The Argosy, August 1905 — page 66: what you’re looking at

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

i ie a ——eS ooo COU 7 strange ereature, determining to shoot _ him at the first sign of treachery. But the Mexican did exactly as he promised. “ Going on in front, he led Anderson to the mouth of a trap door which gaye into a passage running beneath the ground. Reaching the end of this pas- sage, our comrade found himself in a dense covering of bushes. His myste- rious guide turned and pointed to the left. “Go, senor. That way will bring you to the highroad, beyond the circle of the guerrilleros, said he quietly, and disap- peared.” “Tt is God’s truth,” broke in the ar- tilleryman; “it happened just as Lieu- tenant Haddon has stated. I followed the direction and came out upon the highway. Not fifty feet away a body of horsemen were sitting silently in their saddles, and Lieutenant Haddon was talking to one of them.” “It was the cavalry we have been ex- pecting, which the Mexicans proposed to ambush,” added the Virginian. Then, with a grim smile: “ But something else will happen. Tt is not a single detach- ment of our scouts who are waiting back there, but—the advance guard of our army. General Taylor has scattered the Mexicans in the north and is advancing upon Chalco.” “And Mazatlan?” Sergeant Brad- ley put the question as one who did not clearly comprehend whether he was awake or dreaming. “We may learn more of Mazatlan later,” answered Haddon gravely. He was wondering what the next few hours would bring forth—what would happen when the moment arrived for which the twoscore guerrilleros from Chaleo were waiting. He left the Texan’s side and walked across the intervening space which sep- arated him from the still figure lying on the ground. Captain Valeno lay upon his back, his face turned toward the cloudless sky. Looking down, Haddon thought to meet . only the stony gaze of one who had diced a violent death, but what he saw caused lnm to turn quickly away. ~ The face of the dead Mexican was slashed so horribly as to be warecogniz- . sapeeesver by his closest friend, and— e THE ARGOSY. these terrible wounds had been inflicted before the fatal knife thrust pierced his heart. . CHAPTER XIV. HE REVENGE OF SHNOR PRROTE. Tur plan which Lieutenant Haddon and the commander of the regiment of American cavalry had formulated was extremely simple, but it gave promise of bringing about a desired result—that of drawing an attack from the Mexican guerrilleros. The force of northern horsemen out- numbered Mazatlan’s followers ten to one, and from these five hundred odd troopers a detail of twenty-five were selected. These, under the command of Had- don and one of their own sub-officers, separated themselves from the main body, which had halted two miles to the north of the inn. The horses were put into a gallop and advanced with considerable noise along the highway to the door of the hostelry. The Mexicans, watching from their hiding-places, saw these apparently un- suspecting invaders dismount and pre- pare to bivouac for the remainder of the night. Some entered the inn, from whose chimney smoke presently ap- peared; others led the horses behind the building and began to search about for fodder. Not many moments after the Ameri- cans had begun such preparations a mes- senger entered the main camp of the quervilleros, which was situated in a de- pression half a mile south of the inn. He reported what had taken place— that within an hour the enemy, whom Mazatlan had ridden northward from Chalco to crush at a single blow, would he sleeping the sleep of exhausted men. Phen wonld come the opportunity for which he waited. 7 Mazatlan, his back propped against a free, a cigarette between his lips, heard the report and smiled grimly. Could Lieutenant Haddon have seen that smile he might have doubted the sur- mise at which he had arrived—that the guerrilla leader would in*some manner sacrifice his command. ‘Tha Me i: had heeome firmly convinced that § 01