The St. Louis Republic., 1903-01-18

| Clay, "lt you wish It. I will accompany
you with my men. Yes. will leave word
! that have gone in the sudden pursuit OF
| wish. and send those who may follow back
| again" --s.... ...t5=
You nre most gracious. sir" said Clay.
| at Is always a pleasure to meet with q
gentleman and a philosopher. We prefer
\ to travel without an escort, and remember;
YOU have seen nothing and heard nothing ;"
| He leaned from the saddle and touched tho
officer on the breast That ring Is worth
| q kings ransom e;'ss y {.
| 'Or a presidents" muttered the man,
| smiling. Let the American ladies pass
he commanded .
The soldiers scattered az the whin fall
and the horses once more leaped forward,
| and as the carriage entered the forest,
| Clay looked back and saw the officer exhal-
! ing the smoke OF a fresh cigarette with
the satisfaction OF one who enjoys a clean
conscience and sense OF duty well per
formed.
The road through the forest was narrow
and uneven. and as the horses fell into a
| trot the men on horseback closed up to-
Sether behind the carriage
DO you think that road agent will keep
his word?' Langham asked
Yes; he has nothing to win by telling ths
truth" Clay answered HE can say ha
ing In the direction OF Palacios coffee plan
tation. That lets him out. and in the morn
ing he knows he can levy on us for the gate
money. am not so much afraid of being
overtsken as am that King may make a
mistake and not get to Bocos on time. We
ought to reach there, If the carriage holds
together. by II. King should be there by 8
O'Clock. and the yacht ought to make the
run to Truxillo in three hours But wa
shall not be able to get back to the city
before Tomorrow morning. suppose
your family will be Wild about Hope. We
didn't know where she was when We sent
the groom back to King"
DO you think that driver IS taking ps
the right way?" Langham asked, after a
pause.
He'd better. He knows II well enough
he was through the last revolution and
carried messages from Los Bocos to the
city on foot for two months He has COW.
cred every trail on the way, and II he
him. = :
And Los Bocos-it is a village, isn't Il.
and the landing must be in sight Of the
Custom-house?'
The village lies some distance back from
the shore, and the only house on the beach
is the Custom-house itself: but every one
will be asleep by the time We get there, and
It Will take us only minute to hand her
into the launch. II there should be a guard
there. King will have fixed them one way
or another by the time we arrive. Anyhow,
there Is no need of looking for trouble that
Tar ahead. There Is enough to worry about
between. We haven't got there get"
The moon rose grandly a few minutes
later. and flooded the forest with light 80
that the open places were as clear as day.
1t threw strange shadows across the tra1,
and turned the rocks and fallen trees into
figures of men crouching or standing up
right with uplifted arms. They were 10 like
to them that Clay and Langham flung their
carbines to their shoulders again and again,
and pointed them at some black object that
turned az they advanced Into wood or stone.
From the forest they came to little streams
and broad. shallow rivers. where the rocks
In the fording places churned the water into
white masses of foam. and the horses kicked
up showers Of spray as they made their
way, slipping and stumbling against
the current. 1t was a silent pilgrim.
age. and never for Q moment did the strain
slacken or the men draw rein. Sometimes.
AZ they hurried across broad tableland. or
skirted the edge Of precipice and looked
down hundreds OF feet below at the shin.
ing water they had just forded. or up at
the rocky points OF the mountains before
them the beauty of the night oyercame
them and made them forget the significance
Of their journey.
They were not always alone, for they
passed at intervals through sleeping villages
Of mud huts with thatched roofs. where
the dogs ran yelping out to bark at them,
and where the pine knots, blazing ON tho
clay ovens. burned cheerily in the moon
light. In the low lands whers the fever
hay. the mist rose above the level OF their
heads and enshrouded them in q curtain of
fog. and the dew fell heavily. penetrating
their clothing and chilling their heated
bodies 50 that the sweating horses moved
in lather OF steam
They had settled down into q steady gall
Iop now, and ten or fifteen miles had been
left behind them.
I'VE are making excellent time" said
Clay. "The village OF San Lorenzo should
lie beyond that ridge" He drove up beside
the driver and pointed with his whip -'.Is
not that San Iorenzo?" he asked.
''Yes. senor." the man answered. ''but
mean to drive around 1t by the old wagon
trail. It is large town and people may