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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/30128-0.txt b/30128-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5150c7a --- /dev/null +++ b/30128-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4449 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 30128 *** + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 30128-h.htm or 30128-h.zip: + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/30128/30128-h/30128-h.htm) + or + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/30128/30128-h.zip) + + + + + +WHERE STRONGEST TIDE WINDS BLEW + +by + +ROBERT McREYNOLDS + +Author of + +"Thirty Years on the Frontier," "Rodney Wilkes," +"The Luxury of Poverty," "A Modern Jean Valjean," +"Facts and Fancies," Etc. + + + + + + + +Gowdy-Simmons Publishing Co. +Colorado Springs, Colo. +1907 + +Copyright 1907 +By Robert McReynolds. + + + + + To + Honorable John B. Stephen + and + his estimable wife, + from the romantic story of whose + lives, the principal incidents + of this work are taken. + + Colorado City, Colorado + 1907 + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + SOUNDING THE DEPTHS 24 + WRECK OF THE SPANISH SLOOP SEVILLE. 36 + THE EARTH BEGAN TO ROCK AND REEL. 84 + THE HOME VOYAGE OF THE AVEN WAS FRAUGHT WITH ALL THE DANGERS OF + THE SEA. 148 + FLIGHT OF THE TORPEDO BOAT. 166 + THE AREGUIPENA. 212 + + + + +CONTENTS + + I UNDER THE SWORD OF DAMOCLES 9 + II IN DAYS OF INNOCENCE 24 + III THROUGH MISTS OF THE SEA 31 + IV GRAVES GAVE UP THEIR DEAD 41 + V FAIREST FLOWER OF THE CORDILLERAS 50 + VI A HUMILIATING INCIDENT 56 + VII IN THE THROES OF REVOLUTION 64 + VIII VIVA GENERALISSIMO PIEROLA 72 + IX AMID THE DIN OF BATTLE 80 + X WE MEET AGAIN, FELICITA 90 + XI THE MASQUE BALL AT TIRAVAYA 98 + XII COWARDLY ACT OF A VILLAIN 107 + XIII MURDEROUS PLAN OF THE INSURGENTS 115 + XIV FOR THE SAKE OF HUMANITY 125 + XV IN DESPERATE STRUGGLE FOR LIFE 135 + XVI THE SCREAMING WINDS OF NIGHT 143 + XVII THE BARBARIAN MEETS HIS INGOMAR 151 + XVIII ON SUNNY SEAS BOUND NORTH 159 + XIX DEATH SHIPS OF THE SEA 167 + XX A DAUGHTER OF THE CHEROKEES 176 + XXI CARSON'S BLANK PAGES IN LIFE 185 + XXII A VOICE FROM CENTURIES PAST 195 + XXIII THE TWO OLD BLACK CROWS 205 + XXIV THE RECKLESS HAND OF FATE 214 + XXV CORDS OF LOVE ARE STRONG 223 + XXVI WHEN THE DEATH GLOOM GATHERS 231 + XXVII A NIGHT OF TRAGEDIES 240 + XXVIII FROM OUT THE SHADOWY PAST 249 + + + + +WHERE STRONGEST TIDE WINDS BLEW + +I. + +UNDER THE SWORD OF DAMOCLES. + + +We built our cabin high on the slopes of the Sangre de Christo range, +overlooking the broad, level San Luis Valley, in Colorado. At the rear +of the cabin rose a towering cliff or rather a huge slab of rock +standing edgewise more than two hundred feet high, apparently the +upheaval of some mighty convulsion of nature in ages gone. Near the +base of this cliff flowed a clear crystal spring. + +Some hundred yards west of the cabin was the mouth of a tunnel into +which we had drifted with pick, shovel and giant powder, a distance of +300 feet in five months of hard toil. A trail led from the tunnel to +the cabin along the mountain side, which was thickly studded with tall +pines. Another trail led down the mountain slopes in a winding way to +the valley, almost a mile below. Above, reaching far into the blue +dome of the sky, rose the peaks of the snow-capped Sangre de Christo, +glistening in the morning sunlight, which threw gaunt, fantastic +shadows in cañon and deep ravine. + +It was a wild, weird scene, where man, in strength and vigor, seems to +imbibe a portion of the divine essence that lives, and moves, and has +its being in the vast solitudes. + +We struck pay rock at the first thirty feet of tunneling, so Amos' +assay showed, and the rock had gradually increased in value, week by +week. Buchan would take samples of the ore every week or ten days and +walk a distance of twenty-five miles to Saguache, where old man Amos, +expert geologist and assayer, would for two dollars and fifty cents +make out a clean printed slip with figures in red ink, showing so +many ounces of lead, copper, silver and gold to the ton. + +The ore had not yet reached a value which would pay to ship it, but +the increase of values was so steady, and Amos was so extravagantly +encouraging, that we were always in buoyant expectation of rich ore. +He would say, "You boys have a wonderful prospect. Keep right on with +your work; it is getting richer with every stroke of your pick and you +are likely to uncover a million dollar drift any day." + +Buchan would bring the assay certificate back to the cabin, where we +would sit late by the light of the pine knots in the fire place and +talk of the golden millions which capitalists would yet gladly pay for +a half interest in the "Aberdeen." + +That was the name Buchan had given the mine, after his home town in +Scotland, of which he always spoke with a fond tenderness. + +Winter had come and we, John Buchan, Will Carson, and myself, had +chipped in almost our last dollar and brought a wagon load of flour, +bacon and canned goods from Saguache to the foot of the mountains, +then carried them on our backs to the cabin. We quit work on the mine +for ten days and chopped firewood, which we corded at the rear of our +house. All hands felt that we were as snugly housed for the winter as +the big grizzly bears in their lairs among the rocks. + +Snow had been falling for several days and it lay deep on the mountain +slopes and in the wide expanse of the valley below. We had not had an +assay for two weeks and all were anxious for another report from Amos. +Buchan wanted his mail also, and he took a small bag of the rock and +tramped the twenty-five miles to Saguache. It was a three days' trip +wading through the unbroken snow drifts, and it was night when he +returned, weary, footsore and angry. + +I can see him yet, tears trickling down his honest face, as he tried +to tell something about Amos. He spoke of "the scamp, the villain, and +robber," and then choked with rage. Like all Scotchmen, the more he +thought of the wrong done him, the angrier he became; he would be more +angry tomorrow and it would be the day after that his anger would +reach the climax, and begin to subside. This was not a peculiarity of +Buchan. It is a characteristic of the Scotch. + +We made him a cup of coffee and seated him comfortably before the +fire. When he calmed down somewhat, he explained. + +"The first thing I did the next morning after reaching Saguache, was +to eat breakfast, and then I took the samples of ore to Amos' assay +office. He was garrulous as usual, and said to come in two hours and +he would have the certificate of the assay ready for me. When I again +called he handed me the certificate and I paid him the usual two +dollars and fifty cents. It showed nine dollars and ninety cents to +the ton. The usual increase of ten per cent. over the last assay. + +"I crossed over to the postoffice, and while waiting for my mail, I +noticed the snow standing ten inches high on the cap of the flue of +Amos' assay furnace. I thought, how in the deuce did he assay our ore +without melting the snow on the cap of the flue? The more I thought +about it the more I was mystified. I went across to his office and +said, 'Amos, I suppose you gave us the usual fire test on this ore?' +'Yep,' he answered. 'Then tell me,' I cried, 'how in the devil did you +make the fire test without melting the snow off the cap of your +furnace flue?' 'Too cold to melt,' he replied. + +"Then I rushed past him into the back room. The furnace was cold and +the frost had gathered on the iron door. I don't suppose there had +been a fire in it for a week. I took Amos by the whiskers and told him +to own up that he had not made a fire test of our ore. Then he +acknowledged that he had been guessing at it all along." + +"You don't mean there is a doubt about us having pay rock?" we yelled +in a chorus. + +"All kinds of doubt," said Buchan. "I am told there is a suspicion +that Amos gives everybody an assay showing values, where there are no +values--this for the purpose of keeping up work in the district--and +to those who have found values, he gives them an assay showing +nothing. At the same time he gives Rayder, the Denver capitalist, a +tip and he buys up the property for a song, giving Amos a fat +commission for his part in the deal. The chances are that we have no +more gold in our rock than there is in that jug handle." + +The news was astounding. We sat for a while by the fire like men +stricken dumb. There was no doubting Buchan's statement. Deception was +no part of his nature. He was nearly twenty-six years of age, +athletic, strong and quick of perception. He had seen much of the +world and knew men. No, there could be no doubt; he was not mistaken. + +We were heartsick. Almost our last dollar had gone to pay for the +bogus assay. Our golden dream of months was vanishing. Carson broke +the silence. + +"I will go to Saguache tomorrow. I shall pulverize that jug handle and +take it to Amos; he does not know me; I shall have him assay it, and +if he gives me gold values there will be trouble!" + +I was awakened the next morning by the sound of a hammer. Carson was +pulverizing the jug handle. After a hasty breakfast, he buckled on his +cartridge belt with a Colt 44-six shooter in his holster, and was soon +wading through the snow-drifts down the trail towards Saguache. I +watched him through the window until he was lost to view. + +The sun rose in a clear sky; the glistening peaks of the Sangre de +Christo shone white against a turquoise blue; clumps of snow melted +from the branches of the pines and made hollows in the smooth banks of +white where they fell. + +I turned to Buchan. He was tossing restlessly in his bunk. + +"I would hate to be Amos if he gives Carson an assay of values from +that jug handle. + +"Yes, yes," he muttered incoherently. "The day of reckoning comes to +all. I have seen it. I have seen the sky turn black, the waves rise +mountain-high out of the sea, the earth rock and reel, the dead roll +out of their coffins in the cerements of their graves, the living fall +upon their faces to hide from the wrath of Almighty God! I have seen +it just as Paul tells about it. I have heard the roar of the winds, +seen palaces crumble and fall--like John of Patmos, I lift up my +voice--I, John." + +I was at his side in a moment, and saw that he was delirious. The +exertion through the snow the day before, the loss of sleep and +intense anger, had made him ill. I knew of a few simple remedies at +hand, and in a little while I had him sleeping soundly. + +The sun became warmer as the day advanced. The snow melted on the +cabin roof and froze in drooping icicles at the eaves. All day I went +noiselessly about the cabin, letting Buchan sleep. A premonition of +impending danger crept over me. I tried to throw off the dread feeling +by reading, but I could not concentrate my thoughts on the pages of +the book. Strange thoughts came like they did to the man who was being +taken to the guillotine and begged time of his captors to put his +thoughts on paper. I thought I would write mine that day, or remember +them at least, but I cannot recall them. I only know they were strange +and fascinating, as if I was living another life, on another planet. + +I brought in wood and water for the night. The sound of the door +slamming awoke Buchan. He arose and sat by the fire, which blazed up +brightly from its fresh supply of pine logs. + +"Better, I see," I observed, "but heavens you were locoed this +morning! talking about the resurrection, the quaking earth, and the +dead rolling out from their graves!" + +"All true," he said, quietly. "I have seen those things, and what has +happened once may happen again." + +I was standing by the window, looking out over the snow covered San +Luis valley, when even as he spoke I felt the ground tremble. There +was a rush of air and the cabin became filled with a fine snow that +was stifling, then a thunderous roar, and all was utter darkness. + +I was choking with the snow particles. I groped to the door and opened +it and felt a solid bank of snow. + +I realized then that we were buried beneath a snow slide. + +We worked for hours, in silence and darkness, digging our way through +the snow and shoveling it back into the cabin as we tunneled toward +the cliff. It was early morning when we saw the light of day. + +Once in the open where we could breathe the pure air we beheld a sight +that would appall the strongest heart. The great flat rock, that had +stood on edge at the back of the cabin, was now slanting at a sharp +angle above our heads. The avalanche from near the summit of the +Sangre de Christo had struck the cliff and with its incalculable tons +tilted it, piling itself hundreds of feet in the depth about us. The +cliff might fall at any moment and blot us out of existence. + +Reaching a point of sight near the open space at the edge of the base +of the cliff we could see something of the awful havoc wrought by the +avalanche. Huge rocks had been loosened from their foundations and +with the speed of a meteor dashed to the valley below. Great pines one +hundred feet in height had been torn up by their roots and hurled down +the mountain side by the tremendous weight of the avalanche. + +The cliff had sheltered our cabin and saved our lives. + +We cleared the snow away from the chimney and out of the cabin. Our +wood was dry and we soon had a cheerful fire blazing and the tea +kettle boiling. But living under that slanting cliff, from which we +could not escape, we felt, indeed that the sword of Damocles hung by a +spider web above our heads. + +When we had rested some and refreshed ourselves with coffee, we +tunneled from the open space under the cliff to near the entrance of +the mine, intending to live in the tunnel until the melting snows of +the spring released us from our prison. But when we had tunneled +through the snow to near the entrance of the mine, we found our way +blocked by a debris of rock and trees which would require weeks of +labor to remove. Tunnels in other directions gave us no better +results, and we became resigned to our fate, returning to the cabin to +while away the dreary hours until the hanging cliff above should +become our grave stone. + +Days of gloom and monotony came and went. We dug the snow away from +our windows and tunneled a hole to the top which gave us a glare of +reflected light. + +Buchan had hitherto been silent as to his past life. By a few stray +remarks we had caught glimpses of his romantic career, but now he +began relating in detail incidents of his early life in Scotland, or +on the high seas, and later in Peru. His stories were so full of human +interest and replete with love and romance, that I became more than +ever interested in him. But my hearing was bad, and it had been +getting worse since the day of the avalanche, so I prevailed upon him +to write. I could read better than listen, besides he would write his +better thoughts and nobler sentiments when he would not speak them. + +It was writing these memoirs of his eventful life that furnished him +pastime and I was employed in reading them, during the two months of +our imprisonment in our snow bound cabin. + +By the dim light of the window by day and the blaze of a pine log at +night, he wrote upon the scraps of paper found about the cabin. As I +now review the pile I find it made up of paper bags, margins of +newspapers, fly leaves from a few old books, and much of it on strips +of a yellow window shade, also on the backs of fancy calendars with +which Carson had adorned our cabin, and almost a whole chapter I find +penciled finely on a pair of lady's cuffs that were strangely out of +place in a miner's hut. + +Buchan does not know that I am going to give his story to the public +and I shall have to take chances and risk his displeasure. In that +event I have the defence of pleading that no man has the right to +withhold so good a tale from the world. + + + + +II. + +IN DAYS OF INNOCENCE. + + +As I peer into the dim past that haunts the scenes of my childhood in +Aberdeen, Scotland, a thousand memories troop by like the scenes of a +panorama with the footlights turned low; and when I contemplate them +in a meditative hour it leaves me with as lonesome a feeling as if I +had listened to the old time song, "Home Sweet Home," which I have +heard a thousand times in distant climes, sometimes sung to crowded +audiences at the opera, and again by the pioneer as he rattled his +prairie schooner over the plains. + +It is a song that never grows old and never will so long as men leave +the home of their childhood, around whose hearthstones still play +ghost-like, the recollections of bye-gone years, tenderly touching +their sympathies as they pause for a moment in their monied pursuits +in other lands. + +[Illustration: SOUNDING THE DEPTHS] + +The old red school house on Princeton street, with the tall lank +figure of Ellwood for its presiding master and who believed in and +practiced the command of the Holy Writ: "Spare the rod and spoil +the child," was to me in those years of tenderness, a dismal +contemplation. But Sundays had a brighter hue when Mother would +dress me in full Highland suit of tartan, and adorn my cap with an +eagle feather, surmounted with a brooch of the design of an arm +with a dagger, bearing the motto, "We fear nae fae." With my small +claymore and buckled shoes and plaid, how proudly I would walk up +to the barracks at Castle Gate, where the sentry would salute me, +and give me permission to enter. + +But those days had their troubles as well as pleasures. The West North +street boys had a grievance against those of the East North street and +one Saturday both sides met in battle array, armed with wooden +swords, near the North church at Queen street. After a determined +resistance West North street was victorious, when someone presented us +with a flag. It was a common piece of bunting, but to our young heroes +it was something to be looked up to and defended with our lives before +the honor of West North street should be sullied. + +That banner cost us many a headache, and many a soiled suit of clothes +after the usual Saturday battle. On one occasion we sallied forth as +usual to the battlefield, carrying our banner, and shouting derisively +at our foe. The enemy had been reinforced and after a hard struggle, +they captured our flag and carried it off in triumph to East North +street. + +Our fellows were a crest-fallen lot, as we sat on the steps of the +church looking the picture of dejection. However, a few days later, I +summoned the boys to meet in an old building in Ferrier's Lane. There +were fifteen of us and we came armed with our wooden swords. After +much debate over the loss of our flag, a committee was appointed to +notify the East North street fellows, that we were ready to offer +battle, and dared them to meet us the following Saturday and bring the +captured flag. They accepted the challenge. When we met again in the +old building by the hazy and flickering light of a tallow candle, with +upraised swords we swore to re-capture our flag, uphold the honor of +our street or die in the attempt. I was chosen captain on this +occasion, and never did a general rack his brain more for a plan of +success than I did to win this battle. Finally I hit upon a stratagem +and after school submitted it to all. It was to proceed to the usual +place of battle, but at the corner of Queen street five boys were to +be stationed out of sight, and when both armies met they were to rush +in on their standard bearer and capture the flag. We met, and even to +this day I shudder at the ferocity of that battle. Twice I was knocked +down; several times our street was on the retreat when someone +shouted--"Remember our oath!" and then another desperate rush, and +along with the charge of the five secreted ones which so surprised the +East North street boys that they finally yielded, and we carried off +our flag in triumph. John Taylor's head was cut, John Ingerham's eyes +were black, my right knee cap was out of place and six or eight others +were more or less wounded. The boys of East North street fared about +the same. Good old Doctor Ellis living in King street witnessed the +fight, but he kept my secret, for I told Mother that I was hurt in +running a race. + +And so those delightful days of early boyhood passed like one long +summer day. But a change came. My father died and in a few months +more, my loving Mother, after a lingering illness, passed away. I then +left the home of my childhood to live with my older brother, James. + +Although every possible kindness was shown me, there was lacking a +mother's love, a mother's sympathy and cheering words, things that +touch the tender chords of a boy's heart. At that time I was sent to +the Ledingham Academy, but it was useless. The golden veil through +which I had looked out on the world was lifted, the chain of love and +affection broken. I saw the great ships come with their strange men +from other ports of the world. I saw them unfurl their snowy sails and +speed over the blue waters bound for the shores of other climes. I +watched them until they were but a speck of white down on the blue +horizon, and I longed to be on board--to feel the ship roll upon the +billows and hear the wind whistling through the rigging, to climb +aloft and view the limitless expanse of ocean and feel that I was a +part of these white specters of the sea. + +One day I saw in the windows of Knox & Co., a sign which read: + +"Two apprentices wanted for the sea." + +I went in and told them I wanted to become a sailor. About this time +another lad about one year older than myself came in on the same +errand. An old gentleman, after surveying us both for some moments, +remarked that in his opinion we were too young, but told us to wait a +few minutes as Captain McKenzie would be in soon. + +When Captain McKenzie came in he asked us if it was with the consent +of our parents that we made application. Being answered in the +affirmative by James Mitchell, the other boy, I answered that my +father and mother were dead, but my brother would sign the necessary +papers. + + + + +III. + +THROUGH MISTS OF THE SEA. + + +Captain McKenzie sprang from his berth in the wildest excitement. A +moment before a low voice called "Captain," at his state room door. +"Who is there?" he asked. "Donovan," came the guarded reply. "Captain, +the mate has conspired with the crew to mutiny and your throat will be +cut in an hour." + +James Mitchell and I were apprentices on board the bark "Aven of +Aberdeen." My brother James having reluctantly consented that I should +follow the fortunes of the sea, signed the indenture papers. + +The brig was bound for Archangel, Russia, and we had on board a large +amount of specie and plate, the private fortunes of a Russian Jew +returning to his native land after many years of success as a merchant +in Alexandria. Our berth was near the captain's, and Mitchell had +heard the warning given by Donovan. He was out of his berth in an +instant and gave me to understand there was mutiny aboard. Together we +entered the captain's cabin. + +The Jew was apprised of the situation. It was the intention of the +mate and crew to murder him and the Captain and put the vessel about +for a piratical cruise in the Indian Ocean. They were a motley gang of +foreigners, low bred and capable of any crime when led by a man like +the mate, fresh from a career of lawlessness on the China coast. + +The Jew was the most abject picture of terror I ever saw. His hands +trembled and he shook like a man in a chill. He wanted to hide, but +that was useless. Captain McKenzie armed himself with a belaying pin. +He placed one in the hands of each of us boys and bade us follow him +in silence. We cautiously went on deck and we found the helm deserted, +and the mate and the entire crew sitting together and drinking in the +fore part of the ship. + +Captain McKenzie sprang into their midst and with one blow from the +pin killed the mate. This subdued the others and they slunk away to +their duties. The captain then called the men in front of him and +after ordering Donovan to the helm, told them he was done with them +and that their future conduct would determine their fate. At the same +time he threatened to kill the first man that manifested a mutinous +disposition, or dared to cross a given line on the deck without his +permission. He then ordered the mate's body overboard and told the men +to return to their duties. + +The Captain and Donovan took turns at the helm, while Mitchell or I +was stationed as a lookout to give instant warning of any suspicious +movements on the part of the crew. For more than a week we stood to +our posts of duty, when one morning we sailed into the smooth waters +of the port of Archangel, weary and exhausted from the intense nervous +strain and loss of sleep. + +The Captain notified the British consul and a file of soldiers came +on board and arrested the crew. Six of them were afterwards sent to +prison for life. + +The home voyage of the Aven was fraught with all the dangers of the +sea. We had secured another crew in Archangel but their seamanship was +bad. When a sudden storm would strike us it required herculean efforts +on the part of the captain and Donovan to prevent the ship from being +driven ashore on the rocks. + +Snow was falling and a wintry wind dashed the waves over our decks and +coated the bulwarks with a mail of ice. Sleet and snow clung to the +rigging, making every effort to handle the ship a hazardous one. For +three days we battled against the elements and then we came in contact +with ice floes. Once our position was so perilous that the Captain +ordered the boats provisioned and ready to be lowered when the vessel +should be crushed in the ice. By skillful maneuvering we escaped from +the ice floes and had a pleasant day or two in smoother seas. + +It was night and I was standing by the taffrail, when suddenly a giant +specter seemed to come up from out of the sea, bearing directly down +upon us. Her great lantern swung in a glow in a fog, by which I +discerned moving objects. + +"Collision! Collision!" I shouted at the top of my voice. The cry was +taken up by the sailors, and ere it had died away there was the +crashing of timbers, falling spars and the shouts of men. + +We had been struck a glancing blow abaft midships but the damage was +not serious enough to sink us. The other vessel, which proved to be +the brig "Rapid," belonging to the same company at Aberdeen, stood off +until its crew ascertained the extent of our damage, then sailed away +in the darkness. + +A month's delay on the docks at Aberdeen repairing damages, and we +were again on the high seas bound for the ports of South America. + +When off the West Indies the sky suddenly became overcast, and we were +soon overtaken by a hurricane. The captain saw it coming and prepared +for it, yet when it took the ship it roared and laid her down so that +I thought she would never get up again. All that day and night we had +heavy squalls, and by morning the gale was still increasing. Birds of +sea and land came on board. Driven by the winds, they dashed +themselves down upon the deck without offering to stir until picked +up, and when let go they would not leave the ship, but endeavored to +hide from the wind. By ten o'clock at night the storm had spent its +fury, and when I went to my bunk I found it full of water. With the +straining of the ship, the seams had begun to leak. I was surprised to +note among the ship's crew that the most swaggering, swearing bullies +in fine weather were now the most meek and mild-mannered of men when +death was staring them in the face. + +[Illustration: WRECK OF THE SPANISH SLOOP SEVILLE. (Page 30)] + +Then followed days when the sea was smooth as glass. Our white sails +hung idly beneath the scorching skies. Sea weed floated on the oily +surface, as, day by day, we lay seemingly motionless on the bosom of +the deep. The moon rose out of a phosphorescent sea and cast its long +golden gleams on the azure blue, while the stars shone like isles of +light in the sky. There was a dread in the infinite spaces about. +Again, there was scurrying, fleecy clouds and our ship was scudding +before the breeze. + +When I awoke one morning, we were lying at anchor in the harbor of +Buenos Ayres. While unloading cargo, the Captain desiring to go +ashore, I was taken in the boat along with two of the seamen. After +getting to the wharf, the Captain said: "I expect you fellows to +employ your time cleaning that boat; it will be five o'clock before I +return." After he had gone, one of the sailors said to his mate, "We +will leave Spriggings (meaning me) to clean the boat, and we will go +to shore." After they were gone, I concluded that I had been imposed +upon and I left the boat and went into the city, having no intention +of deserting the vessel at that time. In my wanderings in the strange +city, and not knowing a word of Spanish, I lost my way. Finally, when +I returned to the wharf, the boat was gone. It was late when I was +picked up by a policeman and turned over to an Englishman, who kindly +took me to his home for the night. The next morning I returned to the +Aven and received a reprimand. + +A few days later we weighed anchor for Valparaiso. The sky was +overcast and the sea was rolling high off the Patagonian coast, when +we heard signal guns of distress. Captain McKenzie changed the course +of the ship and we soon came in view of the Spanish sloop Seville +going to pieces on the rocks. Her bow was lifted high, while the waves +were breaking over her stern. Her sails were in shreds, and a dozen +sailors clung to the rigging. We lowered the life-boat, and after +hours of battle with wind and wave, rescued the crew. They were in an +exhausted and famished condition, having been for almost three days +without food or water. They were given every kindly attention by our +officers and crew. + +We saw the dark, jagged, rugged bluffs and steeps of Staten and Terra +del Fuego. We rounded Cape St. John, amid tempestuous gales and giant +seas of the polar regions. We lost sight of the land, reefed the sails +close down and then bid defiance to the storm. Strange sea birds +shrieked their dismal cries, while dull leaden skies added to the +gloom. We cleared Cape Horn in safety and were soon sailing over the +smooth seas of the south Pacific Ocean beneath the Southern Cross. + +"Sail ho!" cried the lookout. All eyes were turned to the leeward. A +stately ship, under full sail, had suddenly appeared, bearing down +upon us. She came silently, the water splitting in foam at her bows. +We could see the crew working about her decks, but no sound came from +the spectre. All at once we noticed her hull and sails were +transparent. We could see through them to the ocean beyond. + +It was only a mirage of the sea, but to our crew it was the spectre +of the Flying Dutchman--a phantom ship had crossed our bow. + +Once in port, no more would we walk the deck of the Aven of Aberdeen. +She had seen a ghost. + + + + +IV. + +GRAVES GAVE UP THEIR DEAD. + + +I was in the streets of Arica, Peru, when the earth began to rock and +reel. Buildings surged and fell, with a crashing noise. The dust rose +dense, and darkened the sky. The earth gaped and swallowed up many of +the people fleeing to the hills back of the town. I followed to an +elevation where an awful sight met the terror-stricken populace. The +hills of Arica had for centuries been the burying grounds of the +ancient Agmaras, a race of Indians who ages ago it seems were +fishermen. The convulsions of the earth threw to the surface hundreds +of the dried bodies of the Indians, still wrapped in their coarse +garments, the nature of the soil had prevented decay. When the people +beheld this they believed the world had come to an end, and they threw +themselves on their faces praying for mercy. + +There was a thunderous roar from the sea, growing louder and louder as +each moment of terror sped on, and then, with one mighty crash, a +tidal wave fifty feet high,--the aftermath of the earthquake--struck +the shore, bearing upon its crest the U. S. Battleship Wateree, one +German and two British vessels, leaving them stranded far inland. A +sailor from the Wateree was in a boat, and as he was swept past his +vessel he waved the Stars and Stripes in farewell to his comrades on +board. + +The shocks had ceased and the storm that followed had spent its fury, +when the pall of night came over the stricken city. Human wolves crept +from their hiding places and began their work of prowling amid the +ruins and robbing the dead. All night long they held high carnival +amid the scenes of terror and desolation. + +Through it all I had been a silent, bewildered spectator. I had fled +to the hills only because others did, for I could speak but little of +the language of the country. I was among the graves when morning +dawned and I heard a voice in my own language. Going to the spot I +found a man with a sprained ankle fighting away a thief. I seized a +rock and he ran. I aided the injured man to a place of safety, where +we remained for several days until a conveyance took us back to town. + +The man whom I had helped was John L. Thorndike, an American, well +known in Peru and all over South America, as having built the highest +standard-gauge railway in the world, and a man who at once became my +warmest friend. + +But to return to my ship. When the Aven of Aberdeen reached +Valparaiso, the mate and a number of sailors immediately deserted the +vessel in a boat. The Captain saw them leaving but was powerless to +stop them. That night John Mitchell and I stood watch alone. There +being no boat it did not occur to them that we would attempt to +escape, but about midnight Mitchell said to me, "Spriggings, I dare +you to run away." + +"I'll take the dare," I said, "but how will we get ashore?" + +"We'll launch one of the hatches," he replied. + +It was no sooner said than we tied a rope around one of the heavy +hatches, and bearing it to the side of the ship, we lowered it +noiselessly into the water, then let ourselves down the rope and by +holding to the hatch, one on either side, we safely swam ashore. + +We avoided the business streets of Valparaiso and made our way to the +country, where we hid in a grove until night. We were without money, +our clothes were such as we wore at sea, night was coming on, we were +hungry and with no place to sleep. Our only thought had been to escape +from the Aven, for we had imbibed the superstition of sailors, and +nothing could induce us to remain aboard that vessel since the phantom +ship had crossed our bow. + +I saw a light in a farmhouse in the distance and on our approach the +inmates were aroused by the barking of their dog. The man was a +typical Chilean, short and stout. He looked curiously at us and by +signs Mitchell made him understand that we were hungry. He entered the +house and returned with his wife and two children. Mitchell repeated +his signs and the woman went inside and returned with a cup of milk, +which we drank greedily. The man then beckoned us inside where we had +a supper of meat, bread and coffee. They collected a number of sheep +skins, gave us two mats for covering, and we slept soundly. + +The next morning we helped the man in his garden, drew water for the +cattle and made ourselves useful in other ways. I went almost every +day for two weeks to the summit of the hill where I had seen a +splendid view of the bay, to see if the Aven was still in port. One +day I saw her spread her sails and I watched her until she was but a +speck on the horizon. + +Our host by this time, I think, knew we had run away, for on one +occasion he followed me when I making my observation, but if he +suspected anything he never took any steps to have us arrested, and in +fact treated us with great kindness. When we left he gave us a large +package of food and some clean stockings and shirts which his wife had +made for us. + +It was nightfall when we entered Valparaiso. Near the plaza Victoria +we paused before an English boarding house sign. As we stood looking, +a middle-aged man came out and asked us our business. Before we could +reply he said: "I bet you are the two boys from the Aven." Our +frightened looks told him we were. He invited us in and gave us +supper. + +We soon learned to our dismay that this man was the notorious Cockney +Spider, keeper of a runaway sailor's boarding house. At night Cockney +would start out to some vessel in the bay of Valparaiso, everything +having been pre-arranged, take off those sailors desiring to runaway, +secrete them in the house and when opportunity offered, ship them +again. The amount of bounty paid by ships short of men was often +large, and as Cockney always arranged to have poor runaways deep in +debt for board and lodging, the sailor on being re-shipped was worse +off, and Cockney the gainer. He often took desperate chances in +stealing sailors, as the coast guard and other officials were sharp. +Many in that traffic were captured, but Cockney always escaped. + +After we spent the night in his home he asked me if I could write. +Replying in the affirmative, I was installed as chief book-keeper of +the notorious runaway sailor boarding house. My duties were to +register the sailors brought to the house, keep a record of their +meals, charge so much a night for lodging, and present their bill when +they were ready to leave. I held the position for two weeks, when one +night Cockney came home intoxicated and told me that he had shipped +Mitchell that night on a French bark. A sailor gave me a sly wink and +whispered, "Your turn will come next, he intends to ship you on a +whaler." My experience with the ice on the Aven had given me a horror +of frozen seas, and that night I stole away from the boarding house. + +I was in dread of Cockney Spider, and, in my determination to escape, +I became a stowaway on a coast steamer and landed at Arica, with a few +dollars in my pocket, paid to me by Spider. + +When I arrived at Mollendo in company with Mr. John L. Thorndike, he +introduced me to Mr. Hill, his general manager, as his "boy protector" +and told him to give me employment and see that I was well provided +for. + +In a short while I was in the railway shops, learning the trade of +machinist, and later I was engineer on the railroad running from the +sea port of Mollendo to Arequipa, more than one hundred miles in the +interior. The city is situated in a beautiful and fertile valley in +the heart of the Andes. The majestic volcanic mountain Misti some +miles away rises nearly four miles above the sea and smoke still +issues from its crater. + +I had lately been transferred from the shops in Mollendo to Arequipa, +when, hearing fabulous stories of rich gold finds in the Andes, and +being imbued with an adventurous spirit, I resolved to try my fortune +in the new El Dorado. + + + + +V. + +FAIREST FLOWER OF THE CORDILLERAS. + + +I was in the heart of the Cordilleras, weary, footsore and alone. I +was descending a rocky cliff a few hundred feet from a plateau, while +the thunders roared with terrific crash. The rain fell in sheets, +plunging in wild fury in cataracts down the mountain side. There was +desolation and terror unutterable. I leaned close to a shelving rock, +and as I thought of once happy days in Aberdeen, of the love bestowed +upon me by my dear mother--gone forever from this world--my own +condition, now a homeless wanderer in a foreign land, perhaps to soon +meet death and my body be devoured by condors, I laid my head on my +arms and wept bitterly. + +I am not superstitious, neither do I believe that my condition at that +time caused my mind to wander; a peaceful calm came over me; it +seemed as if some loving one was near, fear vanished, and I looked up +but beheld nothing. The storm raged with even greater fury. I walked +and even began to sing the "Garb of Old Gaul." I ignored the elements +in their war and had almost reached the plateau when the storm ceased +and the sun suddenly appeared. Calm and warmth came from what a few +minutes before had seemed death and destruction. + +A sudden turn in the trail and I beheld a child seated beneath the +thick, spreading branches of a tree, her white apron filled with +alpine flowers. "How came she here," I wondered. Her dark bright eyes +gazed questioningly into mine, eyes through which one could see the +childish spirit and feel the witchery of her magic look; her raven +locks fell in clusters over her fair temples and ended in ringlets +about her shoulders; on her cheeks were the glowing tints of youth and +health. As I spoke she rose and handed me a flower of delicate tint. I +gallantly pinned it on the lapel of my coat, which won from her a +pleasing look and smile. I could speak a little Spanish and she seemed +to understand that I was going her way. Together we walked along the +trail. Her childish grace appealed to me. A spirit of infinite +goodness seemed to radiate from within and stirred my noblest +impulses. A feeling of content settled upon me. + +Near by, I saw some Indian huts and the tambo or tavern where Frank +Dunn and I had stopped on our way to Puno. The child ran ahead, +leaving me to follow. + + * * * * * + +The first sight of Puno had satisfied me that we had come to the most +desolate spot in the world, Nature's remains seemed to have been +brought there and left without burial. The ground was thickly covered +with a short, wild grass and appeared to be the natural dwelling place +of the alpacas and wild vicunas. + +I had been in Puno but a few days when I was offered work on board one +of the steamers, but I longed again for Arequipa and friends. Dunn +had secured work on one of the steamers and refused to return. I +thought this was hard, as it was my money that had helped him from the +time he left Arequipa until he secured employment. My money was almost +gone, but I had gone to the Amaras market and bought what edibles I +needed, and without hesitation had started alone to return to +Arequipa, over those fearful heights and dread solitudes of the +Cordilleras, when I found her. + +When we were entering the tambo an elderly gentleman and the Indian +host were speaking in Spanish, and even from my limited knowledge of +the language I knew they were talking about me. + +No doubt but my appearance in the heart of the Cordilleras wet, +forlorn looking and alone aroused his sympathy. After a difficult +attempt at opening a conversation, the beautiful child I had met +looking on all the time, I was given to understand that he desired me +to eat with them. Of course I consented, but I did not do justice to +the meal as the dark eyes of the young girl were constantly upon me. + +The gentleman gave me his name, Julian Maldonado, and that of his +daughter, Felicita Maldonado. He was a well-to-do merchant of elderly +years. I learned that his wife was dead and that their home was in +Lima. The servants made me a bed in the room adjacent to my host. The +next morning I was aroused by one of them who said his master wanted +to see me. I went to him and after telling him I was on my way to +Arequipa, and when there I would be among my friends, he offered to +purchase a mule for me, but the only one to be had was lame. However, +I told him I was young and would soon reach my destination. Felicita +then came in and announced breakfast, after which the mules were +packed and, everything being in readiness, we bade each other +good-bye. Felicita came toward me, and as she extended her hand in her +childish fashion, she placed in my own a Peruvian twenty-dollar gold +piece, saying: "Adios mi amigo." + +I was almost speechless. I started forward to return the money, but I +had to retain it, as they quickly mounted and were gone before I could +master my feelings. + +Roll on, relentless Time. Felicita, fairest flower of the Cordilleras, +we shall meet again, when love's young dream shall awaken amid the +clash of arms and tragedies! + +Nine days later I arrived in Arequipa, sick, footsore and weary. My +friends had sent out searching parties believing that I had been +murdered. Their astonishment was great when they found where I had +been and that I had spent many nights alone amid the dangers of the +mountains. Many were the admonitions I received from older heads. + +I laughed at their words, and when I thought of the beautiful +Felicita, I dreamed of love and felt an indescribable content with my +surroundings and all the world. + + + + +VI. + +A HUMILIATING INCIDENT. + + +There was a night riot in the streets of Ilo, knives gleamed in +ruffian hands, curses and blasphemy fell from sodden lips. Shots were +fired in the thick of the struggling mass, as the mob crowded in +frenzy about some central figure. The crowd from behind pressed +forward and Thompson and I were carried along by the crush of +humanity, until of necessity we began to fight our way out. We had +partially succeeded, when we were surrounded by soldiers. At sight of +the soldiers the crowd began to disperse, but unfortunately for us it +was too late, besides we had nothing to do with the riot, and thought +we had nothing to fear. + +The officer stepped up and placed Thompson and I under arrest. We were +searched, but no arms were found on us. However, we were marched away +to jail and our feet placed in iron bars, fastened with a heavy lock, +which compelled us to lie on our backs. + +The next morning an officer appeared and I notified him that I was a +British subject, and resented such treatment. He told me that I was +held for attempted murder. Thompson was also under the same charge. An +Italian had been shot and would probably die. I demanded an immediate +trial. Several officers of the railway came and endeavored to set us +free, but their efforts were of no avail. There was no British consul +nearer than Arica, about two days travel by steamer, and no means for +communicating with him until the steamer arrived from the north. + +Our prison was an old wooden structure, and only one guard was over +us. The officer and his men had quarters some distance away. It was +our intention to ask the soldier on guard for a drink of water about +midnight, when Thompson would overpower him and take his keys. A +small boat was to be in readiness at a certain place. Our plan was, +after obtaining the keys, to put the soldier in the stocks and walk +out, all of which could easily have been accomplished, as the soldier +was but a small ignorant half-breed Indian. It was Sunday night and we +had decided to put our plan in operation, when--imagine our +surprise--an officer informed us to get ready to take the train for +Moquequa. + +We were accompanied by an officer and six men. I asked the officer +what the removal was for, and he said our trial was to be held and it +was necessary for us to be present. I asked permission to speak with +the engineer, which was given. I told him I dreaded being taken into +the interior, as we would be away from our friends, and begged him +when we came to a certain grade along the line to increase the speed +and I would jump off. I was familiar with that part of the country, +knew I could secure a horse and go to Mollendo or Arequipa. I knew +also that the officer and his men had never been on a train, and it +would be impossible for them to give chase. + +But we were again doomed to disappointment. The engineer feared to +carry out the plan and instead of increasing speed, went slower than +usual. + +On our arrival at Moquequa we were marched through the streets, to my +great humiliation, as I knew many people in the town. Numbers of them +came and offered their sympathy. To our great indignation we were +thrown into a cell with six other prisoners convicted of murder, and a +more ugly, villainous and desperate-looking lot of characters would +have been hard to find anywhere. No attention had been paid to my +remonstrance, when an hour later a gentleman, whom I had favored, +presented himself. After I told him the circumstances of our detention +he said he would send a lawyer to defend us. In the meantime he +arranged with a hotel keeper to send us regular meals, also mattresses +and blankets. + +The day following I had many visitors, some drawn by curiosity and +others by sympathy and good will. The latter were profuse in their +attentions. When a lawyer appeared, I related to him the details of +our arrest. I did the talking, as Thompson could not speak the +language, while I was becoming quite proficient in it. Upon leaving, +the lawyer promised to have us free in eight days at most. + +I passed away the dreary time pacing that prison cell. It was about +twenty feet long and twelve feet wide, and contained nothing but stone +walls and floor, with a heavy iron-grated window which looked out on +the plaza. A bottle of wine came with each meal, instead of coffee, +and I shared it with the criminals in our cell. In this way I soon won +their good will, and as they had all been convicted of murder, they +did not hesitate to tell me of their horrible crimes. + +There is no capital punishment in Peru. Sentence for life, in that +country, means about fifteen years, and seldom do they serve that +length of time. Usually a revolution releases them. At such times +insurgents invariably break open the prisons and liberate the +convicts, which happened to these prisoners a few months later. We +were visited daily by my lawyer and finally were told that four +hundred dollars would be required for our liberation. + +"Liberate us and I will give you the money," was my answer. + +Next day I bid adieu to my undesirable residence and companions; +Thompson had no money and I paid all. After purchasing new clothes and +receiving the congratulations of friends, we boarded the train for +Ilo. Mr. Hill returned from Lima that day and after learning of the +indignities inflicted upon me, told his officials that they should +have notified the British consul and compelled the Peruvian +authorities to pay, instead of taking my money. + +I returned to work in the shops, and three weeks afterward one of the +office clerks came in breathless and told me I was to be arrested +again along with Thompson. The papers would be down from Moquequa +that night and tomorrow morning they would come for us. + +I was furious when I realized that we were again facing punishment for +a crime of which we were innocent and I determined to resist arrest, +and leave Ilo. + +I went to the office of the secretary of the railroad, and after a +long consultation, it was agreed to have three of Mr. Hill's best +horses in readiness at midnight. One of the hostlers was to accompany +us and when we reached Tambo, Thompson and I would take the train for +Arequipa. + +I went to my room, packed my clothes, carefully loaded two revolvers +and placed my trunk and other articles of value in the hands of my +friends, with orders to send them to Arequipa after the sensation of +my escape was over. After supper, to allay any suspicion the +authorities might have, I strolled along the wharf, went into a +billiard hall and actually played a game of billiards with the captain +of the guard, who I have no doubt had the order to arrest me in his +pocket. Thompson had gone to his room. I followed thirty minutes +later, and at precisely twelve o'clock, I sallied out of the house by +the rear, and met Thompson at the agreed place on the beach. + +The night was dark, and everything being in readiness, we mounted and +rode through the town dressed like natives. We soon gained the highway +leading to Tambo and after being well clear of Ilo, we put our horses +to their best. We rode the fifty-five miles to Tambo, over a rugged +and mountainous country and caught the train for Arequipa, arriving +that night after an absence for me of two years. + + + + +VII. + +IN THE THROES OF REVOLUTION. + + +The railroad had now been extended from Arequipa to Puno. A revolution +had broken out and insurgents were cutting the telegraph wires. + +I was engineer on a combination locomotive and coach and as this +locomotive will be in the scene of more than one tragedy, I will +describe it. It was specially designed for the president and officers +of the road, weighing only eight tons. On the same frame with the +engine, in fact, a part of it, was built a beautiful black walnut +coach, with a seating capacity of from twelve to eighteen persons. It +had two side doors and one in front, which, when opened, communicated +with the engineer. There were windows hung with beautiful damask +curtains, the carpets were of rich velvet, and a center table and +several cupboards under the seats completed the furnishings. It was +in reality a palace on wheels, named The Arequipena, meaning a native +of Arequipa. I mention the design of the combination engine-car for +the reason that, on a duplicate of The Arequipena, later occurred one +of the most perilous and tragic events of my life. + +The stretch of road from Julica to Cabanillas was level and straight, +except about two miles from Cabanillas station, where a heavy side cut +and sharp curve was the only obstruction to the view for miles. I was +going at the rate of forty miles an hour, when, on nearing this curve, +I beheld a large Rogers locomotive with a train of coaches coming +toward me. I cannot describe the thoughts that went through my +brain--there was a terrific crash--flying debris--a hissing of +steam--mingled with the groans of the wounded and dying. + +I was thrown out of the way of the wreck and near the edge of a river, +and when I regained my senses a priest was bending over me, bathing my +forehead. I gradually realized what had happened and went to my +engine. There was scarcely a vestige left of The Little Arequipena, +only a piece of the boiler and two pairs of driving wheels. The shock +was so great that the little coach was hurled over the other engine, +which was not damaged much. + +I saw several persons bending over some one, and, on going closer, +found William Cuthbert, our traveling engineer, stretched on the +ground dying. Five soldiers were dead beneath the ruins. One officer, +with his legs broken in two places, begged that others be cared for +first. The road-master was in agony, his lower limbs frightfully +burned by escaping steam; all the others were more or less seriously +injured, except myself. When relief came our dead and wounded were +taken to Arequipa. + +We had been sent out to repair the wires, and orders had come to me +that we should be given the right of way. The engineer who collided +with me told me that the commander of the government forces had +ordered our superintendent to furnish transportation for his troops +to Puno at once, and when informed that it would be impossible to send +a train until we were heard from, he threatened to place the +superintendent in jail unless his orders were complied with. No one on +the other train was hurt. They had six coaches full of soldiers, the +priest who assisted me being among them. + +The day after our arrival at Arequipa the funeral of William Cuthbert +took place. The procession was the largest that I had ever witnessed +at any funeral in Arequipa, natives as well as foreigners taking +part. + +It was a long time before I recovered from the shock, not alone of the +collision, but the death of William Cuthbert who always had been ready +to befriend me and who had given me much valuable information. He lies +buried in the cemetery at Arequipa, in a vault. A marble slab was +erected to his memory. + +The general manager sent for me one day to come to his office in +Arequipa, and after talking over the cause of the collision, I told +him that I considered him to blame for allowing any engine and train +to go out without knowing first where we were, and that it would have +been better to have gone to prison, that if he had been sent there the +American government would have demanded his freedom, and he would have +been honored. As it stood, he was to a certain extent responsible for +that dreadful affair. After some more words I left the office, +realizing that I had incurred the displeasure of the head officer. I +concluded to leave, which I was sorry to do, as I looked upon Arequipa +as my only home. + +I visited Valparaiso and again met Cockney Spider. He was still at his +old business, conducting a runaway sailors' boarding house. A few +weeks later found me in Panama, an engineer on the Panama and +Aspinwall railroad. The climate, I believe, is the most wretched in +the world, and tropical vegetation grows the rankest. In a few months +I was stricken with the yellow fever, but thanks to my robust +constitution I soon recovered. About this time I met an official of +the government railway at Ilo, who desired me to return and accept a +position as engineer on the road. I told him of my troubles in that +town with the officials. He met me soon afterwards, with a contract +duly drawn up for eighteen months' service and a guarantee that I +should not be molested by any petty official. + +When I arrived at Ilo, imagine my surprise to find that the man who +rowed me ashore was the Italian who caused my arrest. He offered to +shake hands but I refused. When I went to the hotel many of my old +native friends came to see me, and informed me that after I had left +they discovered the person who did the shooting. It was done by one of +their own number, who managed to get away. + +It was very gratifying to thus have my innocence established, but it +did not recompense for the time I had spent in jail and the loss of +money. + +I had been running a train out of Ilo about a month, when one night I +was invited to a "wake." Having never attended one, I accepted the +invitation. At one end of the room stood a large table, and upon it +the body of a child two years old. On its head was a wreath of +flowers. The child was dressed in white; in its tiny hands was a +bouquet of flowers; the feet were encased in small white slippers; +lighted candles surrounded the body. At either end of the table were +several old women, who were employed by the family as mourners, and +they kept up a continual low moaning sound. Occasionally they would +stop to partake of wine, and start again, more dismal than ever. The +room was large and on each side were seated ladies and gentlemen +talking and laughing and seemingly enjoying themselves. The parents of +the dead child appeared to have surpassed the expectations of their +friends and made a great success of the "wake." + +There is a custom in Peru that when several persons are gathered +together there is constant drinking. A large bottle of wine or +whiskey is placed on the table with one glass. A lady or gentleman +will fill the glass and drink to the health of some one present. It is +bad form to leave any liquor in the glass, so it is always drained, +refilled and presented to the one whose health has been drunk. It is +an insult to refuse to drink, after one has drank to your health and +the person accepting the glass drinks to the health of some one else. +In this manner the glass is constantly on the move. On this occasion, +the wine was on the table with the corpse. + +About one o'clock in the morning not seeing any disposition on the +part of the guests to retire, I bade our friends good night. + +I had barely reached the street when I heard firing and saw people +running. Suddenly there came a volley of musketry, and a woman dropped +dead a few feet in front of me. Almost immediately the streets were +deserted, but I could hear the cries of "Vivia Pierola," and I knew +another revolution had broken out. + + + + +VIII. + +VIVA GENERALISSIMO PIEROLA. + + +I did not do anything for the woman. Shot through the heart, she was +past all aid. I made a dash into a by-street, intending to reach the +station, get my engine ready and go to Ilo to prevent the insurgents +from using the road to transport their troops. But I ran into an +officer's arms before I had gone a block. He had been looking for me +all night, and told me I was his prisoner. I was to be taken before +Senor Pierola. Meantime I was to be treated with every consideration, +the officer paying for breakfast and cigars, and insisting on my +drinking some ale which he had taken as a contraband of war. + +It was some time before we could get near the great leader of the +revolution, the approaches to his house being crowded with people. +Ladies were prominent among the crowd, carrying flowers and declaring +their deliverer had come to make Peru the greatest nation on the +Pacific. + +After the officer presented me Pierola asked me if I spoke Spanish. +Upon being answered in the affirmative, he asked my name, nationality +and how long I had been employed by the Peruvian government; all of +which being answered to his satisfaction, he asked me if I would work +for him, and if I would, in the event of his being victorious, I +should be appointed to take charge of the Ilo and Moquequa railways. +He only wanted me to convey troops down the valley, take up some of +the rails to prevent the government troops from using the line, and +then before he retreated to another position which he would fortify, +to dismantle the engine and hide the parts, so that in case the +government troops should come to Moquequa the engine would be of no +service to them. + +I replied that I was a British subject, and that if I were to do what +he requested of me, and should be taken prisoner by the government, +and the fact became known that I had taken part, I would be unable to +claim the protection of my government. He agreed that that was true, +but he would insure against that by sending a few troops with me, and +it would look as if force was compelling me to do what, which without +force, I would not have done. + +I finally agreed, and after giving my word that I would not attempt to +escape, received orders to take the engine, as a squad of soldiers +would accompany me, and at a certain place along the line which they +would designate, the rails would be torn up. We started that +afternoon. + +We carried two flat cars to load the rails on. About forty miles from +Moquequa we discovered another train coming toward us, but upon our +nearer approach they backed off rapidly. It was a party of government +troops sent out to ascertain whether the road was clear in order to +bring up their main body. Our company then took up rails and made the +road dangerous in ten different places. We blew up a small wooden +bridge with giant powder. + +The officer in charge made frequent stops in the valley and levied a +tribute of money on all the wine merchants he could find. They usually +gave, as they knew too well the consequence of refusing. Those who hid +away found, on their return, their wine presses and vaults in ruins. + +On our return to Moquequa, I was ordered to disable the engine, which +I did by taking off both valve stems and driving rods. The officer hid +them and that was the last I ever saw of them. We attended a dance +which lasted all night, and drank much wine in anticipation of the +success of the revolution. It was a gala night. There was dancing and +music in nearly all the houses. + +In the early morning bugles, drums and other instruments began making +a hideous noise, officers were commanding men to form ranks, horses, +mules and donkeys were running hither and thither, and dogs were +barking. Here and there were groups of men learning to load their +rifles, others endeavoring to parry and thrust with cutlasses and +making fierce swings at an imaginary government soldier. Louder and +hoarser came the call of the officers, but their commands were lost on +the motley crowd. After several hours the officers succeeded in +getting the men into some kind of marching order. + +I turned to a store to buy some cigars, when I heard someone calling, +and turning I beheld three of my fellow prisoners that a few months +before were in jail convicted of murder. One straightened out his hand +to me, but I did not take it. I asked them how they escaped; it was +the old story. The insurgents needed recruits and they were liberated +on condition that they fight for Pierola. + +Such was Peru, and such it is today. Instead of the people supporting +the government, the government supports the people, and when all its +favors become exhausted, then some one arises and proclaims himself +president, organizes a band of thieves and murderers, and endeavors +to gain control. + +There have been exceptions, when an indignant people, who have been +trodden to such an extent that it seems a revolution is the only means +of righting their wrongs; but nine out of ten are the work of an +ambitious man who wants to become ruler. + +I asked the ex-convicts where the other three were who had been +confined with them. Two had died and the other was with the troops. +They begged for money and I gave them a dollar each, and after +profusely thanking me they left to follow the rear guard of Pierola's +scoundrels. + +After purchasing my cigars, I followed the main body of troops with my +escort of twenty soldiers, to keep guard over me, as arranged with +General Pierola. Our destination was Torato, thirty miles from +Moquequa. The road led over passes and wound around mountain sides, +and from several points of vantage I could see the army on the march, +with General Pierola and a priest by his side in the lead. The priest +was there to inspire courage in those who might waver. The army +numbered six hundred infantry and two hundred cavalry, many of whom +did not know the duties of a soldier. + +On arriving at Torato, I secured quarters for myself and escort at the +expense of the insurgent general. A month passed in wine drinking and +dancing. There were gay festivities every night, lasting sometimes +until late the next morning, the officers seldom seeing their men. +Instead of drilling them, they spent their time telling how they were +going to annihilate the government troops. Some little fortifying had +been done, but the natural surroundings were sufficient to prevent a +prudent attack. One day the news came that the government troops were +advancing and then some little work was done to prepare for battle. + +The day before the battle, I told General Pierola I had no objections +to following him to the battlefield, but in consideration of being a +non-combatant, I asked the privilege of selecting my own course, +giving him my word of honor that I would not make any attempt to +escape. He was satisfied and gave me a pass allowing the freedom I +desired. The next day the cry arose that the government troops were +only six miles away. There was hurrying to and fro with no discipline. +The priest accomplished more by his cross than all the officers. There +was a babel of voices. All were trying to give commands. Suddenly +heavy firing was heard, the outpost had become engaged at last. + + + + +IX. + +AMID THE DIN OF BATTLE. + + +The main body of the insurgent troops began to move to the front, +headed by General Pierola and the priest marching to the most +unearthly music I ever heard. Women were conspicuous and cheered as +the men marched past. "Viva Pierola!" was heard on all sides. + +Then came an order to double quick. The outposts were driven in a +short distance, and the enemy was in a valley, surrounded on both +sides by a chain of hills with a huge mountain in the background. When +I saw the position of the government troops, I was satisfied they +would be defeated and the battle become a rout. There were two +regiments of infantry and one of cavalry in the valley. Pierola +stationed his troops on each side of the pass and in front, reserving +his cavalry. In a short time the engagement became general. The +priest encouraged the insurgents by displaying the cross. He was a +courageous fellow, always to be found in places of danger. I mounted a +huge boulder and could easily see all that was going on. The +government troops would waver and fall back, and again they would +renew the attempt to scale the hillsides, which was impossible as long +as the insurgents held their position. + +There was a strange happening just when success seemed assured. The +insurgent cavalry had taken no part up to this time, as both sides of +the valley had been actively engaged. The insurgents along the pass +were running short of ammunition. An order was sent to the captain of +the cavalry to send a company back to Torato and assist in hurrying up +supplies. There was a brief cessation of hostilities. I could plainly +see the government troops carrying their dead and wounded to the rear, +but still holding their position. When another charge was made to take +the heights, the firing again became general. Suddenly arose the cry, +"They come! They come!" Firing along the sides of the pass ceased, and +I looked in amazement. Evidently, something was wrong. The insurgents +were throwing away their arms and running. There was a cloud of dust +in the direction of Torato, and I could easily distinguish a company +of cavalry, which I knew was the company sent to hurry up the +ammunition. The insurgents saw them and imagined that the government +cavalry had succeeded in getting to their rear. The panic became a +rout. In vain did Pierola plead, as he threw himself in front of his +demoralized men, in vain did the priest hold his crucifix on high, +threatening and pleading, but no persuasion could stop those runaway +cowards. The government troops realized something was wrong, and began +to scale the heights. Still, if the cavalry which had done no +fighting, could have been led to the side of the pass, the day would +still have been with Pierola, and probably the stampede would have +been checked. But unfortunately for the would-be president, there was +no one in command capable of meeting the emergency. + +I became excited, and snatching a cutlass from the hand of a +retreating soldier, threw myself in front of a column in a vain +endeavor to stop them, but they ran over me like so many sheep. Terror +had lent them wings of flight and deprived them of reason. By this +time the government infantry had reached the plateau and was forming +into companies. Their cavalry had seized the heights and the day was +lost. + +I saw General Pierola shake hands with the priest and leave the field. +The priest mounted and he, too, was gone. The ground was strewn with +arms; even the discordant musical instruments were discarded. + +Thus an army of revolutionists, who, a few hours before paraded +through the streets of Torato, cheered by fair women, and shouting +"Viva Pierola," had won a battle by natural surroundings and lost it +by their cowardice. I, too, thought it was time to retreat, as my +escort of twenty soldiers had long since disappeared. I rode to +Torato. + +Along the way I overtook straggling bands of insurgents going into +town to hide, while others were scaling the tallest mountains. I went +to my quarters, and soon the town was surrounded. + +The next morning about two hundred insurgents were captured. The +others were hid in some mysterious way and the commanding officer of +the government troops was made to believe that the main body of the +insurgents was in the mountains. + +I sought the general of the government troops to inform him of my +presence. He replied that he knew of my being a prisoner, and asked me +to return to Moquequa at once and help to get the railway in operation +to convey his troops and prisoners. + +I was glad no other questions were put to me, and after pleading with +the general for my kind host who had treated me with great kindness in +Torato, and who was not in sympathy with the revolutionists, he agreed +to exempt him from the payment of money levied on nearly all the +inhabitants. + +[Illustration: THE EARTH BEGAN TO ROCK AND REEL. (Page 33)] + +Soon after this a troop ship arrived in Ilo to convey prisoners and +escort to Lima. I felt sorry for the prisoners. Many of them +recognized me and kept calling, "Don Juan, please try and help us," +but of course I was powerless to do anything for them. I was glad when +they were aboard the transport for I felt miserable in the midst of so +much suffering. But I knew they would not suffer long. Another +revolution would set them free. + +The railroad was again in running order and everything progressing +smoothly when one morning at breakfast I was informed that Pierola had +broken out again. This time his party had, by means unknown, captured +the Peruvian ironclad ram, Huascar. He must have been aided by the +officers, or at least one of them who declared in his favor. Howbeit, +he had possession. The Peruvian fleet was sent in pursuit, but as the +Huascar was the most powerful vessel of the fleet, they had to give +her up. + +The fortunes of Pierola were brighter now than ever. He could, with +the exception of Callao, have entire command and control of all the +sea ports along the coast. But unfortunately for him, he began to stop +the British mail, and later the French mail on the high seas, his +object being to intercept mail for the Peruvian government. + +The British government dispatched H. M. S. Amythist and the Shah to +compel him to surrender, the Huascar having had full sway along the +coast for a month. + +The Huascar finally made her appearance in the port of Ilo, and almost +immediately the Amythist and Shah hove in sight. I had a good view +from the beach and saw a boat lowered from the Shah and pull directly +to the Huascar, I supposed for the purpose of demanding her surrender. +However, if that was the object, it failed, for upon the return of the +boat to the Shah, the Amythist cleared for action. + +The afternoon was calm; not a ripple on the ocean. The Huascar was +nearest the shore, less than a mile from where I stood. The Shah was +over a mile distant seaward. A signal flashed from the Shah and the +Amythist steamed toward the Huascar. The Amythist was a wooden +corvette, equipped with twin screws. The Shah was a commerce +destroyer. Neither vessel was a match for the modern ironclad +Huascar. + +Suddenly a shot came from the Shah. The flag and pole at the stern of +the Huascar dropped overboard. The Huascar, equipped with a revolving +turret, sent a shot at the Amythist, but it went wide of its mark. The +Amythist circled and sent a broadside full on the Huascar, every shot +taking effect. With the aid of a glass I could see the decks of the +Amythist plainly from my position on a huge rock. The British sailors, +stripped to the waist, cutlass in hand, stood eagerly awaiting orders. +The gunners' crews were engaged in firing rapidly. The Huascar replied +by slow but heavy reports from her turret. The object of the British +was to disable the Huascar's turret, and they succeeded by directing +all shots against it. + +The Huascar, finding she could not effect the enemy by shots, turned +to ram her. The Amythist, being equipped with twin screws, awaited the +Huascar and when within a short distance ran alongside and poured her +whole broadside on the rebel. That was the last act before the Huascar +surrendered. + +I was aboard the Huascar a few months afterward at Mollendo and she +presented a most dilapidated appearance. + +Thus again was General Pierola frustrated, and by a British wooden +vessel against a crack ironclad of Peru. Pierola escaped as usual, and +the Huascar was turned over to the Peruvian government. + +A few days after the Amythist-Huascar battle I discovered the people +of Ilo were cold and distant towards me, and I soon learned the cause. +Although they were in favor of the existing government, they did not +relish the idea of their people being beaten by the British. I could +not condemn the acts of my own country and I felt it would be better +to leave Ilo, which I did, little dreaming of the exciting events +which were soon to follow. + + + + +X. + +WE MEET AGAIN, FELICITA. + + +The theater of Arequipa was ablaze with lights. The youth and beauty +had assembled to follow the fortunes of the Count de Monte Christo. I +was seated in the dress circle listening to the weird warlike strains +of Spanish music, when my eyes fell upon the occupants of a box. A +beautiful girl, half hidden by the rich draperies, was talking with an +aristocratic looking old gentleman, while by their side sat a young +man, dark-browed and sinister looking. I arose and entered the box +from the side door. "Don Julian Maldonado, I am delighted to meet +you," I said, "I am the boy you befriended some years ago in the +Cordilleras." + +He took my hand delightedly and bade me be seated, offering me a chair +between himself and daughter. Don Julian whispered to me not to make +myself known to Felicita to see if she would recognize me. All this +was amusing to Don Julian, but somewhat embarrassing to me, seated, as +I was, between them, and trying to carry on a conversation with him. +The expression of wonderment in Felicita's beautiful eyes was +disconcerting to say the least. It was evident she did not remember +me. And yet how could she be expected to. She was a child of only nine +years when we first met, and who now, seven years later found me +unexpected and unannounced sitting beside her in a theater. + +Laughingly I turned to her and asked if she did not recognize me, +explaining that the reason her father had not presented me was that we +had met seven years ago. + +While I was speaking she was looking earnestly at me, but when I +recalled their journey to La Paz she appeared dubious and asked if I +was the young lad she met near Puno and if it was possible that I had +grown to manhood and learned to speak Spanish? When I reassured her, +the look of astonishment gave way to an exclamation of joy. + +The play was forgotten. We only talked of our first meeting. She +asked if I was staying in Arequipa and on learning that I was, +promised that we should meet again, as her father had decided to +remain there for some time. I was delighted but felt somewhat +disturbed because of the young man in the box with her. When I began +to talk to Felicita he moved his seat farther away. The Peruvians are +the acme of politeness. + +The play being over, I assisted Felicita with her wraps. Her father +then introduced me to Don Rodrigo Garcia, a fellow traveller whom they +had met on their journey from Cusco to Arequipa. + +I was not particularly well pleased with the young man. First +impressions sometimes give rise to doubt and distrust. It was so with +me in this instance. Don Julian insisted on my going home with them. I +walked with Felicita on one side and Don Julian on the other, Don +Rodrigo walking just ahead of me. Their home was on Calle Mercaderes, +one of the prettiest squares of the city. Like most Peruvian homes, +the house was of adobe with flat roof and partitions of plastered +cane. It contained six rooms. In the windows were heavy iron bars, +like all houses of the better class. They were very serviceable, for +Spanish lovers do their courting between the window bars. The girl +sits beside the window and her wooer stands in the street; the parents +sometimes invite him in. Should he request the company of the girl to +the play or to any entertainment, the invitation must include the +whole family. This custom in the larger cities is dying out, but in +the inland cities it is still adhered to. + +Arriving at the door, I bade Felicita and her father good night with +the assurance that I would dine with them the next day. Don Rodrigo +also was invited. His hotel was on my way and I accompanied him. He +was splendid company, and after reaching his hotel I accepted his +invitation to a light lunch. Afterwards we enjoyed a cigar and some +rich old wine, but still I could not overcome the aversion I first +formed for him. + +The following day, long before the appointed time for dinner, I was +dressed and ready. Chico, a half-breed Indian, whom I had rendered a +service one time when he was being set upon by some of his own people, +and who afterwards slept in my passage way, had my boots polished and +horse carefully groomed. He was a faithful servant. He would find out +where I went and quietly follow, and after the manner of his race, +would lie down in some obscure place in perfect contentment and wait +for me. I arrived at the home of Don Julian at the appointed time, and +found the father and daughter awaiting me. A few moments later, Don +Rodrigo arrived and we were seated in the parlor facing the street. It +was splendidly appointed. Although the exterior of many Peruvian +residences appear shabby, the interior presents a far different +appearance. + +I requested Felicita to play for us and time passed quickly. Dinner +being called I took the liberty of escorting Felicita to the table and +was given the place beside her. The Indian servants between courses, +kept our glasses filled. Felicita did not take wine, and when dinner +was over retired, leaving us to enjoy our cigars and liquor. We +afterwards adjourned to the parlor, where I gave my friends an account +of my life since our first meeting. I could see that Don Rodrigo took +every opportunity to make light of my narrative. + +I did not allude to being in Ilo during the Amythist and Huascar +affair, but after I had given my friends a brief account of myself, +Don Rodrigo asked me my nationality. I told him I was Scottish. He +then asked me what I thought of the Huascar affair, hoping no doubt to +belittle my standing with Don Julian. I replied that I had given it +very little thought, and moreover considered it a question for both +governments to settle, and was satisfied that everything would be +adjusted amicably. + +My reply seemed to annoy him, as he doubtless thought I would commit +myself, and take the part of the British. He arose, and pleading a +press of business, begged permission to retire. He shook hands with +Don Julian and daughter, but merely bowed to me. I was glad he was +gone. + +Never before had I been so happy as now, in Felicita's presence. For +the first time since leaving home this was the only pleasure I had +known. Felicita sang some pretty Spanish ballads to the music of her +guitar and I went home that night with a lightness of heart I had not +experienced for a long time. + +My duties not requiring me to be away from Arequipa often, much of my +time was spent with Felicita. Together we would ride horseback over +the picturesque valley, with its olive and orange groves and along +shaded avenues of palms, with pebbly brooks of crystal waters on +either side. The pure air and semi-tropical skies stimulated our +buoyant spirits, and made these the halcyon days of my existence. My +first dreams of love when we met in the Cordilleras were now a +blissful reality. + +I saw little of Don Rodrigo in the weeks that followed and was seldom +in the company of my comrades. Once a week I would join them at the +club, but aside from that I was always to be found at Don Julian's +home. + +Months sped by in sweet content as the world took on a more roseate +hue and the future presented an alluring picture. + +I met Don Rodrigo on the street one day and as he nodded slightly I +noticed an evil look in his eyes. On returning to my room late that +night something glistened in the moonlight on my door. I struck a +match, a blood red heart was traced on the panel, and in the center +stuck a dagger. What did it mean? + + + + +XI. + +THE MASQUE BALL AT TIRAVAYA. + + +It was the night of the annual masque ball at Tiravaya, a summer +resort a few miles from Arequipa. The hall was crowded with dancers; +many gentlemen were in Cavalier costume, with swords clanking at their +sides. Others were in helmets, gorglet and breastplate, to represent +Pizarro's conquerors of Peru. Many of the ladies wore quaint costumes +and rich attire of the court of Ferdinand and Isabella, while a few +were attired in grotesque costumes. Felicita was dressed as a princess +of the court of the ancient Incas, with a head dress of the rich +plumage of tropic birds. I was dressed in the Highland garb of +Scotland. + +I soon discovered Felicita by the rosebud in her hair. We took part in +the grand march and in nearly all the dances. The soft strains of the +music and the gayety of the picturesque throng in the brilliantly +lighted room made the hours pass quickly and it was soon time for +unmasking. After the general greeting was over, we proceeded to the +dining room where an elegant repast was served. The supper being +finished, the music struck up again as the wine was being served. Just +then I observed Rodrigo for the first time, and noticed that he was +intently watching me. I called Felicita's attention to him and she +seemed to be frightened. She wanted to return home, but I assured her +there was no danger; we were among friends. She replied that I was not +familiar with Spanish hatred, and that he would sooner or later insult +me. I had known for more than three months, that he had proposed to +Felicita and been refused. I also knew he was a gambler and lived on +his chances at the faro table. Being an expert and without any sense +of honor, even to one of that profession, he was seldom unsuccessful. +I had never mentioned to Don Julian or Felicita his manner of life. + +An American, who unfortunately got under the influence of wine, +proposed a toast to Peru, to which we all responded by raising our +glasses. Another toast was given to the United States which received a +similar response. Toast followed toast in quick succession. I merely +raised my glass as I had no desire to drink any more, and knowing the +long distance before me, I was on the point of calling for Chico to +have our horses in readiness, when I heard my name called and found +that I was requested to make a speech. I arose and congratulated the +company present for the pleasant time we had passed, and the happy +manner in which everything had been conducted by our host. All rose +and gave him three cheers. + +Don Rodrigo then stepped to the center between both tables, and asked +everyone present who denounced the British government for its action +in the Huascar affair, to stand up. I knew the insult was meant for +me. I refused to stand, as also did two of my British friends. After +they were seated Felicita again pleaded with me to leave, but I could +not do so with honor then, and had I done so, I would have been held +in contempt afterwards. Don Rodrigo came to where I was seated and +addressing himself to me said: + +"I observe that you refuse to condemn the action of the British +government. Of course you are a Britisher, but I must say that the +action of your government was of the most cowardly nature, and anyone +who upholds such actions deserves the name of coward; in fact, anyone +who allows himself to be ruled by the Queen of Great Britain must be +anything but a brave man." + +I cannot describe the thoughts that ran through my brain. I stood like +one paralyzed. I could neither move nor speak, but I was conscious +that everyone was looking at me and seemed to enjoy my discomfiture. +Felicita placed both hands on my right arm and looked pleadingly in my +face. I could see everything quite plainly, but I was bereft of all +powers. Then by a valiant effort I recovered myself. Bending down, I +told Felicita to remain and not be alarmed. + +I arose and went to where Don Rodrigo stood. I was calm and collected. +"Don Rodrigo," I said, "I came here by invitation, and when I accepted +had no thought of being insulted. Neither do I believe that our host +or the gentlemen present intended that I should be. You have without +provocation on my part, insulted my Queen and called her subjects +cowards. The country that gave me birth never produced cowards and I +want to convince you that I am not an exception." With this I dealt +him a terrific blow in the face. + +He fell heavily to the floor and all was confusion. Men leaped on +tables and chairs. Cries of "Down with the foreigner!" were heard on +every side. Then my British friends came over to where I stood, one of +they saying, "Good, Jack, the coward deserved it! Let us stand side by +side and show them how the Queen's subjects can defend themselves!" + +I can see him now, his auburn hair disarranged and partially hanging +over his forehead, his blue eyes sparkling with indignation, his right +hand holding a revolver. The other said, "There are only three of us +but we will show them how Britishers can fight," at the same time +drawing his Colt's. I had also pulled my gun, anticipating the worst, +when the American drew near and said: "Jack, I know nothing of your +Queen or country; I am an American, but you did right, and what I +would do under similar circumstances. I will stand by you, although we +have little chance against such odds." + +By this time Don Rodrigo had been assisted to his feet, blood all over +his face. The uproar ceased for a few minutes, as the crowd was +without a leader. The blow had told with effect--two front teeth were +gone and both eyes were discolored, caused, I think, by him coming in +contact with the floor. In a few moments cries of "Down with the +foreigner," again