The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1920-11-20


head down there is boiling with rage,
and whoever the poor devil, or devils,
msV be, they'll have to fight"
"Yes, but who are they?" and Bren-
nan sat up THE whole gang must be
outside there; / counted fourteen.
Then, did you notice? Mendez had his
hands bound behind his back. He
couldn't even get up until those fell
lows united him. That's what puzzles
me-"
1T would take more than one to do
that job. Maybe We'll find cut now
he's pounding with revolver butt on
the front door,"
They listened breathlessly, hanging
recklessly over the rim of the chasm,
and staring at that strange scene be-
low, but the mans words only reached
them broken and detached. They got
enough, however, to realize that he de
handed the unbarring of the door, and
that he both threatened and promised
protection to whoever was within. II
was the language he employed that
aroused WestcOtt.
Did you hear that?" he asked short
ly. 1.-The man spoke English. Who
ever's in there doesn't understand
Spanish Were any Americans down
there when you left, Moore?"
Joe Skies, and fellow they call
Shorty but they're both outside; that
was Joe who bound up OF Mendez'
arm, an Shorty was helpin' bring up
the log"
The eyes of Brennan and Westcott
met Understandings.
"Yer don't suppose that girl"
"Aye, but | do" and Westcott's
voice proved his conviction. There's
nothing too nervy for her to tackle if it
needed to he done. But she never
could have corralled Mendez alone"
"Then there must be another along
with her-that fellow yer told me
about likely"
Fred Cavendish! By Jove, it would
be like him. Say, boys, Pm going down
and take a hand in this game"
The marshall gripped him.
mot yet, jim 1t amt dark enough.
Wait a bit more an'sI'm with yer, old
man. It'll be blacker than HI
down there in fifteen minutes, an then
We'll have some chance. They'd pot
us now sure afore we got as far as
that cedar. What is the gang up to
now, Matt?"
There a goin' ter bust in the door,"
and Moore craned his head farther out
over the edge in eagerness to see. Il
reckon they didn't git no answer that
pleased 'em. See OF Mendez hOppin'
about! Lord he's mad 'nough to eat
nails. Thar comes the log-say, they
hit that some thump; thar amt no
wood that's goin' ter stand agin them
blows long. Do yer hearY
They did; the dull reverberation as
the log butt crashed against the closed
door was plainly audible. Once, twice,
three times it struck, giving forth at
| last the sharper cracking of splintered
wood.
The door crashed in; there was a
fusillade of shots, the splits of fire
cleavlng the dusk, and throwing the
figures of the men into sudden bold
relief. The log wielders sprang aside,
and the others leaped forward, yelling
wildly and plunging in through the
broken doorway. An instant later three
muffled reports rang out from the in
terior-one deep and booming, the 9TH
ers sharper, more resonant-and the
invaders tumbled backward into the
open, seeking shelter. Westcott was
erect, Brennan on hands and knees.
Oh mel" calculated the latter,
his excitement conquering restraint.
"Whoever they are, Jim, they're givin'
oil Mendez his belly full. Did yer hear
them shots? There's sure two of 'em
in thar-one's got a shotgun an the
other revolver. I'll bet yer they
punctured some o. those lads. Lord
They come out like rats"
Westcott's teeth gripped.
I'm going down." he said grimly, 'if
l have to go alone"
Brennan scrambled to his feet.
"Just second, Jim, an I'm with
yer. Moore, get up we're. Now, what
do yer say? Can we count you in on
this shindig?"
"Sure; didn't just tell you 500"
Brennan wheeled about.
"Give him his gun, Jim, and the
belt" he commanded briefly. II don't
send no man into fracas like this IN
less he's heeled. Leave yer coats here,
an take 1t slow. Both Of yer ready7''
Not until his dying day will Westcott
ever forget the moment he hung dan
Cling over the edge Of that pit, follow
ing Moore who had disappeared, and
felt gingerly in the darkness for the
narrow rock ledge below.
At best they could only creep, feel
ing a way blindly from crag to crag,
clinging desperately to every projec-
ton. never venturing even the slight
est movement until either hand or foot
found solid support. Moore led, his
boyish recklessness and knowledge Of
the way giving him an advantage.
Westcott followed, keeping as close as
possible, endeavoring to shape his own
efforts in accordance with the dimly
outlined form below; while Brennan,
short-legged and stout, probably had
the hardest task of all in bringing up
the rear.