The Argosy, August 1905 — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

+ * ba ~~ road. Th i the more necessary as no one knows the number of those for whom I am looking.” The speaker was Captain Amador. “here are then more than one?” his companion inquired. “God knows! But report has it that a dangerous band of the enemy has managed to get past our lines and is hovering between here and the capital; no one knows how this has happened, but it is so toa certainty. It is my busi- ness to overtake this pack of northern wolves and kill or make them prisoners. “It is also my purpose to go to the capital, where I hear a prisoner has been lately taken. I desire to question him, for through him I hope to catch the others.” “But it is commonly reported that these Americans are not given to over- much talking.” Captain Amador uttered a_ short laugh. “ Never fear; I can find a way to open the lips of this one. In such matters I have had some experience.” The fumes of cigarette smoke floated through the window. “It is only once I failed, and then it was because the fellow died too quickly,” eontinued the other coolly. Perote smiled horribly. ** We shall see,” he muttered. “Well, what do you decide?” de- manded Captain Amador. “J shall go with you, of course, though I am short of horses,” replied the other. “T can get you an extra horse or two. And by the way, having come from the south, did you see or hear anything of the party that was conducting the pris- oner to the capital?” : Nothing; I must have come by an- other way.” Perote breathed more easily. He had feared the officer would make known his presence with the detachment, but it was plainly his intention to avoid all mention of having stopped at an inn en route. “We will push forward rapidly and pass the night at Chalco. There is an inn between here and there, but [ wish to avoid such places after nightfall,” a ae Amador. A ‘fax ‘ J 4 = ~ ine His companion was thinking he would have done better had he avoided a cer- tain inn, and replied: ““Chaleo will suit me as well as any place. When will you start? * he asked. “As soon as possible; your men need not tarry here to dine, for there is nothing to eat in the house; I have as- sured myself of that.” Ten minutes later the two squads of Mexiean cavalry were in the saddle. The officer whom Perote had accompanied looked about him. * Where is our innkeeper? ” he asked. “T think he has gone, sefior captain, for I saw him making for yonder clump of trees,’ answered the cavalryman. The officer shrugged his shoulders. “Perhaps he has changed his mind about entering the army, and I have no business to delay the journey in hunting for him. After all, it were bet- ter he did not accompany us. Captain Amador has a way of asking questions,” said he. It was late in the afternoon, or more properly early in the evening, when the cavalcade rode into Chaleco. Sefior Urrea had told Perote that the place was deserted after nightfall; it was not quite that, but nearly so. But half a score of persons were met by the horsemen, and these skulked past as though their only thought was to seek a friendly shelter. But few of the houses were lighted; even the bark- ing of dogs, so common to a Mexican town, was lacking. The cavalrymen drew up finally be- fore a house somewhat larger than the rest. It was one of the three public inns which Chalco boasted. The landlord opened the door gin- gerly, made a wry face at sight of the score of troopers, and then advanced to take the bridles of the officers’ horses. Captain Amador gave a few sharp orders, and, accompanied by his com- panion in arms, entered the tavern. The troopers dismounted, led their horses to the sheds in the rear of the main dwell- ing, and entered the house by a side door. After a time one appeared with two plates containing food, which he handed to the men guarding “the horses, _ after which he returned SES ar = Pomintoole com