commenced. We knew it threatened our lives, but when +they looked down the barrels of four revolvers they knew it also +threatened some of their lives. + +Springing on a chair, I asked them to listen to me. I told them that +the quarrel they had witnessed had been sought by Don Rodrigo against +me; and I asked why others should suffer? Let him finish his quarrel +with me now or at any other time he chose--I would always meet him, +and surely gentlemen such as I knew them to be would not so far forget +themselves as to endeavor to overcome us, who had never done them +harm? + +This appeal was effective. Don Rodrigo had been washed, and never did +I see a face with such devilish and malignant expression. I was young +and strong, with quite a knowledge of the art of self defense, and I +watched him very closely lest he should draw a knife. + +Presently he said that he would be the judge of time and place and +manner of meeting me, and that I would yet remember Don Rodrigo +Garcia. I did not answer and he walked out of the hall. I drank +several glasses of wine with those who, but a few moments before, were +crying for revenge. I found Chico near me, and could hardly refrain +from laughing when I discovered that he had armed himself before +leaving Arequipa with a great navy revolver he found in my room. I am +satisfied had an attack been made on us, Chico would have done his +part, provided he had found a way to use the revolver. I am satisfied +he never saw one before he came to Arequipa. + +I told him to get the horses ready and my friends remained near to +prevent any treachery. However, we were not molested on the way home. +Felicita begged me to watch Don Rodrigo. "I know," she said, "that +man's nature. He will watch you always, and while he will not attack +you alone, he will pay others to inflict some injury on you." + +Don Julian was waiting and had hot cocoa ready for us. We both +concluded that we would better tell him what had happened lest he hear +a wrong version from others. They were determined that I should spend +the remainder of the night in their house, but I concluded it would +appear cowardly. So, I bade them good night and, with Chico following, +perfectly happy over the few dollars I had given him, I reached home +in safety. + +I thought much about the affair at Tiravaya and determined to watch +Don Rodrigo closely. A week later Don Julian informed me he was going +to Aacna on business. He would be gone several days, but Felicita +would stay here. Fatal mistake. + + + + +XII. + +COWARDLY ACT OF A VILLAIN. + + +"Don Juan! Ah, Don Juan! Something dreadful! Felicita!" cried Chico as +he burst into my room breathless near midnight. + +"What is it?" I demanded, "quick, I say," but he could only gasp +"Felicita!" + +I hurried to the stable and saddled my horse, Chico following. We +rode with all haste to the home of Don Julian. Everything was in +uproar. The Indian servants moaned and cried, and pointed in the +direction of the road leading to the cemetery. Thither I rode, fast +as my horse could run. It was a lonely road, with few houses by the +wayside and those were mostly Indian huts. It was nearly one +o'clock in the morning, no one to be seen--on and on I went. I could +see a dark outline of what I thought must be a vehicle of some kind. +As carriages are seldom used in Arequipa, I concluded that this +must be bearing Felicita away. I drove the spurs harder and leaned +forward, peering into the darkness. I was gaining rapidly. I was +certain now that it was Felicita, for they were driving at full +speed. I never thought how I was to rescue her, my whole purpose +being to catch up with that villain. Just then the moon shone bright +from behind a cloud and lighted up the scene. The occupants of the +carriage now knew they were being pursued, and they stopped. I could +plainly see two men unhitch two horses from behind the carriage. They +took Felicita from the carriage and were forcing her to mount when, +suddenly, her horse became unmanageable, and she fell to the +ground. By this time I was close upon them, and called to Felicita to +be brave, but the poor girl never heard me, for she was unconscious. +Don Rodrigo stopped, as if determined to resist me. Would to God +he had! But he put spurs to his horse and fled. I shot at him, but +as the distance was great, and the light uncertain, the bullet +went wide of the mark. I soon forgot him on reaching Felicita, as +she lay with an ugly cut on her head caused by striking the +carriage step when she fell. There lay my child-friend, unconscious. +She was dressed for retiring, her other clothes being in the +carriage. My first impulse was to pursue the accursed scoundrel +and avenge the insult to Felicita, but I could not leave her there. +I took her in my arms and carried her to a near-by Indian hut +where, after some parley with the poor, superstitious Indians, the +door was opened, and I laid my burden on some sheepskins on the +floor. Her hands were cold and she appeared to be dead. + +By this time, Chico arrived and brought her clothes from the carriage. +I staunched the flow of blood with my handkerchief, while Chico +prepared some hot native liquor, which I put to her lips. After a +time, she opened her eyes, but did not know me. I called and called +her name, but it was long before consciousness returned. When she did +recognize me, a look of love and happiness passed over her face. I +would not let her speak, but told her that when she was taken home, +she could tell me all. The carriage driver had long since made his +escape, so I had sent to Arequipa and had a closed carriage brought, +in which I took her home. + +Time dragged wearily until the return of her father. I remained by her +side and with the assistance of the Indian servants, made her as +comfortable as possible. I had been without sleep so long that I had +gone into the parlor and laid down. I had just awakened from a sleep +when Don Julian entered. Poor old man, he was overcome with grief. He +knew all, Felicita had told him. From him I learned how the abduction +had taken place. About 11 o'clock at night, Don Rodrigo had entered +the bedroom and before she realized what was being done, Felicita had +been carried to the carriage in waiting. Leaving her in charge of the +driver, Don Rodrigo returned for her clothes. No sooner was his back +turned than she screamed. This attracted the attention of Chico, who +had been enjoying a visit with Don Julian's Indian servants in the +kitchen. He had run at full speed to inform me. + +It was the opinion of Don Julian that Don Rodrigo had intended taking +the child to some remote Indian habitation in the mountains, and +demanding a ransom for her. + +This was a plausible theory, for besides getting revenge for Felicita +refusing his hand in marriage, he would be able to extort money from +Don Julian, and also avenge his fancied wrongs at my hands. + +The following day Felicita was still weak and nervous. The doctor +advised that she be taken to the sea coast for a time. She protested, +saying she was getting stronger, but I knew she was only saying it to +cheer her father and myself. I could plainly see her condition was +precarious. After a long consultation with the doctors, Don Julian +decided he would take her to Truxillo, their former home. After +considerable pleading, she consented to go. I was to follow when she +recovered. + +I accompanied them and their Indian servants aboard the steamer and +remained aboard the little ferry boat, waving my handkerchief until +they faded into the distance. I returned ashore, and although I had +not been in Mollendo for some time, I had no desire to see my friends. +I wanted to be alone. + +Weeks of dreary waiting followed. I was not myself. Anxiously I looked +for a letter and with trembling hands I broke the seal. The letter was +dated Lima, and read: "Don Juan, I am crazy. Felicita is dead. Will +write you all, when I am composed. Julian." + +Never was human being more distracted than I. Absenting myself from +everybody night after night in deep ravines and valleys, among the +lofty mountains that surrounded Arequipa, I wandered. Many an Indian +no doubt looked upon me with superstitious awe, walking without caring +whither I went, like one demented. A second letter came stating that +the death of Felicita was caused by a terrible cold she had +contracted and the nervous shock suffered on the night of the +abduction. Like his first, Don Julian's letter was brief. He said: "I +will let you know where she is buried in my next, and I think I will +not be long after her." + +I concluded to go to Lima, but another letter, dated Truxillo, stated +that he had left Lima and would bury Felicita in Truxillo. I received +no more missives. To go to Lima was useless, to go to Truxillo and +perhaps not find him there, would not accomplish anything so I decided +to wait until I heard further news. I scarcely know how I passed my +time. Night after night I would go up town, play billiards and visit +the drinking places, always with the hope that I would meet Don +Rodrigo. + +I intended, when I heard from Don Julian to make a trip to Truxillo, +visit the last resting place of Felicita, and perhaps remain in Lima, +away from scenes that reminded me of the only happy time in my +existence, and its tragic ending. But circumstances over which I had +no control changed my plans. + +One night, as I was sitting alone in my room, a boy handed me a +telegram. It was from the general manager of the railroad, saying to +report at his office at once and bring all the engine runners with me, +and to enjoin absolute secrecy on the part of the men. I did as +requested, and now begins one of the most exciting adventures of my +life. + + + + +XIII. + +MURDEROUS PLAN OF THE INSURGENTS. + + +On my arrival at the manager's office, I found him in consultation +with the Prefecto of Arequipa and the General in command of the +regular army. I was informed that another revolution was about to be +attempted in Peru in favor of General Pierola. + +The General said he had a valuable package which must be delivered to +the Prefecto of Puno, that in the event the package was captured it +would ruin all their plans. Would I undertake to deliver it for the +government? I turned to the general manager and, speaking to him in +English, said: "There is some mystery connected with this. Before I +pledge myself to do this, it will be necessary to have a clear +understanding." He repeated my request to the General, who informed me +that a secret message had come over the wires that a revolution had +broken out again, and this time the insurgents had taken possession of +several points to prevent the government troops from reaching Puno; +that the package I was to take was a notice to the Prefecto of Puno, +for himself and those in favor of the government, to proceed to a +designated place, where the government troops would arrive, and march +by stages to Puno. + +I realized the danger connected with this undertaking and accepted the +responsibility with some trepidation. A generous reward awaited me if +I succeeded, but it was understood in accepting the perilous message, +no instructions were to be given me; that I was to use my own judgment +and, if danger threatened the package, to destroy it before it should +be captured. + +The little Arequipena had long since been rebuilt, and I at once +proceeded to put her in readiness for the journey. Manuel, my fireman, +was a native of Arequipa, a powerfully built and sturdy fellow. He +had been much among the British and American railway men and could +understand English. + +After leaving orders as to the time of starting, I called on an +English friend and confided my mission. I asked him, in event of my +death, to write to my relatives in Scotland, giving the details. He +did everything in his power to dissuade me, but I told him his talk +was idle. No use, I had made up my mind. Upon seeing the Arequipena +ready, the men in the shops questioned me, but I evaded their +questions. + +I went to the office of the general manager and he gave me the +package, unaddressed, done up securely, and sealed with red wax. I +placed it in the inside pocket of my vest. The manager asked me to be +careful with myself. He would much rather I should not go, but in my +state of mind, I was only too glad to get my thoughts off the sad +remembrance of Felicita's fate. + +I left Arequipa at ten o'clock that night, cautiously and silently +leaving the station. I arrived at Puno the following evening and lay +over at Juliaca Junction a few hours. At this point the station master +asked me where I was going. I replied that I had orders for Puno. +Leaving Juliaca, I arrived at Puno at exactly five o'clock. I blew the +whistle for the station. I noticed that it was crowded with people, +but saw no one I would suspect of being a revolutionist. I put the +engine in the shed, and then went and washed up. I hid the package in +a secure place, where it was impossible for anyone to find it, as I +had planned to go to the hotel, eat supper and then learn my chances +for getting to the Prefecto, before I took the package from its hiding +place. The station of Puno, like all terminal stations of the Arequipa +railway, was fenced in by corrugated iron, about eight feet high, and +it was necessary to go through the station outlet, which was only +opened on the arrival and departure of trains, or another outlet +guarded by a dog and night watchman. I went out by the small gate, +familiarly bidding the watchman good evening. This gate only employes +had the right to use. I walked up town to the hotel Inca. I met +several gentlemen who knew me and asked one to play a game of +billiards before supper. No one seemed to think that my coming was +anything more than the usual routine of railway business. + +After darkness, I lit a cigar and strolled down the street where the +Prefecto lived. I observed the sentry at the front entrance and upon +close observation, I found that the rear of the house could be +approached by a little back street connecting with a small alleyway by +means of which the house could be entered from the front. + +I retraced my steps to the station but did not go near the gate. I +went around to the engine shed, where an opening had been made by the +boys so they could get to their rooms when out late nights and avoid +answering the questions of the watchman. When I reached the +Arequipena, the wipers were cleaning her. I spoke to the foreman, and +getting the package, went out the same way, no one noticing my +departure. Then going through, the narrow street I went up the small +alley and, seeing no one, presented myself at the main entrance of the +Prefecto's house. Here the sentry barred my passage and demanded the +password. I told him to call the officer of the guard, and when he +appeared I explained that I had important business with Senor +Prefecto, and desired to see him personally. + +"Who are you?" + +"The Senor Prefecto will answer that question," I replied. + +I had folded the package and hid it in the lining of my overcoat which +I had thrown over my arm. The officer withdrew for a few minutes, but +soon returned and allowed me to pass the sentry. Halting in front of a +large door, a signal was given and it was opened by another officer. I +was ushered in, and from there into an adjoining room, where I was +told to wait. + +Presently there came in a priest, then an officer with side arms, and +last Senor Prefecto, who asked me the nature of my business. I replied +that I had a message for the Prefecto, which could be imparted to him +alone. When my errand was communicated to him, he could do as he +chose. + +There was much hesitation before my request for a private audience was +granted, but on being searched, overcoat and all, the Senor Prefecto +finally agreed to see me alone. When the others had retired, I took +the package from the lining of my overcoat and gave it to him. + +I watched him closely as he read the contents. His face became +blanched, and his hands shook in abject fear, although nothing else +could have been expected from him, as he was an arrant coward. + +After reading the document, he called the others. He handed it to the +priest, who asked where I came from. I told him. Then he wanted to +know if anyone had seen me enter here, and whether the arrival of the +Arequipena was known. I told him I thought no one would pay any +attention to the arrival of the train but would consider it the +ordinary routine railway business. A consultation was held, and after +they found that I knew the contents of the message I had brought, they +admitted me to their council. They asked me to get the Arequipena +ready, and they and the principal officers would flee to Arequipa. I +told them that such a course could not be pursued, as all the +telegraph offices were in the hands of the insurgents, and that our +departure would become known, the engine surrounded and all taken +prisoners. They agreed it would be impossible to escape that way, and +decided that about midnight they would escape on horseback. Just then +an officer arrived and reported that the insurgents had taken +possession of the station, and two engines, one being the regular +passenger. One of the engine runners had been taken prisoner. Their +spy had reported that it was their intention to take both engines and +several coaches loaded with soldiers and arms; also, large quantities +of powder had been put on the Arequipena for the purpose of destroying +Sumbay bridge--to prevent the passage of government troops. + +I was forgotten for the time being, their fear for their own safety +outweighing all other considerations. Another officer came in and +breathlessly added the climax. The regiment of regulars had joined the +insurgents! + +I was now doing some rapid thinking. If Sumbay bridge was destroyed +and the fact not known in Arequipa, the government troops would come +along and, with the engine crew, be hurled into eternity. The bridge +being about one hundred and seventy-five feet high and six hundred +feet long and on a curve with deep cuts on either side and a heavy +down grade, it would be impossible for any train to stop, unless +warned beforehand. + +This was the murderous scheme of the insurgents. + +I learned it was the intention of the insurgents to proceed to +Vincocaya in the morning, destroy as they went along, the telegraph +offices, wait at Vincocaya until the arrival of the regular passenger +train from Arequipa and then proceed to Sumbay bridge. They evidently +had calculated with a great deal of precision, and if their plans +carried, victory would certainly be theirs. + +All these things were filling me with apprehension. I knew I would be +captured, but how could I save the bridge? I was determined to try at +all hazards. + + + + +XIV. + +FOR THE SAKE OF HUMANITY. + + +"This document calls for the payment of $10,000, and guarantees you +life employment by the government of Peru, provided you save the +Sumbay bridge," said the prefecto as he handed me a paper duly +witnessed by the priest. + +"No, Senor, I cannot accept it," I replied. "I will do my duty for the +sake of humanity. It is part of my plan to be captured by the +insurgents and should that paper be found on my person, I would be +shot as a spy. If I succeed you can reward me." + +I left the Prefecto and his party, wishing them a safe journey, and +sauntered carelessly back to the Inca hotel. I entered smoking a cigar +and wearing a look of unconcern, pretended I was not aware of any +revolutionary movement. There were several men playing billiards in +the parlors. I took a chair and sat down to watch the players. About +11 o'clock I asked to be shown to my room, and retired, knowing full +well that I had been watched by a citizen of Puno since my entrance to +the hotel, and I was satisfied I would soon be taken prisoner. + +About 2 o'clock in the morning, I was awakened from a restless sleep +by the entrance of twelve men armed with bare swords and revolvers. +They were all talking at once. I sat up in bed and appeared to be +amazed. The leader requested me to dress and accompany him. The +streets were lined with people shouting the old familiar cry, "Viva +Pierola," as I was marched in the center of this crowd. The cry +resounded down street after street. The city was wild with excitement. +The escape of the Prefecto was on every lip, as we turned at a street +corner and to the station. We had great difficulty in obtaining +entrance, but a passage was cleared and I was ushered into the +presence of the leader of the revolutionary forces. He was about +fifty years of age, some six feet in heighth, and powerfully built, +but with a countenance far from pleasing. + +With little ceremony, I was notified to get the Arequipena ready to +depart from the station at 7 o'clock in the morning. The principal +officers would go with her, I was told, and the regular train would +follow with the troops. + +I replied that as a British subject it would be impossible for me to +comply, unless force was used; that I protested against this +high-handed proceeding. I did this so that, in the future, no one +could accuse me of aiding the rebels willingly. He replied that he did +not care for the British government, that I would do as I was told or +suffer the consequences. They then escorted me to the engine house, +where I found my fireman Manuel already a prisoner; also Beaumont, the +other engineer, and his fireman. + +After getting the engine ready, I requested the officer in charge to +allow us to procure something to eat. His permission was given, then +another procession marched through the streets to the hotel, where the +rebel guards stood over us at breakfast. + +The Arequipena was ready. Behind were the passenger engine and five +coaches, which rebel troops were already entering. At breakfast I had +managed to get a few words with Beaumont. + +As the Arequipena was to go ahead, I would endeavor to get the +officers out to eat at Vincocaya. I would give a signal for him to +uncouple his engine and follow at full speed. It would be impossible +to stop him and they would be at the mercy of the government troops, +which would leave that afternoon, according to the instructions given +the Prefecto of Puno from Arequipa. + +The officers came aboard the little Arequipena and loaded on several +barrels of powder, picks and shovels to destroy the abutments of the +bridge. + +There were eleven officers who came aboard the coach, when to my +surprise, I beheld along with three soldiers, Don Rodrigo Garcia, who +was to guard me. I cannot describe my feelings. I know I am not a +coward, but I was taken with a shock of nervousness. It was not of +long duration. Indignation took the place of fear, but I realized how +formidable a task I had undertaken to save Sumbay bridge. Howbeit, I +determined more than ever to succeed, and the knowledge of that man +being near me, gave me renewed courage. + +Before starting he hissed to me: "Don Juan, we meet again." + +I did not answer. It was all I could do to keep from attacking him +despite the disadvantage I was at. The thought of the bridge, however, +restrained any hasty action. + +We left the station with the troop train closely following. According +to orders, our first stop would be at Juliaca station. I knew that +when we reached there the telegraph office would be destroyed. +Telegraph communication was cut off between Juliaca station and Puno. +Nearing the station, we stopped to take water from a tank. I asked +permission from the leader to allow my fireman to go and draw some +oil, explaining that I had none and it was necessary, that his going +there would not create suspicion, and it would save much time. I was +greatly surprised when he consented. I took a small piece of paper and +wrote the following in English: "Van Buren, I am coming with rebels to +destroy Sumbay bridge. Hurry up troops. Buchan." After writing, I read +aloud in Spanish: "Procure from Senor Southers, the station master, +two quarts of engine oil for the Arequipena." I handed it to Manuel +who understood my meaning. He took the engine cans and walked to the +office. + +My heart beat rapidly. I fairly held my breath. Would he be able to +see Southers before I took water? Would Southers understand my meaning +and get the message off before we arrived at the platform and find the +office destroyed? I delayed taking water as long as possible, then +pulled slowly down the track to the platform. The moment we stopped, +the officers rushed in the telegraph office and disconnected the +instruments from the wires. Don Rodrigo and his three soldiers never +left me for a moment, which made me suspect that my every movement +would be closely watched. + +The fireman came down the platform, both engine oil cans in his hands. +I asked him if he had seen Southers. He replied that he had and that +everything was all right. I received the oil and looked at him. His +look told plainly that the message was sent. I felt that a heavy load +had been lifted and breathed freer. I looked at Don Rodrigo. I was +satisfied that in a short time we would meet in a struggle that would +be the final one between us. + +After the office had been destroyed we started again, the troop train +always close behind us. We stopped at Cabanillas, Maravillas and Santa +Lucia and carried away their telegraph instruments; then we ran direct +to Vincocaya. Arriving there the telegraph office suffered like the +others. I pulled down in front of the hotel, then told the officers +that the passenger train was due in an hour, and that it would be +impossible to proceed until its arrival. I showed him the time card to +satisfy him I was telling the truth, and remarked that advantage might +be taken of the time by having supper. Accordingly all of them, left +the Arequipena except Don Rodrigo and the three soldiers. The officers +left their arms in the little coach. Now was the time to act. Should I +fail now, no other chance would present itself, for, after the arrival +of the passenger train, the only stop would be at Sumbay bridge, when +it would be too late. I figured that, after Van Buren had received my +message from Juliaca the troops could not possibly arrive at Sumbay +bridge before eight o'clock that night. It was four o'clock when we +reached Vincocaya and the passenger would be leaving Sumbay station. +Pucacancha was another station between Sumbay and Vincocaya. The grade +being 160 feet to the mile, the train makes very slow time between +Sumbay and Pucacancha. It was my only hope to succeed in getting to +Pucacancha before the arrival of the passenger train. + +I was nervous. I got off the engine, then called to Manuel to hand me +another oil can. I spoke to him in English to have everything ready. I +was going to run away with the engine--would he assist me? This I +asked while I was pretending to oil the engine, and I had to trust +largely to Manuel's intuition, as he knew but little English. He +returned to the engine and raised a full head of steam. I noticed Don +Rodrigo watching me from one of the side doors of the coach. I climbed +back on the engine and put away the oil can, when Rodrigo said with a +significant tone: "My time will soon come when I can avenge the insult +I received at Tiravaya." + +I did not answer. I knew his meaning. When my services were no longer +required, he would, with his cowardly instinct, devise a means to kill +me. The three soldiers were a fair sample of the poor ignorant +Peruvians. They were armed with breech-loading rifles of French +pattern, bayonets fixed. After Rodrigo had muttered his threat, he +went into the little coach, sitting directly behind me, and could, by +his position, observe every move I made. Manuel was standing on the +left watching me. Although I had endeavored to make him understand, he +was not aware of my plans. I looked back and saw the troop train +taking water at the tank. I looked at Manuel, and he understood "the +time had come." + +With my left hand, I threw the throttle wide open and with my right +blew the signal agreed upon. With a prayer to God I threw myself upon +the nearest soldier. + + + + +XV. + +IN DESPERATE STRUGGLE FOR LIFE. + + +Don Rodrigo and his soldiers were surprised. I dealt the one nearest +me a terrific blow in the face. Don Rodrigo raised his hand to fire. I +knocked his gun from his hand. The other soldier thrust at me with his +bayonet, inflicting a severe scalp wound, which along with another +thrust at me with his bayonet in my left arm, gave him time to +recover. I struck the soldier in the face, and knocked him to the +floor. The other was coming at me, when Manuel, armed with a shovel, +brought it down with terrific force on his head. + +By this time the engine was going at lightning speed, having reached a +down grade of 160 feet to the mile. The throttle was wide open. I knew +we would soon reach some sharp curves and if the speed was not +checked, the engine would jump the track. I called to Manuel to shut +off the steam, and apply the brakes. At this time I was struggling +with Don Rodrigo for life or death. We had clinched one another. I +spoke once. + +"Recuerdo Felicita," I hissed in his ear. + +He did not speak. He was never a physical match for me, but at this +moment he seemed endowed with superhuman strength. His face took on +the awful look of desperation, that comes to men when death seems near +at hand. His lithe body struggled to be free of my grasp. He tried to +trip me and just then the engine rounded a sharp curve causing him to +stagger. The side door of the coach was open. For a moment he vainly +tried to catch hold of something, and then, with a shriek upon his +lips, fell from the speeding coach. + +The struggle had lasted but a short time, but it had seemed to me +hours. Manuel bandaged my head and arm. The two soldiers remained +perfectly passive, suffering from severe blows. The one felled by +Manuel was still unconscious. + +We were within three miles of Pucacancha, rounding a sharp curve, when +I looked back and exclaimed: "My God, Manuel, the troop train is +coming!" My blood almost froze, but realizing that this was no time +for fright, I determined to master the situation. + +I knew the two soldiers would not attempt to molest us. They had +learned a lesson. I looked at my watch. In five minutes the passenger, +if on time, would be at Pucacancha. The troop train could not reach +there for fifteen minutes, because at all obscure places it would have +to go slow for fear of meeting obstructions on the track. + +I reached Pucacancha, stopping far enough back to allow the passenger +to pull up and back on the side track. The siding had only one switch, +chiefly used for ballast for the road bed. I looked anxiously for the +passenger. Seconds dragged like hours. Would she never come? There was +a curve not far from the station, and the passenger could not be seen +until it almost reached it. I listened. I could hear the low +tremulous noise of the rails, a puff of black smoke went up from +behind the curve--at last it was in view, engine No. 8. On seeing me +the engineer came to a sudden stop. I hurriedly told him what to do. +He was to back onto the siding and let me pass, then pull out and +follow me back to Pampa de Avieras, where I told him the government +troops would surely be. Our plans were quickly executed. I determined +that should the troop train come before I could get by the passenger, +Manuel and I would desert the Arequipena, start her back with a full +head of steam, and cause a collision. No doubt there would have been +loss of life, but it would have given an opportunity to escape by +going on the passenger train. + +Dobbie, the engineer, succeeded well in backing into the clear. Not +seeing the troop train, I ran with a hammer and spike when he left the +switch with the Arequipena ahead of him and spiked the track. Just +then the troop train came in sight. I hurriedly boarded the +Arequipena and started, Dobbie backing up at fast as he could. + +There were several officers on the engine of the troop train, and when +they saw us they compelled the engineer to increase his speed, with +the result he could not check his train in time to stop it from +running into the switch. His engine jumped the track half burying +itself in the ground. + +We arrived at Pampa de Avieras and the government troops came thirty +minutes later. I was beginning to get weak from loss of blood. My left +arm seemed to be a dead weight, and the muscles were painful and +swollen. The people from the passenger train crowded about me and did +everything in their power to relieve my suffering. The soldier who had +been struck with the shovel came out of his stupor. + +I was lying in the coach of the Arequipena, when the commanding +officer of the government troops came to see me. After detailing the +story to him, I turned over fourteen rifles, ten revolvers, and seven +swords, all the cartridges and barrels of powder, together with the +three soldiers whom I pleaded for, stating that compulsion was the +cause of their joining the insurgents. I insisted on their hurrying to +Sumbay bridge, although I told him they did not have anything now with +which to destroy the bridge. However, they could post their troops +should they arrive first and be in position to command the approaches. +After leaving me, he ordered his troops forward. + +I was getting weaker and weaker. At last orders came to go to Arequipa +with the Arequipena. The station master telegraphed to have a doctor +ready for me on my arrival. It was nearly forty miles from Pampa de +Avieras to Arequipa, mostly down grade. I had to give the engine up to +Manuel, as the pain in my arm became so intense I had to lie down. The +station at Arequipa was crowded back to the street, the news having +been telegraphed by the officer in command of the government troops. I +could hear cries of "Viva Juancita!" that being my name in Spanish. + +The people in Arequipa were loyal to the existing government. The +general manager met me with the doctor. His eyes were full of tears +when he saw me. I presented a horrible and bloody appearance, the +wound in my head still bleeding, my left arm in a sling and my clothes +almost in rags. + +I was carried from the coach by four of my friends to my room where +the faithful Chico had everything prepared. Cries of "Viva Juancita!" +rent the air from the time I left the coach until the doctor requested +silence. Manuel was taken home by his friends. The poor people, +ignorant of the revolution, but knowing by the demonstration that +something unusual had happened, realized that he had done something +deserving recognition. + +My friends grouped about with tear-dimmed eyes, and warmly pressed my +hand. Chico, looking at me with a most sympathetic expression on his +Indian features, did not restrain his tears. For days I tossed in +pain and delirium. + +One day when the general manager came, he told me that another +engineer who had taken out the Arequipena to repair the telegraph, +came up with a body of the insurgents who were going to surrender, but +they intended to kill him first thinking he was I. Only the timely +interposition of one who knew him, saved his life. The insurgents had +got their engine back on the track after much time and labor, but it +was damaged and as they were out of water, they gave up hope of +winning their cause. + +The train bearing the government troops stopped when within a few +miles of Vincocaya, where they picked up the body of Don Rodrigo +Garcia and buried it near the track. He would have exulted over my +death, but I cannot say that I felt any satisfaction because he was +dead. It only brought sad memories of the past. + + + + +XVI. + +THE SCREAMING WINDS OF NIGHT. + + +I sat on the broad balcony of the British consulate at Mollendo, +looking out over the blue waters of the Pacific. The soft breeze from +the south seas imparted the glow of health. How proud I felt with the +knowledge that no one dared insult me beneath the blue and crimson +folds that waved above. Safe from the assassin's knife at the hands of +some of Pierola's men, of whom I had been warned, I felt a certain +refuge beneath the ensign of my country. + +"Don Juan, does that make me a Britisher, too?" asked Manuel, pointing +to the flag above. + +"Yes, it protects you too. Pierola's men do not dare to harm us +here." + +"Praised be the Virgin," replied Manuel, crossing himself. + +The great bells of the cathedral tolled out a funeral knell as a +solemn procession marched to a transport ship. They were dust covered, +haggard men, with a hunted look, chained in pairs. On either side +marched a file of soldiers with fixed bayonets. Pierola's men were +being taken to Lima. + +I arose from the balcony and went inside. They had to pass under the +balcony of the British consulate to reach the wharf. I did not care to +witness their misery and so remained indoors until their departure. +The revolution over, there was nothing now to fear; Manuel packed my +belongings and we returned to Arequipa. + +The general manager requested me to take care of the shops of +Vincocaya. It would enable me to be quiet and recover from my wounds, +as there was nothing to do but to see that the work was kept going. +Meanwhile the excitement of the revolution would die out. + +Vincocaya is situated high in the Andes, above timber line, a desolate +and dreary waste of rock and crag, where wild winds scream among the +cliffs in the blackness of the night, as though a thousand imprisoned +Joshuas were reaching upward for that sun which will stand still no +more over the plains of Ajalon. Leaden clouds drift like winding +sheets among the peaks and hover like a pall over cañon and deep +ravine. The grave of Don Rodrigo was but a few miles distant, but I +never visited it. There have been times when I regretted not +stretching forth my hand to save him, but at the time, with a most +violent hatred of the man and the many injuries I had received from +him, and the attempt to save the bridge foremost in my mind, I found +excuse for lack of the finer feelings. And, too, what would it benefit +had he been saved? His life was spent in debauchery, the gambling +table and plots to overthrow any government where a leader in +opposition to the ruling power would promise him a political office. + +Deep down in my heart I felt the weight of the past; those shrieking +winds of the night were the responsive echoes of my soul for the +loved and lost. Was it upon this planet or upon some distant sphere +that we two had met and loved and builded hopes as high as the lofty +peaks that now entombed me--hope and love that may have been breathed +in the morning of the world when the spirit of God dwelt within +us--hope that existed before the wrathful change that shattered all +and turned an Eden into blackness and despair? + +Days, weeks and months passed. Often I would spend hours in the wild +solitudes hunting the vicuna and alpaca, or in some gloomy cañon +communing with myself. Within my spirit I could hear an undertone, +"Why cast thyself on waters wild, believing that God is gone, that +love is dead and Nature spurns her child?" So, from my grief, I arose +at length to feel new life returning. New hopes and ambitions sprang +forth in my soul that had so keenly felt God's chastening rod. + +A year had passed. I was in Arequipa. Chico had my room ready and my +friends gave me a splendid banquet in one of the largest restaurants +in the city. In all ages the world has had two ways of doing honor to +a man. One is by parade, the other by setting him down to a banquet +table and making speeches about him until they overcrowd his emotions +and leave him limp and speechless. I had to pass through this ordeal. +The Prefectos of Arequipa and Puno, the Commanding General of the +Government troops, the manager and officials of the railway and a host +of friends of lesser note, but none the less loyal hearts, crowded the +banquet room. They feasted, drank wine, sang songs and made speeches +to me and about me that were enough to have satisfied the vanity of a +survivor of Thermopylae. At the close, the Prefecto of Puno arose, and +after saying things that were loudly applauded, presented me with ten +thousand dollars not as a gift, but as something I had justly earned. +He was followed by the general manager of the railroad, who said his +company desired to show their appreciation of my conduct in the Sumbay +bridge affair, and on their behalf he presented me with two thousand +dollars. Manuel, too, came in for his share of honors and praise. He +was presented with five hundred dollars by the Prefecto of Puno and +two hundred dollars by the company--more money than he had ever seen +in his life, or ever hoped to possess. Deserving fellow, his eyes +streamed with tears of joy and gratitude when he received the money +which would now enable him to own a comfortable home. His pleasure was +even greater the next day, when I gave him one thousand dollars. + +[Illustration: THE HOME VOYAGE OF THE AVEN WAS FRAUGHT WITH ALL THE +DANGERS OF THE SEA. (Page 26)] + +A month later, and Arequipa was wild with excitement. War had been +declared by Chile against allied Peru and Bolivia. It was a sad blow, +as Peru had been extremely prosperous and was rapidly forging ahead in +the commerce of the world. I had concluded to leave the country and +seek some other field, when a call was made to the railroad men to +assist the government to convey troops from the interior to the coast. +I responded and was sent to Santa Rosa on the proposed railway to +Cusco, the ancient capital of Peru. Here a great number of Indians +were huddled together to be sent to Arequipa, and drilled and sent to +the coast. They were abject and disconsolate. The priests were calling +on them to be brave and return victorious. These people had never seen +the ocean and had never lived in an altitude of less than two miles. +There was much suffering in store for them under the tropic sun of the +coast. I asked an officer if he thought these men would make good +soldiers. He replied with an air of great importance, and looking +quite serious, that he had received word that the Chilean navy was +coming to bombard Mollendo, and it was his intention to instruct the +Indians in the use of the rifle. When the ships came near enough, he +would station his men among the rocks and shoot the sailors off the +decks. This, too, with flint lock rifles--a sample of the calibre of +the Peruvian officer of the interior and his unfortunate Indian +soldiers. + +After getting to the head of the Tambo valley, I proceeded to +Mollendo and found a terrible state of affairs. Everyone was expecting +the Chilean fleet; men and women were carrying their household goods +to the mountains. At sight of every ship on the horizon, whether +sailing vessel or steamer, a cry would go forth--"They come--they +come!" The greatest confusion prevailed. There was no organization, no +discipline; everybody for himself, and all running at the cry +of--"They come!" + +One morning about ten o'clock the hostile fleet did come. + + + + +XVII. + +THE BARBARIAN MEETS HIS INGOMAR. + + +A heavy fog was clearing from the sea, when from out of the mist rose +the black hull and conning tower of the Cochrane. The senior officers +of the flagship stood grouped on the starboard rail. The wind changed +suddenly to the west, and, as it changed, it rolled up patches of the +fog and revealed the black hull and conning tower of the Enlado. A +heavy cloud of smoke poured from their funnels; decks cleared for +action when they should put into practice the desperate objects of +their existence. + +A boat was lowered from the flagship and rowed to the wharf of +Mollendo by sturdy Chileans, while an officer bore a message to the +Prefecto for all noncombatants to leave the city, as bombardment would +begin in an hour. + +As the boat was leaving, it was fired upon. Then the ear-splitting +reports which followed showed how the flagship took this breach of the +rules of war. There was the rushing swishing sound, the terrifying +screech of projectiles passing through the air, followed by terrific +explosions and the crash of falling buildings. + +In the city, pandemonium reigned. Men and women with blanched faces, +were fleeing to the hills. Others threw themselves upon the ground, +too terror-stricken to move. I heard a voice at my elbow calling in +English. It was the voice of a woman, young and fair. "This way," said +I, and we hurried toward the massive rock from whose summit I had +watched the battle of the Huascar and Amythist two years before. + +"We are safe now," I said, as we stood behind the thousands of tons of +granite, "safe as if we were behind the rock of Gibraltar." + +"Oh, mother, sister and Mr. Robinson--heaven help them at this hour!" +she exclaimed. A shell struck a stone building and exploded by +impact; fragments screamed like a panther in the air. + +The young woman's face was blanched to a death-like pallor, but she +was calm, and, kneeling by my side, she asked God to help us. Aloud +she prayed, a beautiful, impressive prayer, one that must have gone +straight to the throne of heaven and received its answer, for soon the +wind shifted and those belching volcanoes of the sea were curtained by +the fog; the firing ceased. + +We hurried to her home amid scenes of desolation and confusion. Her +family was safe and, to my surprise, the Mr. Robinson she had spoken +of was an employe of our railway, who had but lately arrived from the +United States and to whom I had been introduced a few days before. + +The bombardment was now over, but the human wolves began to sack the +city. Fire was raging in some quarters and burned far into the night. +It lit the streets with a lurid glare; its red light fell upon +motionless figures in the dust, and scurrying forms, bent beneath +their weight of plunder. + +Mr. Robinson was anxious to send his family to Arequipa, and I lent +them all possible assistance, receiving their heartfelt thanks. They +were in a strange land, not even knowing the language of the country. +Hattie, the young woman I had met, was the sister-in-law of Mr. +Robinson. Mrs. Robinson and her mother, an aged woman, were +disappointed with Peru and were glad to get away from the theatre of +war. + +I met the Indian soldiers the next day, and the officer commanding was +very indignant at his superior for not allowing him to go to the rocks +at Mollendo and pick off the gunners from the battle ships, with flint +lock rifles. + +I was a frequent visitor at the home of the Robinson family in +Arequipa, with whom I had now become well acquainted. It was strange +to my ears to hear them all talk English, for seldom had I heard my +own language spoken by women. The old lady was one of those quiet, +sweet, motherly women. Once introduced to her, it seemed one had +always known her. The whole family was the happiest and most cheerful +I had ever met. Hattie Judson became school teacher to the English and +American children in Arequipa, and her gentle ways soon won the hearts +of all. I enjoyed taking her to the theatre and other places of +amusement, because of her bright conversation and high ideals. From +her I began to catch a glimpse of the nobler things of life, things +that to me, being but poorly educated and in a foreign land, had been +denied. She was a sweet singer and an excellent performer on the +piano, and somehow when she sang I was able to understand the +soul-reaching depths of the melody. + +There was company at the house one night, when I heard her sing for +the first time "Coming Thro' the Rye." My soul floated back to Bonnie +Scotland, as when a boy I saw the waving fields of grain, the cows in +the barnyard, and the lassies coming down the path from school; my +mother with the willow basket, bringing in the clothes from the line, +and father smoking his pipe by the well--scenes that nevermore would +return. + +In our walks in the shaded dells of the mountains, she often told me +of the United States, the habits and customs of the people--how +ambitions and aspirations were rewarded when accompanied by virtue and +industry. Of the history of Peru she knew far more than I. It was +interesting to hear from her lips the strange stories of the +conquering Pizzaro hosts, whose mailed heels had once trod the ground +we walked, and clanked the knell of a fallen empire. + +My school had been the school of adversity. I had grown up with men +who knew or cared little for the finer sensibilities. I felt that her +standards of life were superior to mine. Her loyalty to God and holy +charity toward the humblest soul, bent my spirit to profound respect. +She was one who could see all there was of good in mankind and could +measure the product of one's powers and give them impulse and +direction. In my soul I bowed to the fair graces of her character. +Each day we met I found in her some new wealth of noble thoughts that +created higher ideals in my own untutored mind. + +As time went on, fiercer rose the maddening cries of war. I felt the +hot blood surge in my veins and I longed to be at the front, amid the +roar of cannon and the clash of arms. + +We were walking in a grove beneath the swift glimmer of the tropical +twilight, when I told her that I felt it my duty to fight for the land +that had been the home of my youth for so many years, and showed her a +letter in which I was offered an officer's commission on the Huascar. +She laid her hand on my arm and said, "There are nobler things in life +than the shedding of the blood of fellow men. The youth of the world +goes out to fight for the empty glory of another's crown. It is not on +the field of carnage that greatest honors are won, but in the nobler, +more peaceful pursuits of life, doing good and becoming leaders of +men and preventing war, that one wins the royal diadem of him who +said, 'peace on earth, good will to men.'" + +As she spoke in earnest eloquence, I could have knelt and worshipped +her. Her delicate cheeks were flushed, and her eyes were filled with +tears. + +No words of love had yet been spoken, but the Barbarian knew and felt +that he had met his Ingomar. + + + + +XVIII. + +ON SUNNY SEAS BOUND NORTH. + + +I met Mr. Robinson on the street one day, bleeding from a wound on his +face. He said that Mr. Wood, superintendent of our railway, had struck +him. Two of Mr. Wood's children were attending Miss Judson's school, +and on account of the official position of their father, behaved in an +ugly manner. Miss Judson made complaint to the school board, which +exasperated Mr. Wood and he demanded her resignation. This the board +would not permit. He called Mr. Robinson to his office and dismissed +him from the service of the company. Being requested by Mr. Robinson +to give his reasons for his dismissal, he struck him. + +I was angry to think a young man would so brutally use a man of Mr. +Robinson's age, and, too, in a strange country. Before I could +restrain myself I demanded his reason for striking Mr. Robinson. Mr. +Wood replied in a haughty manner that he was not accustomed to account +for his acts. I replied: "Perhaps not, but when one of your position +and age so far forgets himself as to strike an old man, any respect +you may be entitled to is dispelled by your cowardly act." + +For a moment it looked serious. He raised his hand as if to strike me. +I said: "Mr. Wood, if you attempt to go any farther I will certainly +be a far different antagonist than Mr. Robinson, and teach you that +some of your acts, at least, will be rewarded in a manner not to your +liking." He knew he had gone too far, and said in a quieter tone, that +he did not consider the affair any of my business. + +"Mr. Robinson is an American; let his countrymen investigate this +matter. I will deal with them." + +"Mr. Wood," I replied, "I hope the time will never come when a Briton +will so far forget his duty as not to go to the assistance of any +family, irrespective of nationality." + +At this moment some other shop men came in, loud in their denunciation +of Mr. Wood. There is something that binds a Britisher and an American +when they are away from their respective countries, and among +strangers. On many occasions I have seen the Britisher and American +argue and even quarrel over the merits of their countries but when +serious trouble arose, all jealousies would be cast aside, and each +one would endeavor to outdo the other in kindness. + +That night an indignation meeting was held in a large building +formerly used as a storeroom. The employes all knew the reason of Mr. +Wood's attack on Mr. Robinson. Although the majority of them were +working under Mr. Wood, they felt the indignity inflicted on Mr. +Robinson was an insult to them all, most of them having children +attending the school. + +From the beginning of the school, Mr. Wood had tried to dominate it. +This was another reason for the employes' grievances and, chief of +all, they were now being paid in the depreciated currency of the +country. The meeting was conducted in a quiet business manner. The +sentiment was to strike until Mr. Wood was removed from office. + +I told the men that that would be an injustice, as the general manager +was in Lima and we had no one to appeal to. Therefore we should +continue to work until we could communicate with him. This appeal had +the desired effect, as all could see the injury our strike would +inflict on the railway. + +I was then selected as the representative of the employes to go to +Lima and lay the matter before the general manager. I was about to +start when I was handed a note from the superintendent, saying that my +services were no longer required. I replied that I would receive my +orders from his superior and proceeded on my journey. + +At Lima I succeeded in reinstating Mr. Robinson, and shortly after my +return to Arequipa, Mrs. Robinson died. Grief at the injury inflicted +upon her husband and a feeling of friendlessness in a foreign land, +had hastened her end. Another indignation meeting was held and Mr. +Wood was dismissed from the service of the company. Mr. Robinson +became despondent and after a few months decided to leave the +country. + +The war with Chile was still on. The Peruvian army suffered defeat +after defeat. Her navy had made some show of success at first, but not +after the terrible fight between the Huascar, and two Chile ironclads, +in which the Peruvians lost. The currency of the country became +practically worthless. My accumulation of years was almost swept +away. + +Mr. Robinson decided to return to their home in San Louis Obispo, +California, and about this time I received an offer from the Peruvian +government to bring a torpedo boat from Panama to Mollendo. The +Robinson family were going north on the steamer which would carry me +to Panama. On leaving, our friends gave us a splendid banquet and +assembled at the station to bid us farewell. Poor Chico, I can see him +yet, waving his old red handkerchief with his right hand, his left +covering his eyes. + +When the ship moved out of the port, I stood on the deck with Hattie. +Mr. Robinson and the aged mother stood near us looking upon the scene +amid a flood of tears. The memory of their dead they were leaving +behind, was no doubt uppermost in their minds. + +I looked upon the mountains we were just leaving until they were a +mere speck. I intended to perform one last service for Peru, for, +however much I had suffered, it was my boyhood's home, the only home I +had had since leaving my native shores. + +We were a week making the voyage from Mollendo to Panama. The weather +was fine and the sea was smooth. I was in company with Hattie much of +the time. In her gentle way, she sought to dissuade me from the +perilous undertaking with the torpedo boat. But when I reminded her of +my duty to Peru she said no more. I could see, however, she was +pained at the thought. + +The north bound steamer had gone when we arrived at Panama and the +Robinsons would have to wait ten days, which compelled them to stay at +the hotel in that sultry city. + +After visiting the Peruvian consul, who had been notified of my +mission by his government, I learned that a Chilean cruiser was +watching the torpedo boat and it was decided to await a dark night +when we could escape from Panama harbor. Meantime I stopped at the +same hotel with the Robinsons. I made several trips around the bay to +test the speed of the boat and was satisfied we could outrun the +cruiser, but somehow I began to dread the venture. The full force of +this feeling dawned on me when I realized I was in love with Hattie. + +The day was drawing near for their departure, when Hattie and I were +seated on the veranda of the hotel, looking out over the Pacific. The +afternoon wore away, the sun began to set in the dense blue haze of +the tropic ocean, the great cathedral bells pealed out the hour of +eight, the night birds screeched from out the palms, and still we sat +in the glow of the twilight, talking of our past and future. + +The streets became silent and even some stars had faded from the skies +and the ceaseless roar of the surf beating upon the sands was music, +when she promised to be my wife. + +[Illustration: FLIGHT OF THE TORPEDO BOAT. (Page 158)] + + + + +XIX. + +DEATH SHIPS OF THE SEA. + + +A thick fog rose from the sea, as we stole away in the darkness with +the torpedo boat. We had no distinguishing lights and every sound was +muffled. Even the funnels were protected against the tell-tale sparks +of soft coal. The spume of the sea fell over our forward deck in +flecks, and the waves splashed at our bow. The harbor lights of Panama +shone in a glow of sickly yellow. + +An officer stood by the hooded binnacle, watching our course by the +faint glow of a tiny lamp. The bulldog engines, which I was working, +were speeding us at 17 knots an hour and we were headed for Mollendo. +We had no armament. That was sent to the Peruvian government by other +means and our only defense against the Chilean cruiser was a clean +pair of heels. + +Suddenly, the eye of a search-light opened, and sent a long gleam of +yellow into the fog. It swung around and rested for a moment on the +column of smoke trailing from our funnels and changed its color from a +black to a fiery red. It rested there a moment, then closed and all +was darkness. The tumult was deafening. The hissing rush of +projectiles, as they struck the water and exploded by impact, or +shrieked in ricochet overhead. + +The brave officer at the binnacle fell to the deck, his mangled body a +quivering mass. One funnel was struck midway and cut in twain as +though by a sharpened blade. Fire darted up from the half funnel, and +showed the cruiser's gunners the correctness of their aim. It lit our +deck with its glare and showed the bodies of two others on the forward +deck bathed in blood. Another officer coolly took his place at the +binnacle and directed a change in the course of the boat. + +The spurting jets of fire from our broken funnel gleamed in the fog, +like a beacon light to those on board the gaunt black monster of the +seas, in pursuit of his prey. A hunted thing on the black waves, we +crowded on every ounce of steam throughout the watches of the night. + +With the morning came the blaze of the tropic sun. It drove the fog +off the sea and showed us the hull of the cruiser, looming up out of +the purple mist. Steadily, we held our course, with steam up to the +danger line. By noon we had gained a little, and again, with the +approach of night, the fog began to rise and soon enveloped us in its +grey cloak. But that beacon light from our funnel shone hateful as its +spurting jets flashed signals to the enemy in pursuit. + +Another night passed, and, when the fog lifted again, there was the +vampire even nearer than before. + +The nervous strain was telling on our crew. The day before we joked +and laughed--we would outrun him yet in the night. We would have; but +for the glare from that funnel. We might have stolen into some cove +and let him pass us in the dark, but for that. He did not waste shot +anymore, we were going his way. He could afford to wait. The third day +the crew was worn and silent. They had the look of desperation in +their faces, as they threw furtive glances back at the spectre, the +Ship of Death--The Black Coffin--we called him now. + +At high noon, we met an American warship. His crew crowded to his +decks and gave cheer after cheer in sympathy for our desperate plight. +The big greyhound of the sea was chasing the rabbit he had bitten and +maimed, and the sympathy was with the weak. By night the nervous +strain had become almost a frenzy. Then to add to our peril, the coal +in the bunkers was running low. Something must happen in our favor +soon. Our signal still flashed from the half funnel--our signal of +distress--and by midnight we called it our funeral candle. The sky was +clear now and the stars were shining. We could see lights flash now +and then through the haze of the sea. When morning came there he was +big, black, hideous--still in our wake. + +Coal for eight more hours only. Surely something would happen; help +must come, out of the sea, out of the sky, out of somewhere, only it +must come. The sea was smooth; not a ship could be seen on the +horizon. All on board were in restless anxiety. Only coal for three +more hours. + +We were now off Ecuador. The officer in command called the crew. + +"We shall have to surrender the boat," he said. + +The assistant engineer, two stokers and myself, all of us British, +shouted "Never! We are not here to lay in a Chilean prison and perhaps +be shot! We beach the boat!" Our emphasis was our drawn revolvers. + +Without a word, the officer headed the boat for the shore. We gathered +up a few edibles and when we grounded the boat, swam to the beach. The +officer lingered for some time after all were ashore, then hurried +over her sides and made his escape. The Chilean cruiser launched her +boat, eight sailors to each side of rowlocks, an ensign and a party of +marines. They rowed rapidly to the torpedo boat and half of them +climbed on board, when her sides parted and a terrific flame shot +upward, bearing the bodies of a dozen men. The officer had lit the +fuse that did the work. + +Ten days afterwards the two stokers, assistant engineer and myself, +footsore and ragged, went on board the British mail steamer at +Guayáquil and presented ourselves to the gruff old captain. + +"Get below in the stoke-hole and black up," he said, "the Chilean +government offers five thousand dollars reward for each of you. If we +are searched you are stokers." + +Meanwhile, on board another ship far to the north were aching hearts. +Hattie's aged mother fell ill when two days out from Panama and the +next day she passed away. Rules required that the body be buried at +sea. It was a solemn group that assembled at the ship's gangway, while +all that was mortal of the aged mother rested on a plank, one end of +which was held by a sailor. Slowly the chaplain read the beautiful +service. The ship was stopped. Not a sound was heard and the midnight +moon was hidden by clouds. "Therefore we commit this body to the +deep," was pronounced. The plank was raised and the body was swallowed +up in the cavernous depths of the ocean. + +Hattie leaned upon the arm of Mr. Robinson, who tenderly escorted her +to the cabin when the rites were over. To her the world was gloomy and +desolate, her sister but recently buried in far away Arequipa and the +mother now in the sea. With a fortitude beyond her years the Christian +girl bore bravely her deep sorrows, trusting in Him "who doeth all +things well." When the ship reached the open roadstead of Port +Harford, and she again landed on the shores of her native California, +she went to her former home--a vine-clad cottage in San Louis Obispo. + +It was here I found her some weeks after I assumed the role of stoker +on the British mail steamer. Mr. Robinson had gone to his former home +in Missouri, but Hattie was protected by relatives. We talked of our +coming marriage. It was not possible at that time. I had lost so much +money by exchange from the paper currency of Peru to the gold of +California, that I needed time to replenish my almost depleted purse. +We decided that we would wait one year, meanwhile I would go to +Arizona and run an engine on the railroad east of Tuscon. + +It made my heart glad to be in a country once more where my own +language was spoken and among people whose customs were like unto that +of my native land. There was no prejudice toward me on account of my +foreign birth, such as I had often encountered in Peru. The hand of +fellowship was extended in this broad free land of the United States, +where the greatness of men is measured almost by merit alone. + +What surprised me at first was the absence of soldiers until I came to +understand the peace-loving disposition of the people, and learned +that in the hour of the country's need, all men became her defenders. + +It was one of those balmy afternoons, so characteristic of southern +California, when Hattie and I were seated in a park overlooking the +beautiful Los Ossis valley. Our plans were made for the future, and I +was to leave that night for Arizona. It was the tender parting of man +and woman whose lives had been seared by the hot irons of adversity, +and each felt that the other was the one and all upon this planet. + + * * * * * + +Here Buchan's narrative was broken short. He was writing the last +chapter on a pair of ladies' dainty cuffs, when he stopped and +listened. He arose to his feet. "Do you know," he said, "I thought a +moment ago I heard something--her voice." + + + + +XX. + +A DAUGHTER OF THE CHEROKEES. + + +Mary Greenwater was not the ugly, coarse-featured woman that many +squaws are. She possessed many of the fine features of her white +sisters. She had been well educated at the Carlisle Indian school, and +had traveled much. While, with other Cherokee Indians, she drew her +annuities from the government, yet she was known to be the wealthiest +woman of the tribe. She was lavish in the expenditure of money. Her +home in the Cherokee hills was elaborately furnished with the richest +of carpets and furniture; even a grand piano adorned her parlor. But +with all its costly appointments, the house was a wilderness of +disorder. Like other of her race, she despised anything akin to +neatness. Her dresses were gaudy in color and extravagant in style. +Pearl necklaces, diamond brooches and rings were worn on all +occasions. She owned fine carriages and many spirited horses. As a +horsewoman, she was an expert and as a pistol shot she was accounted +the best in the Cherokee nation. Her servants were the half-breed +Indian Negroes to whom her word was as absolute a law as any Caliph +ever possessed over a tribe. She was accustomed to command, and if +disobeyed she enforced her orders at the point of the revolver she +always carried. + +The source of Mary Greenwater's wealth was a mystery. Those of her +tribe gave themselves no concern about it, but the matter was a +subject of much comment among the few white men in the territory. +Mercer, a young man of adventurous spirit, hearing of her fabulous +wealth, sought her hand in marriage. After the wedding, he used all +his arts to wring from her the secret of her riches. Once when she +started on one of her lone journeys to the hills of the Grand River, +he attempted to follow and that was the last ever seen or heard of +him. That the woman possessed the secret of a vast amount of lost +treasure was evident, as she spent many Spanish gold coins of ancient +date as months rolled on, and this induced Grim, a farm hand, to marry +her. She elevated him from a menial position, to overseer of her +ranch. She gave him money, which he recklessly spent at the faro +tables at the Garrison. When she refused to further indulge him in his +reckless expenditures, he, like Mercer, attempted to follow her on her +journey to the Grand River hills one night. He was missed by his +companions who went in numbers to search for him, taking an Indian +guide. They were led in an opposite direction from the way he went and +his fate remained a mystery, until many months later his body was +found in the Grand River, with a bullet in the brain. + +Two years after the death of Grim, Carson and a negro were hunting in +the Grand River country and were encamped one night in the hills. +While seated beside their campfire, they heard a cry of distress. +Upon going to the spot, they found a lone Indian woman pinioned +beneath her pony, which had stepped into a wolf hole and broke its +leg. The woman was badly injured and they carried her to their +campfire and made her comfortable. The next day they constructed a +rude litter and carried her twenty miles to a place where she could +receive medical attention. + +The woman was Mary Greenwater, and this was, perhaps, the first act of +kindness she had ever received. + +A certain escapade at the close of Carson's college days had caused +him to migrate to the West, where, like many others, he became a +soldier of fortune, drifting whither the strongest tide wind blew. +When Mary Greenwater recovered she sought him, and in her gratitude +made him the overseer of her ranch at a princely salary. + +In course of time they were married by the ancient Indian ceremony of +the Fastest Horse. When the days of feasting were over, and Mary +Greenwater's relatives had returned to their cabins richer by a +number of ponies, Mary told Carson a wondrous story of how, many +summers ago, when her grandfather was a boy, a Spanish caravan came +from Santa Fe and was besieged in the Grand river hills for many days, +and of how, finding that they would eventually be starved to death if +they remained, the travelers had hidden their possessions among the +lime rocks and undertaken to cut their way through the Indian hordes +to a place of safety. Her grandfather had found the hiding place of +the treasure and had kept it a profound secret from all except +herself, to whom he told it only when he began to sing his death +song. + +Mary Greenwater swore to Carson that the hiding place of the Spanish +treasure would never be known except to one other member of her tribe, +and then not until after her death. She told him there were valuable +papers which she knew none of her people could ever use, and which she +later gave to Carson. + +The documents were discolored and the ink faded and this much Carson +was able to decipher: "Jean Maldonado visited a far distant country +north of Santa Fe--a wide valley through which flowed a stream, along +the banks were bushes that bore fruit like unto those of Spain--in the +valley were herds of oxen of the bigness and color of our bulls--their +horns are not so great--they have a great bunch upon their fore +shoulders and more hair on the forepart than on the hindpart; they +have a horse's mane upon their backbone and much hair and very long +from the knees downward--they have great tufts of hair hanging from +their foreheads and it seemeth they have beards--they push with their +horns--they overtake and kill a horse--finally it is a fierce beast of +countenance and form of body--we feared these beasts and stayed near +the mountains named the Sangre de Christo.... Climbed the mountain to +a great flat rock that stood on end like a platter.... Jean Maldonado, +commander of an expedition reached this place 1750.... The mine +yielded much gold in a rock like white china--Babtiste beat it out +with--Mattheo returned from Santa Fe with more donkeys--loaded donkeys +with much unbeaten rock--returned to Santa Fe"-- + +Here the ink was so faded that nothing more could be made of the +manuscript. The accompanying map was more perfect. The tracings showed +the mountain ranges. It had been drawn almost with the precision of an +engineer. The route from Santa Fe through the mountain passes was +clearly shown; there were marks of each day's stops. Where the map +showed the end of the journey there was the rude drawing of a cliff +set on edge and below it was marked "Gold." + +Carson pondered over the quaint document for many days. The Indian +marriage with Mary Greenwater had become a matter of regret. While the +woman loved him, yet her love was like a new bowie knife, to be +handled with care. He decided to leave the Grand River country and +bide his time until Mary Greenwater should make one of her long visits +to the hills. One night he mounted the best horse on the ranch and +driving thirty others ahead of him, set out for Colorado. On the way +he sold most of the horses to ranchmen and cattlemen and netted a neat +sum. + +When Mary Greenwater returned and found her spouse had vanished, her +fury knew no bounds. Ordinarily the Indian squaw might be deserted by +her lord and she would stoically accept her fate. Mary might have done +so had she not been spoiled by being educated at Carlisle. Her savage +blood grew hot for revenge. She made another trip to the Grand river +hills, presumably for a larger amount of money, placed her affairs in +the hands of her Indian-Negro servants, and started on the trail of +Carson, believing she would have no trouble in overtaking a man +driving that many head of horses. Meanwhile the fall rains set in and +the shallow rivers of the plains became raging torrents. But to a +woman of Mary Greenwater's determined character, these things were +obstacles only for the time being. Her heart was bad and her love of +revenge strong. + + + + +XXI. + +CARSON'S BLANK PAGES IN LIFE. + + +When Carson left the cabin he followed the winding trail that led to +the valley below. The road to Saguache showed the hoofprints of a +prospector's outfit, and the marks of a sleigh leading to Del Norte. +The glare of the sun on the reflected snow was blinding and he drew +his hat down over his eyes. He was thinking of his worthless life +since leaving college. Once he had builded lofty hopes of future +doings in the world, but he had allowed himself to drift; his ship of +fate had gone wherever the strongest tide wind carried. He saw now +that he might have marked out some honorable career and piloted his +course toward it. Others of his class in college were in a fair way to +make their mark in the world. Why was it not so with him? It was born +in him, as it had been in his father, to choose the wild life of the +frontier in preference to holding the presidency of a bank in Atlanta. +He felt that the world in its wildest freedom was his for his +pleasure. The cords of restraint which society demanded were to him +the fetters of a tyrant ruler, and so, as Sampson broke the green +withes which bound him, Carson broke the laws of society--nay +civilization, and married a squaw according to the ceremony of her +people. He repented the act to some extent, and then cast his cares +aside, with the comforting knowledge that the world was too busy a +place for people to give themselves much concern over his affairs. +Long ago he realized that if he threw himself into the swirl of +humanity and allowed himself to become a part of its motives and its +emotions, that it would require a herculean effort to attain a +position where he could look over the heads of other men. That +position, he argued, was not worth the life-long effort required. +Withal, he could not bring himself to quite understand why he had +married Mary Greenwater, unless that she possessed some occult power +and gained control over forces of his nature which he did not +understand. True, there was but little or no obligation to the +ceremony. It held good in the Cherokee Indian nation, that government +within a government. Outside that limited space of ground it was null +and void. He was a free man under the laws of his own government. Yet +that act, of his own creation, somehow seemed to stand over him like a +Frankenstein with an uplifted axe. + +The snow was deep, and as he plodded along with these thoughts running +through his mind, he heard a cry. Glancing backwards he saw a horse +drawing a sleigh, plunging madly down the road. The reins were held by +a woman, frantically urging the horse forward. Some distance behind +four huge mountain lions were in hot pursuit, their heavy bodies +crouching and springing forward many feet at a leap. Carson took in +the situation at a glance and, raising his hand as a signal to the +girl in the sleigh to rein in, he sprang into the vehicle as she +passed. The momentary pause had given the beasts a chance to gain, +when, drawing his revolver, he fired at the foremost and sent it +rolling in the snow. Another shot and a second lion paused with a +mighty roar. At this the other two turned and fled in the opposite +direction. + +Carson now took the reins and stopped the horse. The animal was +trembling with fright, while the girl was calm but pale. + +"Rather a close shave, eh, Sis?" + +"Truly," she replied, "how fortunate you were here. I was driving +to Del Norte when I met the lions. They were gamboling in the +snow like kittens. When I turned Bess, they pursued. I want the +one you have just killed, I want to have him mounted to remember +today,--and--and--you." + +"By all means, Miss, you shall have it, but where are you going now?" + +"Back to Saguache after this fright. Poor Old Bess could not have +stood the race much farther. See how she trembles. I am the niece of +Mr. Amos. My name is Annie Amos. I have friends in Del Norte, whom I +intended to visit. I shall wait now until I have an escort." + +"Ah--my name is Carson--Jack Carson. I was going to Saguache to see +Mr. Amos, the assayer, to have him test a jug handle,--er, that is, to +have the jug handle test him. I don't mean that; I mean our mine is +named the Jug Handle, I will get it right after awhile, and I want him +to make a test of the ore." + +"Confound it," he thought as he turned the horse, "I haven't the sense +of a jackrabbit to make a break like that." + +One of the lions lay pawing the snow in its death struggle and as +Carson came near, it reared itself as if to make one last leap. Its +eyes gleamed in savage yellow, foam fell in flecks from its mouth, +while a tiny stream of crimson stained the snow. Carson's weapon spit +fire and the creature rolled over motionless. He dragged the carcass +to the end of the sleigh and, lifting it upon the edge of the box, +made it fast. + +"If you are going to Saguache to see my uncle, I fear you will be +disappointed as he left this morning for an absence of several days." + +"That does not matter as I have other business anyway. Most any time +will do, as I am in town quite often. We would better not drive so +fast. Your horse is in a foam." + +Carson was fast becoming interested in the girl at his side. Her calm +poise, after the exciting adventures with the mountain lions, +surprised him. Other women would have been hysterical, but here by his +side sat a girl not yet out of her teens, as calm and collected as a +veteran soldier after the battle. And Amos, the man he was going to +see and intended to kill if he proved to be the villain he suspected +him to be, was her uncle. + +The white billows rose rank on rank on the distant mountains, while +the snow of the valley shrunk visibly away, leaving the grey rocks +naked and protuberant. + +The newly-made acquaintances chatted gaily as the horse jogged along. + +"I was thinking of your remark awhile ago," said Carson, "that you +would go to Del Norte tomorrow if you had an escort, and as I have +some time to idle away it would give me pleasure to drive you over." + +"It would give me equal pleasure to have you do so," she replied with +admirable frankness, "that is, if you are going there anyway." + +"I may need to purchase some new implements with which to work the +Aberdeen--I mean the Jug Handle mine," he explained. "I have heard of +a new drill they are working over there and it may be just the thing +for the formation we are now in." + +"I see," said the girl, as a mischievous smile flitted about her lips, +"and I am very glad you will accompany me. I shall make you acquainted +with some of my very dear friends." + +Carson was forgetting his millions in the mine and letting his mind +wander to the expected joys of entertaining and being entertained by +people of real worth once more. He felt returning pride, and then the +thought of the Frankenstein with the uplifted axe made him groan +inwardly. But pshaw! she did not know--never would know, and what +people do not know will not hurt them, he reasoned. + +He felt an increasing admiration for the girl beside him. They were +alone in the wide expanse of valley and had known each other only an +hour, yet this girl was willing to trust to his honor and manhood. And +be it said for Carson, as it may be said for thousands of other men on +the American frontier, he would have yielded his life rather than +betray that sacred trust. Instances like this are common in the West. + +As they drove down the main street of Saguache, the passers looked +curiously at the pair in the sleigh and at the dead lion strapped +behind. When they stopped in front of the postoffice, a crowd gathered +around the sleigh. A supple figure edged through the crowd and +addressed the girl: + +"Kill it all by yourself, Annie?" + +The familiarity with which he spoke nettled the girl, and she turned +her head without answering. The supple figure felt the rebuff and all +the more because others noticed it. He stood his ground, however, +until Carson returned and when he saw his face he quickly drew out of +sight. + +"Tomorrow at seven," said Carson, as he bade her good-bye at her +house. + +Carson went to his hotel with a lighter heart than he had had for +months. He lit a cigar and sat by the window, then felt for something +in his pocket, and threw it in the wood-box. "There are other jug +handles," he said to himself. + +He walked the streets aimlessly until supper. He retired early and +tried to sleep, but his thoughts ran wild on the events of the day. He +could think of no one except Annie. It was still early in the night, +when he arose from a restless bed and went out on the streets. Lights +blazed from the Lone Tree saloon, and as he entered he saw a crowd +about the faro table. The sudden exclamations of many voices told +that some one was winning heavily. He pressed forward through the +crowd and saw the form of a woman. When she partially turned her face, +he felt his heart give a great throb, and he fled into the street. + +The remainder of the night he walked through the crunching snow, while +the silent stars seemed to gaze with tearful eyes upon him in this, +the greatest misery he had ever known. He walked several miles out of +town to avoid meeting anyone he knew and then presented himself at the +Amos residence. + +"I believe it is seven o'clock, Miss Annie," he said, when she +answered his call. + +"Yes, and I am ready," was the cheerful answer. + + + + +XXII. + +A VOICE FROM CENTURIES PAST. + + +Buchan was ready to throw the lever of his engine and roll out of +Tucson, when a messenger handed him a packet bearing the postmark of +Peru. The missive showed signs of age, and, having traveled much, had +reached its destination at last. He tossed it into his tool box and an +hour later when speeding over the scorched deserts of Arizona, he +opened the packet. The letter was dated at Truxillo and read: + + "Dear Don Juan--I have been ill for many months, and I feel that + my end is drawing nigh, but before I go I want to do something for + you. I have heard how Don Rodrigo so justly met his end, and with + this knowledge I die easier. You are young and strong, with a long + life of usefulness ahead, and I feel that in entrusting to you a + family secret, I am only doing that which I would have done had + Felicita lived. She was the last of our house and the heritage of + our family belonged to her. As it is, I make you my heir to the + valuable papers handed down to me from my ancestors. May they + prove to you a blessing. Would that I had more to give you. May + the blessings of the Virgin ever rest upon you. + + "Julian." + +Accompanying the letter was a parchment scroll, dated Lima, 1752. It +read: + +"I, Jean Maldonado, do write of my extraordinary adventures in Nueva +Espanola, wherein I was duly appointed the Commander of an expedition +to the land of Quivera, in search of the Seven Cities of Cibola, in +the service of his excellency, the viceroy of Santa Fe. A barbarian +told us he would lead us unto a land to the far north, where shops +blazed with jewels and common cooking vessels were made of gold; that +the metal was so common as to be of no value. The king of this city +took his noonday meals beneath a golden canopy, hung with tinkling +silver bells. There was a sea upon which this king rode in a canoe, +which would carry twenty horses. Upon its prow was an idol of beaten +gold. The canoe was fitted with sumptuous cushions, upon which the +monarch took his siestas, to the music made by dancing maidens with +bells and castanets. Fish as large as horses abounded, and sweet fruit +bigger than a soldier's helmet grew upon the trees. The monarch who +ruled over this land was long-bearded, white-haired, and wore robes of +bright-hued, rich stuffs, and slept in a garden where trees were hung +with a thousand bells, which made exquisite music when shaken by the +wind. And this king worshipped the golden image of a woman, the Queen +of Heaven, and ate from gold and silver bowls, of which the dais he +sat upon was made. He spoke with vast assurance and said he would +conduct us thither whenever we should follow. + +"We journeyed northward many leagues over mountains and came to a wide +valley watered by a stream. Farther on were high mountains and we +named them Sangre de Christo and marked three mountains 'Spanish +Peaks' on our map, that we might not miss our way. One day a pious +soldier saw the barbarian with his face in a pool of water, talking +with the devil. After that we were suspicious. After many days' +journey we found the city, but alas, it was mud huts, and the only +metal was a copper plate around the old chief's neck and by which he +sat great store. There were no golden vessels, no image of the Virgin, +no golden dais and no silver bells. + +"The wicked barbarian then said he had led us into the desert to die. +Our soldiers were wroth and I ordered him hanged on a considerable +tree, to let him know there was a God in heaven and a King in Spain. + +"We turned our steps backward after we had set up a cross, and +journeyed into the valley. Now there were many oxen come into the +valley of the figure and color of our bulls, but their horns were not +so great. They had a great bunch upon their fore shoulders and more +hair upon their fore parts than on their hind parts. They had a +horse's mane upon their backbone and much hair from the knees +downward. They had great tufts of hair hanging from their foreheads +and it seemeth that they had beards, because of the great store of +hair at their chins and throats. In some respects they resembled a +lion, and in some others the camel. They pushed with their horns, and +they overtook and killed horses. Finally, it was a foul and fierce +beast of countenance. + +"We have stayed close to the mountains where we could flee to the +rocks if they pursued us. We were crossing the mountain, when we came +upon a spring near unto a huge cliff that sat on the edge like a +platter. We camped here many days until the bulls left the valley. +Some distance from the rock like a platter, Casteanda found gold in a +white rock, which we did beat up and saved much pure gold. Casteanda +journeyed to Santa Fe and returned with more donkeys, and we loaded +upon them much unbeaten rock. We all then journeyed back to Santa Fe, +for the barbarians were angry at our intrusion and we went in haste, +leaving more gold in the white rock than would load a ship's boat. I +cut in the rock, high up, the words: + + "'Jean Maldonado. + "'Commander of an Expedition, reached this place, 1750.' + +"All this, so that the subjects of Spain might know this country +belonged to His Majesty. + +"We journeyed back to Santa Fe after many days of hardships and we +found a new Viceroy had been appointed and he demanded our gold. This +we were loath to give up, and after selling it to a trader for the +coin of the realm, we started across the country for New Orleans, +knowing well not to go south for the new Viceroy would pursue us and +take the gold. + +"We journeyed along the banks of a considerable river by night and hid +ourselves by day. We saw many thousands of ferocious bulls grazing, +and when they ran the noise was like thunder and it made us afraid. We +crossed many rivers and finally came to a country of wooded hills +where the Barbarians were thick and ferocious. + +"The Barbarians pursued us and we hid our gold and records in a cave +and rolled a stone over the hole and fled. They killed nearly all of +our expedition and our mules. Baptiste was sorely wounded in the +breast with an arrow and notwithstanding we bled him copiously, he +died. + +"The treatment given us by the Barbarians irritated us exceedingly and +we fell upon them with swords when they were not in great numbers. + +"We came to a river whose waters were red, like unto the color of the +tiles on the houses of Seville, and after journeying along its banks +for many nights, we came unto the River of the Holy Ghost, which +DeSoto discovered and here we found safety. + +"While all these things were new in my mind I made another map in +order that I might take another expedition to the mine when the +Viceroy grew rich from the spoils of office and would trouble us no +more. But he did write unto the people of Spain that I would be hanged +upon my return to Santa Fe, therefore I desisted in returning. Being +extremely irritated at his conduct I sought my fortune in Peru, until +such time when he should be called to heaven, which call even now, in +my old age, has not yet been made, over which misfortune I have sorely +grieved." + +Accompanying this document was a map with the Sangre de Christo range, +the Spanish Peaks, the River, Valley and flat cliff on edge, plainly +marked. The distance from Santa Fe and the mountain passes was clearly +indicated. + +A month later Buchan was transferred on a run out of Santa Fe where +the hand of Fate and Chance again took part. He received a letter from +Mr. Robinson who had joined a surveying party and had fallen ill at +Saguache. The letter implored him to come, if he ever expected to see +him alive. True to his old time friendship, he lost no time in +reaching his bedside. Mr. Robinson lingered a few weeks and died. This +was more sad news for Hattie in her far-away home, amid the Santa +Lucia mountains. She alone remained of the happy family who had gone +to Arequipa with fond hopes for the future beneath those sunny skies. + +I, the writer, had been with Carson a few days before prospecting in +the Sangre de Christo mountains, when by chance we rested at the +spring beside the peculiar shaped cliff. I noticed that Carson was +interested in the surroundings, but I thought nothing of it at the +time. The formation of the cliff appealed to my fancy, and I chanced +to mention it to Buchan one day when he became excited and asked to be +shown its whereabouts. + +Together with Carson we visited the spot. Being an old prospector, I +soon discovered formations that looked like pay ore. My years of +experience in these mountains had taught me that a man might work a +lifetime and gain nothing, and again from the outcroppings of a stone +at grass roots he might develop a mine worth a million dollars. + +Carson and Buchan were sanguine over our prospects, too much so, I +thought, for men who had no experience in mining. + +I located the claim so as to include the cliff and spring and when I +made out the registration papers, I said: "Gentlemen, what shall we +call the mine?" + +"Name it the Maldonado," said Carson. + +"What!" exclaimed Buchan, turning an ashen paleness. + +"The Major Domo," replied Carson, looking somewhat abashed. + +"Name it the Aberdeen," said Buchan. "I like to hear that name spoken, +it was my old home in Scotland." + + + + +XXIII. + +THE TWO OLD BLACK CROWS. + + +Amos sat in the little back room of Rayder's office in Denver. His +beady black eyes glistened beneath his beetle brows. A pleased +expression shone on his thin face, drawn in wrinkles like stained +parchment. Rayder was out, but had left instructions for him to wait. +As he sat there his eye caught sight of something interesting on +Rayder's desk. The door was closed and he was alone. He leaned forward +and took up some slips of paper for closer inspection. They were +certificates of assay from Pendleton. The pleased look vanished as he +noted Amos No. 1, Amos No. 2, Amos No. 3, and so on for a dozen or +more slips. Rayder did not trust him, and had had the sample of ore +assayed by Pendleton for corroboration. + +"He does not even believe in honesty among thieves," he mused, as he +carefully replaced the papers. Then the pleased look came back to his +face. + +"All the better," he thought. "He will deal now and it is my time to +strike before the iron cools." + +He drew his chair further back from the desk, and pretended to be +reading a newspaper when he heard Rayder coming. + +"Just the man I have been wanting to see," said Rayder, extending his +hand, "how is everything in Saguache and how is Annie?" + +"Annie is handsome as ever, but there is a new assayer coming to town +next month and I understand he is on the dead square, and what we do +we have got to do all-fired quick. How is this for an eye-opener?" He +took from his pocket several lumps of shining ore. + +"Sylvanite," exclaimed Rayder. "What does it run?" + +"Eighty ounces to the ton. There is a quarter of a million dollars on +the dump and the fellows think it is copper and pyrites of iron." + +"How would it do to contest the claim?" + +"Dangerous business, they have taken to killing claim jumpers. One was +shot last week, and this outfit will shoot, no mistake. It is better +to buy them out for a song. They are about broke anyway. They believe +everything I tell them, have a child-like confidence in me, same as +everybody has. I tell you, Rayder, I stand at the top in the +estimation of everybody, and all we have got to do is to have the +buyer on the ground, and when they come in with their next samples I +will prove to them their values have run out, show them some rich +stuff from down the valley and like all others of their class, they +will stampede." + +"That sounds good, but tell me more of Annie, did she appreciate the +cloak I sent her for a Christmas present?" + +"Appreciate it! I should say she did. She just worships it because it +came from you, and say, she has your photograph on the wall where she +can see it all the time. She just dotes on that picture. I tell her +there is the chance of her life, a fine house, fine clothes, a chance +to go abroad and cultivate her musical talent, become a great singer +and meet dukes and lords and crowned heads. Why, the girl is just +crazy over you, and I believe she would marry you even if you did not +have a cent. It is like marrying December to May, you sixty and she +nineteen, pretty and vivacious--warm up your old bones, eh?" + +Rayder's eyes shone and he stroked his beard with delight. "Charley," +he called to his office boy, "bring up a quart of whisky, some lemons +and sugar." + +"Sweet creature, I love thee," said Amos a few minutes later, holding +up a half goblet of whisky. "You do the proper thing in setting out +these kind of glasses; puts me in mind of my old home down in Texas, +where we never drink out of anything smaller than a tin cup or a +gourd." + +"Here is to Annie and Rayder--may your posterity become presidents +and wives of presidents." + +"Drink hearty," said Rayder, emptying his glass, which he had filled +to the fullness of Amos' out of compliment. + +"Charley, bring up a box of perfectos," he shouted. "You may then lock +up and go home." + +The glasses were again drained and the two black crows chattered until +the streets were growing quiet for the night. Supper was forgotten in +the love feast of Amos and Rayder. + +"Do you know, Amos, I always did love you just like a brother?" + +"Here, too, Rayder, you know the first time we saw each other, I sez +to myself--I sez--there is a man that would stick to a friend through +thick and thin." + +"You are that kind of a man yourself, Amos, is the reason you have a +good opinion of me. I never had a friend in distress yet that I didn't +help him out." + +"That's right, Rayder, that's right. Them's the qualities that go to +make up nature's noblemen. Lord, if I had a known you years ago we'd +a bin millionaires--my knowledge of mines and your sagacity. That's +what counts, and you never fail in your estimate of men, either. Lord, +you was born under lucky stars. + +"Take another drink, Rayder, take a cistern full. 