Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-12-19

swered to everything: 1T Is my couu-
uy' they are my people. must xo.-
ror I'VE months now he had followed
naitasar. taking unfinchingly hts part
IN the guerrilla warfare. but his heart
was not In IL. His thoughts were all
or the work he had left. his home and
Luisa- he had heard no word since he
mad left her. but now he should see
her-know that all was well with her
Tne thought pulsed through him as he
scanned the wall. fixing every detail,
every possibility, ia his mind.
Tne ascent must be made In the brief
nour between sunset and moonrise.
AZ dusk Isadore began to climb. eau.
uously feeling his way with hand and
loot. testing every step. swinging from
ledge to crevice and niche with catlikc
nimolsness- Once foothoId crumbled.
snd be saved himself from dashing be-
low only by a clutch that left his fiu-
gers torn and bleeding. Sometimes he
must cut his steps In the rock. and an
last be reached a granite face on which
even the knife could get no hold. He
wasted precious moments In cropping
over IL and then was obliged to retrace
Dis way 10 n ledge along which he
crept upward and outward. A stone
ratified downward. and he heard foot
steps above. He hattened himself
against the rock and waited. but the
steps retreated.
The moon swung clear OF the Old
Woman peak as he dragged himself
upon the top and lay painting and
nerveless. but he must not stop In that
pitiiess light. and. lying fat, he worked
himself across and began to EXPLORE
the opposite edge for the point where
ne could most easily descend. Again
ne heard the pace OF the sentry and
held his breath while he awaited what
should come. but the man had no mind
TO make himself target for Yauui bul-
lets on that bare ledge and turned back
before he reached It,
After little search at the foot OF tho
new canyon Isadore found the trail de-
scribed by Baltasar. and. guided more
oy instinct than by sight. he followed
steadily Its obscure but certain lead
ing Absorbed as he was in keeping to
the path that led over rocks and
through gulches. lost itself In brush
and lenped up and down mountain
sides. he was conscious all the time
that Baltasar had chosen him. had
trusted him above all the rest. and he
must not fail Baltasar And he al.
ways heard Luisa's cry OF Joy to come
that alone would be worth all the
toll and danger.
When the moon wRned. he slept, but
At daybreak he was on foot again. The
day was well on before he left the
mountains. A wide plain. loosely Gov
cred with greasewood. cactus and vuc-
cas- and broken by many a dry water
course. stretched away to the north.
There was no water. no shade. and the
August sun scorched the very air. but
the Indian trotted warily on, keeping
to the scant shelter and the low ground
and once lying behind the spare screen
or mesquite bush while a band Of the
Mexican patrol swept by I'm the dis
tRnce.
The moons magic was turning the
barren. dusty plains into cool fields of
restful beauty as he at last approached
the settlement. Instinctively he turn
ed nrst 20 the house where he had left
Luisa IN the care OF a country woman.
ed by and went on to a long, low adobe
which stood apart He gave q signal
knock and In moment was standing
inside. while an old man, boy and
three or four women gathered about,
questioning. exclaiming, gesturing.
They hushed as he spoke.
"Baltasars band went down into
Gonsaiez's country. He followed us
back. He had many men. we few. He
drove Us back and back into La Gaze
ton have come for cartridges. They
have tried twice to enter and twice
borne back their dead. but II they
strike again, or IL Munps band comes
to aid us and we have not the ammuni-
ton, IL Is the end" Then. turning to
the boy. he called: Go quickly. Juan,
and fetch Luisa. Tell her cne wishes
TO see her. but do not speak my name"
A pot OF steaming coffee had been
placed t1pon the table. He swallowed
two c0ps - the liquid before he noted
the silence IN the room and that Juan
still remained. why stand you there 2"
he demanded angrily. II have haste
to make and must see my wife"
The old man had dragged a heavy
box from underneath bed and was
taking from II little green boxes OF car
trtdges. He straightened himself and,
coming around the table. laid his hand
upon Issdore's arm. You cannot see
your wife. son." he said. using the
harsh gutterals OF his native dialect
'ls she deadT" cried Isadore. rising.
Z mo. but she has the pest--smallpox.
She will die tomorrow. Teoffla says"
< fWhy did you not speak. then p cried
tbs husband passionately. Think you
fear the pest7 Where is she?' He
turned toward the door. but the old
man stepped In front of him.
q ''That you must not dor he cried. |
"You know the foolishness Of the Amer !
fcanos! They watch day and night.
No one may enter or leave there. And /
you. IL they see you. Yaqu! rebel. !
they will give you over to the Mexi-
cans"
"Que carambai The devil himself !
shall not keep me from my wife! Let
me passr'
Auf cha ola man oIoctrc a,ts haoh |