The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-07-18
CHAPTER WI.

Midway between the outbursting
stream of water and the rock-sIide
Henry and Ricardo stood in hur-
ried debate. Beside them, crouch
ed on the ground. moaned and pray
ed the last priest OF the Mayas.
From him. by numerous shakings
that served to clear his added old
head, Henry had managed to ex-
tract a rather vague account OF
what had occurred inside the noun
tain.
only his sou was bitten and fen
into that hols,g Henry reasoned
hopefully.
That's right Ricardo concur
red. He never saw any damage,
beyond wetting happen to the
rest OF them"
And they may be, right now,
chamber" Henry went on. Now,
il we could attack the slide, we
might open up the cave and drain
the water OF. II they're alive they
can last for many days, for lack OF
water is what kills quickly, and
they've certainly more water than
they know what to do with. They
can get along without food for a
long time. But what gets me h
how Torres got inside with them"
wonder IL he wasn't responsible
for that attack OF CaToos upon Us"
Ricardo suggested.
But Henry secuted the idea
Anyway" he said. that isn't the
present proposition-whieh PROPOSE
tion is: How to get inside that
mountain on the chance that they
are still alive. You and / couldn't
go through that slide in a month.
II we could get nifty men to help,
night and day shifts, we might open
her up in forty-eight hours. So
the primary thing is to get the men
Here's what we must do. I'll
take a mule and beat it back to
that CARGO community and promise
them the contents OF one OF
Francis check-books IL they will
come and help. Failing that.
can get up a crowd in San An
tonic.
80 here's where I pull out on
the run. In the meantime. you can
work out trails and bring up ali
the mules. poems. grub and camp
equipment Also keep your ears
to the clif-they might start sig
mailing through it with tappings."
AstOnished Natives.
Into the village Of the CarooS
Henry forced his mule-much to
the reluctance Of the mule. and
equally as much to the astonish.
ment OF the Caroos, who thus saw
their stronghold invaded single
handed by one OF the party they
had attempted to annihilate.
They squatted about their doors
and lOafed in the sunshine, under
a show OF lethargy hiding the as
constituent that tingled Through
them and almost put them on their
toes.
As has been ever the way. the
very daring OF the white man over
q savage and mongrel breed in
this instance stunned the Caroos
to inaction. Only a man. they could
not help but reason in their slow
way, a superior man, a noble or
overriding man, equipped with
potencies beyond their dreaming,
could dare to ride into their
strength Of numbers on a tagged
and mutinuous mule.
They spoke a mongrel Spanish
which he could understand. and.
in turn, they understood his span
ish: but what he told them con-
corning the disaster in the sacred
mountain had no effect OF rousing
them. With impassive faces,
Struggling shoulders OF utmost in
difference. they listened 20 hts
proposition OF a rescue and promise
OF high pay for their time.
If a mountain has swallowed up
the Gringos, then Is il the will OF
God, and who are we to interfere
between God and His will?" they re-
piled. We are poor men, but we
care not TO work for any man. nor
do we care TO make war upon God.
Also, II was the Gringos' fault.
This is not their country. They have
no right here playing pranks on
our mountains. Their troubles are
between them and God. We have
troubles enough OF our own, ard our
wives are unTuly."
CTC BE CONTINUED TOMORF VA