'Taint often we meet +on auspicious occasions like this, and we won't go home 'till mornin,' +and we won't go home 'till morning, hic--hurrah for Annie, Rayder, and +a million outer the mine." + +"An' she shame short of share of prosperity to my brother Amos," and +Rayder took another drink. + +"Shay, Rayder, you come and go home with me and hang around a day or +two until you buy the mine and play sweet with Annie, an' the night of +the weddin' we'll hev a dance and send you away on your bridal tour in +a blaze of glory." + +"I'll do it, I'll do it, Amos, an' then we'll be almost brothers +'cordin' ter law, anyway." + +"Shay, Rayder, did I tell ye I had a little mix up with a woman, an' +I'm scared to death 'fear old woman 'ill find it out. I got 'ter +square the deal or I'm a goner and stuff's all off, want yer to let me +take ten thousand fer few days, got ter blow a lot o' money on +weddin', too, yer see." + +"All right, Amos, youse's square a man's ever met. I'll let ye hev +it." + +"Good, thet's relief; sooner I get it easier mind'll be. Nuthin' like +'mediate action to relieve man's mind, you know. Let's take nuther +drink and ye can write th' check with steadier hand." + +Rayder swallowed another drink while Amos fumbled about the desk until +he found Rayder's check book. + +"Bet ye can't spell ten without making a crook. There now, if you can +write thousand as well you're a peachareno. Bully, now write Silas +Rayder at the bottom. You're a brother in fact, Rayder, an' I love ye +better as any brother. Shay, let's hev nuther bottle." + +And Amos pocketed the check and quietly slipped down stairs, to the +saloon and was back with another quart before Rayder had roused from +his drunken stupor. He poured out another half goblet of whisky. + +"Shay, Rayder, de ye know about story of Guvner of North Carolina sed +to Guvner of South Carolina, to effet an' words, it was long time +between drinks?" + +"An' that was a damn shame Guvner hed to wait, ought to had you along +an' famous epigram ed never been born." + +Half an hour later Rayder was stretched upon the lounge in the little +back office, dead to the world. Amos sat by the window sobering up +until the grey of the morning. The sleeping man roused, and Amos gave +him another half goblet of whisky followed by a sip of water. He had +drawn the blinds and left the coal-oil lamp burning when it grew +light, lest the sleeping man should arouse and discover it was +daylight. + +When the office boy came, he cautioned him not to awaken Rayder. He +then crossed over to the bank, called for the face payment of the +check in gold coin. He took the money to the Wells Fargo Express +company's office and expressed it to his wife in Saguache. + +[Illustration: THE AREGUIPENA. (Page 56)] + +Rayder was sleeping when he returned. He placed the check book in its +accustomed place in the desk, destroyed all evidence of the night's +debauch and left a note on the desk saying: "My dear Rayder, I have +been suddenly called home by the illness of my wife. Come to Saguache +as soon as you can make it convenient. Amos." + +When Rayder awoke it was four o'clock in the afternoon. His head was +in a whirl and every muscle was twitching. He called Charley and sent +for a doctor. The doctor saw the trouble at a glance. He called a hack +and accompanied Rayder to his home. + +"This will never do, Mr. Rayder. You have drank much whisky in your +time and it has become a poison to your system. Do not look for me to +get you out of this in less time than four weeks." + + + + +XXIV. + +THE RECKLESS HAND OF FATE. + + +The day was fair when Carson left Saguache with pretty Annie Amos +seated beside him in the sleigh. Although he had spent the night in +fearful anxiety, walking the streets, he now felt such a relief over +getting out of town, undiscovered by Mary Greenwater, that he was +bubbling over with high spirits. In the presence of Annie his better +nature stood outward and he even surprised himself with his quick +sallies of wit and repartee. Annie was charmed with his presence, and +as the two chatted gaily, they did not notice the lowering clouds +about the Spanish Peaks, until a strong wind began to raise and soon +one of those sudden storms so common to the region was coming in all +its fury. In a short while it became a raging blizzard. The snow +drifted in blinding swirls, so dense that the horse's head could not +be seen. + +Carson had experienced the blizzard on the range and knew the only +safe course was to let the horse have the reins, and trust to its +animal instinct to find a shelter. He drew the robes securely about +Annie and endeavored to allay her fears, although conscious of the +peril they were in. The horse was plodding its way through the +snow-drifts and it was evident that the animal would soon become +exhausted. The blizzard might last all night, or it might continue for +three days. On those trackless wastes in such a storm death by +freezing was almost certain, unless they reached a place of shelter. +The hours dragged by. He kept up an incessant talking with Annie, lest +she should fall into the fatal sleep. The girl was quick to perceive +his tender care, and in full apprehension of their danger, felt a +growing confidence in the man beside her. She knew that he fully +realized their peril and admired him for his efforts to conceal his +fears from her. + +It was growing darker and the horse was moving with feeble steps. +Carson was at the point of giving vent to his fears, when the animal +stopped. He left the sleigh, and upon going to the horse's head, found +they were beside a cabin. His heart gave a great leap of joy and he +called exultantly to Annie. + +The cabin was deserted, but, praise Providence, it was shelter. The +door swung open on its hinges. There was a fireplace with some +half-burned logs in a heap of ashes. When Annie was securely inside, +he brought in the robes from the sleigh and next unhitched the horse +and brought the animal inside the cabin. This made Annie's heart leap +with joy; she had not considered how they would protect the horse, and +this humane act on the part of Carson gave her the most implicit +confidence in the man. There is nothing to fear from a man who is so +kind to animals, was her mental comment. + +Soon there was a blazing fire on the hearth. Some poles were found by +the door. These Carson dug from the snow and brought inside. He had +no axe with which to cut them, and in the emergency, he laid the ends +together in the fire slantwise from the chimney, and as they burned +away, he shoved the logs forward. The wind screamed in wildest fury, +while the snow drifted in through the rough clapboard roof. + +Until now no thought had been given to the lunch which Annie had +prepared for the trip. She brought it out from among the wraps and +when Carson gave the horse a buttered biscuit as his share of the +meal, she watched the act with a thrill of gladness. The blazing logs +gave warmth and light, and the man and woman sat and talked throughout +the long watches of the night, while the snow drifted and the wind +screamed and roared, making the loose clapboards of the roof creak and +groan. + +There these two, thrown together by the reckless hand of fate, told +incidents of their lives and won the love and sympathy of each other. +A new song was born in Carson's breast. For a moment he seemed to +remember a former life; somewhere out in the wide, white waste and +hush of infinite space, where they had known each other and now their +souls imprisoned in forms of clay, they had met by chance and renewed +an old affinity. + +As she told him the simple story of her life, he listened with +ever-increasing interest. An orphan at an early age, she had since +lived in the home of her Uncle Amos. Everything had gone well until +the last year, when her uncle brought Rayder to their home and +insisted that she should regard him as a suitor for her hand. Rayder, +old and grey, had dyed his whiskers and tried to appear boyish. His +intentions were well enough--he would give her all she would ask that +money could purchase--but she could not love the man and could never +think of becoming his wife. Amos, her uncle, was a man of avarice and +greed. He insisted that it was a duty she owed him for his fatherly +care in bringing her up. He dwelt on the advantages it would be to +him in his old age and that it would be only right for her to help him +in this way. He had appealed to her generous nature and sought to make +her believe this sacrifice on her part would be just and right. Amos' +wife had taken the same view of the matter and urged that the wedding +should be at an early date. Annie, alone in the world, had no one to +whom she could go for counsel. Some of the coarse women of the mining +camp who came to their home thought her the most fortunate of girls to +have a suitor as rich as Rayder, and ridiculed the idea of her +refusing to accept the greatest opportunity of her life. Some of their +husbands were rough, uncouth men, who cared nothing for the luxuries +of a home, spent most of their money and time drinking and gambling at +the Lone Tree, and they gauged conditions as they were with +themselves. They were honest-hearted women of the frontier who +believed they were doing the girl a kindness. It was not through +bravery that she was cool and collected, yesterday, in the presence +of death from the lions, she told him, but because she had almost made +up her mind that she did not care. Death had lost its terrors in the +contemplation of impending fate. + +He did not tell her of the burden of his heart. He did not feel that +he dared to ask for sympathy. At that hour he would have given ten +years of his life to undo his marriage with Mary Greenwater by the +ancient custom of the Swiftest Horse. He knew the Indian woman and +knew that she intended to kill him and yet he felt helpless, +powerless. He did tell the girl beside him that he, too, was alone in +the world and hoped to merit the love of a good woman and that his +every act in life should go to prove his sincerity. And so, amid the +wild scenes of the night, they talked. + +At noon the following day, the storm abated and when the flurries of +snow had ceased they saw the town of Del Norte well down on the +plain. + +Annie was received at the home of her friends with delight and when +she told them of her recent adventures, they gave expression to +heartfelt joy for Annie's safety, and called Carson a hero. + +Carson did not leave Del Norte for six weeks. Meanwhile, Annie visited +her friends. When the two were not together in the cozy parlor at +Annie's host's, Carson kept close in his room at the hotel. He wanted +to delay the meeting with Mary Greenwater as long as possible. If she +was only a man,--ah, that would be different! It would then be knife +to knife, or bullet to bullet--he would not shrink. But she was a +woman, an educated Indian woman upon whom society had some claim, and +she had some claim upon it. + +Annie promised to become his wife and it was arranged that she should +return to her uncle's home, and as soon as he could arrange his +affairs at the mine they would go to an eastern state. He first +intended, however, to make a clean breast of the Mary Greenwater +affair, and trust his fate to her love for him. + +When he reached the foot of the Sangre de Christo range, through the +great depths of snow, he saw the fearful havoc of the snow slide and +noted the slanting position of the edgewise cliff. Thinking it was of +but recent occurrence, he hurried to Saguache and gave the alarm that +two of his companions were buried beneath the mountain of snow. + +In no place in the world does an appeal for help meet with a quicker +response than among the pioneers of the west. The news flew over the +town like wildfire that two miners were imprisoned in a snow slide. A +relief party was organized at once and Carson led them to the base of +the range. + +Mary Greenwater saw Carson organizing the relief, she stood within a +few feet of him unobserved, and could have shot him, but she knew +better than shoot a man in the act of aiding the distressed. The crowd +would hang her, woman or no woman, and she knew it. Some other time +than this--she would wait. + + + + +XXV. + +CORDS OF LOVE ARE STRONG. + + +Hattie Judson sat by the window overlooking the green wheat fields of +the Los Ossis valley. The bells in the old mission were calling the +humble worshippers of the valley, just as they had done for more than +one hundred and forty years. She watched the blue haze of the valley +growing denser in the shadows of the evening. She heard the low boom +of a signal gun roll up from the sea. It was from the coast steamer in +the open roadstead, the signal she was listening for in the hope that +it would bring her a letter--the letter for which she had been waiting +for six weeks. + +The shadows from the coast hills crept up the valley, and the +stars shone, when the whistle of the little narrow-gauge engine +announced its arrival from the port. She put on her wraps and went +to the postoffice and waited a good long hour before the mail was +distributed. There was nothing in her box except the San Francisco +paper. And yet she felt intuitively there must be some news. She +returned to her home with a vague feeling of dread and lit the parlor +lamp. Mechanically she scanned the headlines of the paper when her +eye caught the line: + + "Imprisoned Miners in Snow-slide; + Relief Party Working Night and Day." + +"Saguache, Colo.--Word reached here last night that John Buchan and +James Winslow, miners working a claim on the Sangre de Christo range, +were buried in their cabin beneath a snow slide. It is believed the +men are alive although there seems to be small hope of rescuing them +on account of an overhanging cliff which may topple at any moment, +with the melting snows and crush them out of existence. Rescue parties +are at work night and day." + +The room seemed to whirl and grow dark as she finished reading. Tears +came to her eyes and she cried aloud. The members of the family came +to find the cause of her outcry and found her in a flood of tears. +They read the dispatch and knew the cause. The paper was two days old +from San Francisco. What could she do? She must know at once. She went +to the telegraph office and sent a message of inquiry to the mayor of +Saguache. It was twelve o'clock when the message came: "Lines all down +in San Luis valley." There was a telegraph line to San Louis Obispo, +but no coast line railroad nearer than Paso Robles Hot Springs, sixty +miles inland. It would be three days before there was another steamer +for San Francisco. She felt that if she waited the suspense would kill +her. She must go to Saguache. + +In the grey of the morning she was seated beside a driver in a light +running rig behind the swiftest pair of horses in the town. The +northern express was due at noon and the distance of sixty miles must +be made. The fleet animals climbed the mountain slopes and crossed the +divide of the Santa Lucia range, and went speeding through the +beautiful Santa Marguerite valley with its carpet of green, enlivened +with splashes of yellow from the wild mustard blossoms. Across the +swift flowing ford of the Salinis river, through deep ravines and +mountain gorges, and over miles and miles of sun-baked sand and dreary +waste of stunted cactus and sagebrush, the horses sped. + +The scorched winds of the desert caught up the sands and hurled them +hot into their faces and stung them like tiny sparks. + +Dripping with foam the horses were reined up at the depot platform in +just five hours and fifty minutes from the time of starting--a record +that stands in San Louis Obispo today as the best ever made, and that +too by a big-hearted western man who did it only to aid a woman in +distress. + +The train sped over miles of brown and parched desert, studded with a +growth of palms that rattled in the sultry wind like dried sunflower +stalks. The scenes were scarcely noticed by Hattie as she sat in the +coach busied with her own thoughts. The train was an express but it +seemed to her to creep along. The rumble of the wheels clanking on +the iron rails seemed to say: "You'll be too late, you'll be too +late." + +At Sacramento there was a wait of four hours for the east bound +express, and Hattie sat in the depot where she could watch the clock, +tick, tock, tick, tock--swinging the pendulum in these moments of +suspense and waiting. Those monotonous sounds persistently repeated +the single theme, seconds were born and ushered into eternity with the +slow swing of the pendulum; every tick brought the time of starting +nearer, but the pendulum swung so slow. + +Those four hours watching the clock were the most tedious of her life. +When the time was drawing nigh and the waiting passengers were +stirring about, the man in the ticket office came out and wrote upon +the blackboard, "East bound Express two hours late." + +Again the slow swinging pendulum sent a torrent of woe to the unhappy +girl, and when the train rolled into the yards she felt as though she +had lived within sound of that clock for a year. + +The green valley changed to the red earth of the foothills, still +showing signs of the gold hunters of 1849. The puffing and wheezing of +the engine told they were climbing steep grades, and soon they were in +the snows of the Sierra Nevada mountains. The train entered the +forty-two mile snow shed and when half way through struck a hand car, +derailing the engine. + +It was day without, but dark within the sheds. A kindly woman with her +daughter occupied the berth opposite Hattie. She noticed the troubled +look on the girl's face and from that time on until they separated at +Cheyenne, did everything she could to make the journey pleasant. But +there was the ever present suspense and doubt. + +It was ten hours before the train was again under way, but they had +lost the right of way on the road and were compelled to make frequent +stops on the sidings to allow other trains to pass. + +As the train skirted the Great Salt Lake with its bleak and desolate +islands of rock rising in silhouette against the cold grey skies, +Hattie compared the scene to the feeling of utter desolation within +her soul. + +A storm was raging on the Laramie plains and when the snow plow, +driven by the tremendous force of an extra engine in front, stuck fast +in the snow, she began to have some conception of the mighty force of +an avalanche, and the difficulty of reaching imprisoned men beneath +its weight. + +The railroad ended at a little station in the San Luis valley and then +followed many miles of staging in a crowded coach. Everywhere the girl +met with the most profound respect and attention from fellow +passengers. She was always given the best seat in the coach, and +otherwise made as comfortable as circumstances would permit. Such was +the gallantry of these men of the frontier to the girl who was +traveling alone. + +At the last stage station before reaching Saguache, she heard men +talking of the imprisoned miners in the Sangre de Christo mountains, +but she was unable to learn any of the particulars other than that +the relief party was still working. When, at last, she alighted at the +hotel in Saguache her first question was concerning the imprisoned +men. They will have them out in a few days if nothing happens was the +assurance given by the landlady. "They are alive, we know, for we can +see the smoke coming out from under the rock." + +The two men under the snow slide had been the talk of the town for +days. Every day a new party went to the scene to relieve those who had +worked the day and night before, tunneling up the steep mountain side +through snow of an unknown depth. + +When Hattie reached the tunnel she begged to be allowed to go to the +end of it where the men were working. She was assisted up the mountain +side by willing hands and when she reached the workers one of them +said: "The boys are all right for we can hear their voices." + +It was then she gave an exclamation of joy, and when Buchan said to me +in the cabin, "It seems that I hear her voice," he was right. + + + + +XXVI. + +WHEN THE DEATH GLOOM GATHERS. + + +Amos staggered out of the fog of powder smoke and groped his way to +the door. He took the center of the street reeling as he went, and +made his way to his home. The scenes at the Bucket of Blood were +magnified in his whisky-crazed brain. He raved in wild delirium, +fighting the demons that gathered around his bedside. The doctor came +and shook his head. "He has been drinking so long that my medicine +will not act," he said. Amos glared wildly from his bloodshot eyes +when a monkey seemed to leap on the footboard. He held a glass in his +hand. "Have a cocktail, Amos," said the monkey, as he tossed the +liquid into the air and caught it in another glass. Amos' throat was +parched and he wanted the cocktail, but the monkey did not give it to +him. A rhinoceros came creeping through the wall and looked at him +with its leaden eyes. The monkey tossed the cocktail into the wide +open mouth of the rhinoceros, who smacked his lips and said to the +monkey, "Let's play ante over." + +"All right," replied the monkey, "what with?" + +"Get his eye, get his eye," exclaimed the rhinoceros. + +The monkey crept forward and plucked out one of Amos' eyes, as he +groaned and yelled. For awhile the rhinoceros was on one side of the +dresser and the monkey on the other, tossing his eye to and fro +between them. The scene changed. He was on a white horse, plunging +down a steep rocky road lined with trees on either side; pythons and +rattlesnakes reached out from among the branches striking their fangs +at his head. There was the form of a dead woman behind him on the +horse. Her cold arms clung about his neck as little devils came out +from behind the trees and shouted: "You did it; you did it." The horse +was now plunging over a snow-covered country. He felt the icy winds +chill his heart. He was trying to shake off the dead arms that clung +to his neck, when the horse stopped in a wild spot among the rocks. A +grave digger, with the flesh of face and arms dried to the bone, +appeared. "We will bury her here," he said as he sunk his spade into +the earth. As the grave digger threw up the clods they turned to +little devils, the size of frogs and yelped, "We are the sins of Amos +come out of the grave." The vision passed and another appeared. Three +Sisters of Charity stood at the footboard of his bed. They were +looking down on him with sorrowful eyes. One of them lifted her hand +and all was a livid flame. Amos raised his head and gave one prolonged +shriek. A shriek of death. + +When Amos returned to Saguache after his spree with Rayder his first +act was to purchase a ranch in the San Luis valley and deed it to his +wife. He then went to his assay office and drew down the blinds and +sat in the shadows like a cunning old spider in hiding waiting for +the unwary fly for which he had wove his web. His life had been that +of the iconoclast who creates nothing to adorn the world's great +gallery of gods. But he was not philosophical enough to evolve an idea +that would disrupt existing beliefs. + +It was some weeks after his arrival home, when he espied Rayder one +morning coming down the street towards his office. He cautiously +turned the key in his office and slipped over to the Bucket of Blood +and returned with some beer and two quart bottles of whisky. When +Rayder returned an hour later he was maudlin drunk. + +Rayder was still pale from the effects of his recent debauch and when +he found Amos in an intoxicated condition he went away, not caring to +stay and talk with him on important business matters lest he should +get drawn into another spree. Meanwhile, Carson had arrived and spread +the news of the imprisoned miners under the snow slide. Rayder learned +that this was the mine he had come to purchase through the connivance +of Amos and concluded to wait and see what time would develop. + +Day after day he sought Amos, but the latter was too drunk to talk +with any sense. He then sought Carson and offered financial assistance +in the rescue work, but the men spurned the offer. They felt they were +doing a God-given duty and to receive money for an act of that kind +would be debasing their manhood. Such was it then and such is now the +spirit of the West. He called at the Amos home, and while he was +received by the matron and failed to see Annie, he thought he detected +an air of distress in the surroundings, and attributed it to Amos' +condition. Feeling that he was at their home at an inopportune time, +he went away and started out to find Amos and if possible persuade him +to quit drinking. Not finding him at his office he took a nearer route +and entered the Bucket of Blood by the back door. He passed two or +three hoboes sitting on beer kegs on the outside. "Say, old timer, +can't I dig into ye for two bits?" asked one. The man was trembly and +his lips quivered as he spoke. Remembering his own recent condition +Rayder handed the fellow a dollar and motioning to the others, said: +"Divide up." The men jumped to their feet with alacrity and followed +the first man to the bar. + +Rayder walked to the faro table where Amos sat with his back to him +putting down twenty dollar gold pieces on the money. "I never squeal," +Amos was saying to another man who was drawing out the cards from the +box. "Bet yer life, man wins my money I never squeal," Amos was saying +to the dealer. "Got skads of it anyhow, and when that's gone I know +where to get a mine worth more an' a million." Rayder stood watching +the player tossing twenty after twenty in gold and tapping a tiny bell +now and then when a waiter came and took the orders from those seated +around the table watching the game. They all called for whisky except +the dealer, he took a cigar. It requires a clear head to deal faro. + +Rayder grew tired of watching and sat down. He was thinking where did +Amos get so much money? He had not attended to the business of his +office since his recovery and had had no occasion to look into his +check book. After a certain period of the night with Amos in his back +office, everything was a blank. He remembered the conversation about +Annie and the mine but had no recollection about signing the check. To +see Amos sitting at that table losing money like a prince at Monte +Carlo, almost took his breath. He began to feel certain now as to the +fabulous riches of the mine, for he could conceive of no other way by +which Amos could get possession of so much money. He had learned of +Mrs. Amos purchasing the ranch and paying for it in gold, and wondered +at the time. Then he thought that perhaps Amos was trying to throw him +off the purchase of the mine in order to secure the property himself. +There was a mystery somewhere he could not fathom. + +The board partition against which he sat was thin, and while he was +not playing eavesdropper, he could not help hearing: "The secret of +that mine has been known to me since I was a child," a woman was +saying, "but I never supposed Carson would locate it when I gave him +the papers." And then she recounted the story of the hidden Spanish +treasure in the Grand river hills and continued: "The two men they are +trying to rescue from under the snow slide are dead long ago and the +only one left that is interested is Carson. I will get him out of the +way, and you must file on the claim, I cannot, for I am an Indian, but +you can. Besides, I could never sing my death song in peace if he +lives." + +"Tonight, then," her companion said. "You had better act before +matters go any farther." + +Here was another revelation to Rayder, he saw coming through one +archway an Indian woman, and through the other, Coyote Jim who slowly +walked toward the faro table. Rayder's first and best impulse was to +see Carson and warn him of impending danger. His second thought was +that such a course would be bad financial policy. No, he would let the +woman kill him if she could and he would jump the claim himself. He +was certain now of its fabulous value and determined to have it at any +price. + +And so the old black crow sat and waited and plotted, while the other +old black crow gambled away his money, and when the shooting was over, +and the coal oil lamps flickered their sickly flame through the +curling powder smoke, Rayder was raised from the floor where he had +flattened himself against the baseboard, trembling like a frightened +sheep about to be led to the slaughter. + + + + +XXVII. + +A NIGHT OF TRAGEDIES. + + +The Lone Tree saloon and dance hall was ablaze with lights. Two +bar-keepers in white jackets were setting out the bottles over the +long, polished counter. There was the clink of glasses, as men stood +in rows drinking the amber-colored liquid. "Have another on me," was +frequently heard along the counter, as someone felt it was his turn to +set up the drinks to the crowd. + +A brawny miner stepped up to the side of a sheep herder who had been +edging in all evening to get free drinks--and squirted a mouthful of +tobacco juice in his ear. + +"If anybody else had done that but you, Bill, I'd be tempted to strike +him." + +"Don't let your friendship for me spoil your notions," the miner said +with a contemptuous look. + +The sheep herder made no reply, as he wiped his ear. The fire that +burned in his stomach demanded whiskey, and he would brook any insult +to get it. He had reached the level of the sodden, and others passed +him by. It was yet early in the night, and crowds were gathering in +the rear of the large room, about the roulette wheel, the crap tables +and faro layout, back of which the lookout was seated on a raised +platform. Stacks of coin in gold and silver were on the tables to +tempt the players. At other tables men were seated playing cards and +smoking. In an adjoining room, cut with archways, was the dance hall. +An orchestra on a platform played rag-time music, while painted women +in short dresses to give them a youthful appearance, sat on benches +against the wall, or danced with swaggering men to the calls of a +brawny bullet-headed floor manager. His bleared eyes and heavy swollen +jaw showed the effects of a recent debauch ending in a fist fight. + +The women urged their partners to drink at the end of every dance. +While the men drank whiskey, they gave the bar-keepers a knowing +look, and a bottle like the others was set out containing ginger ale +which the women drank as whiskey, and were given a check, which they +afterwards cashed as their percentage. + +While the sign on the windows read The Lone Tree Saloon and Dance +Hall, the place had earned the sobriquet of the Bucket of Blood, from +the many tragedies enacted therein. And this place was run by a woman, +Calamity Jane, famous in several mining camps. One fellow analyzed her +when he said: "She is a powerful good woman, except she hain't got no +moral character." + +Coyote Jim, faro dealer, sauntered in and took his place at the table. +His eyes were a steel blue, the kind that men inured to the mining +camps of the early west had learned were dangerous. His face was thin +and white, hair of a black blue, like a raven's wing, hung half way to +his shoulders. His thin hands handled the pasteboards in the box with +a dexterity that marked him an expert. Supple in form, with quick, +cat-like motions, he made one think of a tiger. + +A dark faced woman wearing a Spanish mantilla was winning at the +roulette wheel. The onlookers crowded about. She was winning almost +every bet. The interest grew intense, men crowded forward to catch a +glimpse of her whose marvelous luck surpassed anything in the history +of the Lone Tree. Her stack of chips of white, red and blue, grew +taller at every turn of the wheel. The face of the gambler at the +wheel grew vexed and then flushed with anger. The devil appeared to +have been turned loose and he was losing his stakes. The chips +vanished from his box in twenties, fifties and hundreds, and the group +of onlookers stared in astonishment. As he counted out his last +hundred he said: "If you win this you have broke the game." + +The woman lost and the gambler began to have hope, when she won again, +and so the pendulum of chance swung to and fro over those last hundred +chips for an hour, when the gambler slammed the lid of his box with +the exclamation: "You have busted the game!" + +The woman cashed in her checks. Over five thousand dollars was paid to +her. She walked up to the bar and threw down five hundred dollars on +the counter and said to a bar-tender: + +"I pay for everybody's drinks here tonight. Take no money from any of +them and when this runs short, call on me." + +The word was passed, "Free drinks at the bar," and the crowd surged +forward. A half-tipsy fellow raised his glass above the heads of +others. "Here's to Mary Greenwater, Queen of the Cherokee Indians!" + +"Rah fer Mary Greenwater," chattered old Amos, holding his reeling +form up by the bar rail. + +The invitation was even too much for Rayder, strong as had been his +resolution to let the stuff alone. The temptation of free drinks was +too great, he imagined he needed something and called for gin. + +Just then, some one came in and announced that the two men had been +rescued from under the snow-slide. The games stopped and the men at +the tables ordered their drinks from the waiters. The dance in the +adjoining room stopped in the middle of a set, while men and women +crowded about the bar. + +Only three in that room did not rejoice at the news--Mary Greenwater, +Coyote Jim and Rayder. Amos was too drunk to know whether he ought to +be sad or rejoice. He did neither, but gave another loud "Rah for Mary +Greenwater!" when a waiter led him to a seat. When the hubbub of +voices which the announcement of the rescue had created, had subsided +somewhat, the players resumed their games and amid the clink of chips +and glasses, could now and then be heard from some gamester, "Hold on +there, that's mine!" + +Mary Greenwater went to the faro table. "Get up, Coyote," she said, +"I'm going to bust this bank, and you and I have been together so much +that they will think you have throwed the game. Let some one else +deal." Another dealer was called and Mary laid down a hundred on the +ace. Men crowded about as before, when she was at the roulette wheel. +There was a hush for a moment, when the clear tones of a man at the +door rang out. + +"Hands up, everybody. Don't try to escape, the doors are guarded!" + +All was confusion in an instant. Calamity Jane, eyes ablaze, strode +from behind the curtain in the dance hall. Quick of action, she fired +at the nearest hold-up in mask. The uproar was furious. The lamps were +shot out by confederates of the hold-ups. The ball room women screamed +with fright, while jets of fire spit from revolvers in different parts +of the room. Men were afraid to make an outcry, lest a bullet would +follow at the sound of their voice. Coyote Jim was crouching like a +tiger, beside the stacks of coin on the table. In his hand was a long, +keen blade. He felt a stealthy hand near his own and he lunged the +knife. A heavy groan and a few words in a language which only he +understood, and the body sank to the floor. The tiger's blood was now +afire and he leaped upon the faro table, revolver in hand. His form +was outlined in silhouette by a light across the street, when a spark +flashed in the darkness and he fell headlong to the floor. There was a +heavy roar of voices, as the men stampeded to the door. + +When lights were brought from the outside, the masked men were gone +except one. He lay dead near the door, with a bullet from Calamity +Jane's revolver in his brain. Coyote Jim lay dead, and by his side, +Mary Greenwater, with her life's blood still ebbing from the knife +stab. + +From this scene of tragedy, Amos made his escape to end with the +horrors of delirium at home. The Bucket of Blood had maintained its +reputation. + +The excitement of the affair spread over the town, and among the +spectators who crowded in was a haggard man. His eyes were hollow and +deep-set, showing that he had undergone a severe mental strain for +weeks. He saw them lift the affrighted Rayder from his place of +safety at the baseboard, then his eyes rested on the dead woman at the +faro table. He threw a cloth over her face, and sat staring into +vacancy until the undertaker and assistants came. Then he took the +undertaker aside and said: "See to it that she has a Christian burial. +I will be responsible." When she was buried the next day, there was +one attendant beside the undertaker and his assistants, at the grave. + +The tragedies of the night marked a new era in Saguache. The better +element arose in their might and demanded that the Bucket of Blood be +forever closed. + + + + +XXVIII. + +FROM OUT THE SHADOWY PAST. + + +When Buchan arose in the cabin and said "I thought I heard a voice, +her voice," I was amazed. It did not occur to me that anyone would +attempt our rescue, else why had they not done it long ere this? + +He opened the door and shouted, then turning to me, exclaimed: "They +are digging us out." + +Our hearts leaped for joy. We shook hands in expression of delight and +Buchan danced a highland fling around the room. Two men, snow-covered, +entered and hailed us joyously. Then came a woman, followed by Carson. +She ran to Buchan and he caught her in his arms. I was deaf and could +not hear what they said or I would write it word for word, but he +kissed her and she cried, and he wiped away some tears, and I turned +my back and pretended to be talking to Carson. + +The men gathered up our few belongings and we hurriedly left the +cabin. Sleds were waiting at the foot of the mountain, and we were +soon speeding toward Saguache. The air was crisp and the stars shone +like eyes of tender sympathy over the white plain. We were brought to +a stop at the hotel. Men and women whom we had never seen came and +joyfully shook us by the hands, and had much to say in congratulation. +The news of Hattie's arrival and her interest in Buchan had spread +over the camp, and many were the motherly old women who came to say +sympathetic things and invite her to their homes, so great was their +admiration for her loyalty and sacrifice for the man she loved. + +The next day a mass meeting was called by the citizens. The Lone Tree +saloon and dance hall had to go. A railroad survey had been completed +through the town, and public works had been projected by the +newly-elected city council. A new era was dawning for Saguache. The +hall was crowded, as one citizen after another spoke of the future +possibilities of the town, and a good government that would no longer +tolerate a lawless element. When resolutions were passed and the +assembly was ready to adjourn, one speaker arose and said he heartily +endorsed everything that was said and done there that evening, but +there was another matter which should have attention: One of the men +rescued from under the snow-drift had just married the girl who had +arrived a few days before from California, and his partner who led the +rescue party had married an estimable young woman of the town. The +double wedding had occurred at the hotel an hour before, and he +thought it would be fitting to celebrate the event and the new era of +Saguache with a dance that night, in which everybody should be asked +to participate. A roar of approval greeted the speaker. There was no +resolution or motion. None was needed. Men instantly set to work +clearing the hall of chairs, while a committee was sent to the hotel +to announce to Buchan and Carson that a dance had been arranged that +night in their honor. + +Men came with their wives and their sweethearts, dressed just as they +were from their work, and the women as they were in their homes. +Evening clothes would have been as much out of place in that ballroom, +as the garb of a workman would be out of place in the ballroom of the +Waldorf-Astoria. The orchestra struck up, and Buchan and Hattie were +given the place of honor in the dance. Carson and Annie, being better +known, felt that they should largely play the part of host and yielded +every honor to Buchan and Hattie. The music was good. Everybody joined +in the spirit of goodfellowship, and the dance continued until the +small hours of the morning. + +It was toward the close that Rayder came upon the floor with a fat +widow milliner. He had taken a few drinks of gin and was trying to act +kittenish when, in the midst of a cotillion, the widow fell to the +floor in an epileptic fit. They bore the woman to an adjoining room, +where she soon recovered, but it was such a shock to Rayder's nerves +that he went out and braced up on a little more gin. + + * * * * * + +I was at the governor's reception in the state capitol of Colorado. +The rooms and corridors were brilliantly lighted. Men and women in +rich attire were there to do honor to the occasion. I was seated +behind a decoration of palms, when a prominent attorney and a +companion took seats near me. + +A heavy set man with a woman leaning on his arm entered the corridor. +They were well, but modestly dressed. There were grey streaks in their +hair, but their steps were firm and, both were the picture of good +health, evidence of good and wholesome lives. + +"Here comes Senator Buchan and lady," said the attorney to his +companion. "I knew those people twenty-five years ago. I was one of a +party to rescue Buchan and a companion from under a snow slide in the +Sangre de Christo mountains. The girl had come all the way from +California to help in the rescue. I don't believe she would have lived +two days longer if we had not got him out. Shows what the right sort +of love will do. It stands the test of time. There is no divorce +business in that. Buchan had an iron will, too. Somehow he and his +partners had discovered a lost Spanish mine and did not know its value +on account of some trickery of an assayer. But Silas Rayder did, so +Rayder hounded the boys to sell and finally when he offered a hundred +and fifty thousand dollars, they closed the deal. Carson had just +married, too. He took his money and invested it in a flouring mill. I +do not know what became of the other fellow, but Buchan put his money +in a bank and it failed in less than three months and he went to +running an engine on the Rocky Mountain railroads. It was a pretty +hard knock, but right there is where that girl came to the front like +a guardian angel. She told him that perhaps it was all for the best. +Riches do not always bring happiness. It is adversity that brings to +the surface our better natures and fires our ambitions to the nobler +and grander things of life. + +"Buchan must have had this in mind, for while he was running his +engine he was always trying to help some poor fellow. He accepted his +lot in life and worked for years content with the love of that woman +and when people saw he was made of the right sort of stuff they +elected him to the legislature and his very first act was to put +through a bill making eight hours a legal day's work. That very act +took the yoke of bondage off more than half a million workers. + +"It turned out just as the girl said. He has served the people three +terms and if he had not worked for their interests they would never +have sent him back the third time. + +"Adversity, sir, is oftimes the making of us. I never thought so when +Bob Lee surrendered and our dreams of imperialism vanished and left +most of us without a dollar. But I can see now it is all for the +best. As a nation united we welcome all men regardless of their +nationality, and, in return, they give us the best thoughts the world +can produce." + +"Rayder, what became of him?" asked his companion. + +"When Rayder bought the mine he thought he had millions but he only +took out of it about enough to get even when the vein gave out between +two big slabs of granite that came together like the thin end of a +wedge. A widow who had fits sued him about this time for a breach of +promise, and either to get out of that or get square with some old +enemy, he married the widow Amos." + +I arose and stood before the attorney and his companion. "I want to +shake hands with you, sir," I said. He arose, and in extending his +hand, said: "Your name, please?" + +"I am the other fellow you rescued from the cabin," I replied. + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 30128 *** diff --git a/30128-h/30128-h.htm b/30128-h/30128-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5d8f474 --- /dev/null +++ b/30128-h/30128-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6473 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Where Strongest Tide Winds Blew, by Robert McReynolds</title> +<style type="text/css"> + @media screen { + hr.pb {margin:30px 0; width:100%; border:none;border-top:thin dashed silver;} + .pagenum {display: inline; font-size: x-small; text-align: right; text-indent: 0; position: absolute; right: 2%; padding: 1px 3px; font-style: normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:normal; text-decoration: none; background-color: inherit; border:1px solid #eee;} + .pncolor {color: silver;} + } + @media print { + hr.pb {border:none;page-break-after: always;} + .pagenum { display:none; } + } + body {margin-left: 11%; margin-right: 10%;} + p {margin-top: 0.5em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 0.5em;} + + blockquote {display: block; margin: .75em 5%; font-size: 90%;} + h1 {font-size:1.6em;} + h1,h2,h3 {text-align:center; font-weight:normal;} + h1.pg {text-align:center; font-weight:bold; font-size: 190%; } + h2 {font-size:1.4em;} + h3 {font-size:1.2em;} + h3.pg {text-align:center; font-weight:bold; font-size: 110%; } + hr.p10 {border:none; border-bottom:1px solid black; width: 10%;} + p.tp {font-size:1em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; text-align:center;} + + .caption {font-size: 90%; text-align:center;} + .chsp {margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em;} + .figcenter {margin: 2em auto 2em auto; text-align: center; width: auto;} + .figtag {height: 1px;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + a {text-decoration: none;} + hr.tb {border: none; border-bottom:1px solid black; width: 33%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;} + hr.toprule {width: 65%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em; border:none; border-bottom:1px solid silver; clear:both;} + p.center {text-align: center !important;} + p.ralign {text-align: right !important;} + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; clear: both;} + td.chalgn {text-align:right; margin-top:0; padding-right:1em;} + + hr.full { width: 100%; + margin-top: 3em; + margin-bottom: 0em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + height: 4px; + border-width: 4px 0 0 0; /* remove all borders except the top one */ + border-style: solid; + border-color: #000000; + clear: both; } + pre {font-size: 85%;} +</style> +</head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 30128 ***</div> +<h1 class="pg">The Project Gutenberg eBook, Where Strongest Tide Winds Blew, by Robert +McReynolds</h1> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<p class='tp' style='font-size:2.0em;margin-bottom:60px;margin-top:40px;'>WHERE STRONGEST<br />TIDE WINDS BLEW</p> +<p class='tp' style='margin-bottom:10px;'>By</p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.2em;font-variant:small-caps;margin-bottom:20px;'>Robert McReynolds</p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:smaller;'>Author of</p> +<p class='tp' >“Thirty Years on the Frontier,” “Rodney Wilkes,”<br />“The Luxury of Poverty,” “A Modern Jean<br />Valjean,” “Facts and Fancies,” Etc.</p> +<div style='margin:30px auto; text-align:center;'> +<img alt='emblem' src='images/illus-emb.png' /> +</div> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:smaller;'>GOWDY-SIMMONS PUBLISHING CO.</p> +<p class='tp' style='margin-bottom:40px;'>Colorado Springs, Colo.<br />1907</p> +<hr class='pb' /> +<p class='tp' style='margin:20px auto;'>Copyright 1907<br />By Robert McReynolds.</p> +<hr class='pb' /> +<p class='center'>To<br /> +Honorable John B. Stephen<br /> +and<br /> +his estimable wife,<br /> +from the romantic story of whose<br /> +lives, the principal incidents<br /> +of this work are taken.<br /> +<br /> +Colorado City, Colorado<br /> +1907</p> +<hr class='pb' /> +<h3>ILLUSTRATIONS</h3> +<hr class='p10' /> +<table border='0' cellpadding='2' cellspacing='0' summary='Illustrations' style='margin:1em auto;'> +<col style='width:75%;' /> +<col style='width:25%;' /> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left'>SOUNDING THE DEPTHS</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_1'>24</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left'>WRECK OF THE SPANISH SLOOP SEVILLE.</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_2'>36</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left'>THE EARTH BEGAN TO ROCK AND REEL.</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_3'>84</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left'>THE HOME VOYAGE OF THE AVEN WAS FRAUGHT WITH ALL THE DANGERS OF THE SEA.</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_4'>148</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left'>FLIGHT OF THE TORPEDO BOAT.</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_5'>166</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left'>THE AREGUIPENA.</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_6'>212</a></td> +</tr> +</table> +<hr class='pb' /> +<h3>CONTENTS</h3> +<hr class='p10' /> +<table border='0' cellpadding='2' cellspacing='0' summary='Contents' style='margin:1em auto;'> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>I</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>Under the Sword of Damocles</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#I_UNDER_THE_SWORD_OF_DAMOCLES'>9</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>II</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>In Days of Innocence</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#II_IN_DAYS_OF_INNOCENCE'>24</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>III</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>Through Mists of the Sea</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#III_THROUGH_MISTS_OF_THE_SEA'>31</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>IV</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>Graves Gave up Their Dead</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#IV_GRAVES_GAVE_UP_THEIR_DEAD'>41</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>V</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>Fairest Flower of the Cordilleras</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#V_FAIREST_FLOWER_OF_THE_CORDILLERAS'>50</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>VI</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>A Humiliating Incident</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#VI_A_HUMILIATING_INCIDENT'>56</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>VII</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>In the Throes of Revolution</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#VII_IN_THE_THROES_OF_REVOLUTION'>64</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>VIII</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>Viva Generalissimo Pierola</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#VIII_VIVA_GENERALISSIMO_PIEROLA'>72</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>IX</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>Amid the Din of Battle</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#IX_AMID_THE_DIN_OF_BATTLE'>80</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>X</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>We Meet Again, Felicita</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#X_WE_MEET_AGAIN_FELICITA'>90</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XI</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>The Masque Ball at Tiravaya</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XI_THE_MASQUE_BALL_AT_TIRAVAYA'>98</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XII</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>Cowardly Act of a Villain</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XII_COWARDLY_ACT_OF_A_VILLAIN'>107</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XIII</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>Murderous Plan of the Insurgents</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XIII_MURDEROUS_PLAN_OF_THE_INSURGENTS'>115</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XIV</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>For the Sake of Humanity</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XIV_FOR_THE_SAKE_OF_HUMANITY'>125</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XV</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>In Desperate Struggle for Life</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XV_IN_DESPERATE_STRUGGLE_FOR_LIFE'>135</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XVI</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>The Screaming Winds of Night</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XVI_THE_SCREAMING_WINDS_OF_NIGHT'>143</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XVII</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>The Barbarian Meets His Ingomar</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XVII_THE_BARBARIAN_MEETS_HIS_INGOMAR'>151</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XVIII</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>On Sunny Seas Bound North</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XVIII_ON_SUNNY_SEAS_BOUND_NORTH'>159</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XIX</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>Death Ships of the Sea</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XIX_DEATH_SHIPS_OF_THE_SEA'>167</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XX</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>A Daughter of the Cherokees</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XX_A_DAUGHTER_OF_THE_CHEROKEES'>176</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XXI</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>Carson’s Blank Pages in Life</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XXI_CARSONS_BLANK_PAGES_IN_LIFE'>185</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XXII</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>A Voice from Centuries Past</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XXII_A_VOICE_FROM_CENTURIES_PAST'>195</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XXIII</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>The Two Old Black Crows</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XXIII_THE_TWO_OLD_BLACK_CROWS'>205</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XXIV</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>The Reckless Hand of Fate</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XXIV_THE_RECKLESS_HAND_OF_FATE'>214</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XXV</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>Cords of Love Are Strong</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XXV_CORDS_OF_LOVE_ARE_STRONG'>223</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XXVI</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>When the Death Gloom Gathers</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XXVI_WHEN_THE_DEATH_GLOOM_GATHERS'>231</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XXVII</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>A Night of Tragedies</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XXVII_A_NIGHT_OF_TRAGEDIES'>240</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XXVIII</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>From out the Shadowy Past</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XXVIII_FROM_OUT_THE_SHADOWY_PAST'>249</a></td> +</tr> +</table> +<hr class='pb' /> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_9' name='page_9'></a>9</span></div> +<h1>Where Strongest Tide Winds Blew</h1> +<div class='chsp' style='padding-top:0'> +<a name='I_UNDER_THE_SWORD_OF_DAMOCLES' id='I_UNDER_THE_SWORD_OF_DAMOCLES'></a> +<h2>I.</h2> +<h3>UNDER THE SWORD OF DAMOCLES.</h3> +</div> +<p>We built our cabin high on the slopes of +the Sangre de Christo range, overlooking +the broad, level San Luis Valley, in Colorado. +At the rear of the cabin rose a towering +cliff or rather a huge slab of rock +standing edgewise more than two hundred +feet high, apparently the upheaval of some +mighty convulsion of nature in ages gone. +Near the base of this cliff flowed a clear +crystal spring.</p> +<p>Some hundred yards west of the cabin +was the mouth of a tunnel into which we +had drifted with pick, shovel and giant +powder, a distance of 300 feet in five +months of hard toil. A trail led from the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_10' name='page_10'></a>10</span> +tunnel to the cabin along the mountain side, +which was thickly studded with tall pines. +Another trail led down the mountain slopes +in a winding way to the valley, almost a +mile below. Above, reaching far into the +blue dome of the sky, rose the peaks of the +snow-capped Sangre de Christo, glistening +in the morning sunlight, which threw +gaunt, fantastic shadows in cañon and deep +ravine.</p> +<p>It was a wild, weird scene, where man, +in strength and vigor, seems to imbibe a +portion of the divine essence that lives, and +moves, and has its being in the vast solitudes.</p> +<p>We struck pay rock at the first thirty +feet of tunneling, so Amos’ assay showed, +and the rock had gradually increased in +value, week by week. Buchan would take +samples of the ore every week or ten days +and walk a distance of twenty-five miles +to Saguache, where old man Amos, expert +geologist and assayer, would for two dollars +and fifty cents make out a clean printed +slip with figures in red ink, showing so +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_11' name='page_11'></a>11</span> +many ounces of lead, copper, silver and +gold to the ton.</p> +<p>The ore had not yet reached a value +which would pay to ship it, but the increase +of values was so steady, and Amos was so +extravagantly encouraging, that we were +always in buoyant expectation of rich ore. +He would say, “You boys have a wonderful +prospect. Keep right on with your +work; it is getting richer with every stroke +of your pick and you are likely to uncover +a million dollar drift any day.”</p> +<p>Buchan would bring the assay certificate +back to the cabin, where we would sit +late by the light of the pine knots in the +fire place and talk of the golden millions +which capitalists would yet gladly pay for +a half interest in the “Aberdeen.”</p> +<p>That was the name Buchan had given +the mine, after his home town in Scotland, +of which he always spoke with a fond tenderness.</p> +<p>Winter had come and we, John Buchan, +Will Carson, and myself, had chipped in +almost our last dollar and brought a wagon +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_12' name='page_12'></a>12</span> +load of flour, bacon and canned goods from +Saguache to the foot of the mountains, then +carried them on our backs to the cabin. +We quit work on the mine for ten days +and chopped firewood, which we corded at +the rear of our house. All hands felt that +we were as snugly housed for the winter +as the big grizzly bears in their lairs among +the rocks.</p> +<p>Snow had been falling for several days +and it lay deep on the mountain slopes and +in the wide expanse of the valley below. +We had not had an assay for two weeks +and all were anxious for another report +from Amos. Buchan wanted his mail also, +and he took a small bag of the rock and +tramped the twenty-five miles to Saguache. +It was a three days’ trip wading through +the unbroken snow drifts, and it was night +when he returned, weary, footsore and +angry.</p> +<p>I can see him yet, tears trickling down +his honest face, as he tried to tell something +about Amos. He spoke of “the +scamp, the villain, and robber,” and then +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_13' name='page_13'></a>13</span> +choked with rage. Like all Scotchmen, the +more he thought of the wrong done him, +the angrier he became; he would be more +angry tomorrow and it would be the day +after that his anger would reach the climax, +and begin to subside. This was not a +peculiarity of Buchan. It is a characteristic +of the Scotch.</p> +<p>We made him a cup of coffee and seated +him comfortably before the fire. When he +calmed down somewhat, he explained.</p> +<p>“The first thing I did the next morning +after reaching Saguache, was to eat breakfast, +and then I took the samples of ore to +Amos’ assay office. He was garrulous as +usual, and said to come in two hours and +he would have the certificate of the assay +ready for me. When I again called he +handed me the certificate and I paid him +the usual two dollars and fifty cents. It +showed nine dollars and ninety cents to the +ton. The usual increase of ten per cent. +over the last assay.</p> +<p>“I crossed over to the postoffice, and +while waiting for my mail, I noticed the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_14' name='page_14'></a>14</span> +snow standing ten inches high on the cap +of the flue of Amos’ assay furnace. I +thought, how in the deuce did he assay our +ore without melting the snow on the cap +of the flue? The more I thought about it +the more I was mystified. I went across +to his office and said, ‘Amos, I suppose +you gave us the usual fire test on this ore?’ +‘Yep,’ he answered. ‘Then tell me,’ I cried, +‘how in the devil did you make the fire test +without melting the snow off the cap of +your furnace flue?’ ‘Too cold to melt,’ he +replied.</p> +<p>“Then I rushed past him into the back +room. The furnace was cold and the frost +had gathered on the iron door. I don’t +suppose there had been a fire in it for a +week. I took Amos by the whiskers and +told him to own up that he had not made a +fire test of our ore. Then he acknowledged +that he had been guessing at it all +along.”</p> +<p>“You don’t mean there is a doubt about +us having pay rock?” we yelled in a chorus.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_15' name='page_15'></a>15</span></div> +<p>“All kinds of doubt,” said Buchan. “I +am told there is a suspicion that Amos +gives everybody an assay showing values, +where there are no values––this for the +purpose of keeping up work in the district––and +to those who have found values, he +gives them an assay showing nothing. At +the same time he gives Rayder, the Denver +capitalist, a tip and he buys up the property +for a song, giving Amos a fat commission +for his part in the deal. The +chances are that we have no more gold in +our rock than there is in that jug handle.”</p> +<p>The news was astounding. We sat for a +while by the fire like men stricken dumb. +There was no doubting Buchan’s statement. +Deception was no part of his nature. +He was nearly twenty-six years of +age, athletic, strong and quick of perception. +He had seen much of the world and +knew men. No, there could be no doubt; +he was not mistaken.</p> +<p>We were heartsick. Almost our last dollar +had gone to pay for the bogus assay. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_16' name='page_16'></a>16</span> +Our golden dream of months was vanishing. +Carson broke the silence.</p> +<p>“I will go to Saguache tomorrow. I +shall pulverize that jug handle and take it +to Amos; he does not know me; I shall +have him assay it, and if he gives me gold +values there will be trouble!”</p> +<p>I was awakened the next morning by the +sound of a hammer. Carson was pulverizing +the jug handle. After a hasty breakfast, +he buckled on his cartridge belt with +a Colt 44-six shooter in his holster, and +was soon wading through the snow-drifts +down the trail towards Saguache. I +watched him through the window until he +was lost to view.</p> +<p>The sun rose in a clear sky; the glistening +peaks of the Sangre de Christo shone +white against a turquoise blue; clumps of +snow melted from the branches of the pines +and made hollows in the smooth banks of +white where they fell.</p> +<p>I turned to Buchan. He was tossing +restlessly in his bunk.</p> +<p>“I would hate to be Amos if he gives +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_17' name='page_17'></a>17</span> +Carson an assay of values from that jug +handle.</p> +<p>“Yes, yes,” he muttered incoherently. +“The day of reckoning comes to all. I +have seen it. I have seen the sky turn +black, the waves rise mountain-high out of +the sea, the earth rock and reel, the dead +roll out of their coffins in the cerements +of their graves, the living fall upon their +faces to hide from the wrath of Almighty +God! I have seen it just as Paul tells +about it. I have heard the roar of the +winds, seen palaces crumble and fall––like +John of Patmos, I lift up my voice––I, +John.”</p> +<p>I was at his side in a moment, and saw +that he was delirious. The exertion +through the snow the day before, the loss +of sleep and intense anger, had made him +ill. I knew of a few simple remedies at +hand, and in a little while I had him sleeping +soundly.</p> +<p>The sun became warmer as the day advanced. +The snow melted on the cabin +roof and froze in drooping icicles at the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_18' name='page_18'></a>18</span> +eaves. All day I went noiselessly about +the cabin, letting Buchan sleep. A premonition +of impending danger crept over me. +I tried to throw off the dread feeling by +reading, but I could not concentrate my +thoughts on the pages of the book. Strange +thoughts came like they did to the man who +was being taken to the guillotine and +begged time of his captors to put his +thoughts on paper. I thought I would +write mine that day, or remember them at +least, but I cannot recall them. I only +know they were strange and fascinating, +as if I was living another life, on another +planet.</p> +<p>I brought in wood and water for the +night. The sound of the door slamming +awoke Buchan. He arose and sat by the +fire, which blazed up brightly from its +fresh supply of pine logs.</p> +<p>“Better, I see,” I observed, “but heavens +you were locoed this morning! talking +about the resurrection, the quaking earth, +and the dead rolling out from their +graves!”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_19' name='page_19'></a>19</span></div> +<p>“All true,” he said, quietly. “I have +seen those things, and what has happened +once may happen again.”</p> +<p>I was standing by the window, looking +out over the snow covered San Luis valley, +when even as he spoke I felt the ground +tremble. There was a rush of air and the +cabin became filled with a fine snow that +was stifling, then a thunderous roar, and +all was utter darkness.</p> +<p>I was choking with the snow particles. I +groped to the door and opened it and felt +a solid bank of snow.</p> +<p>I realized then that we were buried beneath +a snow slide.</p> +<p>We worked for hours, in silence and +darkness, digging our way through the +snow and shoveling it back into the cabin +as we tunneled toward the cliff. It was +early morning when we saw the light of +day.</p> +<p>Once in the open where we could breathe +the pure air we beheld a sight that would +appall the strongest heart. The great flat +rock, that had stood on edge at the back of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_20' name='page_20'></a>20</span> +the cabin, was now slanting at a sharp angle +above our heads. The avalanche from +near the summit of the Sangre de Christo +had struck the cliff and with its incalculable +tons tilted it, piling itself hundreds of +feet in the depth about us. The cliff might +fall at any moment and blot us out of existence.</p> +<p>Reaching a point of sight near the open +space at the edge of the base of the cliff we +could see something of the awful havoc +wrought by the avalanche. Huge rocks had +been loosened from their foundations and +with the speed of a meteor dashed to the +valley below. Great pines one hundred +feet in height had been torn up by their +roots and hurled down the mountain side +by the tremendous weight of the avalanche.</p> +<p>The cliff had sheltered our cabin and +saved our lives.</p> +<p>We cleared the snow away from the +chimney and out of the cabin. Our wood +was dry and we soon had a cheerful fire +blazing and the tea kettle boiling. But living +under that slanting cliff, from which we +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_21' name='page_21'></a>21</span> +could not escape, we felt, indeed that the +sword of Damocles hung by a spider web +above our heads.</p> +<p>When we had rested some and refreshed +ourselves with coffee, we tunneled from +the open space under the cliff to near the +entrance of the mine, intending to live in +the tunnel until the melting snows of the +spring released us from our prison. But +when we had tunneled through the snow to +near the entrance of the mine, we found +our way blocked by a debris of rock and +trees which would require weeks of labor +to remove. Tunnels in other directions +gave us no better results, and we became +resigned to our fate, returning to the cabin +to while away the dreary hours until the +hanging cliff above should become our +grave stone.</p> +<p>Days of gloom and monotony came and +went. We dug the snow away from our +windows and tunneled a hole to the top +which gave us a glare of reflected light.</p> +<p>Buchan had hitherto been silent as to his +past life. By a few stray remarks we had +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_22' name='page_22'></a>22</span> +caught glimpses of his romantic career, +but now he began relating in detail incidents +of his early life in Scotland, or on the +high seas, and later in Peru. His stories +were so full of human interest and replete +with love and romance, that I became more +than ever interested in him. But my hearing +was bad, and it had been getting worse +since the day of the avalanche, so I prevailed +upon him to write. I could read +better than listen, besides he would write +his better thoughts and nobler sentiments +when he would not speak them.</p> +<p>It was writing these memoirs of his +eventful life that furnished him pastime +and I was employed in reading them, during +the two months of our imprisonment +in our snow bound cabin.</p> +<p>By the dim light of the window by day +and the blaze of a pine log at night, he +wrote upon the scraps of paper found +about the cabin. As I now review the pile +I find it made up of paper bags, margins of +newspapers, fly leaves from a few old +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_23' name='page_23'></a>23</span> +books, and much of it on strips of a yellow +window shade, also on the backs of fancy +calendars with which Carson had adorned +our cabin, and almost a whole chapter I +find penciled finely on a pair of lady’s +cuffs that were strangely out of place in a +miner’s hut.</p> +<p>Buchan does not know that I am going +to give his story to the public and I shall +have to take chances and risk his displeasure. +In that event I have the defence of +pleading that no man has the right to withhold +so good a tale from the world.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_24' name='page_24'></a>24</span> +<a name='II_IN_DAYS_OF_INNOCENCE' id='II_IN_DAYS_OF_INNOCENCE'></a> +<h2>II.</h2> +<h3>IN DAYS OF INNOCENCE.</h3> +</div> +<p>As I peer into the dim past that haunts +the scenes of my childhood in Aberdeen, +Scotland, a thousand memories troop by +like the scenes of a panorama with the +footlights turned low; and when I contemplate +them in a meditative hour it leaves me +with as lonesome a feeling as if I had listened +to the old time song, “Home Sweet +Home,” which I have heard a thousand +times in distant climes, sometimes sung to +crowded audiences at the opera, and again +by the pioneer as he rattled his prairie +schooner over the plains.</p> +<p>It is a song that never grows old and +never will so long as men leave the home +of their childhood, around whose hearthstones +still play ghost-like, the recollections +of bye-gone years, tenderly touching +their sympathies as they pause for a +moment in their monied pursuits in other +lands.</p> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_1' id='linki_1'></a> +</div> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/illus-016.jpg' alt='' title='' width='320' height='520' /><br /> +<p class='caption'> +SOUNDING THE DEPTHS<br /> +</p> +</div> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_25' name='page_25'></a>25</span></div> +<p>The old red school house on Princeton +street, with the tall lank figure of Ellwood +for its presiding master and who believed +in and practiced the command of the Holy +Writ: “Spare the rod and spoil the +child,” was to me in those years of tenderness, +a dismal contemplation. But Sundays +had a brighter hue when Mother +would dress me in full Highland suit of +tartan, and adorn my cap with an eagle +feather, surmounted with a brooch of the +design of an arm with a dagger, bearing +the motto, “We fear nae fae.” With my +small claymore and buckled shoes and +plaid, how proudly I would walk up to the +barracks at Castle Gate, where the sentry +would salute me, and give me permission to +enter.</p> +<p>But those days had their troubles as +well as pleasures. The West North street +boys had a grievance against those of the +East North street and one Saturday both +sides met in battle array, armed with wooden +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_26' name='page_26'></a>26</span> +swords, near the North church at Queen +street. After a determined resistance +West North street was victorious, when +someone presented us with a flag. It was +a common piece of bunting, but to our +young heroes it was something to be looked +up to and defended with our lives before +the honor of West North street should be +sullied.</p> +<p>That banner cost us many a headache, +and many a soiled suit of clothes after the +usual Saturday battle. On one occasion we +sallied forth as usual to the battlefield, +carrying our banner, and shouting derisively +at our foe. The enemy had been reinforced +and after a hard struggle, they +captured our flag and carried it off in +triumph to East North street.</p> +<p>Our fellows were a crest-fallen lot, as we +sat on the steps of the church looking the +picture of dejection. However, a few days +later, I summoned the boys to meet in an +old building in Ferrier’s Lane. There +were fifteen of us and we came armed with +our wooden swords. After much debate +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_27' name='page_27'></a>27</span> +over the loss of our flag, a committee was +appointed to notify the East North street +fellows, that we were ready to offer battle, +and dared them to meet us the following +Saturday and bring the captured flag. They +accepted the challenge. When we met +again in the old building by the hazy and +flickering light of a tallow candle, with upraised +swords we swore to re-capture our +flag, uphold the honor of our street or die in +the attempt. I was chosen captain on this +occasion, and never did a general rack his +brain more for a plan of success than I did +to win this battle. Finally I hit upon a +stratagem and after school submitted it to +all. It was to proceed to the usual place of +battle, but at the corner of Queen street +five boys were to be stationed out of sight, +and when both armies met they were to +rush in on their standard bearer and capture +the flag. We met, and even to this day +I shudder at the ferocity of that battle. +Twice I was knocked down; several times +our street was on the retreat when someone +shouted––“Remember our oath!” and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_28' name='page_28'></a>28</span> +then another desperate rush, and along +with the charge of the five secreted ones +which so surprised the East North street +boys that they finally yielded, and we carried +off our flag in triumph. John Taylor’s +head was cut, John Ingerham’s eyes were +black, my right knee cap was out of place +and six or eight others were more or less +wounded. The boys of East North street +fared about the same. Good old Doctor +Ellis living in King street witnessed the +fight, but he kept my secret, for I told +Mother that I was hurt in running a race.</p> +<p>And so those delightful days of early +boyhood passed like one long summer day. +But a change came. My father died and +in a few months more, my loving Mother, +after a lingering illness, passed away. I +then left the home of my childhood to live +with my older brother, James.</p> +<p>Although every possible kindness was +shown me, there was lacking a mother’s +love, a mother’s sympathy and cheering +words, things that touch the tender chords +of a boy’s heart. At that time I was sent +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_29' name='page_29'></a>29</span> +to the Ledingham Academy, but it was useless. +The golden veil through which I had +looked out on the world was lifted, the +chain of love and affection broken. I saw +the great ships come with their strange men +from other ports of the world. I saw them +unfurl their snowy sails and speed over the +blue waters bound for the shores of other +climes. I watched them until they were but +a speck of white down on the blue horizon, +and I longed to be on board––to feel the +ship roll upon the billows and hear the +wind whistling through the rigging, to climb +aloft and view the limitless expanse of +ocean and feel that I was a part of these +white specters of the sea.</p> +<p>One day I saw in the windows of Knox +& Co., a sign which read:</p> +<p>“Two apprentices wanted for the sea.”</p> +<p>I went in and told them I wanted to become +a sailor. About this time another lad +about one year older than myself came in +on the same errand. An old gentleman, +after surveying us both for some moments, +remarked that in his opinion we were too +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_30' name='page_30'></a>30</span> +young, but told us to wait a few minutes as +Captain McKenzie would be in soon.</p> +<p>When Captain McKenzie came in he +asked us if it was with the consent of our +parents that we made application. Being +answered in the affirmative by James +Mitchell, the other boy, I answered that my +father and mother were dead, but my +brother would sign the necessary papers.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_31' name='page_31'></a>31</span> +<a name='III_THROUGH_MISTS_OF_THE_SEA' id='III_THROUGH_MISTS_OF_THE_SEA'></a> +<h2>III.</h2> +<h3>THROUGH MISTS OF THE SEA.</h3> +</div> +<p>Captain McKenzie sprang from his berth +in the wildest excitement. A moment before +a low voice called “Captain,” at his +state room door. “Who is there?” he +asked. “Donovan,” came the guarded reply. +“Captain, the mate has conspired +with the crew to mutiny and your throat +will be cut in an hour.”</p> +<p>James Mitchell and I were apprentices +on board the bark “Aven of Aberdeen.” +My brother James having reluctantly consented +that I should follow the fortunes +of the sea, signed the indenture papers.</p> +<p>The brig was bound for Archangel, Russia, +and we had on board a large amount +of specie and plate, the private fortunes +of a Russian Jew returning to his native +land after many years of success as a merchant +in Alexandria. Our berth was near +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_32' name='page_32'></a>32</span> +the captain’s, and Mitchell had heard the +warning given by Donovan. He was out of +his berth in an instant and gave me to understand +there was mutiny aboard. Together +we entered the captain’s cabin.</p> +<p>The Jew was apprised of the situation. +It was the intention of the mate and crew +to murder him and the Captain and put +the vessel about for a piratical cruise in the +Indian Ocean. They were a motley gang +of foreigners, low bred and capable of any +crime when led by a man like the mate, +fresh from a career of lawlessness on the +China coast.</p> +<p>The Jew was the most abject picture of +terror I ever saw. His hands trembled and +he shook like a man in a chill. He wanted +to hide, but that was useless. Captain McKenzie +armed himself with a belaying pin. +He placed one in the hands of each of us +boys and bade us follow him in silence. We +cautiously went on deck and we found the +helm deserted, and the mate and the entire +crew sitting together and drinking in +the fore part of the ship.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_33' name='page_33'></a>33</span></div> +<p>Captain McKenzie sprang into their +midst and with one blow from the pin killed +the mate. This subdued the others and +they slunk away to their duties. The captain +then called the men in front of him +and after ordering Donovan to the helm, +told them he was done with them and that +their future conduct would determine their +fate. At the same time he threatened to +kill the first man that manifested a mutinous +disposition, or dared to cross a given +line on the deck without his permission. He +then ordered the mate’s body overboard +and told the men to return to their duties.