Argosy, Vol. 1 (December 9, 1882) — page 124: what you’re looking at

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

IN PERILOUS WAYS. oa two hundred yards, however, when looking around I saw twenty or thirty horsemen ride away from the house. I could hear the hoofs of the horses as they struck the pavement, the clanking of bits, the rattling of sabers as they drew up in order, and then the whole party dashed along the street, passing me unnoticed as I stood watching them from the angle of a building. It was probable that they had other business on hand that night of more importance than hunting down a house- breaker, such as they might have considered me to be. I afterwards learned that excitement had been created by reports that the Liberals had gained another victory in the interior, and that General Dogol- lado was already marching upon the capital; this proving true, an uprising was to take place in the city, to act in conjunction with the forces outside. The rumors were afterwards found to be without foundation; but at the time they caused some uneasiness among those in authority, and led to the taking of precautionary measures to defeat any attack which might be made, and prevent the assembling of Constitutionalists in the city. The presence of a considerable number of armed troops, stationed in dif- ferent parts of the town, had served so far to check any unusual demonstra- tions. The city was practically under martial law. I saw several companies of soldiers under arms that night, and squads of cavalry rode recklessly by me. There were few people on the street; yet, thinking best to avoid as much as possible the more populous districts, I made the circuit of the Plaza, going as far as the Mercado de la Merced, and then turning north. I had not been in the city long enough to be well acquainted with its thor- oughfares, and becoming somewhat confused in the darkness soon found that I was unable to locate the street I was on. I knew that I was in the northeast part of the city, and that was about all. The streets were quiet and few people were to be seen. I was endeavoring to find some landmark which was familiar to me, from which I could get my bearings, when I became aware that I was being fol- lowed. Two men had kept behind me for some time, though at a distance. The streets were dark, there being lights only here and there at long intervals, and I could only occasionally see the men when I looked back; but their footsteps came nearer and nearer as I went on. The meanest and lowest part of the city was just before me; and here, unless I could escape them, they would overtake me. Thinking to elude them, I turned into a by street. As I did soa man came out of the house on the corner, stepping quickly along in the same direction I had been taking. Coming out of a lighted room, his eyes unaccustomed to the darkness, he did not see me; nor did he hear the men who had been fol- lowing me and were not far behind him. He went on in a hurry. Thinking that perhaps my safest course would be to let my pursuers pass me if possible, I waited in the deep shadow of the building, instead of going on down the alley. Here, unseen myself, I could observe any one who passed. | Evidently my pursuers were in some doubt as to which way I had gone, for they stopped only a few feet away from me. GOH GoOOO ‘SS COLNT