The Argosy, Vol. 83 No. 1 — page 104: what you’re looking at

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

94 enough at best, but we’ll make the most ‘of them, Now, if you can fird a horse don’t stand on ceremony; the peons will tell those devils Bilbao didn’t give us a mount to get away, so it will let him out. The stables are back of the main building on the side farthest from the front door; I’m going—” Jones stopped abruptly, for a figure ap- peared suddenly out of the darkness. The click of the hammer of the revolver in the lieutenant’s hand sounded sharply. “Don’t shoot!” said a voice in Spanish. “Tt is I—Jose.” It is well Jones understood, for in an- other second he would have pressed the trigger. “Tt is the Villistas?” he asked shortly, “They have come,” the half-breed re- plied excitedly. “The senor is explaining that you are not here, but they believe you are hidden in the house. Some will search and the others come here. It is the senor- ita’s orders I am obeying; there is a back door to the stable, there may yet be time and I will show you the fastest horses. Do not hesitate, senors; the senorita urges you to go. There are a dozen, perhaps more have come and others may not be far be- hind.” Jones translated this information to his companion. “We have no time to lose, and they can- not say that Bilbao harbored us or assisted in our escape,” he added. Then to Jose: “Take us to the stable.” They followed the half-breed, moving in a wide détour across the field toward the rear of the building. “Ask him if Villa is there,” Robinson whispered. “T do not think so, senor,” Jose replied, “for I did not see him on the veranda; but they are his men, and he may come later. You are armed, senors?” “We have our revolvers, but we must trust to other things to-night,” the lieu- tenant answered. They reached the stables unmolested, for the bandits were gathered before the main building and on the veranda; it was THE ARGOSY. evident also that the hostile peons on the place were too much interested in the ar- rival of the band to keep watch on the movements of the two Americans, who, be- ing without horses, could scarcely be ex- pected to escape. And. besides, the peons thought they had taken refuge in the house. Ignorant and superstitious, they looked upon the aeroplane as a strange devil which had descended from the clouds; to approach its resting place after dark might be to invite sure destruction. Jose, followed by his companions, en- tered the stable unopposed; knowing his ground perfectly the half-breed did not hesitate, but led the way past the line of stalls and noiselessly unbolted the back door. Beyond lay the open country, in- visible in the darkness; once mounted, a bolt through the door, and safety might be assured. With unerring instinct the Mexican turned to the stalls and backed out a horse, thrusting the halter rope into the hand of Jones. He entered a second stall and repeated the operation. “The saddles in a moment, sevors, and make no noise,”’ he whispered. The Americans stood tense in the dark- ness while he was gone. Several minutes passed and he returned, staggering under the weight of the two heavy saddles, and — began to adjust one on the back of the horse held by Robinson. He buckled the girth strap deftly and stooped to pick up the other saddle. “A moment, sefors, and all will be well,”’ he whispered. But all was not well. Even as he straightened himself there came through the night a harsh cry of anger, a Spanish oath and a resounding crash. With saddle poised above the horse’s back Jose stood motionless. A second cry came through the dark- ness; Jones and the half-breed caught the words: “Death to the traitor to Mexico— death to the gringoes!”” A chorus of angry voices followed, the sound of cursing, and a sharp report. econmicbooks (E@