</p> +<p>The Captain and Donovan took turns at +the helm, while Mitchell or I was stationed +as a lookout to give instant warning of any +suspicious movements on the part of the +crew. For more than a week we stood to +our posts of duty, when one morning we +sailed into the smooth waters of the port +of Archangel, weary and exhausted from +the intense nervous strain and loss of +sleep.</p> +<p>The Captain notified the British consul +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_34' name='page_34'></a>34</span> +and a file of soldiers came on board and +arrested the crew. Six of them were afterwards +sent to prison for life.</p> +<p>The home voyage of the Aven was +fraught with all the dangers of the sea. We +had secured another crew in Archangel +but their seamanship was bad. When a +sudden storm would strike us it required +herculean efforts on the part of the captain +and Donovan to prevent the ship from +being driven ashore on the rocks.</p> +<p>Snow was falling and a wintry wind +dashed the waves over our decks and coated +the bulwarks with a mail of ice. Sleet +and snow clung to the rigging, making +every effort to handle the ship a hazardous +one. For three days we battled against the +elements and then we came in contact with +ice floes. Once our position was so perilous +that the Captain ordered the boats provisioned +and ready to be lowered when the +vessel should be crushed in the ice. By +skillful maneuvering we escaped from the +ice floes and had a pleasant day or two in +smoother seas.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_35' name='page_35'></a>35</span></div> +<p>It was night and I was standing by the +taffrail, when suddenly a giant specter +seemed to come up from out of the sea, +bearing directly down upon us. Her great +lantern swung in a glow in a fog, by which +I discerned moving objects.</p> +<p>“Collision! Collision!” I shouted at the +top of my voice. The cry was taken up by +the sailors, and ere it had died away there +was the crashing of timbers, falling spars +and the shouts of men.</p> +<p>We had been struck a glancing blow +abaft midships but the damage was not serious +enough to sink us. The other vessel, +which proved to be the brig “Rapid,” belonging +to the same company at Aberdeen, +stood off until its crew ascertained the extent +of our damage, then sailed away in +the darkness.</p> +<p>A month’s delay on the docks at Aberdeen +repairing damages, and we were +again on the high seas bound for the ports +of South America.</p> +<p>When off the West Indies the sky suddenly +became overcast, and we were soon +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_36' name='page_36'></a>36</span> +overtaken by a hurricane. The captain saw +it coming and prepared for it, yet when it +took the ship it roared and laid her down +so that I thought she would never get up +again. All that day and night we had +heavy squalls, and by morning the gale +was still increasing. Birds of sea and land +came on board. Driven by the winds, they +dashed themselves down upon the deck +without offering to stir until picked up, +and when let go they would not leave the +ship, but endeavored to hide from the wind. +By ten o’clock at night the storm had spent +its fury, and when I went to my bunk I +found it full of water. With the straining +of the ship, the seams had begun to leak. +I was surprised to note among the ship’s +crew that the most swaggering, swearing +bullies in fine weather were now the most +meek and mild-mannered of men when +death was staring them in the face.</p> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_2' id='linki_2'></a> +</div> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/illus-028.jpg' alt='' title='' width='567' height='367' /><br /> +<p class='caption'> +WRECK OF THE SPANISH SLOOP SEVILLE. (Page 30)<br /> +</p> +</div> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_37' name='page_37'></a>37</span></div> +<p>Then followed days when the sea was +smooth as glass. Our white sails hung idly +beneath the scorching skies. Sea weed +floated on the oily surface, as, day by day, +we lay seemingly motionless on the bosom +of the deep. The moon rose out of a phosphorescent +sea and cast its long golden +gleams on the azure blue, while the stars +shone like isles of light in the sky. There +was a dread in the infinite spaces about. +Again, there was scurrying, fleecy clouds +and our ship was scudding before the +breeze.</p> +<p>When I awoke one morning, we were +lying at anchor in the harbor of Buenos +Ayres. While unloading cargo, the Captain +desiring to go ashore, I was taken in +the boat along with two of the seamen. +After getting to the wharf, the Captain +said: “I expect you fellows to employ +your time cleaning that boat; it will be +five o’clock before I return.” After he +had gone, one of the sailors said to his +mate, “We will leave Spriggings (meaning +me) to clean the boat, and we will go +to shore.” After they were gone, I concluded +that I had been imposed upon and +I left the boat and went into the city, having +no intention of deserting the vessel at +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_38' name='page_38'></a>38</span> +that time. In my wanderings in the strange +city, and not knowing a word of Spanish, +I lost my way. Finally, when I returned +to the wharf, the boat was gone. It was +late when I was picked up by a policeman +and turned over to an Englishman, who +kindly took me to his home for the night. +The next morning I returned to the Aven +and received a reprimand.</p> +<p>A few days later we weighed anchor for +Valparaiso. The sky was overcast and the +sea was rolling high off the Patagonian +coast, when we heard signal guns of distress. +Captain McKenzie changed the +course of the ship and we soon came in +view of the Spanish sloop Seville going to +pieces on the rocks. Her bow was lifted +high, while the waves were breaking over +her stern. Her sails were in shreds, and +a dozen sailors clung to the rigging. We +lowered the life-boat, and after hours of +battle with wind and wave, rescued the +crew. They were in an exhausted and +famished condition, having been for almost +three days without food or water. They +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_39' name='page_39'></a>39</span> +were given every kindly attention by our +officers and crew.</p> +<p>We saw the dark, jagged, rugged +bluffs and steeps of Staten and Terra del +Fuego. We rounded Cape St. John, amid +tempestuous gales and giant seas of the +polar regions. We lost sight of the land, +reefed the sails close down and then bid +defiance to the storm. Strange sea birds +shrieked their dismal cries, while dull leaden +skies added to the gloom. We cleared +Cape Horn in safety and were soon sailing +over the smooth seas of the south Pacific +Ocean beneath the Southern Cross.</p> +<p>“Sail ho!” cried the lookout. All eyes +were turned to the leeward. A stately +ship, under full sail, had suddenly appeared, +bearing down upon us. She came +silently, the water splitting in foam at her +bows. We could see the crew working +about her decks, but no sound came from +the spectre. All at once we noticed her hull +and sails were transparent. We could see +through them to the ocean beyond.</p> +<p>It was only a mirage of the sea, but to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_40' name='page_40'></a>40</span> +our crew it was the spectre of the Flying +Dutchman––a phantom ship had crossed +our bow.</p> +<p>Once in port, no more would we walk +the deck of the Aven of Aberdeen. She +had seen a ghost.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_41' name='page_41'></a>41</span> +<a name='IV_GRAVES_GAVE_UP_THEIR_DEAD' id='IV_GRAVES_GAVE_UP_THEIR_DEAD'></a> +<h2>IV.</h2> +<h3>GRAVES GAVE UP THEIR DEAD.</h3> +</div> +<p>I was in the streets of Arica, Peru, when +the earth began to rock and reel. Buildings +surged and fell, with a crashing noise. +The dust rose dense, and darkened the +sky. The earth gaped and swallowed up +many of the people fleeing to the hills back +of the town. I followed to an elevation +where an awful sight met the terror-stricken +populace. The hills of Arica had for +centuries been the burying grounds of the +ancient Agmaras, a race of Indians who +ages ago it seems were fishermen. The +convulsions of the earth threw to the surface +hundreds of the dried bodies of the +Indians, still wrapped in their coarse garments, +the nature of the soil had prevented +decay. When the people beheld this they +believed the world had come to an end, and +they threw themselves on their faces praying +for mercy.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_42' name='page_42'></a>42</span></div> +<p>There was a thunderous roar from the +sea, growing louder and louder as each +moment of terror sped on, and then, with +one mighty crash, a tidal wave fifty feet +high,––the aftermath of the earthquake––struck +the shore, bearing upon its crest the +U. S. Battleship Wateree, one German and +two British vessels, leaving them stranded +far inland. A sailor from the Wateree was +in a boat, and as he was swept past his +vessel he waved the Stars and Stripes in +farewell to his comrades on board.</p> +<p>The shocks had ceased and the storm +that followed had spent its fury, when the +pall of night came over the stricken city. +Human wolves crept from their hiding +places and began their work of prowling +amid the ruins and robbing the dead. All +night long they held high carnival amid +the scenes of terror and desolation.</p> +<p>Through it all I had been a silent, bewildered +spectator. I had fled to the hills +only because others did, for I could speak +but little of the language of the country. +I was among the graves when morning +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_43' name='page_43'></a>43</span> +dawned and I heard a voice in my own +language. Going to the spot I found a man +with a sprained ankle fighting away a +thief. I seized a rock and he ran. I aided +the injured man to a place of safety, where +we remained for several days until a conveyance +took us back to town.</p> +<p>The man whom I had helped was John +L. Thorndike, an American, well known in +Peru and all over South America, as having +built the highest standard-gauge railway +in the world, and a man who at once +became my warmest friend.</p> +<p>But to return to my ship. When the +Aven of Aberdeen reached Valparaiso, the +mate and a number of sailors immediately +deserted the vessel in a boat. The Captain +saw them leaving but was powerless to stop +them. That night John Mitchell and I +stood watch alone. There being no boat it +did not occur to them that we would attempt +to escape, but about midnight Mitchell +said to me, “Spriggings, I dare you to +run away.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_44' name='page_44'></a>44</span></div> +<p>“I’ll take the dare,” I said, “but how +will we get ashore?”</p> +<p>“We’ll launch one of the hatches,” he +replied.</p> +<p>It was no sooner said than we tied a rope +around one of the heavy hatches, and bearing +it to the side of the ship, we lowered it +noiselessly into the water, then let ourselves +down the rope and by holding to the +hatch, one on either side, we safely swam +ashore.</p> +<p>We avoided the business streets of Valparaiso +and made our way to the country, +where we hid in a grove until night. We +were without money, our clothes were such +as we wore at sea, night was coming on, +we were hungry and with no place to sleep. +Our only thought had been to escape from +the Aven, for we had imbibed the superstition +of sailors, and nothing could induce us +to remain aboard that vessel since the +phantom ship had crossed our bow.</p> +<p>I saw a light in a farmhouse in the distance +and on our approach the inmates +were aroused by the barking of their dog. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_45' name='page_45'></a>45</span> +The man was a typical Chilean, short and +stout. He looked curiously at us and by +signs Mitchell made him understand that +we were hungry. He entered the house +and returned with his wife and two children. +Mitchell repeated his signs and the +woman went inside and returned with a +cup of milk, which we drank greedily. The +man then beckoned us inside where we had +a supper of meat, bread and coffee. They +collected a number of sheep skins, gave +us two mats for covering, and we slept +soundly.</p> +<p>The next morning we helped the man in +his garden, drew water for the cattle and +made ourselves useful in other ways. I +went almost every day for two weeks to the +summit of the hill where I had seen a splendid +view of the bay, to see if the Aven was +still in port. One day I saw her spread her +sails and I watched her until she was but +a speck on the horizon.</p> +<p>Our host by this time, I think, knew we +had run away, for on one occasion he followed +me when I making my observation, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_46' name='page_46'></a>46</span> +but if he suspected anything he never took +any steps to have us arrested, and in fact +treated us with great kindness. When we +left he gave us a large package of food and +some clean stockings and shirts which his +wife had made for us.</p> +<p>It was nightfall when we entered Valparaiso. +Near the plaza Victoria we paused +before an English boarding house sign. As +we stood looking, a middle-aged man came +out and asked us our business. Before we +could reply he said: “I bet you are the +two boys from the Aven.” Our frightened +looks told him we were. He invited us in +and gave us supper.</p> +<p>We soon learned to our dismay that this +man was the notorious Cockney Spider, +keeper of a runaway sailor’s boarding +house. At night Cockney would start out +to some vessel in the bay of Valparaiso, +everything having been pre-arranged, take +off those sailors desiring to runaway, secrete +them in the house and when opportunity +offered, ship them again. The +amount of bounty paid by ships short of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_47' name='page_47'></a>47</span> +men was often large, and as Cockney always +arranged to have poor runaways deep +in debt for board and lodging, the sailor on +being re-shipped was worse off, and Cockney +the gainer. He often took desperate +chances in stealing sailors, as the coast +guard and other officials were sharp. Many +in that traffic were captured, but Cockney +always escaped.</p> +<p>After we spent the night in his home he +asked me if I could write. Replying in +the affirmative, I was installed as chief +book-keeper of the notorious runaway sailor +boarding house. My duties were to register +the sailors brought to the house, keep +a record of their meals, charge so much a +night for lodging, and present their bill +when they were ready to leave. I held the +position for two weeks, when one night +Cockney came home intoxicated and told +me that he had shipped Mitchell that night +on a French bark. A sailor gave me a sly +wink and whispered, “Your turn will come +next, he intends to ship you on a whaler.” +My experience with the ice on the Aven +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_48' name='page_48'></a>48</span> +had given me a horror of frozen seas, and +that night I stole away from the boarding +house.</p> +<p>I was in dread of Cockney Spider, and, +in my determination to escape, I became +a stowaway on a coast steamer and landed +at Arica, with a few dollars in my pocket, +paid to me by Spider.</p> +<p>When I arrived at Mollendo in company +with Mr. John L. Thorndike, he introduced +me to Mr. Hill, his general manager, +as his “boy protector” and told him +to give me employment and see that I was +well provided for.</p> +<p>In a short while I was in the railway +shops, learning the trade of machinist, and +later I was engineer on the railroad running +from the sea port of Mollendo to +Arequipa, more than one hundred miles in +the interior. The city is situated in a beautiful +and fertile valley in the heart of the +Andes. The majestic volcanic mountain +Misti some miles away rises nearly four +miles above the sea and smoke still issues +from its crater.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_49' name='page_49'></a>49</span></div> +<p>I had lately been transferred from the +shops in Mollendo to Arequipa, when, hearing +fabulous stories of rich gold finds in +the Andes, and being imbued with an adventurous +spirit, I resolved to try my fortune +in the new El Dorado.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_50' name='page_50'></a>50</span> +<a name='V_FAIREST_FLOWER_OF_THE_CORDILLERAS' id='V_FAIREST_FLOWER_OF_THE_CORDILLERAS'></a> +<h2>V.</h2> +<h3>FAIREST FLOWER OF THE CORDILLERAS.</h3> +</div> +<p>I was in the heart of the Cordilleras, +weary, footsore and alone. I was descending +a rocky cliff a few hundred feet from a +plateau, while the thunders roared with +terrific crash. The rain fell in sheets, +plunging in wild fury in cataracts down the +mountain side. There was desolation and +terror unutterable. I leaned close to a +shelving rock, and as I thought of once +happy days in Aberdeen, of the love bestowed +upon me by my dear mother––gone +forever from this world––my own condition, +now a homeless wanderer in a foreign +land, perhaps to soon meet death and my +body be devoured by condors, I laid my +head on my arms and wept bitterly.</p> +<p>I am not superstitious, neither do I believe +that my condition at that time caused +my mind to wander; a peaceful calm came +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_51' name='page_51'></a>51</span> +over me; it seemed as if some loving one +was near, fear vanished, and I looked up +but beheld nothing. The storm raged with +even greater fury. I walked and even began +to sing the “Garb of Old Gaul.” I ignored +the elements in their war and had +almost reached the plateau when the storm +ceased and the sun suddenly appeared. +Calm and warmth came from what a few +minutes before had seemed death and destruction.</p> +<p>A sudden turn in the trail and I beheld +a child seated beneath the thick, spreading +branches of a tree, her white apron filled +with alpine flowers. “How came she +here,” I wondered. Her dark bright eyes +gazed questioningly into mine, eyes +through which one could see the childish +spirit and feel the witchery of her magic +look; her raven locks fell in clusters over +her fair temples and ended in ringlets +about her shoulders; on her cheeks were +the glowing tints of youth and health. As +I spoke she rose and handed me a flower of +delicate tint. I gallantly pinned it on the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_52' name='page_52'></a>52</span> +lapel of my coat, which won from her a +pleasing look and smile. I could speak a +little Spanish and she seemed to understand +that I was going her way. Together +we walked along the trail. Her childish +grace appealed to me. A spirit of infinite +goodness seemed to radiate from within +and stirred my noblest impulses. A feeling +of content settled upon me.</p> +<p>Near by, I saw some Indian huts and the +tambo or tavern where Frank Dunn and I +had stopped on our way to Puno. The +child ran ahead, leaving me to follow.</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p>The first sight of Puno had satisfied me +that we had come to the most desolate +spot in the world, Nature’s remains seemed +to have been brought there and left without +burial. The ground was thickly covered +with a short, wild grass and appeared +to be the natural dwelling place of the +alpacas and wild vicunas.</p> +<p>I had been in Puno but a few days when +I was offered work on board one of the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_53' name='page_53'></a>53</span> +steamers, but I longed again for Arequipa +and friends. Dunn had secured work on +one of the steamers and refused to return. +I thought this was hard, as it was my +money that had helped him from the time +he left Arequipa until he secured employment. +My money was almost gone, but I +had gone to the Amaras market and bought +what edibles I needed, and without hesitation +had started alone to return to Arequipa, +over those fearful heights and +dread solitudes of the Cordilleras, when I +found her.</p> +<p>When we were entering the tambo an +elderly gentleman and the Indian host +were speaking in Spanish, and even from +my limited knowledge of the language I +knew they were talking about me.</p> +<p>No doubt but my appearance in the heart +of the Cordilleras wet, forlorn looking and +alone aroused his sympathy. After a difficult +attempt at opening a conversation, the +beautiful child I had met looking on all +the time, I was given to understand that +he desired me to eat with them. Of course +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_54' name='page_54'></a>54</span> +I consented, but I did not do justice to the +meal as the dark eyes of the young girl +were constantly upon me.</p> +<p>The gentleman gave me his name, Julian +Maldonado, and that of his daughter, Felicita +Maldonado. He was a well-to-do merchant +of elderly years. I learned that his +wife was dead and that their home was in +Lima. The servants made me a bed in the +room adjacent to my host. The next morning +I was aroused by one of them who said +his master wanted to see me. I went to +him and after telling him I was on my way +to Arequipa, and when there I would be +among my friends, he offered to purchase +a mule for me, but the only one to be had +was lame. However, I told him I was +young and would soon reach my destination. +Felicita then came in and announced +breakfast, after which the mules were +packed and, everything being in readiness, +we bade each other good-bye. Felicita +came toward me, and as she extended her +hand in her childish fashion, she placed in +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_55' name='page_55'></a>55</span> +my own a Peruvian twenty-dollar gold +piece, saying: “Adios mi amigo.”</p> +<p>I was almost speechless. I started forward +to return the money, but I had to +retain it, as they quickly mounted and +were gone before I could master my feelings.</p> +<p>Roll on, relentless Time. Felicita, fairest +flower of the Cordilleras, we shall meet +again, when love’s young dream shall awaken +amid the clash of arms and tragedies!</p> +<p>Nine days later I arrived in Arequipa, +sick, footsore and weary. My friends had +sent out searching parties believing that I +had been murdered. Their astonishment +was great when they found where I had +been and that I had spent many nights +alone amid the dangers of the mountains. +Many were the admonitions I received from +older heads.</p> +<p>I laughed at their words, and when I +thought of the beautiful Felicita, I dreamed +of love and felt an indescribable content +with my surroundings and all the world.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_56' name='page_56'></a>56</span> +<a name='VI_A_HUMILIATING_INCIDENT' id='VI_A_HUMILIATING_INCIDENT'></a> +<h2>VI.</h2> +<h3>A HUMILIATING INCIDENT.</h3> +</div> +<p>There was a night riot in the streets of +Ilo, knives gleamed in ruffian hands, curses +and blasphemy fell from sodden lips. Shots +were fired in the thick of the struggling +mass, as the mob crowded in frenzy about +some central figure. The crowd from behind +pressed forward and Thompson and +I were carried along by the crush of humanity, +until of necessity we began to fight +our way out. We had partially succeeded, +when we were surrounded by soldiers. At +sight of the soldiers the crowd began to +disperse, but unfortunately for us it was +too late, besides we had nothing to do with +the riot, and thought we had nothing to +fear.</p> +<p>The officer stepped up and placed +Thompson and I under arrest. We were +searched, but no arms were found on us. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_57' name='page_57'></a>57</span> +However, we were marched away to jail +and our feet placed in iron bars, fastened +with a heavy lock, which compelled us to lie +on our backs.</p> +<p>The next morning an officer appeared +and I notified him that I was a British subject, +and resented such treatment. He told +me that I was held for attempted murder. +Thompson was also under the same +charge. An Italian had been shot and +would probably die. I demanded an immediate +trial. Several officers of the railway +came and endeavored to set us free, +but their efforts were of no avail. There +was no British consul nearer than Arica, +about two days travel by steamer, and no +means for communicating with him until +the steamer arrived from the north.</p> +<p>Our prison was an old wooden structure, +and only one guard was over us. The officer +and his men had quarters some distance +away. It was our intention to ask +the soldier on guard for a drink of water +about midnight, when Thompson would +overpower him and take his keys. A small +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_58' name='page_58'></a>58</span> +boat was to be in readiness at a certain +place. Our plan was, after obtaining the +keys, to put the soldier in the stocks and +walk out, all of which could easily have +been accomplished, as the soldier was but +a small ignorant half-breed Indian. It was +Sunday night and we had decided to put +our plan in operation, when––imagine our +surprise––an officer informed us to get +ready to take the train for Moquequa.</p> +<p>We were accompanied by an officer and +six men. I asked the officer what the removal +was for, and he said our trial was to +be held and it was necessary for us to be +present. I asked permission to speak with +the engineer, which was given. I told him +I dreaded being taken into the interior, as +we would be away from our friends, and +begged him when we came to a certain +grade along the line to increase the speed +and I would jump off. I was familiar with +that part of the country, knew I could secure +a horse and go to Mollendo or Arequipa. +I knew also that the officer and his +men had never been on a train, and it would +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_59' name='page_59'></a>59</span> +be impossible for them to give chase.</p> +<p>But we were again doomed to disappointment. +The engineer feared to carry +out the plan and instead of increasing +speed, went slower than usual.</p> +<p>On our arrival at Moquequa we were +marched through the streets, to my great +humiliation, as I knew many people in the +town. Numbers of them came and offered +their sympathy. To our great indignation +we were thrown into a cell with six other +prisoners convicted of murder, and a more +ugly, villainous and desperate-looking lot +of characters would have been hard to find +anywhere. No attention had been paid to +my remonstrance, when an hour later a +gentleman, whom I had favored, presented +himself. After I told him the circumstances +of our detention he said he would +send a lawyer to defend us. In the meantime +he arranged with a hotel keeper to +send us regular meals, also mattresses and +blankets.</p> +<p>The day following I had many visitors, +some drawn by curiosity and others by +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_60' name='page_60'></a>60</span> +sympathy and good will. The latter were +profuse in their attentions. When a lawyer +appeared, I related to him the details +of our arrest. I did the talking, as Thompson +could not speak the language, while I +was becoming quite proficient in it. Upon +leaving, the lawyer promised to have us +free in eight days at most.</p> +<p>I passed away the dreary time pacing +that prison cell. It was about twenty feet +long and twelve feet wide, and contained +nothing but stone walls and floor, with a +heavy iron-grated window which looked +out on the plaza. A bottle of wine came +with each meal, instead of coffee, and I +shared it with the criminals in our cell. In +this way I soon won their good will, and as +they had all been convicted of murder, they +did not hesitate to tell me of their horrible +crimes.</p> +<p>There is no capital punishment in Peru. +Sentence for life, in that country, means +about fifteen years, and seldom do they +serve that length of time. Usually a revolution +releases them. At such times insurgents +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_61' name='page_61'></a>61</span> +invariably break open the prisons +and liberate the convicts, which happened +to these prisoners a few months later. We +were visited daily by my lawyer and finally +were told that four hundred dollars +would be required for our liberation.</p> +<p>“Liberate us and I will give you the +money,” was my answer.</p> +<p>Next day I bid adieu to my undesirable +residence and companions; Thompson had +no money and I paid all. After purchasing +new clothes and receiving the congratulations +of friends, we boarded the train for +Ilo. Mr. Hill returned from Lima that +day and after learning of the indignities inflicted +upon me, told his officials that they +should have notified the British consul and +compelled the Peruvian authorities to pay, +instead of taking my money.</p> +<p>I returned to work in the shops, and +three weeks afterward one of the office +clerks came in breathless and told me I +was to be arrested again along with Thompson. +The papers would be down from +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_62' name='page_62'></a>62</span> +Moquequa that night and tomorrow morning +they would come for us.</p> +<p>I was furious when I realized that we +were again facing punishment for a crime +of which we were innocent and I determined +to resist arrest, and leave Ilo.</p> +<p>I went to the office of the secretary of +the railroad, and after a long consultation, +it was agreed to have three of Mr. Hill’s +best horses in readiness at midnight. One +of the hostlers was to accompany us and +when we reached Tambo, Thompson and +I would take the train for Arequipa.</p> +<p>I went to my room, packed my clothes, +carefully loaded two revolvers and placed +my trunk and other articles of value in +the hands of my friends, with orders to +send them to Arequipa after the sensation +of my escape was over. After supper, to +allay any suspicion the authorities might +have, I strolled along the wharf, went into +a billiard hall and actually played a game +of billiards with the captain of the guard, +who I have no doubt had the order to arrest +me in his pocket. Thompson had gone +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_63' name='page_63'></a>63</span> +to his room. I followed thirty minutes later, +and at precisely twelve o’clock, I sallied +out of the house by the rear, and met +Thompson at the agreed place on the beach.</p> +<p>The night was dark, and everything being +in readiness, we mounted and rode +through the town dressed like natives. We +soon gained the highway leading to Tambo +and after being well clear of Ilo, we put +our horses to their best. We rode the fifty-five +miles to Tambo, over a rugged and +mountainous country and caught the train +for Arequipa, arriving that night after an +absence for me of two years.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_64' name='page_64'></a>64</span> +<a name='VII_IN_THE_THROES_OF_REVOLUTION' id='VII_IN_THE_THROES_OF_REVOLUTION'></a> +<h2>VII.</h2> +<h3>IN THE THROES OF REVOLUTION.</h3> +</div> +<p>The railroad had now been extended +from Arequipa to Puno. A revolution had +broken out and insurgents were cutting the +telegraph wires.</p> +<p>I was engineer on a combination locomotive +and coach and as this locomotive will +be in the scene of more than one tragedy, +I will describe it. It was specially designed +for the president and officers of the road, +weighing only eight tons. On the same +frame with the engine, in fact, a part of it, +was built a beautiful black walnut coach, +with a seating capacity of from twelve to +eighteen persons. It had two side doors +and one in front, which, when opened, communicated +with the engineer. There were +windows hung with beautiful damask curtains, +the carpets were of rich velvet, +and a center table and several cupboards +under the seats completed the furnishings. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_65' name='page_65'></a>65</span> +It was in reality a palace on wheels, named +The Arequipena, meaning a native of Arequipa. +I mention the design of the combination +engine-car for the reason that, on a +duplicate of The Arequipena, later occurred +one of the most perilous and tragic +events of my life.</p> +<p>The stretch of road from Julica to Cabanillas +was level and straight, except about +two miles from Cabanillas station, where a +heavy side cut and sharp curve was the +only obstruction to the view for miles. I +was going at the rate of forty miles an +hour, when, on nearing this curve, I beheld +a large Rogers locomotive with a train of +coaches coming toward me. I cannot describe +the thoughts that went through my +brain––there was a terrific crash––flying +debris––a hissing of steam––mingled with +the groans of the wounded and dying.</p> +<p>I was thrown out of the way of the +wreck and near the edge of a river, and +when I regained my senses a priest was +bending over me, bathing my forehead. I +gradually realized what had happened and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_66' name='page_66'></a>66</span> +went to my engine. There was scarcely a +vestige left of The Little Arequipena, only +a piece of the boiler and two pairs of driving +wheels. The shock was so great that +the little coach was hurled over the other +engine, which was not damaged much.</p> +<p>I saw several persons bending over some +one, and, on going closer, found William +Cuthbert, our traveling engineer, stretched +on the ground dying. Five soldiers +were dead beneath the ruins. One officer, +with his legs broken in two places, begged +that others be cared for first. The road-master +was in agony, his lower limbs +frightfully burned by escaping steam; all +the others were more or less seriously injured, +except myself. When relief came +our dead and wounded were taken to Arequipa.</p> +<p>We had been sent out to repair the wires, +and orders had come to me that we should +be given the right of way. The engineer +who collided with me told me that the commander +of the government forces had ordered +our superintendent to furnish transportation +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_67' name='page_67'></a>67</span> +for his troops to Puno at once, +and when informed that it would be impossible +to send a train until we were heard +from, he threatened to place the superintendent +in jail unless his orders were complied +with. No one on the other train was +hurt. They had six coaches full of soldiers, +the priest who assisted me being +among them.</p> +<p>The day after our arrival at Arequipa +the funeral of William Cuthbert took place. +The procession was the largest that I had +ever witnessed at any funeral in Arequipa, +natives as well as foreigners taking part.</p> +<p>It was a long time before I recovered +from the shock, not alone of the collision, +but the death of William Cuthbert who always +had been ready to befriend me and +who had given me much valuable information. +He lies buried in the cemetery at +Arequipa, in a vault. A marble slab was +erected to his memory.</p> +<p>The general manager sent for me one +day to come to his office in Arequipa, and +after talking over the cause of the collision, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_68' name='page_68'></a>68</span> +I told him that I considered him to blame +for allowing any engine and train to go +out without knowing first where we were, +and that it would have been better to have +gone to prison, that if he had been sent +there the American government would +have demanded his freedom, and he would +have been honored. As it stood, he was +to a certain extent responsible for that +dreadful affair. After some more words I +left the office, realizing that I had incurred +the displeasure of the head officer. +I concluded to leave, which I was sorry to +do, as I looked upon Arequipa as my only +home.</p> +<p>I visited Valparaiso and again met Cockney +Spider. He was still at his old business, +conducting a runaway sailors’ boarding +house. A few weeks later found me in +Panama, an engineer on the Panama and +Aspinwall railroad. The climate, I believe, +is the most wretched in the world, +and tropical vegetation grows the rankest. +In a few months I was stricken with the +yellow fever, but thanks to my robust constitution +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_69' name='page_69'></a>69</span> +I soon recovered. About this +time I met an official of the government +railway at Ilo, who desired me to return +and accept a position as engineer on the +road. I told him of my troubles in that +town with the officials. He met me soon +afterwards, with a contract duly drawn up +for eighteen months’ service and a guarantee +that I should not be molested by any +petty official.</p> +<p>When I arrived at Ilo, imagine my surprise +to find that the man who rowed me +ashore was the Italian who caused my arrest. +He offered to shake hands but I refused. +When I went to the hotel many of +my old native friends came to see me, and +informed me that after I had left they discovered +the person who did the shooting. +It was done by one of their own number, +who managed to get away.</p> +<p>It was very gratifying to thus have my +innocence established, but it did not recompense +for the time I had spent in jail and +the loss of money.</p> +<p>I had been running a train out of Ilo +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_70' name='page_70'></a>70</span> +about a month, when one night I was invited +to a “wake.” Having never attended +one, I accepted the invitation. At one +end of the room stood a large table, and +upon it the body of a child two years old. +On its head was a wreath of flowers. The +child was dressed in white; in its tiny +hands was a bouquet of flowers; the feet +were encased in small white slippers; lighted +candles surrounded the body. At either +end of the table were several old women, +who were employed by the family as +mourners, and they kept up a continual +low moaning sound. Occasionally they +would stop to partake of wine, and start +again, more dismal than ever. The room +was large and on each side were seated ladies +and gentlemen talking and laughing +and seemingly enjoying themselves. The +parents of the dead child appeared to have +surpassed the expectations of their friends +and made a great success of the “wake.”</p> +<p>There is a custom in Peru that when several +persons are gathered together there +is constant drinking. A large bottle of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_71' name='page_71'></a>71</span> +wine or whiskey is placed on the table +with one glass. A lady or gentleman will +fill the glass and drink to the health of +some one present. It is bad form to leave +any liquor in the glass, so it is always +drained, refilled and presented to the one +whose health has been drunk. It is an insult +to refuse to drink, after one has drank +to your health and the person accepting the +glass drinks to the health of some one else. +In this manner the glass is constantly on +the move. On this occasion, the wine was +on the table with the corpse.</p> +<p>About one o’clock in the morning not +seeing any disposition on the part of the +guests to retire, I bade our friends good +night.</p> +<p>I had barely reached the street when I +heard firing and saw people running. Suddenly +there came a volley of musketry, and +a woman dropped dead a few feet in front +of me. Almost immediately the streets +were deserted, but I could hear the cries +of “Vivia Pierola,” and I knew another +revolution had broken out.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_72' name='page_72'></a>72</span> +<a name='VIII_VIVA_GENERALISSIMO_PIEROLA' id='VIII_VIVA_GENERALISSIMO_PIEROLA'></a> +<h2>VIII.</h2> +<h3>VIVA GENERALISSIMO PIEROLA.</h3> +</div> +<p>I did not do anything for the woman. +Shot through the heart, she was past all +aid. I made a dash into a by-street, intending +to reach the station, get my engine +ready and go to Ilo to prevent the +insurgents from using the road to transport +their troops. But I ran into an officer’s +arms before I had gone a block. He +had been looking for me all night, and told +me I was his prisoner. I was to be taken +before Senor Pierola. Meantime I was to +be treated with every consideration, the +officer paying for breakfast and cigars, +and insisting on my drinking some ale +which he had taken as a contraband of +war.</p> +<p>It was some time before we could get +near the great leader of the revolution, +the approaches to his house being crowded +with people. Ladies were prominent +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_73' name='page_73'></a>73</span> +among the crowd, carrying flowers and +declaring their deliverer had come to make +Peru the greatest nation on the Pacific.</p> +<p>After the officer presented me Pierola +asked me if I spoke Spanish. Upon being +answered in the affirmative, he asked my +name, nationality and how long I had been +employed by the Peruvian government; all +of which being answered to his satisfaction, +he asked me if I would work for him, +and if I would, in the event of his being +victorious, I should be appointed to take +charge of the Ilo and Moquequa railways. +He only wanted me to convey troops down +the valley, take up some of the rails to prevent +the government troops from using the +line, and then before he retreated to another +position which he would fortify, to +dismantle the engine and hide the parts, so +that in case the government troops should +come to Moquequa the engine would be of +no service to them.</p> +<p>I replied that I was a British subject, +and that if I were to do what he requested +of me, and should be taken prisoner by the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_74' name='page_74'></a>74</span> +government, and the fact became known +that I had taken part, I would be unable +to claim the protection of my government. +He agreed that that was true, but he would +insure against that by sending a few troops +with me, and it would look as if force was +compelling me to do what, which without +force, I would not have done.</p> +<p>I finally agreed, and after giving my +word that I would not attempt to escape, +received orders to take the engine, as a +squad of soldiers would accompany me, +and at a certain place along the line which +they would designate, the rails would be +torn up. We started that afternoon.</p> +<p>We carried two flat cars to load the rails +on. About forty miles from Moquequa we +discovered another train coming toward +us, but upon our nearer approach they +backed off rapidly. It was a party of government +troops sent out to ascertain +whether the road was clear in order to +bring up their main body. Our company +then took up rails and made the road dangerous +in ten different places. We blew +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_75' name='page_75'></a>75</span> +up a small wooden bridge with giant powder.</p> +<p>The officer in charge made frequent stops +in the valley and levied a tribute of money +on all the wine merchants he could find. +They usually gave, as they knew too well +the consequence of refusing. Those who +hid away found, on their return, their wine +presses and vaults in ruins.</p> +<p>On our return to Moquequa, I was ordered +to disable the engine, which I did by +taking off both valve stems and driving +rods. The officer hid them and that was +the last I ever saw of them. We attended +a dance which lasted all night, and drank +much wine in anticipation of the success +of the revolution. It was a gala night. +There was dancing and music in nearly all +the houses.</p> +<p>In the early morning bugles, drums and +other instruments began making a hideous +noise, officers were commanding men to +form ranks, horses, mules and donkeys +were running hither and thither, and dogs +were barking. Here and there were +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_76' name='page_76'></a>76</span> +groups of men learning to load their rifles, +others endeavoring to parry and thrust +with cutlasses and making fierce swings at +an imaginary government soldier. Louder +and hoarser came the call of the officers, +but their commands were lost on the motley +crowd. After several hours the officers +succeeded in getting the men into some +kind of marching order.</p> +<p>I turned to a store to buy some cigars, +when I heard someone calling, and turning +I beheld three of my fellow prisoners that +a few months before were in jail convicted +of murder. One straightened out his hand +to me, but I did not take it. I asked them +how they escaped; it was the old story. The +insurgents needed recruits and they were +liberated on condition that they fight for +Pierola.</p> +<p>Such was Peru, and such it is today. Instead +of the people supporting the government, +the government supports the people, +and when all its favors become exhausted, +then some one arises and proclaims himself +president, organizes a band of thieves and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_77' name='page_77'></a>77</span> +murderers, and endeavors to gain control.</p> +<p>There have been exceptions, when an indignant +people, who have been trodden to +such an extent that it seems a revolution +is the only means of righting their wrongs; +but nine out of ten are the work of an ambitious +man who wants to become ruler.</p> +<p>I asked the ex-convicts where the other +three were who had been confined with +them. Two had died and the other was +with the troops. They begged for money +and I gave them a dollar each, and after +profusely thanking me they left to follow +the rear guard of Pierola’s scoundrels.</p> +<p>After purchasing my cigars, I followed +the main body of troops with my escort of +twenty soldiers, to keep guard over me, as +arranged with General Pierola. Our destination +was Torato, thirty miles from Moquequa. +The road led over passes and +wound around mountain sides, and from +several points of vantage I could see the +army on the march, with General Pierola +and a priest by his side in the lead. The +priest was there to inspire courage in those +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_78' name='page_78'></a>78</span> +who might waver. The army numbered six +hundred infantry and two hundred cavalry, +many of whom did not know the duties of +a soldier.</p> +<p>On arriving at Torato, I secured quarters +for myself and escort at the expense +of the insurgent general. A month passed +in wine drinking and dancing. There +were gay festivities every night, lasting +sometimes until late the next morning, the +officers seldom seeing their men. Instead +of drilling them, they spent their time telling +how they were going to annihilate the +government troops. Some little fortifying +had been done, but the natural surroundings +were sufficient to prevent a prudent +attack. One day the news came that the +government troops were advancing and +then some little work was done to prepare +for battle.</p> +<p>The day before the battle, I told General +Pierola I had no objections to following +him to the battlefield, but in consideration +of being a non-combatant, I asked the privilege +of selecting my own course, giving +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_79' name='page_79'></a>79</span> +him my word of honor that I would not +make any attempt to escape. He was satisfied +and gave me a pass allowing the +freedom I desired. The next day the cry +arose that the government troops were +only six miles away. There was hurrying +to and fro with no discipline. The priest +accomplished more by his cross than all +the officers. There was a babel of voices. +All were trying to give commands. Suddenly +heavy firing was heard, the outpost +had become engaged at last.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_80' name='page_80'></a>80</span> +<a name='IX_AMID_THE_DIN_OF_BATTLE' id='IX_AMID_THE_DIN_OF_BATTLE'></a> +<h2>IX.</h2> +<h3>AMID THE DIN OF BATTLE.</h3> +</div> +<p>The main body of the insurgent troops +began to move to the front, headed by General +Pierola and the priest marching to the +most unearthly music I ever heard. Women +were conspicuous and cheered as the +men marched past. “Viva Pierola!” was +heard on all sides.</p> +<p>Then came an order to double quick. +The outposts were driven in a short distance, +and the enemy was in a valley, surrounded +on both sides by a chain of hills +with a huge mountain in the background. +When I saw the position of the government +troops, I was satisfied they would be defeated +and the battle become a rout. There +were two regiments of infantry and one of +cavalry in the valley. Pierola stationed +his troops on each side of the pass and in +front, reserving his cavalry. In a short +time the engagement became general. The +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_81' name='page_81'></a>81</span> +priest encouraged the insurgents by displaying +the cross. He was a courageous +fellow, always to be found in places of +danger. I mounted a huge boulder and +could easily see all that was going on. The +government troops would waver and fall +back, and again they would renew the attempt +to scale the hillsides, which was impossible +as long as the insurgents held their +position.</p> +<p>There was a strange happening just +when success seemed assured. The insurgent +cavalry had taken no part up to this +time, as both sides of the valley had been +actively engaged. The insurgents along +the pass were running short of ammunition. +An order was sent to the captain of +the cavalry to send a company back to Torato +and assist in hurrying up supplies. +There was a brief cessation of hostilities. +I could plainly see the government troops +carrying their dead and wounded to the +rear, but still holding their position. When +another charge was made to take the +heights, the firing again became general. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_82' name='page_82'></a>82</span> +Suddenly arose the cry, “They come! +They come!” Firing along the sides of the +pass ceased, and I looked in amazement. +Evidently, something was wrong. The insurgents +were throwing away their arms +and running. There was a cloud of dust in +the direction of Torato, and I could easily +distinguish a company of cavalry, which I +knew was the company sent to hurry up the +ammunition. The insurgents saw them and +imagined that the government cavalry had +succeeded in getting to their rear. The +panic became a rout. In vain did Pierola +plead, as he threw himself in front of his +demoralized men, in vain did the priest +hold his crucifix on high, threatening and +pleading, but no persuasion could stop +those runaway cowards. The government +troops realized something was wrong, and +began to scale the heights. Still, if the +cavalry which had done no fighting, could +have been led to the side of the pass, the +day would still have been with Pierola, and +probably the stampede would have been +checked. But unfortunately for the would-be +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_83' name='page_83'></a>83</span> +president, there was no one in command +capable of meeting the emergency.</p> +<p>I became excited, and snatching a cutlass +from the hand of a retreating soldier, +threw myself in front of a column in a +vain endeavor to stop them, but they ran +over me like so many sheep. Terror had +lent them wings of flight and deprived them +of reason. By this time the government infantry +had reached the plateau and was +forming into companies. Their cavalry +had seized the heights and the day was +lost.</p> +<p>I saw General Pierola shake hands with +the priest and leave the field. The priest +mounted and he, too, was gone. The +ground was strewn with arms; even the +discordant musical instruments were discarded.</p> +<p>Thus an army of revolutionists, who, a +few hours before paraded through the +streets of Torato, cheered by fair women, +and shouting “Viva Pierola,” had won a +battle by natural surroundings and lost it +by their cowardice. I, too, thought it was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_84' name='page_84'></a>84</span> +time to retreat, as my escort of twenty soldiers +had long since disappeared. I rode +to Torato.</p> +<p>Along the way I overtook straggling +bands of insurgents going into town to +hide, while others were scaling the tallest +mountains. I went to my quarters, and +soon the town was surrounded.</p> +<p>The next morning about two hundred insurgents +were captured. The others were +hid in some mysterious way and the commanding +officer of the government troops +was made to believe that the main body of +the insurgents was in the mountains.</p> +<p>I sought the general of the government +troops to inform him of my presence. He +replied that he knew of my being a prisoner, +and asked me to return to Moquequa +at once and help to get the railway in operation +to convey his troops and prisoners.</p> +<p>I was glad no other questions were put +to me, and after pleading with the general +for my kind host who had treated me with +great kindness in Torato, and who was not +in sympathy with the revolutionists, he +agreed to exempt him from the payment of +money levied on nearly all the inhabitants.</p> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_3' id='linki_3'></a> +</div> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/illus-076.jpg' alt='' title='' width='303' height='443' /><br /> +<p class='caption'> +THE EARTH BEGAN TO ROCK AND REEL. (Page 33)<br /> +</p> +</div> +<p>Soon after this a troop ship arrived in +Ilo to convey prisoners and escort to Lima. +I felt sorry for the prisoners. Many of +them recognized me and kept calling, “Don +Juan, please try and help us,” but of +course I was powerless to do anything for +them. I was glad when they were aboard +the transport for I felt miserable in the +midst of so much suffering. But I knew +they would not suffer long. Another revolution +would set them free.</p> +<p>The railroad was again in running order +and everything progressing smoothly when +one morning at breakfast I was informed +that Pierola had broken out again. This +time his party had, by means unknown, +captured the Peruvian ironclad ram, Huascar. +He must have been aided by the officers, +or at least one of them who declared +in his favor. Howbeit, he had possession. +The Peruvian fleet was sent in pursuit, but +as the Huascar was the most powerful vessel +of the fleet, they had to give her up.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_85' name='page_85'></a>85</span></div> +<p>The fortunes of Pierola were brighter +now than ever. He could, with the exception +of Callao, have entire command +and control of all the sea ports along the +coast. But unfortunately for him, he began +to stop the British mail, and later the +French mail on the high seas, his object being +to intercept mail for the Peruvian government.</p> +<p>The British government dispatched H. +M. S. Amythist and the Shah to compel +him to surrender, the Huascar having had +full sway along the coast for a month.</p> +<p>The Huascar finally made her appearance +in the port of Ilo, and almost immediately +the Amythist and Shah hove in +sight. I had a good view from the beach +and saw a boat lowered from the Shah and +pull directly to the Huascar, I supposed for +the purpose of demanding her surrender. +However, if that was the object, it failed, +for upon the return of the boat to the Shah, +the Amythist cleared for action.</p> +<p>The afternoon was calm; not a ripple on +the ocean. The Huascar was nearest the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_86' name='page_86'></a>86</span> +shore, less than a mile from where I stood. +The Shah was over a mile distant seaward. +A signal flashed from the Shah and the +Amythist steamed toward the Huascar. +The Amythist was a wooden corvette, +equipped with twin screws. The Shah was +a commerce destroyer. Neither vessel was +a match for the modern ironclad Huascar.</p> +<p>Suddenly a shot came from the Shah. +The flag and pole at the stern of the Huascar +dropped overboard. The Huascar, +equipped with a revolving turret, sent a +shot at the Amythist, but it went wide of its +mark. The Amythist circled and sent a +broadside full on the Huascar, every shot +taking effect. With the aid of a glass I +could see the decks of the Amythist plainly +from my position on a huge rock. The +British sailors, stripped to the waist, cutlass +in hand, stood eagerly awaiting orders. +The gunners’ crews were engaged in firing +rapidly. The Huascar replied by slow but +heavy reports from her turret. The object +of the British was to disable the Huascar’s +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_87' name='page_87'></a>87</span> +turret, and they succeeded by directing all +shots against it.</p> +<p>The Huascar, finding she could not effect +the enemy by shots, turned to ram her. +The Amythist, being equipped with twin +screws, awaited the Huascar and when +within a short distance ran alongside and +poured her whole broadside on the rebel. +That was the last act before the Huascar +surrendered.</p> +<p>I was aboard the Huascar a few months +afterward at Mollendo and she presented a +most dilapidated appearance.</p> +<p>Thus again was General Pierola frustrated, +and by a British wooden vessel +against a crack ironclad of Peru. Pierola +escaped as usual, and the Huascar was +turned over to the Peruvian government.</p> +<p>A few days after the Amythist-Huascar +battle I discovered the people of Ilo were +cold and distant towards me, and I soon +learned the cause. Although they were in +favor of the existing government, they did +not relish the idea of their people being +beaten by the British. I could not condemn +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_88' name='page_88'></a>88</span> +the acts of my own country and I felt it +would be better to leave Ilo, which I did, +little dreaming of the exciting events which +were soon to follow.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_89' name='page_89'></a>89</span> +<a name='X_WE_MEET_AGAIN_FELICITA' id='X_WE_MEET_AGAIN_FELICITA'></a> +<h2>X.</h2> +<h3>WE MEET AGAIN, FELICITA.</h3> +</div> +<p>The theater of Arequipa was ablaze with +lights. The youth and beauty had assembled +to follow the fortunes of the Count de +Monte Christo. I was seated in the dress +circle listening to the weird warlike strains +of Spanish music, when my eyes fell upon +the occupants of a box. A beautiful girl, +half hidden by the rich draperies, was talking +with an aristocratic looking old gentleman, +while by their side sat a young man, +dark-browed and sinister looking. I arose +and entered the box from the side door. +“Don Julian Maldonado, I am delighted to +meet you,” I said, “I am the boy you befriended +some years ago in the Cordilleras.”</p> +<p>He took my hand delightedly and bade +me be seated, offering me a chair between +himself and daughter. Don Julian whispered +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_90' name='page_90'></a>90</span> +to me not to make myself known to +Felicita to see if she would recognize me. +All this was amusing to Don Julian, but +somewhat embarrassing to me, seated, as I +was, between them, and trying to carry on +a conversation with him. The expression +of wonderment in Felicita’s beautiful eyes +was disconcerting to say the least. It was +evident she did not remember me. And yet +how could she be expected to. She was a +child of only nine years when we first met, +and who now, seven years later found me +unexpected and unannounced sitting beside +her in a theater.</p> +<p>Laughingly I turned to her and asked if +she did not recognize me, explaining that +the reason her father had not presented +me was that we had met seven years ago.</p> +<p>While I was speaking she was looking +earnestly at me, but when I recalled their +journey to La Paz she appeared dubious +and asked if I was the young lad she met +near Puno and if it was possible that I had +grown to manhood and learned to speak +Spanish? When I reassured her, the look +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_91' name='page_91'></a>91</span> +of astonishment gave way to an exclamation +of joy.</p> +<p>The play was forgotten. We only talked +of our first meeting. She asked if I was +staying in Arequipa and on learning that +I was, promised that we should meet again, +as her father had decided to remain there +for some time. I was delighted but felt +somewhat disturbed because of the young +man in the box with her. When I began +to talk to Felicita he moved his seat farther +away. The Peruvians are the acme of +politeness.</p> +<p>The play being over, I assisted Felicita +with her wraps. Her father then introduced +me to Don Rodrigo Garcia, a fellow +traveller whom they had met on their journey +from Cusco to Arequipa.</p> +<p>I was not particularly well pleased with +the young man. First impressions sometimes +give rise to doubt and distrust. It +was so with me in this instance. Don +Julian insisted on my going home with +them. I walked with Felicita on one side +and Don Julian on the other, Don Rodrigo +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_92' name='page_92'></a>92</span> +walking just ahead of me. Their home was +on Calle Mercaderes, one of the prettiest +squares of the city. Like most Peruvian +homes, the house was of adobe with flat +roof and partitions of plastered cane. It +contained six rooms. In the windows were +heavy iron bars, like all houses of the better +class. They were very serviceable, for +Spanish lovers do their courting between +the window bars. The girl sits beside the +window and her wooer stands in the street; +the parents sometimes invite him in. +Should he request the company of the girl +to the play or to any entertainment, the +invitation must include the whole family. +This custom in the larger cities is dying +out, but in the inland cities it is still adhered +to.</p> +<p>Arriving at the door, I bade Felicita and +her father good night with the assurance +that I would dine with them the next day. +Don Rodrigo also was invited. His hotel +was on my way and I accompanied him. +He was splendid company, and after reaching +his hotel I accepted his invitation to a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_93' name='page_93'></a>93</span> +light lunch. Afterwards we enjoyed a cigar +and some rich old wine, but still I could +not overcome the aversion I first formed +for him.</p> +<p>The following day, long before the appointed +time for dinner, I was dressed and +ready. Chico, a half-breed Indian, whom I +had rendered a service one time when he +was being set upon by some of his own +people, and who afterwards slept in my +passage way, had my boots polished and +horse carefully groomed. He was a faithful +servant. He would find out where I +went and quietly follow, and after the manner +of his race, would lie down in some obscure +place in perfect contentment and +wait for me. I arrived at the home of Don +Julian at the appointed time, and found the +father and daughter awaiting me. A few +moments later, Don Rodrigo arrived and +we were seated in the parlor facing the +street. It was splendidly appointed. Although +the exterior of many Peruvian residences +appear shabby, the interior presents +a far different appearance.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_94' name='page_94'></a>94</span></div> +<p>I requested Felicita to play for us and +time passed quickly. Dinner being called I +took the liberty of escorting Felicita to the +table and was given the place beside her. +The Indian servants between courses, kept +our glasses filled. Felicita did not take +wine, and when dinner was over retired, +leaving us to enjoy our cigars and liquor. +We afterwards adjourned to the parlor, +where I gave my friends an account of my +life since our first meeting. I could see +that Don Rodrigo took every opportunity +to make light of my narrative.</p> +<p>I did not allude to being in Ilo during the +Amythist and Huascar affair, but after I +had given my friends a brief account of +myself, Don Rodrigo asked me my nationality. +I told him I was Scottish. He then +asked me what I thought of the Huascar +affair, hoping no doubt to belittle my +standing with Don Julian. I replied that I +had given it very little thought, and moreover +considered it a question for both governments +to settle, and was satisfied that +everything would be adjusted amicably.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_95' name='page_95'></a>95</span></div> +<p>My reply seemed to annoy him, as he +doubtless thought I would commit myself, +and take the part of the British. He arose, +and pleading a press of business, begged +permission to retire. He shook hands with +Don Julian and daughter, but merely +bowed to me. I was glad he was gone.</p> +<p>Never before had I been so happy as +now, in Felicita’s presence. For the first +time since leaving home this was the only +pleasure I had known. Felicita sang some +pretty Spanish ballads to the music of her +guitar and I went home that night with a +lightness of heart I had not experienced +for a long time.</p> +<p>My duties not requiring me to be away +from Arequipa often, much of my time was +spent with Felicita. Together we would +ride horseback over the picturesque valley, +with its olive and orange groves and along +shaded avenues of palms, with pebbly +brooks of crystal waters on either side. The +pure air and semi-tropical skies stimulated +our buoyant spirits, and made these the +halcyon days of my existence. My first +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_96' name='page_96'></a>96</span> +dreams of love when we met in the Cordilleras +were now a blissful reality.</p> +<p>I saw little of Don Rodrigo in the weeks +that followed and was seldom in the company +of my comrades. Once a week I +would join them at the club, but aside from +that I was always to be found at Don Julian’s +home.</p> +<p>Months sped by in sweet content as the +world took on a more roseate hue and the +future presented an alluring picture.</p> +<p>I met Don Rodrigo on the street one day +and as he nodded slightly I noticed an evil +look in his eyes. On returning to my room +late that night something glistened in the +moonlight on my door. I struck a match, a +blood red heart was traced on the panel, +and in the center stuck a dagger. What +did it mean?</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_97' name='page_97'></a>97</span> +<a name='XI_THE_MASQUE_BALL_AT_TIRAVAYA' id='XI_THE_MASQUE_BALL_AT_TIRAVAYA'></a> +<h2>XI.</h2> +<h3>THE MASQUE BALL AT TIRAVAYA.</h3> +</div> +<p>It was the night of the annual masque +ball at Tiravaya, a summer resort a few +miles from Arequipa. The hall was +crowded with dancers; many gentlemen +were in Cavalier costume, with swords +clanking at their sides. Others were in +helmets, gorglet and breastplate, to represent +Pizarro’s conquerors of Peru. Many +of the ladies wore quaint costumes and +rich attire of the court of Ferdinand and +Isabella, while a few were attired in +grotesque costumes. Felicita was dressed +as a princess of the court of the ancient +Incas, with a head dress of the rich plumage +of tropic birds. I was dressed in the +Highland garb of Scotland.</p> +<p>I soon discovered Felicita by the rosebud +in her hair. We took part in the grand +march and in nearly all the dances. The +soft strains of the music and the gayety +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_98' name='page_98'></a>98</span> +of the picturesque throng in the brilliantly +lighted room made the hours pass quickly +and it was soon time for unmasking. After +the general greeting was over, we proceeded +to the dining room where an elegant repast +was served. The supper being finished, +the music struck up again as the wine +was being served. Just then I observed +Rodrigo for the first time, and noticed that +he was intently watching me. I called Felicita’s +attention to him and she seemed to +be frightened. She wanted to return home, +but I assured her there was no danger; we +were among friends. She replied that I +was not familiar with Spanish hatred, and +that he would sooner or later insult me. I +had known for more than three months, +that he had proposed to Felicita and been +refused. I also knew he was a gambler and +lived on his chances at the faro table. Being +an expert and without any sense of honor, +even to one of that profession, he was +seldom unsuccessful. I had never mentioned +to Don Julian or Felicita his manner +of life.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_99' name='page_99'></a>99</span></div> +<p>An American, who unfortunately got under +the influence of wine, proposed a toast +to Peru, to which we all responded by raising +our glasses. Another toast was given +to the United States which received a similar +response. Toast followed toast in quick +succession. I merely raised my glass as I +had no desire to drink any more, and knowing +the long distance before me, I was on +the point of calling for Chico to have our +horses in readiness, when I heard my name +called and found that I was requested to +make a speech. I arose and congratulated +the company present for the pleasant time +we had passed, and the happy manner in +which everything had been conducted by +our host. All rose and gave him three +cheers.</p> +<p>Don Rodrigo then stepped to the center +between both tables, and asked everyone +present who denounced the British government +for its action in the Huascar affair, +to stand up. I knew the insult was meant +for me. I refused to stand, as also did +two of my British friends. After they were +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_100' name='page_100'></a>100</span> +seated Felicita again pleaded with me to +leave, but I could not do so with honor +then, and had I done so, I would have been +held in contempt afterwards. Don Rodrigo +came to where I was seated and addressing +himself to me said:</p> +<p>“I observe that you refuse to condemn +the action of the British government. Of +course you are a Britisher, but I must say +that the action of your government was +of the most cowardly nature, and anyone +who upholds such actions deserves the +name of coward; in fact, anyone who allows +himself to be ruled by the Queen of +Great Britain must be anything but a +brave man.”</p> +<p>I cannot describe the thoughts that ran +through my brain. I stood like one paralyzed. +I could neither move nor speak, but +I was conscious that everyone was looking +at me and seemed to enjoy my discomfiture. +Felicita placed both hands on my +right arm and looked pleadingly in my face. +I could see everything quite plainly, but I +was bereft of all powers. Then by a valiant +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_101' name='page_101'></a>101</span> +effort I recovered myself. Bending down, +I told Felicita to remain and not be +alarmed.</p> +<p>I arose and went to where Don Rodrigo +stood. I was calm and collected. “Don +Rodrigo,” I said, “I came here by invitation, +and when I accepted had no thought +of being insulted. Neither do I believe +that our host or the gentlemen present intended +that I should be. You have without +provocation on my part, insulted my +Queen and called her subjects cowards. +The country that gave me birth never produced +cowards and I want to convince you +that I am not an exception.” With this I +dealt him a terrific blow in the face.</p> +<p>He fell heavily to the floor and all was +confusion. Men leaped on tables and +chairs. Cries of “Down with the foreigner!” +were heard on every side. Then my +British friends came over to where I +stood, one of they saying, “Good, Jack, +the coward deserved it! Let us stand side +by side and show them how the Queen’s +subjects can defend themselves!”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_102' name='page_102'></a>102</span></div> +<p>I can see him now, his auburn hair disarranged +and partially hanging over his +forehead, his blue eyes sparkling with indignation, +his right hand holding a revolver. +The other said, “There are only +three of us but we will show them how +Britishers can fight,” at the same time +drawing his Colt’s. I had also pulled my +gun, anticipating the worst, when the +American drew near and said: “Jack, I +know nothing of your Queen or country; I +am an American, but you did right, and +what I would do under similar circumstances. +I will stand by you, although we +have little chance against such odds.”</p> +<p>By this time Don Rodrigo had been assisted +to his feet, blood all over his face. +The uproar ceased for a few minutes, as +the crowd was without a leader. The blow +had told with effect––two front teeth were +gone and both eyes were discolored, caused, +I think, by him coming in contact with the +floor. In a few moments cries of “Down +with the foreigner,” again commenced. We +knew it threatened our lives, but when they +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_103' name='page_103'></a>103</span> +looked down the barrels of four revolvers +they knew it also threatened some of their +lives.</p> +<p>Springing on a chair, I asked them to listen +to me. I told them that the quarrel they +had witnessed had been sought by Don +Rodrigo against me; and I asked why others +should suffer? Let him finish his quarrel +with me now or at any other time he +chose––I would always meet him, and surely +gentlemen such as I knew them to be +would not so far forget themselves as to +endeavor to overcome us, who had never +done them harm?</p> +<p>This appeal was effective. Don Rodrigo +had been washed, and never did I see a face +with such devilish and malignant expression. +I was young and strong, with quite +a knowledge of the art of self defense, and +I watched him very closely lest he should +draw a knife.</p> +<p>Presently he said that he would be the +judge of time and place and manner of +meeting me, and that I would yet remember +Don Rodrigo Garcia. I did not answer +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_104' name='page_104'></a>104</span> +and he walked out of the hall. I drank +several glasses of wine with those who, but +a few moments before, were crying for revenge. +I found Chico near me, and could +hardly refrain from laughing when I discovered +that he had armed himself before +leaving Arequipa with a great navy revolver +he found in my room. I am satisfied +had an attack been made on us, Chico would +have done his part, provided he had found +a way to use the revolver. I am satisfied he +never saw one before he came to Arequipa.</p> +<p>I told him to get the horses ready and +my friends remained near to prevent any +treachery. However, we were not molested +on the way home. Felicita begged me to +watch Don Rodrigo. “I know,” she said, +“that man’s nature. He will watch you always, +and while he will not attack you +alone, he will pay others to inflict some injury +on you.”</p> +<p>Don Julian was waiting and had hot +cocoa ready for us. We both concluded +that we would better tell him what had +happened lest he hear a wrong version +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_105' name='page_105'></a>105</span> +from others. They were determined that +I should spend the remainder of the night +in their house, but I concluded it would appear +cowardly. So, I bade them good +night and, with Chico following, perfectly +happy over the few dollars I had given +him, I reached home in safety.</p> +<p>I thought much about the affair at Tiravaya +and determined to watch Don Rodrigo +closely. A week later Don Julian informed +me he was going to Aacna on business. He +would be gone several days, but Felicita +would stay here. Fatal mistake.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_106' name='page_106'></a>106</span> +<a name='XII_COWARDLY_ACT_OF_A_VILLAIN' id='XII_COWARDLY_ACT_OF_A_VILLAIN'></a> +<h2>XII.</h2> +<h3>COWARDLY ACT OF A VILLAIN.</h3> +</div> +<p>“Don Juan! Ah, Don Juan! Something +dreadful! Felicita!” cried Chico as he +burst into my room breathless near midnight.</p> +<p>“What is it?” I demanded, “quick, I +say,” but he could only gasp “Felicita!”</p> +<p>I hurried to the stable and saddled my +horse, Chico following. We rode with all +haste to the home of Don Julian. Everything +was in uproar. The Indian servants +moaned and cried, and pointed in the direction +of the road leading to the cemetery. +Thither I rode, fast as my horse could run. +It was a lonely road, with few houses by +the wayside and those were mostly Indian +huts. It was nearly one o’clock in the +morning, no one to be seen––on and on I +went. I could see a dark outline of what I +thought must be a vehicle of some kind. +As carriages are seldom used in Arequipa, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_107' name='page_107'></a>107</span> +I concluded that this must be bearing Felicita +away. I drove the spurs harder and +leaned forward, peering into the darkness. +I was gaining rapidly. I was certain now +that it was Felicita, for they were driving +at full speed. I never thought how I was +to rescue her, my whole purpose being to +catch up with that villain. Just then the +moon shone bright from behind a cloud +and lighted up the scene. The occupants +of the carriage now knew they were being +pursued, and they stopped. I could plainly +see two men unhitch two horses from behind +the carriage. They took Felicita from +the carriage and were forcing her to mount +when, suddenly, her horse became unmanageable, +and she fell to the ground. By +this time I was close upon them, and called +to Felicita to be brave, but the poor girl +never heard me, for she was unconscious. +Don Rodrigo stopped, as if determined to +resist me. Would to God he had! But he +put spurs to his horse and fled. I shot at +him, but as the distance was great, and the +light uncertain, the bullet went wide of the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_108' name='page_108'></a>108</span> +mark. I soon forgot him on reaching Felicita, +as she lay with an ugly cut on her head +caused by striking the carriage step when +she fell. There lay my child-friend, unconscious. +She was dressed for retiring, her +other clothes being in the carriage. My +first impulse was to pursue the accursed +scoundrel and avenge the insult to Felicita, +but I could not leave her there. I took her +in my arms and carried her to a near-by +Indian hut where, after some parley with +the poor, superstitious Indians, the door +was opened, and I laid my burden on some +sheepskins on the floor. Her hands were +cold and she appeared to be dead.</p> +<p>By this time, Chico arrived and brought +her clothes from the carriage. I staunched +the flow of blood with my handkerchief, +while Chico prepared some hot native liquor, +which I put to her lips. After a time, +she opened her eyes, but did not know me. +I called and called her name, but it was +long before consciousness returned. When +she did recognize me, a look of love and +happiness passed over her face. I would +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_109' name='page_109'></a>109</span> +not let her speak, but told her that when +she was taken home, she could tell me all. +The carriage driver had long since made +his escape, so I had sent to Arequipa and +had a closed carriage brought, in which I +took her home.</p> +<p>Time dragged wearily until the return of +her father. I remained by her side and +with the assistance of the Indian servants, +made her as comfortable as possible. I +had been without sleep so long that I had +gone into the parlor and laid down. I had +just awakened from a sleep when Don Julian +entered. Poor old man, he was overcome +with grief. He knew all, Felicita had +told him. From him I learned how the abduction +had taken place. About 11 o’clock +at night, Don Rodrigo had entered the bedroom +and before she realized what was being +done, Felicita had been carried to the +carriage in waiting. Leaving her in charge +of the driver, Don Rodrigo returned for +her clothes. No sooner was his back turned +than she screamed. This attracted the attention +of Chico, who had been enjoying a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_110' name='page_110'></a>110</span> +visit with Don Julian’s Indian servants in +the kitchen. He had run at full speed to +inform me.</p> +<p>It was the opinion of Don Julian that +Don Rodrigo had intended taking the child +to some remote Indian habitation in the +mountains, and demanding a ransom for +her.</p> +<p>This was a plausible theory, for besides +getting revenge for Felicita refusing his +hand in marriage, he would be able to extort +money from Don Julian, and also +avenge his fancied wrongs at my hands.</p> +<p>The following day Felicita was still weak +and nervous. The doctor advised that she +be taken to the sea coast for a time. She +protested, saying she was getting stronger, +but I knew she was only saying it to cheer +her father and myself. I could plainly see +her condition was precarious. After a long +consultation with the doctors, Don Julian +decided he would take her to Truxillo, their +former home. After considerable pleading, +she consented to go. I was to follow +when she recovered.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_111' name='page_111'></a>111</span></div> +<p>I accompanied them and their Indian +servants aboard the steamer and remained +aboard the little ferry boat, waving my +handkerchief until they faded into the distance. +I returned ashore, and although +I had not been in Mollendo for some time, +I had no desire to see my friends. I +wanted to be alone.</p> +<p>Weeks of dreary waiting followed. I +was not myself. Anxiously I looked for a +letter and with trembling hands I broke the +seal. The letter was dated Lima, and read: +“Don Juan, I am crazy. Felicita is dead. +Will write you all, when I am composed. +Julian.”</p> +<p>Never was human being more distracted +than I. Absenting myself from everybody +night after night in deep ravines and valleys, +among the lofty mountains that surrounded +Arequipa, I wandered. Many an +Indian no doubt looked upon me with superstitious +awe, walking without caring +whither I went, like one demented. A second +letter came stating that the death of +Felicita was caused by a terrible cold she +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_112' name='page_112'></a>112</span> +had contracted and the nervous shock suffered +on the night of the abduction. Like +his first, Don Julian’s letter was brief. He +said: “I will let you know where she is +buried in my next, and I think I will not +be long after her.”</p> +<p>I concluded to go to Lima, but another +letter, dated Truxillo, stated that he had +left Lima and would bury Felicita in Truxillo. +I received no more missives. To go +to Lima was useless, to go to Truxillo and +perhaps not find him there, would not accomplish +anything so I decided to wait until +I heard further news. I scarcely know +how I passed my time. Night after night +I would go up town, play billiards and visit +the drinking places, always with the +hope that I would meet Don Rodrigo.</p> +<p>I intended, when I heard from Don Julian +to make a trip to Truxillo, visit the +last resting place of Felicita, and perhaps +remain in Lima, away from scenes that +reminded me of the only happy time in my +existence, and its tragic ending. But circumstances +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_113' name='page_113'></a>113</span> +over which I had no control +changed my plans.</p> +<p>One night, as I was sitting alone in my +room, a boy handed me a telegram. It +was from the general manager of the railroad, +saying to report at his office at once +and bring all the engine runners with me, +and to enjoin absolute secrecy on the part +of the men. I did as requested, and now +begins one of the most exciting adventures +of my life.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_114' name='page_114'></a>114</span> +<a name='XIII_MURDEROUS_PLAN_OF_THE_INSURGENTS' id='XIII_MURDEROUS_PLAN_OF_THE_INSURGENTS'></a> +<h2>XIII.</h2> +<h3>MURDEROUS PLAN OF THE INSURGENTS.</h3> +</div> +<p>On my arrival at the manager’s office, +I found him in consultation with the Prefecto +of Arequipa and the General in command +of the regular army. I was informed +that another revolution was about to +be attempted in Peru in favor of General +Pierola.</p> +<p>The General said he had a valuable package +which must be delivered to the Prefecto +of Puno, that in the event the package +was captured it would ruin all their +plans. Would I undertake to deliver it for +the government? I turned to the general +manager and, speaking to him in English, +said: “There is some mystery connected +with this. Before I pledge myself to do +this, it will be necessary to have a clear +understanding.” He repeated my request +to the General, who informed me that a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_115' name='page_115'></a>115</span> +secret message had come over the wires +that a revolution had broken out again, +and this time the insurgents had taken +possession of several points to prevent the +government troops from reaching Puno; +that the package I was to take was a notice +to the Prefecto of Puno, for himself and +those in favor of the government, to proceed +to a designated place, where the government +troops would arrive, and march +by stages to Puno.</p> +<p>I realized the danger connected with +this undertaking and accepted the responsibility +with some trepidation. A generous +reward awaited me if I succeeded, but +it was understood in accepting the perilous +message, no instructions were to be given +me; that I was to use my own judgment +and, if danger threatened the package, to +destroy it before it should be captured.</p> +<p>The little Arequipena had long since +been rebuilt, and I at once proceeded to +put her in readiness for the journey. Manuel, +my fireman, was a native of Arequipa, +a powerfully built and sturdy fellow. He +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_116' name='page_116'></a>116</span> +had been much among the British and +American railway men and could understand +English.</p> +<p>After leaving orders as to the time of +starting, I called on an English friend and +confided my mission. I asked him, in event +of my death, to write to my relatives in +Scotland, giving the details. He did everything +in his power to dissuade me, but I +told him his talk was idle. No use, I had +made up my mind. Upon seeing the Arequipena +ready, the men in the shops questioned +me, but I evaded their questions.</p> +<p>I went to the office of the general manager +and he gave me the package, unaddressed, +done up securely, and sealed with +red wax. I placed it in the inside pocket +of my vest. The manager asked me to be +careful with myself. He would much rather +I should not go, but in my state of mind, +I was only too glad to get my thoughts off +the sad remembrance of Felicita’s fate.</p> +<p>I left Arequipa at ten o’clock that night, +cautiously and silently leaving the station. +I arrived at Puno the following evening +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_117' name='page_117'></a>117</span> +and lay over at Juliaca Junction a few +hours. At this point the station master +asked me where I was going. I replied +that I had orders for Puno. Leaving Juliaca, +I arrived at Puno at exactly five +o’clock. I blew the whistle for the station. +I noticed that it was crowded with people, +but saw no one I would suspect of being a +revolutionist. I put the engine in the shed, +and then went and washed up. I hid the +package in a secure place, where it was impossible +for anyone to find it, as I had +planned to go to the hotel, eat supper and +then learn my chances for getting to the +Prefecto, before I took the package from +its hiding place. The station of Puno, +like all terminal stations of the Arequipa +railway, was fenced in by corrugated iron, +about eight feet high, and it was necessary +to go through the station outlet, which was +only opened on the arrival and departure +of trains, or another outlet guarded by a +dog and night watchman. I went out by +the small gate, familiarly bidding the +watchman good evening. This gate only +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_118' name='page_118'></a>118</span> +employes had the right to use. I walked +up town to the hotel Inca. I met several +gentlemen who knew me and asked one to +play a game of billiards before supper. No +one seemed to think that my coming was +anything more than the usual routine of +railway business.