The Washington times., 1904-10-02


neck, and my point at his breast.
For moment I paused, standing there
with my naked blade at his heart. but
he was dead. and 1 turned away.
| had killed MIN as I had said ] would
kill him.
Seeing their leader fail, the other
troopers very ungalIantIy took 10 flight
Three of the attacking party had been
Killed, and two were left behind badly
wounded. We were the victors. but at
what cost! Half of our little party OF
SIX were dead. There was left our guide
/ Rafael, a Mexican. Frederic Perelrai ara
myself. We were obliged to leave those
who fen where they We're. for we had
neither the time nor the means to give
them burial
Win tears In my eyes I bent over
Moore, folded his arms over his breast,
covered his face with his hat, and there
left him. 1t was the best I could do. A
brief prayer few uuarticulated words
was all the funeral rites he received.
His grave was on the sands. as he said
IL might he.
II now nc has been forgotten by his
fellow companions. ne viii always live
in the memory of at least one person,
who, knowing the faults of the man, saw
much TO condOne.
We turned and frightened our saddle
giTths and left our dead. 1t was time
We were off. for the troopers had rallied,
and they had also been REINFORCED. We
] We're no match for them now, and / be
[ lieve there was not one of as who had
/ not received wounds more OF less Sc
ri0us.
We did not spare our horses in making
| our escape. neither did we draw rein un-
| iii we thought We were well out of the
Ireach of our pUrsuers, and then we halt
/ ed TO take council as to what we should
do
/ 1t was evident that the mission we had
set out ON must be abandoned. and that
moreover. we could not expect TO get
/ back TO the city. The one thir- for us
/ 70 10, then, was 30 keep i'm hiding until
/ the opportunity presented itself for re-
Joining the army.
! We deemed ii advisable for safety 70
lreJire 20 the mountains. and to take UP
such a position as would enable US TO
watch the movements Of the besiegerz.
| Rafeei had volunteered to attempt to
lead US back 90 the city by a circuitous
route, If ] said so. but Pereira shook his
head.
/ I'VE can wait" be said. THE army
VIII be forced 20 abandon the siege, and
then viii be our opportunity"
! One Of the men who had been killed
was PereiTa's brother, and his death
caused him TO feel most bitter hatred
for the troopers He talked Of revenge
constantly, and ] think that he was not
quite himself after his brothers death
/ did not then understand how he was
TO ayeuge this. but in time I found out
More than one soldier fell at his hand.
land so governed by passion was he that
ar times J almost feared him.
For nearly two weeks We kept in hid
Ing UHlTnrHfnE Frr-ar-r- Ta
ever, we made observations regarding
the movements OF the army, and en-
( deaFored 10 learn what was being done.
Scouts arc guerrilla parties. whom we
sometimes met. gave us such iuf0rma-
tiOn as they had been able TO obtain.
Several things led as 20 believe that
the siege would soon be abandoned, or
at least that a decisive movement
would be made One reason was the
vomit0. of which many Of the soldiers
had already died; and another was that
there was dissatisfaction within the
army. owe gained this information
from splesJ Besides, the besiegeTs had
! accomplished nothing so far.
/ AT last. one morning, word came that
/ there was unusual stir in the camp of
/ the enemy. Something il was certain
. vas going 20 be done
1t might be that the city was TO be
stormed. and an attempt made 10 take
1t by a bold move or possibly dared
not hope for so fortunate turn of az
.Iairs-the army was 20 withdraw.
In the event OF the former cOntin-
/ gency. If they We're successful. every
/ thing was lost-I was a fugitive, and
. would do well IF / could smuggle my
self on board an American vessel II
/ the troops Were-to withdraw. there was
hope So the constitutioualists-t
soon coming into complete control of
the government would be a revOlu-
ZIONIST. lu the one case ] was an out
law; iu ILe other an officer OF the army.
I We broke camper rather abandoned
the rude shelter We had made from
boughs OF trees matched over with
leaves To protect us from the hot sun
and cautiously proceeded toward the
city, thinking il possible that We might
be able 20 reJoiu our regiment
We We're unable 20 gain any reliable
Information as TO what the besiegers
. were going 20 do. We could not see
the army. and as there was mo- sound OF
battle we naturally concluded that the
attack, IL il was 10 be made, had been
delayed.
Later iu the day, however. we received
reliable Information that the siege had
been raised. and that the army was
Withdrawing. After a while we got a
view Of marching columns, and knew
for a certainty Chat the retreat had be-
gun.
Juarez's star was now i'm the asceu-
daucy. The predictions which Don Cor
uuia had vaguely made when bee pre-
scented mc with the sword. We're TO be
fulfilled. Mexican liberty was now ass
, sured. ] could have thrown mp my hat
and shouted with the soldiers on Jhs
walls Of the besieged city. who had en-
dured so much while fighting for civil
RIGHTS and political freedom. "Niva Il
Eepubuca. Viva Juarez!'
But OF the retreat! The army had
not vet reached the capital A retreat
however well conducted, is always dis
IastT0US.
Many OF the soldiers were destine,
p never go get back. The same system %
guerrilla warfare which had before mad
d the march of the army a march OF ter
ror was pursued With uureleutiuE per
isIsteucy. There was lack of order ant
want OF discipline. and as a natural re
Z