Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1907-09-06

His master turned and looked Mt him
with ill-concealed distrust.
AN important communication TO make
to meE' he repeated.
.'Yes.''
what IS it? Speak. but be brief"
Il have discovered a g~rotto."
"Whati" his master exclaimed, in sur
prise.
Eyes, exceIlency."
''Where:'
There he said. stretching out his
arm behind that mass of rocks
a suspicious look flashed from behind
his masters eyelnshes.
well, we will enter il together. Fetch
torches of ocote wood, and show
MS the way. BY the by, do not forget to
bring weapons, for we know not what
men or beasts we may find in carerns
thus opening on a high. road"
The Mexican selected six of his poems.
On whose courage he thought he could
rely, ordered them to take their muskets,
and, bidding the others keep a good watch,
but not begin anything Until he returned,
he made a signal to the capataz that he
was ready to follow him. Carnero had
followed the arrangements made by his
master win an evil eye. but probably did
not deem it prudent to risk any remark.
for he silently bowed his head. and walk
ed toward the pile of rocks that masked
the entrance Of the grotto.
These granite blocks, piled one on top
of the other, did not appear, however to
been brought there by accident, but,
on the contrary, they appeared to nave
belonged in some early and remote age to
a clumsy but substantial edifice.
1T would not be prudent said the
chief, ito venture without precautions
into this cavern. Prepare your arms, mu-
chachos, and keep your eyes open at the
slightest suspicious sound, or the small
est object that appears, fire. Capataz,
light the torches"
The latter obeyed without a word; the
of the caravan assured himself at
a glance that his orders had been prop
erly carried out then taking his pistols
from his belt. he cooked them, took one
in each hand, and said to Carnero:
Take the lead. 1t is only just that
you should do the honors of this place
which you so unexpectedly discovered.
Forward, you others, and be on your
guard"
The eight men went into the cavern at
the heels of the capataz, who raised the
torches above his head. doubtless in order
to cast a greater light.
They thus reached a rather large hall,
into which several passages opened. All
at once the leader stopped and listened.
Listen" he said to the capataz, do,
you not hear something's
The latter bent his body slightly for
ward and remained motionless for some
seconds.
Il do" he said, drawing himself up,
1T sounds like distant thunder"
is it not? or, perhaps, the rolling of
subterranean waters
II can swear that you are right. 1t
would be a piece of luck for us to find
water in the cave, for it would add great
ly to our secuHty, as ne should not be
obliged to lead our horses, perhaps, a long
to drink
II viii assure myself at .once of the
truth. The noise proceeds from that pas
sage, so let us follow it. As for our
men, they can wait here we have nothing
to fear now, for if the pirates or the
Indians are ambushed to surprise us, they
would not have waited SO long before
doing so. and hence the assistance of our
poems is unnecessary"
The capataz shook his head doubtfully.
"Hum," he said, 'the Indians are very
clever. I believe it would be more pru-
dent to let the poems accompany u.s."
Nonsense" said his master, sit is un-
necessary; we are two ~resolute and we'll
men we have nothing to fear, I
tell you"
They then entered the passage. It was
very narrow, and ran downward a steep
incline. The further they proceeded the
more distinct the sound Of water became:
it was evident that at . very short dis
from the spot where they were, per-
haps but a few steps, there ran one Of
subterranean streams so frequently
found in natural caverns.
All at once, without being warned by
the slightest sound, the leader of the cara
van felt himself seized round the waist,
his torch snatched roughly from his hand,
and ~extinguished against q rock, and him
self thrown down and securely bound. be-
fore he was able to attempt the slightest
resistance, o sudden and well calculated
had the attack been. Carnero had been
thrown down at the same time as his
master, and bound.
towards, demons ~ the Mexican yell
ed, SHOW yourselves, at least, so that I
may know with whom I have to DEAL
"Silence! Gen. Don Sebastian Guer-
zero, resign yourself to your fate, for you
have fallen into the power Of men who
will not liberate you"
Gen. Guerrero made a movement Of i'm
potent rage, but he was silent: he per-
cetved that the e~riginators Of the snare
of which he was q victim were implaca-
Bile enemies.
when his had borne him
to the hall, where his peons,were dis
armed and guarded. he saw. by the light
of the torch that family illumined The
hall, that among the men who surrounded
few wore the Mexican costume, it
true, and they had their faces hidden
by a piece of black Grape, forming a
species Of mask. and so well fastened
round their necks, that it was entirely
impossible to recognize them.
What do these men want with me?"
he muttered. as he let his head fall on
his chest sadly.
Patience !" said the man who had al
ready spoken. you will soon snow"
CHAPTER VII.
There vas a short delay, during which
the conquerors appeared to be consulting
together in a low voice; while doing so.
an Indian chief, who was no other than
tie Jester. entered the hall. The general
and the capataz were then again picked
- by the redskins. and at a sign from
of the masked men, transported on