Hutchinson gazette., 1901-08-01
"Trust me-" said Mattasudo. as he
walked on.
CHAPTER vi.
The Attack.


his wife and daughter reached hina.
They rushed into his arms with excla-
nations Of mingled Joy and woe,
How did you escapef" said sal-
varez. "Tell me about me attack on
the castle, Our men say they fought
bravely, and killed hundred Of the
enemy"
Fought bravelyw replied Dona Ma
ria There was no lighting at all. A
few shots we're fred, II is true, But OF
what use would 1t be for few 10
stand against hundreds?"
who are the two Americans, faith
err" asked Jacinta, who had heard
enough about the war.
"oh, the Americansl Where arc
they2 have not missed them I'LL now,
Where did you see them?"
Near the castle. Pedro Francisco 10
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 of and
brought US within short distance OF
you. They are here, 30 they said, to
rescue a young girl from the hands OF
the consplrators 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.
II was at this point that the sentinel
on the tower had passed the word for
uomez 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
IUU lHONtulNulb III pNlpOh'
The soldiers under Salvarez were OF
the same classes as those under Fran
cisco and Mattazudo; but as no class 10
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 tho 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
from his castle with the force at his
command. A problem had presented
itself to his mind The secret passage
He resolved to hold the secret, intend
ing, IL necessary, to utilize 1t 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 u.s."
"salvarez 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.
'If he knew 1t would be failure he
would be as calm"
us there any danger that he will be
successful?" asked Don Juan,
mot the least"
SIS It, then, so strong castle?" ask
ed Philip.
"The strongest In Venezuela"
"Is 1t so? Then this spot was indeed
well chosen as the spot to begin our
operations"
Gomez smiled--his quiet, superior
smile.
81 knew what was doing" he said.
81 generally do"
Ito be contlnued)