The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1918-05-30

a ciank and rattle and clash Of metal
upon the flags; and then-Sebastian
turned upon his tormentor. free man
save only for the wide iron bracelets
and their connecting chain He was
quite insane. His face was frightful to
behold: II was apelike IN its animal
rage. and he lowered above his master
like some tabled creature out Of the
African jungle Of his forefathers-
Sebastian's fists alone would have
been formidable weapons. but they
were armored and. weighted with the
old-fashioned. hand-wrought irons
which Pancho Cueto had locked upon
them. Wrapping the chain in his fin
gers. the slave leaped at Esteban and
struck. once. The sound Of the blow
was sickening, for the whole bony
structure Of Esteban varona's head
gave way.
There was a Mortified cry from the
other white men. Don Pablo Peza ran
forward. shouting. He swung his
machete. but Sebastian met him before
the blow could descend. and they went
down together upon the hard stones.
Again Sebastian smote. with his mas
sive hands wrapped In the chain and
his wrists encased In steel. and this
time II was as II Don Pablo's head had
been caught between a hammer and an
anvil. The negro's strength. exceptional
at all times. was multiplied fenfold; he
had run amuck. Wien he arose the
machete was In his grasp and Don
Pablo's brains were on his knuckles.
1t all happened in far less time than
1t takes to tell. The onlookers had not
yet recovered from their first conster-
nation In fact they were still fumbling
and tugging at whatever weapons they
carried. when Sebastian came toward
them. brandishing the blade on high.
Pedro MIron, the advocate, was the
third 70 fall be lrie9 t2 scramble out
Of ..cc .i:c hegro's path. but. being an old
man, his limbs were too stin to serve
him and he went down shrieklng.
By now the horses had caught the
| scent of hot blood and were plunging
furiously. the clatter Of their hoofs
mingling with the blasphemies Of the
riders. while Sebastian's bestial roar
ing made the commotion even more
hideous.
Estebnn's guests fought as much for
| their lives as for vengeance upon the
slayer. for Sebastian was like gorilla I;
he seemed intent upon killing them all.
He vented his fury upon whatever
came within his reach: he struck at
| men and animals alike. and the shrieks
Of wounded horses added to the din.
II was frightful combat. 1t seemed
Incredible that one man could work
such dreadful havoc in so short time.
varona and two Of his friends were
dead: two more were badly wounded.
and Peruvian stallion lay kicking on
the tagging when Col. Mendoza y Lin
ares finally managed to get buller
home In the black mans brain.
Those who came running to learn
the cause Of the hubbub turned away
sick and pailid. for the paved yard was
a shambles. Pancho Cueto called upon
the slaves to help him, but they skunk
back to their quarters, dumb with ter.
ror and dismay.
All that night people from the town
below came and went and the quinta
resounded to sobs and lamentations
but Of all the relatives Of the dead and
wounded, Donna Isabel took her be.
rcavement hardest. Strange to say
she could not be comforted. Now, when
II was too late. she realized that she
had overreached herself. having caused
the death Of the only two who knew
the secret Of the treasure. She remem
bered. also. Sebastian's statement that
even the deeds Of patent for the land
were hidden with the rest. where ter
thousand men In ten thousand years
could never find them.