The Argosy, August 1905 — page 12: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

; Nothing has passed our lips since morn- - a> > “You ride from the north, senors; Ce ean it be possible the invaders are _ already vanquished? ” suggested Perote. we of “Curses, no!” growled the elder of e the horsemen. “On fhe contrary, b three of our battalions have been cut in 7 pieces; we are hastening to summon out ¢ the third reserve.” _ Perote crossed himself. It seemed incredible, what he heard. : The cavalrymen had dismounted and + were stamping about, with an accompa- niment of jingling spur and saber, to ease their cramped limbs. “ Then you are going to the capital? ” asked Perote. “No; to Chalco. There we will meet a courier who will carry the order the remaining distance. Oh, Santa Anna has thought of everything. He whom we are to meet will have a fresh horse, while ours are scarcely able to stand on four legs. We deliver the order, obtain a night’s rest and return to the army. In the mean time the other is riding hke the devil to the capital, and to-morrow 3. the reserve will be on their way.” “Tt is wonderful!” cried Perote. “In Santa Anna the republic has found another Napoleon. He is but biding his time to cut the Americans to pieces.” f One of the riders shrugged his shoul- a ders. He had seen a regiment of the despised Americans put to rout five times its number of Mexicans, and behind this meager advance guard of eight hundred men was General Taylor and a horde of the invaders. “It is three hours’ ride to Chalco, and we cannot tarry here all night,” . broke in the second cavalryman, pausing in the act of rolling a cigarette. Perote took the hint. _ “Twill hasten, senors, to put before you such as I have, but—there is no one here to look to the horses. My boys have ron away to join the army.” ‘The cavalryman with the cigarette lighted it, ealmly blew a puff of smoke toward the setting sun and began to buckle his saddle girth. +0 inside, my friend; we horses,” said he light! > a THE ARGOSY. Sefor Perote entered the gray stone building, passed through one room and opened the door of another. A man who had apparently been sleeping upon a long bench started up, blinking through the semi-gloom. Perote’ closed the door softly. “There are without two cavalrymen, couriers from the north,” said he shortly. The man sat upright and pushed back the matted hair from his forehead. “They are going to ihe capital?” he asked. “To Chaleo; but there is to be a courier from the capital awaiting them. He will carry forward an order to sum- mon the third reserve.” “And why the third reserve? Has there been a battle? ” Senor Perote spread out his hands. “So it would seem, and three bat- talions cut in pieces! Mother of God! ” The man rose from the bench, crossed the room, and looked out between the slats which covered the lower part of the window. He was swarthy, small, agile, and moved with the softness of a cat; his eyes were set close together, and his hair was straight like that of an Indian. Looking between the slats, he studied the two soldiers outside until Perote became impatient. “As you. see, some one has come, Senor—Sefor—Urrea. Have I not fol- lowed instructions and done your bid- ding ? from the north, and—I have awakened you.” _ “So you have said: two couriers rid- ing to summon the third reserve,” answered Senor Urrea without turning his head. Then he added: “ And they will depart. when they are satisfied.” Perote grumbled and shifted- from _ one leg to the other. His companion turned from the window, ‘ “Perhaps it were well that these fine cavalrymen, sent to call out the third reserve from the capital, are not easily satisfied. Perhaps it were better the remain here until morning,” he sail calmly. latch of the door. “ But do they not carry an order from Me Sekin Aone hae ee . ? > =. e ee, himself? a) a | a comicbooks.com Two cavalrymen have ridden in ° 0 : ~ er Perote stopped, one han d upon: the Ant ; b 4 a