The Opelousas courier., 1900-12-29

surrounded by buildings and corrals
for cattle.
This Is the place, Senior Ameri-
cano," she said. "Will you not come
to the house and let my uncle thank
you"
II don't want any thanks for an act
which no man could have refused to
perform; but I will go in. Will you
give me your name? Mine is Edward
Wilton, and I am second mate Of the
brig Vesper."
"And mine is Isola MendeZ. I re-
member you, senior | danced with
you at the f%andango, in Valparaiso,
last week"
They entered the house, and were
me 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 a 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 a stay
with me, If your business will allow
it, and l will try to make it pleasant
for you"
II have a week Of liberty On shore"
said Ned, land then / must be Off. l
accept your invitation with pleasure,
senor."
Three or four days passed pleasant
ly, the ranchero doing his best to in
vent new pleasures for the young
American. Isola was q pleasant COM
panion, and 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 it was
plain to see that they were very deep
ly in love. AS they halted for a mo-
ment in a breezy canyon, a dozen
horsemen suddenly surrounded them.
Ned made a gallant fight, and shot II
of his assailants, and mortally wound
ed another, before he was overpowered.
In the leader Of these mountains BAN
dts he recognized Manuel Godena.
Il told you that l would not rest
until l had revenge, accursed Ameri-
cano,' he Kissed. NOW, Isola-"
But the girl, giving her horse the
rein, broke suddenly through the ranks
Of the men who surrounded her, for
they had taken no trouble to secure
her, and set off at a mad gallop, closely
pursued by four or five Of the banditti.
But there was not a man in Chilli who
could ride with Isola Mendez, and, as
they passed out sof sight, all could
see that she was gaining rapidly, 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, ESQ that he
cannot fall down."
The men obeyed, and Godena dis
mounted with a pistol in his hand.
Ned, held in his place by his bond,
looked him boldly in the face. Adj
yancing 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 1eshy part
of his shoulder.
"One!" said Godena, producing an
other pistol. 81 am going to hit you
ON the other side"
Again he fred, and the other should
was torn by the ball.
"You black-hearted hound!" cried
Ned, "if you think to wiring a single
cry from me you are mistaken. Go on,
savage, complete yo6r bloody work"
Godena, with the grim of a fiend,
took two other pistols from the hands
of one of the men. Again he fired, in
tending to pierce the arm of the
young sailor, but this time he missed.
Poor practice" said Ned. CRY
my dear fellow"
The fourth pistol cracked, and Ned
gave a start and shiver, for his left
arm had been pierced. Godena was
very angry, for ID spite of the torture,
he had not been able to wiring a groan
from the gallant young man. Reload
his pistol carefully, he stepped close
to the prisoner, and again and again
touched him with the muzzle Of the
cooked pistol over the heart, upon the
forehead, in every vital part, but he
did not finch.
why don't you end it, cowardly
cried Ned.
Il will end 1t" replied Godena, step
ping back q single pace. 'tThus Man
uel Godena avenges himself"
He raised the pistol in his right hand
to a level with the heart of the prison
er and was about to pull the trigger
when a rife 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 rancheros chased
down the canyon. and the bandits
in flight. pursued by the herd
led by Senior Mendez. Then
Ned tainted from loss of blood, and
when he came back to life his bonds