</p> +<p>After darkness, I lit a cigar and strolled +down the street where the Prefecto lived. +I observed the sentry at the front entrance +and upon close observation, I found that +the rear of the house could be approached +by a little back street connecting with a +small alleyway by means of which the +house could be entered from the front.</p> +<p>I retraced my steps to the station but +did not go near the gate. I went around to +the engine shed, where an opening had been +made by the boys so they could get to their +rooms when out late nights and avoid +answering the questions of the watchman. +When I reached the Arequipena, the wipers +were cleaning her. I spoke to the foreman, +and getting the package, went out the same +way, no one noticing my departure. Then +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_119' name='page_119'></a>119</span> +going through, the narrow street I went up +the small alley and, seeing no one, presented +myself at the main entrance of the Prefecto’s +house. Here the sentry barred my +passage and demanded the password. I +told him to call the officer of the guard, and +when he appeared I explained that I had +important business with Senor Prefecto, +and desired to see him personally.</p> +<p>“Who are you?”</p> +<p>“The Senor Prefecto will answer that +question,” I replied.</p> +<p>I had folded the package and hid it in the +lining of my overcoat which I had thrown +over my arm. The officer withdrew for a +few minutes, but soon returned and allowed +me to pass the sentry. Halting in +front of a large door, a signal was given +and it was opened by another officer. I +was ushered in, and from there into an adjoining +room, where I was told to wait.</p> +<p>Presently there came in a priest, then an +officer with side arms, and last Senor Prefecto, +who asked me the nature of my business. +I replied that I had a message for +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_120' name='page_120'></a>120</span> +the Prefecto, which could be imparted to +him alone. When my errand was communicated +to him, he could do as he chose.</p> +<p>There was much hesitation before my request +for a private audience was granted, +but on being searched, overcoat and all, the +Senor Prefecto finally agreed to see me +alone. When the others had retired, I took +the package from the lining of my overcoat +and gave it to him.</p> +<p>I watched him closely as he read the contents. +His face became blanched, and his +hands shook in abject fear, although nothing +else could have been expected from +him, as he was an arrant coward.</p> +<p>After reading the document, he called +the others. He handed it to the priest, who +asked where I came from. I told him. +Then he wanted to know if anyone had +seen me enter here, and whether the arrival +of the Arequipena was known. I told +him I thought no one would pay any attention +to the arrival of the train but would +consider it the ordinary routine railway +business. A consultation was held, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_121' name='page_121'></a>121</span> +after they found that I knew the contents +of the message I had brought, they admitted +me to their council. They asked me to +get the Arequipena ready, and they and +the principal officers would flee to Arequipa. +I told them that such a course +could not be pursued, as all the telegraph +offices were in the hands of the insurgents, +and that our departure would become +known, the engine surrounded and all taken +prisoners. They agreed it would be impossible +to escape that way, and decided +that about midnight they would escape on +horseback. Just then an officer arrived and +reported that the insurgents had taken +possession of the station, and two engines, +one being the regular passenger. One of +the engine runners had been taken prisoner. +Their spy had reported that it was +their intention to take both engines and +several coaches loaded with soldiers and +arms; also, large quantities of powder had +been put on the Arequipena for the purpose +of destroying Sumbay bridge––to prevent +the passage of government troops.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_122' name='page_122'></a>122</span></div> +<p>I was forgotten for the time being, their +fear for their own safety outweighing all +other considerations. Another officer came +in and breathlessly added the climax. The +regiment of regulars had joined the insurgents!</p> +<p>I was now doing some rapid thinking. If +Sumbay bridge was destroyed and the fact +not known in Arequipa, the government +troops would come along and, with the engine +crew, be hurled into eternity. The +bridge being about one hundred and seventy-five +feet high and six hundred feet +long and on a curve with deep cuts on +either side and a heavy down grade, it +would be impossible for any train to stop, +unless warned beforehand.</p> +<p>This was the murderous scheme of the +insurgents.</p> +<p>I learned it was the intention of the insurgents +to proceed to Vincocaya in the +morning, destroy as they went along, the +telegraph offices, wait at Vincocaya until +the arrival of the regular passenger train +from Arequipa and then proceed to Sumbay +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_123' name='page_123'></a>123</span> +bridge. They evidently had calculated +with a great deal of precision, and if their +plans carried, victory would certainly be +theirs.</p> +<p>All these things were filling me with apprehension. +I knew I would be captured, +but how could I save the bridge? I was +determined to try at all hazards.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_124' name='page_124'></a>124</span> +<a name='XIV_FOR_THE_SAKE_OF_HUMANITY' id='XIV_FOR_THE_SAKE_OF_HUMANITY'></a> +<h2>XIV.</h2> +<h3>FOR THE SAKE OF HUMANITY.</h3> +</div> +<p>“This document calls for the payment of +$10,000, and guarantees you life employment +by the government of Peru, provided +you save the Sumbay bridge,” said the +prefecto as he handed me a paper duly +witnessed by the priest.</p> +<p>“No, Senor, I cannot accept it,” I replied. +“I will do my duty for the sake of +humanity. It is part of my plan to be captured +by the insurgents and should that +paper be found on my person, I would be +shot as a spy. If I succeed you can reward +me.”</p> +<p>I left the Prefecto and his party, wishing +them a safe journey, and sauntered +carelessly back to the Inca hotel. I entered +smoking a cigar and wearing a look of unconcern, +pretended I was not aware of any +revolutionary movement. There were several +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_125' name='page_125'></a>125</span> +men playing billiards in the parlors. +I took a chair and sat down to watch the +players. About 11 o’clock I asked to be +shown to my room, and retired, knowing +full well that I had been watched by a +citizen of Puno since my entrance to the +hotel, and I was satisfied I would soon be +taken prisoner.</p> +<p>About 2 o’clock in the morning, I was +awakened from a restless sleep by the +entrance of twelve men armed with bare +swords and revolvers. They were all talking +at once. I sat up in bed and appeared +to be amazed. The leader requested me to +dress and accompany him. The streets +were lined with people shouting the old familiar +cry, “Viva Pierola,” as I was +marched in the center of this crowd. The +cry resounded down street after street. The +city was wild with excitement. The escape +of the Prefecto was on every lip, as we +turned at a street corner and to the station. +We had great difficulty in obtaining +entrance, but a passage was cleared and I +was ushered into the presence of the leader +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_126' name='page_126'></a>126</span> +of the revolutionary forces. He was about +fifty years of age, some six feet in heighth, +and powerfully built, but with a countenance +far from pleasing.</p> +<p>With little ceremony, I was notified to +get the Arequipena ready to depart from +the station at 7 o’clock in the morning. The +principal officers would go with her, I was +told, and the regular train would follow +with the troops.</p> +<p>I replied that as a British subject it +would be impossible for me to comply, unless +force was used; that I protested +against this high-handed proceeding. I did +this so that, in the future, no one could +accuse me of aiding the rebels willingly. +He replied that he did not care for the British +government, that I would do as I was +told or suffer the consequences. They +then escorted me to the engine house, +where I found my fireman Manuel already +a prisoner; also Beaumont, the other +engineer, and his fireman.</p> +<p>After getting the engine ready, I requested +the officer in charge to allow us to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_127' name='page_127'></a>127</span> +procure something to eat. His permission +was given, then another procession +marched through the streets to the hotel, +where the rebel guards stood over us at +breakfast.</p> +<p>The Arequipena was ready. Behind +were the passenger engine and five +coaches, which rebel troops were already +entering. At breakfast I had managed to +get a few words with Beaumont.</p> +<p>As the Arequipena was to go ahead, I +would endeavor to get the officers out to +eat at Vincocaya. I would give a signal +for him to uncouple his engine and follow +at full speed. It would be impossible to +stop him and they would be at the mercy of +the government troops, which would leave +that afternoon, according to the instructions +given the Prefecto of Puno from Arequipa.</p> +<p>The officers came aboard the little Arequipena +and loaded on several barrels of +powder, picks and shovels to destroy the +abutments of the bridge.</p> +<p>There were eleven officers who came +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_128' name='page_128'></a>128</span> +aboard the coach, when to my surprise, I +beheld along with three soldiers, Don Rodrigo +Garcia, who was to guard me. I cannot +describe my feelings. I know I am not +a coward, but I was taken with a shock of +nervousness. It was not of long duration. +Indignation took the place of fear, but I +realized how formidable a task I had undertaken +to save Sumbay bridge. Howbeit, +I determined more than ever to succeed, +and the knowledge of that man being near +me, gave me renewed courage.</p> +<p>Before starting he hissed to me: “Don +Juan, we meet again.”</p> +<p>I did not answer. It was all I could do +to keep from attacking him despite the disadvantage +I was at. The thought of the +bridge, however, restrained any hasty action.</p> +<p>We left the station with the troop train +closely following. According to orders, our +first stop would be at Juliaca station. I +knew that when we reached there the telegraph +office would be destroyed. Telegraph +communication was cut off between Juliaca +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_129' name='page_129'></a>129</span> +station and Puno. Nearing the station, we +stopped to take water from a tank. I asked +permission from the leader to allow my +fireman to go and draw some oil, explaining +that I had none and it was necessary, +that his going there would not create suspicion, +and it would save much time. I +was greatly surprised when he consented. +I took a small piece of paper and wrote the +following in English: “Van Buren, I am +coming with rebels to destroy Sumbay +bridge. Hurry up troops. Buchan.” After +writing, I read aloud in Spanish: “Procure +from Senor Southers, the station master, +two quarts of engine oil for the Arequipena.” +I handed it to Manuel who understood +my meaning. He took the engine +cans and walked to the office.</p> +<p>My heart beat rapidly. I fairly held my +breath. Would he be able to see Southers +before I took water? Would Southers understand +my meaning and get the message +off before we arrived at the platform and +find the office destroyed? I delayed taking +water as long as possible, then pulled slowly +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_130' name='page_130'></a>130</span> +down the track to the platform. The +moment we stopped, the officers rushed in +the telegraph office and disconnected the +instruments from the wires. Don Rodrigo +and his three soldiers never left me for a +moment, which made me suspect that my +every movement would be closely watched.</p> +<p>The fireman came down the platform, +both engine oil cans in his hands. I asked +him if he had seen Southers. He replied +that he had and that everything was all +right. I received the oil and looked at him. +His look told plainly that the message was +sent. I felt that a heavy load had been +lifted and breathed freer. I looked at Don +Rodrigo. I was satisfied that in a short +time we would meet in a struggle that +would be the final one between us.</p> +<p>After the office had been destroyed we +started again, the troop train always close +behind us. We stopped at Cabanillas, Maravillas +and Santa Lucia and carried away +their telegraph instruments; then we ran +direct to Vincocaya. Arriving there the +telegraph office suffered like the others. I +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_131' name='page_131'></a>131</span> +pulled down in front of the hotel, then told +the officers that the passenger train was +due in an hour, and that it would be impossible +to proceed until its arrival. I +showed him the time card to satisfy him I +was telling the truth, and remarked that +advantage might be taken of the time by +having supper. Accordingly all of them, +left the Arequipena except Don Rodrigo +and the three soldiers. The officers left +their arms in the little coach. Now was the +time to act. Should I fail now, no other +chance would present itself, for, after the +arrival of the passenger train, the only +stop would be at Sumbay bridge, when it +would be too late. I figured that, after +Van Buren had received my message from +Juliaca the troops could not possibly arrive +at Sumbay bridge before eight o’clock that +night. It was four o’clock when we reached +Vincocaya and the passenger would be +leaving Sumbay station. Pucacancha was +another station between Sumbay and Vincocaya. +The grade being 160 feet to the +mile, the train makes very slow time between +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_132' name='page_132'></a>132</span> +Sumbay and Pucacancha. It was my +only hope to succeed in getting to Pucacancha +before the arrival of the passenger +train.</p> +<p>I was nervous. I got off the engine, then +called to Manuel to hand me another oil +can. I spoke to him in English to have +everything ready. I was going to run +away with the engine––would he assist me? +This I asked while I was pretending to oil +the engine, and I had to trust largely to +Manuel’s intuition, as he knew but little +English. He returned to the engine and +raised a full head of steam. I noticed Don +Rodrigo watching me from one of the side +doors of the coach. I climbed back on the +engine and put away the oil can, when Rodrigo +said with a significant tone: “My +time will soon come when I can avenge the +insult I received at Tiravaya.”</p> +<p>I did not answer. I knew his meaning. +When my services were no longer required, +he would, with his cowardly instinct, devise +a means to kill me. The three soldiers +were a fair sample of the poor ignorant +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_133' name='page_133'></a>133</span> +Peruvians. They were armed with +breech-loading rifles of French pattern, +bayonets fixed. After Rodrigo had muttered +his threat, he went into the little +coach, sitting directly behind me, and +could, by his position, observe every move +I made. Manuel was standing on the left +watching me. Although I had endeavored +to make him understand, he was not aware +of my plans. I looked back and saw the +troop train taking water at the tank. I +looked at Manuel, and he understood “the +time had come.”</p> +<p>With my left hand, I threw the throttle +wide open and with my right blew the signal +agreed upon. With a prayer to God I +threw myself upon the nearest soldier.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_134' name='page_134'></a>134</span> +<a name='XV_IN_DESPERATE_STRUGGLE_FOR_LIFE' id='XV_IN_DESPERATE_STRUGGLE_FOR_LIFE'></a> +<h2>XV.</h2> +<h3>IN DESPERATE STRUGGLE FOR LIFE.</h3> +</div> +<p>Don Rodrigo and his soldiers were surprised. +I dealt the one nearest me a terrific +blow in the face. Don Rodrigo raised +his hand to fire. I knocked his gun from +his hand. The other soldier thrust at me +with his bayonet, inflicting a severe scalp +wound, which along with another thrust at +me with his bayonet in my left arm, gave +him time to recover. I struck the soldier in +the face, and knocked him to the floor. The +other was coming at me, when Manuel, +armed with a shovel, brought it down with +terrific force on his head.</p> +<p>By this time the engine was going at +lightning speed, having reached a down +grade of 160 feet to the mile. The throttle +was wide open. I knew we would soon +reach some sharp curves and if the speed +was not checked, the engine would jump +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_135' name='page_135'></a>135</span> +the track. I called to Manuel to shut off +the steam, and apply the brakes. At this +time I was struggling with Don Rodrigo +for life or death. We had clinched one another. +I spoke once.</p> +<p>“Recuerdo Felicita,” I hissed in his ear.</p> +<p>He did not speak. He was never a physical +match for me, but at this moment he +seemed endowed with superhuman +strength. His face took on the awful look +of desperation, that comes to men when +death seems near at hand. His lithe body +struggled to be free of my grasp. He tried +to trip me and just then the engine rounded +a sharp curve causing him to stagger. The +side door of the coach was open. For a +moment he vainly tried to catch hold of +something, and then, with a shriek upon his +lips, fell from the speeding coach.</p> +<p>The struggle had lasted but a short time, +but it had seemed to me hours. Manuel bandaged +my head and arm. The two soldiers +remained perfectly passive, suffering from +severe blows. The one felled by Manuel +was still unconscious.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_136' name='page_136'></a>136</span></div> +<p>We were within three miles of Pucacancha, +rounding a sharp curve, when I looked +back and exclaimed: “My God, Manuel, +the troop train is coming!” My blood almost +froze, but realizing that this was no +time for fright, I determined to master the +situation.</p> +<p>I knew the two soldiers would not attempt +to molest us. They had learned a +lesson. I looked at my watch. In five minutes +the passenger, if on time, would be at +Pucacancha. The troop train could not +reach there for fifteen minutes, because at +all obscure places it would have to go slow +for fear of meeting obstructions on the +track.</p> +<p>I reached Pucacancha, stopping far +enough back to allow the passenger to pull +up and back on the side track. The siding +had only one switch, chiefly used for ballast +for the road bed. I looked anxiously +for the passenger. Seconds dragged like +hours. Would she never come? There was +a curve not far from the station, and the +passenger could not be seen until it almost +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_137' name='page_137'></a>137</span> +reached it. I listened. I could hear the +low tremulous noise of the rails, a puff of +black smoke went up from behind the +curve––at last it was in view, engine No. 8. +On seeing me the engineer came to a sudden +stop. I hurriedly told him what to do. +He was to back onto the siding and let me +pass, then pull out and follow me back to +Pampa de Avieras, where I told him the +government troops would surely be. Our +plans were quickly executed. I determined +that should the troop train come before I +could get by the passenger, Manuel and I +would desert the Arequipena, start her +back with a full head of steam, and cause a +collision. No doubt there would have been +loss of life, but it would have given an opportunity +to escape by going on the passenger +train.</p> +<p>Dobbie, the engineer, succeeded well in +backing into the clear. Not seeing the +troop train, I ran with a hammer and spike +when he left the switch with the Arequipena +ahead of him and spiked the track. +Just then the troop train came in sight. I +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_138' name='page_138'></a>138</span> +hurriedly boarded the Arequipena and +started, Dobbie backing up at fast as he +could.</p> +<p>There were several officers on the engine +of the troop train, and when they saw us +they compelled the engineer to increase +his speed, with the result he could not +check his train in time to stop it from running +into the switch. His engine jumped +the track half burying itself in the ground.</p> +<p>We arrived at Pampa de Avieras and the +government troops came thirty minutes +later. I was beginning to get weak from +loss of blood. My left arm seemed to be a +dead weight, and the muscles were painful +and swollen. The people from the passenger +train crowded about me and did everything +in their power to relieve my suffering. +The soldier who had been struck with +the shovel came out of his stupor.</p> +<p>I was lying in the coach of the Arequipena, +when the commanding officer of the +government troops came to see me. After +detailing the story to him, I turned over +fourteen rifles, ten revolvers, and seven +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_139' name='page_139'></a>139</span> +swords, all the cartridges and barrels of +powder, together with the three soldiers +whom I pleaded for, stating that compulsion +was the cause of their joining the insurgents. +I insisted on their hurrying to +Sumbay bridge, although I told him they +did not have anything now with which to +destroy the bridge. However, they could +post their troops should they arrive first +and be in position to command the approaches. +After leaving me, he ordered +his troops forward.</p> +<p>I was getting weaker and weaker. At +last orders came to go to Arequipa with the +Arequipena. The station master telegraphed +to have a doctor ready for me on +my arrival. It was nearly forty miles from +Pampa de Avieras to Arequipa, mostly +down grade. I had to give the engine up +to Manuel, as the pain in my arm became +so intense I had to lie down. The station +at Arequipa was crowded back to the +street, the news having been telegraphed +by the officer in command of the government +troops. I could hear cries of “Viva +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_140' name='page_140'></a>140</span> +Juancita!” that being my name in Spanish.</p> +<p>The people in Arequipa were loyal to the +existing government. The general manager +met me with the doctor. His eyes were +full of tears when he saw me. I presented +a horrible and bloody appearance, the +wound in my head still bleeding, my left +arm in a sling and my clothes almost in +rags.</p> +<p>I was carried from the coach by four of +my friends to my room where the faithful +Chico had everything prepared. Cries of +“Viva Juancita!” rent the air from the +time I left the coach until the doctor requested +silence. Manuel was taken home +by his friends. The poor people, ignorant +of the revolution, but knowing by the demonstration +that something unusual had +happened, realized that he had done something +deserving recognition.</p> +<p>My friends grouped about with tear-dimmed +eyes, and warmly pressed my +hand. Chico, looking at me with a most +sympathetic expression on his Indian features, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_141' name='page_141'></a>141</span> +did not restrain his tears. For days +I tossed in pain and delirium.</p> +<p>One day when the general manager +came, he told me that another engineer who +had taken out the Arequipena to repair the +telegraph, came up with a body of the insurgents +who were going to surrender, but +they intended to kill him first thinking he +was I. Only the timely interposition of +one who knew him, saved his life. The insurgents +had got their engine back on the +track after much time and labor, but it +was damaged and as they were out of +water, they gave up hope of winning their +cause.</p> +<p>The train bearing the government troops +stopped when within a few miles of Vincocaya, +where they picked up the body of Don +Rodrigo Garcia and buried it near the +track. He would have exulted over my +death, but I cannot say that I felt any satisfaction +because he was dead. It only +brought sad memories of the past.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_142' name='page_142'></a>142</span> +<a name='XVI_THE_SCREAMING_WINDS_OF_NIGHT' id='XVI_THE_SCREAMING_WINDS_OF_NIGHT'></a> +<h2>XVI.</h2> +<h3>THE SCREAMING WINDS OF NIGHT.</h3> +</div> +<p>I sat on the broad balcony of the British +consulate at Mollendo, looking out over the +blue waters of the Pacific. The soft breeze +from the south seas imparted the glow of +health. How proud I felt with the knowledge +that no one dared insult me beneath +the blue and crimson folds that waved +above. Safe from the assassin’s knife at +the hands of some of Pierola’s men, of +whom I had been warned, I felt a certain +refuge beneath the ensign of my country.</p> +<p>“Don Juan, does that make me a Britisher, +too?” asked Manuel, pointing to the +flag above.</p> +<p>“Yes, it protects you too. Pierola’s +men do not dare to harm us here.”</p> +<p>“Praised be the Virgin,” replied Manuel, +crossing himself.</p> +<p>The great bells of the cathedral tolled +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_143' name='page_143'></a>143</span> +out a funeral knell as a solemn procession +marched to a transport ship. They were +dust covered, haggard men, with a hunted +look, chained in pairs. On either side +marched a file of soldiers with fixed bayonets. +Pierola’s men were being taken to +Lima.</p> +<p>I arose from the balcony and went inside. +They had to pass under the balcony +of the British consulate to reach the wharf. +I did not care to witness their misery and +so remained indoors until their departure. +The revolution over, there was nothing now +to fear; Manuel packed my belongings and +we returned to Arequipa.</p> +<p>The general manager requested me to +take care of the shops of Vincocaya. It +would enable me to be quiet and recover +from my wounds, as there was nothing to +do but to see that the work was kept going. +Meanwhile the excitement of the revolution +would die out.</p> +<p>Vincocaya is situated high in the Andes, +above timber line, a desolate and dreary +waste of rock and crag, where wild winds +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_144' name='page_144'></a>144</span> +scream among the cliffs in the blackness of +the night, as though a thousand imprisoned +Joshuas were reaching upward for that +sun which will stand still no more over the +plains of Ajalon. Leaden clouds drift like +winding sheets among the peaks and hover +like a pall over cañon and deep ravine. +The grave of Don Rodrigo was but a few +miles distant, but I never visited it. There +have been times when I regretted not +stretching forth my hand to save him, but +at the time, with a most violent hatred of +the man and the many injuries I had received +from him, and the attempt to save +the bridge foremost in my mind, I found +excuse for lack of the finer feelings. And, +too, what would it benefit had he been +saved? His life was spent in debauchery, +the gambling table and plots to overthrow +any government where a leader in opposition +to the ruling power would promise him +a political office.</p> +<p>Deep down in my heart I felt the weight +of the past; those shrieking winds of the +night were the responsive echoes of my +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_145' name='page_145'></a>145</span> +soul for the loved and lost. Was it upon +this planet or upon some distant sphere +that we two had met and loved and builded +hopes as high as the lofty peaks that now +entombed me––hope and love that may +have been breathed in the morning of the +world when the spirit of God dwelt within +us––hope that existed before the wrathful +change that shattered all and turned an +Eden into blackness and despair?</p> +<p>Days, weeks and months passed. Often +I would spend hours in the wild solitudes +hunting the vicuna and alpaca, or in some +gloomy cañon communing with myself. +Within my spirit I could hear an undertone, +“Why cast thyself on waters wild, +believing that God is gone, that love is +dead and Nature spurns her child?” So, +from my grief, I arose at length to feel new +life returning. New hopes and ambitions +sprang forth in my soul that had so keenly +felt God’s chastening rod.</p> +<p>A year had passed. I was in Arequipa. +Chico had my room ready and my friends +gave me a splendid banquet in one of the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_146' name='page_146'></a>146</span> +largest restaurants in the city. In all ages +the world has had two ways of doing honor +to a man. One is by parade, the other by +setting him down to a banquet table and +making speeches about him until they overcrowd +his emotions and leave him limp and +speechless. I had to pass through this ordeal. +The Prefectos of Arequipa and +Puno, the Commanding General of the Government +troops, the manager and officials +of the railway and a host of friends of lesser +note, but none the less loyal hearts, +crowded the banquet room. They feasted, +drank wine, sang songs and made speeches +to me and about me that were enough to +have satisfied the vanity of a survivor of +Thermopylae. At the close, the Prefecto +of Puno arose, and after saying things that +were loudly applauded, presented me with +ten thousand dollars not as a gift, but as +something I had justly earned. He was +followed by the general manager of the +railroad, who said his company desired to +show their appreciation of my conduct in +the Sumbay bridge affair, and on their behalf +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_147' name='page_147'></a>147</span> +he presented me with two thousand +dollars. Manuel, too, came in for his share +of honors and praise. He was presented +with five hundred dollars by the Prefecto +of Puno and two hundred dollars by the +company––more money than he had ever +seen in his life, or ever hoped to possess. +Deserving fellow, his eyes streamed with +tears of joy and gratitude when he received +the money which would now enable +him to own a comfortable home. His pleasure +was even greater the next day, when I +gave him one thousand dollars.</p> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_4' id='linki_4'></a> +</div> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/illus-140.jpg' alt='' title='' width='569' height='364' /><br /> +<p class='caption'> +THE HOME VOYAGE OF THE AVEN WAS FRAUGHT WITH ALL THE DANGERS OF THE SEA. (Page 26)<br /> +</p> +</div> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_148' name='page_148'></a>148</span></div> +<p>A month later, and Arequipa was wild +with excitement. War had been declared +by Chile against allied Peru and Bolivia. +It was a sad blow, as Peru had been extremely +prosperous and was rapidly forging +ahead in the commerce of the world. I +had concluded to leave the country and +seek some other field, when a call was +made to the railroad men to assist the government +to convey troops from the interior +to the coast. I responded and was sent to +Santa Rosa on the proposed railway to +Cusco, the ancient capital of Peru. Here +a great number of Indians were huddled +together to be sent to Arequipa, and drilled +and sent to the coast. They were abject +and disconsolate. The priests were calling +on them to be brave and return victorious. +These people had never seen the ocean and +had never lived in an altitude of less than +two miles. There was much suffering in +store for them under the tropic sun of the +coast. I asked an officer if he thought +these men would make good soldiers. He +replied with an air of great importance, +and looking quite serious, that he had received +word that the Chilean navy was +coming to bombard Mollendo, and it was +his intention to instruct the Indians in the +use of the rifle. When the ships came near +enough, he would station his men among +the rocks and shoot the sailors off the +decks. This, too, with flint lock rifles––a +sample of the calibre of the Peruvian officer +of the interior and his unfortunate Indian +soldiers.</p> +<p>After getting to the head of the Tambo +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_149' name='page_149'></a>149</span> +valley, I proceeded to Mollendo and found +a terrible state of affairs. Everyone was +expecting the Chilean fleet; men and women +were carrying their household goods +to the mountains. At sight of every ship +on the horizon, whether sailing vessel or +steamer, a cry would go forth––“They +come––they come!” The greatest confusion +prevailed. There was no organization, +no discipline; everybody for himself, +and all running at the cry of––“They +come!”</p> +<p>One morning about ten o’clock the hostile +fleet did come.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_150' name='page_150'></a>150</span> +<a name='XVII_THE_BARBARIAN_MEETS_HIS_INGOMAR' id='XVII_THE_BARBARIAN_MEETS_HIS_INGOMAR'></a> +<h2>XVII.</h2> +<h3>THE BARBARIAN MEETS HIS INGOMAR.</h3> +</div> +<p>A heavy fog was clearing from the sea, +when from out of the mist rose the black +hull and conning tower of the Cochrane. +The senior officers of the flagship stood +grouped on the starboard rail. The wind +changed suddenly to the west, and, as it +changed, it rolled up patches of the fog and +revealed the black hull and conning tower +of the Enlado. A heavy cloud of smoke +poured from their funnels; decks cleared +for action when they should put into practice +the desperate objects of their existence.</p> +<p>A boat was lowered from the flagship +and rowed to the wharf of Mollendo by +sturdy Chileans, while an officer bore a +message to the Prefecto for all noncombatants +to leave the city, as bombardment +would begin in an hour.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_151' name='page_151'></a>151</span></div> +<p>As the boat was leaving, it was fired +upon. Then the ear-splitting reports which +followed showed how the flagship took this +breach of the rules of war. There was the +rushing swishing sound, the terrifying +screech of projectiles passing through the +air, followed by terrific explosions and the +crash of falling buildings.</p> +<p>In the city, pandemonium reigned. Men +and women with blanched faces, were fleeing +to the hills. Others threw themselves +upon the ground, too terror-stricken to +move. I heard a voice at my elbow calling +in English. It was the voice of a woman, +young and fair. “This way,” said I, and +we hurried toward the massive rock from +whose summit I had watched the battle of +the Huascar and Amythist two years before.</p> +<p>“We are safe now,” I said, as we stood +behind the thousands of tons of granite, +“safe as if we were behind the rock of Gibraltar.”</p> +<p>“Oh, mother, sister and Mr. Robinson––heaven +help them at this hour!” she exclaimed. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_152' name='page_152'></a>152</span> +A shell struck a stone building +and exploded by impact; fragments +screamed like a panther in the air.</p> +<p>The young woman’s face was blanched +to a death-like pallor, but she was calm, +and, kneeling by my side, she asked God to +help us. Aloud she prayed, a beautiful, +impressive prayer, one that must have +gone straight to the throne of heaven and +received its answer, for soon the wind +shifted and those belching volcanoes of the +sea were curtained by the fog; the firing +ceased.</p> +<p>We hurried to her home amid scenes of +desolation and confusion. Her family was +safe and, to my surprise, the Mr. Robinson +she had spoken of was an employe of our +railway, who had but lately arrived from +the United States and to whom I had been +introduced a few days before.</p> +<p>The bombardment was now over, but the +human wolves began to sack the city. Fire +was raging in some quarters and burned +far into the night. It lit the streets with a +lurid glare; its red light fell upon motionless +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_153' name='page_153'></a>153</span> +figures in the dust, and scurrying +forms, bent beneath their weight of +plunder.</p> +<p>Mr. Robinson was anxious to send his +family to Arequipa, and I lent them all possible +assistance, receiving their heartfelt +thanks. They were in a strange land, not +even knowing the language of the country. +Hattie, the young woman I had met, was +the sister-in-law of Mr. Robinson. Mrs. +Robinson and her mother, an aged woman, +were disappointed with Peru and were +glad to get away from the theatre of war.</p> +<p>I met the Indian soldiers the next day, +and the officer commanding was very indignant +at his superior for not allowing +him to go to the rocks at Mollendo and +pick off the gunners from the battle ships, +with flint lock rifles.</p> +<p>I was a frequent visitor at the home of +the Robinson family in Arequipa, with +whom I had now become well acquainted. It +was strange to my ears to hear them all +talk English, for seldom had I heard my +own language spoken by women. The old +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_154' name='page_154'></a>154</span> +lady was one of those quiet, sweet, motherly +women. Once introduced to her, it +seemed one had always known her. The +whole family was the happiest and most +cheerful I had ever met. Hattie Judson +became school teacher to the English and +American children in Arequipa, and her +gentle ways soon won the hearts of all. I +enjoyed taking her to the theatre and other +places of amusement, because of her bright +conversation and high ideals. From her +I began to catch a glimpse of the nobler +things of life, things that to me, being but +poorly educated and in a foreign land, had +been denied. She was a sweet singer and +an excellent performer on the piano, and +somehow when she sang I was able to understand +the soul-reaching depths of the +melody.</p> +<p>There was company at the house one +night, when I heard her sing for the first +time “Coming Thro’ the Rye.” My soul +floated back to Bonnie Scotland, as when a +boy I saw the waving fields of grain, the +cows in the barnyard, and the lassies coming +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_155' name='page_155'></a>155</span> +down the path from school; my mother +with the willow basket, bringing in the +clothes from the line, and father smoking +his pipe by the well––scenes that nevermore +would return.</p> +<p>In our walks in the shaded dells of the +mountains, she often told me of the United +States, the habits and customs of the people––how +ambitions and aspirations were +rewarded when accompanied by virtue and +industry. Of the history of Peru she knew +far more than I. It was interesting to hear +from her lips the strange stories of the +conquering Pizzaro hosts, whose mailed +heels had once trod the ground we walked, +and clanked the knell of a fallen empire.</p> +<p>My school had been the school of adversity. +I had grown up with men who knew +or cared little for the finer sensibilities. I +felt that her standards of life were superior +to mine. Her loyalty to God and holy +charity toward the humblest soul, bent my +spirit to profound respect. She was one +who could see all there was of good in mankind +and could measure the product of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_156' name='page_156'></a>156</span> +one’s powers and give them impulse and direction. +In my soul I bowed to the fair +graces of her character. Each day we met +I found in her some new wealth of noble +thoughts that created higher ideals in my +own untutored mind.</p> +<p>As time went on, fiercer rose the maddening +cries of war. I felt the hot blood +surge in my veins and I longed to be at the +front, amid the roar of cannon and the +clash of arms.</p> +<p>We were walking in a grove beneath the +swift glimmer of the tropical twilight, +when I told her that I felt it my duty to +fight for the land that had been the home +of my youth for so many years, and showed +her a letter in which I was offered an officer’s +commission on the Huascar. She laid +her hand on my arm and said, “There are +nobler things in life than the shedding of +the blood of fellow men. The youth of the +world goes out to fight for the empty glory +of another’s crown. It is not on the field of +carnage that greatest honors are won, but +in the nobler, more peaceful pursuits of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_157' name='page_157'></a>157</span> +life, doing good and becoming leaders of +men and preventing war, that one wins the +royal diadem of him who said, ‘peace on +earth, good will to men.’”</p> +<p>As she spoke in earnest eloquence, I +could have knelt and worshipped her. Her +delicate cheeks were flushed, and her eyes +were filled with tears.</p> +<p>No words of love had yet been spoken, +but the Barbarian knew and felt that he +had met his Ingomar.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_158' name='page_158'></a>158</span> +<a name='XVIII_ON_SUNNY_SEAS_BOUND_NORTH' id='XVIII_ON_SUNNY_SEAS_BOUND_NORTH'></a> +<h2>XVIII.</h2> +<h3>ON SUNNY SEAS BOUND NORTH.</h3> +</div> +<p>I met Mr. Robinson on the street one +day, bleeding from a wound on his face. +He said that Mr. Wood, superintendent of +our railway, had struck him. Two of Mr. +Wood’s children were attending Miss Judson’s +school, and on account of the official +position of their father, behaved in an ugly +manner. Miss Judson made complaint to +the school board, which exasperated Mr. +Wood and he demanded her resignation. +This the board would not permit. He called +Mr. Robinson to his office and dismissed +him from the service of the company. Being +requested by Mr. Robinson to give his +reasons for his dismissal, he struck him.</p> +<p>I was angry to think a young man would +so brutally use a man of Mr. Robinson’s +age, and, too, in a strange country. Before +I could restrain myself I demanded his reason +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_159' name='page_159'></a>159</span> +for striking Mr. Robinson. Mr. Wood +replied in a haughty manner that he was +not accustomed to account for his acts. I +replied: “Perhaps not, but when one of +your position and age so far forgets himself +as to strike an old man, any respect +you may be entitled to is dispelled by your +cowardly act.”</p> +<p>For a moment it looked serious. He +raised his hand as if to strike me. I said: +“Mr. Wood, if you attempt to go any farther +I will certainly be a far different antagonist +than Mr. Robinson, and teach you +that some of your acts, at least, will be rewarded +in a manner not to your liking.” +He knew he had gone too far, and said in a +quieter tone, that he did not consider the +affair any of my business.</p> +<p>“Mr. Robinson is an American; let his +countrymen investigate this matter. I will +deal with them.”</p> +<p>“Mr. Wood,” I replied, “I hope the time +will never come when a Briton will so far +forget his duty as not to go to the assistance +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_160' name='page_160'></a>160</span> +of any family, irrespective of nationality.”</p> +<p>At this moment some other shop men +came in, loud in their denunciation of Mr. +Wood. There is something that binds a +Britisher and an American when they are +away from their respective countries, and +among strangers. On many occasions I +have seen the Britisher and American argue +and even quarrel over the merits of +their countries but when serious trouble +arose, all jealousies would be cast aside, +and each one would endeavor to outdo the +other in kindness.</p> +<p>That night an indignation meeting was +held in a large building formerly used as a +storeroom. The employes all knew the reason +of Mr. Wood’s attack on Mr. Robinson. +Although the majority of them were working +under Mr. Wood, they felt the indignity +inflicted on Mr. Robinson was an insult to +them all, most of them having children attending +the school.</p> +<p>From the beginning of the school, Mr. +Wood had tried to dominate it. This was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_161' name='page_161'></a>161</span> +another reason for the employes’ grievances +and, chief of all, they were now being +paid in the depreciated currency of the +country. The meeting was conducted in a +quiet business manner. The sentiment was +to strike until Mr. Wood was removed from +office.</p> +<p>I told the men that that would be an injustice, +as the general manager was in +Lima and we had no one to appeal to. +Therefore we should continue to work until +we could communicate with him. This +appeal had the desired effect, as all could +see the injury our strike would inflict on +the railway.</p> +<p>I was then selected as the representative +of the employes to go to Lima and lay the +matter before the general manager. I was +about to start when I was handed a note +from the superintendent, saying that my +services were no longer required. I replied +that I would receive my orders from his +superior and proceeded on my journey.</p> +<p>At Lima I succeeded in reinstating Mr. +Robinson, and shortly after my return to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_162' name='page_162'></a>162</span> +Arequipa, Mrs. Robinson died. Grief at the +injury inflicted upon her husband and a +feeling of friendlessness in a foreign land, +had hastened her end. Another indignation +meeting was held and Mr. Wood was dismissed +from the service of the company. +Mr. Robinson became despondent and after +a few months decided to leave the country.</p> +<p>The war with Chile was still on. The +Peruvian army suffered defeat after defeat. +Her navy had made some show of +success at first, but not after the terrible +fight between the Huascar, and two Chile +ironclads, in which the Peruvians lost. The +currency of the country became practically +worthless. My accumulation of years was +almost swept away.</p> +<p>Mr. Robinson decided to return to their +home in San Louis Obispo, California, and +about this time I received an offer from the +Peruvian government to bring a torpedo +boat from Panama to Mollendo. The +Robinson family were going north on the +steamer which would carry me to Panama. +On leaving, our friends gave us a splendid +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_163' name='page_163'></a>163</span> +banquet and assembled at the station to +bid us farewell. Poor Chico, I can see him +yet, waving his old red handkerchief with +his right hand, his left covering his eyes.</p> +<p>When the ship moved out of the port, I +stood on the deck with Hattie. Mr. Robinson +and the aged mother stood near us +looking upon the scene amid a flood of +tears. The memory of their dead they +were leaving behind, was no doubt uppermost +in their minds.</p> +<p>I looked upon the mountains we were +just leaving until they were a mere speck. +I intended to perform one last service for +Peru, for, however much I had suffered, it +was my boyhood’s home, the only home I +had had since leaving my native shores.</p> +<p>We were a week making the voyage from +Mollendo to Panama. The weather was +fine and the sea was smooth. I was in company +with Hattie much of the time. In her +gentle way, she sought to dissuade me from +the perilous undertaking with the torpedo +boat. But when I reminded her of my duty +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_164' name='page_164'></a>164</span> +to Peru she said no more. I could see, however, +she was pained at the thought.</p> +<p>The north bound steamer had gone when +we arrived at Panama and the Robinsons +would have to wait ten days, which compelled +them to stay at the hotel in that sultry +city.</p> +<p>After visiting the Peruvian consul, who +had been notified of my mission by his +government, I learned that a Chilean cruiser +was watching the torpedo boat and it +was decided to await a dark night when we +could escape from Panama harbor. Meantime +I stopped at the same hotel with the +Robinsons. I made several trips around +the bay to test the speed of the boat and +was satisfied we could outrun the cruiser, +but somehow I began to dread the venture. +The full force of this feeling dawned on +me when I realized I was in love with +Hattie.</p> +<p>The day was drawing near for their departure, +when Hattie and I were seated on +the veranda of the hotel, looking out over +the Pacific. The afternoon wore away, the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_165' name='page_165'></a>165</span> +sun began to set in the dense blue haze of +the tropic ocean, the great cathedral bells +pealed out the hour of eight, the night birds +screeched from out the palms, and still we +sat in the glow of the twilight, talking of +our past and future.</p> +<p>The streets became silent and even some +stars had faded from the skies and the +ceaseless roar of the surf beating upon +the sands was music, when she promised to +be my wife.</p> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_5' id='linki_5'></a> +</div> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/illus-158.jpg' alt='' title='' width='568' height='362' /><br /> +<p class='caption'> +FLIGHT OF THE TORPEDO BOAT. (Page 158)<br /> +</p> +</div> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_166' name='page_166'></a>166</span> +<a name='XIX_DEATH_SHIPS_OF_THE_SEA' id='XIX_DEATH_SHIPS_OF_THE_SEA'></a> +<h2>XIX.</h2> +<h3>DEATH SHIPS OF THE SEA.</h3> +</div> +<p>A thick fog rose from the sea, as we +stole away in the darkness with the torpedo +boat. We had no distinguishing lights +and every sound was muffled. Even the +funnels were protected against the tell-tale +sparks of soft coal. The spume of the sea +fell over our forward deck in flecks, and +the waves splashed at our bow. The harbor +lights of Panama shone in a glow of +sickly yellow.</p> +<p>An officer stood by the hooded binnacle, +watching our course by the faint glow of a +tiny lamp. The bulldog engines, which I +was working, were speeding us at 17 knots +an hour and we were headed for Mollendo. +We had no armament. That was sent to +the Peruvian government by other means +and our only defense against the Chilean +cruiser was a clean pair of heels.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_167' name='page_167'></a>167</span></div> +<p>Suddenly, the eye of a search-light opened, +and sent a long gleam of yellow into +the fog. It swung around and rested for +a moment on the column of smoke trailing +from our funnels and changed its color +from a black to a fiery red. It rested there +a moment, then closed and all was darkness. +The tumult was deafening. The +hissing rush of projectiles, as they struck +the water and exploded by impact, or +shrieked in ricochet overhead.</p> +<p>The brave officer at the binnacle fell to +the deck, his mangled body a quivering +mass. One funnel was struck midway and +cut in twain as though by a sharpened +blade. Fire darted up from the half funnel, +and showed the cruiser’s gunners the +correctness of their aim. It lit our deck +with its glare and showed the bodies of two +others on the forward deck bathed in blood. +Another officer coolly took his place at the +binnacle and directed a change in the +course of the boat.</p> +<p>The spurting jets of fire from our broken +funnel gleamed in the fog, like a beacon +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_168' name='page_168'></a>168</span> +light to those on board the gaunt black +monster of the seas, in pursuit of his prey. +A hunted thing on the black waves, we +crowded on every ounce of steam throughout +the watches of the night.</p> +<p>With the morning came the blaze of the +tropic sun. It drove the fog off the sea +and showed us the hull of the cruiser, looming +up out of the purple mist. Steadily, we +held our course, with steam up to the danger +line. By noon we had gained a little, +and again, with the approach of night, the +fog began to rise and soon enveloped us in +its grey cloak. But that beacon light from +our funnel shone hateful as its spurting +jets flashed signals to the enemy in pursuit.</p> +<p>Another night passed, and, when the fog +lifted again, there was the vampire even +nearer than before.</p> +<p>The nervous strain was telling on our +crew. The day before we joked and laughed––we +would outrun him yet in the night. +We would have; but for the glare from that +funnel. We might have stolen into some +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_169' name='page_169'></a>169</span> +cove and let him pass us in the dark, but for +that. He did not waste shot anymore, we +were going his way. He could afford to +wait. The third day the crew was worn +and silent. They had the look of desperation +in their faces, as they threw furtive +glances back at the spectre, the Ship of +Death––The Black Coffin––we called him +now.</p> +<p>At high noon, we met an American warship. +His crew crowded to his decks and +gave cheer after cheer in sympathy for our +desperate plight. The big greyhound of +the sea was chasing the rabbit he had bitten +and maimed, and the sympathy was +with the weak. By night the nervous strain +had become almost a frenzy. Then to add +to our peril, the coal in the bunkers was +running low. Something must happen in +our favor soon. Our signal still flashed +from the half funnel––our signal of distress––and +by midnight we called it our +funeral candle. The sky was clear now +and the stars were shining. We could see +lights flash now and then through the haze +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_170' name='page_170'></a>170</span> +of the sea. When morning came there he +was big, black, hideous––still in our wake.</p> +<p>Coal for eight more hours only. Surely +something would happen; help must come, +out of the sea, out of the sky, out of somewhere, +only it must come. The sea was +smooth; not a ship could be seen on the +horizon. All on board were in restless +anxiety. Only coal for three more hours.</p> +<p>We were now off Ecuador. The officer +in command called the crew.</p> +<p>“We shall have to surrender the boat,” +he said.</p> +<p>The assistant engineer, two stokers and +myself, all of us British, shouted “Never! +We are not here to lay in a Chilean prison +and perhaps be shot! We beach the boat!” +Our emphasis was our drawn revolvers.</p> +<p>Without a word, the officer headed the +boat for the shore. We gathered up a few +edibles and when we grounded the boat, +swam to the beach. The officer lingered +for some time after all were ashore, then +hurried over her sides and made his escape. +The Chilean cruiser launched her +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_171' name='page_171'></a>171</span> +boat, eight sailors to each side of rowlocks, +an ensign and a party of marines. +They rowed rapidly to the torpedo boat and +half of them climbed on board, when her +sides parted and a terrific flame shot upward, +bearing the bodies of a dozen men. +The officer had lit the fuse that did the +work.</p> +<p>Ten days afterwards the two stokers, +assistant engineer and myself, footsore and +ragged, went on board the British mail +steamer at Guayáquil and presented ourselves +to the gruff old captain.</p> +<p>“Get below in the stoke-hole and black +up,” he said, “the Chilean government offers +five thousand dollars reward for each +of you. If we are searched you are stokers.”</p> +<p>Meanwhile, on board another ship far to +the north were aching hearts. Hattie’s +aged mother fell ill when two days out from +Panama and the next day she passed away. +Rules required that the body be buried at +sea. It was a solemn group that assembled +at the ship’s gangway, while all that +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_172' name='page_172'></a>172</span> +was mortal of the aged mother rested on a +plank, one end of which was held by a +sailor. Slowly the chaplain read the beautiful +service. The ship was stopped. Not +a sound was heard and the midnight moon +was hidden by clouds. “Therefore we commit +this body to the deep,” was pronounced. +The plank was raised and the +body was swallowed up in the cavernous +depths of the ocean.</p> +<p>Hattie leaned upon the arm of Mr. Robinson, +who tenderly escorted her to the cabin +when the rites were over. To her the +world was gloomy and desolate, her sister +but recently buried in far away Arequipa +and the mother now in the sea. With a +fortitude beyond her years the Christian +girl bore bravely her deep sorrows, trusting +in Him “who doeth all things well.” +When the ship reached the open roadstead +of Port Harford, and she again landed on +the shores of her native California, she +went to her former home––a vine-clad cottage +in San Louis Obispo.</p> +<p>It was here I found her some weeks after +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_173' name='page_173'></a>173</span> +I assumed the role of stoker on the British +mail steamer. Mr. Robinson had gone to +his former home in Missouri, but Hattie +was protected by relatives. We talked +of our coming marriage. It was not possible +at that time. I had lost so much money +by exchange from the paper currency of +Peru to the gold of California, that I needed +time to replenish my almost depleted +purse. We decided that we would wait one +year, meanwhile I would go to Arizona and +run an engine on the railroad east of +Tuscon.</p> +<p>It made my heart glad to be in a country +once more where my own language was +spoken and among people whose customs +were like unto that of my native land. +There was no prejudice toward me on account +of my foreign birth, such as I had +often encountered in Peru. The hand of +fellowship was extended in this broad free +land of the United States, where the +greatness of men is measured almost by +merit alone.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_174' name='page_174'></a>174</span></div> +<p>What surprised me at first was the absence +of soldiers until I came to understand +the peace-loving disposition of the people, +and learned that in the hour of the country’s +need, all men became her defenders.</p> +<p>It was one of those balmy afternoons, so +characteristic of southern California, when +Hattie and I were seated in a park overlooking +the beautiful Los Ossis valley. Our +plans were made for the future, and I was +to leave that night for Arizona. It was +the tender parting of man and woman +whose lives had been seared by the hot +irons of adversity, and each felt that the +other was the one and all upon this planet.</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p>Here Buchan’s narrative was broken +short. He was writing the last chapter on +a pair of ladies’ dainty cuffs, when he +stopped and listened. He arose to his feet. +“Do you know,” he said, “I thought a +moment ago I heard something––her +voice.”</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_175' name='page_175'></a>175</span> +<a name='XX_A_DAUGHTER_OF_THE_CHEROKEES' id='XX_A_DAUGHTER_OF_THE_CHEROKEES'></a> +<h2>XX.</h2> +<h3>A DAUGHTER OF THE CHEROKEES.</h3> +</div> +<p>Mary Greenwater was not the ugly, +coarse-featured woman that many squaws +are. She possessed many of the fine features +of her white sisters. She had been +well educated at the Carlisle Indian +school, and had traveled much. While, with +other Cherokee Indians, she drew her annuities +from the government, yet she was +known to be the wealthiest woman of the +tribe. She was lavish in the expenditure +of money. Her home in the Cherokee hills +was elaborately furnished with the richest +of carpets and furniture; even a grand +piano adorned her parlor. But with all its +costly appointments, the house was a wilderness +of disorder. Like other of her +race, she despised anything akin to neatness. +Her dresses were gaudy in color and +extravagant in style. Pearl necklaces, diamond +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_176' name='page_176'></a>176</span> +brooches and rings were worn on all +occasions. She owned fine carriages and +many spirited horses. As a horsewoman, +she was an expert and as a pistol shot she +was accounted the best in the Cherokee nation. +Her servants were the half-breed Indian +Negroes to whom her word was as +absolute a law as any Caliph ever possessed +over a tribe. She was accustomed to command, +and if disobeyed she enforced her +orders at the point of the revolver she always +carried.</p> +<p>The source of Mary Greenwater’s +wealth was a mystery. Those of her tribe +gave themselves no concern about it, but +the matter was a subject of much comment +among the few white men in the territory. +Mercer, a young man of adventurous spirit, +hearing of her fabulous wealth, sought +her hand in marriage. After the wedding, +he used all his arts to wring from her the +secret of her riches. Once when she started +on one of her lone journeys to the hills +of the Grand River, he attempted to follow +and that was the last ever seen or heard of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_177' name='page_177'></a>177</span> +him. That the woman possessed the secret +of a vast amount of lost treasure was evident, +as she spent many Spanish gold coins +of ancient date as months rolled on, and +this induced Grim, a farm hand, to marry +her. She elevated him from a menial position, +to overseer of her ranch. She gave +him money, which he recklessly spent at +the faro tables at the Garrison. When she +refused to further indulge him in his reckless +expenditures, he, like Mercer, attempted +to follow her on her journey to the +Grand River hills one night. He was missed +by his companions who went in numbers +to search for him, taking an Indian +guide. They were led in an opposite direction +from the way he went and his fate +remained a mystery, until many months +later his body was found in the Grand River, +with a bullet in the brain.</p> +<p>Two years after the death of Grim, Carson +and a negro were hunting in the Grand +River country and were encamped one +night in the hills. While seated beside their +campfire, they heard a cry of distress. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_178' name='page_178'></a>178</span> +Upon going to the spot, they found a lone +Indian woman pinioned beneath her pony, +which had stepped into a wolf hole and +broke its leg. The woman was badly injured +and they carried her to their campfire +and made her comfortable. The next +day they constructed a rude litter and carried +her twenty miles to a place where she +could receive medical attention.</p> +<p>The woman was Mary Greenwater, and +this was, perhaps, the first act of kindness +she had ever received.</p> +<p>A certain escapade at the close of Carson’s +college days had caused him to migrate +to the West, where, like many others, +he became a soldier of fortune, drifting +whither the strongest tide wind blew. +When Mary Greenwater recovered she +sought him, and in her gratitude made +him the overseer of her ranch at a princely +salary.</p> +<p>In course of time they were married by +the ancient Indian ceremony of the Fastest +Horse. When the days of feasting +were over, and Mary Greenwater’s relatives +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_179' name='page_179'></a>179</span> +had returned to their cabins richer by +a number of ponies, Mary told Carson a +wondrous story of how, many summers +ago, when her grandfather was a boy, a +Spanish caravan came from Santa Fe and +was besieged in the Grand river hills for +many days, and of how, finding that they would +eventually be starved to death if +they remained, the travelers had hidden +their possessions among the lime rocks and +undertaken to cut their way through the +Indian hordes to a place of safety. Her +grandfather had found the hiding place of +the treasure and had kept it a profound +secret from all except herself, to whom he +told it only when he began to sing his death +song.</p> +<p>Mary Greenwater swore to Carson that +the hiding place of the Spanish treasure +would never be known except to one other +member of her tribe, and then not until +after her death. She told him there were +valuable papers which she knew none of +her people could ever use, and which she +later gave to Carson.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_180' name='page_180'></a>180</span></div> +<p>The documents were discolored and the +ink faded and this much Carson was able +to decipher: “Jean Maldonado visited a +far distant country north of Santa Fe––a +wide valley through which flowed a stream, +along the banks were bushes that bore fruit +like unto those of Spain––in the valley +were herds of oxen of the bigness and color +of our bulls––their horns are not so great––they +have a great bunch upon their fore +shoulders and more hair on the forepart +than on the hindpart; they have a horse’s +mane upon their backbone and much hair +and very long from the knees downward––they +have great tufts of hair hanging +from their foreheads and it seemeth they +have beards––they push with their horns––they +overtake and kill a horse––finally it is +a fierce beast of countenance and form of +body––we feared these beasts and stayed +near the mountains named the Sangre de +Christo.... Climbed the +mountain to a great flat rock that stood on +end like a platter.... Jean Maldonado, +commander of an expedition reached this +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_181' name='page_181'></a>181</span> +place 1750.... The mine yielded +much gold in a rock like white china––Babtiste +beat it out with––Mattheo returned +from Santa Fe with more donkeys––loaded +donkeys with much unbeaten rock––returned +to Santa Fe”––</p> +<p>Here the ink was so faded that nothing +more could be made of the manuscript. +The accompanying map was more perfect. +The tracings showed the mountain ranges. +It had been drawn almost with the precision +of an engineer. The route from Santa +Fe through the mountain passes was +clearly shown; there were marks of each +day’s stops. Where the map showed the +end of the journey there was the rude +drawing of a cliff set on edge and below it +was marked “Gold.”</p> +<p>Carson pondered over the quaint document +for many days. The Indian marriage +with Mary Greenwater had become +a matter of regret. While the woman +loved him, yet her love was like a new +bowie knife, to be handled with care. He +decided to leave the Grand River country +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_182' name='page_182'></a>182</span> +and bide his time until Mary Greenwater +should make one of her long visits to the +hills. One night he mounted the best +horse on the ranch and driving thirty others +ahead of him, set out for Colorado. On +the way he sold most of the horses to +ranchmen and cattlemen and netted a neat +sum.</p> +<p>When Mary Greenwater returned and +found her spouse had vanished, her fury +knew no bounds. Ordinarily the Indian +squaw might be deserted by her lord and +she would stoically accept her fate. Mary +might have done so had she not been +spoiled by being educated at Carlisle. Her +savage blood grew hot for revenge. She +made another trip to the Grand river hills, +presumably for a larger amount of money, +placed her affairs in the hands of her Indian-Negro +servants, and started on the +trail of Carson, believing she would have +no trouble in overtaking a man driving +that many head of horses. Meanwhile the +fall rains set in and the shallow rivers of +the plains became raging torrents. But to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_183' name='page_183'></a>183</span> +a woman of Mary Greenwater’s determined +character, these things were obstacles only +for the time being. Her heart was bad and +her love of revenge strong.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_184' name='page_184'></a>184</span> +<a name='XXI_CARSONS_BLANK_PAGES_IN_LIFE' id='XXI_CARSONS_BLANK_PAGES_IN_LIFE'></a> +<h2>XXI.</h2> +<h3>CARSON’S BLANK PAGES IN LIFE.</h3> +</div> +<p>When Carson left the cabin he followed +the winding trail that led to the valley below. +The road to Saguache showed the +hoofprints of a prospector’s outfit, and the +marks of a sleigh leading to Del Norte. +The glare of the sun on the reflected snow +was blinding and he drew his hat down +over his eyes. He was thinking of his +worthless life since leaving college. Once +he had builded lofty hopes of future doings +in the world, but he had allowed himself +to drift; his ship of fate had gone +wherever the strongest tide wind carried. +He saw now that he might have marked out +some honorable career and piloted his +course toward it. Others of his class in +college were in a fair way to make their +mark in the world. Why was it not so +with him? It was born in him, as it had +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_185' name='page_185'></a>185</span> +been in his father, to choose the wild life of +the frontier in preference to holding the +presidency of a bank in Atlanta. He felt +that the world in its wildest freedom was +his for his pleasure. The cords of restraint +which society demanded were to +him the fetters of a tyrant ruler, and so, +as Sampson broke the green withes which +bound him, Carson broke the laws of society––nay +civilization, and married a +squaw according to the ceremony of her +people. He repented the act to some extent, +and then cast his cares aside, with +the comforting knowledge that the world +was too busy a place for people to give +themselves much concern over his affairs. +Long ago he realized that if he threw himself +into the swirl of humanity and allowed +himself to become a part of its motives and +its emotions, that it would require a herculean +effort to attain a position where he +could look over the heads of other men. +That position, he argued, was not worth +the life-long effort required. Withal, he +could not bring himself to quite understand +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_186' name='page_186'></a>186</span> +why he had married Mary Greenwater, +unless that she possessed some occult +power and gained control over forces +of his nature which he did not understand. +True, there was but little or no obligation +to the ceremony. It held good in the Cherokee +Indian nation, that government within +a government. Outside that limited +space of ground it was null and void. He +was a free man under the laws of his own +government. Yet that act, of his own creation, +somehow seemed to stand over him +like a Frankenstein with an uplifted axe.</p> +<p>The snow was deep, and as he plodded +along with these thoughts running through +his mind, he heard a cry. Glancing backwards +he saw a horse drawing a sleigh, +plunging madly down the road. The reins +were held by a woman, frantically urging +the horse forward. Some distance behind +four huge mountain lions were in hot +pursuit, their heavy bodies crouching and +springing forward many feet at a leap. +Carson took in the situation at a glance +and, raising his hand as a signal to the girl +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_187' name='page_187'></a>187</span> +in the sleigh to rein in, he sprang into the +vehicle as she passed. The momentary +pause had given the beasts a chance to +gain, when, drawing his revolver, he fired +at the foremost and sent it rolling in the +snow. Another shot and a second lion +paused with a mighty roar. At this the +other two turned and fled in the opposite +direction.</p> +<p>Carson now took the reins and stopped +the horse. The animal was trembling with +fright, while the girl was calm but pale.</p> +<p>“Rather a close shave, eh, Sis?”</p> +<p>“Truly,” she replied, “how fortunate +you were here. I was driving to Del Norte +when I met the lions. They were gamboling +in the snow like kittens. When I +turned Bess, they pursued. I want the +one you have just killed, I want to have +him mounted to remember today,––and––and––you.”</p> +<p>“By all means, Miss, you shall have it, +but where are you going now?”</p> +<p>“Back to Saguache after this fright. +Poor Old Bess could not have stood the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_188' name='page_188'></a>188</span> +race much farther. See how she trembles. +I am the niece of Mr. Amos. My name is +Annie Amos. I have friends in Del Norte, +whom I intended to visit. I shall wait now +until I have an escort.”</p> +<p>“Ah––my name is Carson––Jack Carson. +I was going to Saguache to see Mr. Amos, +the assayer, to have him test a jug handle,––er, +that is, to have the jug handle test +him. I don’t mean that; I mean our mine is +named the Jug Handle, I will get it right +after awhile, and I want him to make a test +of the ore.”</p> +<p>“Confound it,” he thought as he turned +the horse, “I haven’t the sense of a jackrabbit +to make a break like that.”</p> +<p>One of the lions lay pawing the snow in +its death struggle and as Carson came +near, it reared itself as if to make one last +leap. Its eyes gleamed in savage yellow, +foam fell in flecks from its mouth, while a +tiny stream of crimson stained the snow. +Carson’s weapon spit fire and the creature +rolled over motionless. He dragged the +carcass to the end of the sleigh and, lifting +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_189' name='page_189'></a>189</span> +it upon the edge of the box, made it fast.</p> +<p>“If you are going to Saguache to see +my uncle, I fear you will be disappointed +as he left this morning for an absence of +several days.”</p> +<p>“That does not matter as I have other +business anyway. Most any time will do, +as I am in town quite often. We would +better not drive so fast. Your horse is in +a foam.”</p> +<p>Carson was fast becoming interested in +the girl at his side. Her calm poise, after +the exciting adventures with the mountain +lions, surprised him. Other women would +have been hysterical, but here by his side +sat a girl not yet out of her teens, as calm +and collected as a veteran soldier after the +battle. And Amos, the man he was going +to see and intended to kill if he proved to +be the villain he suspected him to be, was +her uncle.</p> +<p>The white billows rose rank on rank on +the distant mountains, while the snow of +the valley shrunk visibly away, leaving the +grey rocks naked and protuberant.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_190' name='page_190'></a>190</span></div> +<p>The newly-made acquaintances chatted +gaily as the horse jogged along.</p> +<p>“I was thinking of your remark awhile +ago,” said Carson, “that you would go to +Del Norte tomorrow if you had an escort, +and as I have some time to idle away it +would give me pleasure to drive you over.”</p> +<p>“It would give me equal pleasure to have +you do so,” she replied with admirable +frankness, “that is, if you are going there +anyway.”</p> +<p>“I may need to purchase some new implements +with which to work the Aberdeen––I +mean the Jug Handle mine,” he explained. +“I have heard of a new drill they +are working over there and it may be just +the thing for the formation we are now in.”</p> +<p>“I see,” said the girl, as a mischievous +smile flitted about her lips, “and I am very +glad you will accompany me. I shall make +you acquainted with some of my very dear +friends.”</p> +<p>Carson was forgetting his millions in +the mine and letting his mind wander to +the expected joys of entertaining and being +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_191' name='page_191'></a>191</span> +entertained by people of real worth +once more. He felt returning pride, and +then the thought of the Frankenstein +with the uplifted axe made him groan inwardly. +But pshaw! she did not know––never +would know, and what people do not +know will not hurt them, he reasoned.</p> +<p>He felt an increasing admiration for the +girl beside him. They were alone in the +wide expanse of valley and had known each +other only an hour, yet this girl was willing +to trust to his honor and manhood. +And be it said for Carson, as it may be said +for thousands of other men on the American +frontier, he would have yielded his life +rather than betray that sacred trust. Instances +like this are common in the West.</p> +<p>As they drove down the main street of +Saguache, the passers looked curiously +at the pair in the sleigh and at the dead +lion strapped behind. When they stopped +in front of the postoffice, a crowd gathered +around the sleigh. A supple figure edged +through the crowd and addressed the girl:</p> +<p>“Kill it all by yourself, Annie?”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_192' name='page_192'></a>192</span></div> +<p>The familiarity with which he spoke nettled +the girl, and she turned her head without +answering. The supple figure felt the +rebuff and all the more because others noticed +it. He stood his ground, however, +until Carson returned and when he saw his +face he quickly drew out of sight.</p> +<p>“Tomorrow at seven,” said Carson, as +he bade her good-bye at her house.</p> +<p>Carson went to his hotel with a lighter +heart than he had had for months. He lit +a cigar and sat by the window, then felt +for something in his pocket, and threw it +in the wood-box. “There are other jug +handles,” he said to himself.</p> +<p>He walked the streets aimlessly until +supper. He retired early and tried to +sleep, but his thoughts ran wild on the +events of the day. He could think of no +one except Annie. It was still early in the +night, when he arose from a restless bed +and went out on the streets. Lights blazed +from the Lone Tree saloon, and as he entered +he saw a crowd about the faro table. +The sudden exclamations of many voices +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_193' name='page_193'></a>193</span> +told that some one was winning heavily. +He pressed forward through the crowd +and saw the form of a woman. When she +partially turned her face, he felt his heart +give a great throb, and he fled into the +street.</p> +<p>The remainder of the night he walked +through the crunching snow, while the +silent stars seemed to gaze with tearful +eyes upon him in this, the greatest misery +he had ever known. He walked several +miles out of town to avoid meeting anyone +he knew and then presented himself at the +Amos residence.</p> +<p>“I believe it is seven o’clock, Miss Annie,” +he said, when she answered his call.</p> +<p>“Yes, and I am ready,” was the cheerful +answer.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_194' name='page_194'></a>194</span> +<a name='XXII_A_VOICE_FROM_CENTURIES_PAST' id='XXII_A_VOICE_FROM_CENTURIES_PAST'></a> +<h2>XXII.</h2> +<h3>A VOICE FROM CENTURIES PAST.</h3> +</div> +<p>Buchan was ready to throw the lever of +his engine and roll out of Tucson, when a +messenger handed him a packet bearing +the postmark of Peru. The missive showed +signs of age, and, having traveled much, +had reached its destination at last. He +tossed it into his tool box and an hour later +when speeding over the scorched deserts of +Arizona, he opened the packet. The letter +was dated at Truxillo and read:</p> +<blockquote> +<p>“Dear Don Juan––I have been ill for +many months, and I feel that my end is +drawing nigh, but before I go I want to do +something for you. I have heard how Don +Rodrigo so justly met his end, and with +this knowledge I die easier. You are young +and strong, with a long life of usefulness +ahead, and I feel that in entrusting to you +a family secret, I am only doing that which +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_195' name='page_195'></a>195</span> +I would have done had Felicita lived. She +was the last of our house and the heritage +of our family belonged to her. As it is, I +make you my heir to the valuable papers +handed down to me from my ancestors. +May they prove to you a blessing. Would +that I had more to give you. May the +blessings of the Virgin ever rest upon +you.</p> +<p class='ralign'>“Julian.”</p> +</blockquote> +<p>Accompanying the letter was a parchment +scroll, dated Lima, 1752. It read:</p> +<p>“I, Jean Maldonado, do write of my +extraordinary adventures in Nueva Espanola, +wherein I was duly appointed the +Commander of an expedition to the land of +Quivera, in search of the Seven Cities of +Cibola, in the service of his excellency, the +viceroy of Santa Fe. A barbarian told us +he would lead us unto a land to the far +north, where shops blazed with jewels and +common cooking vessels were made of +gold; that the metal was so common as to +be of no value. The king of this city took +his noonday meals beneath a golden canopy, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_196' name='page_196'></a>196</span> +hung with tinkling silver bells. +There was a sea upon which this king rode +in a canoe, which would carry twenty +horses. Upon its prow was an idol of beaten +gold. The canoe was fitted with sumptuous +cushions, upon which the monarch +took his siestas, to the music made by +dancing maidens with bells and castanets. +Fish as large as horses abounded, and +sweet fruit bigger than a soldier’s helmet +grew upon the trees. The monarch who +ruled over this land was long-bearded, +white-haired, and wore robes of bright-hued, +rich stuffs, and slept in a garden +where trees were hung with a thousand +bells, which made exquisite music when +shaken by the wind. And this king worshipped +the golden image of a woman, the +Queen of Heaven, and ate from gold and +silver bowls, of which the dais he sat upon +was made. He spoke with vast assurance +and said he would conduct us thither whenever +we should follow.</p> +<p>“We journeyed northward many leagues +over mountains and came to a wide valley +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_197' name='page_197'></a>197</span> +watered by a stream. Farther on were +high mountains and we named them Sangre +de Christo and marked three mountains +‘Spanish Peaks’ on our map, that we +might not miss our way. One day a pious +soldier saw the barbarian with his face in a +pool of water, talking with the devil. After +that we were suspicious. After many days’ +journey we found the city, but alas, it was +mud huts, and the only metal was a copper +plate around the old chief’s neck and by +which he sat great store. There were no +golden vessels, no image of the Virgin, no +golden dais and no silver bells.</p> +<p>“The wicked barbarian then said he +had led us into the desert to die. Our soldiers +were wroth and I ordered him hanged +on a considerable tree, to let him know +there was a God in heaven and a King in +Spain.</p> +<p>“We turned our steps backward after +we had set up a cross, and journeyed into +the valley. Now there were many oxen +come into the valley of the figure and color +of our bulls, but their horns were not so +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_198' name='page_198'></a>198</span> +great. They had a great bunch upon their +fore shoulders and more hair upon their +fore parts than on their hind parts. They +had a horse’s mane upon their backbone +and much hair from the knees downward. +They had great tufts of hair hanging from +their foreheads and it seemeth that they +had beards, because of the great store of +hair at their chins and throats. In some +respects they resembled a lion, and in some +others the camel. They pushed with their +horns, and they overtook and killed horses. +Finally, it was a foul and fierce beast of +countenance.</p> +<p>“We have stayed close to the mountains +where we could flee to the rocks if they +pursued us. We were crossing the mountain, +when we came upon a spring near +unto a huge cliff that sat on the edge like +a platter. We camped here many days until +the bulls left the valley. Some distance +from the rock like a platter, Casteanda +found gold in a white rock, which we did +beat up and saved much pure gold. Casteanda +journeyed to Santa Fe and returned +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_199' name='page_199'></a>199</span> +with more donkeys, and we loaded +upon them much unbeaten rock. We all +then journeyed back to Santa Fe, for the +barbarians were angry at our intrusion +and we went in haste, leaving more gold +in the white rock than would load a ship’s +boat. I cut in the rock, high up, the words:</p> +<p class='center'>“‘Jean Maldonado.<br /> +“‘Commander of an Expedition, reached this place, 1750.’</p> +<p>“All this, so that the subjects of Spain +might know this country belonged to His +Majesty.</p> +<p>“We journeyed back to Santa Fe after +many days of hardships and we found a +new Viceroy had been appointed and he +demanded our gold. This we were loath +to give up, and after selling it to a trader +for the coin of the realm, we started across +the country for New Orleans, knowing well +not to go south for the new Viceroy would +pursue us and take the gold.</p> +<p>“We journeyed along the banks of a considerable +river by night and hid ourselves +by day. We saw many thousands of ferocious +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_200' name='page_200'></a>200</span> +bulls grazing, and when they ran the +noise was like thunder and it made us +afraid. We crossed many rivers and finally +came to a country of wooded hills +where the Barbarians were thick and ferocious.</p> +<p>“The Barbarians pursued us and we +hid our gold and records in a cave and +rolled a stone over the hole and fled. They +killed nearly all of our expedition and our +mules. Baptiste was sorely wounded in +the breast with an arrow and notwithstanding +we bled him copiously, he died.</p> +<p>“The treatment given us by the Barbarians +irritated us exceedingly and we fell +upon them with swords when they were not +in great numbers.</p> +<p>“We came to a river whose waters were +red, like unto the color of the tiles on +the houses of Seville, and after journeying +along its banks for many nights, we came +unto the River of the Holy Ghost, which +DeSoto discovered and here we found +safety.</p> +<p>“While all these things were new in my +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_201' name='page_201'></a>201</span> +mind I made another map in order that I +might take another expedition to the mine +when the Viceroy grew rich from the spoils +of office and would trouble us no more. But +he did write unto the people of Spain that +I would be hanged upon my return to Santa +Fe, therefore I desisted in returning. +Being extremely irritated at his conduct I +sought my fortune in Peru, until such time +when he should be called to heaven, which +call even now, in my old age, has not yet +been made, over which misfortune I have +sorely grieved.”</p> +<p>Accompanying this document was a map +with the Sangre de Christo range, the +Spanish Peaks, the River, Valley and flat +cliff on edge, plainly marked. The distance +from Santa Fe and the mountain passes +was clearly indicated.</p> +<p>A month later Buchan was transferred +on a run out of Santa Fe where the hand +of Fate and Chance again took part. He +received a letter from Mr. Robinson who +had joined a surveying party and had fallen +ill at Saguache. The letter implored +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_202' name='page_202'></a>202</span> +him to come, if he ever expected to see him +alive. True to his old time friendship, he +lost no time in reaching his bedside. Mr. +Robinson lingered a few weeks and died. +This was more sad news for Hattie in her +far-away home, amid the Santa Lucia +mountains. She alone remained of the +happy family who had gone to Arequipa +with fond hopes for the future beneath +those sunny skies.</p> +<p>I, the writer, had been with Carson a +few days before prospecting in the Sangre +de Christo mountains, when by chance we +rested at the spring beside the peculiar +shaped cliff. I noticed that Carson was interested +in the surroundings, but I thought +nothing of it at the time. The formation +of the cliff appealed to my fancy, and I +chanced to mention it to Buchan one day +when he became excited and asked to be +shown its whereabouts.</p> +<p>Together with Carson we visited the +spot. Being an old prospector, I soon discovered +formations that looked like pay +ore. My years of experience in these +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_203' name='page_203'></a>203</span> +mountains had taught me that a man +might work a lifetime and gain nothing, +and again from the outcroppings of a stone +at grass roots he might develop a mine +worth a million dollars.</p> +<p>Carson and Buchan were sanguine over +our prospects, too much so, I thought, for +men who had no experience in mining.</p> +<p>I located the claim so as to include the +cliff and spring and when I made out the +registration papers, I said: “Gentlemen, +what shall we call the mine?”</p> +<p>“Name it the Maldonado,” said Carson.</p> +<p>“What!” exclaimed Buchan, turning an +ashen paleness.</p> +<p>“The Major Domo,” replied Carson, +looking somewhat abashed.</p> +<p>“Name it the Aberdeen,” said Buchan. +“I like to hear that name spoken, it was +my old home in Scotland.”