The Argosy, August 1905 — page 67: what you’re looking at

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

: in truth a traitor Fe ainsi, northward to give them over to the Americans. How this would be accomplished re- mained a mystery, but in any case, whether or no his surmise should prove . to be correct, the result must be the »same. What chance would forty-odd * Mexicans stand against a regiment of General Taylor’s picked eavalry ? Mazatlan tossed aside the cigarette and gave a few sharp orders. The first was that the sentinels should be called in from their stations upon the hills; the second, that his men should prepare for combat—a combat in which no quar- ter should be given. A sub-officer, a mere boy from the district of Cerro Gordo, approached his commander. “Phe Senor Valeno is still absent, senior,” said he; “it is reported by one of the sentinels that strange cries were heard upon the hills. Can it be possi- ble——? * Mazatlan was rolling another cigar- ette. He paused and looked into the face of the young guerrillero. “Tt was the wolves the fool heard, Molino. Doubtless Senor Valeno is watching these Americanos. He will turn up at the right time,” said he, not unkindly. The lad was the brother of the man who lay dead upon the hill back of the inn. Mazatlan lighted the cigarette and blew a puff of smoke toward the waning moon. A swarthy sergeant stepped before him and saluted. “Two of the men are still absent, senor,” he reported. “Remind me of that aflerward— when we have wiped out these Amert- canos. I know how to deal with those who are absent at such a time,” said he gruffly. oe An hour passed. Mazatlan called the young querrillero to him. “Order the men into their saddles, Molino. ‘The fools are sleeping soundly by this time. And remember—there is to be no quarter. Tf one of these Americanos is alive at Hak oe HF ehell | ete e measau,” Aes pe ; sii ry in ae a rite he had led the guerrilleros “aicigurea ac was ae easing to look upon. ‘It boded ill po ee enemies of Mexico. Molino had seen it frequently before, and each time luckless Americanos had been slaughtered without mercy. The Mexican horsemen moved in a straggling line across the fields toward the inn, stretching out until they formed a circle broken only at one point. Mazatlan had drawn his saber, and the twoscore men on either side of him unslung their carbines. The trained eavalry horses broke into a brisk trot as the circle of evil faces and shining steel closed in upon a common center. The solitary sentinel standing before the door of the inn looked across the fields and saw the rapidly approaching line of horsemen. He had received his proaching riders were not yet within carbine shot. The sound of galloping horses became distinctly audible. Suddenly the sen- tinel raised his carbine and fired, turned quickly, and sprang through the open door of the inn. Tt was what Mazailan expected. The shot would awaken the sleeping Ameri- eans, but before they could seize their arms and defend the house his guerril- leros would be upon them. A fierce Spanish yell echoed across the fields. A tumult of horses and swarthy-faced riders swept like a whirl- wind upon the inn from three sides, a dozen carbines flashed, the bullets shat- tering the boards over the windows. The foremost of the gquerrilleros hurled his horse against the door, beat- ing upon it with his saber. Had the men within been suddenly awakened from sleep, nothing could have withstood so sudden and un- expected an attack. of Mexicans had thrown themselves from their saddles and were rushing for- ward, forcing an entrance through the doorway. It seemed as though those within the house must be stricken motionless with terror and surprise. No one onpones he a ate? of a ye que oat As it was, a score - oo comicbooks.com