The National tribune., 1898-12-22

fences of a temporary dungeon, where it
might be stolen, too, at the first oppor-
tunity by the Indians"
"Dost thou mean to say that these bars
are of wooda' demanded Amador.
Indeed. think SO. senior; and, If had
| but knife or dagger, and the means OF
| climbing into the window, | would warrant
| to be at liberty before morning
Here is poniard, OF which the viii
| lains forgot to divest me-" said Amador
Strike it against the StanchionS if they
be of wood we have much hope of freeing
| ourselves"
| The secretary did as he was directed.
| he raised himself a-tiptoe, and the sharp
weapon buried itself in the fiimsy bar
rier.
| eff had but something to stand on"
he cried eagerly, how soon might we not
be free"
! There is neither stool nor chair in this
vile dem said Don Amador but / will
not shame to give thee the support of my
shoulder, and the more readily, that /
| think thy slight frame would be incapable
of supporting my own greater weight
| Pause not" he cont nued, observing that
| Fabueno hesitated; iii thy foot be near
| my neck. shall know it is not the foot of
an enemy will kneel to take thee on
my back, as the Saracen camel does to his
maSter-Stretch thyself to thy full hight
so as to cut through the tops of the bars;
after which, without further carving, thou
| canSt easily wrench them rom eheif
places"
Fabueno submitted to the will of the
novice, and Amador rising without much
effort under his weight, he was soon in a
position to operate to advantage.
| "Why sdost thou falterW demanded the
novice, as Lorenzo, after making one or
two gashes in the wood, suddenly ceased
his labor.
"Senor," replied the secretary in a low
voice, "therc is a guard at little dis
lance, sitting under the shadow Of the
pyramid. A cavalier stands in advance,
watching.-It is the Captain Salvatierra"
MAY heaven strike me with pains and
death" cried Amador, with an abrupt
| ardor that nearly tumbled the secretary
from his station 'if | do not covet the
blood OF thet false and cowardly tr: itor!
who, after hi ing his wrath under the
cloak of marnari lily and reli. ion, was
the first to seize upon me, and that from
be hi dr.
| 'N hat is to be done, senor7" demanded
Fabueno in whisper He will discover
me; and even if can remove the grating,
there will be no pOssibi ity TO descend
without observation"
| "Cut through the wood as silently as
thou canst.' sid Anador; "and then,
| when the iadOw is open, will myself
sprilg to the earth and so occupy the
dastard's notice that thou shalt escape
without peril. Cut on, and fear not"
|
divided a single stake, when suddenly a
noise was heard as of the clatterilg of
| arnor as well as the voice of Salvatierra
| excl lining furiously:
"To your bows, We vagabonds. Quick
and hotly! Drive your shafts through
| and throughl Shoot"
| "Descendi saiI Amador
| But before the secretary could follow
| his counsel thare came four cross bow
shafts rafting Violently into the vi 1dow !;
and Fabueno with loud cry sprang, or
rather fell to the floor.
'Have the knaves struck thee7" de-
manded Amador, as he raised the groan-
| ing youth in his arms.
GAY, senor," replied the youth family:
| 81 shall never see the golden kings of
| Mexico"
"Be OF better heart" said Amador, lead
| ing him to where the moonlight shone
brightest on the floor. cart thou struck
in the body?-If thou diest, be certain I
will revenge thee.-Where art thou hurt7'
| 81 know not" replied Lorenzo, pite-
ously; "but | know 1 shall die.-O,
| heaven! this is q pang more bitter than
death-Must Giei"
"Be comforted," said the novice, cheer
ingly; "the arrow has only pierced thy
draw it. Fear not there is no peril in
such hurt; and | will bear witness thou
hast won it most honorably."
"Wil / not die, Them" cried Fabueno
with Joy. "Pho! it was the first time
was ever hurt, and judged of the wound
only by the agony. Pho, indeedi tbs but
a scratch!"
Thou dearest it va1iantly,". said ANA
dor, binding his scarf round the wound:
"and have no doubt thou wilt make a
worthy soldier.-But what is now to be
donel Ii thou thinkest thou hast
IN, for
two, | viii Chamber to the window myself
and remove the bars, without fear the
arrows of these varlets can do me much
harm through my armor."
"1hey are not above threescore yards