The Argosy, August 1905 — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

Then, in a terrible voice: ~“ Alone I will defend my property ; one had rather die than to stare ruin in the face,”. The officer, assisted by one of the soldiers, threw himself upon the appar- ently frenzied man. Perote struggled, bit, tore with his nails, and bellowed like a bull. At the end of several minutes the others succeeded in subduing him, but only at the cost of much skin and clothing. Perote, panting, glared sav- agely from one to the other. “ Cowards! ” cried he. “ The invaders quietly surround the house, set fire to the stable, and you remain safely be- hind bolted doors. You will not even allow me to sally forth and drive them away.” The officer began to calm him, at the same-time wiping the blood from his own face, where the other’s nails had left their marks. “ You are erazy, my friend. What can one man do against a company of the Americans?” he panted. “ But there are eleven of us,’ tered Perote savagely. “ Behind these walls we may be able to do something, but out there ™ The Mexican shrugged his shoulders. Perote fell upon a chair, then sprang up suddenly. “They will rescue the prisoner up- stairs; at least allow me to put my knife between his ribs,” cried he fiercely. At that very instant the ladder ereaked loudly, and the cavalryman who had been asleep before the door of the prisoner’s room appeared. before them. “The American is gone!” cried he. The captain seized him by the arm. “Tt is not possible. Ten horses could not break those bonds,” he began, but Perote interrupted. “Do you not understand?” eried he. “The Americans have followed you for the purpose of rescuing the prisoner; ? mut- THE ARGOSY. stopped at the inn, else had I now been icthine peacefully in my bed instead of waiting to be shot or hanged to one of yonder trees.” oo For several moments silence reigned in the room. Then, as no bullets came through the windows, the Mexicans be- gan to pluck up courage. “They are afraid,’ muttered one, “ ond dare not attack the house, for they know who is inside.” The captain rattled the scabbard of his saber. “Tt will not be well for them to do so, for they would be cut in ten thou- sand pieces,” said he fiercely. “ Let but one of the dogs show his face and 4 There came a tramping of hoofs with- out, and several dark forms passed be- tween the window and the roaring flames bursting from the stable. A cavalryman raised his carbine and fired through the window. The tramp- ing grew louder, then ceased suddenly. For a time those within the house waited in breathless silence; finally Perote muttered: “Is it possible that one shot has driven them away?” “'That shows what you know of fight- ing; they have only withdrawn out of gunshot,” replied the officer knowingly. “Just the same,” returned Perote, “I will venture out and see if they are there. There is a rear door; I will open it softly and creep around the house. You can close it after me.” The captain thought deeply for several moments; finally he said: “You are indeed a brave man and should leave this tavern business, in order that you may join the army and use your valor to advantage. I will per- mut you to go if you will be careful. It is my purpose to join the army, provided I can obtain something in re- turn; my father was a great fighter,” answered Perote modestly, He passed through the building, fol- some have crawled quietly through the lowed b 1 : : . $0 | 1 by the captain, and ted «! opundow and untied him while you slept. rear door. He a easels pe ‘ the ‘ig Oh, s cud: Bante Anna hear of this!” the bolt was shot again in placé 4 ___-—s Phe Mexican officer turned pale. Perote walked a dozen ret : ™ > at is not likely,” continued awful calmness, “for no > this place alive to tell of os “ Upon the ground with his bas tree, and waited for half an he arose, crept around _ scratched on the fron aa — * - ‘ comicbooks.com