Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-10-30


will take the desperate chance of get
ting ashore undetected. On shore he
has powerful friends and abundant
resources. The Liberal party and the
hest people of Mexico are for him and
against the present reactionary govern
ment; but this has nothing to do with
our duty as Masons. He is our broth
i er in distress, and as such entreats
our aid"
"And as such I will do my best to
aid him." replied the purser. "But
the chances are against u.s." he added,
gloomily.
1t was arranged that the refugee
should come on board at about mid
night; and the man who had previous
]ly accosted the purser then arrived
with dark, erect man below medium
height, but strong and alert; more
over, his face indicated unusual firm
ness and resolution else the purser
was much mistaken.
The purser assigned the stranger a
stateroom near his own. No danger
was to be apprehended till the vessel
entered Mexican port, yet "Colonel
Maiz" kept his room his food was
brought to him privately, and by no
one except the steward, who was eau
toned to be careful; so the refugee
was not seen by any of the other pas
sengers or by the crew.
On the third day of the voyage, be-
fore Tampico was reached, violent
"norther" began to blow, and was &C.
companied by rain squalls; and when
at length the steamer beat into her an
chorage in the roadstead off this ex-
posed port, the water was very rough.
The gale had not fully abated; rain
was falling at intervals; and altogeth-
er it was such weather as Mexicans
detest.
Nevertheless, the anxious purser
and "Colonel Maiz' beheld through
the driven rain a regiment of soldiers
drawn up in line along the several
landing-stairs. Patrols could also be
seen moving off, both north and south,
as if to enclose and guard the entire
harbor.
GAS 1 expected" groaned Sands.
"The whole Mexican army is here
waiting for us!" And he went hastily
to the stateroom of his imperilled
guest, whom he found peering through
the stateroom window and regarding
the military display on shore with the
darkest, grimmest of smiles.
eyes" he said, when the purser
spoke, "my friend Lerdo is surely
aware of my intended visit, and de-
sires to be the first to greet me. One
would say that he wishes to earn the
bounty which he has set on my head,
himself!
"You have heard of this bounty,
Senior Sands ?" he inquired, with a
steady glance at the purser.
"I have not, Colonel Maiz. 1t is
nothing to me-" Sands replied bluntly.
"It would be much to many" re-
piled the so-called colonel, regarding
the purser searchingly. "It is mat
ter of $4,000. My friend Lerdo is so
good as to set that valuation on my
poor head. No doubt he will pay it
to any one who will give me up to
him, dead or alive, for he has made
public proclamation of it throughout
the length and breadth of Mexico"
The exile plainly feared that the
loyalty of the purser might not be
proof against the temptation to win so
large reward. For observing that
Sands quietly ignored the subject, he
added, after another glance shore
ward
"There will be opportunity for some
one to enrich himself Immediately, for
three government launches are already
putting off from landing-stairs to board
us. A full battalion, officers and men,
are embarking. They will search your
ship from hold to quarterback"
The purser could think of but one
possible place of concealment-a lit
tie cupboard like closet, having a mar
row door and opening out of his own
stateroom. The width of the closet
inside was scarcely two feet. This
was the receptacle of the purser's toll
ct articles, or clothes, and to keep it
locked seemed natural.
To this cuddy he now hastily conduc-
ted the refugee. "It is the best 1 can
offer, Colonel Maiz,'" he said. "I'm
sorry it is so narrow berth"
"My friend Lerdo will give me a
narrower one within six hours if he
captures me-" was the calm reply.
~ shall lock you in here" continued
the purser. eff the key is asked for,
I shall pretend to have mislaid it-for
the time"
There was barely room for man to
stand erect inside the closet; but four
short blind Stats in the door admitted
air. In front of these stats the purser
hung a large timetable.
This concealment had scarcely been
effected when the launches came un-
der the steamers lee and the soldiers
clambered aboard.
Their officer stated that their orders
were to apprehend General Porfrio
Diaz, who was reported to be pas
senger, and also, if necessary, to search
the ship. Until this moment the full
significance of the adventure in which
be was involved had not been apparent
to Sands.
The captain, who knew nothing of
the matter, protested that there was
no such person on board he called up
the passengers and bade the purser
show the list. But this by no means