The Argosy, August 1905 — page 29: what you’re looking at

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

— ote ats “oH ELEVEN He was not therefore surprised when fe saw before him a face so Sent dis- figured by two livid sears that he in- voluntarily shuddered. The neweomer advanced boldly into the tent, hesitated for a moment, glanced from the elder officer at the table to the younger, and the light. of recognition flashed into his deep-set eyes. “It is the senor lieutenant. You have not forgotten?” said he rapidly in Spanish. “ee No, 2? i > answered Haddon. Tres “The sears,” > the Mexican filled out the sentence. “The senor remembers what he saw that night in the light of the burning taper? IL am Perote, who kept the inn on the Chalco road.” Lieutenant Haddon turned to Gen- eral Taylor. “This man is indeed known to me, for it was by his aid I escaped from the squad of Mexican cavalry by whom I was taken six weeks ago.” And he explained rapidly just what had occurred on the night when Senor Perote had assisted him down a ladder, and afterward set fire to his own prop- erty. When he had concluded, the general nodded gravely. “T see,” said he. “ And now the man has come to claim your promise. If he can explain satisfactorily his presence in our lines, and for what purpose he eame hither, he will no longer be held as a prisoner.” Haddon turned to the ex-innkeeper. “The general wishes to know what has brought you here, sefor; for what purpose you have entered our lines?” he asked. A cold smile crossed the firm lips of the Mexican. “Tt would take many words to ex- plain all, senor, and it touches not the matter, but my purpose in coming here is to befriend the American invader. Is not that sufficient for your general?” said he quietly. “And in what manner? You are a Mexican, and most Mexicans are loyal,” replied the Virginian. The smile which distorted Senor 5 il s face was ge a pao one. “4 — “Let the sefior rather say I was a Mexican, and none more loyal to the republic than I; but now—the sejiors ean see what Mexico has done for me. It cannot be hidden.” The lieutenant glanced at the two livid scars forming the bars of a cross upon the man’s visage. He turned once more to the American commander. “It is plain, sir, that his disficure- ment—not many weeks old, for the wounds were fresh when I saw them at the inn—has been given him by his own countrymen. It is hatred and desire for revenge which has brought him here.” “Two powerful motives, when pos- sessed by a determined man. Tell him to speak out,” Taylor replied. Senor Perote came closer to the table, and his eyes rested upon the map of Mexico. ' “Tt has pleased the sefor general to push into many parts of my country, even as a spider throws out his web from a common center. Two days ago a force of two hundred mounted men were de- spatched to the pass of El Vidio. Un- less rescued, their doom is certain. Three thousand of Santa Anna’s sol- diers are marching to surround them. It will be another Alamo.” Haddon translated rapidly; a look of alarm crossed the general’s face. “Major Smith and his party; they were to hold the pass until it was de- cided whether we should push forward that way or by a more direct route southward. “Tt is fifty miles from the pass to Santa Anna’s main line, and he is send- ing three thousand men a march of fifty miles across the mountains to capture two hundred? If such a force fall upon the detachment unawares it will indeed be the Alamo repeated.” He paused for a moment, then con- tinned sharply: “ Ask him, heutenant, why, if he de- sires to save the detachment from the Mexicans, he-did not ride straight to the pass and warn them instead of coming here.” Setior Perote passed one hand softly across his chin. route to El pe? Bi mist gs n comicbooks.com “To eross the mountains, the shortest es -