The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-10-10
Trust me-" said Mattazudo. us he
walked off.
CHAPTER VI.
The Attack

council Of war with his officers, when
his wife and daughter reached him.
They rushed into his arms with excla-
maIlons of mingled joy and WOO.
Glow did you escape?" said Sal
varez. TELL me about me attack on
the castle. Our men say they fought
bravely, and killed a hundred Of the
enemy"
Fought bravely" replied Dona Ma
ria. There was no fighting at all. A
few shots were fired, it is true. But Of
what use would it be for few to
stand against hundreds?"
'Who are the two Americans, faith
err" asked Jacinta, who had heard
enough about the war.
ooh, the Americans! Where are
they? have not missed them till now
Where did you see thenl?"
"Near the castle Pedro Francisco is
with the enemies of the republic, and
was looking for us in the castle
grounds. When we left the secret pas
sage he came upon us, with two others,
and the Americans beat them off and
brought us within a short distance Of
you. They are here, so they said, to
rescue young girl from the hands of
the conspirators against our liberty"
Salvarez dismissed the Americans
from his mind, and began preparations
for attacking the castle.
Having reached the most advanta-
geous point within his grasp, Salvarez
planted his two guns, ready to begin
the attack.
1t was at this point that the sentinel
on the tower had passed the word for
1omez and had interrupted his talk
with Mattazudo.
Salvarez first took the precaution to
send his wife and daughter some dis
tance away from the scene in the care
Of a score of soldiers under lieuten-
ant. Freed from their loving but en-
barrassing presence, he now dis
played himself fearlessly, and directed
the movements in person.
The soldiers under Salvarez were of
the same classes as those under Fran
cisco and Mattazudo; but as no class is
altogether good, neither is any class
altogether bad, and the half-breeds,
even to the Zambos, who were among
the supporters Of the Government
fought bravely.
| At the command Of Salvarez the two
guns doomed their wrath against the
offending foe, and an answering charge
of cannon and rifles awoke the echoes.
Again and again the booming guns
poured out their wrath, but the walls
of the castle crumbled not.
Meanwhile, Salvarez was restlessly
pacing up and down. He recognized
the impossibility of driving the enemy
4 command. A problem had presented
4 itself to his mind. The secret passage!
He resolved to hold the secret, intend
/ ing, if necessary, to utilize it in some
way at night.
His meditations were interrupted by
loud shouts from his men. In the castle
the preparations for the attack had
been watched eagerly by Gomez, Don
Juan and Philip OF Aragon.
"That General is cool fellow" said
Philip. "He should be one of us"
"Salyarez is brave man." said
Gomez, "and as stubbornly loyal to the
republic as he is brave"
"Salvarez seems to have confidence
that his attack will be successful"
Gomez smiled.
eff he knew it would be a failure he
would be as calm"
els there any danger that he will be
successful?" asked Don Juan.
"Not the least"
"Is it, then. SO strong castle?" ask
ed Philip.
"The strongest in Venezuela"
els it so? Then this spot was indeed
we'll chosen as the spot to begin our
operations"
Gomez smiled-his quiet superior
smile.
81 knew what was doing" he said.
81 generally do"
(To be continued.)