The National tribune., 1902-11-13
THE DONKEY
And THE .GRlNdO.
An Adventure of a Mining Man
in Chihuahua.

in Chihuahua.
| When I was elected Assistant Treasurer
Of the Rio Verde Mining Company, l re-
| ceiyed instructions to proceed at once to
| the mine, which was situated in the south
western corner Of Chihuahua, and take
'charge of the ore as fast as it came from
| the shaft. For months past the output
had been steadily shrinking in value, and
| the stock consequently had gone down,
| down, down, until it was hardly worth the
ink and paper; there was trickery going
on, the directors had at last concluded,
but just what they did not know, ard that
| was why they sent me-tO find out.
| l made the trip to chihuahua City with
out break, but there my troubles began.
| l was delayed week, waiting for the
| rattletrap of a diligencia that took me to
Santa Cruz. whence l expected to go mule
| back the rest of my journey. But that
| was merely a trifie,. as compared with
| what awaited me upon my arrival at
Santa Cruz; there was not a mule or 4
horse to be had in the place. Also found
| La Villa Rica de In Santa Cruz, to give
| its official misnomer, to consist of half Il
| dozen adobe novels, which were inhabited
| by Il dozen men and women of the pcon
class, several dozen half-naked children,
and perhaps 20 dozen NANCY ours; heas,
| flies. filth, and evil odors made up the
rest. Stay there and wait for mules l
would not, it was too squalid for the fas-
tidiOus taste of gringO. and determined
to push OH even if should have to walk.
Inquiry, however, finally elected the in
formation that there was -burro in the
place, the property OF one Francisco
you sell the animal?'' l asked. He an
swcred with surly refusal. rejoined
with an offer of $50, which he promptly
declined. Then l raised my bid. once,
| twice, but he remained unm0ved and sur
ly as at first. l was nettled. why do
you value the burrO SO highly?' L iIrquir-
ed with sarcasrl; 'is it family heir
loOmy / was answered by Francisco's s
wife. who had been silent listener: .'Thc
burrO was the family pet she said: it
had been reared in the house along with
their only child, and the two were insep-
arabic; moreover Panchita. the little girl
now lay in bed with q broken leg, which
would cripple ner for life, and so she
would need the burro to carry her about"
the bone been set:'
No. there was no doctor. and so it would
have to heal as best it wOuld.'
l have a little knowledge of simple sur
gerry. and thinking might he able to help
the child, i at once asserted that was 4
doctor. and would be glad to do what l
could for her, with the result that Fran
cisco's manner Immediately altered. He
begged n thousand partions for his ,inso-
lence to eel buen medico," and: led the
way into the house, where found Pan
chita OH a bundle of rags in the corner,
moaning with the pain OF fracture that
only needed setting, and a little time, to
remedy. ] always carry a small chest OF
simple medicines in my outfit. and getting
the little one under the influence of chlo-
rofOrm, soon had the bone properly set,
and the leg splinted; then / gave the
mother some powders to keep down fever,
and started out. But Francisco stopped
me.
This is your house. senor," he said ear
neStly. ''All that | possess is thine, nnG
my wife and l are your attentive ser
wants"
l knew that this timc-worn expression
Of the Mexican might mean much or little.
and so asked: and will you now sell
me the burro?"
1T is already thine. senor." he re-
sp0nded quickly, ''the gift of Panchita."
of silver at her side. For her wedding
day ! said to the smiling mother. BE
sides | will send the burro back
Then l was introduced to Ell SabiO. and
burst ont laughing. lie was so small
that / might have taken him to be a jack
rabbit, had / met him in the chaparral.
1t seemed ridiculous to think of such
creature carrying me across the noun
tains; | thought myself better able TO
carry him; and in good-humOred derision
suggested to Francisco that l do this. He
took me seriously.
'.I'ues no. senor"' he exclaimed. puZ-
zled. THAT is not the custom of the
country" l laughed. and he instantly
comprehended the hum6r of my remark.
"Ah, the caballero laughs at his size he
said, smiling. but look, he is strong,
very strong. and the caballero will be no
more than 4 feather to him. He is Il wise,
brave little beast, and very sure of foot
He will carry you we'll"
| doubted it, but upon getting on him.
with ease; nevertheless, it being more
tiresome to keep my legs furled under him
so they would not drag the ground
than to walk, | concluded to pack my out
fit on his back and myself go afoot, driv-
ing him. | was starting to lead him
away, when Francisco put his hand on
my arm.
I'm momentito, senor," he said. and
gently drew me back into the house. You
are armed | see.' he now went on, lower
ing his voice to a whisper, and pointing
to my revOlvers. Make sure that your
pistols are in good order, and do not sleep
too soundly ON the way"
lnGced. L SAID III surprise. And
why?'
''Because-' He hesitated. giancine
anxously at his wife. DO not betray
me. senor, my life would be the forfeit
because your coming is expected at the
mine"
stared at him incredulously; that could
not he possible, l thought. But how else
could Francisco know that my mission
was supposed to be kept Il secret until my
arrival? And then, like flash, it came
to me that one of the directors must be
working in collusion with the mines SUI
perintendent to rob the company and de-
preciate its stock. and SO had telegraphed
notice of my coming.
My thoughts We're interrupted by Fran
cisco whispering: $50, now, or you will
bring evil upon me and mine: have told
you enough. Va con Dios." And he push
ed me out and closed the door.
l make no pretensiOn to bravery beyond
that of the average man, but l am pig
headed-at least my friends call it that
and so the more one tries to stop me, or
the more obstacles l find in my way, all
the more determined am l to so ahead.
My first impulse was to take by revOlvers |
and thin out the men there in Santa Cruz
.greasers are just greasers to me-so
that the trail behind would be o1en;
but that was curbed by the recollection
that l was in Mexico, and the thought
that it would be unwise for me to come
in conflict with the laws of that country. |
Then l concluded to go ahead just as |
though Francisco had kept silent, at least |
until out of sight of Santa Cruz That |
an effort would be made TO murfler mo |