Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-09-12

and Importance has SO rude and picturesque
AN approach, nor are there many that Keep
thelr commerce along ways and by methoos
so unmodern. The stranger, ignorant OF the
smpciti,s OF South American life whether
IN town or country. is bewildered by the
oddities and hardshps in a trip OF this kind'
But David had Travelled more than once
over the Bogota trail, and for him had
lost its novelty, especially as his sole aim on
the present occasion was to reach his destlha'
ton as quickly as possible. Herran hao
similar feeling: hence. as the day was nor
unpleasantly warm, once they had passed
beyond the lowlands Of Honda, both men
urged their horses to top speed. In a
short time they had left the rest OF the party
far behind them. and broke into race over
the rough mountain trail. firing OF THIS
they dropped back to a more sober gait iet
ting their horses choose their own way tor
time
'1 telegraphed from Honda that we were
coming" said Herran in Spanish. 'lhey
are looking for us now In Bogota.'
Did you say that was with you?" asked
David
Surely. As an officer It Is my duty to give
complete information" was the somewhat
pompous reply. II gave the names OF an
who are in your party and told why 'hev
stayed in Honda"
why so much detail about us? My friends
and are not connected with the military
movements of the country"
That may be true, Senior But you travel
WIN me ana am Ignorant VI Soui w
ness. you know
we travel partly for pleasure partly
I am interested in a Guatavita mining VEN
ture"
80. will they know that when they see
your name in the Bogota papers: 80
MY friend that I am going to visit VIII
know Of course ! wrote to him that l was
coming why do you ask
"Ah Just now, it may be. my countrvrnen
will not like American mining ventures-or
Americans"
Then. Americans are in danger?
How I say. Senor?" he answered
with a shrug. "I have lost Panama, they
say. I. too have enemies Perhaps I am
in danger. But you have friend in Bo'
gotta? He is -"
An American; Raoul Arthur"
"1 have heard Of him
ole is well liked here
That Is good commented Herran drly
For the first time since he had been in
Colombia David felt uneasy as TO the pos
sible outcome of his trip. His friends, In
reach of the river steamers. could leave the
country at the first sign of real danger But
every mile placed between himself and the
Magdaena lessened his chances for escape
and that he might need to get out OF 90
omba in hurry was evident from ferrah
attitude. his reserve, his ambiguous answers
to David's questions. All this was not exactly
through a lack of friendliness on the gen.
erals part.
David knew Herran fairly we'll and did not
OCuDt MS loyalty. Tie also Mic" tidt '' "''''
under suspicion account of the Panama
affair. and for this reason would nave to be
extremely wary in extending protection to an
American seeking to enrich himself in Coom-
ba. Politically. the man who lost Panama
could not afford TO let his name be further
compromised.
General Herran. however, was not one t"
keep up an attitude of restraint for long.
| The air was bracing. the mountain trail was
! ir excellent condition. the horses were fresh
rpSppn6ed readily n WhiD and bride.
| Under these favorable influences. the two
| travellers soon became sociable enough. and
! even joked over some of the sinister circum-
stances attending their journey.
We are a long way from Panama. Senor-
and Miranda's pills :" exclaimed Herran.
Heaven help the schoolmaster! laughed
! David
| "Ah. poor fellow. To be at the doctors
| mercy But he is not a bad doctor. Only
| nine out of every ten of his victims die, they
say. Perhaps this schoolmaster- Have
| you your pistol. Senor?" he broke off sud
| denly.
| For a salute to Panama and our friends
| expaine the other. You do not know the
| custom of the road to Bogota in times of
| revoluton-that is. at all times. And you
| have no pistol he added with a sigh. But
| this will do for both of u.s.
refining in his horse at a shaded bend in
| the trail, General Herran. unconsciously fol-
! owing the Fat knights memorable exploit on
Shrewsbury battlefield took from his hip
pocket a huge case bottle and handed 1t to
| David
Fire the first shot, my friend. and I will
! come after with long one for your Guata-
| vita mine
| In the act of carrying out this pleasant
| suggestion. the attention of David and Herran
| was suddenly caught by babel of voices
| shouts Of command the tramp of many feet
| coming from the Bogota end of the trail In
| terruptions of this kind more serious than
! they may seem to those unfamiliar with CO.
| lomban mountain travel. So rough and mar
row is the road to Bogota. with sometimes a
precpice one hand and a sheer wall of
rock on the other. that the problem of two
parties passing each other Is not always
easy one. Although this is the chief thor
| oughfare between the national capital and the
Magdalena it remains quite as primitive and
unadapted to modern needs as in the days OF
the Indians. To widen and pave it proved
more Of task in roadbuilding than the
Spanish conQuerors cared to undertake, and
their successors in the government of the
country have until now attempted little in
the way of Improvement. Thus. travellers
from the lowands over this Indian trail fire.
quently have TO fight for a passage through
descending rabble of men and burros or
| else allow themselves to be crowded of into
| a tangle of underbrush side or thrown
down a steep cliff on the other.
As 1t happened. the spot chosen by General
| Herran and David for their friendly salute
was a particularly awkward one in an en-
| counter with lot of travellers coming from
the opposite direction. In front of them the
trail rose abruptly in a long zigzag of rocks
and gules, down which the caravan from
Bogota the noise of whose approach grew
rapidly more distinct was bound to descend
upon them.
Their only chance to escape was either
through a morass, covered with a dense
forest growth, or else up hazardous noun
tain side. strewn with bouders and loose
stones. OF course, they might retrace their
steps until they found a more open space
but this seemed too much like retreating
from an enemy and did not recommend itself
to either of the horsemen.
CONTINUED TOMORROW