The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1898-01-06
We1ser, Idaho,
CHAPTER TX.
THE DUEL.
surprise you.


Now we placed our ears against the
panelling and listened. First we heard
creaks that were loud in the stiffness,
then soft heavy noises sucn as are made
by cat when it jumps from IL height to
the ground. and a gentle rubbing as of
stocl1iuged feet upon the floor After
this for some seconds there was silence
that presently was broken by the click
of steel and the sound of heavy blows
delivered upon some soft substance
with swords and knives. The murderers
were driving their weapons through
the bedclothos, thinking that we slept
beneath them. Next came whisperings
and muttcrcd oaths, then voice, Don
Joses, said:
BE careful the beds are empty"
Another instant candles were lit, for
their light reached us through small
peepholes in the panel. and by putting
our eyes to these we could see all that
passed in the room. There before us
was Don Jose, Don Smith, and four of
their companions, all armed with knives
or machetes, while framed, as it were
in the wall, in the place that had been
occupied by the picture of the abbot
stood our host, Don Pedro, holding q
candle above his head, and glazing with
his fish-lilSe eyes into every corner of
the room.
where are they?' he said. ''Where
are the wizards? Find them quick and
kill them"
Now the men ran to and fro about the
room, dragging aside the beds and star
ing at the pictures on the walls as
though they expected to sec US there.
'They are gone" said Jose at length.
THAT Indian, Ignatio, has conjured
them away. He is q demonio and not a
man. | thought it from the first"
impossible" cried Dom Pedro, who
was white with rage and fear. THE
door has been watched ever since they
entered it, and no living thing could
force those bars. Search, search; they
must be hidden"
search yourself" answered Don
Smith sullenly, They're not here. Per-
haps they discovered the trick of the
picture and escaped down the passage
to the chapel"
at cannot be-" said Don Pedro again,
'for just now l was in the chapel and
saw no signs of them. We have some
traitor among us who has led them from
the house. BY heaven, if | find him
outl' and he uttered fearful oath.
shall we bring the dogs?" asked
Jose, and l trembled at his words.
"They might smell their footing"
Fool what is the use of dogs in a
place where all of you have been
tramping?" answered the father. 'sro-
morrow at dawn we will try them out
side, for these men must be found and
killed or we are ruined. Tell those
rascals to give up the search and go to
bed; it is useless. Then do you come
quiet to my room, and we will visit the
Indian and his daughter. If we are to
rot fl,..i,. = 1854 "a
done tonight for, like fool, | told
that Englishman the story when the
wine was in me, thinking that he would
never live to repeat it."
"Yes, yes, it must be done tonight,
for tomorrow we may have to fly.
But what if the brutes won't speak,
father?"
1--WE will find means to make them
speak," answered the old man with
hidcous chucl1le; but whether they
speak or not thew must be silent after
ward" and he drew his hand across
his throat and added; Come"
An hour passed while we stood in the
hole trcmblIn@ with excitement. hope,
and fear, aud tlcn once more we heard
cracks. followed presently by the sound
of voice whispering on the further
side of the panel.
Are you there, lord?" the whisper
sail ut is |, Luisa."
Yes, | answered.
Now she touched the spring and
opened the do, +.
Listen" she said; "they have gone
to sleep. all of them, but before dawn
they will b, up again to search for YOU
far and wide. Therefor you mist do
one of two things-lic hid here, perhaps
Tor days, or take your chance of escape
at once"
How can we cscapc?" asked.
There il but one way, lord, through
the chapel. The door into it is locked.
but can show you place from which
the priests used to watch those below.
and thence, if you are brave, YOU can
drop to the ground beneath, for the
height is not great. Once there YOU
can escape into the garden through the
window over the altar. which is broken,
rs have seen from without though to
do SO perhaps you will have to climb
upon each other shoulders. Then you
must fly as swiftly as you can by the
light of the moon, which has risen.
The dogs have been gorged and tied
up, so, If the Heart is your friend you
may yet go auhauned."
Now spoke 10 the senior, SAYING:
although the woman does not know
~ NuiHh IL lt-ECiN tlHJ we snail ind
company i'll this chapel, sccinr that the
Indian and his daughter are imprisoned
there, where Don Pedro AMI Jose have
gone to visit them. The risk is great;
shall we take it?'
yes" answered the senior. after a
moments thought, for it is better to
take risk than to perish by inches in
this hole OF starvati a, or perhaps to be
discovered ana murdered in cold blood.
Also we have travelled far and under
gone much to lind the Indian, and if we
lose our chance of doing SO we may get
no other"
Now one by one we climbed through
the false panel, and by the light of the
moon Luisa led us across the chamber
to the spot between the beds where
hangs the picture of the abbot. This
picture, which is on painted slab of
wood, proved to be nothing more than
a cunningly devised door constructed
to swing upon pivot.
Resting her knee on the threshold.
Luisa crambled into the passage be-
yond. and when the rest of us stood bv
her side she closed the panel, and bid
c. Us to cling To sc eccther, and be
silent, she took me by the hand and
guided us through various passages till
at length she whispered:
''Be cautions, now, for we come to