The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-09-16

: A True Grandson OF the Cid )
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Inc priest Opentu llnN NlnuON cut
in the solid wooden shutter, thrust in
lis fist and broke the glass. He then
placed his mouth against the aperture
and shouted loudly to the dogs.
Give it to them, Chuchu Morito,
Linda! Catch 'em, Chuchu. Go IT,.
Linda, tear 'em in pieces!"
The barking was furious, frantic.
Just below the window could he heard
the noise of a struggle, of fierce threats,
a cry of pain, oaths then the means of
a dying animal.
Poor Morito!" murmured the farm
hand. "He won't chase foxes any
more"
Meanwhile, the priest, taking his gun
from Javier's hands loaded it with sim
gular dexterity.
Leave me with my partridge gun,
old and trusty," he said. You under
stand the Lafuche. 7 don't care for
these novelties. / belong to old Spain.
Have you any cartridges?"
Yes. sir" answered Javier, begin
ming to load his carbine.
Are they down below"
Yes right below the window; they
may be putting up ladder"
rs there any danger by the porton?"
Il think not. They would have to
jump over the wall of the corral and
we could shoot them from the gallery"
And the cellar door?"
They may burn it down They can't
break it,"
We'll then" said the old man, tive
are going to be entertained for awhile.
Come on, my little friends, come on"
Javier looked at his unCle's face. The
nostrils We're diated, the expression of
the mouth sardoniC. the tip of the
tongue shut between the teeth, the
cheeks aflame, the eyes glittering, and
the boy thought that he looked exactly
like Morto pointing a flock OF part
ridges in the brushwood These prep
arations for the human hunt Mortified
Javier While he slid the cartridge into
the gun chamber he was thinking that
he would much rather be i'm the clois-
ter of the university, at the cafe, or
the cattle fair of the fifteenth, buying
sweet rusks and caramels for the SEN
Oritas of PasO de NaldOmar.
Even in that moment of intense anx-
iety he saw in his imagination the gls-
tening fanks of the bulls, the gentle
glances of the COWS, and heard the
mournful braying of the asses, and
listened to the fresh voice of Casildina
del Pazo de Naldomar, who said to him
in her soft, drawing tones: "Oh, for
PHYS sake. give me your arm! one
can't walk alone i'm such a crowd!!"
He thought he felt the pressure of her
little arm; no. it was the hairy and
muscular hand of the priest who
pushed him toward the window.
Put out that light" ordered the
old man.
Javier did so in three valiant puffs.
The fun has begun" continued the
priest: Il will load you shoot; YOU
load. I shoot. Here. Tomasa." he cried
to the maid, don't squeal so! You
sound like a weasel. Put some water
ON to boil. oil, wine, anything you have.
You" he added. turning to the farm
hand, go to the gallery; if any one
tries to climb over the wall. vet me
know"
He cautiously opcned the little win
dow, just leaving Chink for the muZ-
zle of a gun and a mans eye. Ja"ier
shiVerCd when he felt the cold nigh.
air. tut he soon pulled himself together
again, for he was not coward, and
looked down below. He saw 4 swarm.
ing black group and heard whis
pered consultation.
Fire" said his uncle in his ear.
There are twenty or more" re-
sponded Javier
What of it," growled the priest
pushing his nephew away, with an
impatient gesture and resting the
muzzle of the gun in the little opening
Of the window, he fired. There was a
disturbance in the group below and
the priest rubbed his hands
"One fell paws up. qoniam!" he
muttered, pronouncing the Latin word,
with which, ever since his college days.
he had replaced ALI the intersections
that abound in the Spanish tongue
Now it's your turn boy. They have
ladder and the first one that climbs
up :"
Javiers fingers curled around his
beautiful LafaucheuX carbine, but sud-
denly they loOsened their hold,
"TnClc,' he ventured to murmur, 81
know some of those people I remem-
Der now what they said at the fair.
They said that the surgeon of Solas,
the rocket maker of Gunsende, and the
brother of the doctor of Doas were
coming DO you want to speak to
them? Perhaps they would be cor .
tent with a little money and let us
alone and not kill any one"
Money, money" exclaimed the
priest, hoarsely; you doubtless think
there are millions in this house,
But the funds of the church"
Belong to the church, quoniam! /
would rather let them toast my feet,
as they did the priest Of Solas' last
year than give them one OChavO. II
would be better to have ones skin
filled full of holes at once, instead ci
being tosated Fire at them! /. You
are afraid, ] will"'
I'm not afraid" declared 1avic".
and he rested the Carbine in the open
ing.
shoot twice." commanded his uncle.
JaVicr pulled the trigger twice and
| from below a formidable clamor ans
wered the two shots. The boy had no;
| time to draw back his hand, when
there came a swift vClley against thu
panes of the window, scattering chips
! Of wood In every direction. Tho report
| of all sorts Of firearms added tO the
! general tumult-the sharp cracl; of a
| pistol the sGnOrous echoes of the car
bine, the crashing noise Uf the blunder-
| busses and muskets. Javier staggered
back, his right hand hanging limp. Tha
carbine fell Ia the door.
What's the matter my boy"
They've broken my wrist" groaned
| Javier, creeping 10 the bench. whera
| he sat down. almost fainting with pain
The priest who was loading his gun
| felt something pulling at the tails Of
his ca;, and by the dim light, saw a pal