Evening star., 1901-10-12

| you proved TO be a spark among our tinder.
| These Spaniards can resist nothing In the
shape of petticoat. You know. And gad,
sir. don't know why they should in this
| case. For will say that handsorner girl
l never set eyes upon, and demon sir. Col.
| Frank Merry has seen some high steppers
| in his time, can tell your
IF You refer to the Seaorita Concha
Caoezos, said Rollo. haughtiy. .'she is
betrothed In marriage to me. and such re-
| marks are highly ofensiver'
! No offense-no offense deuced sorry,
| I'm sure" said COL Frank. whose name
well as his jolly proportions indicated the
1 heard-mind only say 1 heard. that the
| young lady has gone OF with a cookbook
| ing young Vitorian. trooper of the Es-
| trella regiment one Adrian Zumaya- He
| removed his horse from the line on pretext
| of grooming II, and the pair have gone on
| togetheri"
III you will favor me with the name of
your Informant answered Roilo. Il shall
| nave the pleasure of running him through
| the bodyr'
The Faistafffan Col. Don Francisco
| Merry waved his hand and smiled blandly.
| In that case 1 fear you must decimate
| the entire command" he said 1.-The BOYS
| down there are all on the shout on account
| Of Master Adrian's good fortune. But l
| should advise that ingenious young gentle
| man to make the best of his time. for II
he comes across his old comrades and their
general he will get singularly short shriftT'
! You are at liberty to contradict the
| story, said Rolo serenely. passing,
his nature was. instantly from anger to in
| difference. "Listen-the Senorita Concha
may have left the camp. Your Vitorian
! friend may have left the camp. Only.
! these two did not go together-note that
well. If any man affirm otherwise let him
! come to me. / will convince him of his
| errcri'
And having spoken these words. Master
| Rollo dismissed the matter from his mind
| and marched off toward his companions
| campfire revolving his alternative plan for
| the saving of the royal party.
| The bivouac of the little group Of friends
| and allies was close beside the white house
where were bestowed the queen. her hus-
band and her little daughter But senti-
nels paced vigilantly to and fro before IT.
| and besides the soldier in the courtyard,
there was Carlist post upon a rocky emf
| nence equipped with a field gun which COM
| manded the whole position. So that for
| the present at least there was no hope of
| doing anything to deliver the prisoners
| Rollo called his council together cautious
| ly- They could talk without suspicion dur
| ing supper, which in old friendly Spanish
| (and Scottish) fashion served up in the
| pot in which it had been cooked. Thus
| they clustered round and discussed both
| plans and pottage as they dipped their
spoons into the steaming OLA
One of the leaders most serious diff
culties had been to decide whether or not
he could afford to trust the sergeant. A
! little thought, however. soon assured Rollo
that he could not do without Jose Maria,
so that there remained no choice. The
sergeant naQ openly attached hlmSelt 10
their party. They could discuss nothing
and undertake nothing without exciting
his suspicion. Certainly he had been in Ca
brera's command but-Concha vouched for
him and La Giralda swore by him. He was
a gypsy, and therefore his own interests
were his only politics
SO to the company about the steaming ola
pot on the hillside, as the twilight deepened,
Rollo related the story of his interview with
Cabrera. There no hope in that quar-
ter. So much was certain. If the queen re-
gent and her little daughter could not be de-
lfvered before the morning they would as
Suredly be murdered.
You have a plan, L can see that" said
the sergeant shrewdly, polishing upon a
piece of wash leather the silver spoon which
he habitually carried.
You win aid me in carrying 1t out If I
have?" thus with equal swiftness came
RollO's cross-Questio1.
A curious smile slowly overspread the
gypsy's leathern visaga.
81 think he said, slowly, that all of us
have most to gain by keeping the two
queens alive. But 1 confess would not be
sorry to make the general a present of my
gentleman of the dressing gown"
Then Rollo, reassured by the sergeant's
words, went on to develop his plans
I'VE must obtain sufficient horses to
mount the royal party, and one of us must
guide the queen and the others on their
way to Gen. Elio's camp. For the horses
We will look to you, sergeant"
II have done as much under the eyes of
an army in broad daylight, let alone at
night and on a mountain side" replied the
man of Ronda calmly, lighting another of
his eternal cigarettes.
Then" continued the young leader
| next We must secure some means of COM
municating with the prisoners within the
house La Gfralda viii afford us that The
sentries must be first drawn Off then Sc
cured and with one of us to accompany
and guide the party We must start off the
great folk for the camp of Gen Elio at
Vera, where, at least, their persons will be
safe and they will be treated honorably as
prisoners of war"
And who is to accompany them?" in
CURED the sergeant, his face like a mask.
For he hated the thought that Munoz should
escape half dozen Carlist bullets Jose
Maria, the brigand, Ell Sarria, the outlaw
even Cabrera, the butcher of Tortosa We're
in the scheme of things but this Munoz-
pah! ~
This is what propose" said Rollo. LET
no more than three horses be brought. So
many can easily be hidden in the side gull
lies of the barranco. That will allow one
for the queen, one for Munoz and which,
ever of us is chosen to accompany them
can carry the little princess before him as a
guarantee for the good behavior of the
Others"
But which may that be?" persisted the
sergeant, with his usual determination To
have his question answered.
Rollo made little sign with his hand, as
friend!" any
Those of us who stay behind ., he ,vor.
on, will take up such a position that we
may stay all pursuit till the fugitives are
out of reach. One thing is in our favor |
You have heard the silly cackle of the
camp about the escape of Concha If
know her, she is on her way to warn EUo
or the disgrace to the cause intended by |
Cabrera. In that case We may IL we can
hold out so long, hope to be rescued by an |
expedltlonary party. Moreover, Elio will |
come himself, knowing full well that moth
ing put his presence representative of !
Don Carlos will have power to move Cabre- |
ra from his purpose-that or the menace of |
superior force"
And who is to go with the queen?, ask |
ed the sergeant for the third time
Rollo waited a moment, his glance SLOWLY
travelling round the group about the little
campfire.
Let US see first who cannot go; that Is
the logical method he answered weighing
his words with unaccustomed gravity
For myself, obviously, 1 cannot, The
post of danger is here, and 1 am alone re-
sponsible. Don Juan there and the count
are also barred Etienne does not know the |
way nor Mortimer the language La Giralda
Is an old woman and weak. Sergeant Car
dono and Ell Sarria-you two alone remain
What say you? 1t lies between YOU
Go or stay, it is the same to me-" said