The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-03-17

a
WE'RE TIED BEHIND HIS BACK.
much closer TO her than she expect
ed TO see him, but that was because he
was on foot and walking between two
horsemen. Once he stumbled, and re-
covering himself he turned. Then she
saw that his hands were tied behind
his back. Some one beside Chiquita saw
the tethered figure and raised cry
that was answered by Manuel's captors.
The cry was repeated and carried from
one TO another: there were hoarse
shouts in English as well, and from
everywhere men ran and rode toward
the two men and their prisoner sur
rounding them and corn"r''~'- th"m
from Chiquite's view. Then the sun
shot below the horizon. and IN a mo.
ment the body of men was but con.
fused, black mass slowly coming to-
ward her across the plain.
In scrambling down the ladder Chi
ffits missed a round and fell heavily
to the ground. For a time--how hong
she did not tknow--she lay stunned, then
licI sCiStS tClulhCu Nitt a hSbs -
she was hurt she did not feel it. She
rdse and ran around the house. In
the shadow of the wall there were two
figures; ono on horseback, which even
in that darkness she recognized ms
Ramon DE Quesada. The other was the
Sonora. who was talking with him
earnestly. As she passed them Chiquita
could see that, and she felt little thrill
of gratitude toward her friend.
Near the crowd that surrounded the
prisoner huge fire had been kin
died The flames were just catching
the brushwood of which it was made,
lighting the plain with its ruddy glare.
A little out of the light stood another
knot of men made up of Manuel's
friends. Among them Chiquita saw
her father and two brothers. She saw,
also. the CLEAN of knife here and
there. But they could effect no res
cue---even Chiquita could see that
there were not enough men to attempt
such thing.
Chiquita forced her way through the
outer circle OF the bowling mob that
surrounded Manuel. There was space
OF several yards between that circle and
smother made up of men who stood.
with drawn pistols in their hands, fac
ing outward, guarding from the rest,
Manuel and the two men who had taken
him. and who held him, still tied, be-
tween them. That the men who stood
on the outside wished to get at Manuel
was too evident. They surged forward
and back, yelling imprecations at those
who guarded him. They said he was
cattle thief, and the punishment of
such an offense, as Chiquita well knew,
is death. A deputy sheriff, who head
ed the guards, called out in English
and could he heard high above the other
voices.
stan back there!" he cried. "If this
yer man amt thief, We don't wenter
hang i'm. do yer? An IL he is an it's
proved won't say n word. Stan back,
say Else somebody'll get hole in
is hide"
For n moment the crowd held back;
then IL surged forward. The guards
raised their pistols. One Of the men
who had taken Manuel raised his also
and held il pressed against Manuers
head Manuel did not move n muscle.
Chiquita noted that with pride.
1t seemed rs though there must be
fight. Chiquita hoped there would he,
for then Manuel might escape in the
confusion that would follow. She had
seen that her father and other friends
of Manuel had mingled with the crowd.
ready 20 take advantage of whatever