The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-06-01

to the MeAicans. They scarcely no
tlccd Lane, whose clothes proclaim
"d hima recent arrival in Texas, but
they regarded the famous scout with
unfcigncd delight Finally ono
young fellow, Il triflc tipsy perhaps,
rose, poured out Il glass oil brandy
and gravely presented it to the
scout. With perfect sangfroid Smith
took the glass, and, with Il bow to
thccoinpany, swallowed its contents,
at Il single Sulp.
Nice stuff he said glibly.
snacking his lips. "Think we got
some from the same stock back in
camp. : Lane could not rcprcss a
talnt smile az he recalled Hawkins
flask, but he quickly Strengthened
his face, for the McXicnns fell to
talking among themselves. They
asked Smith questions. which he an
s,wrrcd nolchaiantly III their own
tongue. Lane did not understand
what they were saying, but hc occa-
slomilly caught the words "Caplt:.n
Sinccth, Santa Anna, General
Houston ;lId 'Allumad;i.
He concluded that Ahumada was
: the grave looking man i'll the rather
! plain uniform who sat at the head
of the table and only said Il word or
two now and then and that he was
Il person of somo Importance from
the difference the others paid to him.
Finally tho conference was over, &,
guard of Mexican soldiers was sum
monc'l and tho prisoners were taken
to Il tent rcar by. Tho thongs were
cat from their wrists, and they wore
conducted inside, two Mexioans
mounting guard before the tent en-
trance.
We ain't to he shot till ole Santa
Anna comes, whispered Smith to-
Lane MS they entered tho tent
kastwise that's what l surmise
The olc man is back down the road
about ten mile with Il leg full o.
bullets an won't git up till tonor-
row"
Lame had made up his mind that
/ he WAS to bc Shot. He had heard Of
the way McXicans treated prisoners
before he got to Texas. What Smith
said about Il respite until Santa Anna
came WAS rather 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" muttercd
Smith as he watched Lanes eyes
close through Il cloud Of smoke. One
OF the Mexican otficors had cour-
teoisly proffereu Il cigar as he pass
Ell out ot tho tent. 'Ioll bo iii (;
better fix to help hissclf if anything
happens.
j 1t seemed to Lame that he had
scarcely been ASLEEP two minutes
when ho woke with /, start. He
! would have cried out had he not felt
, Smiths hand pressed over his
! mouth. 1t took him full Il minute to
realize where lie was.
Smith $ Voice recalled him to his
senses. Not Il word,'' tho Texan
whispered, hut listen close. One o.
the Grcasers is drunk ON Santa An
IN s whisky-they didn't take my
flask away, ye know--an the other
we'll, he's seein Il bulltight in hell!
While I'm cntcrtainin the lushy
varmint ye git. Take the back
way. There ain't any 1njuns there,
an nearly all the Greasers is asleep.
Got 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 q 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 q flask and n
knife and went back to the tent en-
trance, wli.re Lame could hear gut
tural and intlistinct voices. Lane sat
daZea for 5. moment rubbing his
eyes. Then it occurred to him TINT
lie was not to die, :.nd his mental
and physical strength seemed to re-
turn instantly. He couldn't tell for
the life OF him how he did il, but in
a second he had slit Il long holu in
the tent and was 'crouching outside
in its shadow.
The rain had ceased, and through
riffs III the scutlfling clouds he could
catcE an occasional glimpse of !,
star. All around him were silent
tents and smolderinp fires. He could
hear the snOreS of the Mexican sol
diers, the tramp OF the distant
guards and the voices of farnway
pickets exchanging their watch
words. At first he was afraid to
move, but he soon reused himself.
Falling OH his hands AMI knees, he
silently crcpt between til" still tents
Ill the direction OF the creek
Every second he expected to he
| challenged hut utllllt of tIs snrf