Rocky Ford enterprise., 1901-11-29
CHAPTER XNIII.
Paving Il Debt.

ed that II the waters continued to rise
twenty-four hours longer the Castle OF
Salyarez itself would cease to be habit
able. But when. on the following
morning. the rains ceased and tho
floods stopped rising. the lower floor
OF the castle was still dry.
The relief that Philip and his fol-
lowers felt at this was very great.
Philip at once turned his attention to
and Don Juan Cara resumed the plan
for pressing forward to the orinoco.
TO cross 1t and extend their power.
They were thus engaged on the day
that the waters had fallen away from
around the castle. when Francisco
burst in upon them. frantic In some
new excitement.
Your majesty" he cried. "Gomez'
Don Juan! a traitor has again come
near us,''
What do you meant" asked Philip.
starting up and placing his hand on
his sword-hIlt. Has Salvarex re-
turned7'
Nay. not Salyarcr." replied Fran
cisco. ''and never will. fancy. for
where would he have gone to have sur
ylved the tiood:"
Then who! II not Saiyar-x. who In
the traitor OF whom your speak,"
Il know not. Yet that some one has
been here ;h.r. Is no doubt Tho
horses are gone
THE horsrsG Cone"
To be sure" said Gomez. with
gloomy smile. w. might hav. CT.
peei.d such a loss. though no, by tho
hand OF traitor. Abov. the storm !
heard the poor beasts shFickIns In
their fear. and no doubt they had
broken bounds and s,smp-ded through
III. ~ai-r to look for hish ground and
safety. or eoarsc they ~.rr safe
enough. for the stables s-Fu no; Hood
cd by more than f-~ inches of
wat-r. hut they dlda'i kno1 that. of
course"
such ~as my explanation when the
thing ~as reported TO nc" said Fran.
cisco. but unfortunately there Is proof
tina, I ~as ~ronE and you are wrong.
Tho haitcFs have been cai-csoEy ono
of them"
Gut"
-ca, With a sharp knite. Every
severed end IL smooth and tr.r from
the ragged appearance of break. The
horses have been set frcc."
This IL a great misfortune" said
PhIIip. The food has either drowned
or driven OF mos, of the herds In this
vicinity. and uc shall have disiculty In
moving noFth.-
There will b. tnoFc-picaty OF
,h-n.- said Francisco. "on my own
aeias I have ;~o thousand. and there
Is high ground enough 10 give all my
beasts safety from the aoods. 1t is not
the loss OF the horses concerns me. II
is the pr.srne. so near OF an enemy"
''Tha, enemy mus, be found said
Philip.
The place Is full of mysteries" said
Francisco. "Do you remember. your
majesty. how even your own knife was
secretly taken from this room and con.
veyed TO the hand Of sairarcs''
True replied Philip. We found
IL sticking between the ribs OF the
murdered sentinel. I broush; Il here"
lie disturbed the maps and papers on
the table in an absent way. as Il TO
pick up the knife.
NY the hole saints,- he exclaimed.
II, is gone again! Is the thing be-
~itchedf"'
II knew a knife had been used" he
said. "and now !; would seem to have
been your maies,y's own"
Philip strobe to and FRI exei'edly.
Some one assureily has access to
this room" he said. and visits IL when
non. Of US are present. The matter
must be investigated and that imme-
dIatsjy. Have the guards that have
been on duty at this door since the
beginning Of the hood summoned be-
fore W. that we may hear their state
ments."
While Philip. Gomez and Don Juan
wsrs engaged in questioning the
srtrh,susd and bevildered sentinels.
10, us sec what another member OF the
hand was doing.
when Lola Cara had been lying on
bsr sick bed. attended only by her
father, whose reports of her condition
were anxipusiy listened TO by Philip
and Gomez. Ma,tazudo was as anxious
az either Of them. when he had been
orderci TO bring Namampa. the herb
doctor. a eleam OF triumph had illu-
mined his ugly face.
And when Don Juan was plunged in
Grief and Philip mourned the loss of
bis uuecu. and Gomez cursed the fate
mat had taken the beautiful victim
from his when he might have succeed
cd in getting her in his power. Malta
zudo -Mattazudo the half-breed
smiled and was happy.
And now. while Philip and his on
-ors were engaged IN a long and fruit
less task Of trying to wiring informa-
,iou from sentinels who had none to
Give. Mattazudo. having seen that