The Argosy, August 1905 — page 35: what you’re looking at

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

. -s + %, »s eal * & aw Po a vs, _— Fa vr > touched his own upon the flank and, with a jingling of spurs and sabers, the detachment of a score of men resumed their course northward. They were well out of earshot when Haddon turned and looked at his com- panion, “ A close shave,” said he tersely. Sergeant Bradley shifted his posi- tion. “So close I have been fingering the trigger for the past ten minutes. When we knocked that yellow-belly on the head last night and relieved him of his papers, I didn’t figure just how and when we were going to use them ; and— and—by God, sir, youve got nerve.” A faint smile touched the lieuten- ant’s lips; then they suddenly set in a hard line. “The possession of the paper was triply fortunate,” said he, gravely. “In getting us out of the devil of a scrape, and ” His | companion paused. : “Tn locating Mazatlan, and—in fur- nishing us with the information that a spy from our lines is confined in Chalco and is to die to-morrow morning,” fin- ished Haddon. A bitter look crossed his companion’s face. “T have been thinking of that. God erant there were more of us, or the Mexicans were fewer. If it were possi- ble * All things are possible,” interrupted Haddon soberly. ‘One cannot tell until he tries.” His companion looked at him sharply. “Surely you.do not mean —in the midst of twenty thousand Mexicans— you are not thinking of * he de- manded in amazement. “Of saving that man-~from death? Yes; it is of just that J am thinking. ‘You have been in tight places, Bradley. You were in the Alamo, and—you are here,” answered Haddon soberly. The veteran soldier shook his head. “ Yes,” said he fiercely. ‘ I was with these who defended the Alamo against Santa Anna and his cat-throats. Iwas there when Crockett and every mother’s son fell fighting—when the Mexicans . wiped us out with a rain of bullets. “But this is different. Desperately “ * ihe ., ge ® 7 d , 4 F.235 i Sat . ~~ = -— ~ 4. > * * oe wa wounded, I tumbled to the bottom of a dry well, and if they saw me there they thought me dead and left me to rot in an open graye. That was one thing; but to take a man from the hands of twenty thousand Mewican soldiers? ” Lieutenant Haddon looked sharply into the swarthy face near his own. “1 have never known you to hesitate —you who hate the Mexicans——” he began. Sergeant Bradley flushed hotly. ‘Nor do I now, sir. If there was the shadow of a chance I would ride straight into that town, through those howling devils, and get that man or die with him. But it’s the chance I can’t see. Show me the chance and I'll ride into hell behind you and take him out.” Haddon laid his hand upon the speaker’s shoulder. ~ “So LT thought,” said he calmly; “ and I’m going to find that chance. It is our duty to obey General Taylor’s orders and obtain the information he desires, but our first duty is to attempt the Tescue of our countryman who is to be shot at sunrise. If we fail, so much the worse, but—we’re going to ‘try, Brad- ley.” A flash of admiration crossed the Texan’s face. “Very good, sir,” said he curtly, and, following Haddon’s example, drew taut the reins. The way into Chaleo lay over one of the many broad roads which traversed Mexico in that section of the country. Except for meeting bands of wandering horsemen such as they had just parted from, there was little or no danger of the two Americans being held up and examined. " . | RIDER So far had they penetrated into Mex- ican territory and into the midst of the army of Santa Anna. The lines of this army stretched for miles east and west; a goodly number lay farther to the north, and had been safely passed. The larger body was en- eamped farther south, covering the strong forts at El Molino, Chapultepec and the massive stone entrenchments of Casa Mata. General Santa Anna had arranged his forces in three parallels. It was the _ ome second which kd hn" m, is ’ * ~~ 7 alia “¢ . - oa : Par Ce ea . os : “AS i at ? ws.) » fan’ -_ S, eth She x. i eal . . al ‘ 4 ° e — ow «lr. a) i Wi comicbooks.com