The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-01-26

moment a puff of smoke shot out from
q corner of one of the cane fields. No
harm was done, apparently, for | saw
nobody fall nor any horse stumble; but
the troopers at once deployed, right
and left, and plunged into the canes.
Then ! could see the flashing of ma
chetes. hear the faint reports of revol-
vers, and later noted the fleeing forms
of several soldiers. AS these latter
gained the protection of the adobe
wall that ran around the planters
house and the sugar works, a level
sheet of smoke pulled out from numer-
Gus apertures in il, and, before the re-
ports of guns reached me. several sad
dies were emptied and riderless horses
rearing in terror.
AS the blast of a bugle reached me,
saw the troop divide again and sweep
around the wall, as though seeking an
entrance. They evidently found a
breach for i saw nothing more of
them for long time; then, with a sud-
den outburst of smoke and flame, l
heard the rattle of revolvers and mus
kerry. The ingenio had been fired it's
matched roof sent volumes of smoke
into the heavens. There was a brief
space of silence, terminated by a ire
mendous explosion; the dwellings and
out-houses had been blown up with
dynamite. The cane fields were again
alive with fugitives, but this time il
was the Spaniards who were in the
open mercilessly shot and sabred by
their pursuers They made for the
woods. but few ever reached a shelter.
i could see the swing of the lasso.
here and there: and as a bugle call
rang out. family brought to my ears
by the breeze, I noted the horsemen
returning. dragging their prisoners be-
hind them.
That was the last token of life about
the place, ere darkness fell around IT,
Save for the drifting columns of smoke
and the fallen roofs of the buildings,
the peaceful valley gave no hint of
having been the scene of slaughter 1t
was now evident that we were to pass
the night beneath the mango tree; to
proceed farther was out of the ques-
ton. AS Antonio was uncommunica-
tive, / rolled a blanket about me and
lay down but l could not sleep. So
rose and strolled out into the moon
light, down the steep bank of one of
the ravines, carrying my revolver with
me as a matter OF course. 1t was dark
and gloomy. with only here and there
flicker of moonlight. i sat down on
a large rock. leaned against a tree.
and abandoned myself TO reverie. AZ
ter half an hour or so. a sound OF
breaking twigs attracted my attention.
oVhntOOds was Nililbbluk the steep Dank
of The ravine. There was nothing for
me but TO keep silent; and l waited.
as the Misses came nearer, until the
something making them had reached
the very tree against which 1 was
leaning. 1t halted there, and / saw
that IL was a man,-an escaped soldier
from the hacienda. probably. for he
carried a gun. which he placed against
the trunk of the tree, and then drew
of his cap and mopped his brow.
suppose IL was my good fortune-noth-
ing else-that ordained that the mus
ket should have been set up within my
reach. At any rate, l looked upon IL
as a Providential dispensation, not to
be ignored. Cautiously reaching around
the bole / grasped the barrel of the
gun; and when the soldier. attracted
by the slight noise / made. started in
surprise. he met the muzzle of the
weapon looking straight into his face.
IL may have been an old friend of his.
but he did not recognize II in this new
role "Diablo!" was all he said, and
stood there, like one transhxed.
You surrender" I demanded, in
Spanish.
"Pues. senior. why not? What else
can / do?"
He was some time finding his speech.
and stammered. finally. when he did
SO. He was evidently an honest sort,
a well-meaning but stupid countryman