The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-10-11
@ Frank n. sposrmon


tlASL pSBS yOu WILL SCkiu uSlP touoy.
He fears they will be back tonight
to carry off more of the women"
Don Ramon raised his hand. "Tell
Padre Martinez we will send help"
The horseman, touching his fore
head, whirled away. A clatter Of
hoofs and trail of dust marked
his way across the valley to the
southern ranches. The group on the
porch watched him.
Don Ramon looked to Bowie. 1--WE
must act" he said. "The mission
must be protected.
"What about their soldiers?" de-
manded Bowie Of Pedro. Hasn't
this worthless government enough
regard for the property to supply
guards for it?" He did not wait for
an answer. Pedro" he said sharp
ly, fetch Pardaloe and Simmie
Who is this?" he asked. A second
unobtrusive vaquero had stood at
Pedro's elbow, listening to. every
word.
"This is Sanchez, my right-hand
trailer" answered Pedro. "He is
frantic. Among the girls Yosco has
stolen is his sweetheart, Amelia"
''He knows the mountains?" asked
Bowie. g
''Born and lived there. He is
down here only two years."
And Yosco has stolen his girl?"
unused Pedro. ,a
"They were to be married soon."
"You should have some idea of
where this Yosco hides" said Bow
lie, eying Sanchez closely. "He is no
doubt the same wretch that killed
Don Francisco. We must get him.
Where does Yosco hide?"
"Senor," muttered the stolid Mar
iposa, che has three places"
(Which is the closest?"
''If he is in the closest he cannot
be taken. You must wait till he
goes farther UP in the mountains.
Bowie was impatient. "Tell me,
talk faster: where is this closest
placer" he asked CURLY.
SIN a canyon of the Santa Maria
River, high up in cave"
Pedro interrupted. 81 know that
big cave. senior. 1t opens on cam
yon wall five hundred feet high. The
cave is halfway up, reached by a
ledge not three feet wide. You see,
there is no chance to attack while
Yosco hides there. You must wait"
"This cave-it opens out on cam
yon wall. Is the opening narrow or
wide?"
"Wide, senor."
"We will try for the cave, Pedro"
"But, senor!''
Bowie shook his head. 'We will
start tonight. What say, Sanchez"
The Mariposa did not speak. He
looked at the ground, thinking. Don
Ramon, Dona Maria, Carmen, wait
ed in suspense.
Sanchez" asked Bowie casually,
"are you afraid?"
The taunt stung the Indian into
words, "For himself, Sanchez fears
nothing. Yosco has stolen his AM
elita. Sometime" Sanchez spoke
slowly on, sometime Sanchez will
kill him."
"You speak like a man, Sanchez.
But help us now to get back the
horses and the mission women. Can
you take us to the cave?"
Again the Mariposa paused. II
can take you to the cave, senior.
But the only chance would be to sur
prise them. If they discover you
first every man you take along will
be killed. Do you want to take that
chance?"
"Why not? And we must start
tonight" Sanchez nodded assent.
'We must get to the cave before
daybreak. The Indian nodded
again. eve shall need you for a
guide"
A small cloud of dust could be
seen on the northern horizon. "Those
are rancheros," said Bowie. "They
will be here soon."
The rancheros rode up in twos
and threes. Felipe and Jose Marti-
nez from Pinole; Antonio Bernal
from Santa Teresa, Francisco Soto
from Ell Moline; Pedro Arguello
from San Miguel; Sebastian Pache-
CO and Ignacio Alviso from vicenti.
The sun was hot. Francisco Soto,
who was pugnacious but fat, sug-
gested moving to the shade Of the
portico. Bowie vetoed the sugges-
ton. ''Let us keep away from the
servants ears" he suggested.
"These Indians are not all to be
trusted. If we don't surprise Yosco,
he will surprise us: that Indian must
be smart hombre."
The conference moved, as COM
promise, to the shade of a spread
ing oak. Two hours went to inn
pressing on the group the details of
the plan Of attack. ''And I don't
want anyone to ride into this without
warning him of the danger" said
Bowie as the meeting broke up. ut
is dash into enemy country. If
our attack fails some of us will not
come back, and if anyone wishes to
drop out now there will be no hard
feelings. We meet at eight o'clock
at the mission"
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