The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-10-16
THE LAMPARAGUA
May Cromm melin in the Pail Mall Gazette.

like a hideous bark Tipped mouth that
was drawing a long inspiration. Again
there came the same sound in the air,
and the vixen, curled In a helpless quiv-
ering ball, was borne five yards, as on
a wind blast, disappearing right into
the hollow of the tree. The withered
wooden lips contracted over the crea-
lures living head; two dead branches
above stirred slightly, like antennae,
the cleft closed. leaving a Jagged scar
in the tree-trunk. That was all.
The scene was still and peaceful as
before. a flight of wild duck circled
twice over the lake and then alighted
on the surface with distant quacks. Be
hind in a fuchsia thicket native
thrush was singing. The tree was i'm
movable.
Wondering if he could be dreaming
Ramsay turned to the peon. Pedro's
copper skin had taken a pale yellow
hue, and he was shivering, though a
Chilian peasant is brave to savagery.
The lamparagua! Fly!" he gasped
with a cry of horror, and plunged
downward among the rocks. Jock over
took him just as the huaso leaped bare
backed on his horse.
stay for me, my lad, at the valley
head in safety, I'll not leave the sad
dies and blankets" said the Scotchman
coolly. But his own breath tiuttered
in his throat more than from the rum
and while his hands tugged at strap
and buckle his head turned to glance
at the tree that remained motlonless
in the distance.
Reioining Pedro, who waited half
mile away, the master found the peon
on his knees, crossing himself, ana
gabbling over and over every scrap of
Latin prayers he could remember,
which the padres had taught him in
boyhood They were few, and he mixed
them so ludicrously that his listener
almost laughed.
"Holy Santa Rosa-miserable sin
ner!" ended Pedro, rising, and saddling
ND with remarkable haste while throw
ing off some calculations of this rare
access of piety. 1T was a witch, senior;
the country is full of spirits. Holy
Saint Peter, 1 ducked your image last
autumn in the sea. Forgive! but those
fishermen are such blasphemers, and
rail against you at the first bad wealth
er. / adjure all evil-livers, holy -
An awful oath followed as the pony
swerved. Pedro stuck his huge rowels
in the beasts nanks and Cantered fur
iousIy away, his poncho filling with air
as he worked his arms like a wind
mills sail, shouting, Ride, ride. pa
tron! Leave this Godforsaken coun-
try, quick"
AYE, if only our horses can travel, y
muttered the Scotchman.
True enough, the tired beasts soon
showed that they could not be reused
long beyond an Cmbling motion, not
unlike the gait of a Peruvian PAGER;
but which, when unbroken all day, may
cover a great distance before nightfall.
Not till they had gone some miles could
Ramsay persuade his terror-stricken
guide to talk sensibly.
What is this beast-tree? Lampara-
qua you called it. Does it exist else
where in Chilli"
who knows, senior? 1 only heard of
such rare trees as northern witches
| from a rough roto who came from this
| country. / remember it was one even
| ing in July, ten years ago. as we sat in
a circle on the ground round the bras
| Ter. We thought he was improving a
| tale, as we had in turn improvised or
recited songs and legends-telling lies
| for fun, as the patron may know is our
| custom. There was naught more l can
| call to mind, save that he swallowed
| animals and lived in marshy places
| Saints preserve US! Ride on-on to the
| mines. Stop here? Never!"
| Ramsay dared not lose sight of the
/ man. At least Pedro knew something
| of the country. He might strike their
right track soon. So the soft twilight
! of the south drew round them, as they
| rode YEARLY. And the night came
| black and moonless, as they bent in
their saddles. more weary yet. The
| reins Law loose on the horses necks
now, Pedro trusting to the animals
instinct; for the good land" could not
be far where men lived. and there
were homesteads and supper and pro-
vender.
When midnight was past, Ramsay
felt his strength going from him. By
the faint starlight they had just
splashed through a gravelly stream, in
which the horses stopped to drink be.
fore reluctantly stumbling up the far
bank where their hoofs struck muffieG
on grass.
Pedro, 7 can hold up no longer
called the engineer feebly, reeling In
his saddle, as an ague fit shook him
like a risor. Leave me-if you will.
-must-lie down."
Guessing by his masters voice thai
the latter must be very i'll, the peor
hastily came to Ramsays help in dis.
mounting, then guided him to the
shelter of some bushes that were faint.
ly dscernibe. Here he placed a saddle
under the sufferers head, and laid a
blanket over him.
Not far off there was small grove
of shrubs, darker than the surrounding
twilight, beside which rose a big tree
with huge bulbous base and exposed
roots like those of a cotton tree Near
this Ramsay's horse strayed, cropping
the grass, so Pedro, following, tethered
him to one of these roots, which he
had discovered by stumbling against
them in the blackness.
"Caramba!" he muttered. STAY
there; animal not to be trusted" His
own beast knew him and never went
far from its owners side.
Then the guide sat down beside his
exhausted patron, who slept for fevered
snatches or woke to ramble in delirl.
Gus talk. So the time passed till the
faint light strengthened.