The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1906-06-01
CHAPTER XIII.
Paving q Debt.

Paying Debt.
when, on the fourth day Of the great
storm, the nood had climbed almost to
the castle walls, great anxiety arose
among the royalista, for, surely It seem
Xd that X the waters continued to rise
twenty-four hours longer the Castle OF
Salvarez itself would cease to be habit
able. But when, on the following
morning, the rains ceased and the
Goods stopped rising, the lower floor
81 the castle was still dry.
!. The relief that Philip and his fol-
lowers felt at this was very great.
Philip at once turned his attention to
his neglected plans, and while Gomez
and Don Juan Cara resumed the plan
for pressing forward to the Orinoco,
to cross it and extend their power.
They were thus engaged on the day
that the waters had fallen away from
around the castle. when Francisco
burst in upon them, frantic In some
new excitement.
Your majesty" he cried. Gomez!
Don Juan! A traitor has again come
near us!''
What do you mean?" asked Philip,
starting up and placing his hand on
his sword-hilt. HAS .Salvarez re-
turned!'
NAY, not Salvarez," replied Fran
cisco. "and never will. fancy. for
where would he have gone to have sur
vived the fiood?''
"Then who? II not Salvarez. who IL
the traitor OF whom your speak,
Il know not. Yet that some one has
been here there is no doubt. The
horses are gone"
"The horses? Gone!s
ITO be sure" said Gomez. with a
gloomy smile. I'VE might have ex-
pected such q loss, though not by the
hand OF traitor. Above the storm I
heard the poor beasts shrieking In
their fear, and no doubt they had
broken bounds and stampeded through
the water to look for high ground and
safety. OF course they were safe
enough. for the stables were not flood
Cd by more than a few inches of
water. But they didn't know that. OF
course" 9f s* A
.'Such was my explanation when the
thing was reported to me- said Fran
cisco, ''hut unfortunately there is proof
that was wrong and you are wrong.
The halters have been cut-eyery one
OF them" B b
'Cut!"
"Cut With sharp knife. Every
severed end Is smooth and free from
the ragged appearance Of break. The
horses have been set free"
This Is q great misfortune" said
Philip. THE flood has either drowned
or driven on most Of the herds in this
Vicinity, and We shall have difficulty in
moving north"
There will b more plenty Of
them,' said Francisco. "On my own
fields have two thousand, and there
Il high ground enough to give all my
beasts safety from the floods. It is not
the loss Of the horses concerns me. It
10 the presence 80 near Of an enemy" :"
''TIiIit enemy must be found" said
Philip.s i a 1sass# esAsHsawfs s#asS 81
''The place i full Of fsnysteries.'' said
Francisco. do you remember, your
majesty. hDw even your own knife was
secretly talksn from this room and con-
veyed 70 the hand Of Salvarez!"
''Truer replied Phillip. I'VE found
It sticking between the ribs Of ths
murdered sentinel, brought It here"
He. disturbed the maps and papers on
the table In an absent way. - II TO
pick up the knife.
'sBy the hole salnts!" he exclaimed.
1T i gone again! Il the thing be-
~itchsd?''
Il knew ! knife had been used" he
rid. s&nd now 1t would seem to havs
BEEN your mAjesty's own" 81
Philip strobe 70 and fro excitedly.
sseoqno ono assuredly has access to
this reon, : ~ said. "and Visits It when
none of - are present. The matter
must ~ investigated and that imme-
tiatqly. Have the guards that have
bsen a. duty II this door since the
besinninx of the mood summoned be-
eors u that ~ may hear their state-
nont6, =
while Philip. Comes and Don Juan
were engaged In Questioning the
frightsnod and bewilderef sentinels.
lst u - what smother member Of the
band vas doing.
when Lola CARA had besn lying on
her siek bsd. attended only by her
father. whose reports Of her condition
were anxiously listened - ~ Philip
and Comes. MattAxpdo waa asaanxious
- either Of them. when he had been
ordered to bring Namampa,. the herb
doctor, i gleam of triumph had illu-
nained his ugly face.
And when Don Juan was plunged In
grfef and Philip mourned the loes OF
hfe queen, and Gomez cursed the fate
thAf had taken the beautiful victim
krpm HI when he might have succeed
~ a eetting her n his power. Malta
SuGo alone 1attasndo the half-breed
= u