</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_204' name='page_204'></a>204</span> +<a name='XXIII_THE_TWO_OLD_BLACK_CROWS' id='XXIII_THE_TWO_OLD_BLACK_CROWS'></a> +<h2>XXIII.</h2> +<h3>THE TWO OLD BLACK CROWS.</h3> +</div> +<p>Amos sat in the little back room of Rayder’s +office in Denver. His beady black eyes +glistened beneath his beetle brows. A +pleased expression shone on his thin face, +drawn in wrinkles like stained parchment. +Rayder was out, but had left instructions +for him to wait. As he sat there his eye +caught sight of something interesting on +Rayder’s desk. The door was closed and +he was alone. He leaned forward and took +up some slips of paper for closer inspection. +They were certificates of assay from +Pendleton. The pleased look vanished as +he noted Amos No. 1, Amos No. 2, Amos +No. 3, and so on for a dozen or more slips. +Rayder did not trust him, and had had the +sample of ore assayed by Pendleton for +corroboration.</p> +<p>“He does not even believe in honesty +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_205' name='page_205'></a>205</span> +among thieves,” he mused, as he carefully +replaced the papers. Then the pleased +look came back to his face.</p> +<p>“All the better,” he thought. “He will +deal now and it is my time to strike before +the iron cools.”</p> +<p>He drew his chair further back from the +desk, and pretended to be reading a newspaper +when he heard Rayder coming.</p> +<p>“Just the man I have been wanting to +see,” said Rayder, extending his hand, +“how is everything in Saguache and how is +Annie?”</p> +<p>“Annie is handsome as ever, but there is +a new assayer coming to town next month +and I understand he is on the dead square, +and what we do we have got to do all-fired +quick. How is this for an eye-opener?” +He took from his pocket several lumps of +shining ore.</p> +<p>“Sylvanite,” exclaimed Rayder. “What +does it run?”</p> +<p>“Eighty ounces to the ton. There is a +quarter of a million dollars on the dump +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_206' name='page_206'></a>206</span> +and the fellows think it is copper and +pyrites of iron.”</p> +<p>“How would it do to contest the claim?”</p> +<p>“Dangerous business, they have taken +to killing claim jumpers. One was shot +last week, and this outfit will shoot, no +mistake. It is better to buy them out for +a song. They are about broke anyway. +They believe everything I tell them, have +a child-like confidence in me, same as +everybody has. I tell you, Rayder, I stand +at the top in the estimation of everybody, +and all we have got to do is to have the +buyer on the ground, and when they come +in with their next samples I will prove to +them their values have run out, show them +some rich stuff from down the valley and +like all others of their class, they will +stampede.”</p> +<p>“That sounds good, but tell me more of +Annie, did she appreciate the cloak I sent +her for a Christmas present?”</p> +<p>“Appreciate it! I should say she did. +She just worships it because it came from +you, and say, she has your photograph on +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_207' name='page_207'></a>207</span> +the wall where she can see it all the time. +She just dotes on that picture. I tell her +there is the chance of her life, a fine house, +fine clothes, a chance to go abroad and +cultivate her musical talent, become a +great singer and meet dukes and lords and +crowned heads. Why, the girl is just crazy +over you, and I believe she would marry +you even if you did not have a cent. It is +like marrying December to May, you sixty +and she nineteen, pretty and vivacious––warm +up your old bones, eh?”</p> +<p>Rayder’s eyes shone and he stroked his +beard with delight. “Charley,” he called +to his office boy, “bring up a quart of +whisky, some lemons and sugar.”</p> +<p>“Sweet creature, I love thee,” said +Amos a few minutes later, holding up a +half goblet of whisky. “You do the proper +thing in setting out these kind of glasses; +puts me in mind of my old home down in +Texas, where we never drink out of anything +smaller than a tin cup or a gourd.”</p> +<p>“Here is to Annie and Rayder––may +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_208' name='page_208'></a>208</span> +your posterity become presidents and +wives of presidents.”</p> +<p>“Drink hearty,” said Rayder, emptying +his glass, which he had filled to the fullness +of Amos’ out of compliment.</p> +<p>“Charley, bring up a box of perfectos,” +he shouted. “You may then lock up and +go home.”</p> +<p>The glasses were again drained and the +two black crows chattered until the streets +were growing quiet for the night. Supper +was forgotten in the love feast of Amos +and Rayder.</p> +<p>“Do you know, Amos, I always did love +you just like a brother?”</p> +<p>“Here, too, Rayder, you know the first +time we saw each other, I sez to myself––I +sez––there is a man that would stick to a +friend through thick and thin.”</p> +<p>“You are that kind of a man yourself, +Amos, is the reason you have a good opinion +of me. I never had a friend in distress +yet that I didn’t help him out.”</p> +<p>“That’s right, Rayder, that’s right. +Them’s the qualities that go to make up +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_209' name='page_209'></a>209</span> +nature’s noblemen. Lord, if I had a known +you years ago we’d a bin millionaires––my +knowledge of mines and your sagacity. +That’s what counts, and you never fail in +your estimate of men, either. Lord, you +was born under lucky stars.</p> +<p>“Take another drink, Rayder, take a +cistern full. ’Taint often we meet on auspicious +occasions like this, and we won’t go +home ’till mornin,’ and we won’t go home +’till morning, hic––hurrah for Annie, Rayder, +and a million outer the mine.”</p> +<p>“An’ she shame short of share of prosperity +to my brother Amos,” and Rayder +took another drink.</p> +<p>“Shay, Rayder, you come and go home +with me and hang around a day or two +until you buy the mine and play sweet +with Annie, an’ the night of the weddin’ +we’ll hev a dance and send you away on +your bridal tour in a blaze of glory.”</p> +<p>“I’ll do it, I’ll do it, Amos, an’ then +we’ll be almost brothers ’cordin’ ter law, +anyway.”</p> +<p>“Shay, Rayder, did I tell ye I had a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_210' name='page_210'></a>210</span> +little mix up with a woman, an’ I’m scared +to death ’fear old woman ’ill find it out. +I got ’ter square the deal or I’m a goner +and stuff’s all off, want yer to let me take +ten thousand fer few days, got ter blow a +lot o’ money on weddin’, too, yer see.”</p> +<p>“All right, Amos, youse’s square a man’s +ever met. I’ll let ye hev it.”</p> +<p>“Good, thet’s relief; sooner I get it easier +mind’ll be. Nuthin’ like ’mediate action +to relieve man’s mind, you know. Let’s +take nuther drink and ye can write th’ +check with steadier hand.”</p> +<p>Rayder swallowed another drink while +Amos fumbled about the desk until he +found Rayder’s check book.</p> +<p>“Bet ye can’t spell ten without making a +crook. There now, if you can write thousand +as well you’re a peachareno. Bully, +now write Silas Rayder at the bottom. +You’re a brother in fact, Rayder, an’ I love +ye better as any brother. Shay, let’s hev +nuther bottle.”</p> +<p>And Amos pocketed the check and quietly +slipped down stairs, to the saloon and was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_211' name='page_211'></a>211</span> +back with another quart before Rayder +had roused from his drunken stupor. He +poured out another half goblet of whisky.</p> +<p>“Shay, Rayder, de ye know about story +of Guvner of North Carolina sed to Guvner +of South Carolina, to effet an’ words, it +was long time between drinks?”</p> +<p>“An’ that was a damn shame Guvner hed +to wait, ought to had you along an’ famous +epigram ed never been born.”</p> +<p>Half an hour later Rayder was stretched +upon the lounge in the little back office, dead +to the world. Amos sat by the window +sobering up until the grey of the morning. +The sleeping man roused, and Amos gave +him another half goblet of whisky followed +by a sip of water. He had drawn the +blinds and left the coal-oil lamp burning +when it grew light, lest the sleeping man +should arouse and discover it was daylight.</p> +<p>When the office boy came, he cautioned +him not to awaken Rayder. He then crossed +over to the bank, called for the face payment +of the check in gold coin. He took +the money to the Wells Fargo Express +company’s office and expressed it to his +wife in Saguache.</p> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_6' id='linki_6'></a> +</div> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/illus-204.jpg' alt='' title='' width='569' height='361' /><br /> +<p class='caption'> +THE AREGUIPENA. (Page 56)<br /> +</p> +</div> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_212' name='page_212'></a>212</span></div> +<p>Rayder was sleeping when he returned. +He placed the check book in its accustomed +place in the desk, destroyed all evidence of +the night’s debauch and left a note on the +desk saying: “My dear Rayder, I have +been suddenly called home by the illness of +my wife. Come to Saguache as soon as +you can make it convenient. Amos.”</p> +<p>When Rayder awoke it was four o’clock +in the afternoon. His head was in a whirl +and every muscle was twitching. He called +Charley and sent for a doctor. The doctor +saw the trouble at a glance. He called a +hack and accompanied Rayder to his home.</p> +<p>“This will never do, Mr. Rayder. You +have drank much whisky in your time and +it has become a poison to your system. Do +not look for me to get you out of this in less +time than four weeks.”</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_213' name='page_213'></a>213</span> +<a name='XXIV_THE_RECKLESS_HAND_OF_FATE' id='XXIV_THE_RECKLESS_HAND_OF_FATE'></a> +<h2>XXIV.</h2> +<h3>THE RECKLESS HAND OF FATE.</h3> +</div> +<p>The day was fair when Carson left +Saguache with pretty Annie Amos seated +beside him in the sleigh. Although he had +spent the night in fearful anxiety, walking +the streets, he now felt such a relief over +getting out of town, undiscovered by Mary +Greenwater, that he was bubbling over with +high spirits. In the presence of Annie his +better nature stood outward and he even +surprised himself with his quick sallies of +wit and repartee. Annie was charmed with +his presence, and as the two chatted gaily, +they did not notice the lowering clouds +about the Spanish Peaks, until a strong +wind began to raise and soon one of those +sudden storms so common to the region +was coming in all its fury. In a short +while it became a raging blizzard. The +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_214' name='page_214'></a>214</span> +snow drifted in blinding swirls, so dense +that the horse’s head could not be seen.</p> +<p>Carson had experienced the blizzard on +the range and knew the only safe course +was to let the horse have the reins, and +trust to its animal instinct to find a shelter. +He drew the robes securely about Annie +and endeavored to allay her fears, although +conscious of the peril they were in. The +horse was plodding its way through the +snow-drifts and it was evident that the +animal would soon become exhausted. The +blizzard might last all night, or it might +continue for three days. On those trackless +wastes in such a storm death by freezing +was almost certain, unless they reached +a place of shelter. The hours dragged by. +He kept up an incessant talking with +Annie, lest she should fall into the fatal +sleep. The girl was quick to perceive his +tender care, and in full apprehension of +their danger, felt a growing confidence in +the man beside her. She knew that he fully +realized their peril and admired him for +his efforts to conceal his fears from her.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_215' name='page_215'></a>215</span></div> +<p>It was growing darker and the horse was +moving with feeble steps. Carson was at +the point of giving vent to his fears, when +the animal stopped. He left the sleigh, +and upon going to the horse’s head, found +they were beside a cabin. His heart gave a +great leap of joy and he called exultantly +to Annie.</p> +<p>The cabin was deserted, but, praise +Providence, it was shelter. The door +swung open on its hinges. There was a +fireplace with some half-burned logs in a +heap of ashes. When Annie was securely +inside, he brought in the robes from the +sleigh and next unhitched the horse and +brought the animal inside the cabin. This +made Annie’s heart leap with joy; she had +not considered how they would protect the +horse, and this humane act on the part of +Carson gave her the most implicit confidence +in the man. There is nothing to +fear from a man who is so kind to animals, +was her mental comment.</p> +<p>Soon there was a blazing fire on the +hearth. Some poles were found by the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_216' name='page_216'></a>216</span> +door. These Carson dug from the snow +and brought inside. He had no axe +with which to cut them, and in the emergency, +he laid the ends together in the fire +slantwise from the chimney, and as they +burned away, he shoved the logs forward. +The wind screamed in wildest fury, while +the snow drifted in through the rough clapboard +roof.</p> +<p>Until now no thought had been given to +the lunch which Annie had prepared for +the trip. She brought it out from among +the wraps and when Carson gave the horse +a buttered biscuit as his share of the meal, +she watched the act with a thrill of gladness. +The blazing logs gave warmth and +light, and the man and woman sat and +talked throughout the long watches of the +night, while the snow drifted and the wind +screamed and roared, making the loose +clapboards of the roof creak and groan.</p> +<p>There these two, thrown together by the +reckless hand of fate, told incidents of +their lives and won the love and sympathy +of each other. A new song was born in +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_217' name='page_217'></a>217</span> +Carson’s breast. For a moment he +seemed to remember a former life; somewhere +out in the wide, white waste and +hush of infinite space, where they had +known each other and now their souls imprisoned +in forms of clay, they had met by +chance and renewed an old affinity.</p> +<p>As she told him the simple story of her +life, he listened with ever-increasing interest. +An orphan at an early age, she had +since lived in the home of her Uncle Amos. +Everything had gone well until the last +year, when her uncle brought Rayder to +their home and insisted that she should regard +him as a suitor for her hand. Rayder, +old and grey, had dyed his whiskers +and tried to appear boyish. His intentions +were well enough––he would give her all +she would ask that money could purchase––but +she could not love the man and could +never think of becoming his wife. Amos, +her uncle, was a man of avarice and greed. +He insisted that it was a duty she owed +him for his fatherly care in bringing her +up. He dwelt on the advantages it would +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_218' name='page_218'></a>218</span> +be to him in his old age and that it would +be only right for her to help him in this +way. He had appealed to her generous +nature and sought to make her believe this +sacrifice on her part would be just and +right. Amos’ wife had taken the same +view of the matter and urged that the wedding +should be at an early date. Annie, +alone in the world, had no one to whom +she could go for counsel. Some of the +coarse women of the mining camp who +came to their home thought her the most +fortunate of girls to have a suitor as rich as +Rayder, and ridiculed the idea of her refusing +to accept the greatest opportunity +of her life. Some of their husbands were +rough, uncouth men, who cared nothing for +the luxuries of a home, spent most of their +money and time drinking and gambling at +the Lone Tree, and they gauged conditions +as they were with themselves. They were +honest-hearted women of the frontier who +believed they were doing the girl a kindness. +It was not through bravery that she +was cool and collected, yesterday, in the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_219' name='page_219'></a>219</span> +presence of death from the lions, she told +him, but because she had almost made up +her mind that she did not care. Death had +lost its terrors in the contemplation of impending +fate.</p> +<p>He did not tell her of the burden of his +heart. He did not feel that he dared to ask +for sympathy. At that hour he would +have given ten years of his life to undo his +marriage with Mary Greenwater by the ancient +custom of the Swiftest Horse. He +knew the Indian woman and knew that she +intended to kill him and yet he felt helpless, +powerless. He did tell the girl beside +him that he, too, was alone in the world +and hoped to merit the love of a good woman +and that his every act in life should +go to prove his sincerity. And so, amid the +wild scenes of the night, they talked.</p> +<p>At noon the following day, the storm +abated and when the flurries of snow had +ceased they saw the town of Del Norte well +down on the plain.</p> +<p>Annie was received at the home of her +friends with delight and when she told them +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_220' name='page_220'></a>220</span> +of her recent adventures, they gave expression +to heartfelt joy for Annie’s +safety, and called Carson a hero.</p> +<p>Carson did not leave Del Norte for six +weeks. Meanwhile, Annie visited her +friends. When the two were not together +in the cozy parlor at Annie’s host’s, Carson +kept close in his room at the hotel. He +wanted to delay the meeting with Mary +Greenwater as long as possible. If she was +only a man,––ah, that would be different! +It would then be knife to knife, or bullet +to bullet––he would not shrink. But she +was a woman, an educated Indian woman +upon whom society had some claim, and +she had some claim upon it.</p> +<p>Annie promised to become his wife and +it was arranged that she should return to +her uncle’s home, and as soon as he could +arrange his affairs at the mine they would +go to an eastern state. He first intended, +however, to make a clean breast of the +Mary Greenwater affair, and trust his fate +to her love for him.</p> +<p>When he reached the foot of the Sangre +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_221' name='page_221'></a>221</span> +de Christo range, through the great depths +of snow, he saw the fearful havoc of the +snow slide and noted the slanting position +of the edgewise cliff. Thinking it was of +but recent occurrence, he hurried to +Saguache and gave the alarm that two of +his companions were buried beneath the +mountain of snow.</p> +<p>In no place in the world does an appeal +for help meet with a quicker response +than among the pioneers of the west. The +news flew over the town like wildfire that +two miners were imprisoned in a snow +slide. A relief party was organized at +once and Carson led them to the base of +the range.</p> +<p>Mary Greenwater saw Carson organizing +the relief, she stood within a few feet +of him unobserved, and could have shot +him, but she knew better than shoot a man +in the act of aiding the distressed. The +crowd would hang her, woman or no woman, +and she knew it. Some other time +than this––she would wait.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_222' name='page_222'></a>222</span> +<a name='XXV_CORDS_OF_LOVE_ARE_STRONG' id='XXV_CORDS_OF_LOVE_ARE_STRONG'></a> +<h2>XXV.</h2> +<h3>CORDS OF LOVE ARE STRONG.</h3> +</div> +<p>Hattie Judson sat by the window overlooking +the green wheat fields of the Los +Ossis valley. The bells in the old mission +were calling the humble worshippers of the +valley, just as they had done for more than +one hundred and forty years. She +watched the blue haze of the valley growing +denser in the shadows of the evening. +She heard the low boom of a signal gun roll +up from the sea. It was from the coast +steamer in the open roadstead, the signal +she was listening for in the hope that it +would bring her a letter––the letter for +which she had been waiting for six weeks.</p> +<p>The shadows from the coast hills crept +up the valley, and the stars shone, when +the whistle of the little narrow-gauge engine +announced its arrival from the port. +She put on her wraps and went to the postoffice +and waited a good long hour before +the mail was distributed. There was nothing +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_223' name='page_223'></a>223</span> +in her box except the San Francisco paper. +And yet she felt intuitively there +must be some news. She returned to her +home with a vague feeling of dread and lit +the parlor lamp. Mechanically she scanned +the headlines of the paper when her eye +caught the line:</p> +<p class='center'>“Imprisoned Miners in Snow-slide;<br /> +Relief Party Working Night and Day.”</p> +<p>“Saguache, Colo.––Word reached here +last night that John Buchan and James +Winslow, miners working a claim on the +Sangre de Christo range, were buried in +their cabin beneath a snow slide. It is believed +the men are alive although there +seems to be small hope of rescuing them +on account of an overhanging cliff which +may topple at any moment, with the melting +snows and crush them out of existence. +Rescue parties are at work night and day.”</p> +<p>The room seemed to whirl and grow dark +as she finished reading. Tears came to +her eyes and she cried aloud. The members +of the family came to find the cause +of her outcry and found her in a flood of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_224' name='page_224'></a>224</span> +tears. They read the dispatch and knew +the cause. The paper was two days old +from San Francisco. What could she do? +She must know at once. She went to the +telegraph office and sent a message of inquiry +to the mayor of Saguache. It was +twelve o’clock when the message came: +“Lines all down in San Luis valley.” +There was a telegraph line to San Louis +Obispo, but no coast line railroad nearer +than Paso Robles Hot Springs, sixty +miles inland. It would be three days before +there was another steamer for San Francisco. +She felt that if she waited the suspense +would kill her. She must go to +Saguache.</p> +<p>In the grey of the morning she was +seated beside a driver in a light running +rig behind the swiftest pair of horses in +the town. The northern express was due +at noon and the distance of sixty miles +must be made. The fleet animals climbed +the mountain slopes and crossed the divide +of the Santa Lucia range, and went speeding +through the beautiful Santa Marguerite +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_225' name='page_225'></a>225</span> +valley with its carpet of green, enlivened +with splashes of yellow from the wild mustard +blossoms. Across the swift flowing +ford of the Salinis river, through deep ravines +and mountain gorges, and over miles +and miles of sun-baked sand and dreary +waste of stunted cactus and sagebrush, the +horses sped.</p> +<p>The scorched winds of the desert caught +up the sands and hurled them hot into their +faces and stung them like tiny sparks.</p> +<p>Dripping with foam the horses were +reined up at the depot platform in just +five hours and fifty minutes from the time +of starting––a record that stands in San +Louis Obispo today as the best ever made, +and that too by a big-hearted western man +who did it only to aid a woman in distress.</p> +<p>The train sped over miles of brown and +parched desert, studded with a growth of +palms that rattled in the sultry wind like +dried sunflower stalks. The scenes were +scarcely noticed by Hattie as she sat in the +coach busied with her own thoughts. The +train was an express but it seemed to her +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_226' name='page_226'></a>226</span> +to creep along. The rumble of the wheels +clanking on the iron rails seemed to say: +“You’ll be too late, you’ll be too late.”</p> +<p>At Sacramento there was a wait of four +hours for the east bound express, and Hattie +sat in the depot where she could watch +the clock, tick, tock, tick, tock––swinging +the pendulum in these moments of suspense +and waiting. Those monotonous sounds +persistently repeated the single theme, seconds +were born and ushered into eternity +with the slow swing of the pendulum; every +tick brought the time of starting nearer, +but the pendulum swung so slow.</p> +<p>Those four hours watching the clock +were the most tedious of her life. When +the time was drawing nigh and the waiting +passengers were stirring about, the man +in the ticket office came out and wrote +upon the blackboard, “East bound Express +two hours late.”</p> +<p>Again the slow swinging pendulum sent +a torrent of woe to the unhappy girl, and +when the train rolled into the yards she +felt as though she had lived within sound +of that clock for a year.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_227' name='page_227'></a>227</span></div> +<p>The green valley changed to the red +earth of the foothills, still showing signs of +the gold hunters of 1849. The puffing and +wheezing of the engine told they were +climbing steep grades, and soon they were +in the snows of the Sierra Nevada mountains. +The train entered the forty-two +mile snow shed and when half way through +struck a hand car, derailing the engine.</p> +<p>It was day without, but dark within the +sheds. A kindly woman with her daughter +occupied the berth opposite Hattie. She +noticed the troubled look on the girl’s face +and from that time on until they separated +at Cheyenne, did everything she could to +make the journey pleasant. But there was +the ever present suspense and doubt.</p> +<p>It was ten hours before the train was +again under way, but they had lost the +right of way on the road and were compelled +to make frequent stops on the sidings +to allow other trains to pass.</p> +<p>As the train skirted the Great Salt Lake +with its bleak and desolate islands of rock +rising in silhouette against the cold grey +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_228' name='page_228'></a>228</span> +skies, Hattie compared the scene to the +feeling of utter desolation within her soul.</p> +<p>A storm was raging on the Laramie +plains and when the snow plow, driven by +the tremendous force of an extra engine in +front, stuck fast in the snow, she began +to have some conception of the mighty +force of an avalanche, and the difficulty of +reaching imprisoned men beneath its +weight.</p> +<p>The railroad ended at a little station in +the San Luis valley and then followed +many miles of staging in a crowded coach. +Everywhere the girl met with the most profound +respect and attention from fellow +passengers. She was always given the +best seat in the coach, and otherwise made +as comfortable as circumstances would permit. +Such was the gallantry of these men +of the frontier to the girl who was traveling +alone.</p> +<p>At the last stage station before reaching +Saguache, she heard men talking of the +imprisoned miners in the Sangre de Christo +mountains, but she was unable to learn +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_229' name='page_229'></a>229</span> +any of the particulars other than that the +relief party was still working. When, at +last, she alighted at the hotel in Saguache +her first question was concerning the imprisoned +men. They will have them out +in a few days if nothing happens was the +assurance given by the landlady. “They +are alive, we know, for we can see the +smoke coming out from under the rock.”</p> +<p>The two men under the snow slide had +been the talk of the town for days. Every +day a new party went to the scene to relieve +those who had worked the day and +night before, tunneling up the steep mountain +side through snow of an unknown +depth.</p> +<p>When Hattie reached the tunnel she +begged to be allowed to go to the end of it +where the men were working. She was assisted +up the mountain side by willing +hands and when she reached the workers +one of them said: “The boys are all right +for we can hear their voices.”</p> +<p>It was then she gave an exclamation of +joy, and when Buchan said to me in the cabin, +“It seems that I hear her voice,” he +was right.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_230' name='page_230'></a>230</span> +<a name='XXVI_WHEN_THE_DEATH_GLOOM_GATHERS' id='XXVI_WHEN_THE_DEATH_GLOOM_GATHERS'></a> +<h2>XXVI.</h2> +<h3>WHEN THE DEATH GLOOM GATHERS.</h3> +</div> +<p>Amos staggered out of the fog of powder +smoke and groped his way to the door. He +took the center of the street reeling as he +went, and made his way to his home. The +scenes at the Bucket of Blood were magnified +in his whisky-crazed brain. He raved +in wild delirium, fighting the demons that +gathered around his bedside. The doctor +came and shook his head. “He has been +drinking so long that my medicine will not +act,” he said. Amos glared wildly from +his bloodshot eyes when a monkey seemed +to leap on the footboard. He held a glass +in his hand. “Have a cocktail, Amos,” said +the monkey, as he tossed the liquid into the +air and caught it in another glass. Amos’ +throat was parched and he wanted the cocktail, +but the monkey did not give it to him. +A rhinoceros came creeping through the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_231' name='page_231'></a>231</span> +wall and looked at him with its leaden eyes. +The monkey tossed the cocktail into the +wide open mouth of the rhinoceros, who +smacked his lips and said to the monkey, +“Let’s play ante over.”</p> +<p>“All right,” replied the monkey, “what +with?”</p> +<p>“Get his eye, get his eye,” exclaimed the +rhinoceros.</p> +<p>The monkey crept forward and plucked +out one of Amos’ eyes, as he groaned and +yelled. For awhile the rhinoceros was on +one side of the dresser and the monkey on +the other, tossing his eye to and fro between +them. The scene changed. He was +on a white horse, plunging down a steep +rocky road lined with trees on either side; +pythons and rattlesnakes reached out from +among the branches striking their fangs at +his head. There was the form of a dead +woman behind him on the horse. Her cold +arms clung about his neck as little devils +came out from behind the trees and +shouted: “You did it; you did it.” The +horse was now plunging over a snow-covered +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_232' name='page_232'></a>232</span> +country. He felt the icy winds chill +his heart. He was trying to shake off the +dead arms that clung to his neck, when +the horse stopped in a wild spot among the +rocks. A grave digger, with the flesh of +face and arms dried to the bone, appeared. +“We will bury her here,” he said as he +sunk his spade into the earth. As the grave +digger threw up the clods they turned to +little devils, the size of frogs and yelped, +“We are the sins of Amos come out of the +grave.” The vision passed and another +appeared. Three Sisters of Charity stood +at the footboard of his bed. They were +looking down on him with sorrowful eyes. +One of them lifted her hand and all was a +livid flame. Amos raised his head and +gave one prolonged shriek. A shriek of +death.</p> +<p>When Amos returned to Saguache after +his spree with Rayder his first act was to +purchase a ranch in the San Luis valley +and deed it to his wife. He then went to +his assay office and drew down the blinds +and sat in the shadows like a cunning old +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_233' name='page_233'></a>233</span> +spider in hiding waiting for the unwary +fly for which he had wove his web. His life +had been that of the iconoclast who creates +nothing to adorn the world’s great gallery +of gods. But he was not philosophical +enough to evolve an idea that would disrupt +existing beliefs.</p> +<p>It was some weeks after his arrival +home, when he espied Rayder one morning +coming down the street towards his office. +He cautiously turned the key in his office +and slipped over to the Bucket of Blood +and returned with some beer and two +quart bottles of whisky. When Rayder +returned an hour later he was maudlin +drunk.</p> +<p>Rayder was still pale from the effects +of his recent debauch and when he found +Amos in an intoxicated condition he went +away, not caring to stay and talk with him +on important business matters lest he +should get drawn into another spree. +Meanwhile, Carson had arrived and spread +the news of the imprisoned miners under +the snow slide. Rayder learned that this +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_234' name='page_234'></a>234</span> +was the mine he had come to purchase +through the connivance of Amos and concluded +to wait and see what time would develop.</p> +<p>Day after day he sought Amos, but the +latter was too drunk to talk with any sense. +He then sought Carson and offered financial +assistance in the rescue work, but the +men spurned the offer. They felt they were +doing a God-given duty and to receive +money for an act of that kind would be debasing +their manhood. Such was it then +and such is now the spirit of the West. He +called at the Amos home, and while he was +received by the matron and failed to see +Annie, he thought he detected an air of distress +in the surroundings, and attributed it +to Amos’ condition. Feeling that he was +at their home at an inopportune time, he +went away and started out to find Amos +and if possible persuade him to quit drinking. +Not finding him at his office he took +a nearer route and entered the Bucket of +Blood by the back door. He passed two or +three hoboes sitting on beer kegs on the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_235' name='page_235'></a>235</span> +outside. “Say, old timer, can’t I dig into +ye for two bits?” asked one. The man was +trembly and his lips quivered as he spoke. +Remembering his own recent condition +Rayder handed the fellow a dollar and motioning +to the others, said: “Divide up.” +The men jumped to their feet with alacrity +and followed the first man to the bar.</p> +<p>Rayder walked to the faro table where +Amos sat with his back to him putting +down twenty dollar gold pieces on the +money. “I never squeal,” Amos was saying +to another man who was drawing out +the cards from the box. “Bet yer life, man +wins my money I never squeal,” Amos was +saying to the dealer. “Got skads of it anyhow, +and when that’s gone I know where to +get a mine worth more an’ a million.” +Rayder stood watching the player tossing +twenty after twenty in gold and tapping a +tiny bell now and then when a waiter came +and took the orders from those seated +around the table watching the game. They +all called for whisky except the dealer, he +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_236' name='page_236'></a>236</span> +took a cigar. It requires a clear head to +deal faro.</p> +<p>Rayder grew tired of watching and sat +down. He was thinking where did Amos +get so much money? He had not attended +to the business of his office since his recovery +and had had no occasion to look into +his check book. After a certain period of +the night with Amos in his back office, +everything was a blank. He remembered +the conversation about Annie and the mine +but had no recollection about signing the +check. To see Amos sitting at that table +losing money like a prince at Monte Carlo, +almost took his breath. He began to feel +certain now as to the fabulous riches of the +mine, for he could conceive of no other way +by which Amos could get possession of so +much money. He had learned of Mrs. Amos +purchasing the ranch and paying for it in +gold, and wondered at the time. Then he +thought that perhaps Amos was trying to +throw him off the purchase of the mine in +order to secure the property himself. There +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_237' name='page_237'></a>237</span> +was a mystery somewhere he could not +fathom.</p> +<p>The board partition against which he sat +was thin, and while he was not playing +eavesdropper, he could not help hearing: +“The secret of that mine has been known +to me since I was a child,” a woman was +saying, “but I never supposed Carson +would locate it when I gave him the papers.” +And then she recounted the story +of the hidden Spanish treasure in the +Grand river hills and continued: “The +two men they are trying to rescue from +under the snow slide are dead long ago and +the only one left that is interested is Carson. +I will get him out of the way, and you +must file on the claim, I cannot, for I am an +Indian, but you can. Besides, I could never +sing my death song in peace if he lives.”</p> +<p>“Tonight, then,” her companion said. +“You had better act before matters go +any farther.”</p> +<p>Here was another revelation to Rayder, +he saw coming through one archway an +Indian woman, and through the other, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_238' name='page_238'></a>238</span> +Coyote Jim who slowly walked toward the +faro table. Rayder’s first and best impulse +was to see Carson and warn him of impending +danger. His second thought was +that such a course would be bad financial +policy. No, he would let the woman kill +him if she could and he would jump the +claim himself. He was certain now of its +fabulous value and determined to have it +at any price.</p> +<p>And so the old black crow sat and waited +and plotted, while the other old black crow +gambled away his money, and when the +shooting was over, and the coal oil lamps +flickered their sickly flame through the +curling powder smoke, Rayder was raised +from the floor where he had flattened himself +against the baseboard, trembling like a +frightened sheep about to be led to the +slaughter.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_239' name='page_239'></a>239</span> +<a name='XXVII_A_NIGHT_OF_TRAGEDIES' id='XXVII_A_NIGHT_OF_TRAGEDIES'></a> +<h2>XXVII.</h2> +<h3>A NIGHT OF TRAGEDIES.</h3> +</div> +<p>The Lone Tree saloon and dance hall +was ablaze with lights. Two bar-keepers +in white jackets were setting out the bottles +over the long, polished counter. There +was the clink of glasses, as men stood in +rows drinking the amber-colored liquid. +“Have another on me,” was frequently +heard along the counter, as someone felt it +was his turn to set up the drinks to the +crowd.</p> +<p>A brawny miner stepped up to the side +of a sheep herder who had been edging in +all evening to get free drinks––and squirted +a mouthful of tobacco juice in his ear.</p> +<p>“If anybody else had done that but you, +Bill, I’d be tempted to strike him.”</p> +<p>“Don’t let your friendship for me spoil +your notions,” the miner said with a contemptuous +look.</p> +<p>The sheep herder made no reply, as he +wiped his ear. The fire that burned in his +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_240' name='page_240'></a>240</span> +stomach demanded whiskey, and he would +brook any insult to get it. He had reached +the level of the sodden, and others passed +him by. It was yet early in the night, and +crowds were gathering in the rear of the +large room, about the roulette wheel, the +crap tables and faro layout, back of which +the lookout was seated on a raised platform. +Stacks of coin in gold and silver +were on the tables to tempt the players. +At other tables men were seated playing +cards and smoking. In an adjoining room, +cut with archways, was the dance hall. An +orchestra on a platform played rag-time +music, while painted women in short dresses +to give them a youthful appearance, sat +on benches against the wall, or danced with +swaggering men to the calls of a brawny +bullet-headed floor manager. His bleared +eyes and heavy swollen jaw showed the effects +of a recent debauch ending in a fist +fight.</p> +<p>The women urged their partners to drink +at the end of every dance. While the men +drank whiskey, they gave the bar-keepers a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_241' name='page_241'></a>241</span> +knowing look, and a bottle like the others +was set out containing ginger ale which +the women drank as whiskey, and were given +a check, which they afterwards cashed +as their percentage.</p> +<p>While the sign on the windows read The +Lone Tree Saloon and Dance Hall, the +place had earned the sobriquet of the +Bucket of Blood, from the many tragedies +enacted therein. And this place was run +by a woman, Calamity Jane, famous in several +mining camps. One fellow analyzed +her when he said: “She is a powerful +good woman, except she hain’t got no +moral character.”</p> +<p>Coyote Jim, faro dealer, sauntered in +and took his place at the table. His eyes +were a steel blue, the kind that men inured +to the mining camps of the early west had +learned were dangerous. His face was thin +and white, hair of a black blue, like a +raven’s wing, hung half way to his shoulders. +His thin hands handled the pasteboards +in the box with a dexterity that +marked him an expert. Supple in form, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_242' name='page_242'></a>242</span> +with quick, cat-like motions, he made one +think of a tiger.</p> +<p>A dark faced woman wearing a Spanish +mantilla was winning at the roulette wheel. +The onlookers crowded about. She was +winning almost every bet. The interest +grew intense, men crowded forward to +catch a glimpse of her whose marvelous +luck surpassed anything in the history of +the Lone Tree. Her stack of chips of white, +red and blue, grew taller at every turn of +the wheel. The face of the gambler at the +wheel grew vexed and then flushed with +anger. The devil appeared to have been +turned loose and he was losing his stakes. +The chips vanished from his box in twenties, +fifties and hundreds, and the group +of onlookers stared in astonishment. As +he counted out his last hundred he said: +“If you win this you have broke the game.”</p> +<p>The woman lost and the gambler began +to have hope, when she won again, and so +the pendulum of chance swung to and fro +over those last hundred chips for an hour, +when the gambler slammed the lid of his +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_243' name='page_243'></a>243</span> +box with the exclamation: “You have +busted the game!”</p> +<p>The woman cashed in her checks. Over +five thousand dollars was paid to her. She +walked up to the bar and threw down five +hundred dollars on the counter and said to +a bar-tender:</p> +<p>“I pay for everybody’s drinks here tonight. +Take no money from any of them +and when this runs short, call on me.”</p> +<p>The word was passed, “Free drinks at +the bar,” and the crowd surged forward. +A half-tipsy fellow raised his glass above +the heads of others. “Here’s to Mary +Greenwater, Queen of the Cherokee Indians!”</p> +<p>“Rah fer Mary Greenwater,” chattered +old Amos, holding his reeling form up by +the bar rail.</p> +<p>The invitation was even too much for +Rayder, strong as had been his resolution +to let the stuff alone. The temptation of +free drinks was too great, he imagined he +needed something and called for gin.</p> +<p>Just then, some one came in and announced +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_244' name='page_244'></a>244</span> +that the two men had been rescued +from under the snow-slide. The games +stopped and the men at the tables ordered +their drinks from the waiters. The dance +in the adjoining room stopped in the middle +of a set, while men and women crowded +about the bar.</p> +<p>Only three in that room did not rejoice +at the news––Mary Greenwater, Coyote +Jim and Rayder. Amos was too drunk to +know whether he ought to be sad or rejoice. +He did neither, but gave another +loud “Rah for Mary Greenwater!” when +a waiter led him to a seat. When the hubbub +of voices which the announcement of +the rescue had created, had subsided somewhat, +the players resumed their games and +amid the clink of chips and glasses, could +now and then be heard from some gamester, +“Hold on there, that’s mine!”</p> +<p>Mary Greenwater went to the faro table. +“Get up, Coyote,” she said, “I’m going to +bust this bank, and you and I have been +together so much that they will think you +have throwed the game. Let some one else +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_245' name='page_245'></a>245</span> +deal.” Another dealer was called and +Mary laid down a hundred on the ace. Men +crowded about as before, when she was at +the roulette wheel. There was a hush for +a moment, when the clear tones of a man +at the door rang out.</p> +<p>“Hands up, everybody. Don’t try to escape, +the doors are guarded!”</p> +<p>All was confusion in an instant. Calamity +Jane, eyes ablaze, strode from behind +the curtain in the dance hall. Quick of action, +she fired at the nearest hold-up in +mask. The uproar was furious. The lamps +were shot out by confederates of the hold-ups. +The ball room women screamed with +fright, while jets of fire spit from revolvers +in different parts of the room. Men +were afraid to make an outcry, lest a bullet +would follow at the sound of their voice. +Coyote Jim was crouching like a tiger, beside +the stacks of coin on the table. In his +hand was a long, keen blade. He felt a +stealthy hand near his own and he lunged +the knife. A heavy groan and a few words +in a language which only he understood, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_246' name='page_246'></a>246</span> +and the body sank to the floor. The tiger’s +blood was now afire and he leaped upon +the faro table, revolver in hand. His form +was outlined in silhouette by a light across +the street, when a spark flashed in the +darkness and he fell headlong to the floor. +There was a heavy roar of voices, as the +men stampeded to the door.</p> +<p>When lights were brought from the outside, +the masked men were gone except one. +He lay dead near the door, with a bullet +from Calamity Jane’s revolver in his brain. +Coyote Jim lay dead, and by his side, Mary +Greenwater, with her life’s blood still ebbing +from the knife stab.</p> +<p>From this scene of tragedy, Amos made +his escape to end with the horrors of delirium +at home. The Bucket of Blood had +maintained its reputation.</p> +<p>The excitement of the affair spread over +the town, and among the spectators who +crowded in was a haggard man. His eyes +were hollow and deep-set, showing that he +had undergone a severe mental strain for +weeks. He saw them lift the affrighted +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_247' name='page_247'></a>247</span> +Rayder from his place of safety at the +baseboard, then his eyes rested on the +dead woman at the faro table. He threw +a cloth over her face, and sat staring into +vacancy until the undertaker and assistants +came. Then he took the undertaker +aside and said: “See to it that she has a +Christian burial. I will be responsible.” +When she was buried the next day, there +was one attendant beside the undertaker +and his assistants, at the grave.</p> +<p>The tragedies of the night marked a new +era in Saguache. The better element arose +in their might and demanded that the +Bucket of Blood be forever closed.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_248' name='page_248'></a>248</span> +<a name='XXVIII_FROM_OUT_THE_SHADOWY_PAST' id='XXVIII_FROM_OUT_THE_SHADOWY_PAST'></a> +<h2>XXVIII.</h2> +<h3>FROM OUT THE SHADOWY PAST.</h3> +</div> +<p>When Buchan arose in the cabin and +said “I thought I heard a voice, her voice,” +I was amazed. It did not occur to me that +anyone would attempt our rescue, else why +had they not done it long ere this?</p> +<p>He opened the door and shouted, then +turning to me, exclaimed: “They are digging +us out.”</p> +<p>Our hearts leaped for joy. We shook +hands in expression of delight and Buchan +danced a highland fling around the room. +Two men, snow-covered, entered and hailed +us joyously. Then came a woman, followed +by Carson. She ran to Buchan and +he caught her in his arms. I was deaf and +could not hear what they said or I would +write it word for word, but he kissed her +and she cried, and he wiped away some +tears, and I turned my back and pretended +to be talking to Carson.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_249' name='page_249'></a>249</span></div> +<p>The men gathered up our few belongings +and we hurriedly left the cabin. Sleds were +waiting at the foot of the mountain, and +we were soon speeding toward Saguache. +The air was crisp and the stars shone like +eyes of tender sympathy over the white +plain. We were brought to a stop at the +hotel. Men and women whom we had never +seen came and joyfully shook us by the +hands, and had much to say in congratulation. +The news of Hattie’s arrival and her +interest in Buchan had spread over the +camp, and many were the motherly old women +who came to say sympathetic things +and invite her to their homes, so great was +their admiration for her loyalty and sacrifice +for the man she loved.</p> +<p>The next day a mass meeting was called +by the citizens. The Lone Tree saloon and +dance hall had to go. A railroad survey +had been completed through the town, and +public works had been projected by the +newly-elected city council. A new era was +dawning for Saguache. The hall was +crowded, as one citizen after another spoke +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_250' name='page_250'></a>250</span> +of the future possibilities of the town, and +a good government that would no longer +tolerate a lawless element. When resolutions +were passed and the assembly was +ready to adjourn, one speaker arose and +said he heartily endorsed everything that +was said and done there that evening, but +there was another matter which should +have attention: One of the men rescued +from under the snow-drift had just married +the girl who had arrived a few days +before from California, and his partner +who led the rescue party had married an +estimable young woman of the town. The +double wedding had occurred at the hotel +an hour before, and he thought it would be +fitting to celebrate the event and the new +era of Saguache with a dance that night, in +which everybody should be asked to participate. +A roar of approval greeted the +speaker. There was no resolution or motion. +None was needed. Men instantly set +to work clearing the hall of chairs, while a +committee was sent to the hotel to announce +to Buchan and Carson that a dance +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_251' name='page_251'></a>251</span> +had been arranged that night in their +honor.</p> +<p>Men came with their wives and their +sweethearts, dressed just as they were +from their work, and the women as they +were in their homes. Evening clothes +would have been as much out of place in +that ballroom, as the garb of a workman +would be out of place in the ballroom of the +Waldorf-Astoria. The orchestra struck up, +and Buchan and Hattie were given the +place of honor in the dance. Carson and +Annie, being better known, felt that they +should largely play the part of host and +yielded every honor to Buchan and Hattie. +The music was good. Everybody joined in +the spirit of goodfellowship, and the dance +continued until the small hours of the morning.</p> +<p>It was toward the close that Rayder +came upon the floor with a fat widow milliner. +He had taken a few drinks of gin +and was trying to act kittenish when, in the +midst of a cotillion, the widow fell to the +floor in an epileptic fit. They bore the woman +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_252' name='page_252'></a>252</span> +to an adjoining room, where she soon +recovered, but it was such a shock to Rayder’s +nerves that he went out and braced +up on a little more gin.</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p>I was at the governor’s reception in the +state capitol of Colorado. The rooms and +corridors were brilliantly lighted. Men and +women in rich attire were there to do honor +to the occasion. I was seated behind a decoration +of palms, when a prominent attorney +and a companion took seats near me.</p> +<p>A heavy set man with a woman leaning +on his arm entered the corridor. They +were well, but modestly dressed. There +were grey streaks in their hair, but their +steps were firm and, both were the picture +of good health, evidence of good and +wholesome lives.</p> +<p>“Here comes Senator Buchan and lady,” +said the attorney to his companion. “I +knew those people twenty-five years ago. +I was one of a party to rescue Buchan and +a companion from under a snow slide in +the Sangre de Christo mountains. The girl +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_253' name='page_253'></a>253</span> +had come all the way from California to +help in the rescue. I don’t believe she +would have lived two days longer if we had +not got him out. Shows what the right sort +of love will do. It stands the test of time. +There is no divorce business in that. +Buchan had an iron will, too. Somehow he +and his partners had discovered a lost +Spanish mine and did not know its value on +account of some trickery of an assayer. +But Silas Rayder did, so Rayder hounded +the boys to sell and finally when he offered +a hundred and fifty thousand dollars, they +closed the deal. Carson had just married, +too. He took his money and invested it in +a flouring mill. I do not know what became +of the other fellow, but Buchan put his +money in a bank and it failed in less than +three months and he went to running an +engine on the Rocky Mountain railroads. +It was a pretty hard knock, but right there +is where that girl came to the front like a +guardian angel. She told him that perhaps +it was all for the best. Riches do not always +bring happiness. It is adversity that +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_254' name='page_254'></a>254</span> +brings to the surface our better natures +and fires our ambitions to the nobler and +grander things of life.</p> +<p>“Buchan must have had this in mind, for +while he was running his engine he was always +trying to help some poor fellow. He +accepted his lot in life and worked for years +content with the love of that woman and +when people saw he was made of the right +sort of stuff they elected him to the legislature +and his very first act was to put +through a bill making eight hours a legal +day’s work. That very act took the yoke of +bondage off more than half a million workers.</p> +<p>“It turned out just as the girl said. He +has served the people three terms and if +he had not worked for their interests they +would never have sent him back the third +time.</p> +<p>“Adversity, sir, is oftimes the making of +us. I never thought so when Bob Lee surrendered +and our dreams of imperialism +vanished and left most of us without a dollar. +But I can see now it is all for the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_255' name='page_255'></a>255</span> +best. As a nation united we welcome all +men regardless of their nationality, and, +in return, they give us the best thoughts the +world can produce.”</p> +<p>“Rayder, what became of him?” asked +his companion.</p> +<p>“When Rayder bought the mine he +thought he had millions but he only took +out of it about enough to get even when the +vein gave out between two big slabs of +granite that came together like the thin +end of a wedge. A widow who had fits +sued him about this time for a breach of +promise, and either to get out of that or get +square with some old enemy, he married the +widow Amos.”</p> +<p>I arose and stood before the attorney and +his companion. “I want to shake hands +with you, sir,” I said. He arose, and in +extending his hand, said: “Your name, +please?”</p> +<p>“I am the other fellow you rescued from +the cabin,” I replied.</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 30128 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/30128-h/images/illus-016.jpg b/30128-h/images/illus-016.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..96a961a --- /dev/null +++ b/30128-h/images/illus-016.jpg diff --git a/30128-h/images/illus-028.jpg b/30128-h/images/illus-028.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4a52f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/30128-h/images/illus-028.jpg diff --git a/30128-h/images/illus-076.jpg b/30128-h/images/illus-076.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b5f4c71 --- /dev/null +++ b/30128-h/images/illus-076.jpg diff --git a/30128-h/images/illus-140.jpg b/30128-h/images/illus-140.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ded3bd5 --- /dev/null +++ b/30128-h/images/illus-140.jpg diff --git a/30128-h/images/illus-158.jpg b/30128-h/images/illus-158.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9de0038 --- /dev/null +++ b/30128-h/images/illus-158.jpg diff --git a/30128-h/images/illus-204.jpg b/30128-h/images/illus-204.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..84c1cc9 --- /dev/null +++ b/30128-h/images/illus-204.jpg diff --git a/30128-h/images/illus-emb.png b/30128-h/images/illus-emb.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ac0dd8b --- /dev/null +++ b/30128-h/images/illus-emb.png diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5bc60ff --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #30128 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/30128) diff --git a/old/30128-8.txt b/old/30128-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d248583 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/30128-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4843 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Where Strongest Tide Winds Blew, by Robert +McReynolds + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Where Strongest Tide Winds Blew + + +Author: Robert McReynolds + + + +Release Date: September 29, 2009 [eBook #30128] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WHERE STRONGEST TIDE WINDS BLEW*** + + +E-text prepared by Roger Frank and the Project Gutenberg Online +Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 30128-h.htm or 30128-h.zip: + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/30128/30128-h/30128-h.htm) + or + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/30128/30128-h.zip) + + + + + +WHERE STRONGEST TIDE WINDS BLEW + +by + +ROBERT McREYNOLDS + +Author of + +"Thirty Years on the Frontier," "Rodney Wilkes," +"The Luxury of Poverty," "A Modern Jean Valjean," +"Facts and Fancies," Etc. + + + + + + + +Gowdy-Simmons Publishing Co. +Colorado Springs, Colo. +1907 + +Copyright 1907 +By Robert McReynolds. + + + + + To + Honorable John B. Stephen + and + his estimable wife, + from the romantic story of whose + lives, the principal incidents + of this work are taken. + + Colorado City, Colorado + 1907 + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + SOUNDING THE DEPTHS 24 + WRECK OF THE SPANISH SLOOP SEVILLE. 36 + THE EARTH BEGAN TO ROCK AND REEL. 84 + THE HOME VOYAGE OF THE AVEN WAS FRAUGHT WITH ALL THE DANGERS OF + THE SEA. 148 + FLIGHT OF THE TORPEDO BOAT. 166 + THE AREGUIPENA. 212 + + + + +CONTENTS + + I UNDER THE SWORD OF DAMOCLES 9 + II IN DAYS OF INNOCENCE 24 + III THROUGH MISTS OF THE SEA 31 + IV GRAVES GAVE UP THEIR DEAD 41 + V FAIREST FLOWER OF THE CORDILLERAS 50 + VI A HUMILIATING INCIDENT 56 + VII IN THE THROES OF REVOLUTION 64 + VIII VIVA GENERALISSIMO PIEROLA 72 + IX AMID THE DIN OF BATTLE 80 + X WE MEET AGAIN, FELICITA 90 + XI THE MASQUE BALL AT TIRAVAYA 98 + XII COWARDLY ACT OF A VILLAIN 107 + XIII MURDEROUS PLAN OF THE INSURGENTS 115 + XIV FOR THE SAKE OF HUMANITY 125 + XV IN DESPERATE STRUGGLE FOR LIFE 135 + XVI THE SCREAMING WINDS OF NIGHT 143 + XVII THE BARBARIAN MEETS HIS INGOMAR 151 + XVIII ON SUNNY SEAS BOUND NORTH 159 + XIX DEATH SHIPS OF THE SEA 167 + XX A DAUGHTER OF THE CHEROKEES 176 + XXI CARSON'S BLANK PAGES IN LIFE 185 + XXII A VOICE FROM CENTURIES PAST 195 + XXIII THE TWO OLD BLACK CROWS 205 + XXIV THE RECKLESS HAND OF FATE 214 + XXV CORDS OF LOVE ARE STRONG 223 + XXVI WHEN THE DEATH GLOOM GATHERS 231 + XXVII A NIGHT OF TRAGEDIES 240 + XXVIII FROM OUT THE SHADOWY PAST 249 + + + + +WHERE STRONGEST TIDE WINDS BLEW + +I. + +UNDER THE SWORD OF DAMOCLES. + + +We built our cabin high on the slopes of the Sangre de Christo range, +overlooking the broad, level San Luis Valley, in Colorado. At the rear +of the cabin rose a towering cliff or rather a huge slab of rock +standing edgewise more than two hundred feet high, apparently the +upheaval of some mighty convulsion of nature in ages gone. Near the +base of this cliff flowed a clear crystal spring. + +Some hundred yards west of the cabin was the mouth of a tunnel into +which we had drifted with pick, shovel and giant powder, a distance of +300 feet in five months of hard toil. A trail led from the tunnel to +the cabin along the mountain side, which was thickly studded with tall +pines. Another trail led down the mountain slopes in a winding way to +the valley, almost a mile below. Above, reaching far into the blue +dome of the sky, rose the peaks of the snow-capped Sangre de Christo, +glistening in the morning sunlight, which threw gaunt, fantastic +shadows in ca�on and deep ravine. + +It was a wild, weird scene, where man, in strength and vigor, seems to +imbibe a portion of the divine essence that lives, and moves, and has +its being in the vast solitudes. + +We struck pay rock at the first thirty feet of tunneling, so Amos' +assay showed, and the rock had gradually increased in value, week by +week. Buchan would take samples of the ore every week or ten days and +walk a distance of twenty-five miles to Saguache, where old man Amos, +expert geologist and assayer, would for two dollars and fifty cents +make out a clean printed slip with figures in red ink, showing so +many ounces of lead, copper, silver and gold to the ton. + +The ore had not yet reached a value which would pay to ship it, but +the increase of values was so steady, and Amos was so extravagantly +encouraging, that we were always in buoyant expectation of rich ore. +He would say, "You boys have a wonderful prospect. Keep right on with +your work; it is getting richer with every stroke of your pick and you +are likely to uncover a million dollar drift any day." + +Buchan would bring the assay certificate back to the cabin, where we +would sit late by the light of the pine knots in the fire place and +talk of the golden millions which capitalists would yet gladly pay for +a half interest in the "Aberdeen." + +That was the name Buchan had given the mine, after his home town in +Scotland, of which he always spoke with a fond tenderness. + +Winter had come and we, John Buchan, Will Carson, and myself, had +chipped in almost our last dollar and brought a wagon load of flour, +bacon and canned goods from Saguache to the foot of the mountains, +then carried them on our backs to the cabin. We quit work on the mine +for ten days and chopped firewood, which we corded at the rear of our +house. All hands felt that we were as snugly housed for the winter as +the big grizzly bears in their lairs among the rocks. + +Snow had been falling for several days and it lay deep on the mountain +slopes and in the wide expanse of the valley below. We had not had an +assay for two weeks and all were anxious for another report from Amos. +Buchan wanted his mail also, and he took a small bag of the rock and +tramped the twenty-five miles to Saguache. It was a three days' trip +wading through the unbroken snow drifts, and it was night when he +returned, weary, footsore and angry. + +I can see him yet, tears trickling down his honest face, as he tried +to tell something about Amos. He spoke of "the scamp, the villain, and +robber," and then choked with rage. Like all Scotchmen, the more he +thought of the wrong done him, the angrier he became; he would be more +angry tomorrow and it would be the day after that his anger would +reach the climax, and begin to subside. This was not a peculiarity of +Buchan. It is a characteristic of the Scotch. + +We made him a cup of coffee and seated him comfortably before the +fire. When he calmed down somewhat, he explained. + +"The first thing I did the next morning after reaching Saguache, was +to eat breakfast, and then I took the samples of ore to Amos' assay +office. He was garrulous as usual, and said to come in two hours and +he would have the certificate of the assay ready for me. When I again +called he handed me the certificate and I paid him the usual two +dollars and fifty cents. It showed nine dollars and ninety cents to +the ton. The usual increase of ten per cent. over the last assay. + +"I crossed over to the postoffice, and while waiting for my mail, I +noticed the snow standing ten inches high on the cap of the flue of +Amos' assay furnace. I thought, how in the deuce did he assay our ore +without melting the snow on the cap of the flue? The more I thought +about it the more I was mystified. I went across to his office and +said, 'Amos, I suppose you gave us the usual fire test on this ore?' +'Yep,' he answered. 'Then tell me,' I cried, 'how in the devil did you +make the fire test without melting the snow off the cap of your +furnace flue?' 'Too cold to melt,' he replied. + +"Then I rushed past him into the back room. The furnace was cold and +the frost had gathered on the iron door. I don't suppose there had +been a fire in it for a week. I took Amos by the whiskers and told him +to own up that he had not made a fire test of our ore. Then he +acknowledged that he had been guessing at it all along." + +"You don't mean there is a doubt about us having pay rock?" we yelled +in a chorus. + +"All kinds of doubt," said Buchan. "I am told there is a suspicion +that Amos gives everybody an assay showing values, where there are no +values--this for the purpose of keeping up work in the district--and +to those who have found values, he gives them an assay showing +nothing. At the same time he gives Rayder, the Denver capitalist, a +tip and he buys up the property for a song, giving Amos a fat +commission for his part in the deal. The chances are that we have no +more gold in our rock than there is in that jug handle." + +The news was astounding. We sat for a while by the fire like men +stricken dumb. There was no doubting Buchan's statement. Deception was +no part of his nature. He was nearly twenty-six years of age, +athletic, strong and quick of perception. He had seen much of the +world and knew men. No, there could be no doubt; he was not mistaken. + +We were heartsick. Almost our last dollar had gone to pay for the +bogus assay. Our golden dream of months was vanishing. Carson broke +the silence. + +"I will go to Saguache tomorrow. I shall pulverize that jug handle and +take it to Amos; he does not know me; I shall have him assay it, and +if he gives me gold values there will be trouble!" + +I was awakened the next morning by the sound of a hammer. Carson was +pulverizing the jug handle. After a hasty breakfast, he buckled on his +cartridge belt with a Colt 44-six shooter in his holster, and was soon +wading through the snow-drifts down the trail towards Saguache. I +watched him through the window until he was lost to view. + +The sun rose in a clear sky; the glistening peaks of the Sangre de +Christo shone white against a turquoise blue; clumps of snow melted +from the branches of the pines and made hollows in the smooth banks of +white where they fell. + +I turned to Buchan. He was tossing restlessly in his bunk. + +"I would hate to be Amos if he gives Carson an assay of values from +that jug handle. + +"Yes, yes," he muttered incoherently. "The day of reckoning comes to +all. I have seen it. I have seen the sky turn black, the waves rise +mountain-high out of the sea, the earth rock and reel, the dead roll +out of their coffins in the cerements of their graves, the living fall +upon their faces to hide from the wrath of Almighty God! I have seen +it just as Paul tells about it. I have heard the roar of the winds, +seen palaces crumble and fall--like John of Patmos, I lift up my +voice--I, John." + +I was at his side in a moment, and saw that he was delirious. The +exertion through the snow the day before, the loss of sleep and +intense anger, had made him ill. I knew of a few simple remedies at +hand, and in a little while I had him sleeping soundly. + +The sun became warmer as the day advanced. The snow melted on the +cabin roof and froze in drooping icicles at the eaves. All day I went +noiselessly about the cabin, letting Buchan sleep. A premonition of +impending danger crept over me. I tried to throw off the dread feeling +by reading, but I could not concentrate my thoughts on the pages of +the book. Strange thoughts came like they did to the man who was being +taken to the guillotine and begged time of his captors to put his +thoughts on paper. I thought I would write mine that day, or remember +them at least, but I cannot recall them. I only know they were strange +and fascinating, as if I was living another life, on another planet. + +I brought in wood and water for the night. The sound of the door +slamming awoke Buchan. He arose and sat by the fire, which blazed up +brightly from its fresh supply of pine logs. + +"Better, I see," I observed, "but heavens you were locoed this +morning! talking about the resurrection, the quaking earth, and the +dead rolling out from their graves!" + +"All true," he said, quietly. "I have seen those things, and what has +happened once may happen again." + +I was standing by the window, looking out over the snow covered San +Luis valley, when even as he spoke I felt the ground tremble. There +was a rush of air and the cabin became filled with a fine snow that +was stifling, then a thunderous roar, and all was utter darkness. + +I was choking with the snow particles. I groped to the door and opened +it and felt a solid bank of snow. + +I realized then that we were buried beneath a snow slide. + +We worked for hours, in silence and darkness, digging our way through +the snow and shoveling it back into the cabin as we tunneled toward +the cliff. It was early morning when we saw the light of day. + +Once in the open where we could breathe the pure air we beheld a sight +that would appall the strongest heart. The great flat rock, that had +stood on edge at the back of the cabin, was now slanting at a sharp +angle above our heads. The avalanche from near the summit of the +Sangre de Christo had struck the cliff and with its incalculable tons +tilted it, piling itself hundreds of feet in the depth about us. The +cliff might fall at any moment and blot us out of existence. + +Reaching a point of sight near the open space at the edge of the base +of the cliff we could see something of the awful havoc wrought by the +avalanche. Huge rocks had been loosened from their foundations and +with the speed of a meteor dashed to the valley below. Great pines one +hundred feet in height had been torn up by their roots and hurled down +the mountain side by the tremendous weight of the avalanche. + +The cliff had sheltered our cabin and saved our lives. + +We cleared the snow away from the chimney and out of the cabin. Our +wood was dry and we soon had a cheerful fire blazing and the tea +kettle boiling. But living under that slanting cliff, from which we +could not escape, we felt, indeed that the sword of Damocles hung by a +spider web above our heads. + +When we had rested some and refreshed ourselves with coffee, we +tunneled from the open space under the cliff to near the entrance of +the mine, intending to live in the tunnel until the melting snows of +the spring released us from our prison. But when we had tunneled +through the snow to near the entrance of the mine, we found our way +blocked by a debris of rock and trees which would require weeks of +labor to remove. Tunnels in other directions gave us no better +results, and we became resigned to our fate, returning to the cabin to +while away the dreary hours until the hanging cliff above should +become our grave stone. + +Days of gloom and monotony came and went. We dug the snow away from +our windows and tunneled a hole to the top which gave us a glare of +reflected light. + +Buchan had hitherto been silent as to his past life. By a few stray +remarks we had caught glimpses of his romantic career, but now he +began relating in detail incidents of his early life in Scotland, or +on the high seas, and later in Peru. His stories were so full of human +interest and replete with love and romance, that I became more than +ever interested in him. But my hearing was bad, and it had been +getting worse since the day of the avalanche, so I prevailed upon him +to write. I could read better than listen, besides he would write his +better thoughts and nobler sentiments when he would not speak them. + +It was writing these memoirs of his eventful life that furnished him +pastime and I was employed in reading them, during the two months of +our imprisonment in our snow bound cabin. + +By the dim light of the window by day and the blaze of a pine log at +night, he wrote upon the scraps of paper found about the cabin. As I +now review the pile I find it made up of paper bags, margins of +newspapers, fly leaves from a few old books, and much of it on strips +of a yellow window shade, also on the backs of fancy calendars with +which Carson had adorned our cabin, and almost a whole chapter I find +penciled finely on a pair of lady's cuffs that were strangely out of +place in a miner's hut. + +Buchan does not know that I am going to give his story to the public +and I shall have to take chances and risk his displeasure. In that +event I have the defence of pleading that no man has the right to +withhold so good a tale from the world. + + + + +II. + +IN DAYS OF INNOCENCE. + + +As I peer into the dim past that haunts the scenes of my childhood in +Aberdeen, Scotland, a thousand memories troop by like the scenes of a +panorama with the footlights turned low; and when I contemplate them +in a meditative hour it leaves me with as lonesome a feeling as if I +had listened to the old time song, "Home Sweet Home," which I have +heard a thousand times in distant climes, sometimes sung to crowded +audiences at the opera, and again by the pioneer as he rattled his +prairie schooner over the plains. + +It is a song that never grows old and never will so long as men leave +the home of their childhood, around whose hearthstones still play +ghost-like, the recollections of bye-gone years, tenderly touching +their sympathies as they pause for a moment in their monied pursuits +in other lands. + +[Illustration: SOUNDING THE DEPTHS] + +The old red school house on Princeton street, with the tall lank +figure of Ellwood for its presiding master and who believed in and +practiced the command of the Holy Writ: "Spare the rod and spoil +the child," was to me in those years of tenderness, a dismal +contemplation. But Sundays had a brighter hue when Mother would +dress me in full Highland suit of tartan, and adorn my cap with an +eagle feather, surmounted with a brooch of the design of an arm +with a dagger, bearing the motto, "We fear nae fae." With my small +claymore and buckled shoes and plaid, how proudly I would walk up +to the barracks at Castle Gate, where the sentry would salute me, +and give me permission to enter. + +But those days had their troubles as well as pleasures. The West North +street boys had a grievance against those of the East North street and +one Saturday both sides met in battle array, armed with wooden +swords, near the North church at Queen street. After a determined +resistance West North street was victorious, when someone presented us +with a flag. It was a common piece of bunting, but to our young heroes +it was something to be looked up to and defended with our lives before +the honor of West North street should be sullied. + +That banner cost us many a headache, and many a soiled suit of clothes +after the usual Saturday battle. On one occasion we sallied forth as +usual to the battlefield, carrying our banner, and shouting derisively +at our foe. The enemy had been reinforced and after a hard struggle, +they captured our flag and carried it off in triumph to East North +street. + +Our fellows were a crest-fallen lot, as we sat on the steps of the +church looking the picture of dejection. However, a few days later, I +summoned the boys to meet in an old building in Ferrier's Lane. There +were fifteen of us and we came armed with our wooden swords. After +much debate over the loss of our flag, a committee was appointed to +notify the East North street fellows, that we were ready to offer +battle, and dared them to meet us the following Saturday and bring the +captured flag. They accepted the challenge. When we met again in the +old building by the hazy and flickering light of a tallow candle, with +upraised swords we swore to re-capture our flag, uphold the honor of +our street or die in the attempt. I was chosen captain on this +occasion, and never did a general rack his brain more for a plan of +success than I did to win this battle. Finally I hit upon a stratagem +and after school submitted it to all. It was to proceed to the usual +place of battle, but at the corner of Queen street five boys were to +be stationed out of sight, and when both armies met they were to rush +in on their standard bearer and capture the flag. We met, and even to +this day I shudder at the ferocity of that battle. Twice I was knocked +down; several times our street was on the retreat when someone +shouted--"Remember our oath!" and then another desperate rush, and +along with the charge of the five secreted ones which so surprised the +East North street boys that they finally yielded, and we carried off +our flag in triumph. John Taylor's head was cut, John Ingerham's eyes +were black, my right knee cap was out of place and six or eight others +were more or less wounded. The boys of East North street fared about +the same. Good old Doctor Ellis living in King street witnessed the +fight, but he kept my secret, for I told Mother that I was hurt in +running a race. + +And so those delightful days of early boyhood passed like one long +summer day. But a change came. My father died and in a few months +more, my loving Mother, after a lingering illness, passed away. I then +left the home of my childhood to live with my older brother, James. + +Although every possible kindness was shown me, there was lacking a +mother's love, a mother's sympathy and cheering words, things that +touch the tender chords of a boy's heart. At that time I was sent to +the Ledingham Academy, but it was useless. The golden veil through +which I had looked out on the world was lifted, the chain of love and +affection broken. I saw the great ships come with their strange men +from other ports of the world. I saw them unfurl their snowy sails and +speed over the blue waters bound for the shores of other climes. I +watched them until they were but a speck of white down on the blue +horizon, and I longed to be on board--to feel the ship roll upon the +billows and hear the wind whistling through the rigging, to climb +aloft and view the limitless expanse of ocean and feel that I was a +part of these white specters of the sea. + +One day I saw in the windows of Knox & Co., a sign which read: + +"Two apprentices wanted for the sea." + +I went in and told them I wanted to become a sailor. About this time +another lad about one year older than myself came in on the same +errand. An old gentleman, after surveying us both for some moments, +remarked that in his opinion we were too young, but told us to wait a +few minutes as Captain McKenzie would be in soon. + +When Captain McKenzie came in he asked us if it was with the consent +of our parents that we made application. Being answered in the +affirmative by James Mitchell, the other boy, I answered that my +father and mother were dead, but my brother would sign the necessary +papers. + + + + +III. + +THROUGH MISTS OF THE SEA. + + +Captain McKenzie sprang from his berth in the wildest excitement. A +moment before a low voice called "Captain," at his state room door. +"Who is there?" he asked. "Donovan," came the guarded reply. "Captain, +the mate has conspired with the crew to mutiny and your throat will be +cut in an hour." + +James Mitchell and I were apprentices on board the bark "Aven of +Aberdeen." My brother James having reluctantly consented that I should +follow the fortunes of the sea, signed the indenture papers. + +The brig was bound for Archangel, Russia, and we had on board a large +amount of specie and plate, the private fortunes of a Russian Jew +returning to his native land after many years of success as a merchant +in Alexandria. Our berth was near the captain's, and Mitchell had +heard the warning given by Donovan. He was out of his berth in an +instant and gave me to understand there was mutiny aboard. Together we +entered the captain's cabin. + +The Jew was apprised of the situation. It was the intention of the +mate and crew to murder him and the Captain and put the vessel about +for a piratical cruise in the Indian Ocean. They were a motley gang of +foreigners, low bred and capable of any crime when led by a man like +the mate, fresh from a career of lawlessness on the China coast. + +The Jew was the most abject picture of terror I ever saw. His hands +trembled and he shook like a man in a chill. He wanted to hide, but +that was useless. Captain McKenzie armed himself with a belaying pin. +He placed one in the hands of each of us boys and bade us follow him +in silence. We cautiously went on deck and we found the helm deserted, +and the mate and the entire crew sitting together and drinking in the +fore part of the ship. + +Captain McKenzie sprang into their midst and with one blow from the +pin killed the mate. This subdued the others and they slunk away to +their duties. The captain then called the men in front of him and +after ordering Donovan to the helm, told them he was done with them +and that their future conduct would determine their fate. At the same +time he threatened to kill the first man that manifested a mutinous +disposition, or dared to cross a given line on the deck without his +permission. He then ordered the mate's body overboard and told the men +to return to their duties. + +The Captain and Donovan took turns at the helm, while Mitchell or I +was stationed as a lookout to give instant warning of any suspicious +movements on the part of the crew. For more than a week we stood to +our posts of duty, when one morning we sailed into the smooth waters +of the port of Archangel, weary and exhausted from the intense nervous +strain and loss of sleep. + +The Captain notified the British consul and a file of soldiers came +on board and arrested the crew. Six of them were afterwards sent to +prison for life. + +The home voyage of the Aven was fraught with all the dangers of the +sea. We had secured another crew in Archangel but their seamanship was +bad. When a sudden storm would strike us it required herculean efforts +on the part of the captain and Donovan to prevent the ship from being +driven ashore on the rocks. + +Snow was falling and a wintry wind dashed the waves over our decks and +coated the bulwarks with a mail of ice. Sleet and snow clung to the +rigging, making every effort to handle the ship a hazardous one. For +three days we battled against the elements and then we came in contact +with ice floes. Once our position was so perilous that the Captain +ordered the boats provisioned and ready to be lowered when the vessel +should be crushed in the ice. By skillful maneuvering we escaped from +the ice floes and had a pleasant day or two in smoother seas. + +It was night and I was standing by the taffrail, when suddenly a giant +specter seemed to come up from out of the sea, bearing directly down +upon us. Her great lantern swung in a glow in a fog, by which I +discerned moving objects. + +"Collision! Collision!" I shouted at the top of my voice. The cry was +taken up by the sailors, and ere it had died away there was the +crashing of timbers, falling spars and the shouts of men. + +We had been struck a glancing blow abaft midships but the damage was +not serious enough to sink us. The other vessel, which proved to be +the brig "Rapid," belonging to the same company at Aberdeen, stood off +until its crew ascertained the extent of our damage, then sailed away +in the darkness. + +A month's delay on the docks at Aberdeen repairing damages, and we +were again on the high seas bound for the ports of South America. + +When off the West Indies the sky suddenly became overcast, and we were +soon overtaken by a hurricane. The captain saw it coming and prepared +for it, yet when it took the ship it roared and laid her down so that +I thought she would never get up again. All that day and night we had +heavy squalls, and by morning the gale was still increasing. Birds of +sea and land came on board. Driven by the winds, they dashed +themselves down upon the deck without offering to stir until picked +up, and when let go they would not leave the ship, but endeavored to +hide from the wind. By ten o'clock at night the storm had spent its +fury, and when I went to my bunk I found it full of water. With the +straining of the ship, the seams had begun to leak. I was surprised to +note among the ship's crew that the most swaggering, swearing bullies +in fine weather were now the most meek and mild-mannered of men when +death was staring them in the face. + +[Illustration: WRECK OF THE SPANISH SLOOP SEVILLE. (Page 30)] + +Then followed days when the sea was smooth as glass. Our white sails +hung idly beneath the scorching skies. Sea weed floated on the oily +surface, as, day by day, we lay seemingly motionless on the bosom of +the deep. The moon rose out of a phosphorescent sea and cast its long +golden gleams on the azure blue, while the stars shone like isles of +light in the sky. There was a dread in the infinite spaces about. +Again, there was scurrying, fleecy clouds and our ship was scudding +before the breeze. + +When I awoke one morning, we were lying at anchor in the harbor of +Buenos Ayres. While unloading cargo, the Captain desiring to go +ashore, I was taken in the boat along with two of the seamen. After +getting to the wharf, the Captain said: "I expect you fellows to +employ your time cleaning that boat; it will be five o'clock before I +return." After he had gone, one of the sailors said to his mate, "We +will leave Spriggings (meaning me) to clean the boat, and we will go +to shore." After they were gone, I concluded that I had been imposed +upon and I left the boat and went into the city, having no intention +of deserting the vessel at that time. In my wanderings in the strange +city, and not knowing a word of Spanish, I lost my way. Finally, when +I returned to the wharf, the boat was gone. It was late when I was +picked up by a policeman and turned over to an Englishman, who kindly +took me to his home for the night. The next morning I returned to the +Aven and received a reprimand. + +A few days later we weighed anchor for Valparaiso. The sky was +overcast and the sea was rolling high off the Patagonian coast, when +we heard signal guns of distress. Captain McKenzie changed the course +of the ship and we soon came in view of the Spanish sloop Seville +going to pieces on the rocks. Her bow was lifted high, while the waves +were breaking over her stern. Her sails were in shreds, and a dozen +sailors clung to the rigging. We lowered the life-boat, and after +hours of battle with wind and wave, rescued the crew. They were in an +exhausted and famished condition, having been for almost three days +without food or water. They were given every kindly attention by our +officers and crew. + +We saw the dark, jagged, rugged bluffs and steeps of Staten and Terra +del Fuego. We rounded Cape St. John, amid tempestuous gales and giant +seas of the polar regions. We lost sight of the land, reefed the sails +close down and then bid defiance to the storm. Strange sea birds +shrieked their dismal cries, while dull leaden skies added to the +gloom. We cleared Cape Horn in safety and were soon sailing over the +smooth seas of the south Pacific Ocean beneath the Southern Cross. + +"Sail ho!" cried the lookout. All eyes were turned to the leeward. A +stately ship, under full sail, had suddenly appeared, bearing down +upon us. She came silently, the water splitting in foam at her bows. +We could see the crew working about her decks, but no sound came from +the spectre. All at once we noticed her hull and sails were +transparent. We could see through them to the ocean beyond. + +It was only a mirage of the sea, but to our crew it was the spectre +of the Flying Dutchman--a phantom ship had crossed our bow. + +Once in port, no more would we walk the deck of the Aven of Aberdeen. +She had seen a ghost. + + + + +IV. + +GRAVES GAVE UP THEIR DEAD. + + +I was in the streets of Arica, Peru, when the earth began to rock and +reel. Buildings surged and fell, with a crashing noise. The dust rose +dense, and darkened the sky. The earth gaped and swallowed up many of +the people fleeing to the hills