The National tribune., 1899-07-13

thee | saw not among the blissful, where
! thou must have been, hadst thou beer
discarded from earth, as | thought thee
And | remember me, too, and great Joy i
is to remember, that my son ArnadOr was
not among those saints; for which reason
! heaven makes it manifest to us that he
| lives. Now, therefore, let us go forth from
| this desert, and seek him. Though mine
eyes are sealed among these hills, and my
feet stumble upon the rocks, yet will heaven
| point us out a path to Mexico"
ALAS! my lord need not seek so far" said
the page. "The paganS are now alone in
the city, having driven out their enemies,
with terrible slaug ughter.-NeVer more will
the Spaniards return to it!'
"Ay, now, | remember me-" said the
knight catching up some of his battered
armor, as he spoke. This defense, that
had thought forever rejected, must / again
buckle on. l remember me, thou spokest
of night Of retreat by the cauSeway, very
dreadful and bloody. Ayi and thou saidst
thou vert at Amador's sidei-How was it,
that thou vert taken from him, and didsi
yet live?"
my father Abdaila," said Jacinto, sor,
rowfully, my father. by chance, heard me
cry at the ditch, when my lord, Don Amador
was gone; and he saved me in his canoe"
At this moment a distant trumpet blast
came echoing up the mountain, even over
the roar of the fall.-The ancient war
horse heard the remembered note, and
pricking his ears, neighed loudly and
tiercely, running TO gap in the wall, as If
10 seek the contest, till recalled by the
voice of his master.
The infidels are then at hand. and they
do battle with Christians" exclaimed Don
Gabriel, the fire of chiEalry again flashing
from his eye, and almost driving away the
thought OF /ayda. Buckle me these
straps, and see that thou art speedy; for
this brooks not delay. God hath called
NE 10 this mountain, that should be ready
10 do battle with the heathen, in defense Of
the holy cross, which is my sworn vow; and
in the fuitilment Of the same, / pray God
that | may dIe.-SOund again, brave
he rt, smite me the goddess fast and well;
for presently ! shall be with ye, striking for
| the fath,-Why, how thou loitereSt, young
knayei Be speedy, Tor my son Amador IS
with the Christian host; and, this day,
heaven wills that l Shall bring him sue
cor"
Alas! my lord" cried the page, 81 would
that could give my life to aid him; but my
fingers are skilless and feeble"
Thou art godiy boy, and well do
love thee. Buckle Inc as thou canst, and
care not TO buckle well; for, in this fight,
| Col viii be my armor. Buckle me, there
| fore, as thou canst; and, while thou art
| thus engaged, give Inc to know, what good
angel brought thee to be my messenger"
| Il followed my sire" said the trembling
Jacinto, with the forces of Mexico, that
were sent to join the mountain bands, and
cut off the fugitives; and being commanded
| to rest me on the hill till the battle was over,
! | lost myself; which, with my great grief of
| heart. caused me TO seek some nook wherein
| might die. For truly, now, unless my
lord Amador be living, l care not myself for
| life"
The forces of Mexico! be they many?
and these dogs of the hills, are they in
numbers?"
Countless as the drops Of spray which
the breeze filings over u.s." said Jacinto,
with much perturbation, so that nothing,
| but the goodness of God, can rescue the
| Spaniards out Of their hands,
| 81 swear, myself" said Calavar, fiercely,
| "and heaven will listen to the VOW of a
| Christian, though one sinful and miserable,
that, this day, even they themselves, the
goddess pagans, shall be scattered as dust
under our Quick-my war
coat and now, my good lance that hath
drunk the blood of the heathen! Santa
Madre de Dios! Sonora beatificadal the
iniidel shall fall under the cross, and the
true believer rejoice in his slaughter"
| With such eXclamations Of fervor, the
spirit Of youthful days returning, at each
| blast Of the trumpet which was still winded
at intervals, the knight ceased doing on his
armor, and then, with Jacinto's feeble
assistance, caparisoned his impatient steed.
When this was done, he bade the page to
follow him; and, riding through one Of the
many gaps in the colossal wall, began to
descend the mountain.
Go be continued.)