Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-06-06
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that, II we succeed, you VIII De pres
ide.t of he republic"
Remember. you will be general and
military governor of our richest State,
Sonora" the other answered
1T is useless to remind me of your
promises, general; you are well aware
that l am devoted to you"
/ know it, of course and on that &C
count leave you. Goodnight, and come
and breakfast with me tomorrow"
i will not fail, general" The gen.
eral pulled his hat over his eyes, wrap
ped himself in his cloak and went off
hastily. On being left alone, the colonel
remained plunged ii deep thought; the
office with which he was intrusted, for he
perfectly caught the meaning of the gen.
erals hints, was serious
At the moment when the colonel me-
chanically raised his head and looked de-
spairingly up to heaven, he fancied he
saw several suspicious shadows prowling
about him in a suggestive manner. But
the colonel was brave. and the more so
because he had literally nothing to lose,
hence he quietly loosened his sword, open
ed his cloak. and at the instant when
four or five fellows attacked him at once
with machetes and long navajas, he was
on guard according to all the rules of
the art, with his left foot supported by
pillar and his cloak wrapped like a buck
Ter round his arm.
The attack was a rude one. but the
colonel withstood it manfully; besides,
all went on in the Mexican way, without
shout or call for help.
Still the assaiants, who were armed
with short and heavy weapons, had the
disadvantage against the colonel's long
and thin sword, which twisted like
snake, writhed round their weapons, and
had already pricked two of the men sharp
ly enough to make the others reflect and
display greater prudence in their attack.
The colonel felt that they were giving
ground.
Come on, villains" he exclaimed, as
he gave a terrific lunge and ran one of
the bandits right through the body, who
rolled on the pavement with a yell of
pain.
Stop, stop!" the man who seemed the
leader of the bandits exclaimed; I'VE
are mistaken"
As the bandits asked for nothing better
than to stop, they retreated a few steps
without hesitation.
Can 1t possibly be YOU" the first
speaker continued, "Senor Colonel Don
Jaime LupoT'
"Halloh - the colonel said, falling back
a step in surprise, who mentioned my
name|
Il, excellency friend"
"a friend? A strange friend who has
been trying to assassinate me for the
last ten minutes"
Believe me, colonel, that had we
known whom we had to deal with, we
should never have attacked you. All this
is the result of a deplorable misunder-
standing, which you will, however, ex-
cuse."
But who are your"
what, excellency, do you not recognize
the Zaragate"
THE Zaragate! ~ the colonel exclaimed
with glad surprise. We'll, scoundrel
are you aware that yours is a singular
trade"
ALAS excellency, man must do what
he can," the bandit replied, in a sor-
rowful voice.
The colonel looked at him anxiously.
Il understand the cause OF your
grief" he said; "and it is the worse,
because there is no remedy for it"
DO you think 500"
Capital! l am certain of it,
You may be mistaken, excellency."
Nonsense. You who so graciously
place yourself at the service of those
who have an insult to avenge, are forced
to renounce your own vengeance"
"Oh, no, excellency, what is that you
are sayingT'
II am speaking the truth. You hate
the Frenchman whom you mentioned to
me to-day, but you are afraid of him."
Afraid" he exclaimed, angrily.
Il bet you that you will not dare
avenge yourself on your enemy within
the next four and-twenty hours. not even
with the help of your twelve compan-
ions"
And what will you bet, excellency?"
well, l am so certain of running no
risk that I will bet you one hundred
ounces. Does that suit your
lone hundred ounces ~ the bandit ex-
| claimed, his eyes sparkling with greed
Il would kill my own brother for such a
sum-