The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1898-01-13

/
| For moment we consulted together,
then we crawlcd forward through the
| gloom toward the ring of light about
| the altar. Now Jose had the heated
sword in his hand.
Look up, my dear, look up" he said
| to the girl, patting her on the cheek.
| II am about to baptiZe your excellent
father according to the rites of the
Christian religion by marking him with
a cross upon the forehead" and he ad
vanccd the point of the sword toward
the Indians face.
At that. instance Molas pinned him
from behind causing him to drop the
weapon, while l did the same Office by
Don Pedro, holding him SO that, struggle
as he might, he could not stir.
make a sound either of you and you
are dead" said the senior, picking up
the machete and placing the hot point
of it against Jose's breast, where it
slowly burned its way through his
clothes.
"What are we to do with these men?"
he asked.
XIII them as they would have killed
u.s." answered Molas; cor, if you fear
the task, cut loose the old man yonder
and let him avenge his and his daugh-
ter's wrongs"
What say you, Ignatio?"
II seek no mans blood, but for our
own safety it Is " 90 1880. ...cse wretches
should die. Away with theml'
Now Don Pedro began to bleat mar
ticulately in his terror, and that hero,
Jose, burst into tears and pleaded for
his life, writing with pain the while,
for the point of the sword scorched
him.
You are an English gentleman" he
groaned; you cannot butcher help
less man as though he were an OK"
As you tried to butcher us in the
chamber yonder, us, who saved your
life" answered the senior. you are
right. L cannot do it, because, as You
say, am gentleman. Molas, loose
this dog, and If he tries to run put a
knife through him. Jose Moreno, you
have sword by your side, and have
one in my hand; l will not murder you,
but we have quarrel and we will set
tie it here now"
"You are mad, senor," said, ''to risk
your life thus. 1 myself will kill him
rather than it should be so.''
will you fight II l loose you, Jose
Moreno?" he said, making me no an
swer, "or will you be killed where you
stand?"
81 will fight" he replied.
Good. Let him free, Molas, and be
ready with your knife"
.! command YOU" I began, but al
ready the man was loose and the senior
stood waiting for him, his back to the
door and the Indian machete handled
with the golden woman in his hand.
From the moment that / saw them
fronting each other, my fears for the
issue vanished. Victory was written on
the calm features of the senior, while
the face of Jose told only of baffied fury
struggling with bottomless despair.
Still 1T was he who struck first, for,
stepping forward, he aimed desperate
blow at the senor's head, who, spring
ing aside, avoided it, and in return ran
him through the left arm. With a cry
OF pain, the Mexican sprang back, fol-
lowed by the senior, at whom he cut
from time to time, but without result,
Tor every blow was parried.
Now they were within the altar rails,
and now his back was against one of the
carved pillars of sapote wood, that to
which the girl was tied.
Then the end came, for the senior,
who was watching his chance, drew
suddenly within reach, only to step
back SO that the furious blow aimed at
his head struck with n ringing sound
upon the marble floor. Before Don
Jose could lift the sword again, the
senior thrust with all his strength and
his machete pierced the Mexican
through the heart.
And now l must tell of my own folly
that went near to bringing us all to
ieath. You will remember that was
holding Don Pedro, and in my joy and
with "a sudden twist he was able to tear
himself from my hands, and in the
twlnkllng of an eye was gone.
bounded after him, but too late, for
as | reached the door it slammed in my
face, nor could l open it, for on the
chapel side was neither key nor handle
Fly" cried, rushing back to the
altar; he has escaped, and will pres
entity be here with the rest"
The senior had seen, and already was
engaged in severing with his sword the
.ope that bound the girl. while Molas
cut loose her father. Now l leaped
upon the altar, and springing at the
stoneworlS of the broken window, made
shift to pull my -elf up with the help of
Molas pusNir from below. Seated
upon the window ledge l leaned down,
and, catching the Indian Zibalbay by
the wrists, with great efforts l dragged
him to me and babe him drop without
fear to the ground, which was not more
than ten feet below us. Next came his
daughter, then the senior, and last of all
Molas, SO that within three minutes
from the escape of Don Pedro we stood
unhurt on the outside the chapel among
the bushes of n garden.
Where to now?" l said, for The place
was strange to me.
The girl Maya looked round her, then
she glanced up ut the heavens.
Follow me-" she said, Il know a
way, and started down the garden ut
n run.
Presently we came to n wall the
height of n man, beyond which was
thick hedge of aloes which we forced
our way through and found ourselves
in milpa. or cornfield. Here the girl
stopped. and again searched the stars,
and at that moment we heard sounds of
shouting, and, looking back, saw lights
moving to and fro in the hacienda
We must go forward or perish" l
said; Don Pedro has aroused his men,"
Then she dashed into the milpa, aud
we followed her, till at length we were
clear of the cultivated land and stand
ing on the borders of the forest
"Haltv' l said; where do we run to?
The road runs to the right, and by fol-
lowing 1T we may reach n town"
To be arrested as murderers, broke
IN the senior. You forget that Jose
Moreno is dead at my hands, and his
father will swear our lives away, or
that at the best we shall be thrown into
prison. No, no, we must hide in the