The midland journal., 1940-12-13
CHAPTER xvIr--Continued

lowed. They broke the ponies into
q swift -lope; their pursuers rode
faster. Fortunately, the distance
was but short, and, as dusk fell,
Felipe and Carmen dashed safely
through the opened doors into the
mission compound and Felipe, leap
ing from his horse, closed the clum-
sy gates behind them.
The clattering horsemen pulled up
in front of the church and with
many shouts and oaths scattered
over the plaza, demanding admis-
sion.
Felipe, though mild, was game in
q pinch. He caught up blunder-
buss from the guards quarters and
coaxed two neophytes to arm and
appear with him in the church tow
er. The raiders yelled at them
and one Of them, a renegade mis-
sion Indian, shouted insolently to
Felipe to open the gates or they
would break them open. Felipe,
equally defiant, declared he would
shoot the first man that attempted
it.
There were hesitation and wran-
Cling threats among the horsemen.
They milled around the plaza, while
within the church Padre Martinez
and all in the mission enclosure
were on their knees before the
Blessed Sacrament, beseeching
heaven for aid in the extremity. An
hour or more passed, with the raid
ers churning about the plaza but
shy about testing Felipe's marks
manship from the tower.
At length the renegade rode up
to the tower for a talk with Felipe.
He explained that the party were
squatters from the Melena and had
no grudge against the mission if
they were treated right. The only
man they wanted to square accounts
with was Bowie, and if he were sent
out they would leave.
Felipe, less shrewd than the rene
gade, told him at once that Bowie
was not there. This was really what
they wanted to know, inasmuch as
he was the only man they were
afraid of. The renegade rode away,
and presently the attack on the
gates was renewed. Fortunately, a
few of the young Tularean Indian
mission boys, iniamed with the
spirit Of their warlike ancestors, had
seized muskets from the guard
house, and they fired at the raiders
through the portfolios. They did
little damage, but they scared the
cowardly squatters enough to hold
them off. 3Se ssgAsss
The renegade, after a long time,
rode back to the tower for another
talk with Felipe. The party, he
said, were ready to leave, provided
the padre would set out cask Of
. wine as a gesture Of good will.
Felipe sent the message down.
stairs. Padre Martinez had retreat
ed to the sacristy. He called in
Padre Gomez, his assistant. The
assistant was for the proposal, the
padre, against it. Carmen was
called in. She listened to all that
was urged and without hesitation
sided with the assistant. 'Only,"
she added coolly, "set out cask
of brandy, not Of wine. Those
wretches will be less dangerous
drunk than sober. If it should oc-
cur to them to set fire to the quar-
ters, heaven knows what would hap
pen to u.s.
Her counsel was followed. The
gates were opened. A cask Of BRAN
dy was rolled out, and basket
with drinking gourds was sent
along. The renegade, with heavy
stone, broached the cask, and an
orgy Of drinking began. 1t absorbed
the interest of the revelers for q
time, to the exclusion of all else.
For an hour that was long and
anxious to the mission defenders
the drunken yelling and singing
went on. Then there came knock
at the sacristy door. Panic seized
the little group. A whispered con-
sultation followed. Knocking, grow
ing momentarily more impatient,
continued. Only wax candle light
ed the room and, with faces
blanched as they listened to the
pounding, Carmen was told in whis-
pers to slip out and hide in the
house. Padre Martinez had already
given absolution to his assistant and
received it from him, firmly believ-
ing their hour was at hand. The
venerable man now blessed himself,
asked for protection from above,
took up the candle in an unsteady
hand and, sunnmoning st. Michael
to his aid, threw open the door.
From the dark came tart ques-
ton: "What is the matter here?"
And Bowie, booted and spurred,
stalked into the room. why did
you not open the door,"
AN angel from heaven!" ex-
claimed Padre Martinez.
Padre Martinez = demanded
Bowie, .Senorita Carmen has not
come home. She was here. Where
Is she?"
s.Still here, senorl"
"Thank God for thatl"
She left this room when your
knocking began"