The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-06-10

T believe I should" he said.
Then, senior, if die yonder, you viii
grant me q favor I am about to ask
OF your
Yes"
To-day you. go down into Castelleno
to little pOsada. where you viii dwell
in safety until Robledo brings you the
last news OF me. Listen, Senior LalOT,
the favor that I would beg is that you
viii chronicle, or cause to be chrOniCled,
the manner of my death; you will tell
the world how the greatest bTigand of
all ages turned at bay among his noun
tains alone, as he had lived, save for
sixteen dislOyal men, against huge
odds.
Il viii do So"
Il have further left you a large sum
to engage an adequate illustrator. It
would be a pity, senior, that so memo
rable a fight as that which is about to
take place should not receive full jus
tice. I have had much pleasure in your
society, my dear nephew'-DOn Q. put
out his slender, bOny hand to take La
lOr's-''and I recognize in you one whom
the saints sent to q lonely man to re
cord, perhaps, his last exploit which
would have been lost to humanity had
none lived who could add it to the page
Of Spanish history"
ing Don Q. with a priest the Chiefshad
caused to be fetched from the little
chapel Of San Pedro: for Don O., in
view Of his possible death, desired to
confess and to receive abSoiution from
the hands Of the trembling father.
The young Englishman took UP his
abode IN a pOsada on the outskirts of
CastellenO, where he waited for nearly
a week, listening to the townSpeOple
4 7fp11
was sensational and contradictory, and
also the diversion they expected from
staring at Don Q. when he should be
exhibited to the public gaze in a cage
on the plaza Labor heard in silence,
knowing well that if ever they gazed on
the fierce chief, it would be upon his
dead body.
One afternoon a young woman touched
him on the arm. and, raising her hand
some eyes to his: You have heard Of
Isabelilia?' she said, laying an indica-
tive finger on her own breast and paus-
ing a moment for his acknowledgment.
LalOr bowed and made a suitable re-
ply.
She went on to say that the hospital
ity of the poor dwelling of her mother.
who was a laundress, was open 10 him
if he would follow her, for there was
one come from the mountains who de-
sired to speak with the senior.
She moved off at once, and Labor fol-
lowed. At the house he fOUld RObledO.
The young brigand was very pale under
his sunburn.
Isabella wanted on them. Lalor has
since said she was the handsOmest
woman he had ever seen As Up to the
date of that memorial ole supper three
men had been stabbed for her sake. his
opinion probably only did her justice.
During The meal, which was made UP
of an excellent PUchero. beans and fruit,
Lalor asked no questions. After it. he
lit a cigarette and inquired now Don
@ Jared
RObIedo shook his head.
I will tell the senior the story"
And ne told it. backing his words with
look and gesture. till Lalor felt he saw
the scenes described.
RObledO told Of the final look at the
deserted valley of the Boca de Lobo Of
the march to the last fastuess of the
brisands on an isolated peak surround
ed by preCipiCcs on every side and Joined
only 10 the mass of the sierra by a mar
row bridge Of living rock. Here was
situated one Of the dwelling caves Of
Don @, and the spot was fortified by
sanSars craftily constructed to dou1i-
nate the approach of the llng isthmus.
My lord and I walked last, for those
others were not willing to go to the
Punta de LAMA" said RobIedo-
But why2' Lalor asked in surprise.
1T could never be taken
True, senior. But also one could not
run away from it. Therefore. those fif-
teen moved slowly"
He spoke of man who tried to de
sert, and whom he and companion
had hurled from the cliff, and of shep-
herding the remainder across the rocky
bridge. Having completed the prepara-
tiOns, a characteristic fit of gloom fen
upon Don Q. The last scout had been
withdrawn, the bridge streWn with
stones and bOUldeTs to make the foot
ing trsaCherOus. All was ready. Two
days Of waiting followed, while they
lay cut off from all the world Two
blue golden days, that showed the gIo-
ries Of the sierra above. and far beneath
the peaceful smoke rising from scat
tered chOzas, and the haze that chung
round distant towns on the warm and
drowsy plain.
Thus we waited. watching. my lord
and 7 and those fourteen, for the com
ing of three hundred The young