
"No. Come by invitation" :
"Alone?"
YES"
80? Well, we'll, then / guess I'll
get down. Eli, JOSH"
He made movement toward slip
ping from his horse, but his eye
never swerved from my right hand,
which now trembled visibly.
bent forward slightly, and draw
ng my revolver few inches from
is sheath laid my left hand upon
The handle of my knife.
There's q very decent camping
,lace two miles farther on" said
lowly. :
The cowboy hesitated and turned
% his companion. A few words pass
ID between them which I could not
lear. Then my friend remarked in
! mild and patronizing tone without
lismoupting:
Are you a buster, young MANI"
Not as rule. But there's not
DOM for more than one white man
n the Ponil tonight"
"We guess there is, though"
"Then it'll be your own funeral. 5,
Another pause. ! began to find s,
reathing laborious business and n
made the unpleasant discovery that
9th my hands were quivering in a
ocular and distressing way.
Ilonged for the struggle to begin,
it was to come at all, yet I knew
hat my only chance lay in keeping
trictly on the defensive. Z
Again the cowboy turned to his
and some communion
ion passed between them which !
Guild not hear. Then he settled
imself in his saddle with grunt, :
nd turning his horse with a tran :,
uil Good night paced away, fol- q
,wed by his friend, as carelessly as y
such had been his intention from :
ne beginning
The moment that the departure of g
l ~