Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-13

side" he called back. in gruff voice.
They're every one after the gold. A wise
man would make his own share sure.
The soldier drew back. scratched his
head. and stood staring after him in a
state Of most grievous indecision.
A little way down the road cautious
whistle brought his two comrades forth
from their hiding place. and all three
were soon galloping for the main body.
Allardyce riding recklessly. great sem
sation of relief in his heart. There was
only time for a hasty word Of eongratu-
lation on his almost miraculous success
before the wounded were set In the saddle
and they resumed the march to the sea
They had been travelling thus. with an
infrequent pause to draw breath. for
some hours. had reached the entrance
to that deep gorge through which the
roadway threaded the foothills. when.
without warning they experienced two
sudden and most disconcerting shocks.
The first of these. the meeting with a
picket obviously strong enough to over
power Them which at vigilant out
looks warning. sprang from among the
rocks on either side and strung across
ranean rumbling. which set the horses
shy1ng wildly. an ominous. dreadful
movement of the solid earth beneath their
feet.
A chorus of wild cries surged up from
the men in front of them.
"El temblor! FL temblor! The earth
quake screamed voice that was
scarcely human. and at the dread words
those who would have withstood them
fled. terror-strcken. from the spot. For
there the highway lay between two walls
of rock. which were swaying loosely in
the cold moonlight as though they must
come together and crush in their cruel
jaws the puny human beings, the cowed
and trembling horses, staggering foolish
ly where they had stopped. making no eff
flight.
The shock passed 'Trot.' shouted AL
lardyce, his face still haggard with the
horror of it. and, clutching a stirrup
beyond it. stumbled forward. The others
followed at irregular intervals, since it
took time to start some of the horses.
but all were present when, al a safe dis
lance, he stopped again to see. Then he
collapsed, lying down Imply by the road
side. letting his head fall forward in the
dust. And the riders slipped from their
sweating horses, throwing themselves on
the ground that they might ease the aw-
full vertigo which was still making their
heads swim, rid themselves of a nausea
worse thar any seasickness.
1t took them time to recover their men
tai and moral capacity. but. as their
beasts Gained down. they too regained
some measure of self-confidence, and. in
little. went on their way without speak
ing.
That which had passed had been too
awful in its sinister significance for
words.
The night and the long road alike
seemed never ending. but dawn found
them looking down on Alta Cruz. a city
almost unrecOgniZable.
Its golden spires had suffered cruel
eclipse, and from such as had been left
standing bells tolling backward cried to
the clouds above it's anguish Black
heavy clouds these. fed by the fires still
blazing here and there amid the ruins of
the capital.
Even the weary travellers grouped on
the brow of the hill above il gazed
blankly at each other. dumbly dismayed
by disaster so widespread and pitiless.
But they were not allowed long time for
reflection. since almost at their heels
there poured forth from the foothills a
wild flight from the inferno they had left
behind in the mountains. They were
forced to seek hiding while Its forerun-
ners fled past. Troopers of cavalry these.
from the camp on the ridge. riding with
necks for sale down to the lowlands. any
where, to get away from those terrible
topping peaks. Then came the gunners
on heavier horses, squirting. Wild eyed
and afraid. For a long hour they
streamed out from the foothills in hum
dreds. while the handful of men concealed
on a bank above the roadway rested
watchfully. But panic reigned, to the ex-
clusiOn of all other business, public or
private. Personal safety was every ones
chief concern. With mere human
enemy it was no time TO interfere.
FTo be continued tomorrowD