Gunnison news-champion., 1916-09-08

friend and compadre en- n eausa Dc ID
yfssrfad
-'On the morning Of the 18th We BE-
gan our march toward the sea follow
mile trail to the capital Our small
arms and provisions were laden on
pack mules Twenty men harnessed to
each Calling gun rolled them smoothly
along the hat. alluvial lowlands. Our
troops well shod and well fed. moved
with alacrity and heartincss. ! and
my three lieutenants were mounted on
the tough mountain ponies Of the coun
try.
"A mile out Of camp one Of the pack
mules. becoming stubborn. broke away
from the train and plunged from the
path into the thicket The alert kear-
ny spurred quickly after IL and inter
cepfed its fight Rising In his stirrups.
he released one foot and bestowed upon
the mutinous animal . hearty kick.
The mule tottered and fell with
crash broadside upon the ground. AZ
We gathered around It II walled Its
great eyes, almost humanity toward
kearny and expired. That was bad.
but worse to our minds was the con-
comItant disaster. Part of the mules
burden had been 100 pounds Of the
finest coffee to be had in the tropics.
The bag burst and spilled the priceless
brown mass Of the ground berries
among the dense vines and weeds Of
the swampy land. Mala suerte! When
you take away from an Esperandon
his coffee you abstract his patriotism
and 90 per cent Of his value as a SOL
der. The men began to rake up the
precious stun. but I beckoned Kearny
back along the trail where they would
not hear. The limit had been reached.
II took from my pocket a wallet of
money and drew out some bills.
"'Mr. kearny.' said l. here are some
funds belonging to Don Rafael valde-
via. which am expending In his
cause. l know Of no better service 1t
can buy for him than this. Here II
500. Luck or no luck. We part COM
pany here. Star or no star. calamity
seems to travel by your side. You will
return to the steamer. She touches ut
Amotapa to discharge her lumber and
iron and then puts back to New Or
leans. Hand this note to the sailing
master. who will give you passage !
wrote OH q leaf torn from my book
and placed It and the money in Kear-
ny's hand.
=" 'Goodby.' said. extending my own.
1t Is not that I am displeased with
you, but there is no place in this ex-
pedition for-let US say. the Senoita
Phoebe ! said this with n smile.
trying to smooth the thing for him.
May you have better luck. compa-
nero
"Kearny took the money and the pa
per.
"It was Just a little touch said he.
'just little lift with the toe Of my
boot. But what's the odds? That
blamed mule would have died II had
only busted his ribs with powder
pun. It was my luck. Well. captain.
l would have liked to be in that little
tight with you over in Aguas Frias.
Success to the cause. Adiosr
HE turned around and set on down
the trail without looking back. The
unfortunate mules pack saddle was
transferred to Kearny's pony. and we
again took up the march.
-Four days We journeyed over the
foothills and mountains. fording ley
torrents, winding around the crumbling
brows Of ragged peaks. creeping along
rocky fianges that overlooked awful
precipices, crawling breathlessly over
tottering bridges that crossed bottom
less chasms.
ION the evening of the 18th we camp
ed by q little stream ON the bare hills
1--WE miles from Aguas Frias. At day
break we were to tnke up march again.
AT midnight was standing outside
my tent inhaling the fresh cold air.
The stars were shining bright in the
el0udless sky. giving the heavens their
proper aspect Of illimitable depth and
distance when viewed from the vague
darkness Of the blotted earth. Almost
at Its zenith was the planet Saturn.
and with half smile observed the
sinister red sparkle Of his malignant
attendant-the demon stnr of Kearny's
Ill luck. And then my thoughts stray
ed across the hills to the scene Of our
coming triumph. where the heroic and
noble Don Rafael awaited our coming
to set 4 new and shining star in the
ornament Of nations.
II heard slight rustling In the deep
grass to my right. turned and saw
Kearny coming toward me. He was
ragged and dew drenched and limping.
His hat and one boot were gone. About
one foot he had tied some makeshift
Of cloth and grass. But his manner as
he approached was that Of man who
knows his owD virtues well enough to
be superior to rebuffs.
".Well. SIR said. staring at him
coldly. II there is anything in persist
ence ! see no reason why you should
not succeed in wrecking and running
us yet
.sI kent half \ i1av'a tourney hehind.'