The Argosy, August 1905 — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

DE os eo ee tter a little « nanded eines eo yale Perote made himself known, and bade them unbolt the door. After some con- siderable delay this was done. “T have been all about the place, and there is nothing to be seen, except a dead horse lying between here and the ruins of the stable,” said Perote calmly. “Then the Americans have lost one of their horses, while we remain intact,” answered the captain exultingly. “ Except that your horses were in the barn,” suggested Perote. “Oh, the devil!” muttered the cap- tain. “I had not thought of that.” “And the prisoner is gone,” added Perote. T he captain began to swear. “To say nothing of my stable and a great mass of valuable fodder,” Perote concluded sorrowfully. The captain struck his hands to- eether. “Listen, my friend,” said he soberly. “We have all lost something to-night, but the case with us is most serious. It is well if this affair does not reach the ears of Santa Anna, for he is a terrible man when his anger is aroused. * You haye lost part of your property, and keeping an inn is unsafe at such a time any way. You will go with us to the quarters of Santa Anna. I shall tell the general that you are the bravest man in Mexico, and the wounds on your face will back up the statement. In re- turn you will also do us a favor.” “And what is that?” asked Perote. “Hold your tongue about what has occurred here to-night, or, more prop- erly, agree to what I shall say.” “That is easy enough, provided I am not compromised,” Perote answered. “How can you be? And I shall stick partly to the truth. It will be carried to Santa Anna’s ears that, stopping for ithe night at this place, we were set upon by a force of the Americans, and de- fended the house valiantly. “Tt happened, however, that certain shots from without entered the building, and one, striking the prisoner in the head, killed him. We can thus aceount for not taking him to the capital, for a dead man would be of no use to those ge ak questions.” But nene of your men are wounded; if there was such a combat, how can that be accounted for?” asked Perote. “The walls protected us, and it has been known where those engaged in battle escaped with their lives. Do you agree to assist us in this matter? In return I will obtain for you an audience with Santa Anna, which is not so easy a matter, you may be assured.” Senor Perote thought for several moments, then agreed to what the cap- tain had requested. After that the ten Mexicans breathed easier, especially as they began to suspect that no great force of the enemy had approached the tavern. [t was probable that only a handful had been in the neighborhood; these had assisted the prisoner to escape, fired the stable, and made off, fearing capture by the inmates of the house. During the remainder of the night no one slept, except Perote, and the officer awakened him at the first signs of day- light. The Mexicans had discovered that the dead horse in the yard was one of their own. The other animals had also been found at no great distance from the inn; only the captain’s horse was missing, haying either wandered away or been carried off. There appeared more reason than ever to carry a falsehood to head- quarters, for, if Santa Anna knew the true state of affairs his anger would be terrible to witness. Perote prepared the morning meal and set about closing the inn. This he accomplished by nailing boards across the doors and windows. During the first hour of the journey northward, which was necessarily slew, for two of the horses were burdened with a pair of riders, the cavalcade rode in silence. Later in the morning, how- ever, stopping to water the animals, Perote approached the captain. “I would ask you, sefor, if you hap- pen to have heard of one called Valeno among the soldiers of the republic?” he asked. “There is a Valeno at headquarters; he happens to be related to Santa Anna himself, but I do not know him Lathe ally,” the rien euawemed. — ws! SF et —— lle