Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1900-04-13
THE CHILIANS OATH.



member you. senior. l danced with you
at the fandango, in Valparaiso, last
week"
They entered the house, and were met
by Senior Mendez, the uncle Of Isola.
He heard her story, and thanked the
young American warmly for the part
he had performed. But Ned stopped
him.
1T annoys me to be thanked for so
slight SERVICE" said Ned. please do
not say anything more about it."
Il will try and thank you in some
other way, senor," said the ranchero,
warmly. Now. you must make stay
with me. if your business will allow it.
and will try to make it pleasant for
you"
81 have week of liberty off shore"
said Ned, 'and then must be of.
accept your invitation with pleasure,
senor."
Three or four days passed pleasantly.
the ranchero doing his best to invent
new pleasures for the young American.
Ned was very sorry when the time
drew near for him to leave. The last
day of his stay the two rode out among
the foothills. and 1t was plain to see
that they were very deeply in love. AS
they halted for moment in a breezy
canyon, a dozen hOrsemen suddenly
surrounded them. Ned made gallant
fight, and shot one of his assailants, and
mortally wounded another, before he
was overpowered. In the leader of
these mountain bandits he recognized
Manuel Godena
81 told you that | would not rest un-
til had revenge, accursed Americana"
he hissed. Nov. Isola-"
But the girl. giving her horse the
rein, broke suddenly through the ranks
of the men who surrounded her, for
they had not taken the trouble to Sc
cure her, and set off at a mad gallop,
closely pursued by four or five of the
banditti. But there was not man in
Chill who could ride with Isola Mendez.
and, as they passed out of sight all
and was likely to escape. A cry of
rage burst from the lips of Godena.
Now. ten thousand curses on the
girl" he cried. Il meant that she
should witness my punishment of her
Yankee lover; but at least we have him
secure. Place him against the rock
there, with his hands and feet bound.
Make him fast, so that he cannot fall
down"
The men obeyed, and Godena dis
mounted with pistol in his hand Ned.
held in his place by his bonds. looked
him boldly in the face. Advancing a
pace. the miscreant aimed at him.
changing his aim from time to time to
distress the prisoner. But Ned did not
give the slightest sign OF fear. At last
the pistol exploded and the ball tore
through the feshy part of his shoulder.
One. said Godena, producing an
other pistol. II am going to hit you
on the other side
Again he fired. and the other shoulder
was torn by the ball.
You black-hearted houndw cried
Ned. IF you think to wiring single cry
from me you are mistaken. Go on.
savage, complete your bloody work"
Godena, with the grin of a fiend. took
two other pistols from the hands of one
of the men. Again he fired, intending
to pierce the arm of the young sailor,
but this time he missed.
Poor practice" said Ned. "Try
again. my dear fellow"
The fourth pistol cracked, and Ned
gave start and shiver, for his left
arm had been pierced. Godena was
very angry, for in spite of the torture,
he had not been able to wiring a groan
from the gallant young man. Reload
ing his pistols carefully, he stepped
close to the prisoner, and again and
again touched him with the muzzles of
the cooked pistols over the heart. upon
the forehead. in every vital part, but he
did not finch
why don't you end it. cowardly
dog?" cried Ned.
II will end it," replied Godena. step
ping back single pace. Thus Man
uel Godena avenges himself"
He raised the pistol in his right hand
to a level with the heart of the prisoner
and was about to pull the trigger when
a rine cracked on the mountain side
above them and Manuel Godena. shot
through the heart. fell upon his face.
dead. At the same time a score of
| stockmen and ranchpros chased dawn
the canyon, and the bandits turned in
fight, pursued by the herd riders, led
by Senor Mendez. Then Ned tainted
from loss of blood, and when he came
back to life his bonds had been re-
moved. and he lay upon the green sod
/ his hnnd nillnMnl nnnn tho knnn Of