The Washington times., 1911-11-14
CHAPTER Nv (continued).
= rH UT the river. Surely"
'H with the exception Of the
- Gerfalcon. the steamboat that

VIZ with the exception Of the
IL Gerfalcon. the steamboat that
brought you here, no craft,
larger than a native balsa, Is per-
mitted to navigate the Durango.
Night and day the stream Is watched
by sleepless Coshan eyes, and signal
nres would quickly fill the river with
war canoes were straneg vessel to
make its appearance No matter what
direction u man may take in leaving
Valo, he must pass through at least
fifty miles of country occupied by the
Coshans."
How large is the Coshan tribe?"
1T can muster about $4,000 fighting
men,"
us It the dominant tribe in Guinea
tan?"
YES" Heredia replied. Until Ave
years ago the Tamagals possessed
almost equal power; then q brief war,
In the course of which Don Antonio
supported Gandalap, the Coshan chief,
who are now thoroughly cowed."
In response to the queries Of the two
Americans, Heredia then described the
political situation In Valo.
Six years before Don Antonio, sup
ported by a political faction north Of
the Caco-the part Of the republic that
contained the bulk Of the Spanish popu-
lation-was defeated by Gen. Ramon
Munez in q contest for the presidency.
Threatened with Imprisonment, Don An.
thence. with 800 adherents. he fought
his way to Valo, being the first white
man to set foot In this old Indian town
for more than half a century. 49,
Here, in q manner that not even his
supporters were able to understand, he
suddenly won the confidence OF the
Coshan chief, Gandalap, with whom he
made a secret treaty. From President
appointment as governor Of Valo.
Since then his rule in the city has
been absolute, and one of the many
peculiarities of his government was the
Coshans, who came to Valo were for
hidden to leave 1t by way Of the Du-
range river
Scores Of Americans and subjects Of
range with large quantities OF materials
to be used in railway construction, and
these had been sent with the materials
in the direction Of Moreno, in the north
great bridges had been built in the cor
dillera, but the men who were said to
have built them never returned to Valo
rs 1t not possible that these went
down the I9uiquil from Moreno?"
1T is possible that some Of them did
So" Heredia replied. with a shrug Of
his shoulders.
"It is more likely, however, that, they
succumbed to that mysterious and uni
formly fatal complaint known as gari,"
said the man with the SCARED face.
Carl, senors, Is a disease that Is pc,
culiar to the enemies of Don Antonio"
Heredia explained. 1T is caused by the
root of the garican plant, which Is
found in certain marshes. 1t Is re-
markable how many Of Don Antonios
enemies frequent those marshes"
You mean that Don Antonio poisons
his enemies?" Sparhawk asked quietly.
Heredia slipped his wine.
Some of them" he answered grave
ly. Death is the mos. important men,
Der bsaS Of soSes al o pen
culties, I myself have an appointment
with him tomorrow
with Don Antonio?" .
'No-with Death"
Spar hawk started.
you. are jesting. senor" he ex-
claimed.
Heredia smiled and shook his head in
"Any resident Of valo will tell you that
this morning Alegandro Ieredio.
charged with assaulting Lieutenant
Rrabaru enc Of the governors
pro!eges Tas sentenced a to to death, and md
wall at daybreak tomorrow"
Sparhawk and Handley made no at
tempt to disguise their amazement.
They cat in silence till Handley said:
"The gentleman who IS with you is
your custodian, then"
Heredia laughed quietly.
''Oh, nor he answered. "Senor Hem
ingway, an American. like yourselves.
many dungeons. and in these minor Of
tenders are lncarcerated from ttnne to
time, iut there is no institution that IS
known here as q prison.
often heavily fined for the benefit of
Don Antcnio's treasury. but persons un-
der sentence Of death are free to go
where they will in the city until the
hcNr Of exes%ti9n. They cannot escape; nsape.
time, they are sought out and delivered
to the Coshans. who offer them as sac
rifices to their sun-god I will be at
the monastery wall at daybreak. senors.
He rose and offered his hand to Spar
hawk.
The face of the American engineer
had grown suddenly pale.
mean to tell me that You are going to
let this tyrant take your life without
NJ aking some effort to same it?' Spar
rawk exclaimed.
ocean, with no vessel or raft in sight.
there must come time when he will
throw up his hands" Heredia replied
with a smile.
"There is no help for 1t, SIR" said
shaking his head gravely.
To-day, II is Hercdia who is saying
farewell to his friends. Tomorrow It will
be you II you are not more cautious In
the expression Of your opinion concern
ing Don Antonio"
The faces of Sparhawk and Handlcy
were gray as. without speaking, they
shook hands with the smiling Heredia.
The doomed man then turned to Hem
ingv ay. placed both HE arms around
his neck. and :irew the distorted face
to his. A minute later he was gone.
CHAPTER v.
Iiohf On A Dark Suhiecf