The Washington times., 1904-09-04

get a little nearer together. I feigned
not 20 care to trade, maintaining that 1
was afraid that he had not the right to
sell the horse. but, in a most sincere
way he protested that the horse was
his. and that he had owned him since
he was a colt. even telling me from
whom he had purchased him. He could
lie with the most natural ease and read
mess: he could not have done better
had ne rehearsed his little story before
hand
BIT / still stood firm. At last. with
many expressions of regret at parting
with the horse, asserting that it was
only because he was in need of money
that he could be induced to do so. he
offered to accept thirty pesetas and take
my horse. which, he said. might be
made TO do him. 1 stood for twenty
pesetas. He would not take it. l rode
away. and again he called after me.
Finally the trade was made at twenty
FIVE. and the horse / had purchased that
morning l exchanged for my own horse
why did not senior take the horse?
1t was yours" asked Pedro. as We rode
away.
Il know it was mine. but I did not
want trouble with the fellow" I re-
piled.
But he had no right to the horse. and
you gave him your horse and twenty
five pesetas besides"
Yes. and l would have given him
| fifty, but what I would have had this
horse Not that the horse is worth It.
| but I have become attached to the ami
NAL He has carried me safely through
all danger so far, and I was not going TO
see that fellow have him
Pedro smiled broad smile. and what
may have been his good opinion regard
| ing my courage and ability. 1 think he
had a poor estimation of my qualities
as a horse trader.
| We reached Texcoco during the mid
die Of the day. Here it was that one Of
| the bandits was to meet me. or such
person as might represent Mr.. Melrose.
! As to how they would be able to iden-
| tify me, or one Of their number make
! himself known to me, I had not been
! informed. 1 asked Pedro. and he said
| that the bandits knew everyone. / WAS
disposed not to believe this.
But. as I have said. / did not intend
to negotiate with the bandits for Mr..
/ Melrose's release. ] was determined to
make the attempt to secure my pa
irons freedom without paying the ran
| som But so hazardous. so improbable
| of success. so bold a venture. did this
undertaking seem that l had thought 1t
advisable not even 10 communicate my
plans to Pedro. lest he dissuade me from
attempting il.
The country beyond me, as I knew,
was extremely rough. and in some
places there were narrow mountain
passes which could easily be held by
one or two men against a considera BILE
force of soldiers. II was a favorite
place Of retreat for the bandits, though
their operations were usually carried
on upon the main travelled roads. What
few people there were scattered through
the country were all friendly TO them.
| Even the muIeteers and stage drivers,
I when they knew them, would never give
| information against them.
! 1t was not TO be wondered at, either
/ that the people were friendly 20 them,
! when they were isolated. as they were,
/ from the city and without any protec-
/ ton of the government. They were but
/ following the natural law OF self-pres-
ervatfon; they feared the bandits, and
/ so made friends with them, and were
! befriended in return.
BY some little conniving Pedro sue
| ceeded IN learning that the headQuar-
ters Of the bandit chief, Roberto Mon
! talveO, were in the mountains north OF
the village. and obtained. also fairly
definite directions a TO bow TO find him
| although he was advised az the same
! time that people did not go to find tho
| bandits. and If they did II would be bet
ter If they did not do 50.
After gaining all the information I
] could. I told Pedro that he might go
| In alone 70 La Puebla He looked at
me in surprise. as If I had dismissed
! him from my service. But when he
| found out that I proposed to find the
chief, rather than wait for him to send
/ a messenger 70 me. he begged and
| pleaded with me not to 90.
Senior Harvey. you not go" he said
| They XIII you You find their hiding
place. and they be afraid to let You
live"
finally succeeded IN convincing him
that II was the only thing that I cold
90 arguing that they would not kill
me. as IT WAS only money they wanted
and they could not secure that - 7
were dead. He shook his head sadI,,
as he left me- and went on his wa
/ probably thinking that he would never
| see me again.
There were, knew. secret paths over
I the mountains: but the trail I followed
| led up the canyon between high rrac-
/ i9ices, and became rougher and moro
/ preci2itous as I went on. sometimes
| passing along a narrow ledge. and then
again up the steep. slippery side Of the
| mountain The country was wild and
! unsettled-nOt a house was to be seen
/ Deep gorges cut through the mountain
and although the scenery was at some
K places grand, / felt no appreciation M
| its beauty, no desire 10 remain within
! It's oppressive solitude
II was in just such a place that a
| guerrilla band would be likely TO take
| refuge. Every foot Of the way, almost
was natural fortress. capable Of be-
| Ing held against any attacking force.
| The ascent Of the trail was necessari
/ made slowly and laboriously. and in
| many places the protrudlnR walls OF the
| canyon would have admitted but one
! horse 70 pass at a time
! About dusk 7 came 20 a hOvel. built
/ OF stone on the side Of the mountain
As II appeared 70 be inhabited, I rode
/ up 20 the door and called TO the IN
| mates. A Mexican woman, barefooted
| and clad IN a dirty gown. came to the
/ door. followed by a man no less untidv
! IN appearance.
/ They stared at me as II they had
I uar-pr caau q