back of the town. I followed to an +elevation where an awful sight met the terror-stricken populace. The +hills of Arica had for centuries been the burying grounds of the +ancient Agmaras, a race of Indians who ages ago it seems were +fishermen. The convulsions of the earth threw to the surface hundreds +of the dried bodies of the Indians, still wrapped in their coarse +garments, the nature of the soil had prevented decay. When the people +beheld this they believed the world had come to an end, and they threw +themselves on their faces praying for mercy. + +There was a thunderous roar from the sea, growing louder and louder as +each moment of terror sped on, and then, with one mighty crash, a +tidal wave fifty feet high,--the aftermath of the earthquake--struck +the shore, bearing upon its crest the U. S. Battleship Wateree, one +German and two British vessels, leaving them stranded far inland. A +sailor from the Wateree was in a boat, and as he was swept past his +vessel he waved the Stars and Stripes in farewell to his comrades on +board. + +The shocks had ceased and the storm that followed had spent its fury, +when the pall of night came over the stricken city. Human wolves crept +from their hiding places and began their work of prowling amid the +ruins and robbing the dead. All night long they held high carnival +amid the scenes of terror and desolation. + +Through it all I had been a silent, bewildered spectator. I had fled +to the hills only because others did, for I could speak but little of +the language of the country. I was among the graves when morning +dawned and I heard a voice in my own language. Going to the spot I +found a man with a sprained ankle fighting away a thief. I seized a +rock and he ran. I aided the injured man to a place of safety, where +we remained for several days until a conveyance took us back to town. + +The man whom I had helped was John L. Thorndike, an American, well +known in Peru and all over South America, as having built the highest +standard-gauge railway in the world, and a man who at once became my +warmest friend. + +But to return to my ship. When the Aven of Aberdeen reached +Valparaiso, the mate and a number of sailors immediately deserted the +vessel in a boat. The Captain saw them leaving but was powerless to +stop them. That night John Mitchell and I stood watch alone. There +being no boat it did not occur to them that we would attempt to +escape, but about midnight Mitchell said to me, "Spriggings, I dare +you to run away." + +"I'll take the dare," I said, "but how will we get ashore?" + +"We'll launch one of the hatches," he replied. + +It was no sooner said than we tied a rope around one of the heavy +hatches, and bearing it to the side of the ship, we lowered it +noiselessly into the water, then let ourselves down the rope and by +holding to the hatch, one on either side, we safely swam ashore. + +We avoided the business streets of Valparaiso and made our way to the +country, where we hid in a grove until night. We were without money, +our clothes were such as we wore at sea, night was coming on, we were +hungry and with no place to sleep. Our only thought had been to escape +from the Aven, for we had imbibed the superstition of sailors, and +nothing could induce us to remain aboard that vessel since the phantom +ship had crossed our bow. + +I saw a light in a farmhouse in the distance and on our approach the +inmates were aroused by the barking of their dog. The man was a +typical Chilean, short and stout. He looked curiously at us and by +signs Mitchell made him understand that we were hungry. He entered the +house and returned with his wife and two children. Mitchell repeated +his signs and the woman went inside and returned with a cup of milk, +which we drank greedily. The man then beckoned us inside where we had +a supper of meat, bread and coffee. They collected a number of sheep +skins, gave us two mats for covering, and we slept soundly. + +The next morning we helped the man in his garden, drew water for the +cattle and made ourselves useful in other ways. I went almost every +day for two weeks to the summit of the hill where I had seen a +splendid view of the bay, to see if the Aven was still in port. One +day I saw her spread her sails and I watched her until she was but a +speck on the horizon. + +Our host by this time, I think, knew we had run away, for on one +occasion he followed me when I making my observation, but if he +suspected anything he never took any steps to have us arrested, and in +fact treated us with great kindness. When we left he gave us a large +package of food and some clean stockings and shirts which his wife had +made for us. + +It was nightfall when we entered Valparaiso. Near the plaza Victoria +we paused before an English boarding house sign. As we stood looking, +a middle-aged man came out and asked us our business. Before we could +reply he said: "I bet you are the two boys from the Aven." Our +frightened looks told him we were. He invited us in and gave us +supper. + +We soon learned to our dismay that this man was the notorious Cockney +Spider, keeper of a runaway sailor's boarding house. At night Cockney +would start out to some vessel in the bay of Valparaiso, everything +having been pre-arranged, take off those sailors desiring to runaway, +secrete them in the house and when opportunity offered, ship them +again. The amount of bounty paid by ships short of men was often +large, and as Cockney always arranged to have poor runaways deep in +debt for board and lodging, the sailor on being re-shipped was worse +off, and Cockney the gainer. He often took desperate chances in +stealing sailors, as the coast guard and other officials were sharp. +Many in that traffic were captured, but Cockney always escaped. + +After we spent the night in his home he asked me if I could write. +Replying in the affirmative, I was installed as chief book-keeper of +the notorious runaway sailor boarding house. My duties were to +register the sailors brought to the house, keep a record of their +meals, charge so much a night for lodging, and present their bill when +they were ready to leave. I held the position for two weeks, when one +night Cockney came home intoxicated and told me that he had shipped +Mitchell that night on a French bark. A sailor gave me a sly wink and +whispered, "Your turn will come next, he intends to ship you on a +whaler." My experience with the ice on the Aven had given me a horror +of frozen seas, and that night I stole away from the boarding house. + +I was in dread of Cockney Spider, and, in my determination to escape, +I became a stowaway on a coast steamer and landed at Arica, with a few +dollars in my pocket, paid to me by Spider. + +When I arrived at Mollendo in company with Mr. John L. Thorndike, he +introduced me to Mr. Hill, his general manager, as his "boy protector" +and told him to give me employment and see that I was well provided +for. + +In a short while I was in the railway shops, learning the trade of +machinist, and later I was engineer on the railroad running from the +sea port of Mollendo to Arequipa, more than one hundred miles in the +interior. The city is situated in a beautiful and fertile valley in +the heart of the Andes. The majestic volcanic mountain Misti some +miles away rises nearly four miles above the sea and smoke still +issues from its crater. + +I had lately been transferred from the shops in Mollendo to Arequipa, +when, hearing fabulous stories of rich gold finds in the Andes, and +being imbued with an adventurous spirit, I resolved to try my fortune +in the new El Dorado. + + + + +V. + +FAIREST FLOWER OF THE CORDILLERAS. + + +I was in the heart of the Cordilleras, weary, footsore and alone. I +was descending a rocky cliff a few hundred feet from a plateau, while +the thunders roared with terrific crash. The rain fell in sheets, +plunging in wild fury in cataracts down the mountain side. There was +desolation and terror unutterable. I leaned close to a shelving rock, +and as I thought of once happy days in Aberdeen, of the love bestowed +upon me by my dear mother--gone forever from this world--my own +condition, now a homeless wanderer in a foreign land, perhaps to soon +meet death and my body be devoured by condors, I laid my head on my +arms and wept bitterly. + +I am not superstitious, neither do I believe that my condition at that +time caused my mind to wander; a peaceful calm came over me; it +seemed as if some loving one was near, fear vanished, and I looked up +but beheld nothing. The storm raged with even greater fury. I walked +and even began to sing the "Garb of Old Gaul." I ignored the elements +in their war and had almost reached the plateau when the storm ceased +and the sun suddenly appeared. Calm and warmth came from what a few +minutes before had seemed death and destruction. + +A sudden turn in the trail and I beheld a child seated beneath the +thick, spreading branches of a tree, her white apron filled with +alpine flowers. "How came she here," I wondered. Her dark bright eyes +gazed questioningly into mine, eyes through which one could see the +childish spirit and feel the witchery of her magic look; her raven +locks fell in clusters over her fair temples and ended in ringlets +about her shoulders; on her cheeks were the glowing tints of youth and +health. As I spoke she rose and handed me a flower of delicate tint. I +gallantly pinned it on the lapel of my coat, which won from her a +pleasing look and smile. I could speak a little Spanish and she seemed +to understand that I was going her way. Together we walked along the +trail. Her childish grace appealed to me. A spirit of infinite +goodness seemed to radiate from within and stirred my noblest +impulses. A feeling of content settled upon me. + +Near by, I saw some Indian huts and the tambo or tavern where Frank +Dunn and I had stopped on our way to Puno. The child ran ahead, +leaving me to follow. + + * * * * * + +The first sight of Puno had satisfied me that we had come to the most +desolate spot in the world, Nature's remains seemed to have been +brought there and left without burial. The ground was thickly covered +with a short, wild grass and appeared to be the natural dwelling place +of the alpacas and wild vicunas. + +I had been in Puno but a few days when I was offered work on board one +of the steamers, but I longed again for Arequipa and friends. Dunn +had secured work on one of the steamers and refused to return. I +thought this was hard, as it was my money that had helped him from the +time he left Arequipa until he secured employment. My money was almost +gone, but I had gone to the Amaras market and bought what edibles I +needed, and without hesitation had started alone to return to +Arequipa, over those fearful heights and dread solitudes of the +Cordilleras, when I found her. + +When we were entering the tambo an elderly gentleman and the Indian +host were speaking in Spanish, and even from my limited knowledge of +the language I knew they were talking about me. + +No doubt but my appearance in the heart of the Cordilleras wet, +forlorn looking and alone aroused his sympathy. After a difficult +attempt at opening a conversation, the beautiful child I had met +looking on all the time, I was given to understand that he desired me +to eat with them. Of course I consented, but I did not do justice to +the meal as the dark eyes of the young girl were constantly upon me. + +The gentleman gave me his name, Julian Maldonado, and that of his +daughter, Felicita Maldonado. He was a well-to-do merchant of elderly +years. I learned that his wife was dead and that their home was in +Lima. The servants made me a bed in the room adjacent to my host. The +next morning I was aroused by one of them who said his master wanted +to see me. I went to him and after telling him I was on my way to +Arequipa, and when there I would be among my friends, he offered to +purchase a mule for me, but the only one to be had was lame. However, +I told him I was young and would soon reach my destination. Felicita +then came in and announced breakfast, after which the mules were +packed and, everything being in readiness, we bade each other +good-bye. Felicita came toward me, and as she extended her hand in her +childish fashion, she placed in my own a Peruvian twenty-dollar gold +piece, saying: "Adios mi amigo." + +I was almost speechless. I started forward to return the money, but I +had to retain it, as they quickly mounted and were gone before I could +master my feelings. + +Roll on, relentless Time. Felicita, fairest flower of the Cordilleras, +we shall meet again, when love's young dream shall awaken amid the +clash of arms and tragedies! + +Nine days later I arrived in Arequipa, sick, footsore and weary. My +friends had sent out searching parties believing that I had been +murdered. Their astonishment was great when they found where I had +been and that I had spent many nights alone amid the dangers of the +mountains. Many were the admonitions I received from older heads. + +I laughed at their words, and when I thought of the beautiful +Felicita, I dreamed of love and felt an indescribable content with my +surroundings and all the world. + + + + +VI. + +A HUMILIATING INCIDENT. + + +There was a night riot in the streets of Ilo, knives gleamed in +ruffian hands, curses and blasphemy fell from sodden lips. Shots were +fired in the thick of the struggling mass, as the mob crowded in +frenzy about some central figure. The crowd from behind pressed +forward and Thompson and I were carried along by the crush of +humanity, until of necessity we began to fight our way out. We had +partially succeeded, when we were surrounded by soldiers. At sight of +the soldiers the crowd began to disperse, but unfortunately for us it +was too late, besides we had nothing to do with the riot, and thought +we had nothing to fear. + +The officer stepped up and placed Thompson and I under arrest. We were +searched, but no arms were found on us. However, we were marched away +to jail and our feet placed in iron bars, fastened with a heavy lock, +which compelled us to lie on our backs. + +The next morning an officer appeared and I notified him that I was a +British subject, and resented such treatment. He told me that I was +held for attempted murder. Thompson was also under the same charge. An +Italian had been shot and would probably die. I demanded an immediate +trial. Several officers of the railway came and endeavored to set us +free, but their efforts were of no avail. There was no British consul +nearer than Arica, about two days travel by steamer, and no means for +communicating with him until the steamer arrived from the north. + +Our prison was an old wooden structure, and only one guard was over +us. The officer and his men had quarters some distance away. It was +our intention to ask the soldier on guard for a drink of water about +midnight, when Thompson would overpower him and take his keys. A +small boat was to be in readiness at a certain place. Our plan was, +after obtaining the keys, to put the soldier in the stocks and walk +out, all of which could easily have been accomplished, as the soldier +was but a small ignorant half-breed Indian. It was Sunday night and we +had decided to put our plan in operation, when--imagine our +surprise--an officer informed us to get ready to take the train for +Moquequa. + +We were accompanied by an officer and six men. I asked the officer +what the removal was for, and he said our trial was to be held and it +was necessary for us to be present. I asked permission to speak with +the engineer, which was given. I told him I dreaded being taken into +the interior, as we would be away from our friends, and begged him +when we came to a certain grade along the line to increase the speed +and I would jump off. I was familiar with that part of the country, +knew I could secure a horse and go to Mollendo or Arequipa. I knew +also that the officer and his men had never been on a train, and it +would be impossible for them to give chase. + +But we were again doomed to disappointment. The engineer feared to +carry out the plan and instead of increasing speed, went slower than +usual. + +On our arrival at Moquequa we were marched through the streets, to my +great humiliation, as I knew many people in the town. Numbers of them +came and offered their sympathy. To our great indignation we were +thrown into a cell with six other prisoners convicted of murder, and a +more ugly, villainous and desperate-looking lot of characters would +have been hard to find anywhere. No attention had been paid to my +remonstrance, when an hour later a gentleman, whom I had favored, +presented himself. After I told him the circumstances of our detention +he said he would send a lawyer to defend us. In the meantime he +arranged with a hotel keeper to send us regular meals, also mattresses +and blankets. + +The day following I had many visitors, some drawn by curiosity and +others by sympathy and good will. The latter were profuse in their +attentions. When a lawyer appeared, I related to him the details of +our arrest. I did the talking, as Thompson could not speak the +language, while I was becoming quite proficient in it. Upon leaving, +the lawyer promised to have us free in eight days at most. + +I passed away the dreary time pacing that prison cell. It was about +twenty feet long and twelve feet wide, and contained nothing but stone +walls and floor, with a heavy iron-grated window which looked out on +the plaza. A bottle of wine came with each meal, instead of coffee, +and I shared it with the criminals in our cell. In this way I soon won +their good will, and as they had all been convicted of murder, they +did not hesitate to tell me of their horrible crimes. + +There is no capital punishment in Peru. Sentence for life, in that +country, means about fifteen years, and seldom do they serve that +length of time. Usually a revolution releases them. At such times +insurgents invariably break open the prisons and liberate the +convicts, which happened to these prisoners a few months later. We +were visited daily by my lawyer and finally were told that four +hundred dollars would be required for our liberation. + +"Liberate us and I will give you the money," was my answer. + +Next day I bid adieu to my undesirable residence and companions; +Thompson had no money and I paid all. After purchasing new clothes and +receiving the congratulations of friends, we boarded the train for +Ilo. Mr. Hill returned from Lima that day and after learning of the +indignities inflicted upon me, told his officials that they should +have notified the British consul and compelled the Peruvian +authorities to pay, instead of taking my money. + +I returned to work in the shops, and three weeks afterward one of the +office clerks came in breathless and told me I was to be arrested +again along with Thompson. The papers would be down from Moquequa +that night and tomorrow morning they would come for us. + +I was furious when I realized that we were again facing punishment for +a crime of which we were innocent and I determined to resist arrest, +and leave Ilo. + +I went to the office of the secretary of the railroad, and after a +long consultation, it was agreed to have three of Mr. Hill's best +horses in readiness at midnight. One of the hostlers was to accompany +us and when we reached Tambo, Thompson and I would take the train for +Arequipa. + +I went to my room, packed my clothes, carefully loaded two revolvers +and placed my trunk and other articles of value in the hands of my +friends, with orders to send them to Arequipa after the sensation of +my escape was over. After supper, to allay any suspicion the +authorities might have, I strolled along the wharf, went into a +billiard hall and actually played a game of billiards with the captain +of the guard, who I have no doubt had the order to arrest me in his +pocket. Thompson had gone to his room. I followed thirty minutes +later, and at precisely twelve o'clock, I sallied out of the house by +the rear, and met Thompson at the agreed place on the beach. + +The night was dark, and everything being in readiness, we mounted and +rode through the town dressed like natives. We soon gained the highway +leading to Tambo and after being well clear of Ilo, we put our horses +to their best. We rode the fifty-five miles to Tambo, over a rugged +and mountainous country and caught the train for Arequipa, arriving +that night after an absence for me of two years. + + + + +VII. + +IN THE THROES OF REVOLUTION. + + +The railroad had now been extended from Arequipa to Puno. A revolution +had broken out and insurgents were cutting the telegraph wires. + +I was engineer on a combination locomotive and coach and as this +locomotive will be in the scene of more than one tragedy, I will +describe it. It was specially designed for the president and officers +of the road, weighing only eight tons. On the same frame with the +engine, in fact, a part of it, was built a beautiful black walnut +coach, with a seating capacity of from twelve to eighteen persons. It +had two side doors and one in front, which, when opened, communicated +with the engineer. There were windows hung with beautiful damask +curtains, the carpets were of rich velvet, and a center table and +several cupboards under the seats completed the furnishings. It was +in reality a palace on wheels, named The Arequipena, meaning a native +of Arequipa. I mention the design of the combination engine-car for +the reason that, on a duplicate of The Arequipena, later occurred one +of the most perilous and tragic events of my life. + +The stretch of road from Julica to Cabanillas was level and straight, +except about two miles from Cabanillas station, where a heavy side cut +and sharp curve was the only obstruction to the view for miles. I was +going at the rate of forty miles an hour, when, on nearing this curve, +I beheld a large Rogers locomotive with a train of coaches coming +toward me. I cannot describe the thoughts that went through my +brain--there was a terrific crash--flying debris--a hissing of +steam--mingled with the groans of the wounded and dying. + +I was thrown out of the way of the wreck and near the edge of a river, +and when I regained my senses a priest was bending over me, bathing my +forehead. I gradually realized what had happened and went to my +engine. There was scarcely a vestige left of The Little Arequipena, +only a piece of the boiler and two pairs of driving wheels. The shock +was so great that the little coach was hurled over the other engine, +which was not damaged much. + +I saw several persons bending over some one, and, on going closer, +found William Cuthbert, our traveling engineer, stretched on the +ground dying. Five soldiers were dead beneath the ruins. One officer, +with his legs broken in two places, begged that others be cared for +first. The road-master was in agony, his lower limbs frightfully +burned by escaping steam; all the others were more or less seriously +injured, except myself. When relief came our dead and wounded were +taken to Arequipa. + +We had been sent out to repair the wires, and orders had come to me +that we should be given the right of way. The engineer who collided +with me told me that the commander of the government forces had +ordered our superintendent to furnish transportation for his troops +to Puno at once, and when informed that it would be impossible to send +a train until we were heard from, he threatened to place the +superintendent in jail unless his orders were complied with. No one on +the other train was hurt. They had six coaches full of soldiers, the +priest who assisted me being among them. + +The day after our arrival at Arequipa the funeral of William Cuthbert +took place. The procession was the largest that I had ever witnessed +at any funeral in Arequipa, natives as well as foreigners taking +part. + +It was a long time before I recovered from the shock, not alone of the +collision, but the death of William Cuthbert who always had been ready +to befriend me and who had given me much valuable information. He lies +buried in the cemetery at Arequipa, in a vault. A marble slab was +erected to his memory. + +The general manager sent for me one day to come to his office in +Arequipa, and after talking over the cause of the collision, I told +him that I considered him to blame for allowing any engine and train +to go out without knowing first where we were, and that it would have +been better to have gone to prison, that if he had been sent there the +American government would have demanded his freedom, and he would have +been honored. As it stood, he was to a certain extent responsible for +that dreadful affair. After some more words I left the office, +realizing that I had incurred the displeasure of the head officer. I +concluded to leave, which I was sorry to do, as I looked upon Arequipa +as my only home. + +I visited Valparaiso and again met Cockney Spider. He was still at his +old business, conducting a runaway sailors' boarding house. A few +weeks later found me in Panama, an engineer on the Panama and +Aspinwall railroad. The climate, I believe, is the most wretched in +the world, and tropical vegetation grows the rankest. In a few months +I was stricken with the yellow fever, but thanks to my robust +constitution I soon recovered. About this time I met an official of +the government railway at Ilo, who desired me to return and accept a +position as engineer on the road. I told him of my troubles in that +town with the officials. He met me soon afterwards, with a contract +duly drawn up for eighteen months' service and a guarantee that I +should not be molested by any petty official. + +When I arrived at Ilo, imagine my surprise to find that the man who +rowed me ashore was the Italian who caused my arrest. He offered to +shake hands but I refused. When I went to the hotel many of my old +native friends came to see me, and informed me that after I had left +they discovered the person who did the shooting. It was done by one of +their own number, who managed to get away. + +It was very gratifying to thus have my innocence established, but it +did not recompense for the time I had spent in jail and the loss of +money. + +I had been running a train out of Ilo about a month, when one night I +was invited to a "wake." Having never attended one, I accepted the +invitation. At one end of the room stood a large table, and upon it +the body of a child two years old. On its head was a wreath of +flowers. The child was dressed in white; in its tiny hands was a +bouquet of flowers; the feet were encased in small white slippers; +lighted candles surrounded the body. At either end of the table were +several old women, who were employed by the family as mourners, and +they kept up a continual low moaning sound. Occasionally they would +stop to partake of wine, and start again, more dismal than ever. The +room was large and on each side were seated ladies and gentlemen +talking and laughing and seemingly enjoying themselves. The parents of +the dead child appeared to have surpassed the expectations of their +friends and made a great success of the "wake." + +There is a custom in Peru that when several persons are gathered +together there is constant drinking. A large bottle of wine or +whiskey is placed on the table with one glass. A lady or gentleman +will fill the glass and drink to the health of some one present. It is +bad form to leave any liquor in the glass, so it is always drained, +refilled and presented to the one whose health has been drunk. It is +an insult to refuse to drink, after one has drank to your health and +the person accepting the glass drinks to the health of some one else. +In this manner the glass is constantly on the move. On this occasion, +the wine was on the table with the corpse. + +About one o'clock in the morning not seeing any disposition on the +part of the guests to retire, I bade our friends good night. + +I had barely reached the street when I heard firing and saw people +running. Suddenly there came a volley of musketry, and a woman dropped +dead a few feet in front of me. Almost immediately the streets were +deserted, but I could hear the cries of "Vivia Pierola," and I knew +another revolution had broken out. + + + + +VIII. + +VIVA GENERALISSIMO PIEROLA. + + +I did not do anything for the woman. Shot through the heart, she was +past all aid. I made a dash into a by-street, intending to reach the +station, get my engine ready and go to Ilo to prevent the insurgents +from using the road to transport their troops. But I ran into an +officer's arms before I had gone a block. He had been looking for me +all night, and told me I was his prisoner. I was to be taken before +Senor Pierola. Meantime I was to be treated with every consideration, +the officer paying for breakfast and cigars, and insisting on my +drinking some ale which he had taken as a contraband of war. + +It was some time before we could get near the great leader of the +revolution, the approaches to his house being crowded with people. +Ladies were prominent among the crowd, carrying flowers and declaring +their deliverer had come to make Peru the greatest nation on the +Pacific. + +After the officer presented me Pierola asked me if I spoke Spanish. +Upon being answered in the affirmative, he asked my name, nationality +and how long I had been employed by the Peruvian government; all of +which being answered to his satisfaction, he asked me if I would work +for him, and if I would, in the event of his being victorious, I +should be appointed to take charge of the Ilo and Moquequa railways. +He only wanted me to convey troops down the valley, take up some of +the rails to prevent the government troops from using the line, and +then before he retreated to another position which he would fortify, +to dismantle the engine and hide the parts, so that in case the +government troops should come to Moquequa the engine would be of no +service to them. + +I replied that I was a British subject, and that if I were to do what +he requested of me, and should be taken prisoner by the government, +and the fact became known that I had taken part, I would be unable to +claim the protection of my government. He agreed that that was true, +but he would insure against that by sending a few troops with me, and +it would look as if force was compelling me to do what, which without +force, I would not have done. + +I finally agreed, and after giving my word that I would not attempt to +escape, received orders to take the engine, as a squad of soldiers +would accompany me, and at a certain place along the line which they +would designate, the rails would be torn up. We started that +afternoon. + +We carried two flat cars to load the rails on. About forty miles from +Moquequa we discovered another train coming toward us, but upon our +nearer approach they backed off rapidly. It was a party of government +troops sent out to ascertain whether the road was clear in order to +bring up their main body. Our company then took up rails and made the +road dangerous in ten different places. We blew up a small wooden +bridge with giant powder. + +The officer in charge made frequent stops in the valley and levied a +tribute of money on all the wine merchants he could find. They usually +gave, as they knew too well the consequence of refusing. Those who hid +away found, on their return, their wine presses and vaults in ruins. + +On our return to Moquequa, I was ordered to disable the engine, which +I did by taking off both valve stems and driving rods. The officer hid +them and that was the last I ever saw of them. We attended a dance +which lasted all night, and drank much wine in anticipation of the +success of the revolution. It was a gala night. There was dancing and +music in nearly all the houses. + +In the early morning bugles, drums and other instruments began making +a hideous noise, officers were commanding men to form ranks, horses, +mules and donkeys were running hither and thither, and dogs were +barking. Here and there were groups of men learning to load their +rifles, others endeavoring to parry and thrust with cutlasses and +making fierce swings at an imaginary government soldier. Louder and +hoarser came the call of the officers, but their commands were lost on +the motley crowd. After several hours the officers succeeded in +getting the men into some kind of marching order. + +I turned to a store to buy some cigars, when I heard someone calling, +and turning I beheld three of my fellow prisoners that a few months +before were in jail convicted of murder. One straightened out his hand +to me, but I did not take it. I asked them how they escaped; it was +the old story. The insurgents needed recruits and they were liberated +on condition that they fight for Pierola. + +Such was Peru, and such it is today. Instead of the people supporting +the government, the government supports the people, and when all its +favors become exhausted, then some one arises and proclaims himself +president, organizes a band of thieves and murderers, and endeavors +to gain control. + +There have been exceptions, when an indignant people, who have been +trodden to such an extent that it seems a revolution is the only means +of righting their wrongs; but nine out of ten are the work of an +ambitious man who wants to become ruler. + +I asked the ex-convicts where the other three were who had been +confined with them. Two had died and the other was with the troops. +They begged for money and I gave them a dollar each, and after +profusely thanking me they left to follow the rear guard of Pierola's +scoundrels. + +After purchasing my cigars, I followed the main body of troops with my +escort of twenty soldiers, to keep guard over me, as arranged with +General Pierola. Our destination was Torato, thirty miles from +Moquequa. The road led over passes and wound around mountain sides, +and from several points of vantage I could see the army on the march, +with General Pierola and a priest by his side in the lead. The priest +was there to inspire courage in those who might waver. The army +numbered six hundred infantry and two hundred cavalry, many of whom +did not know the duties of a soldier. + +On arriving at Torato, I secured quarters for myself and escort at the +expense of the insurgent general. A month passed in wine drinking and +dancing. There were gay festivities every night, lasting sometimes +until late the next morning, the officers seldom seeing their men. +Instead of drilling them, they spent their time telling how they were +going to annihilate the government troops. Some little fortifying had +been done, but the natural surroundings were sufficient to prevent a +prudent attack. One day the news came that the government troops were +advancing and then some little work was done to prepare for battle. + +The day before the battle, I told General Pierola I had no objections +to following him to the battlefield, but in consideration of being a +non-combatant, I asked the privilege of selecting my own course, +giving him my word of honor that I would not make any attempt to +escape. He was satisfied and gave me a pass allowing the freedom I +desired. The next day the cry arose that the government troops were +only six miles away. There was hurrying to and fro with no discipline. +The priest accomplished more by his cross than all the officers. There +was a babel of voices. All were trying to give commands. Suddenly +heavy firing was heard, the outpost had become engaged at last. + + + + +IX. + +AMID THE DIN OF BATTLE. + + +The main body of the insurgent troops began to move to the front, +headed by General Pierola and the priest marching to the most +unearthly music I ever heard. Women were conspicuous and cheered as +the men marched past. "Viva Pierola!" was heard on all sides. + +Then came an order to double quick. The outposts were driven in a +short distance, and the enemy was in a valley, surrounded on both +sides by a chain of hills with a huge mountain in the background. When +I saw the position of the government troops, I was satisfied they +would be defeated and the battle become a rout. There were two +regiments of infantry and one of cavalry in the valley. Pierola +stationed his troops on each side of the pass and in front, reserving +his cavalry. In a short time the engagement became general. The +priest encouraged the insurgents by displaying the cross. He was a +courageous fellow, always to be found in places of danger. I mounted a +huge boulder and could easily see all that was going on. The +government troops would waver and fall back, and again they would +renew the attempt to scale the hillsides, which was impossible as long +as the insurgents held their position. + +There was a strange happening just when success seemed assured. The +insurgent cavalry had taken no part up to this time, as both sides of +the valley had been actively engaged. The insurgents along the pass +were running short of ammunition. An order was sent to the captain of +the cavalry to send a company back to Torato and assist in hurrying up +supplies. There was a brief cessation of hostilities. I could plainly +see the government troops carrying their dead and wounded to the rear, +but still holding their position. When another charge was made to take +the heights, the firing again became general. Suddenly arose the cry, +"They come! They come!" Firing along the sides of the pass ceased, and +I looked in amazement. Evidently, something was wrong. The insurgents +were throwing away their arms and running. There was a cloud of dust +in the direction of Torato, and I could easily distinguish a company +of cavalry, which I knew was the company sent to hurry up the +ammunition. The insurgents saw them and imagined that the government +cavalry had succeeded in getting to their rear. The panic became a +rout. In vain did Pierola plead, as he threw himself in front of his +demoralized men, in vain did the priest hold his crucifix on high, +threatening and pleading, but no persuasion could stop those runaway +cowards. The government troops realized something was wrong, and began +to scale the heights. Still, if the cavalry which had done no +fighting, could have been led to the side of the pass, the day would +still have been with Pierola, and probably the stampede would have +been checked. But unfortunately for the would-be president, there was +no one in command capable of meeting the emergency. + +I became excited, and snatching a cutlass from the hand of a +retreating soldier, threw myself in front of a column in a vain +endeavor to stop them, but they ran over me like so many sheep. Terror +had lent them wings of flight and deprived them of reason. By this +time the government infantry had reached the plateau and was forming +into companies. Their cavalry had seized the heights and the day was +lost. + +I saw General Pierola shake hands with the priest and leave the field. +The priest mounted and he, too, was gone. The ground was strewn with +arms; even the discordant musical instruments were discarded. + +Thus an army of revolutionists, who, a few hours before paraded +through the streets of Torato, cheered by fair women, and shouting +"Viva Pierola," had won a battle by natural surroundings and lost it +by their cowardice. I, too, thought it was time to retreat, as my +escort of twenty soldiers had long since disappeared. I rode to +Torato. + +Along the way I overtook straggling bands of insurgents going into +town to hide, while others were scaling the tallest mountains. I went +to my quarters, and soon the town was surrounded. + +The next morning about two hundred insurgents were captured. The +others were hid in some mysterious way and the commanding officer of +the government troops was made to believe that the main body of the +insurgents was in the mountains. + +I sought the general of the government troops to inform him of my +presence. He replied that he knew of my being a prisoner, and asked me +to return to Moquequa at once and help to get the railway in operation +to convey his troops and prisoners. + +I was glad no other questions were put to me, and after pleading with +the general for my kind host who had treated me with great kindness in +Torato, and who was not in sympathy with the revolutionists, he agreed +to exempt him from the payment of money levied on nearly all the +inhabitants. + +[Illustration: THE EARTH BEGAN TO ROCK AND REEL. (Page 33)] + +Soon after this a troop ship arrived in Ilo to convey prisoners and +escort to Lima. I felt sorry for the prisoners. Many of them +recognized me and kept calling, "Don Juan, please try and help us," +but of course I was powerless to do anything for them. I was glad when +they were aboard the transport for I felt miserable in the midst of so +much suffering. But I knew they would not suffer long. Another +revolution would set them free. + +The railroad was again in running order and everything progressing +smoothly when one morning at breakfast I was informed that Pierola had +broken out again. This time his party had, by means unknown, captured +the Peruvian ironclad ram, Huascar. He must have been aided by the +officers, or at least one of them who declared in his favor. Howbeit, +he had possession. The Peruvian fleet was sent in pursuit, but as the +Huascar was the most powerful vessel of the fleet, they had to give +her up. + +The fortunes of Pierola were brighter now than ever. He could, with +the exception of Callao, have entire command and control of all the +sea ports along the coast. But unfortunately for him, he began to stop +the British mail, and later the French mail on the high seas, his +object being to intercept mail for the Peruvian government. + +The British government dispatched H. M. S. Amythist and the Shah to +compel him to surrender, the Huascar having had full sway along the +coast for a month. + +The Huascar finally made her appearance in the port of Ilo, and almost +immediately the Amythist and Shah hove in sight. I had a good view +from the beach and saw a boat lowered from the Shah and pull directly +to the Huascar, I supposed for the purpose of demanding her surrender. +However, if that was the object, it failed, for upon the return of the +boat to the Shah, the Amythist cleared for action. + +The afternoon was calm; not a ripple on the ocean. The Huascar was +nearest the shore, less than a mile from where I stood. The Shah was +over a mile distant seaward. A signal flashed from the Shah and the +Amythist steamed toward the Huascar. The Amythist was a wooden +corvette, equipped with twin screws. The Shah was a commerce +destroyer. Neither vessel was a match for the modern ironclad +Huascar. + +Suddenly a shot came from the Shah. The flag and pole at the stern of +the Huascar dropped overboard. The Huascar, equipped with a revolving +turret, sent a shot at the Amythist, but it went wide of its mark. The +Amythist circled and sent a broadside full on the Huascar, every shot +taking effect. With the aid of a glass I could see the decks of the +Amythist plainly from my position on a huge rock. The British sailors, +stripped to the waist, cutlass in hand, stood eagerly awaiting orders. +The gunners' crews were engaged in firing rapidly. The Huascar replied +by slow but heavy reports from her turret. The object of the British +was to disable the Huascar's turret, and they succeeded by directing +all shots against it. + +The Huascar, finding she could not effect the enemy by shots, turned +to ram her. The Amythist, being equipped with twin screws, awaited the +Huascar and when within a short distance ran alongside and poured her +whole broadside on the rebel. That was the last act before the Huascar +surrendered. + +I was aboard the Huascar a few months afterward at Mollendo and she +presented a most dilapidated appearance. + +Thus again was General Pierola frustrated, and by a British wooden +vessel against a crack ironclad of Peru. Pierola escaped as usual, and +the Huascar was turned over to the Peruvian government. + +A few days after the Amythist-Huascar battle I discovered the people +of Ilo were cold and distant towards me, and I soon learned the cause. +Although they were in favor of the existing government, they did not +relish the idea of their people being beaten by the British. I could +not condemn the acts of my own country and I felt it would be better +to leave Ilo, which I did, little dreaming of the exciting events +which were soon to follow. + + + + +X. + +WE MEET AGAIN, FELICITA. + + +The theater of Arequipa was ablaze with lights. The youth and beauty +had assembled to follow the fortunes of the Count de Monte Christo. I +was seated in the dress circle listening to the weird warlike strains +of Spanish music, when my eyes fell upon the occupants of a box. A +beautiful girl, half hidden by the rich draperies, was talking with an +aristocratic looking old gentleman, while by their side sat a young +man, dark-browed and sinister looking. I arose and entered the box +from the side door. "Don Julian Maldonado, I am delighted to meet +you," I said, "I am the boy you befriended some years ago in the +Cordilleras." + +He took my hand delightedly and bade me be seated, offering me a chair +between himself and daughter. Don Julian whispered to me not to make +myself known to Felicita to see if she would recognize me. All this +was amusing to Don Julian, but somewhat embarrassing to me, seated, as +I was, between them, and trying to carry on a conversation with him. +The expression of wonderment in Felicita's beautiful eyes was +disconcerting to say the least. It was evident she did not remember +me. And yet how could she be expected to. She was a child of only nine +years when we first met, and who now, seven years later found me +unexpected and unannounced sitting beside her in a theater. + +Laughingly I turned to her and asked if she did not recognize me, +explaining that the reason her father had not presented me was that we +had met seven years ago. + +While I was speaking she was looking earnestly at me, but when I +recalled their journey to La Paz she appeared dubious and asked if I +was the young lad she met near Puno and if it was possible that I had +grown to manhood and learned to speak Spanish? When I reassured her, +the look of astonishment gave way to an exclamation of joy. + +The play was forgotten. We only talked of our first meeting. She +asked if I was staying in Arequipa and on learning that I was, +promised that we should meet again, as her father had decided to +remain there for some time. I was delighted but felt somewhat +disturbed because of the young man in the box with her. When I began +to talk to Felicita he moved his seat farther away. The Peruvians are +the acme of politeness. + +The play being over, I assisted Felicita with her wraps. Her father +then introduced me to Don Rodrigo Garcia, a fellow traveller whom they +had met on their journey from Cusco to Arequipa. + +I was not particularly well pleased with the young man. First +impressions sometimes give rise to doubt and distrust. It was so with +me in this instance. Don Julian insisted on my going home with them. I +walked with Felicita on one side and Don Julian on the other, Don +Rodrigo walking just ahead of me. Their home was on Calle Mercaderes, +one of the prettiest squares of the city. Like most Peruvian homes, +the house was of adobe with flat roof and partitions of plastered +cane. It contained six rooms. In the windows were heavy iron bars, +like all houses of the better class. They were very serviceable, for +Spanish lovers do their courting between the window bars. The girl +sits beside the window and her wooer stands in the street; the parents +sometimes invite him in. Should he request the company of the girl to +the play or to any entertainment, the invitation must include the +whole family. This custom in the larger cities is dying out, but in +the inland cities it is still adhered to. + +Arriving at the door, I bade Felicita and her father good night with +the assurance that I would dine with them the next day. Don Rodrigo +also was invited. His hotel was on my way and I accompanied him. He +was splendid company, and after reaching his hotel I accepted his +invitation to a light lunch. Afterwards we enjoyed a cigar and some +rich old wine, but still I could not overcome the aversion I first +formed for him. + +The following day, long before the appointed time for dinner, I was +dressed and ready. Chico, a half-breed Indian, whom I had rendered a +service one time when he was being set upon by some of his own people, +and who afterwards slept in my passage way, had my boots polished and +horse carefully groomed. He was a faithful servant. He would find out +where I went and quietly follow, and after the manner of his race, +would lie down in some obscure place in perfect contentment and wait +for me. I arrived at the home of Don Julian at the appointed time, and +found the father and daughter awaiting me. A few moments later, Don +Rodrigo arrived and we were seated in the parlor facing the street. It +was splendidly appointed. Although the exterior of many Peruvian +residences appear shabby, the interior presents a far different +appearance. + +I requested Felicita to play for us and time passed quickly. Dinner +being called I took the liberty of escorting Felicita to the table and +was given the place beside her. The Indian servants between courses, +kept our glasses filled. Felicita did not take wine, and when dinner +was over retired, leaving us to enjoy our cigars and liquor. We +afterwards adjourned to the parlor, where I gave my friends an account +of my life since our first meeting. I could see that Don Rodrigo took +every opportunity to make light of my narrative. + +I did not allude to being in Ilo during the Amythist and Huascar +affair, but after I had given my friends a brief account of myself, +Don Rodrigo asked me my nationality. I told him I was Scottish. He +then asked me what I thought of the Huascar affair, hoping no doubt to +belittle my standing with Don Julian. I replied that I had given it +very little thought, and moreover considered it a question for both +governments to settle, and was satisfied that everything would be +adjusted amicably. + +My reply seemed to annoy him, as he doubtless thought I would commit +myself, and take the part of the British. He arose, and pleading a +press of business, begged permission to retire. He shook hands with +Don Julian and daughter, but merely bowed to me. I was glad he was +gone. + +Never before had I been so happy as now, in Felicita's presence. For +the first time since leaving home this was the only pleasure I had +known. Felicita sang some pretty Spanish ballads to the music of her +guitar and I went home that night with a lightness of heart I had not +experienced for a long time. + +My duties not requiring me to be away from Arequipa often, much of my +time was spent with Felicita. Together we would ride horseback over +the picturesque valley, with its olive and orange groves and along +shaded avenues of palms, with pebbly brooks of crystal waters on +either side. The pure air and semi-tropical skies stimulated our +buoyant spirits, and made these the halcyon days of my existence. My +first dreams of love when we met in the Cordilleras were now a +blissful reality. + +I saw little of Don Rodrigo in the weeks that followed and was seldom +in the company of my comrades. Once a week I would join them at the +club, but aside from that I was always to be found at Don Julian's +home. + +Months sped by in sweet content as the world took on a more roseate +hue and the future presented an alluring picture. + +I met Don Rodrigo on the street one day and as he nodded slightly I +noticed an evil look in his eyes. On returning to my room late that +night something glistened in the moonlight on my door. I struck a +match, a blood red heart was traced on the panel, and in the center +stuck a dagger. What did it mean? + + + + +XI. + +THE MASQUE BALL AT TIRAVAYA. + + +It was the night of the annual masque ball at Tiravaya, a summer +resort a few miles from Arequipa. The hall was crowded with dancers; +many gentlemen were in Cavalier costume, with swords clanking at their +sides. Others were in helmets, gorglet and breastplate, to represent +Pizarro's conquerors of Peru. Many of the ladies wore quaint costumes +and rich attire of the court of Ferdinand and Isabella, while a few +were attired in grotesque costumes. Felicita was dressed as a princess +of the court of the ancient Incas, with a head dress of the rich +plumage of tropic birds. I was dressed in the Highland garb of +Scotland. + +I soon discovered Felicita by the rosebud in her hair. We took part in +the grand march and in nearly all the dances. The soft strains of the +music and the gayety of the picturesque throng in the brilliantly +lighted room made the hours pass quickly and it was soon time for +unmasking. After the general greeting was over, we proceeded to the +dining room where an elegant repast was served. The supper being +finished, the music struck up again as the wine was being served. Just +then I observed Rodrigo for the first time, and noticed that he was +intently watching me. I called Felicita's attention to him and she +seemed to be frightened. She wanted to return home, but I assured her +there was no danger; we were among friends. She replied that I was not +familiar with Spanish hatred, and that he would sooner or later insult +me. I had known for more than three months, that he had proposed to +Felicita and been refused. I also knew he was a gambler and lived on +his chances at the faro table. Being an expert and without any sense +of honor, even to one of that profession, he was seldom unsuccessful. +I had never mentioned to Don Julian or Felicita his manner of life. + +An American, who unfortunately got under the influence of wine, +proposed a toast to Peru, to which we all responded by raising our +glasses. Another toast was given to the United States which received a +similar response. Toast followed toast in quick succession. I merely +raised my glass as I had no desire to drink any more, and knowing the +long distance before me, I was on the point of calling for Chico to +have our horses in readiness, when I heard my name called and found +that I was requested to make a speech. I arose and congratulated the +company present for the pleasant time we had passed, and the happy +manner in which everything had been conducted by our host. All rose +and gave him three cheers. + +Don Rodrigo then stepped to the center between both tables, and asked +everyone present who denounced the British government for its action +in the Huascar affair, to stand up. I knew the insult was meant for +me. I refused to stand, as also did two of my British friends. After +they were seated Felicita again pleaded with me to leave, but I could +not do so with honor then, and had I done so, I would have been held +in contempt afterwards. Don Rodrigo came to where I was seated and +addressing himself to me said: + +"I observe that you refuse to condemn the action of the British +government. Of course you are a Britisher, but I must say that the +action of your government was of the most cowardly nature, and anyone +who upholds such actions deserves the name of coward; in fact, anyone +who allows himself to be ruled by the Queen of Great Britain must be +anything but a brave man." + +I cannot describe the thoughts that ran through my brain. I stood like +one paralyzed. I could neither move nor speak, but I was conscious +that everyone was looking at me and seemed to enjoy my discomfiture. +Felicita placed both hands on my right arm and looked pleadingly in my +face. I could see everything quite plainly, but I was bereft of all +powers. Then by a valiant effort I recovered myself. Bending down, I +told Felicita to remain and not be alarmed. + +I arose and went to where Don Rodrigo stood. I was calm and collected. +"Don Rodrigo," I said, "I came here by invitation, and when I accepted +had no thought of being insulted. Neither do I believe that our host +or the gentlemen present intended that I should be. You have without +provocation on my part, insulted my Queen and called her subjects +cowards. The country that gave me birth never produced cowards and I +want to convince you that I am not an exception." With this I dealt +him a terrific blow in the face. + +He fell heavily to the floor and all was confusion. Men leaped on +tables and chairs. Cries of "Down with the foreigner!" were heard on +every side. Then my British friends came over to where I stood, one of +they saying, "Good, Jack, the coward deserved it! Let us stand side by +side and show them how the Queen's subjects can defend themselves!" + +I can see him now, his auburn hair disarranged and partially hanging +over his forehead, his blue eyes sparkling with indignation, his right +hand holding a revolver. The other said, "There are only three of us +but we will show them how Britishers can fight," at the same time +drawing his Colt's. I had also pulled my gun, anticipating the worst, +when the American drew near and said: "Jack, I know nothing of your +Queen or country; I am an American, but you did right, and what I +would do under similar circumstances. I will stand by you, although we +have little chance against such odds." + +By this time Don Rodrigo had been assisted to his feet, blood all over +his face. The uproar ceased for a few minutes, as the crowd was +without a leader. The blow had told with effect--two front teeth were +gone and both eyes were discolored, caused, I think, by him coming in +contact with the floor. In a few moments cries of "Down with the +foreigner," again commenced. We knew it threatened our lives, but when +they looked down the barrels of four revolvers they knew it also +threatened some of their lives. + +Springing on a chair, I asked them to listen to me. I told them that +the quarrel they had witnessed had been sought by Don Rodrigo against +me; and I asked why others should suffer? Let him finish his quarrel +with me now or at any other time he chose--I would always meet him, +and surely gentlemen such as I knew them to be would not so far forget +themselves as to endeavor to overcome us, who had never done them +harm? + +This appeal was effective. Don Rodrigo had been washed, and never did +I see a face with such devilish and malignant expression. I was young +and strong, with quite a knowledge of the art of self defense, and I +watched him very closely lest he should draw a knife. + +Presently he said that he would be the judge of time and place and +manner of meeting me, and that I would yet remember Don Rodrigo +Garcia. I did not answer and he walked out of the hall. I drank +several glasses of wine with those who, but a few moments before, were +crying for revenge. I found Chico near me, and could hardly refrain +from laughing when I discovered that he had armed himself before +leaving Arequipa with a great navy revolver he found in my room. I am +satisfied had an attack been made on us, Chico would have done his +part, provided he had found a way to use the revolver. I am satisfied +he never saw one before he came to Arequipa. + +I told him to get the horses ready and my friends remained near to +prevent any treachery. However, we were not molested on the way home. +Felicita begged me to watch Don Rodrigo. "I know," she said, "that +man's nature. He will watch you always, and while he will not attack +you alone, he will pay others to inflict some injury on you." + +Don Julian was waiting and had hot cocoa ready for us. We both +concluded that we would better tell him what had happened lest he hear +a wrong version from others. They were determined that I should spend +the remainder of the night in their house, but I concluded it would +appear cowardly. So, I bade them good night and, with Chico following, +perfectly happy over the few dollars I had given him, I reached home +in safety. + +I thought much about the affair at Tiravaya and determined to watch +Don Rodrigo closely. A week later Don Julian informed me he was going +to Aacna on business. He would be gone several days, but Felicita +would stay here. Fatal mistake. + + + + +XII. + +COWARDLY ACT OF A VILLAIN. + + +"Don Juan! Ah, Don Juan! Something dreadful! Felicita!" cried Chico as +he burst into my room breathless near midnight. + +"What is it?" I demanded, "quick, I say," but he could only gasp +"Felicita!" + +I hurried to the stable and saddled my horse, Chico following. We +rode with all haste to the home of Don Julian. Everything was in +uproar. The Indian servants moaned and cried, and pointed in the +direction of the road leading to the cemetery. Thither I rode, fast +as my horse could run. It was a lonely road, with few houses by the +wayside and those were mostly Indian huts. It was nearly one +o'clock in the morning, no one to be seen--on and on I went. I could +see a dark outline of what I thought must be a vehicle of some kind. +As carriages are seldom used in Arequipa, I concluded that this +must be bearing Felicita away. I drove the spurs harder and leaned +forward, peering into the darkness. I was gaining rapidly. I was +certain now that it was Felicita, for they were driving at full +speed. I never thought how I was to rescue her, my whole purpose +being to catch up with that villain. Just then the moon shone bright +from behind a cloud and lighted up the scene. The occupants of the +carriage now knew they were being pursued, and they stopped. I could +plainly see two men unhitch two horses from behind the carriage. They +took Felicita from the carriage and were forcing her to mount when, +suddenly, her horse became unmanageable, and she fell to the +ground. By this time I was close upon them, and called to Felicita to +be brave, but the poor girl never heard me, for she was unconscious. +Don Rodrigo stopped, as if determined to resist me. Would to God +he had! But he put spurs to his horse and fled. I shot at him, but +as the distance was great, and the light uncertain, the bullet +went wide of the mark. I soon forgot him on reaching Felicita, as +she lay with an ugly cut on her head caused by striking the +carriage step when she fell. There lay my child-friend, unconscious. +She was dressed for retiring, her other clothes being in the +carriage. My first impulse was to pursue the accursed scoundrel +and avenge the insult to Felicita, but I could not leave her there. +I took her in my arms and carried her to a near-by Indian hut +where, after some parley with the poor, superstitious Indians, the +door was opened, and I laid my burden on some sheepskins on the +floor. Her hands were cold and she appeared to be dead. + +By this time, Chico arrived and brought her clothes from the carriage. +I staunched the flow of blood with my handkerchief, while Chico +prepared some hot native liquor, which I put to her lips. After a +time, she opened her eyes, but did not know me. I called and called +her name, but it was long before consciousness returned. When she did +recognize me, a look of love and happiness passed over her face. I +would not let her speak, but told her that when she was taken home, +she could tell me all. The carriage driver had long since made his +escape, so I had sent to Arequipa and had a closed carriage brought, +in which I took her home. + +Time dragged wearily until the return of her father. I remained by her +side and with the assistance of the Indian servants, made her as +comfortable as possible. I had been without sleep so long that I had +gone into the parlor and laid down. I had just awakened from a sleep +when Don Julian entered. Poor old man, he was overcome with grief. He +knew all, Felicita had told him. From him I learned how the abduction +had taken place. About 11 o'clock at night, Don Rodrigo had entered +the bedroom and before she realized what was being done, Felicita had +been carried to the carriage in waiting. Leaving her in charge of the +driver, Don Rodrigo returned for her clothes. No sooner was his back +turned than she screamed. This attracted the attention of Chico, who +had been enjoying a visit with Don Julian's Indian servants in the +kitchen. He had run at full speed to inform me. + +It was the opinion of Don Julian that Don Rodrigo had intended taking +the child to some remote Indian habitation in the mountains, and +demanding a ransom for her. + +This was a plausible theory, for besides getting revenge for Felicita +refusing his hand in marriage, he would be able to extort money from +Don Julian, and also avenge his fancied wrongs at my hands. + +The following day Felicita was still weak and nervous. The doctor +advised that she be taken to the sea coast for a time. She protested, +saying she was getting stronger, but I knew she was only saying it to +cheer her father and myself. I could plainly see her condition was +precarious. After a long consultation with the doctors, Don Julian +decided he would take her to Truxillo, their former home. After +considerable pleading, she consented to go. I was to follow when she +recovered. + +I accompanied them and their Indian servants aboard the steamer and +remained aboard the little ferry boat, waving my handkerchief until +they faded into the distance. I returned ashore, and although I had +not been in Mollendo for some time, I had no desire to see my friends. +I wanted to be alone. + +Weeks of dreary waiting followed. I was not myself. Anxiously I looked +for a letter and with trembling hands I broke the seal. The letter was +dated Lima, and read: "Don Juan, I am crazy. Felicita is dead. Will +write you all, when I am composed. Julian." + +Never was human being more distracted than I. Absenting myself from +everybody night after night in deep ravines and valleys, among the +lofty mountains that surrounded Arequipa, I wandered. Many an Indian +no doubt looked upon me with superstitious awe, walking without caring +whither I went, like one demented. A second letter came stating that +the death of Felicita was caused by a terrible cold she had +contracted and the nervous shock suffered on the night of the +abduction. Like his first, Don Julian's letter was brief. He said: "I +will let you know where she is buried in my next, and I think I will +not be long after her." + +I concluded to go to Lima, but another letter, dated Truxillo, stated +that he had left Lima and would bury Felicita in Truxillo. I received +no more missives. To go to Lima was useless, to go to Truxillo and +perhaps not find him there, would not accomplish anything so I decided +to wait until I heard further news. I scarcely know how I passed my +time. Night after night I would go up town, play billiards and visit +the drinking places, always with the hope that I would meet Don +Rodrigo. + +I intended, when I heard from Don Julian to make a trip to Truxillo, +visit the last resting place of Felicita, and perhaps remain in Lima, +away from scenes that reminded me of the only happy time in my +existence, and its tragic ending. But circumstances over which I had +no control changed my plans. + +One night, as I was sitting alone in my room, a boy handed me a +telegram. It was from the general manager of the railroad, saying to +report at his office at once and bring all the engine runners with me, +and to enjoin absolute secrecy on the part of the men. I did as +requested, and now begins one of the most exciting adventures of my +life. + + + + +XIII. + +MURDEROUS PLAN OF THE INSURGENTS. + + +On my arrival at the manager's office, I found him in consultation +with the Prefecto of Arequipa and the General in command of the +regular army. I was informed that another revolution was about to be +attempted in Peru in favor of General Pierola. + +The General said he had a valuable package which must be delivered to +the Prefecto of Puno, that in the event the package was captured it +would ruin all their plans. Would I undertake to deliver it for the +government? I turned to the general manager and, speaking to him in +English, said: "There is some mystery connected with this. Before I +pledge myself to do this, it will be necessary to have a clear +understanding." He repeated my request to the General, who informed me +that a secret message had come over the wires that a revolution had +broken out again, and this time the insurgents had taken possession of +several points to prevent the government troops from reaching Puno; +that the package I was to take was a notice to the Prefecto of Puno, +for himself and those in favor of the government, to proceed to a +designated place, where the government troops would arrive, and march +by stages to Puno. + +I realized the danger connected with this undertaking and accepted the +responsibility with some trepidation. A generous reward awaited me if +I succeeded, but it was understood in accepting the perilous message, +no instructions were to be given me; that I was to use my own judgment +and, if danger threatened the package, to destroy it before it should +be captured. + +The little Arequipena had long since been rebuilt, and I at once +proceeded to put her in readiness for the journey. Manuel, my fireman, +was a native of Arequipa, a powerfully built and sturdy fellow. He +had been much among the British and American railway men and could +understand English. + +After leaving orders as to the time of starting, I called on an +English friend and confided my mission. I asked him, in event of my +death, to write to my relatives in Scotland, giving the details. He +did everything in his power to dissuade me, but I told him his talk +was idle. No use, I had made up my mind. Upon seeing the Arequipena +ready, the men in the shops questioned me, but I evaded their +questions. + +I went to the office of the general manager and he gave me the +package, unaddressed, done up securely, and sealed with red wax. I +placed it in the inside pocket of my vest. The manager asked me to be +careful with myself. He would much rather I should not go, but in my +state of mind, I was only too glad to get my thoughts off the sad +remembrance of Felicita's fate. + +I left Arequipa at ten o'clock that night, cautiously and silently +leaving the station. I arrived at Puno the following evening and lay +over at Juliaca Junction a few hours. At this point the station master +asked me where I was going. I replied that I had orders for Puno. +Leaving Juliaca, I arrived at Puno at exactly five o'clock. I blew the +whistle for the station. I noticed that it was crowded with people, +but saw no one I would suspect of being a revolutionist. I put the +engine in the shed, and then went and washed up. I hid the package in +a secure place, where it was impossible for anyone to find it, as I +had planned to go to the hotel, eat supper and then learn my chances +for getting to the Prefecto, before I took the package from its hiding +place. The station of Puno, like all terminal stations of the Arequipa +railway, was fenced in by corrugated iron, about eight feet high, and +it was necessary to go through the station outlet, which was only +opened on the arrival and departure of trains, or another outlet +guarded by a dog and night watchman. I went out by the small gate, +familiarly bidding the watchman good evening. This gate only employes +had the right to use. I walked up town to the hotel Inca. I met +several gentlemen who knew me and asked one to play a game of +billiards before supper. No one seemed to think that my coming was +anything more than the usual routine of railway business. + +After darkness, I lit a cigar and strolled down the street where the +Prefecto lived. I observed the sentry at the front entrance and upon +close observation, I found that the rear of the house could be +approached by a little back street connecting with a small alleyway by +means of which the house could be entered from the front. + +I retraced my steps to the station but did not go near the gate. I +went around to the engine shed, where an opening had been made by the +boys so they could get to their rooms when out late nights and avoid +answering the questions of the watchman. When I reached the +Arequipena, the wipers were cleaning her. I spoke to the foreman, and +getting the package, went out the same way, no one noticing my +departure. Then going through, the narrow street I went up the small +alley and, seeing no one, presented myself at the main entrance of the +Prefecto's house. Here the sentry barred my passage and demanded the +password. I told him to call the officer of the guard, and when he +appeared I explained that I had important business with Senor +Prefecto, and desired to see him personally. + +"Who are you?" + +"The Senor Prefecto will answer that question," I replied. + +I had folded the package and hid it in the lining of my overcoat which +I had thrown over my arm. The officer withdrew for a few minutes, but +soon returned and allowed me to pass the sentry. Halting in front of a +large door, a signal was given and it was opened by another officer. I +was ushered in, and from there into an adjoining room, where I was +told to wait. + +Presently there came in a priest, then an officer with side arms, and +last Senor Prefecto, who asked me the nature of my business. I replied +that I had a message for the Prefecto, which could be imparted to him +alone. When my errand was communicated to him, he could do as he +chose. + +There was much hesitation before my request for a private audience was +granted, but on being searched, overcoat and all, the Senor Prefecto +finally agreed to see me alone. When the others had retired, I took +the package from the lining of my overcoat and gave it to him. + +I watched him closely as he read the contents. His face became +blanched, and his hands shook in abject fear, although nothing else +could have been expected from him, as he was an arrant coward. + +After reading the document, he called the others. He handed it to the +priest, who asked where I came from. I told him. Then he wanted to +know if anyone had seen me enter here, and whether the arrival of the +Arequipena was known. I told him I thought no one would pay any +attention to the arrival of the train but would consider it the +ordinary routine railway business. A consultation was held, and after +they found that I knew the contents of the message I had brought, they +admitted me to their council. They asked me to get the Arequipena +ready, and they and the principal officers would flee to Arequipa. I +told them that such a course could not be pursued, as all the +telegraph offices were in the hands of the insurgents, and that our +departure would become known, the engine surrounded and all taken +prisoners. They agreed it would be impossible to escape that way, and +decided that about midnight they would escape on horseback. Just then +an officer arrived and reported that the insurgents had taken +possession of the station, and two engines, one being the regular +passenger. One of the engine runners had been taken prisoner. Their +spy had reported that it was their intention to take both engines and +several coaches loaded with soldiers and arms; also, large quantities +of powder had been put on the Arequipena for the purpose of destroying +Sumbay bridge--to prevent the passage of government troops. + +I was forgotten for the time being, their fear for their own safety +outweighing all other considerations. Another officer came in and +breathlessly added the climax. The regiment of regulars had joined the +insurgents! + +I was now doing some rapid thinking. If Sumbay bridge was destroyed +and the fact not known in Arequipa, the government troops would come +along and, with the engine crew, be hurled into eternity. The bridge +being about one hundred and seventy-five feet high and six hundred +feet long and on a curve with deep cuts on either side and a heavy +down grade, it would be impossible for any train to stop, unless +warned beforehand. + +This was the murderous scheme of the insurgents. + +I learned it was the intention of the insurgents to proceed to +Vincocaya in the morning, destroy as they went along, the telegraph +offices, wait at Vincocaya until the arrival of the regular passenger +train from Arequipa and then proceed to Sumbay bridge. They evidently +had calculated with a great deal of precision, and if their plans +carried, victory would certainly be theirs. + +All these things were filling me with apprehension. I knew I would be +captured, but how could I save the bridge? I was determined to try at +all hazards. + + + + +XIV. + +FOR THE SAKE OF HUMANITY. + + +"This document calls for the payment of $10,000, and guarantees you +life employment by the government of Peru, provided you save the +Sumbay bridge," said the prefecto as he handed me a paper duly +witnessed by the priest. + +"No, Senor, I cannot accept it," I replied. "I will do my duty for the +sake of humanity. It is part of my plan to be captured by the +insurgents and should that paper be found on my person, I would be +shot as a spy. If I succeed you can reward me." + +I left the Prefecto and his party, wishing them a safe journey, and +sauntered carelessly back to the Inca hotel. I entered smoking a cigar +and wearing a look of unconcern, pretended I was not aware of any +revolutionary movement. There were several men playing billiards in +the parlors. I took a chair and sat down to watch the players. About +11 o'clock I asked to be shown to my room, and retired, knowing full +well that I had been watched by a citizen of Puno since my entrance to +the hotel, and I was satisfied I would soon be taken prisoner. + +About 2 o'clock in the morning, I was awakened from a restless sleep +by the entrance of twelve men armed with bare swords and revolvers. +They were all talking at once. I sat up in bed and appeared to be +amazed. The leader requested me to dress and accompany him. The +streets were lined with people shouting the old familiar cry, "Viva +Pierola," as I was marched in the center of this crowd. The cry +resounded down street after street. The city was wild with excitement. +The escape of the Prefecto was on every lip, as we turned at a street +corner and to the station. We had great difficulty in obtaining +entrance, but a passage was cleared and I was ushered into the +presence of the leader of the revolutionary forces. He was about +fifty years of age, some six feet in heighth, and powerfully built, +but with a countenance far from pleasing. + +With little ceremony, I was notified to get the Arequipena ready to +depart from the station at 7 o'clock in the morning. The principal +officers would go with her, I was told, and the regular train would +follow with the troops. + +I replied that as a British subject it would be impossible for me to +comply, unless force was used; that I protested against this +high-handed proceeding. I did this so that, in the future, no one +could accuse me of aiding the rebels willingly. He replied that he did +not care for the British government, that I would do as I was told or +suffer the consequences. They then escorted me to the engine house, +where I found my fireman Manuel already a prisoner; also Beaumont, the +other engineer, and his fireman. + +After getting the engine ready, I requested the officer in charge to +allow us to procure something to eat. His permission was given, then +another procession marched through the streets to the hotel, where the +rebel guards stood over us at breakfast. + +The Arequipena was ready. Behind were the passenger engine and five +coaches, which rebel troops were already entering. At breakfast I had +managed to get a few words with Beaumont. + +As the Arequipena was to go ahead, I would endeavor to get the +officers out to eat at Vincocaya. I would give a signal for him to +uncouple his engine and follow at full speed. It would be impossible +to stop him and they would be at the mercy of the government troops, +which would leave that afternoon, according to the instructions given +the Prefecto of Puno from Arequipa. + +The officers came aboard the little Arequipena and loaded on several +barrels of powder, picks and shovels to destroy the abutments of the +bridge. + +There were eleven officers who came aboard the coach, when to my +surprise, I beheld along with three soldiers, Don Rodrigo Garcia, who +was to guard me. I cannot describe my feelings. I know I am not a +coward, but I was taken with a shock of nervousness. It was not of +long duration. Indignation took the place of fear, but I realized how +formidable a task I had undertaken to save Sumbay bridge. Howbeit, I +determined more than ever to succeed, and the knowledge of that man +being near me, gave me renewed courage. + +Before starting he hissed to me: "Don Juan, we meet again." + +I did not answer. It was all I could do to keep from attacking him +despite the disadvantage I was at. The thought of the bridge, however, +restrained any hasty action. + +We left the station with the troop train closely following. According +to orders, our first stop would be at Juliaca station. I knew that +when we reached there the telegraph office would be destroyed. +Telegraph communication was cut off between Juliaca station and Puno. +Nearing the station, we stopped to take water from a tank. I asked +permission from the leader to allow my fireman to go and draw some +oil, explaining that I had none and it was necessary, that his going +there would not create suspicion, and it would save much time. I was +greatly surprised when he consented. I took a small piece of paper and +wrote the following in English: "Van Buren, I am coming with rebels to +destroy Sumbay bridge. Hurry up troops. Buchan." After writing, I read +aloud in Spanish: "Procure from Senor Southers, the station master, +two quarts of engine oil for the Arequipena." I handed it to Manuel +who understood my meaning. He took the engine cans and walked to the +office. + +My heart beat rapidly. I fairly held my breath. Would he be able to +see Southers before I took water? Would Southers understand my meaning +and get the message off before we arrived at the platform and find the +office destroyed? I delayed taking water as long as possible, then +pulled slowly down the track to the platform. The moment we stopped, +the officers rushed in the telegraph office and disconnected the +instruments from the wires. Don Rodrigo and his three soldiers never +left me for a moment, which made me suspect that my every movement +would be closely watched. + +The fireman came down the platform, both engine oil cans in his hands. +I asked him if he had seen Southers. He replied that he had and that +everything was all right. I received the oil and looked at him. His +look told plainly that the message was sent. I felt that a heavy load +had been lifted and breathed freer. I looked at Don Rodrigo. I was +satisfied that in a short time we would meet in a struggle that would +be the final one between us. + +After the office had been destroyed we started again, the troop train +always close behind us. We stopped at Cabanillas, Maravillas and Santa +Lucia and carried away their telegraph instruments; then we ran direct +to Vincocaya. Arriving there the telegraph office suffered like the +others. I pulled down in front of the hotel, then told the officers +that the passenger train was due in an hour, and that it would be +impossible to proceed until its arrival. I showed him the time card to +satisfy him I was telling the truth, and remarked that advantage might +be taken of the time by having supper. Accordingly all of them, left +the Arequipena except Don Rodrigo and the three soldiers. The officers +left their arms in the little coach. Now was the time to act. Should I +fail now, no other chance would present itself, for, after the arrival +of the passenger train, the only stop would be at Sumbay bridge, when +it would be too late. I figured that, after Van Buren had received my +message from Juliaca the troops could not possibly arrive at Sumbay +bridge before eight o'clock that night. It was four o'clock when we +reached Vincocaya and the passenger would be leaving Sumbay station. +Pucacancha was another station between Sumbay and Vincocaya. The grade +being 160 feet to the mile, the train makes very slow time between +Sumbay and Pucacancha. It was my only hope to succeed in getting to +Pucacancha before the arrival of the passenger train. + +I was nervous. I got off the engine, then called to Manuel to hand me +another oil can. I spoke to him in English to have everything ready. I +was going to run away with the engine--would he assist me? This I +asked while I was pretending to oil the engine, and I had to trust +largely to Manuel's intuition, as he knew but little English. He +returned to the engine and raised a full head of steam. I noticed Don +Rodrigo watching me from one of the side doors of the coach. I climbed +back on the engine and put away the oil can, when Rodrigo said with a +significant tone: "My time will soon come when I can avenge the insult +I received at Tiravaya." + +I did not answer. I knew his meaning. When my services were no longer +required, he would, with his cowardly instinct, devise a means to kill +me. The three soldiers were a fair sample of the poor ignorant +Peruvians. They were armed with breech-loading rifles of French +pattern, bayonets fixed. After Rodrigo had muttered his threat, he +went into the little coach, sitting directly behind me, and could, by +his position, observe every move I made. Manuel was standing on the +left watching me. Although I had endeavored to make him understand, he +was not aware of my plans. I looked back and saw the troop train +taking water at the tank. I looked at Manuel, and he understood "the +time had come." + +With my left hand, I threw the throttle wide open and with my right +blew the signal agreed upon. With a prayer to God I threw myself upon +the nearest soldier. + + + + +XV. + +IN DESPERATE STRUGGLE FOR LIFE. + + +Don Rodrigo and his soldiers were surprised. I dealt the one nearest +me a terrific blow in the face. Don Rodrigo raised his hand to fire. I +knocked his gun from his hand. The other soldier thrust at me with his +bayonet, inflicting a severe scalp wound, which along with another +thrust at me with his bayonet in my left arm, gave him time to +recover. I struck the soldier in the face, and knocked him to the +floor. The other was coming at me, when Manuel, armed with a shovel, +brought it down with terrific force on his head. + +By this time the engine was going at lightning speed, having reached a +down grade of 160 feet to the mile. The throttle was wide open. I knew +we would soon reach some sharp curves and if the speed was not +checked, the engine would jump the track. I called to Manuel to shut +off the steam, and apply the brakes. At this time I was struggling +with Don Rodrigo for life or death. We had clinched one another. I +spoke once. + +"Recuerdo Felicita," I hissed in his ear. + +He did not speak. He was never a physical match for me, but at this +moment he seemed endowed with superhuman strength. His face took on +the awful look of desperation, that comes to men when death seems near +at hand. His lithe body struggled to be free of my grasp. He tried to +trip me and just then the engine rounded a sharp curve causing him to +stagger. The side door of the coach was open. For a moment he vainly +tried to catch hold of something, and then, with a shriek upon his +lips, fell from the speeding coach. + +The struggle had lasted but a short time, but it had seemed to me +hours. Manuel bandaged my head and arm. The two soldiers remained +perfectly passive, suffering from severe blows. The one felled by +Manuel was still unconscious. + +We were within three miles of Pucacancha, rounding a sharp curve, when +I looked back and exclaimed: "My God, Manuel, the troop train is +coming!" My blood almost froze, but realizing that this was no time +for fright, I determined to master the situation. + +I knew the two soldiers would not attempt to molest us. They had +learned a lesson. I looked at my watch. In five minutes the passenger, +if on time, would be at Pucacancha. The troop train could not reach +there for fifteen minutes, because at all obscure places it would have +to go slow for fear of meeting obstructions on the track. + +I reached Pucacancha, stopping far enough back to allow the passenger +to pull up and back on the side track. The siding had only one switch, +chiefly used for ballast for the road bed. I looked anxiously for the +passenger. Seconds dragged like hours. Would she never come? There was +a curve not far from the station, and the passenger could not be seen +until it almost reached it. I listened. I could hear the low +tremulous noise of the rails, a puff of black smoke went up from +behind the curve--at last it was in view, engine No. 8. On seeing me +the engineer came to a sudden stop. I hurriedly told him what to do. +He was to back onto the siding and let me pass, then pull out and +follow me back to Pampa de Avieras, where I told him the government +troops would surely be. Our plans were quickly executed. I determined +that should the troop train come before I could get