The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-06-12
HE GRAY FOX OF GIBRALTAR; A ROMANCE OF THE ROCK

advisability of this course by perceiv-
ing, as soon as he had passed around
the horses, a ray OF light shining
through a broad crack at the end Of the
shed where it Joined the house.
Stepping cautiously forward. he
knelt upon the ground and applied his
eyes to this crack. The interior OF the
hut was dimly lighted by a fire which
had been kindled on the hearth, and
within the circle Of light he could see
three men sitting.
His first glance at the men convinced
him that he had been discreet in ap-
, preaching them thus cautiously.
Two of them We're as rough and for
bidding Of aspect as could we'll be i'm
agined- The third was undeniably hand
some. but his face was that OF an out
law and the manner IN which he kept
his short weapon. half musket and half
pistol. lying across his knees. suggest
ed that he was a man accustomed to
taking desperate chances.
One of the men wore the costume Of
a shepherd and looked like a native Of
the region Mertrez judged that the
other two were the travellers whose
horses were fastened beneath the shed
One of them was a man OF slight
stature with an unkempt beard and eyes
i that glared in the freight Ike those OF
fierce animal.
The third man aroused the greatest
/ interest on the part of the watcher. He
was tall and broad-shouldered with the
| flashing dark eyes and handsome face
Of the Gitano. His clothing was better
than that OF his companions. and ne
carried himself with an air OF author
( ity no less marked than was the defer
ence Of his companions.
The three men were talking together
in a jargOn unintelligible 10 Mertrez
except for fugitive words OF Spanish.
From these he gathered. however. that
/ two Of the men were members of band
Of outlaws and that the third was a
shepherd from a nearby village who
played the part OF an informer and had
come with news Of an opportunity TO
/ loot some traveller.
Mertrez was surprised that the men
had not observed him. but they were
evidently familiar with the place and
/ had fastened their horses beneath the
shed without taking the trouble to make
a light.
He debated with himself whether ne
should remain where he was or take
his own horse and endeavor to slip a
meeting with the men at this time. az
ter what he had seen and heard.
He returned to his horses side and
sat down TO think over the matter. Be
/ fore he had finished examining his
weapons in the pale light cast by the
moon beneath one corner Of the shed
/ the question was solved for him by the
sound OF two Of the men emerging from
the hut and coming toward their horses.
/ Mertrez cooked his pistols and sitting
! upright on the hay prepared to use them
should occasion arise. He heard the two
men talking together and grumbIing at
/ their horses. but they struck no light
and with small delay departed as they
had come.
/ The third man evidently had no horse.
for the younger officer neither saw nor
heard him depart.
He sat in silence until he could no
| longer hear the hOOfbeats OF the two
| anir.>als- Then, lying down upon the hay
/ once more. slept TIL morning.
! This chance meeting with men who
/ were evidently bandits or outlaws Of
some sort would have made small i'm
/ preston upon Mertrez save for the ap-
/ pearance of the larger one. For him the
/ lieutenant felt an instructive dislike, why
/ ne could not explain.
He wondered at il again as he set out
on his Journey the following morning.
/ Then Of a sudden the resemblance Of his
/ long black mustache. his brilliant eyes,
l and the gypsy's cast OF his countenance
at Anita's description Of the old witch 5
son convinced him that this was Brulo,
| the bandit
This knowledge increased his aversion
for the man He knit his brows as he
/ thought again Of the girls words con-
corning Brulo's admiration for her.
/ IN wager the cutthroat knows not
the honorable use of the sword" he said
/ TO himself. but 1 should like TO teach Il
to him on his own carrion frame. and
/ II ever we c2me together l shall do so. "
de smiled as he thought how little
! likelihood there was of-such an event
! coming TO pass.
! Therefore Il seemed a safe pastime for
! Mertrez TO threaten what he would do
/ II ever he came to a crossing Of swords
with the outlaw. But events sometimes
march more quickly than their reckon
! ing. and so it was 10 prove IN this case.
II was well toward noon on his second
days ride. and Mertrez was descending
! to the first Of a series OF valleys that
AtaA NoH-t ~ INC pam VI vi AoN1 anu
was IN good hdmOr over the prospect OF
! a more favorable road.
He was humming the song that had
/ been running through his head all OF the
preceding day when he was brought 70
a sudden halt by the sound Of a pistol
shot some distance ahead Of him. fol-
lowed Immediately by a wOman'S
/ scream.
To man of spirit, be he kings mes
senger or sheep tender, such sounds can
I suggest but one course Of action
Clapping spurs to his horse. Mertrez
rode down the hillside at a breaknecB
/ pace, at the same time drawing one OF
his pistols from the holster against the
chance that there should prove TO be
need FOR its use.
CHAPTER VII.