Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-04-25
Irl. ~Now I understan'. He Is ~.

be, your slave, replled the MeAl-
can, "the black dog"
Pedro. as weak as he was, made a
rush for the fellow, but Liberty pulled
him back.
Il break you in two!" yelled Pedro.
anxious to get at the burly brute.
Don't, Pedro" whispered Liberty.
eff you do anything now you viii spoil
it all. These Mexicans are taking me
10 chihuahua prison. l will need
your help later"
The poor Slave listened to her. and
Immediately his whole attitude
changed into one of submissiveness.
Here, you, senorita, get back on the
horse" commanded the Mexican as he
motioned to his men to put her back
in the saddle. After Liberty had
obeyed him, and the Mexicans had tied
her hands again. he turned TO Pedro.
II think we take you along" he said.
'You are better with us than alone. /
know you, you are not to be trusted"
Then he took a lariat from his sad
del, and, with the aid of two of his
together and made the other fast to
his saddle. you can walk" he
sneered as he leaped onto his horse.
If the Mexican thought he was pun
ishing Pedro by taking him along to
Chihuahua, he was badly mistaken.
The old slave was always happy when
he was near his mistress, for, as long
as he was near her, he felt certain he
could protect her from any great harm.
He was somewhat dazed and, as he
walked along he tried to recall just
what had happened. After he escaped
from the insurrectos he had taken
one of the best horses he could find in
the camp, and rode away in a mad eff
fort to reach Major Winston and in
form him of the proposed attack. The
horse, glad to feel the cool night
breeze in his n0strils, had dashed
away madly, and 1t looked as though
he would reach the American troops
in time to warn the Major of the COM
ing of Lopez and his band of insur-
rectOs. Then, just as he saw the camp
ahead of him, he was startled by see
ing a dispatch car, which had been
ahead of him all the way from the
time he left the insurrectos' camp, 90
plunging over the embankment. AS
he reached the place, his horse be-
came frightened at something in the
road, and with sudden plunge threw
him from its back. From then he re-
membered nothing until he awoke,
with Liberty bending over him.
Now he was puzzled about his mis-
tress. Why were these Mexicans TAX
ing her TO Chihuahua? What had be-
come of the Major, and where was
Rutledge2 These were some of the
questions which ran through his poor
brain. A terrible fate must have be-
fallen the American troops at the
hands of Lopez. However, he was not
so certain about the fate of the brave
captain of the rangers.
At that moment. Bob, who had been
held at bay by a detachment of in
surrectos, was busy planning to es-
cape. With his handful of rangers he
occupied the ruins of an old mission
on the brow of hill. The insurrectos
had taken up their position on a hill
directly opposite.
Every time a ranger showed his head
above the old stone ruins, a bullet
whistled overhead. 1t was simply
question of which side would be able
to hold out the longest. Bob had very
little ammunition left, and he felt Ger
tain the enemy was well supplied. He
sat with his back TO the wall, discOur-
aged and respondent, hungry and
thirsty. Even a cigarette would have
proved a sOlace TO him.
There was a small opening in the
rear of his crude fort, and, if he could
direct the attention Of the insurrectos
to the other side, with a brisk fire,
keeping t up for several moments, he
might possibly escape through this
opening, the ruins shielding him from
their view.
He would try 1t. Calling his small
band together, he told them of his in
tentions, and all agreed to try this
piece of strategy. They loaded their
guns and placed them on the walls as
trey fired. 1t would have meant GER
tam death if they raised their heads,
so they were content to merely fire in
the direction of the insurrectos. For
several minutes they kept this up, and
every time they fired one of the rang
ers would creep slowly towards the
onpning The huliets rainpd all ahout
them as they fed; but, once they were
outside, with the rear walls shielding
them, they were able to rush down the
slope out of sight of the enemy.
This was kept up until there was
only one ranger left with Bob. He
gave the fellow instructions TO fire
as rapidly as possible at the insurrec-
tos, and before the smoke raised to
make dash for the rear. They both
did this, and when the walls were en-
shrouded with white vapor both
dropped their guns and ran for the
opening. Bob made it safely, but his
comrade was hit by a stray bullet and
dropped in his tracks.
Reaching the outside, Rutledge kept
under cover of the rear walls and
dashed down the slope which brought
him into Diablo pass. AS he looked
ahead of him he suddenly stopped short.
For he was amazed at the scene before
him!
(To BE CONTINUED)