The Ravalli Republican., 1898-09-07

The air was heavy with tho fra
grant odor Of the burning pine.
Smith was the center OF attraction
to the Mexicans. They scarcely no
ticed Lane, whose clothes proclaim
ed him a recent arrival in Texas, but
they regarded the famous scout with
unfeigned delight. Finally enc
young fellow, a trifle tipsy perhaps,
rose, poured out glass Of brandy
and grayely presented it to the
scout With perfect sangfroid Smith
took the glass, and, with bow to
the company, swallowed it's contents
at single gulp. a.-
"Nice stuff, !" he said glibly,
smacking his lips. "Think we got
some from the same stock back in
camp" Lane could not repress a
faint smile as he recalled Hawkins
flask, but he quickly Strengthened
his face, for the 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 a word or
two now and then and that lie was
a person of some Importance from
the Difference the others paid to him.
Finally the conference was over, a
guard Of Mexican soldiers was sum
moned and the prisoners were taken
to tent near by. The thongs were
cut from their wrists, and they were
conducted inside, two Mexicans
mounting guard before the tent en-
trance.
"We amt to be shot till ole Santa
Anna comes, whispered Smith to
Lane Us they entered the tent.
"Leastwise that's what I surmise.
The olo 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; respite until Santa Anna
came was rather a disappointment
than otherwise
He was too tired to think about ii
one way or the other, and once in
side the tent he sank to the damp
ground overcome with fatigue.
"Ho'd better rest muttered
Smith as lie watched Lanes eyes
close through cloud Of smoke. One
of the Mexican officers had cour-
teously protfered a cigar as he pass
ed out OF the tent. Hell be in q
better fix to help hisse]f if anything
happens. .~.... -
It seemed to Lane that he had
scarcely been asleep two minutes
when he woke with a start He
would have cried out had he not felt
Smiths hand pressed over his
mouth. 1t took him full a minute tt
realizo where he was.
Smith S voice recalled him to his
senses. mot Word,' the Texan
whispered, "but listen close. One O
the Greasers is drunk on Santa An
na s whisky-they didn't take my
flask away, ye know-an the othe1
we'll, he's seein Il bulltight i'll hell
While I'm entertainin the lushy
varmint ye git. Take the bacl
way. There amt any lnjuns there
an nearly all the Greasers is asleep
Get into the creek all wade down
We cum up about ten mile. Ye'l
reach camp afore mornin. l'yt
counted the tents. There's bout fou
thousan O. those hidalgos here, al
they got six pieces @ artillery Tel
Hawkins this an toll him to maxi
tracks fer Gin n'ral Houston S cam
with the neWs.''
Smith handed Lane a flask and
knife and went back to the tent en-
trance, where Lane could hear gut
tulal and indistinct voices. lane sa
daZed for a moment rubbing hi
eyes. Then it occurred to him tina
he was not to die, and his ments
and physical strength seemed to Il
turn instantly. He couldn't tell fo
the life of him how he did it, but j
a second he had slit a long hole i
the tent and was crouching outsid
in it's shadow.
The rain had ceased, and throug
riffs in the scudding clouds he coul
,G