The Argosy, Vol. XXIV, No. 1 — page 118: what you’re looking at

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

» 118 A CUBAN HOLD UP. were brought in, to which every one present helped himself, except the two highwaymen who had captured us. They had not, indeed, eaten or drunk at all; but, without even removing their masks, had sat opposite:their captives, keenly alert to their every movement. ‘They seemed very much relieved when breakfast was over, and hastily led the way outside. ‘You will remain here,’’ they said to us, as we were about to mount. ‘“We will take your horses along; but the hut, the negro, and all there is here, are very much at your service. You must give your parole, however, that you will not attempt to follow us, nor to escape, until the sun has sunk below the crest of yonder hill.”’ = ‘‘ But our revolvers?’’ I interposed. ‘‘ You may keep our purses, but we — should like our weapons back.’’ : ““On the contrary,’’ rejoined one of the pair, ‘‘ we shall return your purses, and retain the revolvers. We do not intend to place weapons if your hands to use against us. You are such brave men, you know, you might do something rash. Who knows, but yous might try to shooteus?’’ With this Parthian dart of affront, they tossed us our purses, and rode away with their friends, leaving us at the hut’s door, watching them gloomily as they sped - down the hill. We hadn’t minded much the loss of our purses, since each of us had a wad. of bills stowed away in an inside pocket, and a belt cramed full of American eagles; but it would certainly have done us’ a world of good to have had a flying shot at the rascals, as they went galloping down the slope. Before they left, the two principals had approached ‘and offered us their hands, one of them saying saucily, as we spurned them: ‘‘ Oh well, the time may come when you will be glad to take them, my friends, if you ean; till then, adzos.’’ Tom and I, once left alone, said but little to each other, for the episode was an arrow rankling in each breast. We could not but think that we had acted more like cowards, or fools, than like the men we had thought our- selves, and hardly dared look each otherin the eye. But after we had lighted our pipes and soothed ourselves with a smoke, the situation did not appear so * bad, on the whole. The hut was cool and comfortable, a delicious breeze was wafted up from the sugar cane, and a beautiful view was spread out : around and beneath us. Tom first broke the silence. ‘‘Do you know, old man,’’ said he, ‘‘ I’m rather inclined to this spot, after all. If we only had a couple of hammocks and some guns, we might spend a very pleasant week here, I’m thinking. Funny though, isn’t it? How the deuce did those fellows manage to rig up this outfit at such short notice ? And how, in the fiend’s name, came they to bring us up here and leave us in possession? It gets me! Say, ask that old nigger whose estate this is, and whom he belongs to; and particularly. who our friends are.’’ In reply to my question the old man answered that the plantation belonged to Don Antonio Guzman, who owned as far as we could see, and mttch - beyond. ‘‘Guzman? Thunderandlightning! Why, that’sthe man we have letters | ) 5 3 (eo) =) a books