The Argosy, August 1905 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

ang ~ “ i. a at reserve needed to supply th gee of the battalions which were feck in pieces?” he muttered. “That is as you understand it. To ride to the capital from this inn requires eight hours; from here to the headquar- ters of the general is the same, or more; to ride, then, for sixteen hours, and with horses that are weary. “ Now, if they should break down on the way, what then? It is better, my good Senor Perote, that these cavalry- men wait until morning, when both men and horses can travel to better advan- tage.” “But they ride only to Chaleo— three hours—where a courier from the capital awaits them,’ expostulated Perote. “And you believe that? Last night I passed through Chaleo. It was before midnight, yet no one was in the street, no lights shone from the windows. It was dark and silent there because—be- cause Chalco is deserted. The men have gone northward to the frontier; the women close their doors and crouch hidden in the shadows, after dusk, because—they fear to hear the tramping feet of the American invaders.” “In Chaleo? Mother. of God!” Perote made the sign of the cross. Senor Urrea continued calmly: “It is more than possible, and it is evident you do not understand this people from the north; but I, who have been many times among them, am not fooled so easily.” Perote’s mouth was hanging open; he moistened his dry lips, swallowing as he did so. His companion continued with awful calmness: “You may well fear, for, listen, my friend: I can tell you what others do not know. Men say the horde of the invaders is in the north and Santa Anna lies between it and the capital, but there are some who have penetrated into Mexico. It is not safe for one man or even a small number to ride forth at night.” Perote stared in blank terror at the speaker. If it should happen he awake some night to find the house surrounded by a band of hostile horsemen! He shud- dered, ‘a ~~; * . é - <> 5 * ¥ "The face of Sefior Urrea was im sive, but when he spoke he sonal dreadfully in earnest. “Listen,” said he. “I rode from Chaleo last night on business for the government; scarcely an hour on my journey and I perceived I was being followed. At the end of every rod I halted and looked back, for something seemed to be rustling the bushes. Each rock, a bunch of grass, a tree seemed to be the hiding-place of an unseen animal, of wolves, or the crouching figure of a man. Finally I slipped into a narrow path and waited. The night was dark and I saw no one, but voices came to me out of the blackness—voices whispering in the tongue of the invader.” Perote began to cross himself rapidly, completely terror-stricken at the other’s sinister recital, “You are a friend to the republic? ” asked his companion suddenly—so sud- denly that Perote started violently and clutched at the haft of the knife hidden in the breast of his jacket. “Who does not know that?” he answered, and thought of the soldiers he had quartered without exacting pay- ment. : “Then,” said Sefior Urrea quietly, “it is plainly your duty to detain these cavalrymen until morning. If they are set upon and cut down, how about the third reserve which is to take the place of the battalions cut to pieces ? ” He stepped close to the trembling innkeeper and laid his hand upon his shoulder. “And,” said he impressively, “ what might not happen if the third reserve failed to jom Santa Anna? I will tell you. The Americans might cut through our lines and push on toward the capital by this road. And—your house is a good landmark, my friend.” Already Perote saw his inn in flames, his few remaining cattle driven off, himself a prisoner doomed to execution or a fugitive wandering among the mountains. “Ts it, then, as bad as that? Surely the good saints will protect us,’ he murmured in a weak voice. “When it comes to*cold steel and bullets the saints have business else- where,” Sefior Urrea ae ool