The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1905-11-04
CHAPTER XVII.
Guerra a Cuchilio!"

hCNS Hot SHoW muCn 1nGlca
non OF such feeling, as. following
the extended finger of his agent, he.
too. readily discovers the moving fig
ures.
1hey appear to come out of the
woods in couples or little squads. At
that distance, and with only the fire
hsht to guide him, Jack can see that
they are rough-looking men, some OF
them negroes. carrying guns and ma
chetes; but that is as far as his OBJ
scrvation goes.
How his companion is enabled to
determine their identity as guerrillas,
and not the patriots fighting under the
banner OF Gomez. is a puzzle too deep
for Jack
1t is time for prompt action. They
VIII have TO retreat to their rude fort
ress and meet the expected assault
bravely.
Where is the guard?" asked Smith
ers.
And All SIM" echoes Jack.
Both have, indeed, vanished tempo
rarily. Nor do they appear to be in
side the fire lines.
We will have to leave them out.
There is hardly room for all inside, at
any rate. Come, sir, let us enter"
AT the door they meet the senor
What is wrong, gentlemen he
asks. quick to catch the scent of dan
ger in the air.
The guerrilleros have come, senor
| am afraid we will have war to the
knife" remarks Smithers; and Ro-
blado, thrusting out his head beholds
the rough men already gathering about
the fire that is down the incline.
He utters favorite ejaculation.
"Senors, it looks as though we are
in for it. trust you will not forget
your promise to assist in the defense
of the ladies'" the old Spaniard says,
hoarsely.
Several exclamations in feminine
voices from the dark interior announce
that both Juanita and her step-sister
have heard what manner of danger
menaces them.
You can depend upon us, senor,"
is the quiet response Jack makes.
The two men enter the compart-
ment, and the door is barrcaded. Ah
Sin and the guard will have to look
out for themselves when the storm
cloud bursts.
1t has hardly needed the words of
Smithers to warn Travers of the des-
perate business ahead of them, and
the only fear he experiences is for the
safety of Jessie.
There is a peculiar satisfaction in
holm o. r1nGp tn tbiS vel ba
entered in and taken possession of his
heart although he is under bond not
to betray his identity. Jack rather en-
joys the situation. or at least he would
if it were not for the deadly peril
which hovers over the one he loves.
AT any rate. he is deeply grateful for
the peculiar conditions that allow him
the privilege of standing up in her de-
fence.
Little is said within the car: the time
for words has gone by, and action
must take their place.
So far as they can see. the newcon-
ers have not as yet fully grasped the
true inwardness of the situation At
tracted by the light of the fires, they
have arrived at the railroad. to find a
carriage standing there; but what that
vehicle of transportation actually con-
tains is as yet but a surmise with
them.
Jack does not fancy their looks at
all.
He has been thrown in contact with
crowds of rough men during his life
on Texan plains and in Colorado
mountains. but never in all his expert
ence has he run across such tough
looking lot as those assembling around
the fire that was built for protection
and has betrayed it's trust.
Fully half of the guerrillas are
blacks, and in the freight they have
the appearance of demons or gnomes.
AS to the others, the least said about
them the better since their appearance
does not go far toward reassuring the
ladies' when they venture to take an
observation.
DO you suppose they will attack
us?" asks Roblado, with considerable
anxiety in his voice.
II don't question it in the least"
replies Smithers, who develops some
of the qualities of a leader in this
emergency.
Then. if that be so, we should first
of all endeavor to protect the ladies
from flying lead. Col. Spencer, will
you kindly vacate that corner? We
can arrange it SO that they may be
safe there"
Spencer, of course. does so. Jack
imagines the man is a trifle nervous
and scared. Perhaps he has been
drinking hard. and is not in good con