Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-08-17
CHAPTER XXI.
s.TO BE Shot at Sunrise."

lie SnOI dt
The Carlst soldiers conducted Rollo and
his three friends to the granary of the
Mill House, where they were permitted to
recline as best they might upon the va
rious piles of grain heaped here and there
In preparation for the work of the NOR
row.
"Rollo and FL Sarria were placed at one
side of the granary and at the other
Etienne and John Mortimer lay at full
length upon a heap of corn Between paced
a sentry, with musket and bayonet.
AS before. owing to the position Of Sarria
among it's mountains, the night fell keen
and chill. The Carlists slept and snored.
all save the double guards placed over the
prisoners.
Shall we try a rush? Is It any user
whispered Rollo to Ell Sarria.
The outlaw silently shook his head. He
had long ago considered the position and
knew that it was impossible.
Cast back upon his own thoughts, Rollo
reviewed many things, his short life, the
reckless ups and downs in which he had
spent it-but all without remorse or re-
greet.
II might have been lawyer and lived to
one hundred" he said to himself. at Is
better as 1t is. If l have done little good,
perhaps 1 have not had time to do great
deal of harm"
Then very contentedly he curled himself
up to sleep as best he might, only dreamily
wondering If little COncha would be sorry
when she heard.
Ramon Garcia sat with his eyes fixed on
the sentry who had ceased his to-and-fro
tramp up the center, and now Leaned
gloomily against the wall, his hands
crossed about the crOssbar OF his sword
bayOnet.
Rollo was not wholly comfortable on his
couch of grain The bonds about his feet
CALLED him, having been more tightly
drawn than those of his companions in
virtue of his chiefship. Nevertheless he
got a good deal of sleep and each time
that he awoke it seemed to him that FL
Sarria was staring harder at the sentry
and that the man had moved little
nearer.
At last. turning his head a little to one
side, he heard distinctly the low murmur
of voices.
DO you remember Pancorbo?" said Ra-
mon Garcia.
RoIlo could not hear the answer but he
caught the outlaws next question
And have you forgotten Ell Sarria, who,
having a certain Miguelete under the point
Of his knife, let him go for his sweetheart's
sake. because she was waiting for him
down in the Valley?
The sentry's reply was again Inaudible,
A7t RolIo was fully awake now. Ramon
Garcia had not abandoned hope, and why
should he? When there was anything
to be done none could be so alert as Rollo
Blair.
Il am FL Sarria, the outlaw" Ramon
went on, "and these are my companions.
We are no traitors, but good Carilsts tc
man. Our papers are
Here the words were spoken low that
RoIlo could not hear more, but the next
moment he was nudged by Ramon on the
leg.
write a note to Concha Cabezos telling
her to bring the papers here at once if she
would save our lives. You are sure she is
Faithful"
no reason for his confidence, excep. the
truth of her eyes.
Then the young man. turning his back
upon the doing guard in the stone Win
dowsill. wrote with some difficulty the fol-
lowing note, lying his back and using
the uneven floor of the granary for a desk:
Little Concha," II ran, I'VE are Gen.
Cabrera's prisoners. Bring the papers as
soon as you receive this. Otherwise we
are to be shot at daybreak.
"ROLLO BLAIR"
There was still a little space left upon
the leaf of alcOy paper. and with a half
shamefaced glance at Ell sarra he added
And IN any case do not wholly forget
r. B."
He passed the note to tho outlaw. who
folded 1t TO the size of postage stamp
and apparently gave directions where and
to whom 1t was to be delivered.
I'm half an hour We shall be relieved
and l will 60 said the Carlist ex-Miguel-
etc. and resumed his steady tramp
Rollo fell asleep again. And so soundly
this time that he only woke to conscious
ness when soldier in white boina pulled
roughly at his elbow and ordered him to
get up.
All about the granary the Carlists were
stamping feet, pulling on boots and flap
ping arms.
1T Is cold morning to be shot in" said
the man. with rough kindness, "but 1
Will get you some hot chocolate In a mo-
ment. That will warm your blood for you.
and in any case you will have a quick
passage. / will pick you firing party of
the best shots In the three provinces. The
general Will be here In quarter of an hour
and the sun will rise in another quarter
One Is just as punctual as the other A
cigarette? Thank you. Well. you are a
cool hand! I'm off to see about the choco-
late"
And Rollo Blair, with slight singing in
his ears and an emptiness about the pit
Of his stomach. stood on his feet critically
rolling cigarette In leaf Of Etienne' g
alcoy paper.
John Mortimer said nothing. but looked