The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1906-03-22
CHAPTER vi.
The Attack.

General Salvarez raj deep In the
council of war with his officers, when
his wife and daughter reached him.
They rushed into his arms with excla-
nations Of mingled Joy and voc.
How did you escape?" said Sal
varez. Tell M about me attack on
the castle. Our men say they fought
bravely. and killed a 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 q few to
stand against hundreds?"
who are the two Americans, faith
err" asked Jacinta, who had heard
enough about the a
"Oh, the Americans! Where are
they? I 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 off and
brought us within a short distance of
you. They are here. SO they said, to
rescue a 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, Salvarez
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
lance away from the scene in the care
of a score of soldiers under a lieuten-
ant. Freed from their loving but m
b~arrassing 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 half-breeds,
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 gu their wrath, but the walls
OF the castle crumbled not.
Meanwhile, Salvarez was restlessly
pacing up and down. He recognized
the impossibility of driving the enemy
from his castle with the force at his
command. A problem had presented
itself to his mind. The secret passagel
He resolved to hold the secret, intend
ing, il necessary, to utilize it in some
way at night.
His m~editations 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 a cool fellow" said
Philip. HE should be n of u.s."
"Salvarez is a brave man." said
Gomez, and as stubbornly loyal to the
jreplblic as he is brave"
"Salvarez seems to have confidence
that his attack will be successful"
Gomez smiled.
IF he knew it would be a failure he
would be as calm"
"Is there any danger that he will be
successful" asked Don Juan.
mot the least"
"Is it, then, s. strong a castle" ask
ed Philip.
"The strongest in Venezuela"
"Is it so? Then this spot was indeed
we'll chosen as the spot to begin u
operations"
Gomez smiled-his quiet, superior
smile.
81 knew what I was doing" he said
II generally do"
ITO ho continued