The Argosy, August 1905 — page 49: what you’re looking at

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

“THE ELEVENTH RIDER. 39 of his countrymen, elected to betray his country into the hands of a victorious enemy ? Was Mazatlan, as Perote, acting the spy in the American lines; or Perote, as Mazatlan, following the same role in the army of Santa Anna? This was the question which Haddon felt himself called upon to decide, for upon the true solution hung the course he must pur- sue, He felt a pressure upon his arm. It was the Texan recalling him from his reverie. “You have heard all that was said in there, sir. Chalco is to be searched from top to bottom. We must act with ex- treme caution.” The words aroused Haddon to a sense of the danger which threatened. To walk freely about the streets, trusting that the general confusion would pre- vent detection, was becoming altogether too risky. Santa Anna suspected there were Americans in Chaleo, and he would verify this suspicion if possible. * We have seen Mazatlan, and I fancy it will not be difficult to describe him,” continued Sergeant Bradley dryly. “ His entering our lines without detection is simply impossible.” Haddon was thinking how he had en- tered the lines and in what manner he had sueceeded in walking out again. Then a horrible fear seized him. Had this Mexican, the man who had freed him from the upper chamber in the inn, led General T'aylor’s messenger safely across the mountains by the shortest route to El Vidio pass? Had he done this, and saved the handful of Americans from making a hopeless re- sistance, or had he murdered the mes- senger en roule and let the defenders of the pass meet their fate? An impulse seized him to learn from this man himself whether he served Mexico or the enemies of the republic— an impulse which he put away from him as too reckless for serious contempla- tion. Jf Mazatlan was Perote, there would be no danger; but if Perote was Mazat- lan—to meet him face to face, to be recognized—would mean certain death. Sergeant Bradley, troubled by none of these perplexing questions, saw only immediate need of action in the face of grave danger. ‘To him Mazatlan was the merciless Mexican guerrillero or- dered by Santa Anna to search Chalco for suspected spies. No doubt as to his course of action perplexed him. He would avoid this guerrilla chief as he would the devil, but if necessity compelled a meeting he would not hesitate to kill the man with as little compunction as he would ex- hibit in grinding under his heel the head of a rattlesnake. “We have seen Mazatlan, and now, sir? ” he asked in a low voice. “First, to get away from the vicinity of this place, in which Mazatlan will not remain. Secondly, to follow him,” an- swered Haddon quietly. “ In order that it may become possible to meet him alone?” There was a sin- ister note in the Texan’s question. “We shall see,” Haddon replied. ** Come, there is no time to be lost, for he may leave headquarters at any mo- ment.” They were indeed not a moment too soon, for, reaching a point where a view of the front of the house could be ob- tained, the figure of the guerrilla leader was the first object which met their eyes. Mazatlan, standing in the flood of light which issued from the open door, was giving certain directions to a Mexi- can sub-officer who stood at attention on the veranda. Having apparently concluded these directions, the guerrilla descended the steps and without pausing for an instant walked rapidly across the plaza toward the crowd which lined the side of the square nearest the town. It was the signal for the Americans to follow. The crowd parted to permit the dreaded Mazatlan to pass, and it had scarcely clased again before Haddon and the Texan began to elbow their way through the fringe of spectators. The man whom Santa Anna had ordered to institute a search into every house and corner otf Chalco proceeded by the shortest route toward the center of the town. After a time his objective point be- ™ Love