The Argosy, August 1905 — page 33: what you’re looking at

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

fires twinkled in the distance. The horseman firmed a io Pee companion. “ Yonder are the Mexicans—in front —and the Lord knows how many are in our rear,” said he y. Then, pointing to the south: “TE it were lighter you could see the range behind which lies Casa Mata and the line of forts stretching to Chapulte- pee itself. On our right, just down in the valley there, lies Chaleo, the old Chalco, and you see the Mexicans are there straight enough. We are in the middle of a first-class hornet’s nest.” — The speaker peered through the gloom out of a pair.of steel-blue eyes. Save for their color, denoting Saxon origin, he might well have been taken for a descendant of the old race of the Montezumas, in whose veins flowed a tinge of Spanish blood. His companion,a small,dark-featured man, with eyes of piercing blackness, shifted his posture in the saddle. “ T reckon it would be a hornet’s nest, if they knew we were up here,” said he dryly; “ but now that we are here, what are we going to do next? If Chalco is filled with Mexican regulars and cut- throat guerrilleros, I can’t see = “We're going down into Chalco— first; that’s what we came for. The man we want won’t come up here, that’s certain,” answered Haddon calmly. Sergeant Bradley, of the ‘Third Texas, wiped the dust from the pommel of his saddle. “All right,” said he grimly. “ Its Chalco, or El Molino and Chapultepec itself, if you say so. The general warned me what to expect if I came with you into this God-forsaken country; but I confess [ didn’t figure on riding pell mell into a town filled with Mexicans.” Lieutenant Haddon smiled faintly. He knew that if he gave the word the little man at his side would spur his horse madly through the main street of Chalco itself, trusting to luck and pure dare-deviltry to come out safely on the- farther side. He gathered up the reins. “We're from up there, near the American lines, scouting, you know,’ said he. “T guess I’ve learned my lesson,” an- swered his aera lightly. “ ‘After a good ten days in this infernal country, cut loose from one’s base of supplies and with a noose hanging ready from every tree, I’m not apt to be rash; not by a long sight, heutenant.” “There!” said Haddon sharply. “Can’t you remember, man, it isn’t ‘lieutenant’ this side of the outposts? Such a break might cause us the devil of a row. “These Mexicans are quick when it comes to suspecting every newcomer. They march slow, God knows, and take their time when it comes to fighting, else we wouldn’t have so easy a time of it; but let them suspect that something is wrong, and theyre on edge in a minute. Don’t make that break when we get down there; we haven*t come here to fight.” He touched his horse lightly with the spur and began the descent of the hill. For a quarter of an hour the two men rode in silence, for each minute was weighted with grave consequence. Sud- denly-Sergeant Bradley uttered a sharp exclamation. ; ** Look there, lieu—sefior, over to the left and coming this way!” Haddon pulled up his horse with a jerk. “A detachment: ten to our one— probably a scouting party,” he maut- tered. “Looks like it, and coming straight for this road,” replied Bradley. Then, gianecing toward the bushes on the right: “Shall we cut for it; there’s time— or——?” “No,” said Haddon decidedly; * we'll meet them half-way.” He touched his horse sharply and rode straight toward the advancing horsemen, who, being on lower ground, had not as yet discovered the presence of the two riders in the narrow road. Each party advancing at a gentle gal- lop narrowed the distance between them rapidly. Suddenly the leaders of the Mexicans pulled up sharply. addon threw a comprehensive glance at his companion. “ Put thal up!” he whispered sharply. “Those devils can see like bats after dusk, and there would pa a dozen Soe Pamitbooks com