The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1910-06-24
CONTINUED
CHAPTER XVII.


~ARMELA went back to a house
hold that paid scant heed to bel
~ screaming. Dom Corria was
there. bareheaded. his gorgeous
uniform swerd sashed and blood be
spattered. General Russo, too, was
beating his capacious chest and shout.
ing:
Gods bones, Let us make a fight
Of itv
A sprinkling of soldiers. all dis.
mounted cavalry or gunners. few
disheveled officers, had accompanied
De Sylvia in his flight With reckless
bravery he and russo had tried to
rally the troops camped at headquar-
ters. 1t was hopeless effort Half
breeds can never produce military
caste. They may fight valiantly in
the line of battle-they will not face
the unknown, the terrible. the harpies
that come at night. borne on the hur-
ricane wings of panic. Unhappily
De sylvia and his bodyguard were the
messengers of their own disaster. The
cowardly genius at Pesqueira had
planned surprise. He would not lead
it. of course, but in Dom Miguel Bar
raca he found an eager substitute. 1t
was coup of the Napoleonic order
An infantry attack along the entire
front Of the Liberationist position
cloaked the launching against the cen
90 do al Of nly.x-
The project was to thrust this lance
into the rebel position. probe 1t thor
oughly, as a surgeon explores a gun
shot wound, and extract the offender
in the guise of Dom Corria.
The scheme had proved eminently
successful. The Liberationists were
crumpled up. and here was Dom Cor
ria making his last stand.
He deserved better luck. for he was
magnificent in failure. Calm as ever,
he tried to be shot or captured when
the reserves in camp failed him. Rus
so and the rest dragged him onward
by main force.
''They want me only" he urged.
"My death will end a useless struggle.
! shall die a little later. when many
more of my friends are killed. Why
not die now?"
They would not listen.
ut Is nightw they cried. 1.-THE en-
emy's horses are spent. A determined
stand may give us another chance"
But it was q forlorn hope. AS San
Benavides lurched into the pateo the
horses of the first pursuing detach-
ment strained up the slope between
the house and encampment.
Carmela. all her fire gone. the pallid
ghost of the vengefu woman who
would have shattered her lovers skull
were the revolver loaded. was the first
to see him. She actually crouched in
terror. Her tongue was parched. If
she uttered some low cry none heard
her.
Dom Corria, striving to dispose his
meager garrison as best he could, met
his trusted lieutenant. His face Lit
with joy.
"Ah. my poor. SALVADOR he cried.
II thought we had lost you at the
fordv
NO" said San Benavides. 81 ran
away"
Even in his dire extremity De Sylvia |
smiled.
Would that others had run like you, |
my Salvador" he said. Then we
The Brazilian looked around. His |
eye dwelt heedlessly on the covering |
Carmela. He was searching for Iris, |
who had been compelled by Coke and |
Bulmer and her uncle to take shelter |
behind the score of sailors who still |
remained at Las Flores.
lit is true nevertheless" he said la
II knew the game was lost,
so | came here to try to save a lady,"
"Ah-our Carmela? You thought of |
herY
"Now
Then the spell passed from Carmela. |
She literally threw herself on her
over.
'Yes, it is truev she shrieked. "He |
zane to save me, but l preferred to
lie herewith you. father. and with |
him."
Dom Corria did not understand these
fireworks. but he had no time for |
thought. Bullets were crashing through |
he closed venetians. Light they must |
AVE or the defense would become an |
,rgy of self destruction, yet light was
heiF most dangerous foe when men
we're shooting from the somber depths
# the trees.
The assailants were steadily closing
lround the house. Their rifles covered
very door and window. Each minute
up fresh bands in tens and
wenties. At last Barraca himself ar
ived. Some members Of his staff
made hasty survey Of the situation.