St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1902-05-24

the phlegmatic mask of the uttetl,
unmoved Mexican. His burst of IA &c
had been but a sorry cloak for the
cold terror that was clutching at his
heart. He realized this with increas
ing alarm; and worse-he knew tina.
the Mexican knew it. In spite Of the
terrific heat his face and hands were
clammy cold, and he shivered fitfully
They rode on through the long
afternoon in clammy silence that
was unbroken save for the muf-
fled shutting of the mustangs
feet on the pillowy sand. The
American had fallen into a dull ap-
athy, and rode like sick man, his
head dropping lollingly upon his
| breast. The Mexican did not change
his attitude by SO much as a hair:
riding erect and elastic, his face-a
stone, and his eyes-ice. --..vz.s-
Presently the sun dropped abrupt
ly over the far edge of the sand
bank, and there succeeded a brief
twilight of the blanched grayness of
death. The Mexican swung himself
lightly from the saddle and with a
gesture to his companion to do like
wise began to loosen the "bellyband"
from his sweating mustang. This
new move was viewed by the Ameri'
can with suspicion and alarm; but,
seeing that no immediate danger was
imminent he alighted slowly on the
further side of his fellow traveller,
and cautiously unsaddled the animal.
The Mexican, in the meantime had
staked out his horse with his RATA.
and was now busying himself with
the preparation of some coffee over
small spirit-lamp. When this was
done he spread blanket upon the
sand, and, motioning the other to be
seated opposite, they ate a slender
meal of crackers and canned corned
beef, washed down with the steam.
ing coffee, and topped off with spar
ing drink from the water-bottles.
Dinner over, the Mexican stretched
himself at ease upon the blanket, with
brown paper cigarette between his
slender fingers; fixing the American,
between the smoke wreaths, with a
sustained, impersonal regard under
which the latter soon found his eyelids
dropping with irritating persistency
The significance of this over-masterins |
drowsiness did not dawn upon him I'M
til, in moment when he had wrenched
his gaze from that impenetrable, idol
mask of a face opposite, with the Gig.
arctic smoke curling above it like
streamers of incense, his eyes fell upon
the others tin coffee cup. 1t was full.
In the act of rising to shake off the
deadly lethargy which was overcoming
him, he swayed unsteadily for mo-
ment, and then fell heavily back upon
the blanket.
When the American next opened his
eyes, his gaze rested on a strange
sight. Far down near the horizons
rim, cold, glittering moon was flash.
ing pale radiance over frozen white
sea. At least this was the first i'm.
preston on his confused senses, from
which the numbing effects of the drug
ne had swallowed had not yet disap-
'eared. The weird appearance of the .
1esert was further heightened to him
~ the fact that his eyes were nearly :
IN level with the sandy surface; and .
lie had much the feeling that swim
ner in heavy sea, and out Of sight
If land, might experience.
His gaze roamed duly over the :
bleak expanse, and finally rested on
lark blotch few yards in front of ,
lin. =.
He watched it in a puzzled way, his i,
ogged mind struggling vaguely to !
hake itself clear of the mist-weight
hat lay upon it. Suddenly the blotch
TIRED, and the marble face Of the .
texican CLEANED like white cameo /.
n the moonlight. Recollection and
hysical sensation returned to the
,merican in a bound. His muscles
autened in their preliminary to at
empt movement, but his frame re-
used to respond. His glance dart
d downward and encountered-sand.
He was buried to his neck.
In an ecstacy of madness and fren.
led terror he strained every muscle,
erve and fiber of his imprisoned body
ntil the blood literally burst from
is nose and mouth. 1t was useless
e was as immovably fixed as if he had
cen in bed of cement. Then he
aised his bloodshot eyes in mute ques-
oning to the silent figure seated in
lie moonlight. The response came
lickly.
The Mexican rose deliberately, and
.leasing the re-saddled horses from
eir tether, he led them in front of
le helpless captive and stood for a,
oment looking coldly and specula- Il
vely down upon him. Then his face
emed to break up as a mirror is II
aired in breaking, and he smiled a y,
osty, devilishly malignant smile.
ill smiling. he drew from his saddle 4,
g paper-wrapped parcel Care to
lily unrolling this, he disclosed an open 4,
'ok which he deposited face down. g,
,rd upon the sand Immediately be- n
ath the Americans eyes. The print h,
space was heavily blackened over f.
tn ink, all but one line, and this ~
ood out, easily readable in the daz- Il,
ng light from the desert moon. 81
The line ran: "Ocho por ocho, O'Dente ~
r dente." Gan eye for an eye, and Fl
9th for tooth) :.
The unhappy American was quick to to
asp it all. ~.
lie ran his glance to the top of the Ia.
oe: "Del Neuva Testamento."
The Mexican mounted his horse and IL,
asped the reins of the companion
imal. His smile had broadened and T.,
ere was cool amusement in his eve -,