The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1908-09-11
Should Chance
Permit
Copyright, by %Shortstory Pub. Coz
By p. c. DUORTS

IN
across the stone floor, damp with mois-
ture. Even this uncanny diversion
was grateful to the two American Off
GERS who were quartered in what had
been a Spanish prison and fortress,
but which was now occupied by Fill
Pine guerilla bands.
The elder OF the two men, who lay
stretched ~listlessly upon the damp
stones, was a captain in the American
army, while his companion was q
young second lieutenant who had just
been commissioned from West Point.
Both Of them had been captured the
day before by what were supposed to
have been friendly natives, and even
now they we're within easy sight OF
the American lines. though neither OF
them hoped that their whereabouts
would ever be learned by their coun-
trymen OF that they would be able to
escape even that short distance. In
all probability their death would be
accomplished within a very short time
by as horrible torture as could be
conceived of by their captors.
Neither the captain nor the lieu
tenant spoke much, for each one
seemed to be wrapped in his own med
itations. There was absolutely moth
ing for them to do but wait for .
change, for the better or worse az the
case might be. Suddenly both men
raised their heads. Far down the
stone corridors could be heard the
steady tramp of a squad of soldiers
as they approached nearer and nearer
to the cell, situated, as it was, in the
extreme left wing Of the castle. The
guard halted presently before the door.
The key ratified in the old lock and
then the heavy iron door creaked and
swung back upon its rusty hinges.
The officer in command simply mo-
toned the Americans to rise and fall
into line. Then, without further words,
they marched back through the dark.
moist passages and up long winding
stairways until they reached the apart
ments of. the brigand chieftain, quite
richly furnished, as they were, with
barbaric splendor and American tro-
plies taken by the guerilla bands.
Here was the man whose heartless
cruelty had made his name a terror
throughout the islands. He resembled
q small-sized negro, dressed in white
and wearing side arms, except, per-
haps, for q crafty look about his
treacherous black eyes and q cruel
smile which played around his thick
lips, the marks of the cold-blooded
villain.
The chieftain was speaking to one
Of his attendants, who Immediately
interpreted to the American officers:
"The captain gives the noble senors
the best greetings Of the day and says
that after he has provided the Ameri-
cans with a little entertainment. which
be has prepared for them in the court
yard. he will be pleased to dine with
the reverend senors, II they will con.
descend to his humble fare" Then
the Filipino captain, after addressing
. few more words to the oficer Of the
guard. babe them q kind farewell.
The guard led them below into what
was not q courtyard but an alleyway
between two stone walls. The path
between the walls wa about four
feet wide and . hundred feet in
length. At n end Of the passage
was q large iron shield; at the other
was the muzzle Of Z Spanish field
piece. ~glistening in the suns rays.
The American officers needed no ex-
PLANTATION from the interpreter, who
told them that II they could cover the
distance between the cannon and the
shield before the time-fuse was burned
they might eat the elaborate dinner
which his noble captain prepared. II
they failed in swiftness, well-it
would be better to imagine the 70
suit.
Above them there was q little plat
form. built out from the castle wall,
upon which, still coolly smiling, sat
the same treacherous black devil who
had Just invited them to dine with
him. The blood Of the fiery young lieu
tenant fairly boiled, but the older man
WAS very calm; he knew that he
would die In the attempt because he
wa too heavy to run fast, and there
fore preferred to spend his last mo
ments otherwise than in useless anger.
The Interpreter babe them make
ready, and informed the captain that
- age should have precedence, he, the
captain. should, therefore. make the
drst attempt. The brigands well knew
that the captain could not run fast
enough to escape the awful death
awaiting him, and that the lieutenant
would undoubtedly slip on the bloody
pavement. The words of the two
American officers were few. Immi-
nent danger inspires . mans thoughts
rather than his tongue. A hearty
handshake, . word Of encouragement
and q parting farewell were all that
passed between the two friends.
Everything was ready. The gunner
had lighted the fuse and immediately
the captain was pushed from behind
tie shield. Seconds heightened into
hours. Suddenly there was Z roar.
and the g~rape-shot ratified against
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