Year: 1867




perhaps I had better accompany
you, said the oVerseer, whose namt
was Basson, Frenchman by birth.


tYou might return with me in the
morning. p replied Juan, who seemed
pleased with the proposition.


In less than q quarter Of an hour we
were on the road. It was a lovely night
the moon shOne with unsurpassed ef-
fulgsnce, rendering the way as plain tC
be followed as at midday. There was
not a cloud in the sky, which was thick
" studded with stars, and the leaves on
the trees shOne as with silver.


We had ridden q little over Eve miles
when we heard, through the stiffness,
the pantimg Of some animal coming to-
ward as on the road.


tfWhat can it be % asked Besson.


tsIt sounds like dog" replied Juan,


Just al that moment, as we reached
the base Of the mountain, and the road
stretched out straight and level before
us we saw a black shadow moving rap
Idly along it. The distance lessened
with each stride of the animal, and
very soon 1t was plain to see that it was
a dog.


at must be Carlo, % remarked Juan
4his mistress has probably sent him to
hurry US on to supper"


In less time than it takes to tell it,
the dog was close at Our heels, painting,



returning and barking still more be
would rush forward again as before,
seeming almost frantic IN his desire to
convey TO Us something which the Door
brute had no other means Of commu-
nicating than by those dumb signs.


"We had better ride forward - said
Juan, somewhat agitated. 'fYe have a
smooth read before US now. There may
be sonnet hing wrong


We put spurs to our horses, and start
ed at a sharp gallop, closely followed
BY Carlo, breathing harder now than
ever with the long run he had. Fifteen
minutes gave US a distant glimpse Oi
Juan's house, A shriIl scream, that oi
a woman, greeted our ears as we caught
sight Of the roof shining in the still
moonlight.


"Ah p exclaimed my friend, sit is
Inez's voice for the love Of heaven
press forward 90


Into our horses fianlzs went our
spurs away they they bounded at a
pace which distanced poor Carlo, who
in vain stroYe to keep up with US. Juan
had the f1eetest horse-he was some
lengths ahead F; Besson and I kept neck
and neck. So swift was our gait we
seemed to fly over the ground. AS we
ueareu the house we discerued two 9TH
er horses standing waiting in the road.
At the instant saw these, two naen. an





tween them a woman, struggling in
vain to free herself oftheir grasp, while
another female clung beseechingly to
one of them, holding on as If for dear
life. The first of these was Inez the
last the old negro servant, who had
during our absence.


LET go, you black devil % sxclaim-
ed the man, with terrible oath, deal
ing her at the same time a blow that
felled her to the ground.


Then lifting her mistress into the sad
die, where his companion was by this
time already seated, he vaulted into
his own, and the two sped on their way
like the wind.


The two villains had the start of us,
but our stesds were as feet, if not feet
or, than theirs. Soon this last proved
to be the case. for we gained on them
rapidly. As Juan approached he drew
a pistol from his holster and aimed it
at the foremost who had fast hold of
Inez in his saddle; her long, streaming
black hair hOated to one side, while
her white arms were extended fmpIor-
iDgly towards US.


'Etand you bIack-hearted scOun-
drel !" shouted Juan.


''Hold - cried Besson "save your
6re-yOu may wound her"


He had drawn his revolver as well !;
Il
learned. Crack went his pistol the
man reeled ia his saddle, threw his
arms wildly into the air, and dropped
dead In the road. Juan sprang from
his horse, and caught the form Of the
now insensibie Inez in his arms The
other rider kept on his way we heard
the clattBr Of his horse s hOOfs lessening
in the distance as he made good his es-
cape. turned the form Of his now
prostrate companion over on his back.
The face was hidden by q mask. ] un-
covered it the moon shOne full upon
it; it was Antonio Migue's.


I collected water in nay hat with it
I sprinkled the pale Inez- After time
saddle and bore her home, where we
found the co1ored servant, recovering
from the stunning effect Of the blow
she had received, sitting in the place
whore she had fallen, Wailing and la
menting the supposed fate Of her mis-
tress. Her JOY was great on behOlding
her in our safe keeping. Carlo stood
waiting for us at the gate on seeing as
aDproaCh he came forward, still pant
ing, to meet as. Brave, faithful Carlo
When the house was bssieged by the
two Villains his mistress had let him
out at a side door and aPpreciatine
us of it. Brave Carlo by that act he
won the lifelong gratitude of his mas
ter and mistress.


The body Of Antonio Miguel was de-
hvered over to the authorities of the
nearest town. Aftsr q short inquiry,
they were convinced of the justifiable
nature of the homicide, and so ended
the whole matter.