Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1900-11-29

Thus we Travelled and travelled for
a year and seven months and week
and two days, till we came to small
valley. barren as 4 Norfolk sand bank
and cut up by a brawling rivulet.
which sprawled from side to side
across ii. The valley was bounded on
either side by tall frowning cliffs,
which it would have puzzled a rat to
climb. and it lay on the western flank
Of q range Of mountains running north
and south. which we were trying to
cross to what rumor said was the
certain site OF Manoa. on the opposite
side.
For day and half we tramped
up this stopy desert and then came to
a wall of rock at the head, so steep
that the stream which leaped over it
was torn by the air fends to frag-
ments in its fall and dropped into the
pool at the bottom as n rainbow
stricken shower of shimmering mist
We looked round in dismay. Willie
Trehalion took off his skin skullcap, laid
II on rock. sat down beside 1t. and
screwing his mouth up into knot be-
gan to whistle dolefully. Job. as usual.
grinned.
Alec went forward to reconnoiter,
hoping to find some practicable spot,
but in vain. Back again" was the
word. and with frightened belts, too. for
our provisions were all consumed, and
there was no chance Of getting any
more till we came again to the wooded
country we had passed through two
days before.
Such a march. fasting, was enough
to make the cheeriest of US shudder,
but no one grumbled; there was moth
ing to be gained by it So with an
empty feeling about the waistband and
the comforting knowledge that that
feeling would soon become a gnawing
pain back we trudged, until we came
to the pass where narrow ledge OF
rock. jutting out from the steep cliff
and overhanging the water. had form
ed our path on the way up. None but
a sailor or n goat could have passed
along it, and, as single file was impera-
tive, our procession was struggling.
We were toilfully feeling our way
along this dangerous mouse walk when
shout Of dismay from in front told
us that some accident had happened to
the leaders. The jutting elbow of
rock prevented us from seeing what
was wrong, but the word was quietly
passed down the line that large body
of Spaniards held the open ground in
which the track ended and had captur-
ed Alec (who was leading) with a
noosed cord before he could draw iron
in his own defense.
Willie Trehalion and were bringing
up the rear. The rest struggled back
to us and asked what was to be done.
"They call on us to surrender" said
the lad who had been close on Alec's
heels
knowing that there's no food here,
an knowing we can't come to honest
blows" added Willie Trehalion, polish
Ing his head thoughtfully, "the dons
have us on the hip. Master Topp."
what do you advise, WillieY' said 1.
Don't know" he answered. "Pd
liefer die, though. than yield to the
Spanish devils"
"Quick. thenr' cried. Follow me,
those who dare. and let the rest guard
the path"
1t was n desperate chance that l
tried. but 1t was just possible that
some of us might be able to founder
through the rocks and falls and rapids
and so come out on the Spaniards far
ther down the river. If we could only
axe them unawares from behind, we
might get the better of them yet. And
so, with 40 Of the stout fellows after
me, slipped into the tearing current.
Sometimes we swan, sometimes we
waded, sometimes we were borne along
like so many helpless logs of wood.
down cataracts and through eddies,