Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-05-09

4 dren on the border. Instead. they
had given their lives. But out there
In Diablo Pass, In the stiffness of the
night, surrounded by the dead, the Ma
jor made solemn VOW that the death
of every one of his troopers would be
avenged. Lopez would pay for this
days work, with his miserable life,
and, unless the inevitable hand OF
fate prevented him, the Major would
collect the debt and see to it that he
was paid in full.
These thoughts and the dishearten-
ing spectacle before him, together with
his wounds and long period of fasting
seemed to unbalance the mind of the
brave man. He managed TO pull him
self out of the pit dug for him by his
men and staggered to one of the bod
les. He stopped and taking the can
teen from the poor fellow, quenched
his thirst. 1t refreshed him. But it
did not ease his puzzled and tired
brain. His wound panied him, and he
was conscious of peculiar feeling in
his head. Strange objects seemed to
appear before his gaze. They came
quickly and departed as suddenly. Mys-
FERROUS visions seemed to haunt him,
as he stood there helpless and alone.
1t must be a sickness. Perhaps 1t was
| the fever. He had seen thousands of
soldiers afflicted with this dreadful dis
ease; he had seen hundreds die with
it. Just then, he would have wei
coined anything that would have re-
lieved him from his pain.
For some time he stood there won
dering in which direction to go. He
knew the canyon; for had he not led
his troops to this very spot? But, his
memory slowly failed him, and, though
he racked his poor fevered brain he
was at loss to know which way
to turn. Finally, dazed and delirious,
he wandered aimlessly into the desert.
The poor slave Pedro, who had been
dragged to the torture chamber by
the Mexicans, had been tortured al.
most to the point of death. One of
the guards pressed a button, which re-
leased one of the huge blocks in the
WALL They picked up his body and
threw it through the aperture. Ii
struck a large opening, and then slid
down between the walls into a pool In
an underground chamber. 1t was the
room where Liberty was being held
prisoner, and, just as Pedro's body
struck the water, she was about to
scoop up some of the water to quench
her terrible thirst.
AS the dark object struck the wa
ter she drew back in terror. Then, as
1t rose to the surface, she was startled
as she recognized the slave. He was
too injured to try to save himself,
and Liberty rushed to his aid and
dragged him out of the pool, and as
sisted him to his feet. But the next
instant he fell in heap on the ground.
During this time, Rutledge and his
comrades were out in the desert,
searching for some signs Of Winston's
troops. The insurrectos had been
completely fooled by the rangers, and
it was some time ptftter Bob and his
companions eEeapWss -sefs . they real
lied the futility Of their fire. At first
the Mexicans believed they had wiped
out the remainder of Rutledge's men,
for their shots were not returned from
the mission. Finally one of their
number was sent out to investigate.
He approached the ruins under cover
of the Mexican volley, and as he
neared the spot he dropped on his
hands and knees and crawled cautious
~ up. Slowly he raised his head
above the ruined walls. 1t was des-
perate move, and he was taking big
chance of having his head blown TO
pieces. But, as he peered over the
top all was silent within, for, ell that
he saw was the bodies of the dead
rangers, and Rutledge was not among
them.
He hastily returned to his compan-
ions and Informed them of the way
in which they had beer baffie0 by the
Americans. They were enraged and
the order was given Immediately to
start in pursuit. After searching Tor
several hours for Bob and his men
the insurrectos gave it up and returned
to JOIN Lopez and his band.
The morning of the fourth day
found the Major still staggering on, his
body wrecked and his mind shattered.
His canteen was empty. and in the
'rantic efforts to find water he fell ON
TIE sands and began to dig with his
naked fingers. Sinking coyotes how
cred about, while overhead the ever
watchful buzZards circled. Finally
from sheer exhaustion he stretched I'M
conscious where he fell. There he lay,
impotent against the carrion-hunting
creatures of land and air. which gazed
with hungry eyes at his PROSTATE
form. Encouraged by the quietness
Of the body, the coyotes carefully
drew nearer.
At that moment a small group of
cavalry appeared three or four miles
away on the edge of the desert. Slow
~ they approached and found the I'M
conscious form of the unfortunate ma
jor with his canteen In his hand.
which lay powerless in a small pool
of water.
One of the little party. which was
Rutledge and his surviving rangers.
maddened by thirst. plunged to the
edge of the pool to drink, but the cap
tain stopped him.
My God, man, don't touch that wa
ter - Cboi1fad pob