Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1896-05-07
danger of the rope breaking.
Do


4 Now, Don Manuel had hoped that &
risk of discovery was over, and he dis
not at all enjoy the notion of running
deliberately into danger again. Still
he felt obliged to give reluctant con
sent. "Dut won't go any distance, he
declared, firmly; sit would be extreme
~ dangerous!"
1T would, indeed" responded the
! Amigo, dryly.
"We had better send for my nan to
let us down." suggested Don Manuel
when he had yielded the point.
"Oh, it is not worth while for such a
few feet said the Amigo; shat Indian
over there will do justas we'll"
"But he will not know how far to
send us, objected Don Manuel.
"Show him yourself, then" returned
the lad. "You can tell how far it is safe
to CO."
Somewhat soothed by this concession.
Don Manuel gave the necessary instruc-
tons. This done, he stepped back to
the cage, and, with true Mexican polite
ness, motioned to his companion to be
seated. But not to be outdone in cQur-
| tesy, the latter insisted upon giving
the older man precedence, and after
much hesitation Don Manuel seated
himself. Scarcely had he done so, when
the Indian, in obedience to a rapid ges-
tire from his patron of the morning.
swung the cage off, and began to lower
it with its sole occupant.
stop! stop" shouted Don Manuel,
excitedly. my Amigo is coming with
MEL
mo, he is not" replied that young
gentleman, calmly. You seem 10 be
llnacquainted with some important de-
tails in the character of your mine"
he went on, land ] am going to give You
an opportunity Of finding them out.
have already done SO, and do not, there
fore, intend to descend again. j hope
that you will have pleasant expedi-
ton. Goodbye"
"Let me Quit" screamed Don Manuel.
as the cage began to sink. II won't 60
down! | shall be drowned! Murder
ers! Mnrderers!"
As his head disappeared from view
and his voice grew fainter, the lad
went over to the man at the windlass.
Lower him quickly" he said, 80 that
when he touches water we shall hear
the splash. Then pull him up as fastas
you can, but don't bring him quite to
the top"
The Indian nodded, proceeding to
obey his instructions to the letter. As
the cage went deeper, Don Manuel's
agonized entreaties died away in the
distance, until at last wild yell and
noise of water showed that he hal gone
far enough. He was then drawn back
to within a foot of the mouth OF the
mine, where he hung helplessly in
space, drenched and shivering object.
"iou see was right, said the Amigo;
you had omitted to acGuaint your
self with important particulars. Now,
know tina! you still haze my check
Tor half tn. purchase money in your
pocket. because you told me SD yester-
day. SO will give you Your choice.
You may hand it to me at once, or you
may still further increase your store
of information regarding that mine
by exploring IL again
The money belongs to me-" cx-
claimed Don Manuel, angrily "Hcw
dare you attempt to rob me in this
way? Still. as the property appears
to be less valuable than { thoughts ]
will let you off paving the half that yon
still owe me That ought to content
you"
Perhaps. But it doesn't" replied
the amigo, quietly. Lower him again"
he added. I, the Indian.
Wretch! brigand! III give you the
check! Pull me up. Oh. que des-
gracia" yelled Don Manuel, as he be-
gan tc descend.
But his prosecutors paid no atten-
ton to these appeals. Once more was
heard that significant splash, and once
more was Don Manuel drawn to the
surface, looking even more like
drowned rat than before.
With his wet hands he tried to dash |
the water out of his eyes; then, with
out a word, he commenced flimblng |
in bis pockets. After several efforts
he succeeded in drawing out damp
pocketbook. and, diving hastily into
its recesses, he produced a piece Of
paper which he reluctantly held out to
his tormentor.
''Takeit! he said. with mellifluons.
though forcible, Spanish oath. land
let me out OF this place."
The Amigo stopped down cautions
" 10 possess himself of the check, then
'tood up to examine it carefully. Hav-
ng assured himself thatit was indeed
ais own, he tore it into minute frag
ncnts and threw the pieces down the
nine. There, that's done WITH he
said; ''and now you can come out.
rope that you have not tai.en chilli"
Disdaining to notice this civility. Don
Manuel stepped on to the ground, and
vas beginning to walk sulkily away.
when new thought appeared to strike
lin. Look here" he inquired, "are
'ou ar orphan?"
yes" replied his late Amigo, with
tirp,.icn sslVhv Ip x,o,, a o.,