Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-29
CHAPTER XI-Continued.

where are you taking me?.' the Spy
asked, fearfully. of the two troopers who
had bound his hands and were now
| thrusting him toward a point where the
| highway hung starkly over deep cleft.
within whose unseen depths mountain
stream made mournful music. He tot
! tered as he walked. his teeth were chat
tering and great beads of perspiration
believed his pallid face. In his ridiculous
disguise he made singularly unat-
tractive picture. and they who had heard
| of the Hilario answered sternly. ITO
| safe place.
He gave vent to a. very hollow groan.
and would have fallen but for their sup
port.
ped him. huddled heap. and drew back
while a half circle of their fellows hem
| med him in with rifles ready.
Alardyee had charge 20 Of the o., h i,rrag
the guilty wretch who was groveling at
| their feet.
Don't shoot: Don't shoot. senor!' that
! condemned coward screamed. "Show
while. swear. Don't shoot! I'll buy my
! life from you. I'll tell you everything.
| Don't Shoot
There's nothing YOU can tell us we
don't know said Aliardyce. For the
my God! but wait" implored the
doomed man. ..I'n tell you how to reach
the senorita I'll take you through into
the Golden Horseshoe. I'll
eff you could take us safely into the
Golden Horseshoe we might spare you
for the present" Allardyce answered. in
a most disbelieying tone. But since you
| can't"
Il can. cam" Gonzalez urged. There
Take him along with you.'' said the
Englishman, contemptuously. and at the
words the whimpsring poHroon was
picked up and led away.
| To the vice president. whom they had
decided to lberate. they babe brief
farewell. and he expressed great pain at
parting
yes. I'll go straight back to Alta
| Cruz he assured them. II do not pine
to interfere between you and the Tiger
although I should have liked to look on
! from safe distance-at your meeting.
Some day I may be able to serve you.
: caballeros. and. until then, discretion. eh?
That which has passed is safe between
| the three Of us? Commend me to his ex-
cellency for my closeness. and-good-
| bye
| tentedly. and they rode forward into the
mountains. Gonzalez on led horse. safe
ly guarded.
He soon proved himself useful, for al
picketed. He gave them timely warning
of that fact. and they were able to pass
unmolested at the cost of short detour
| to avoid each in turn.
II don't think much of their ideas of
strategy" Meggs told Allardyce. con-
temptuously. as they regained the road
after the last Of these. IF they had
picketed the gorge
They might have been trapped in It,"
| that older soldier answered. land they
value their own lives too highly to take
any such risk. We must be cautious
also: so much depends upon our getting
in with all our men,"
| Travelling thus. it was after midnight
before Gonzalez advised them that they
were within long range of the ridge in
| closing the hacienda.
There are two regiments encamped be-
hind it, he told them. in a terror
stricken whisper. THAT foreign merce-
nary. young Won Rudolf. is in command.
We must bear west to where the stream
comes forth. and then
| He hesitated What Them demanded
| Meggs. suspiciOusly.
There Is the tunnel it flows through"
(which will be guarded"
The traitor cogitated deeply ere he
| spoke again.
There is no guard. senior. That is the
secret with which I have bought my life
| from you. 1 trust 1t to your honor-you
are both gentlemen. and-that was the
| bargain;
He looked up furtively, licking dry lips
well knowing that the secret might be
worthless.
Your life will be short one unless we
get safely through Meggs answered.
| grimly. Lead the way to the tunnel
| mouth.
Leaving the road their route lay through
| the broken country at the base of that
gigantic peak out of whose skirts the
Golden Horseshoe had been scooped. Ere
| long they were forced to dismount and
lead their horses. but in due course they
reached the wooded valley through which
had exit the brawling stream whose
source was in the mountain face beyond
the ridge.
There was no great head of water run
ming. and Gonzalez gasped relief. Had
the great sluice at one end Of the reser-
voir within the wall of rock above been
wide the tunnel would have been i'm
passable. and there would have been
scant hope for him.
you'll have to leave your horses he
explained.
.:Where?" asked Allardyce.
"There is an opening in the bank-see.
there-with grass and water in abund-
| ance."
1t was too late to balk at details. They
| had no option but to do as he directed.
A breathless scramble up the waterside
took them to a low opening at the base
of the ridge. which they entered blindly.
Gonzalez led the way. stirrup leather
fast about his waist, and Allardyce had
! one hand clenched in that while in the
other was cooked revolver.
Make no false steps" observed that
anxious follower, lest should blow
your brains out by mistake
BE very careful. senor." begged his
guide. uneasily. 9TH take you safely
through. upon my honor. A short half
hour will see us on the other side
Nor did he speak beside the mark, for,
five and twenty minutes later-five and
twenty years they seemed to the torn and
bedraggled cimbers-the solid gloom gave
| way to dim starlight. and they emerged
within a well-like opening. over which
| waved tall ghost-like grass and rustling
leaves.
Allardyce drew Gonzalez back
why is this entrance left unguarded?"
he inquired menacingly.
1T is his excellency's private exit,
known only to himself-and me-" the spy
replied. by opening the water gate
| above it can be blocked
why Is the gate clOsed?
ITO fill the reservoir up for the garri-
SON."
They waited there till word came up the
line that the last man was within touch