Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-06-27
CHAPTER XIV

Curumilla, after concealing. with that
Indian skill he so thoroughly possessed,
the young ladies at spot where they
were thoroughly protected from bullets,
had placed himself, rife in hand, not by
the side of the two riders but, with
characteristic redskin prudence, he am
buscaded himself behind the carriage,
probably rejecting that he represented
the entire infantry force, and not caring,
through a point of honor, very absurd in
his opinion, to expose himself to death
not only certain but useless to those he
wished to defend.
The horsemen, however. on coming
within range of the persons they were
pursuing, stopped, and by their gestures
seemed to evince a hesitation the fugi-
tives did not at all understand, after the
fashion in which they had hitherto been
pursued. The motive for this hesitation,
which the Frenchman and his companions
could not know, and which perplexed
them so greatly, was very simple.
Carnero for it was the generals capa-
taz who was pursuing the carriage, with
his poems all at once perceived, with a
secret pleasure, it is true though he was
careful not to let his companions notice
il, that while they were pursuing the
carriage other horsemen were pursuing
them, and coming up at headlong speed.
On seeing this, as we said, the party
halted, much disappointed and greatly
embarrassed as to what they had better
do.
They were literally placed between two
fires, and were the attacked instead of
~, tba Sifrot
ical and deserved serious consideration.
Carnero suggested retreat, remarking
with a certain amount of reason that the
sides were no longer equal and that sue
cess was highly probematical. The
poems, all utter ruifians. and expressly
chosen by the general, but who enter
tanned profound respect for the integ-
rity of their limbs, and were but very
slightly inclined to have them injured in
so Instantaneous a contest with people
who would not recoil. were disposed to
follow the advice of the capataz and re-
tire before a retreat became impossible
Unhappily. the Zaragate was among
the poems. Believing from his conversa-
ton with the colonel that he knew bet
ter than any one the generals intentions
and attracted by the hope of rich re-
ward if he succeeded in delivering him
of his enemy. that is TO say in killing
Valentine; and moreover, probably i'm
PEELED by the personal hatred he enter
tanned for the hunter, he would not listen
to any observation, and swore with hor-
rible oaths that he would carry out the
generals orders at all hazards and that
since the persons they were ordered TO
stop were only few PAGES before them,
they ought not to retire until they had,
ut least, attempted TO perform their duty
and that if his comrades were such cow
ards as to desert him, he would go on
alone at his own risk, certain that the
general would be satisfied with the way
in which he had behaved
After a declaration so distinct and
peremptory. any hesitation became i'm
possible, the more so as the horsemen
were rapidly coming up, and if the capa-
taz hesitated rSuch longer he would be
attacked in the rear. Thus driven out of
his last intrenehment, and compelled
against his will to fight, Carnero gave
the signal to push on ahead.
But the poems had scarce started ere
three shots were fired, and three men
rolled in the dust The newcomers. in
this way, warned their friends 20 hold
their ground and that they were bring
ing help The dismounted poems were not
wounded, though greatly shaken by their
fall and unable to take part in the fight
their horses alone were hit, and that SO