The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1895-01-10

shoulder, Juanits. mounted.
Away, Satan, for life and Lowell"
she said. And the drumming Of the
steed's hoofs on the ground told OF the
great speed of which he alone was CO.
pable.
She needed not the fact that ali the
riders she saw were going the other
way. ITO the Bacatel! was her cry.
And Satan knew her spirit and reflect
| ed it in his own.
On a cliff overlooking the pass
band of fierce Yaquis lay encamped.
1t was not peaceful camp. There
were no signs of industry save the in
dustry of war. There were no shouts,
no chants, no fires AS still as death
they lay, peering stcalthily over the
cliff, waiting, watching. for their
prey. Great rocks. pried loose from
their beds, almost hung over the cliff,
suspended or held in check by ropes of
twisted grass. These were the deadly
weapons with which the cowardly In.
dians would crush their foes.
A small band of Mexican soldiers
struggled up the mountain side. All
unsuspecting of the hidden danger,
they entered the pass. The massacre
of the Sierra de Bacatel was soon to
commence.
On their weary horses or mules they
toiled upward, great walls of rock ris-
ing high on each side of them. The
pass was not more than hundred feet
wide. What chance for escape was
there?
Suddenly blood-curdling war cry
rent the air. 1t seemed to come from
the sky. 1t rolled above them like
thunder. They stood still appalled,,
knowing that danger threatened them,
feeling the beginning Of their doom,
yet seeing no foe, and powerless to
strike blow in their own defense.
Not quarter of mile away, COM
ing through the fated pass, was a
wagon. The great black horses stepped
briskly along with their load, and the
heavy covered wagons used by the trav-
elers in the mountains were no light
load. Senior Castero drove them, and
whipped them into greater speed. He
was hurrying home to his daughter.
"We will soon be on the level road"
he said to companion, who lay on
cushions inside the wagon. ''Then we
can make better speed. Does the
rougnness Of the road hurt you?"
Not much l could stand more to
hurry to the side of Juanita."
Again the lash. Again the horses
started up. All! If Senor Castero knew
what was being done just ahead,
A great rock loosened by the fiends
on the cliffs, bounded out over the
heads of the soldiers and crashed down
among them, ,scrushing two of the poor
fellows into the earth.
Cries of CONSERVATION came from
the soldiers. Like Gagged rats, they
turned one way and another, firing
their rifles fruitlessly into the air,
shouting, crying, shricking, as one
after another the cruel rocks came
! down upon them. always with death
dealing certainty. And into this
maelstrom of death Scnor Castero was
driving.
But what is that flying up the noun
tain side? A horse, once black as coal,
now white with his own feamx,afor he
had travelled at a killing pace tos many
miles without break. Faithfully he
plunged along. On his back Juanita,
fearless, holding the bride with
firm grip, while she urged her magnii.
cent steed to further efforts.
ION, on, Satan! Another mile, and
we shall be beyond the the pass! On,
on!"
And on he went.
Not even when they came in sight Of
the panic-stricken soldiers did horse
or rider falter. The girl knew that
her life might pay the penalty for her
daring. She knew the Yaquis. She
knew their tactics, their bloodthirsti-
ness She knew that not one of those
stricken soldiers could escape alive.
Yet she did not falter. for, coming
toward that certain death. we're her
father and her lover, and she was q
woman whose love was her life, and
the loss of her love was worse than
death.
ION, Satan, on!" she cried.
And over the dead and dying bodies
Of the soldiery the great horse
bounded. jumping from side to side to
clear the fallen rocks, his heroic rider
breathing a prayer to an Almighty
Power to guide her and her horse safe
ly through the storm of death.
'We are past the danger! On, Satan,
on!' she cried.
Before her she saw the horses and
wagon she knew SO well. Her IA
ther, bewildered, saw the rushing
steed, unrecognizable save by his
lightning gait.
Back! Back! The Yaquis are on the
cliff! 1t is death to proceed! Back!
Turn back!" Juanita cried.
"Jesus have mercy" muttered Senor
Castero, as he hurriedly turned his
horses around. God in Heaven be
thanked for giving me daughter that
can do this thing!"
"Juanita, my angel" murmured Zal.
varedes, rising from his cushions and
gazing rapturously at the girl who
had risked her life for his and saved it.
Flying Satan reached the side of the
wagon, and with a great convulsive
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