Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-16

torted. Remember that punishment in the
MIkadoH That had something hum OrOus'
in il. Rolling oil. if ! don't forget"
InvOlUE tarily 1 shuddered and the raw
hide ropes cut deeper into my wrists and
limbs / had no great dread of being killed
in the ordinary way, or | should not have
entered the Chilean army in the middle of
a hot war, and l was prepared to risk the
ordinary woundings of action in return for
the excitement of the fight. But to be
caught and held a helpless prisoner and
be deliberately tortured TO death by every
cruelty this malignant devil Garcia could
devise, was possibility L had not counted
on before. In fact as the Peruvians had
repeatedly given out that they would offer
no quarter to US English i'll the Chilean
service, we had all of us naturally resolved
to die lighting rather than be taken. And
indeed this desperate feeling paid very
we'll. since on two separate occasions when
Methuen and myself had been cornered
with small bodies of men, and would have
surrendered If We could have been guaran-
teed our lives. as it was, We went at them
edch time so furiouSly that on each occa-
sion We broke through and escaped But
one thinks nothing of the chances of death
and manning at those times. There is a
glow within ones ribs which scares away
all trace of fear:
Il suppose there's no chance. of rescue?''
1 said.
None whatever" said Methuen, with a
little sigh. Think it over Calvert. We
start out from the hacienda with an escort
OF five men, sing out our adios, and ride
away to enjoy q ten-days' leave IN the
mountains. The troops are left to recruit;
LOT ten days they can drop US out of mind
Within twelve hours of our leaving them
Garcia cleverly ambushes us in a CANYON
where not three people pass in year. The
gastados."
Yes. but are you sure of that?" I in
terrupted Il saw them all drop off their
horses When we We're fired upon, but that
oCesn prove they We're dead. Some might
nave been merely wounded and when the
coast cleared, ii is just possible they crawl
ed back to our post with the news Still I
own it's a small chance"
And you may divest yourself of even
tnat thin rag of hope Whilst you were
being slunS senseless across a horse I saw
mat man without the ears go around with
machete and-well, when the brute had
done, there was no doubt about the poor
fellows being as dead as Jumps of mud
An, and talk of the DEVIL
Inc earless man swung into the hut
Buenos, senores," said he, mockinpIv
You will have the honor now of being
tried and I'm sure l hope you will be
pleased with the result"
suppose We shall find that out later"
sara Methuen, with yawn, but anyway
don't think much of your HOSPITALITY
cup OF wine, now, after that ugly ride we've
mad today would come in very handy. or
than nothing"
Il fancy 1t might be a waste of good
liquor, was the answer, but you must
ask Garcia He will see to your needs"
A guard of twelve ragged fellows, armed
with carbine and machete. had followed
the earless man into the hut and two of
them. whilst he talked, had removed the
selzings from our knees and ankles Thew
ne4ped US 10 our feet, and We walked with
them into the dazzling sunshine outside.
II trouble some of you for my hat"
sald Methuen, when the glare first blazed
down on him; and then, as no one took
any notice of the request, he lurched
against the earless man with a sudden
swerve, and knocked his sombrero on to
the brown-baked turf. We'll, I'll have
yours said he; Its better than nothing
al all Pick up the thing and put 1t on my
head" '
The guerrilla barred his teeth like IN ami
NAL and drew pistol. 1 thought he would
nave shot my comrsde out of hand and by
his look could see that Methuen expected
It lnceed, he had deliberat eIy irritafed
tne man 10 that end. But either because
the nearness of Garcia and fear of his dis
ciphne stayed him, through thought OF
finer vengeance which was to come the
earless man contented himself by dealing q
battery of kicks, and bidding our guards
to ward us more carefully
In this way, then, we walked along a
path between two fields of vine and passed
down the struggling street of the village
which the guerrillas had occupied and
brought up in a little plaza which faced
the white-walled chapel In the turret a
bell was tolling dolefully in slow strokes
and as the sound came to me through the
heated air, il did not require much imagi.
nation to frame it into an omen. In the
center of the plaza was a vast magnolia
tree, filled with scented wax-like flower.
and splashed with cones Of coral-pink
We drew up before the piazza of the
principal house. Seated under it's shade In