Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-14
CHAPTER XXI.
Grievous News.

After Ybarra had dispatched part of his
motley army. half regular, half revolu-
zionist. to the retaking Of the Golden
Horseshoe he sent for his deputy. Don
Quentin Sariol. being fmbued with a late
ly conceived and patriotic impulse to
make that gentleman part with a consid-
cradle sum OF ready money for the re-
Punishment of the national exchequer,
with the alternative OF being instantly
shot on the score OF having trafiicked
treacherously with the forces of rebellion.
But Don Quentin was far too old q bird
to be caught mapping on lined twig.
He had already set out posthaste for the
seaport of La Boca. leaving a courteous
note to explain that, since his senior had
once more assumed the care Of ONCE. he
would solace himself. after his recent and
most harassing responsibilities. with q
short sOjourn elsewhere.
Whereat his eXcellency SwOre very We
hemently. for he had been set In his pur-
pose Of squeezing Don, Quentin to the last
onza. -
His dangerous descent by means of the
parachute had not depfessed him. Rather
the contrary. for he felt that man who
could come safely through all he had SUI.
fered within the past four and twenty
hours was surely marked out for especial
eminence. Mere death was not for him.
He was inebriated with his own conceit.
He had not overheard from the roofs
height where he had surreptitiously en-
sconced himself to spy on Quentin and
his CONDUCTORS, who had thought him still
safely occupied at the hacienda. what
had passed between the members Of the
meeting underneath, and after its con-
vener had observed him at his peep hole
he had not been able to get down In time
to intercept them. The catch Of the trap
door through which he had gained the
roof had slipped into place while he was
still outside. and 1t had cost him prec-
ious minutes to summon assistance. to
obtain entrance again. But. notwith-
standing the vice presidents plausible
explanation, he had felt well assured that
there was treason brewing. that he could
turn 1t to account in ready money. For
Don Quentin had held his present post
too long to be a poor man. had saved
while Ybarra had squandered. and that
without affording his superior any pre-
text to extract a loan, compulsory or
voluntary.
All of which irked his excelIency SO
sorely that he swore.
Then he called for horse and order
lies. riding forth like a man possessed on
the trail of the force he had sent to sur
round the balloon. The common people
stopped to cape at him as he passed
through the streets. his great black
charger striking fire from every fiinty
cobble, he sitting it like q centaur. his
lancers on their speedy ponies many
lengths In the rear.
The devil himself surely sits at the
Tigers crupper," grumbled a crone he
had all but trampled under foot in his
mad passage. and the mob laughed. They
loved loose rein and a steady seat.
reckless rider.
Word had already reached him that
the American had come to earth within
hA oh
miles beyond the city gates. His brown
face burned beneath the blazing sun as
he sped onward. and, when he reached
the spot whereat the hunt had left the
roadway to break through to the balloon,
he sent spurs home. shooting past it
without hesitation. fresh purpose al
ready formed.
He knew that Corbyn must seek some
outlet from the woods. and meant to
head him of thereat. to take him pris-
dignly all the humiliations he had SUI
fered in his cousins sight. She must be
brought to see that he could stay the
longest course and come out winner and
lie his enemy should prove recalcitrant
the pair behind him had their carbines.
The credit of the capture-or the killing
should be his. His brainless friends
within the covert would serve as beaters.
League after league he laid behind him
and at length turned to the left along
country ROAD SklTtInS the forest base.
Striking a lower reach Of the same
stream the fugitives had stopped at he
halted there until his escort scurried up.
He babe them tie the dripping horses
to a tree and lead the way up stream
They started In. he at their heels. and
clambered noiselessly along the open
channel. pausing at intervals to cock
their ears and listen. but heard no sound
until too late.
Six very able-bodied men dropped on
them from above in q steep gully they
were threading. choking them to such
purpose In the sand and gravel there that
they could not cry out. And when they
were terked very rudely to their feet they
had thick gags to bite on and were thus
compelled to silence.
Steel handouts held their wrists to-
zether at their backs. and in this plight
they were pulled up the bank. pushed in
to the presence of q gathering which
filled his exceIlency's active mind with
apprehension.
II was composed of men In peasants
sarb lean, sun-tanned men. who laughed
within themselves at sight of him: all
armed with wefl-oiled rides OF the pat
tern he had once hoped to supply his
army with. and hung about with we'll
filled bandoliers Of lightest webbing.
His heart sank though his eyes were
glazing. as he gathered these details be-