The Ocala banner., 1914-08-28
eat what time do they usually re-

signs on you / do not know. Quite
likely they will give you plenty of
time to get to sleep. come in late
stealthily and endeavor to take you un-
awareS.'
Suppose you and | should leave to-
gether. Is there not a point of safety
we could reach before they would
overtake u.s."
After some thought the girl said that
if they could reach city like Victoria
In time to secure protection all would
be well. but If they were captured be-
fore entering the town the bandits
would surely kill the girl.
Il am armed" said Cameron. If
you were armed also it would be an
equal fight
THE men always carry their weap-
ons with them"
Cameron did not like waiting for the
bandits TO return and was equally
averse TO leaving the girl under the
suspicion Of having warned him.
There seemed no way but t. take her
with him.
''If you are willing to take the risk
of going with me- be said at last, I'VE
will leave at once"
1t was some time before Pepita re-
piled. When she did she said: Il
would rather die than remain here in
captivity Were it not for the times
| might invoke the aid of the law. At
present there is no law in Mexico.
But | will not place you in jeopardy
on my account. I have suspected that
there are arms concealed somewhere
in the house. If | can find anything
with which to defend myself | will go
with you. If not l will remain. But
I will not ask you to remain also"
She went into the house, where Cam
erOn heard her hunting. She had been
gone some time when he heard some
thing give way, and in a few minutes
Pepita came out with brace of re-
volvers. Cameron examined them and
found that they had been freshly load
ed. This he knew from the fact that
the cartridge cases were not dingy.
Pepita had pried open a closet door
and found a lot of arms and ammuni-
ton.
Within ten minutes the two were
riding away in the darkness. 1t was
about 8 o'clock. and the bandits were
not expected to return till midnight at
least But Pepita did not believe that
they would remain long in ignorance
Of the flight She suspected that they
might have set watch on the house.
Besides, there were others Of the gang
occupying here and there one of the
adobe houses along the road. any one
of whom might have been commission
ed to report any one hurrying by.
Their route lay midway between the
gulf and the railroad leading north
ward through Victoria and Monterey.
The roads We're mostly unpaved, so
that their horses hoofs sounded only
with a dull thud. Hoping to avoid at
tention. they rode for awhile at
walk, then assumed brisk trOt and
finally broke into gallop.
Pepita was right in assuming that
their fight would be reported TO the
bandits They had not been on the
way half an hour when suddenly Pc
pita's horse threw back an ear. In an
other moment the girl heard the tread
Of horses coming swiftly, and lastly 1t
broke on the less sensitive ears of the
American.
Now we must run for it," he said.
1--WE must direct our course to the
nearest town. How far Is the house
we left from Victorian"
1--WE heard it said that it is about
twelve miles.
We've come about five; that leaves
seven. We must turn into the first
road we come upon leading westward"
The road fOrked a short distance far
ther on, the left hand road leading, 80
Cameron believed, to Victoria. They
turned into it, but seven miles was a
long distance for a run for life with
men following on feet horses. The
only comfort for the fugitives was
that their pursuers were doubtless full
of pulque.
Pepita's horse, as were all the horses
found it difficult to urge his mount
on to keep up with her. He spurred
him and belabored him all to no pur-
pose. Meanwhile the hoofbeats in rear
! grew more distinct. At last Cameron
thrust his hand into his hip pocket,
pulled out his roll of bills and handed
them to Pepita, saying:
Take these and go on. If the ban
dts spare my life 1 will join you in
Victoria"
us it money!"
Three thousand dollars"
She took it and, with a parting pres
sure of the hand, urged on her horse
and soon left Cameron far behind.
His horse was now staggering. He
dismOunted and, slapping the animals
haunch, sent him on, then took to a
thicket near the road. In a few min
utes the pursuers clattered by, to find
the horse. which they recognized as
| the Americans. standing exhausted in