Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-10-19
CHAPTER NLVI.
The Sergeant's Last Salute.

1t was almost time for starting. The
two sentries lay on their faces, trussed and
helpless, with gags in their mouths. Ell
Sarria and Rollo had dropped upon them
as If from the clouds a few minutes after
the officer had made a two-hourly visitation.
The sergeant was ready with the three
horses in the hollow, keeping them quiet
with cunning gypsy caresses and making
soft whistling ''chaIan'' noise in their ears.
So far all had gone well, and RolIo, stand
ing with his knife in suggestive proximity
TO the tied-up sentries. silently congratu-
lated himself. The dawn was doubtless
coming up behind the hills to the east, but
the darkness was still absolute as ever
about the camp save indeed for the lam
bent brilliancies of the stars.
They were now waiting only for the royal
party, and the time seemed long to impa-
tient Rollo. Were all his plans, so care
fully laid, to be made naught because, for
sooth. queen in danger of her life must
still keep up the punctilios of a court and
cherish the pettishness and caprices of
spoilt child? Was his reputation to go down
to posterity as that of a man who, being
trusted with the lives of a woman and
bles?
AT last-therel They were coming. But
why, for Gods sake, could not they make
less noise?
With motion of his hand which directed
ii Sarrfa to keep an eye upon the gagged
sentries, Rollo went forward to receive the
queen and conduct her to her horse Munoz
however, came out first, carrying in his
arms the little princess, who, however SO
soon as she heard Rollo's voice. whispered
her desire to be transferred to him. But
Rollo had already offered the queen his
arm, and whispering her to tread care
fully. led the way to the little hollow,
where Sergeant Cardono kept the three
brides in his hand and was cursing the
Slow movements of crowned heads and
ennobled estanco keepers in Romany Of
the deepest and blacklist
He had cause to curse another pecu-
iarity in monarchs and spoilt children
before many minutes had gone by. Till
now the success of the plot had been COM
plete. There remained indeed only to mount
and ride. FL Sarria brought up the rear
assuring himself for the one hundre1th
time that his weapons were in good order
and ready to his hand. No great general,
Ramon Garcia was matchless legionary
But the queen regent would by no means
submit to be assisted to her seat Qt was a
mans saddle by Rollo. She called to her
husband in voice clearly audible all
about.
Parliamentary love! Come to mel
want yOu,'
As Rollo said afterward, no queen born
under the lilies of the Bourbon ever ran a
nearer chance Of having the rude hand of
a commoner set over her august mouth
than did Maria Cristina of Naples on this
occasion.
NUT was the appeal without erect
Senior MunoZ instantly put the little prin-
cess down upon the ground and fastened
TO his wife. What happened after that is
not very clear, even after the subject has
been repeatedly and exhaustively thrashed
out by the persons most Immediately con-
Cerned-
Perhaps the princess, deposited thus sud
denly upon the ground, caught instinctively
at one or the long tails of the horses
which Gin common with those of all Span
ish hOrses) almost swept the ground Per
haps the animals themselves grew suddenly
panic-stricken- At all events. one of the
three dashed out suddenly. The sergeant
bent sideways to snatch Isabel from among
their heels. In so doing he dropped a rein,
and in another moment one of the steeds
went Gathering up the dry arroyo, scatter
ing the gravel every way with a wild -four
1shing Of heels, and making, as the ser
geant growied. enough noise to arouse
twenty camps"
For hundred heartbeats all the party
held their breath. Then Rollo whispered to
Senior Munoz to mount and take the little
princess before him.
AS for you, you must run for It, Ra-
mon" he said to FL Sarria THE fat is in
the fire now. and all we can do is to hold
Them back as long as we Make
straight for the gorge toward Vera You
know the way. May God help you to reach
st before they can turn our flank"
Then it was that the sergeant received a
Eefinite shock of surprise.
That queens would be foolish, arbitrary,
him. That they should choose their favor
ties from estauco keepers and guardsmen
and elevate them at a days notice to gran
deeships. dukedoms OF Spain and other
privileges even higher did not In the least
astonish him. But that the person so ele-
Waited should after all. In his less corporeal
attributes. prove to be man, was a first
rate surprise to Jose Maria.
Munoz was now to furnish the sergeant
with an absolutely new sensation.
senior" he said, quietly addressing Ell
sarria. be good enough to mount and con-
Suct the queen 70 a place Of safety. I in
hend 10 remain here with these gentlemen /"
theh ne went to Maria Cristina and spoke
Few sentences to her In q tone so low tina,
pniy the last words were audible
III not, by the Immaculate Virgin ]
Swear that you will never see my face
~Fernando! Fernandez! Fernando. You
re cruelF was the answer uttered
knroush choking sobs.
but Fl sarrta was in the saddle Tho