Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-15
THE GOLDEN HORSESHOE.
BY ROBERT ATKEN.
Copyright
By ROBERT AITKEN.
Copyright. 1907. he ,.a. nesr.a. os.p.,y,

open plain. always in separate parties ana
directly across their path.
Those are guerrillas from the coastal
range, said Challoner- Fhey must be
concentrating there either to assist in be-
| sieging the city or because word has
reached them that the Reds and regulars
are to share the treasure at the hacienda
I'm half afraid they'll stay where they
are till something turns up. They're too
suspicious of the Tigers strategy to trust
themselves much nearer his headquar-
ters."
His fears were not without foundation.
for at nightfall there were leagues of
country covered by scattered camp fires.
and ceaseless interchange of visits be-
tween the bands seemed to be going on.
No more effectual barrier could have been
| raised between the fretting rescue party
and their friends in the country beyond
the capital.
An next day it endured. and. when
darkness came down the lights showed
| that there was nothing for 1t but to draw
further on stock of patience that was
waning fast
If they're still there tomorrow" said
Landeuard, well have to supply our
selves with horses from their picket lines
and make dash for it..
1t would have been sheer madness to
attempt that, but nevertheless they
turned the project over in their minds
with relish. and might. indeed. have at
presently woke the world up like a wild
nightmare.
There in the open they did not suffer
so severely those who were penned in
among the mountains. but. notwithstand-
ing. the cold terror of it gripped hard at
their hearts
Even Ybarra. fearless beyond all stand
ards among men, cried on the gods he
had so long condemned as he lay bound
among his guards and felt the solid rock
.h..lyA =, I,s~ ,I,sl @,~f,
voices groaned and growled in the great
travail of the under-earth.
The shock passed. and. in time, the sun
once more shone down on them. They
saw greater multitude than ever on the
plain. and black cloud above the city
of the golden spires whose brilliance had
departed
Then there came flying thence toward
the sea fugitives. civilian, military, men
and women. a little later the most cow
ardly of the deserters from the siege of
the Golden Horseshoe.
Landsuard on the alert and desperately
anxious now. sent detachment out to
capture any struggling soldier whose ap-
pearance might warrant the belief that
he had come from up country. That
brought back white-faced linesman
who had stolen a comrades mount from
the cavalry lines on the ridge and fed so
fast and far that he had famed the ami
NAL irremedia bly,.
AnQ from MIN lney learned all lie COulu
tell concerning the happenings at the ha-
cienda. Challoner translatfng his dis
jointed sentences into smooth English.
The attack was timed for moonrise,
he began, land. as there was no longer
need to guard the ridge against the rebels
also, all of us save the main guard had
permission to take part in it.
And we went willingly-to share the
treasure.
Those up above had blown a great gap
in the eastern stairway. but we had hopes
of bridging that. and there was also
plan laid to clear the tunnel. ] thought
the latter the more likely to succeed and
went with that half Of our force. But at
the entrance there was water flowing.
water almost too hot to touch.
Some Of the sappers were thrust for
ward to investigate and driven up by
bullets from behind But that was use
less. for the Mood rose far too swiftly.
and always hotter. Those that the bull
let's spared died in the steam that spat
out suddenly in terrific blast.
We fell back. for the tunnel mouth
was like kettle spout. and l went round
to see how those at the stairfoot were
faring
"A shot or two was fired from over
head. and we judged that the enemy was
well aware of our purpose. but We worked
away with lines and ladders until"
The mans voice shook. He shivered.
II heard tearing sound that hurt my
ears and then dull explosion.
Ito be continued tomorrow