Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1907-08-30

his blood. so treacherously shed, cries for
vengeance"
The hunter hurriedly wiped away tn
tears he had been unable to repress Will
speaking of the count, and went on il
a voice choked by the internal emotion
which he strove in vain to conquer:
but let us, for the present, leave thi.
sad reminiscence to slumber in our hearts
The count was my friend, my deares
friend, more than a brother. to me; b
often spoke about you to me, and severa
times told me your gloomy history, whicl
terminated in frightful catastrophe"
The Tigrero, in few moments, began
his narra,ive as follows:
MY friends must have fancied me
dead. You are aware that l was at
tackled by Black Bear just as believed
| had saved friends. We fought on thu
edge of a pit and was just about to
finish him when the Comanche war CRY
was heard. Startled, let the Indian go
he rushed at Dona Anita, a member OF
the party, who, however repulsed him
He fell backward in the direction of the
pit, clutching me, and down we went to
gether."
go on," the hunter said, "I am listen
ing to you with the greatest attention"
'The Indian was desperately wounded
and it was a corpse that dragged mt
down. The chief was the first to reacl
the bottom, and fell upon his body
which deadened my fall. l cannot sa,
how long l remained in this state, but ]
fancy my faint must have lasted two
hours. When l opened my eyes again, ]
found myself in utter darkness. That
did not trouble me greatly, as l had aboui
me everything necessary to light a fire
Within a few moments had light, ant
was enabled to look about me. l wa.
lying at the bottom OF a species of tul
mel, for the pit grew narrower in its de
scent. When. rcathcd the foor Of thr
cavern, / lay for more than half an houI
on the sand, exhausted, painting, unabl
to make the slightest movement. Fortu
nately for me this terrible condition die
not last long, for the refreshing air from
without, reaching me through the passage.
of the cavern, recovered me. The grount
around me was covered with dead bodies
and there had, doubtless, been a terrible
struggle. l sought in vain for the corpses
of Dona Anita and her father. breath
ed again, and hope re-entered my heart
Those for whom / had given my life were
saved. This thought restored my courage
and l felt quite different man. l ros,
without any excessive difficulty, and, sup
porting myself on my rife, went toward
the mouth of the cavern, after removing
my stock OF provision, and taking two
powder horns from stores had previous
ly cached. No words can describe thu
emotion l felt when, after painful wall
through the grotto, l at length reached
the river bank, and saw the sun once
more.
IAN hour later, mounted on my goot
horse, / bent my steps toward houses
My journey was long one, and wher
| reached Sonora the news l heard al
most drove me mad. Don Sylvia d.
Torres had been killed in the fight will
the Apaches, as was probably his daugh
ter. For month | hovered between lif'
and death. When hardly convalescent,
dragged myself to the house of the onl!
man competent of giving me precise in
formation. This man refused to recog
nize me, although | had been intimat,
with him for many years. When | tolC
him my name he laughed in my face, ant
when l insisted, he had me expelled b!
his poems, telling me that l was mad
| that Don Martial was dead, and | an i'm
postor. l went away with rage and de
spair in my heart. After this all ii,
friends to whom presented myself re
fused to recognize me, so thoroughly wa
the report of my death believed. All tn
efforts l attempted to dissipate tbi
alarming mistake and prove the falsehoo
of the rumor were in vain, for too man.
persons were interested in it being true
on account of my large estates; and also
l suppose, through fear of injuring tn
man to whom | first applied-the onl
living relation of the Torres family. Whn
more need tell you? Disguised in eve-
way, heartbroken with grief, and recogniz
ing the inutility of the efforts had made
left the town, and, mounting my horse
returned to the desert, seeking the mos
unknown spots and the most desolate re
gions in which to hide myself"
Brother" Valentine said, gently, "yo,
have forgotten to tell me the name of tha
influential person who had you turned on
of his house, and treated you as an I'M
postor.
THAT is true" Don Martial answered
"His name is Don Sebastian Guerrero
and he is military governor of the prov
ince of Sonora"
Don Martial" cried the hunter 'yo,
may thank heaven for decreeing that w
should meet in the desert, in order tina
the punishment of this man should b.
complete"
(To be continued.)