The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1906-03-23
CHAPTER VI.
Tho Attack

The Attack.
General Salvarez was deep In the
council of war with his officers. when
his wife and daughter reached him.
They rushed into his arms With excla-
mauons Of mingled Joy and woe.
How did you escape?" said Sal
varez. Tell me about .ne attack on
the castle. Our men say they fought
bravely, and killed hundred OF the
enemy"
Fought bravely" replied Dona Ma
ria. There was no fighting at all. A
few shots were fired. it is true. But Of
what use would 1t be for a few to
stand against hundreds?"
Who are tho two Americans. faith
err" asked Jacinta. who had heard
enough about the war.
"Oh, the Americans! Where are
they? have not missed them till now.
Where did you see them?"
Near the castle Pedro Francisco is
with the enemies of the republic and
was looking for us In the castle
grounds. When we left the secret pas
sage he came upon us, with two others,
and the Americans beat them of and
brought us within short distance OF
you. They are here, so they said, to
rescue young girl from the hands OF
the conspirators against our liberty"
Salvarez dismissed the Americans
from his mind, and began preparations
for attacking the castle.
Having reached the most advanta-
geous point within his grasp, Salvare1
planted his two guns. ready to begin
the attack
1t was at this point that the sentinel
on the tower had passed the word for
uomez and had interrupted his talk
with MattaZudo.
Salvarez first took the precaution to
send his wife and daughter some dis
tance away from the scene in the care
of a score of soldiers under lieuten-
ant. Freed from their loving but en-
barrassing presence, he now dis
played himself fearlessly. and directed
the movements in person.
The soldiers under Salvarez were OF
the same classes as those under Fran
cisco and Mattazudo; but as no class is
altogether good, neither is any class
altogether bad, and the halfbreeds,
even to the Zambos, who were among
the supporters Of the Government,
fought bravely.
At the command OF Salvarez the two
guns doomed their wrath against the
offending foe, and an answering charge
of cannon and rifles awoke the echoes.
Again and again the booming guns
poured out their wrath, but the walls
OF the castle crumbled not.
Meanwhile, Salvarez was restlessly
pacing up and down. He recognized
the impossibility of driving tho enemy
from his castle with the force at his
command A problem had presented
itself to his mind The secret passage!
He resolved to hold the secret, intend
ing, il necessary. to utilize 1t In some
way at night.
His meditations were interrupted by
loud shouts from his men. In the castle
the preparations for the attack had
been watched eagerly by Gomez, Don
Juan and Philip of Aragon.
"That General is cool fellow" said
Philip. HE should be one Of u.s."
"Salvarez is brave man" sait
Gomez, "and as stubbornly loyal to the
republic as he is brave"
"Salvarez seems to have confidence
that his attack will be successful"
Gomez smiled.
"If he knew it would be failure b,
would be as calm"
els there any danger that he will bt
successful?" asked Don Juan.
mot the least
"Is it, then, SO strong a castls?" ask
ed Philip.
"The strongest in Venezuela"
: "Is It so? Then this spot was indeed
we'll chosen as the spot to begin oul
operations.
Gomez smiled-his quiet superior
smile.
II knew what was doing" he said
II generally do"
(To be continued)