The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-06-01
The air was heavy with the ira


ticed Lane, whose clothes proclaim
ed him recent arrival in Texas, but
they regarded the famous scout with
unfeigned delight. Finally one
young fellow, a trife tipsy perhaps,
rose, poured out glass Of brandy
and gravely presented it to the
scout. With perfect sangfroid Smith
took the glass, and, with bow to
the company, swallowed its contents
at a single gulp.
mice stuff" he said glibly,
smacking his lips. "Think we got
some from tho same stock back in
camp" Lane could not repress a
faint smile as he recalled Hawkins
flask, but he quickly Strengthened
his face, for tho Mexicans fell to
talking among themselves. They
asked Smith questions, which he an
swered nonchalantly in their own
tongue. Lane did not understand
what they were saying, but he occa-
sionally caught the words "Capitan
Smeeth, - Santa Anna, General
Houston" and "Ahumada.
He concluded that Ahumada was
the grave looking man in the rather
plain uniform who sat at the head
of the table and only said word or
two now and then and that he was
person of some Importance from
the Difference the others paid to him.
Finally tho conference was over, a
guard of Mexican soldiers was sum-
moned and the prisoners were taken
to a tent near by. The thongs were
cut from their wrists, and they were
conducted inside, two Mexioans
mounting guard before the tent en-
trance.
1--WE amt to be shot till ole Santa
Anna comes, whispered Smith to
Lane as they entered the tent.
"Leastwise that's what l surmise.
The ole man is back down the road
about ten mile with a leg full O.
bullets an won't git up till tomor-
row"
Lane had made up his mind that
he was to be shot. He had heard of
the way Mexicans treated prisoners
before he got to Texas. What Smith
said about arespite until Santa Anna
came was rather a disappointment
than otherwise.
He was too tired to think about it
one way or the other, and once in
side the tent he sank to the damp
ground overcome with fatigue.
He'd better rest" muttered
Smith as he watched Lanes eyes
close through a cloud Of smoke One
Of the Mexican officers had cour-
teously proffered cigar as he pass
ed out of the tent. He'll be in a
better fix to help hisself if anything
happens.
1t seemed to Lane that he had
scarcely been asleep two minutes
when he woke with Il start. He
would have cried out had he not felt
Smiths hand pressed over his
mouth. 1t took him full a minute to
realize where he was.
Smith voice recalled him to his
senses. Not word,' the Texan
whispered, "but listen close. One O.
the Greasers is drunk on Santa An
mas whisky-they didn't take my
flask away, ye know-an the other
well, he's seein bulltight i'll hell
While I'm entertainin the lushy
varmint ye git. Take the back
way. There ain any lnjuns there,
an nearly all the Greasers is asleep.
Get into the creek an wade down.
We cum up about ten mile. Yell
reach camp afore mornin. I've
counted the tents. There's bout four
thousan o. those hidalgos here, an
they got six pieces O. artillery. Tell
Hawkins this an tell him to make
tracks fer Gin'ral Houston's camp
with the news
Smith handed Lane a flask and a
knife and went back to the tent en-
trance, whsre Lane could hear gut
tural and indistinct voices. Lane sat
dazed for moment rubbing his
ayes. Then it occurred to him that
he was not to die, and his mental
and physical strength seemed to re-
turn instantly. He couldn t tell for
the life OF him how he did it, but in
second he had slit Il long hole iii
the tent and was crouching outside
in its shadow.
The rain had ceased. and through
riffs N the scudding clouds he could
catcl: in occasional glimpse of Il
star. All around him were silent
tents and smolderins fires. He could
hear the snores of the Mexican sol
diers, the tramp of the distant
guards and the voices of faraway
pickets exchanging their watch
words. At first he WAS afraid to
move, but he SOON lonsed himself.
Falling OH his hands and knees, he
silently crept between the still tents
III the direction ui he creek.
Every second he expected to bt
Ii l-.......l l.,4 l.,,.. ~ 1I,n ..4,,.4