by the passenger, +Manuel and I would desert the Arequipena, start her back with a full +head of steam, and cause a collision. No doubt there would have been +loss of life, but it would have given an opportunity to escape by +going on the passenger train. + +Dobbie, the engineer, succeeded well in backing into the clear. Not +seeing the troop train, I ran with a hammer and spike when he left the +switch with the Arequipena ahead of him and spiked the track. Just +then the troop train came in sight. I hurriedly boarded the +Arequipena and started, Dobbie backing up at fast as he could. + +There were several officers on the engine of the troop train, and when +they saw us they compelled the engineer to increase his speed, with +the result he could not check his train in time to stop it from +running into the switch. His engine jumped the track half burying +itself in the ground. + +We arrived at Pampa de Avieras and the government troops came thirty +minutes later. I was beginning to get weak from loss of blood. My left +arm seemed to be a dead weight, and the muscles were painful and +swollen. The people from the passenger train crowded about me and did +everything in their power to relieve my suffering. The soldier who had +been struck with the shovel came out of his stupor. + +I was lying in the coach of the Arequipena, when the commanding +officer of the government troops came to see me. After detailing the +story to him, I turned over fourteen rifles, ten revolvers, and seven +swords, all the cartridges and barrels of powder, together with the +three soldiers whom I pleaded for, stating that compulsion was the +cause of their joining the insurgents. I insisted on their hurrying to +Sumbay bridge, although I told him they did not have anything now with +which to destroy the bridge. However, they could post their troops +should they arrive first and be in position to command the approaches. +After leaving me, he ordered his troops forward. + +I was getting weaker and weaker. At last orders came to go to Arequipa +with the Arequipena. The station master telegraphed to have a doctor +ready for me on my arrival. It was nearly forty miles from Pampa de +Avieras to Arequipa, mostly down grade. I had to give the engine up to +Manuel, as the pain in my arm became so intense I had to lie down. The +station at Arequipa was crowded back to the street, the news having +been telegraphed by the officer in command of the government troops. I +could hear cries of "Viva Juancita!" that being my name in Spanish. + +The people in Arequipa were loyal to the existing government. The +general manager met me with the doctor. His eyes were full of tears +when he saw me. I presented a horrible and bloody appearance, the +wound in my head still bleeding, my left arm in a sling and my clothes +almost in rags. + +I was carried from the coach by four of my friends to my room where +the faithful Chico had everything prepared. Cries of "Viva Juancita!" +rent the air from the time I left the coach until the doctor requested +silence. Manuel was taken home by his friends. The poor people, +ignorant of the revolution, but knowing by the demonstration that +something unusual had happened, realized that he had done something +deserving recognition. + +My friends grouped about with tear-dimmed eyes, and warmly pressed my +hand. Chico, looking at me with a most sympathetic expression on his +Indian features, did not restrain his tears. For days I tossed in +pain and delirium. + +One day when the general manager came, he told me that another +engineer who had taken out the Arequipena to repair the telegraph, +came up with a body of the insurgents who were going to surrender, but +they intended to kill him first thinking he was I. Only the timely +interposition of one who knew him, saved his life. The insurgents had +got their engine back on the track after much time and labor, but it +was damaged and as they were out of water, they gave up hope of +winning their cause. + +The train bearing the government troops stopped when within a few +miles of Vincocaya, where they picked up the body of Don Rodrigo +Garcia and buried it near the track. He would have exulted over my +death, but I cannot say that I felt any satisfaction because he was +dead. It only brought sad memories of the past. + + + + +XVI. + +THE SCREAMING WINDS OF NIGHT. + + +I sat on the broad balcony of the British consulate at Mollendo, +looking out over the blue waters of the Pacific. The soft breeze from +the south seas imparted the glow of health. How proud I felt with the +knowledge that no one dared insult me beneath the blue and crimson +folds that waved above. Safe from the assassin's knife at the hands of +some of Pierola's men, of whom I had been warned, I felt a certain +refuge beneath the ensign of my country. + +"Don Juan, does that make me a Britisher, too?" asked Manuel, pointing +to the flag above. + +"Yes, it protects you too. Pierola's men do not dare to harm us +here." + +"Praised be the Virgin," replied Manuel, crossing himself. + +The great bells of the cathedral tolled out a funeral knell as a +solemn procession marched to a transport ship. They were dust covered, +haggard men, with a hunted look, chained in pairs. On either side +marched a file of soldiers with fixed bayonets. Pierola's men were +being taken to Lima. + +I arose from the balcony and went inside. They had to pass under the +balcony of the British consulate to reach the wharf. I did not care to +witness their misery and so remained indoors until their departure. +The revolution over, there was nothing now to fear; Manuel packed my +belongings and we returned to Arequipa. + +The general manager requested me to take care of the shops of +Vincocaya. It would enable me to be quiet and recover from my wounds, +as there was nothing to do but to see that the work was kept going. +Meanwhile the excitement of the revolution would die out. + +Vincocaya is situated high in the Andes, above timber line, a desolate +and dreary waste of rock and crag, where wild winds scream among the +cliffs in the blackness of the night, as though a thousand imprisoned +Joshuas were reaching upward for that sun which will stand still no +more over the plains of Ajalon. Leaden clouds drift like winding +sheets among the peaks and hover like a pall over ca�on and deep +ravine. The grave of Don Rodrigo was but a few miles distant, but I +never visited it. There have been times when I regretted not +stretching forth my hand to save him, but at the time, with a most +violent hatred of the man and the many injuries I had received from +him, and the attempt to save the bridge foremost in my mind, I found +excuse for lack of the finer feelings. And, too, what would it benefit +had he been saved? His life was spent in debauchery, the gambling +table and plots to overthrow any government where a leader in +opposition to the ruling power would promise him a political office. + +Deep down in my heart I felt the weight of the past; those shrieking +winds of the night were the responsive echoes of my soul for the +loved and lost. Was it upon this planet or upon some distant sphere +that we two had met and loved and builded hopes as high as the lofty +peaks that now entombed me--hope and love that may have been breathed +in the morning of the world when the spirit of God dwelt within +us--hope that existed before the wrathful change that shattered all +and turned an Eden into blackness and despair? + +Days, weeks and months passed. Often I would spend hours in the wild +solitudes hunting the vicuna and alpaca, or in some gloomy ca�on +communing with myself. Within my spirit I could hear an undertone, +"Why cast thyself on waters wild, believing that God is gone, that +love is dead and Nature spurns her child?" So, from my grief, I arose +at length to feel new life returning. New hopes and ambitions sprang +forth in my soul that had so keenly felt God's chastening rod. + +A year had passed. I was in Arequipa. Chico had my room ready and my +friends gave me a splendid banquet in one of the largest restaurants +in the city. In all ages the world has had two ways of doing honor to +a man. One is by parade, the other by setting him down to a banquet +table and making speeches about him until they overcrowd his emotions +and leave him limp and speechless. I had to pass through this ordeal. +The Prefectos of Arequipa and Puno, the Commanding General of the +Government troops, the manager and officials of the railway and a host +of friends of lesser note, but none the less loyal hearts, crowded the +banquet room. They feasted, drank wine, sang songs and made speeches +to me and about me that were enough to have satisfied the vanity of a +survivor of Thermopylae. At the close, the Prefecto of Puno arose, and +after saying things that were loudly applauded, presented me with ten +thousand dollars not as a gift, but as something I had justly earned. +He was followed by the general manager of the railroad, who said his +company desired to show their appreciation of my conduct in the Sumbay +bridge affair, and on their behalf he presented me with two thousand +dollars. Manuel, too, came in for his share of honors and praise. He +was presented with five hundred dollars by the Prefecto of Puno and +two hundred dollars by the company--more money than he had ever seen +in his life, or ever hoped to possess. Deserving fellow, his eyes +streamed with tears of joy and gratitude when he received the money +which would now enable him to own a comfortable home. His pleasure was +even greater the next day, when I gave him one thousand dollars. + +[Illustration: THE HOME VOYAGE OF THE AVEN WAS FRAUGHT WITH ALL THE +DANGERS OF THE SEA. (Page 26)] + +A month later, and Arequipa was wild with excitement. War had been +declared by Chile against allied Peru and Bolivia. It was a sad blow, +as Peru had been extremely prosperous and was rapidly forging ahead in +the commerce of the world. I had concluded to leave the country and +seek some other field, when a call was made to the railroad men to +assist the government to convey troops from the interior to the coast. +I responded and was sent to Santa Rosa on the proposed railway to +Cusco, the ancient capital of Peru. Here a great number of Indians +were huddled together to be sent to Arequipa, and drilled and sent to +the coast. They were abject and disconsolate. The priests were calling +on them to be brave and return victorious. These people had never seen +the ocean and had never lived in an altitude of less than two miles. +There was much suffering in store for them under the tropic sun of the +coast. I asked an officer if he thought these men would make good +soldiers. He replied with an air of great importance, and looking +quite serious, that he had received word that the Chilean navy was +coming to bombard Mollendo, and it was his intention to instruct the +Indians in the use of the rifle. When the ships came near enough, he +would station his men among the rocks and shoot the sailors off the +decks. This, too, with flint lock rifles--a sample of the calibre of +the Peruvian officer of the interior and his unfortunate Indian +soldiers. + +After getting to the head of the Tambo valley, I proceeded to +Mollendo and found a terrible state of affairs. Everyone was expecting +the Chilean fleet; men and women were carrying their household goods +to the mountains. At sight of every ship on the horizon, whether +sailing vessel or steamer, a cry would go forth--"They come--they +come!" The greatest confusion prevailed. There was no organization, no +discipline; everybody for himself, and all running at the cry +of--"They come!" + +One morning about ten o'clock the hostile fleet did come. + + + + +XVII. + +THE BARBARIAN MEETS HIS INGOMAR. + + +A heavy fog was clearing from the sea, when from out of the mist rose +the black hull and conning tower of the Cochrane. The senior officers +of the flagship stood grouped on the starboard rail. The wind changed +suddenly to the west, and, as it changed, it rolled up patches of the +fog and revealed the black hull and conning tower of the Enlado. A +heavy cloud of smoke poured from their funnels; decks cleared for +action when they should put into practice the desperate objects of +their existence. + +A boat was lowered from the flagship and rowed to the wharf of +Mollendo by sturdy Chileans, while an officer bore a message to the +Prefecto for all noncombatants to leave the city, as bombardment would +begin in an hour. + +As the boat was leaving, it was fired upon. Then the ear-splitting +reports which followed showed how the flagship took this breach of the +rules of war. There was the rushing swishing sound, the terrifying +screech of projectiles passing through the air, followed by terrific +explosions and the crash of falling buildings. + +In the city, pandemonium reigned. Men and women with blanched faces, +were fleeing to the hills. Others threw themselves upon the ground, +too terror-stricken to move. I heard a voice at my elbow calling in +English. It was the voice of a woman, young and fair. "This way," said +I, and we hurried toward the massive rock from whose summit I had +watched the battle of the Huascar and Amythist two years before. + +"We are safe now," I said, as we stood behind the thousands of tons of +granite, "safe as if we were behind the rock of Gibraltar." + +"Oh, mother, sister and Mr. Robinson--heaven help them at this hour!" +she exclaimed. A shell struck a stone building and exploded by +impact; fragments screamed like a panther in the air. + +The young woman's face was blanched to a death-like pallor, but she +was calm, and, kneeling by my side, she asked God to help us. Aloud +she prayed, a beautiful, impressive prayer, one that must have gone +straight to the throne of heaven and received its answer, for soon the +wind shifted and those belching volcanoes of the sea were curtained by +the fog; the firing ceased. + +We hurried to her home amid scenes of desolation and confusion. Her +family was safe and, to my surprise, the Mr. Robinson she had spoken +of was an employe of our railway, who had but lately arrived from the +United States and to whom I had been introduced a few days before. + +The bombardment was now over, but the human wolves began to sack the +city. Fire was raging in some quarters and burned far into the night. +It lit the streets with a lurid glare; its red light fell upon +motionless figures in the dust, and scurrying forms, bent beneath +their weight of plunder. + +Mr. Robinson was anxious to send his family to Arequipa, and I lent +them all possible assistance, receiving their heartfelt thanks. They +were in a strange land, not even knowing the language of the country. +Hattie, the young woman I had met, was the sister-in-law of Mr. +Robinson. Mrs. Robinson and her mother, an aged woman, were +disappointed with Peru and were glad to get away from the theatre of +war. + +I met the Indian soldiers the next day, and the officer commanding was +very indignant at his superior for not allowing him to go to the rocks +at Mollendo and pick off the gunners from the battle ships, with flint +lock rifles. + +I was a frequent visitor at the home of the Robinson family in +Arequipa, with whom I had now become well acquainted. It was strange +to my ears to hear them all talk English, for seldom had I heard my +own language spoken by women. The old lady was one of those quiet, +sweet, motherly women. Once introduced to her, it seemed one had +always known her. The whole family was the happiest and most cheerful +I had ever met. Hattie Judson became school teacher to the English and +American children in Arequipa, and her gentle ways soon won the hearts +of all. I enjoyed taking her to the theatre and other places of +amusement, because of her bright conversation and high ideals. From +her I began to catch a glimpse of the nobler things of life, things +that to me, being but poorly educated and in a foreign land, had been +denied. She was a sweet singer and an excellent performer on the +piano, and somehow when she sang I was able to understand the +soul-reaching depths of the melody. + +There was company at the house one night, when I heard her sing for +the first time "Coming Thro' the Rye." My soul floated back to Bonnie +Scotland, as when a boy I saw the waving fields of grain, the cows in +the barnyard, and the lassies coming down the path from school; my +mother with the willow basket, bringing in the clothes from the line, +and father smoking his pipe by the well--scenes that nevermore would +return. + +In our walks in the shaded dells of the mountains, she often told me +of the United States, the habits and customs of the people--how +ambitions and aspirations were rewarded when accompanied by virtue and +industry. Of the history of Peru she knew far more than I. It was +interesting to hear from her lips the strange stories of the +conquering Pizzaro hosts, whose mailed heels had once trod the ground +we walked, and clanked the knell of a fallen empire. + +My school had been the school of adversity. I had grown up with men +who knew or cared little for the finer sensibilities. I felt that her +standards of life were superior to mine. Her loyalty to God and holy +charity toward the humblest soul, bent my spirit to profound respect. +She was one who could see all there was of good in mankind and could +measure the product of one's powers and give them impulse and +direction. In my soul I bowed to the fair graces of her character. +Each day we met I found in her some new wealth of noble thoughts that +created higher ideals in my own untutored mind. + +As time went on, fiercer rose the maddening cries of war. I felt the +hot blood surge in my veins and I longed to be at the front, amid the +roar of cannon and the clash of arms. + +We were walking in a grove beneath the swift glimmer of the tropical +twilight, when I told her that I felt it my duty to fight for the land +that had been the home of my youth for so many years, and showed her a +letter in which I was offered an officer's commission on the Huascar. +She laid her hand on my arm and said, "There are nobler things in life +than the shedding of the blood of fellow men. The youth of the world +goes out to fight for the empty glory of another's crown. It is not on +the field of carnage that greatest honors are won, but in the nobler, +more peaceful pursuits of life, doing good and becoming leaders of +men and preventing war, that one wins the royal diadem of him who +said, 'peace on earth, good will to men.'" + +As she spoke in earnest eloquence, I could have knelt and worshipped +her. Her delicate cheeks were flushed, and her eyes were filled with +tears. + +No words of love had yet been spoken, but the Barbarian knew and felt +that he had met his Ingomar. + + + + +XVIII. + +ON SUNNY SEAS BOUND NORTH. + + +I met Mr. Robinson on the street one day, bleeding from a wound on his +face. He said that Mr. Wood, superintendent of our railway, had struck +him. Two of Mr. Wood's children were attending Miss Judson's school, +and on account of the official position of their father, behaved in an +ugly manner. Miss Judson made complaint to the school board, which +exasperated Mr. Wood and he demanded her resignation. This the board +would not permit. He called Mr. Robinson to his office and dismissed +him from the service of the company. Being requested by Mr. Robinson +to give his reasons for his dismissal, he struck him. + +I was angry to think a young man would so brutally use a man of Mr. +Robinson's age, and, too, in a strange country. Before I could +restrain myself I demanded his reason for striking Mr. Robinson. Mr. +Wood replied in a haughty manner that he was not accustomed to account +for his acts. I replied: "Perhaps not, but when one of your position +and age so far forgets himself as to strike an old man, any respect +you may be entitled to is dispelled by your cowardly act." + +For a moment it looked serious. He raised his hand as if to strike me. +I said: "Mr. Wood, if you attempt to go any farther I will certainly +be a far different antagonist than Mr. Robinson, and teach you that +some of your acts, at least, will be rewarded in a manner not to your +liking." He knew he had gone too far, and said in a quieter tone, that +he did not consider the affair any of my business. + +"Mr. Robinson is an American; let his countrymen investigate this +matter. I will deal with them." + +"Mr. Wood," I replied, "I hope the time will never come when a Briton +will so far forget his duty as not to go to the assistance of any +family, irrespective of nationality." + +At this moment some other shop men came in, loud in their denunciation +of Mr. Wood. There is something that binds a Britisher and an American +when they are away from their respective countries, and among +strangers. On many occasions I have seen the Britisher and American +argue and even quarrel over the merits of their countries but when +serious trouble arose, all jealousies would be cast aside, and each +one would endeavor to outdo the other in kindness. + +That night an indignation meeting was held in a large building +formerly used as a storeroom. The employes all knew the reason of Mr. +Wood's attack on Mr. Robinson. Although the majority of them were +working under Mr. Wood, they felt the indignity inflicted on Mr. +Robinson was an insult to them all, most of them having children +attending the school. + +From the beginning of the school, Mr. Wood had tried to dominate it. +This was another reason for the employes' grievances and, chief of +all, they were now being paid in the depreciated currency of the +country. The meeting was conducted in a quiet business manner. The +sentiment was to strike until Mr. Wood was removed from office. + +I told the men that that would be an injustice, as the general manager +was in Lima and we had no one to appeal to. Therefore we should +continue to work until we could communicate with him. This appeal had +the desired effect, as all could see the injury our strike would +inflict on the railway. + +I was then selected as the representative of the employes to go to +Lima and lay the matter before the general manager. I was about to +start when I was handed a note from the superintendent, saying that my +services were no longer required. I replied that I would receive my +orders from his superior and proceeded on my journey. + +At Lima I succeeded in reinstating Mr. Robinson, and shortly after my +return to Arequipa, Mrs. Robinson died. Grief at the injury inflicted +upon her husband and a feeling of friendlessness in a foreign land, +had hastened her end. Another indignation meeting was held and Mr. +Wood was dismissed from the service of the company. Mr. Robinson +became despondent and after a few months decided to leave the +country. + +The war with Chile was still on. The Peruvian army suffered defeat +after defeat. Her navy had made some show of success at first, but not +after the terrible fight between the Huascar, and two Chile ironclads, +in which the Peruvians lost. The currency of the country became +practically worthless. My accumulation of years was almost swept +away. + +Mr. Robinson decided to return to their home in San Louis Obispo, +California, and about this time I received an offer from the Peruvian +government to bring a torpedo boat from Panama to Mollendo. The +Robinson family were going north on the steamer which would carry me +to Panama. On leaving, our friends gave us a splendid banquet and +assembled at the station to bid us farewell. Poor Chico, I can see him +yet, waving his old red handkerchief with his right hand, his left +covering his eyes. + +When the ship moved out of the port, I stood on the deck with Hattie. +Mr. Robinson and the aged mother stood near us looking upon the scene +amid a flood of tears. The memory of their dead they were leaving +behind, was no doubt uppermost in their minds. + +I looked upon the mountains we were just leaving until they were a +mere speck. I intended to perform one last service for Peru, for, +however much I had suffered, it was my boyhood's home, the only home I +had had since leaving my native shores. + +We were a week making the voyage from Mollendo to Panama. The weather +was fine and the sea was smooth. I was in company with Hattie much of +the time. In her gentle way, she sought to dissuade me from the +perilous undertaking with the torpedo boat. But when I reminded her of +my duty to Peru she said no more. I could see, however, she was +pained at the thought. + +The north bound steamer had gone when we arrived at Panama and the +Robinsons would have to wait ten days, which compelled them to stay at +the hotel in that sultry city. + +After visiting the Peruvian consul, who had been notified of my +mission by his government, I learned that a Chilean cruiser was +watching the torpedo boat and it was decided to await a dark night +when we could escape from Panama harbor. Meantime I stopped at the +same hotel with the Robinsons. I made several trips around the bay to +test the speed of the boat and was satisfied we could outrun the +cruiser, but somehow I began to dread the venture. The full force of +this feeling dawned on me when I realized I was in love with Hattie. + +The day was drawing near for their departure, when Hattie and I were +seated on the veranda of the hotel, looking out over the Pacific. The +afternoon wore away, the sun began to set in the dense blue haze of +the tropic ocean, the great cathedral bells pealed out the hour of +eight, the night birds screeched from out the palms, and still we sat +in the glow of the twilight, talking of our past and future. + +The streets became silent and even some stars had faded from the skies +and the ceaseless roar of the surf beating upon the sands was music, +when she promised to be my wife. + +[Illustration: FLIGHT OF THE TORPEDO BOAT. (Page 158)] + + + + +XIX. + +DEATH SHIPS OF THE SEA. + + +A thick fog rose from the sea, as we stole away in the darkness with +the torpedo boat. We had no distinguishing lights and every sound was +muffled. Even the funnels were protected against the tell-tale sparks +of soft coal. The spume of the sea fell over our forward deck in +flecks, and the waves splashed at our bow. The harbor lights of Panama +shone in a glow of sickly yellow. + +An officer stood by the hooded binnacle, watching our course by the +faint glow of a tiny lamp. The bulldog engines, which I was working, +were speeding us at 17 knots an hour and we were headed for Mollendo. +We had no armament. That was sent to the Peruvian government by other +means and our only defense against the Chilean cruiser was a clean +pair of heels. + +Suddenly, the eye of a search-light opened, and sent a long gleam of +yellow into the fog. It swung around and rested for a moment on the +column of smoke trailing from our funnels and changed its color from a +black to a fiery red. It rested there a moment, then closed and all +was darkness. The tumult was deafening. The hissing rush of +projectiles, as they struck the water and exploded by impact, or +shrieked in ricochet overhead. + +The brave officer at the binnacle fell to the deck, his mangled body a +quivering mass. One funnel was struck midway and cut in twain as +though by a sharpened blade. Fire darted up from the half funnel, and +showed the cruiser's gunners the correctness of their aim. It lit our +deck with its glare and showed the bodies of two others on the forward +deck bathed in blood. Another officer coolly took his place at the +binnacle and directed a change in the course of the boat. + +The spurting jets of fire from our broken funnel gleamed in the fog, +like a beacon light to those on board the gaunt black monster of the +seas, in pursuit of his prey. A hunted thing on the black waves, we +crowded on every ounce of steam throughout the watches of the night. + +With the morning came the blaze of the tropic sun. It drove the fog +off the sea and showed us the hull of the cruiser, looming up out of +the purple mist. Steadily, we held our course, with steam up to the +danger line. By noon we had gained a little, and again, with the +approach of night, the fog began to rise and soon enveloped us in its +grey cloak. But that beacon light from our funnel shone hateful as its +spurting jets flashed signals to the enemy in pursuit. + +Another night passed, and, when the fog lifted again, there was the +vampire even nearer than before. + +The nervous strain was telling on our crew. The day before we joked +and laughed--we would outrun him yet in the night. We would have; but +for the glare from that funnel. We might have stolen into some cove +and let him pass us in the dark, but for that. He did not waste shot +anymore, we were going his way. He could afford to wait. The third day +the crew was worn and silent. They had the look of desperation in +their faces, as they threw furtive glances back at the spectre, the +Ship of Death--The Black Coffin--we called him now. + +At high noon, we met an American warship. His crew crowded to his +decks and gave cheer after cheer in sympathy for our desperate plight. +The big greyhound of the sea was chasing the rabbit he had bitten and +maimed, and the sympathy was with the weak. By night the nervous +strain had become almost a frenzy. Then to add to our peril, the coal +in the bunkers was running low. Something must happen in our favor +soon. Our signal still flashed from the half funnel--our signal of +distress--and by midnight we called it our funeral candle. The sky was +clear now and the stars were shining. We could see lights flash now +and then through the haze of the sea. When morning came there he was +big, black, hideous--still in our wake. + +Coal for eight more hours only. Surely something would happen; help +must come, out of the sea, out of the sky, out of somewhere, only it +must come. The sea was smooth; not a ship could be seen on the +horizon. All on board were in restless anxiety. Only coal for three +more hours. + +We were now off Ecuador. The officer in command called the crew. + +"We shall have to surrender the boat," he said. + +The assistant engineer, two stokers and myself, all of us British, +shouted "Never! We are not here to lay in a Chilean prison and perhaps +be shot! We beach the boat!" Our emphasis was our drawn revolvers. + +Without a word, the officer headed the boat for the shore. We gathered +up a few edibles and when we grounded the boat, swam to the beach. The +officer lingered for some time after all were ashore, then hurried +over her sides and made his escape. The Chilean cruiser launched her +boat, eight sailors to each side of rowlocks, an ensign and a party of +marines. They rowed rapidly to the torpedo boat and half of them +climbed on board, when her sides parted and a terrific flame shot +upward, bearing the bodies of a dozen men. The officer had lit the +fuse that did the work. + +Ten days afterwards the two stokers, assistant engineer and myself, +footsore and ragged, went on board the British mail steamer at +Guay�quil and presented ourselves to the gruff old captain. + +"Get below in the stoke-hole and black up," he said, "the Chilean +government offers five thousand dollars reward for each of you. If we +are searched you are stokers." + +Meanwhile, on board another ship far to the north were aching hearts. +Hattie's aged mother fell ill when two days out from Panama and the +next day she passed away. Rules required that the body be buried at +sea. It was a solemn group that assembled at the ship's gangway, while +all that was mortal of the aged mother rested on a plank, one end of +which was held by a sailor. Slowly the chaplain read the beautiful +service. The ship was stopped. Not a sound was heard and the midnight +moon was hidden by clouds. "Therefore we commit this body to the +deep," was pronounced. The plank was raised and the body was swallowed +up in the cavernous depths of the ocean. + +Hattie leaned upon the arm of Mr. Robinson, who tenderly escorted her +to the cabin when the rites were over. To her the world was gloomy and +desolate, her sister but recently buried in far away Arequipa and the +mother now in the sea. With a fortitude beyond her years the Christian +girl bore bravely her deep sorrows, trusting in Him "who doeth all +things well." When the ship reached the open roadstead of Port +Harford, and she again landed on the shores of her native California, +she went to her former home--a vine-clad cottage in San Louis Obispo. + +It was here I found her some weeks after I assumed the role of stoker +on the British mail steamer. Mr. Robinson had gone to his former home +in Missouri, but Hattie was protected by relatives. We talked of our +coming marriage. It was not possible at that time. I had lost so much +money by exchange from the paper currency of Peru to the gold of +California, that I needed time to replenish my almost depleted purse. +We decided that we would wait one year, meanwhile I would go to +Arizona and run an engine on the railroad east of Tuscon. + +It made my heart glad to be in a country once more where my own +language was spoken and among people whose customs were like unto that +of my native land. There was no prejudice toward me on account of my +foreign birth, such as I had often encountered in Peru. The hand of +fellowship was extended in this broad free land of the United States, +where the greatness of men is measured almost by merit alone. + +What surprised me at first was the absence of soldiers until I came to +understand the peace-loving disposition of the people, and learned +that in the hour of the country's need, all men became her defenders. + +It was one of those balmy afternoons, so characteristic of southern +California, when Hattie and I were seated in a park overlooking the +beautiful Los Ossis valley. Our plans were made for the future, and I +was to leave that night for Arizona. It was the tender parting of man +and woman whose lives had been seared by the hot irons of adversity, +and each felt that the other was the one and all upon this planet. + + * * * * * + +Here Buchan's narrative was broken short. He was writing the last +chapter on a pair of ladies' dainty cuffs, when he stopped and +listened. He arose to his feet. "Do you know," he said, "I thought a +moment ago I heard something--her voice." + + + + +XX. + +A DAUGHTER OF THE CHEROKEES. + + +Mary Greenwater was not the ugly, coarse-featured woman that many +squaws are. She possessed many of the fine features of her white +sisters. She had been well educated at the Carlisle Indian school, and +had traveled much. While, with other Cherokee Indians, she drew her +annuities from the government, yet she was known to be the wealthiest +woman of the tribe. She was lavish in the expenditure of money. Her +home in the Cherokee hills was elaborately furnished with the richest +of carpets and furniture; even a grand piano adorned her parlor. But +with all its costly appointments, the house was a wilderness of +disorder. Like other of her race, she despised anything akin to +neatness. Her dresses were gaudy in color and extravagant in style. +Pearl necklaces, diamond brooches and rings were worn on all +occasions. She owned fine carriages and many spirited horses. As a +horsewoman, she was an expert and as a pistol shot she was accounted +the best in the Cherokee nation. Her servants were the half-breed +Indian Negroes to whom her word was as absolute a law as any Caliph +ever possessed over a tribe. She was accustomed to command, and if +disobeyed she enforced her orders at the point of the revolver she +always carried. + +The source of Mary Greenwater's wealth was a mystery. Those of her +tribe gave themselves no concern about it, but the matter was a +subject of much comment among the few white men in the territory. +Mercer, a young man of adventurous spirit, hearing of her fabulous +wealth, sought her hand in marriage. After the wedding, he used all +his arts to wring from her the secret of her riches. Once when she +started on one of her lone journeys to the hills of the Grand River, +he attempted to follow and that was the last ever seen or heard of +him. That the woman possessed the secret of a vast amount of lost +treasure was evident, as she spent many Spanish gold coins of ancient +date as months rolled on, and this induced Grim, a farm hand, to marry +her. She elevated him from a menial position, to overseer of her +ranch. She gave him money, which he recklessly spent at the faro +tables at the Garrison. When she refused to further indulge him in his +reckless expenditures, he, like Mercer, attempted to follow her on her +journey to the Grand River hills one night. He was missed by his +companions who went in numbers to search for him, taking an Indian +guide. They were led in an opposite direction from the way he went and +his fate remained a mystery, until many months later his body was +found in the Grand River, with a bullet in the brain. + +Two years after the death of Grim, Carson and a negro were hunting in +the Grand River country and were encamped one night in the hills. +While seated beside their campfire, they heard a cry of distress. +Upon going to the spot, they found a lone Indian woman pinioned +beneath her pony, which had stepped into a wolf hole and broke its +leg. The woman was badly injured and they carried her to their +campfire and made her comfortable. The next day they constructed a +rude litter and carried her twenty miles to a place where she could +receive medical attention. + +The woman was Mary Greenwater, and this was, perhaps, the first act of +kindness she had ever received. + +A certain escapade at the close of Carson's college days had caused +him to migrate to the West, where, like many others, he became a +soldier of fortune, drifting whither the strongest tide wind blew. +When Mary Greenwater recovered she sought him, and in her gratitude +made him the overseer of her ranch at a princely salary. + +In course of time they were married by the ancient Indian ceremony of +the Fastest Horse. When the days of feasting were over, and Mary +Greenwater's relatives had returned to their cabins richer by a +number of ponies, Mary told Carson a wondrous story of how, many +summers ago, when her grandfather was a boy, a Spanish caravan came +from Santa Fe and was besieged in the Grand river hills for many days, +and of how, finding that they would eventually be starved to death if +they remained, the travelers had hidden their possessions among the +lime rocks and undertaken to cut their way through the Indian hordes +to a place of safety. Her grandfather had found the hiding place of +the treasure and had kept it a profound secret from all except +herself, to whom he told it only when he began to sing his death +song. + +Mary Greenwater swore to Carson that the hiding place of the Spanish +treasure would never be known except to one other member of her tribe, +and then not until after her death. She told him there were valuable +papers which she knew none of her people could ever use, and which she +later gave to Carson. + +The documents were discolored and the ink faded and this much Carson +was able to decipher: "Jean Maldonado visited a far distant country +north of Santa Fe--a wide valley through which flowed a stream, along +the banks were bushes that bore fruit like unto those of Spain--in the +valley were herds of oxen of the bigness and color of our bulls--their +horns are not so great--they have a great bunch upon their fore +shoulders and more hair on the forepart than on the hindpart; they +have a horse's mane upon their backbone and much hair and very long +from the knees downward--they have great tufts of hair hanging from +their foreheads and it seemeth they have beards--they push with their +horns--they overtake and kill a horse--finally it is a fierce beast of +countenance and form of body--we feared these beasts and stayed near +the mountains named the Sangre de Christo.... Climbed the mountain to +a great flat rock that stood on end like a platter.... Jean Maldonado, +commander of an expedition reached this place 1750.... The mine +yielded much gold in a rock like white china--Babtiste beat it out +with--Mattheo returned from Santa Fe with more donkeys--loaded donkeys +with much unbeaten rock--returned to Santa Fe"-- + +Here the ink was so faded that nothing more could be made of the +manuscript. The accompanying map was more perfect. The tracings showed +the mountain ranges. It had been drawn almost with the precision of an +engineer. The route from Santa Fe through the mountain passes was +clearly shown; there were marks of each day's stops. Where the map +showed the end of the journey there was the rude drawing of a cliff +set on edge and below it was marked "Gold." + +Carson pondered over the quaint document for many days. The Indian +marriage with Mary Greenwater had become a matter of regret. While the +woman loved him, yet her love was like a new bowie knife, to be +handled with care. He decided to leave the Grand River country and +bide his time until Mary Greenwater should make one of her long visits +to the hills. One night he mounted the best horse on the ranch and +driving thirty others ahead of him, set out for Colorado. On the way +he sold most of the horses to ranchmen and cattlemen and netted a neat +sum. + +When Mary Greenwater returned and found her spouse had vanished, her +fury knew no bounds. Ordinarily the Indian squaw might be deserted by +her lord and she would stoically accept her fate. Mary might have done +so had she not been spoiled by being educated at Carlisle. Her savage +blood grew hot for revenge. She made another trip to the Grand river +hills, presumably for a larger amount of money, placed her affairs in +the hands of her Indian-Negro servants, and started on the trail of +Carson, believing she would have no trouble in overtaking a man +driving that many head of horses. Meanwhile the fall rains set in and +the shallow rivers of the plains became raging torrents. But to a +woman of Mary Greenwater's determined character, these things were +obstacles only for the time being. Her heart was bad and her love of +revenge strong. + + + + +XXI. + +CARSON'S BLANK PAGES IN LIFE. + + +When Carson left the cabin he followed the winding trail that led to +the valley below. The road to Saguache showed the hoofprints of a +prospector's outfit, and the marks of a sleigh leading to Del Norte. +The glare of the sun on the reflected snow was blinding and he drew +his hat down over his eyes. He was thinking of his worthless life +since leaving college. Once he had builded lofty hopes of future +doings in the world, but he had allowed himself to drift; his ship of +fate had gone wherever the strongest tide wind carried. He saw now +that he might have marked out some honorable career and piloted his +course toward it. Others of his class in college were in a fair way to +make their mark in the world. Why was it not so with him? It was born +in him, as it had been in his father, to choose the wild life of the +frontier in preference to holding the presidency of a bank in Atlanta. +He felt that the world in its wildest freedom was his for his +pleasure. The cords of restraint which society demanded were to him +the fetters of a tyrant ruler, and so, as Sampson broke the green +withes which bound him, Carson broke the laws of society--nay +civilization, and married a squaw according to the ceremony of her +people. He repented the act to some extent, and then cast his cares +aside, with the comforting knowledge that the world was too busy a +place for people to give themselves much concern over his affairs. +Long ago he realized that if he threw himself into the swirl of +humanity and allowed himself to become a part of its motives and its +emotions, that it would require a herculean effort to attain a +position where he could look over the heads of other men. That +position, he argued, was not worth the life-long effort required. +Withal, he could not bring himself to quite understand why he had +married Mary Greenwater, unless that she possessed some occult power +and gained control over forces of his nature which he did not +understand. True, there was but little or no obligation to the +ceremony. It held good in the Cherokee Indian nation, that government +within a government. Outside that limited space of ground it was null +and void. He was a free man under the laws of his own government. Yet +that act, of his own creation, somehow seemed to stand over him like a +Frankenstein with an uplifted axe. + +The snow was deep, and as he plodded along with these thoughts running +through his mind, he heard a cry. Glancing backwards he saw a horse +drawing a sleigh, plunging madly down the road. The reins were held by +a woman, frantically urging the horse forward. Some distance behind +four huge mountain lions were in hot pursuit, their heavy bodies +crouching and springing forward many feet at a leap. Carson took in +the situation at a glance and, raising his hand as a signal to the +girl in the sleigh to rein in, he sprang into the vehicle as she +passed. The momentary pause had given the beasts a chance to gain, +when, drawing his revolver, he fired at the foremost and sent it +rolling in the snow. Another shot and a second lion paused with a +mighty roar. At this the other two turned and fled in the opposite +direction. + +Carson now took the reins and stopped the horse. The animal was +trembling with fright, while the girl was calm but pale. + +"Rather a close shave, eh, Sis?" + +"Truly," she replied, "how fortunate you were here. I was driving +to Del Norte when I met the lions. They were gamboling in the +snow like kittens. When I turned Bess, they pursued. I want the +one you have just killed, I want to have him mounted to remember +today,--and--and--you." + +"By all means, Miss, you shall have it, but where are you going now?" + +"Back to Saguache after this fright. Poor Old Bess could not have +stood the race much farther. See how she trembles. I am the niece of +Mr. Amos. My name is Annie Amos. I have friends in Del Norte, whom I +intended to visit. I shall wait now until I have an escort." + +"Ah--my name is Carson--Jack Carson. I was going to Saguache to see +Mr. Amos, the assayer, to have him test a jug handle,--er, that is, to +have the jug handle test him. I don't mean that; I mean our mine is +named the Jug Handle, I will get it right after awhile, and I want him +to make a test of the ore." + +"Confound it," he thought as he turned the horse, "I haven't the sense +of a jackrabbit to make a break like that." + +One of the lions lay pawing the snow in its death struggle and as +Carson came near, it reared itself as if to make one last leap. Its +eyes gleamed in savage yellow, foam fell in flecks from its mouth, +while a tiny stream of crimson stained the snow. Carson's weapon spit +fire and the creature rolled over motionless. He dragged the carcass +to the end of the sleigh and, lifting it upon the edge of the box, +made it fast. + +"If you are going to Saguache to see my uncle, I fear you will be +disappointed as he left this morning for an absence of several days." + +"That does not matter as I have other business anyway. Most any time +will do, as I am in town quite often. We would better not drive so +fast. Your horse is in a foam." + +Carson was fast becoming interested in the girl at his side. Her calm +poise, after the exciting adventures with the mountain lions, +surprised him. Other women would have been hysterical, but here by his +side sat a girl not yet out of her teens, as calm and collected as a +veteran soldier after the battle. And Amos, the man he was going to +see and intended to kill if he proved to be the villain he suspected +him to be, was her uncle. + +The white billows rose rank on rank on the distant mountains, while +the snow of the valley shrunk visibly away, leaving the grey rocks +naked and protuberant. + +The newly-made acquaintances chatted gaily as the horse jogged along. + +"I was thinking of your remark awhile ago," said Carson, "that you +would go to Del Norte tomorrow if you had an escort, and as I have +some time to idle away it would give me pleasure to drive you over." + +"It would give me equal pleasure to have you do so," she replied with +admirable frankness, "that is, if you are going there anyway." + +"I may need to purchase some new implements with which to work the +Aberdeen--I mean the Jug Handle mine," he explained. "I have heard of +a new drill they are working over there and it may be just the thing +for the formation we are now in." + +"I see," said the girl, as a mischievous smile flitted about her lips, +"and I am very glad you will accompany me. I shall make you acquainted +with some of my very dear friends." + +Carson was forgetting his millions in the mine and letting his mind +wander to the expected joys of entertaining and being entertained by +people of real worth once more. He felt returning pride, and then the +thought of the Frankenstein with the uplifted axe made him groan +inwardly. But pshaw! she did not know--never would know, and what +people do not know will not hurt them, he reasoned. + +He felt an increasing admiration for the girl beside him. They were +alone in the wide expanse of valley and had known each other only an +hour, yet this girl was willing to trust to his honor and manhood. And +be it said for Carson, as it may be said for thousands of other men on +the American frontier, he would have yielded his life rather than +betray that sacred trust. Instances like this are common in the West. + +As they drove down the main street of Saguache, the passers looked +curiously at the pair in the sleigh and at the dead lion strapped +behind. When they stopped in front of the postoffice, a crowd gathered +around the sleigh. A supple figure edged through the crowd and +addressed the girl: + +"Kill it all by yourself, Annie?" + +The familiarity with which he spoke nettled the girl, and she turned +her head without answering. The supple figure felt the rebuff and all +the more because others noticed it. He stood his ground, however, +until Carson returned and when he saw his face he quickly drew out of +sight. + +"Tomorrow at seven," said Carson, as he bade her good-bye at her +house. + +Carson went to his hotel with a lighter heart than he had had for +months. He lit a cigar and sat by the window, then felt for something +in his pocket, and threw it in the wood-box. "There are other jug +handles," he said to himself. + +He walked the streets aimlessly until supper. He retired early and +tried to sleep, but his thoughts ran wild on the events of the day. He +could think of no one except Annie. It was still early in the night, +when he arose from a restless bed and went out on the streets. Lights +blazed from the Lone Tree saloon, and as he entered he saw a crowd +about the faro table. The sudden exclamations of many voices told +that some one was winning heavily. He pressed forward through the +crowd and saw the form of a woman. When she partially turned her face, +he felt his heart give a great throb, and he fled into the street. + +The remainder of the night he walked through the crunching snow, while +the silent stars seemed to gaze with tearful eyes upon him in this, +the greatest misery he had ever known. He walked several miles out of +town to avoid meeting anyone he knew and then presented himself at the +Amos residence. + +"I believe it is seven o'clock, Miss Annie," he said, when she +answered his call. + +"Yes, and I am ready," was the cheerful answer. + + + + +XXII. + +A VOICE FROM CENTURIES PAST. + + +Buchan was ready to throw the lever of his engine and roll out of +Tucson, when a messenger handed him a packet bearing the postmark of +Peru. The missive showed signs of age, and, having traveled much, had +reached its destination at last. He tossed it into his tool box and an +hour later when speeding over the scorched deserts of Arizona, he +opened the packet. The letter was dated at Truxillo and read: + + "Dear Don Juan--I have been ill for many months, and I feel that + my end is drawing nigh, but before I go I want to do something for + you. I have heard how Don Rodrigo so justly met his end, and with + this knowledge I die easier. You are young and strong, with a long + life of usefulness ahead, and I feel that in entrusting to you a + family secret, I am only doing that which I would have done had + Felicita lived. She was the last of our house and the heritage of + our family belonged to her. As it is, I make you my heir to the + valuable papers handed down to me from my ancestors. May they + prove to you a blessing. Would that I had more to give you. May + the blessings of the Virgin ever rest upon you. + + "Julian." + +Accompanying the letter was a parchment scroll, dated Lima, 1752. It +read: + +"I, Jean Maldonado, do write of my extraordinary adventures in Nueva +Espanola, wherein I was duly appointed the Commander of an expedition +to the land of Quivera, in search of the Seven Cities of Cibola, in +the service of his excellency, the viceroy of Santa Fe. A barbarian +told us he would lead us unto a land to the far north, where shops +blazed with jewels and common cooking vessels were made of gold; that +the metal was so common as to be of no value. The king of this city +took his noonday meals beneath a golden canopy, hung with tinkling +silver bells. There was a sea upon which this king rode in a canoe, +which would carry twenty horses. Upon its prow was an idol of beaten +gold. The canoe was fitted with sumptuous cushions, upon which the +monarch took his siestas, to the music made by dancing maidens with +bells and castanets. Fish as large as horses abounded, and sweet fruit +bigger than a soldier's helmet grew upon the trees. The monarch who +ruled over this land was long-bearded, white-haired, and wore robes of +bright-hued, rich stuffs, and slept in a garden where trees were hung +with a thousand bells, which made exquisite music when shaken by the +wind. And this king worshipped the golden image of a woman, the Queen +of Heaven, and ate from gold and silver bowls, of which the dais he +sat upon was made. He spoke with vast assurance and said he would +conduct us thither whenever we should follow. + +"We journeyed northward many leagues over mountains and came to a wide +valley watered by a stream. Farther on were high mountains and we +named them Sangre de Christo and marked three mountains 'Spanish +Peaks' on our map, that we might not miss our way. One day a pious +soldier saw the barbarian with his face in a pool of water, talking +with the devil. After that we were suspicious. After many days' +journey we found the city, but alas, it was mud huts, and the only +metal was a copper plate around the old chief's neck and by which he +sat great store. There were no golden vessels, no image of the Virgin, +no golden dais and no silver bells. + +"The wicked barbarian then said he had led us into the desert to die. +Our soldiers were wroth and I ordered him hanged on a considerable +tree, to let him know there was a God in heaven and a King in Spain. + +"We turned our steps backward after we had set up a cross, and +journeyed into the valley. Now there were many oxen come into the +valley of the figure and color of our bulls, but their horns were not +so great. They had a great bunch upon their fore shoulders and more +hair upon their fore parts than on their hind parts. They had a +horse's mane upon their backbone and much hair from the knees +downward. They had great tufts of hair hanging from their foreheads +and it seemeth that they had beards, because of the great store of +hair at their chins and throats. In some respects they resembled a +lion, and in some others the camel. They pushed with their horns, and +they overtook and killed horses. Finally, it was a foul and fierce +beast of countenance. + +"We have stayed close to the mountains where we could flee to the +rocks if they pursued us. We were crossing the mountain, when we came +upon a spring near unto a huge cliff that sat on the edge like a +platter. We camped here many days until the bulls left the valley. +Some distance from the rock like a platter, Casteanda found gold in a +white rock, which we did beat up and saved much pure gold. Casteanda +journeyed to Santa Fe and returned with more donkeys, and we loaded +upon them much unbeaten rock. We all then journeyed back to Santa Fe, +for the barbarians were angry at our intrusion and we went in haste, +leaving more gold in the white rock than would load a ship's boat. I +cut in the rock, high up, the words: + + "'Jean Maldonado. + "'Commander of an Expedition, reached this place, 1750.' + +"All this, so that the subjects of Spain might know this country +belonged to His Majesty. + +"We journeyed back to Santa Fe after many days of hardships and we +found a new Viceroy had been appointed and he demanded our gold. This +we were loath to give up, and after selling it to a trader for the +coin of the realm, we started across the country for New Orleans, +knowing well not to go south for the new Viceroy would pursue us and +take the gold. + +"We journeyed along the banks of a considerable river by night and hid +ourselves by day. We saw many thousands of ferocious bulls grazing, +and when they ran the noise was like thunder and it made us afraid. We +crossed many rivers and finally came to a country of wooded hills +where the Barbarians were thick and ferocious. + +"The Barbarians pursued us and we hid our gold and records in a cave +and rolled a stone over the hole and fled. They killed nearly all of +our expedition and our mules. Baptiste was sorely wounded in the +breast with an arrow and notwithstanding we bled him copiously, he +died. + +"The treatment given us by the Barbarians irritated us exceedingly and +we fell upon them with swords when they were not in great numbers. + +"We came to a river whose waters were red, like unto the color of the +tiles on the houses of Seville, and after journeying along its banks +for many nights, we came unto the River of the Holy Ghost, which +DeSoto discovered and here we found safety. + +"While all these things were new in my mind I made another map in +order that I might take another expedition to the mine when the +Viceroy grew rich from the spoils of office and would trouble us no +more. But he did write unto the people of Spain that I would be hanged +upon my return to Santa Fe, therefore I desisted in returning. Being +extremely irritated at his conduct I sought my fortune in Peru, until +such time when he should be called to heaven, which call even now, in +my old age, has not yet been made, over which misfortune I have sorely +grieved." + +Accompanying this document was a map with the Sangre de Christo range, +the Spanish Peaks, the River, Valley and flat cliff on edge, plainly +marked. The distance from Santa Fe and the mountain passes was clearly +indicated. + +A month later Buchan was transferred on a run out of Santa Fe where +the hand of Fate and Chance again took part. He received a letter from +Mr. Robinson who had joined a surveying party and had fallen ill at +Saguache. The letter implored him to come, if he ever expected to see +him alive. True to his old time friendship, he lost no time in +reaching his bedside. Mr. Robinson lingered a few weeks and died. This +was more sad news for Hattie in her far-away home, amid the Santa +Lucia mountains. She alone remained of the happy family who had gone +to Arequipa with fond hopes for the future beneath those sunny skies. + +I, the writer, had been with Carson a few days before prospecting in +the Sangre de Christo mountains, when by chance we rested at the +spring beside the peculiar shaped cliff. I noticed that Carson was +interested in the surroundings, but I thought nothing of it at the +time. The formation of the cliff appealed to my fancy, and I chanced +to mention it to Buchan one day when he became excited and asked to be +shown its whereabouts. + +Together with Carson we visited the spot. Being an old prospector, I +soon discovered formations that looked like pay ore. My years of +experience in these mountains had taught me that a man might work a +lifetime and gain nothing, and again from the outcroppings of a stone +at grass roots he might develop a mine worth a million dollars. + +Carson and Buchan were sanguine over our prospects, too much so, I +thought, for men who had no experience in mining. + +I located the claim so as to include the cliff and spring and when I +made out the registration papers, I said: "Gentlemen, what shall we +call the mine?" + +"Name it the Maldonado," said Carson. + +"What!" exclaimed Buchan, turning an ashen paleness. + +"The Major Domo," replied Carson, looking somewhat abashed. + +"Name it the Aberdeen," said Buchan. "I like to hear that name spoken, +it was my old home in Scotland." + + + + +XXIII. + +THE TWO OLD BLACK CROWS. + + +Amos sat in the little back room of Rayder's office in Denver. His +beady black eyes glistened beneath his beetle brows. A pleased +expression shone on his thin face, drawn in wrinkles like stained +parchment. Rayder was out, but had left instructions for him to wait. +As he sat there his eye caught sight of something interesting on +Rayder's desk. The door was closed and he was alone. He leaned forward +and took up some slips of paper for closer inspection. They were +certificates of assay from Pendleton. The pleased look vanished as he +noted Amos No. 1, Amos No. 2, Amos No. 3, and so on for a dozen or +more slips. Rayder did not trust him, and had had the sample of ore +assayed by Pendleton for corroboration. + +"He does not even believe in honesty among thieves," he mused, as he +carefully replaced the papers. Then the pleased look came back to his +face. + +"All the better," he thought. "He will deal now and it is my time to +strike before the iron cools." + +He drew his chair further back from the desk, and pretended to be +reading a newspaper when he heard Rayder coming. + +"Just the man I have been wanting to see," said Rayder, extending his +hand, "how is everything in Saguache and how is Annie?" + +"Annie is handsome as ever, but there is a new assayer coming to town +next month and I understand he is on the dead square, and what we do +we have got to do all-fired quick. How is this for an eye-opener?" He +took from his pocket several lumps of shining ore. + +"Sylvanite," exclaimed Rayder. "What does it run?" + +"Eighty ounces to the ton. There is a quarter of a million dollars on +the dump and the fellows think it is copper and pyrites of iron." + +"How would it do to contest the claim?" + +"Dangerous business, they have taken to killing claim jumpers. One was +shot last week, and this outfit will shoot, no mistake. It is better +to buy them out for a song. They are about broke anyway. They believe +everything I tell them, have a child-like confidence in me, same as +everybody has. I tell you, Rayder, I stand at the top in the +estimation of everybody, and all we have got to do is to have the +buyer on the ground, and when they come in with their next samples I +will prove to them their values have run out, show them some rich +stuff from down the valley and like all others of their class, they +will stampede." + +"That sounds good, but tell me more of Annie, did she appreciate the +cloak I sent her for a Christmas present?" + +"Appreciate it! I should say she did. She just worships it because it +came from you, and say, she has your photograph on the wall where she +can see it all the time. She just dotes on that picture. I tell her +there is the chance of her life, a fine house, fine clothes, a chance +to go abroad and cultivate her musical talent, become a great singer +and meet dukes and lords and crowned heads. Why, the girl is just +crazy over you, and I believe she would marry you even if you did not +have a cent. It is like marrying December to May, you sixty and she +nineteen, pretty and vivacious--warm up your old bones, eh?" + +Rayder's eyes shone and he stroked his beard with delight. "Charley," +he called to his office boy, "bring up a quart of whisky, some lemons +and sugar." + +"Sweet creature, I love thee," said Amos a few minutes later, holding +up a half goblet of whisky. "You do the proper thing in setting out +these kind of glasses; puts me in mind of my old home down in Texas, +where we never drink out of anything smaller than a tin cup or a +gourd." + +"Here is to Annie and Rayder--may your posterity become presidents +and wives of presidents." + +"Drink hearty," said Rayder, emptying his glass, which he had filled +to the fullness of Amos' out of compliment. + +"Charley, bring up a box of perfectos," he shouted. "You may then lock +up and go home." + +The glasses were again drained and the two black crows chattered until +the streets were growing quiet for the night. Supper was forgotten in +the love feast of Amos and Rayder. + +"Do you know, Amos, I always did love you just like a brother?" + +"Here, too, Rayder, you know the first time we saw each other, I sez +to myself--I sez--there is a man that would stick to a friend through +thick and thin." + +"You are that kind of a man yourself, Amos, is the reason you have a +good opinion of me. I never had a friend in distress yet that I didn't +help him out." + +"That's right, Rayder, that's right. Them's the qualities that go to +make up nature's noblemen. Lord, if I had a known you years ago we'd +a bin millionaires--my knowledge of mines and your sagacity. That's +what counts, and you never fail in your estimate of men, either. Lord, +you was born under lucky stars. + +"Take another drink, Rayder, take a cistern full. 'Taint often we meet +on auspicious occasions like this, and we won't go home 'till mornin,' +and we won't go home 'till morning, hic--hurrah for Annie, Rayder, and +a million outer the mine." + +"An' she shame short of share of prosperity to my brother Amos," and +Rayder took another drink. + +"Shay, Rayder, you come and go home with me and hang around a day or +two until you buy the mine and play sweet with Annie, an' the night of +the weddin' we'll hev a dance and send you away on your bridal tour in +a blaze of glory." + +"I'll do it, I'll do it, Amos, an' then we'll be almost brothers +'cordin' ter law, anyway." + +"Shay, Rayder, did I tell ye I had a little mix up with a woman, an' +I'm scared to death 'fear old woman 'ill find it out. I got 'ter +square the deal or I'm a goner and stuff's all off, want yer to let me +take ten thousand fer few days, got ter blow a lot o' money on +weddin', too, yer see." + +"All right, Amos, youse's square a man's ever met. I'll let ye hev +it." + +"Good, thet's relief; sooner I get it easier mind'll be. Nuthin' like +'mediate action to relieve man's mind, you know. Let's take nuther +drink and ye can write th' check with steadier hand." + +Rayder swallowed another drink while Amos fumbled about the desk until +he found Rayder's check book. + +"Bet ye can't spell ten without making a crook. There now, if you can +write thousand as well you're a peachareno. Bully, now write Silas +Rayder at the bottom. You're a brother in fact, Rayder, an' I love ye +better as any brother. Shay, let's hev nuther bottle." + +And Amos pocketed the check and quietly slipped down stairs, to the +saloon and was back with another quart before Rayder had roused from +his drunken stupor. He poured out another half goblet of whisky. + +"Shay, Rayder, de ye know about story of Guvner of North Carolina sed +to Guvner of South Carolina, to effet an' words, it was long time +between drinks?" + +"An' that was a damn shame Guvner hed to wait, ought to had you along +an' famous epigram ed never been born." + +Half an hour later Rayder was stretched upon the lounge in the little +back office, dead to the world. Amos sat by the window sobering up +until the grey of the morning. The sleeping man roused, and Amos gave +him another half goblet of whisky followed by a sip of water. He had +drawn the blinds and left the coal-oil lamp burning when it grew +light, lest the sleeping man should arouse and discover it was +daylight. + +When the office boy came, he cautioned him not to awaken Rayder. He +then crossed over to the bank, called for the face payment of the +check in gold coin. He took the money to the Wells Fargo Express +company's office and expressed it to his wife in Saguache. + +[Illustration: THE AREGUIPENA. (Page 56)] + +Rayder was sleeping when he returned. He placed the check book in its +accustomed place in the desk, destroyed all evidence of the night's +debauch and left a note on the desk saying: "My dear Rayder, I have +been suddenly called home by the illness of my wife. Come to Saguache +as soon as you can make it convenient. Amos." + +When Rayder awoke it was four o'clock in the afternoon. His head was +in a whirl and every muscle was twitching. He called Charley and sent +for a doctor. The doctor saw the trouble at a glance. He called a hack +and accompanied Rayder to his home. + +"This will never do, Mr. Rayder. You have drank much whisky in your +time and it has become a poison to your system. Do not look for me to +get you out of this in less time than four weeks." + + + + +XXIV. + +THE RECKLESS HAND OF FATE. + + +The day was fair when Carson left Saguache with pretty Annie Amos +seated beside him in the sleigh. Although he had spent the night in +fearful anxiety, walking the streets, he now felt such a relief over +getting out of town, undiscovered by Mary Greenwater, that he was +bubbling over with high spirits. In the presence of Annie his better +nature stood outward and he even surprised himself with his quick +sallies of wit and repartee. Annie was charmed with his presence, and +as the two chatted gaily, they did not notice the lowering clouds +about the Spanish Peaks, until a strong wind began to raise and soon +one of those sudden storms so common to the region was coming in all +its fury. In a short while it became a raging blizzard. The snow +drifted in blinding swirls, so dense that the horse's head could not +be seen. + +Carson had experienced the blizzard on the range and knew the only +safe course was to let the horse have the reins, and trust to its +animal instinct to find a shelter. He drew the robes securely about +Annie and endeavored to allay her fears, although conscious of the +peril they were in. The horse was plodding its way through the +snow-drifts and it was evident that the animal would soon become +exhausted. The blizzard might last all night, or it might continue for +three days. On those trackless wastes in such a storm death by +freezing was almost certain, unless they reached a place of shelter. +The hours dragged by. He kept up an incessant talking with Annie, lest +she should fall into the fatal sleep. The girl was quick to perceive +his tender care, and in full apprehension of their danger, felt a +growing confidence in the man beside her. She knew that he fully +realized their peril and admired him for his efforts to conceal his +fears from her. + +It was growing darker and the horse was moving with feeble steps. +Carson was at the point of giving vent to his fears, when the animal +stopped. He left the sleigh, and upon going to the horse's head, found +they were beside a cabin. His heart gave a great leap of joy and he +called exultantly to Annie. + +The cabin was deserted, but, praise Providence, it was shelter. The +door swung open on its hinges. There was a fireplace with some +half-burned logs in a heap of ashes. When Annie was securely inside, +he brought in the robes from the sleigh and next unhitched the horse +and brought the animal inside the cabin. This made Annie's heart leap +with joy; she had not considered how they would protect the horse, and +this humane act on the part of Carson gave her the most implicit +confidence in the man. There is nothing to fear from a man who is so +kind to animals, was her mental comment. + +Soon there was a blazing fire on the hearth. Some poles were found by +the door. These Carson dug from the snow and brought inside. He had +no axe with which to cut them, and in the emergency, he laid the ends +together in the fire slantwise from the chimney, and as they burned +away, he shoved the logs forward. The wind screamed in wildest fury, +while the snow drifted in through the rough clapboard roof. + +Until now no thought had been given to the lunch which Annie had +prepared for the trip. She brought it out from among the wraps and +when Carson gave the horse a buttered biscuit as his share of the +meal, she watched the act with a thrill of gladness. The blazing logs +gave warmth and light, and the man and woman sat and talked throughout +the long watches of the night, while the snow drifted and the wind +screamed and roared, making the loose clapboards of the roof creak and +groan. + +There these two, thrown together by the reckless hand of fate, told +incidents of their lives and won the love and sympathy of each other. +A new song was born in Carson's breast. For a moment he seemed to +remember a former life; somewhere out in the wide, white waste and +hush of infinite space, where they had known each other and now their +souls imprisoned in forms of clay, they had met by chance and renewed +an old affinity. + +As she told him the simple story of her life, he listened with +ever-increasing interest. An orphan at an early age, she had since +lived in the home of her Uncle Amos. Everything had gone well until +the last year, when her uncle brought Rayder to their home and +insisted that she should regard him as a suitor for her hand. Rayder, +old and grey, had dyed his whiskers and tried to appear boyish. His +intentions were well enough--he would give her all she would ask that +money could purchase--but she could not love the man and could never +think of becoming his wife. Amos, her uncle, was a man of avarice and +greed. He insisted that it was a duty she owed him for his fatherly +care in bringing her up. He dwelt on the advantages it would be to +him in his old age and that it would be only right for her to help him +in this way. He had appealed to her generous nature and sought to make +her believe this sacrifice on her part would be just and right. Amos' +wife had taken the same view of the matter and urged that the wedding +should be at an early date. Annie, alone in the world, had no one to +whom she could go for counsel. Some of the coarse women of the mining +camp who came to their home thought her the most fortunate of girls to +have a suitor as rich as Rayder, and ridiculed the idea of her +refusing to accept the greatest opportunity of her life. Some of their +husbands were rough, uncouth men, who cared nothing for the luxuries +of a home, spent most of their money and time drinking and gambling at +the Lone Tree, and they gauged conditions as they were with +themselves. They were honest-hearted women of the frontier who +believed they were doing the girl a kindness. It was not through +bravery that she was cool and collected, yesterday, in the presence +of death from the lions, she told him, but because she had almost made +up her mind that she did not care. Death had lost its terrors in the +contemplation of impending fate. + +He did not tell her of the burden of his heart. He did not feel that +he dared to ask for sympathy. At that hour he would have given ten +years of his life to undo his marriage with Mary Greenwater by the +ancient custom of the Swiftest Horse. He knew the Indian woman and +knew that she intended to kill him and yet he felt helpless, +powerless. He did tell the girl beside him that he, too, was alone in +the world and hoped to merit the love of a good woman and that his +every act in life should go to prove his sincerity. And so, amid the +wild scenes of the night, they talked. + +At noon the following day, the storm abated and when the flurries of +snow had ceased they saw the town of Del Norte well down on the +plain. + +Annie was received at the home of her friends with delight and when +she told them of her recent adventures, they gave expression to +heartfelt joy for Annie's safety, and called Carson a hero. + +Carson did not leave Del Norte for six weeks. Meanwhile, Annie visited +her friends. When the two were not together in the cozy parlor at +Annie's host's, Carson kept close in his room at the hotel. He wanted +to delay the meeting with Mary Greenwater as long as possible. If she +was only a man,--ah, that would be different! It would then be knife +to knife, or bullet to bullet--he would not shrink. But she was a +woman, an educated Indian woman upon whom society had some claim, and +she had some claim upon it. + +Annie promised to become his wife and it was arranged that she should +return to her uncle's home, and as soon as he could arrange his +affairs at the mine they would go to an eastern state. He first +intended, however, to make a clean breast of the Mary Greenwater +affair, and trust his fate to her love for him. + +When he reached the foot of the Sangre de Christo range, through the +great depths of snow, he saw the fearful havoc of the snow slide and +noted the slanting position of the edgewise cliff. Thinking it was of +but recent occurrence, he hurried to Saguache and gave the alarm that +two of his companions were buried beneath the mountain of snow. + +In no place in the world does an appeal for help meet with a quicker +response than among the pioneers of the west. The news flew over the +town like wildfire that two miners were imprisoned in a snow slide. A +relief party was organized at once and Carson led them to the base of +the range. + +Mary Greenwater saw Carson organizing the relief, she stood within a +few feet of him unobserved, and could have shot him, but she knew +better than shoot a man in the act of aiding the distressed. The crowd +would hang her, woman or no woman, and she knew it. Some other time +than this--she would wait. + + + + +XXV. + +CORDS OF LOVE ARE STRONG. + + +Hattie Judson sat by the window overlooking the green wheat fields of +the Los Ossis valley. The bells in the old mission were calling the +humble worshippers of the valley, just as they had done for more than +one hundred and forty years. She watched the blue haze of the valley +growing denser in the shadows of the evening. She heard the low boom +of a signal gun roll up from the sea. It was from the coast steamer in +the open roadstead, the signal she was listening for in the hope that +it would bring her a letter--the letter for which she had been waiting +for six weeks. + +The shadows from the coast hills crept up the valley, and the +stars shone, when the whistle of the little narrow-gauge engine +announced its arrival from the port. She put on her wraps and went +to the postoffice and waited a good long hour before the mail was +distributed. There was nothing in her box except the San Francisco +paper. And yet she felt intuitively there must be some news. She +returned to her home with a vague feeling of dread and lit the parlor +lamp. Mechanically she scanned the headlines of the paper when her +eye caught the line: + + "Imprisoned Miners in Snow-slide; + Relief Party Working Night and Day." + +"Saguache, Colo.--Word reached here last night that John Buchan and +James Winslow, miners working a claim on the Sangre de Christo range, +were buried in their cabin beneath a snow slide. It is believed the +men are alive although there seems to be small hope of rescuing them +on account of an overhanging cliff which may topple at any moment, +with the melting snows and crush them out of existence. Rescue parties +are at work night and day." + +The room seemed to whirl and grow dark as she finished reading. Tears +came to her eyes and she cried aloud. The members of the family came +to find the cause of her outcry and found her in a flood of tears. +They read the dispatch and knew the cause. The paper was two days old +from San Francisco. What could she do? She must know at once. She went +to the telegraph office and sent a message of inquiry to the mayor of +Saguache. It was twelve o'clock when the message came: "Lines all down +in San Luis valley." There was a telegraph line to San Louis Obispo, +but no coast line railroad nearer than Paso Robles Hot Springs, sixty +miles inland. It would be three days before there was another steamer +for San Francisco. She felt that if she waited the suspense would kill +her. She must go to Saguache. + +In the grey of the morning she was seated beside a driver in a light +running rig behind the swiftest pair of horses in the town. The +northern express was due at noon and the distance of sixty miles must +be made. The fleet animals climbed the mountain slopes and crossed the +divide of the Santa Lucia range, and went speeding through the +beautiful Santa Marguerite valley with its carpet of green, enlivened +with splashes of yellow from the wild mustard blossoms. Across the +swift flowing ford of the Salinis river, through deep ravines and +mountain gorges, and over miles and miles of sun-baked sand and dreary +waste of stunted cactus and sagebrush, the horses sped. + +The scorched winds of the desert caught up the sands and hurled them +hot into their faces and stung them like tiny sparks. + +Dripping with foam the horses were reined up at the depot platform in +just five hours and fifty minutes from the time of starting--a record +that stands in San Louis Obispo today as the best ever made, and that +too by a big-hearted western man who did it only to aid a woman in +distress. + +The train sped over miles of brown and parched desert, studded with a +growth of palms that rattled in the sultry wind like dried sunflower +stalks. The scenes were scarcely noticed by Hattie as she sat in the +coach busied with her own thoughts. The train was an express but it +seemed to her to creep along. The rumble of the wheels clanking on +the iron rails seemed to say: "You'll be too late, you'll be too +late." + +At Sacramento there was a wait of four hours for the east bound +express, and Hattie sat in the depot where she could watch the clock, +tick, tock, tick, tock--swinging the pendulum in these moments of +suspense and waiting. Those monotonous sounds persistently repeated +the single theme, seconds were born and ushered into eternity with the +slow swing of the pendulum; every tick brought the time of starting +nearer, but the pendulum swung so slow. + +Those four hours watching the clock were the most tedious of her life. +When the time was drawing nigh and the waiting passengers were +stirring about, the man in the ticket office came out and wrote upon +the blackboard, "East bound Express two hours late." + +Again the slow swinging pendulum sent a torrent of woe to the unhappy +girl, and when the train rolled into the yards she felt as though she +had lived within sound of that clock for a year. + +The green valley changed to the red earth of the foothills, still +showing signs of the gold hunters of 1849. The puffing and wheezing of +the engine told they were climbing steep grades, and soon they were in +the snows of the Sierra Nevada mountains. The train entered the +forty-two mile snow shed and when half way through struck a hand car, +derailing the engine. + +It was day without, but dark within the sheds. A kindly woman with her +daughter occupied the berth opposite Hattie. She noticed the troubled +look on the girl's face and from that time on until they separated at +Cheyenne, did everything she could to make the journey pleasant. But +there was the ever present suspense and doubt. + +It was ten hours before the train was again under way, but they had +lost the right of way on the road and were compelled to make frequent +stops on the sidings to allow other trains to pass. + +As the train skirted the Great Salt Lake with its bleak and desolate +islands of rock rising in silhouette against the cold grey skies, +Hattie compared the scene to the feeling of utter desolation within +her soul. + +A storm was raging on the Laramie plains and when the snow plow, +driven by the tremendous force of an extra engine in front, stuck fast +in the snow, she began to have some conception of the mighty force of +an avalanche, and the difficulty of reaching imprisoned men beneath +its weight. + +The railroad ended at a little station in the San Luis valley and then +followed many miles of staging in a crowded coach. Everywhere the girl +met with the most profound respect and attention from fellow +passengers. She was always given the best seat in the coach, and +otherwise made as comfortable as circumstances would permit. Such was +the gallantry of these men of the frontier to the girl who was +traveling alone. + +At the last stage station before reaching Saguache, she heard men +talking of the imprisoned miners in the Sangre de Christo mountains, +but she was unable to learn any of the particulars other than that +the relief party was still working. When, at last, she alighted at the +hotel in Saguache her first question was concerning the imprisoned +men. They will have them out in a few days if nothing happens was the +assurance given by the landlady. "They are alive, we know, for we can +see the smoke coming out from under the rock." + +The two men under the snow slide had been the talk of the town for +days. Every day a new party went to the scene to relieve those who had +worked the day and night before, tunneling up the steep mountain side +through snow of an unknown depth. + +When Hattie reached the tunnel she begged to be allowed to go to the +end of it where the men were working. She was assisted up the mountain +side by willing hands and when she reached the workers one of them +said: "The boys are all right for we can hear their voices." + +It was then she gave an exclamation of joy, and when Buchan said to me +in the cabin, "It seems that I hear her voice," he was right. + + + + +XXVI. + +WHEN THE DEATH GLOOM GATHERS. + + +Amos staggered out of the fog of powder smoke and groped his way to +the door. He took the center of the street reeling as he went, and +made his way to his home. The scenes at the Bucket of Blood were +magnified in his whisky-crazed brain. He raved in wild delirium, +fighting the demons that gathered around his bedside. The doctor came +and shook his head. "He has been drinking so long that my medicine +will not act," he said. Amos glared wildly from his bloodshot eyes +when a monkey seemed to leap on the footboard. He held a glass in his +hand. "Have a cocktail, Amos," said the monkey, as he tossed the +liquid into the air and caught it in another glass. Amos' throat was +parched and he wanted the cocktail, but the monkey did not give it to +him. A rhinoceros came creeping through the wall and looked at him +with its leaden eyes. The monkey tossed the cocktail into the wide +open mouth of the rhinoceros, who smacked his lips and said to the +monkey, "Let's play ante over." + +"All right," replied the monkey, "what with?" + +"Get his eye, get his eye," exclaimed the rhinoceros. + +The monkey crept forward and plucked out one of Amos' eyes, as he +groaned and yelled. For awhile the rhinoceros was on one side of the +dresser and the monkey on the other, tossing his eye to and fro +between them. The scene changed. He was on a white horse, plunging +down a steep rocky road lined with trees on either side; pythons and +rattlesnakes reached out from among the branches striking their fangs +at his head. There was the form of a dead woman behind him on the +horse. Her cold arms clung about his neck as little devils came out +from behind the trees and shouted: "You did it; you did it." The horse +was now plunging over a snow-covered country. He felt the icy winds +chill his heart. He was trying to shake off the dead arms that clung +to his neck, when the horse stopped in a wild spot among the rocks. A +grave digger, with the flesh of face and arms dried to the bone, +appeared. "We will bury her here," he said as he sunk his spade into +the earth. As the grave digger threw up the clods they turned to +little devils, the size of frogs and yelped, "We are the sins of Amos +come out of the grave." The vision passed and another appeared. Three +Sisters of Charity stood at the footboard of his bed. They were +looking down on him with sorrowful eyes. One of them lifted her hand +and all was a livid flame. Amos raised his head and gave one prolonged +shriek. A shriek of death. + +When Amos returned to Saguache after his spree with Rayder his first +act was to purchase a ranch in the San Luis valley and deed it to his +wife. He then went to his assay office and drew down the blinds and +sat in the shadows like a cunning old spider in hiding waiting for +the unwary fly for which he had wove his web. His life had been that +of the iconoclast who creates nothing to adorn the world's great +gallery of gods. But he was not philosophical enough to evolve an idea +that would disrupt existing beliefs. + +It was some weeks after his arrival home, when he espied Rayder one +morning coming down the street towards his office. He cautiously +turned the key in his office and slipped over to the Bucket of Blood +and returned with some beer and two quart bottles of whisky. When +Rayder returned an hour later he was maudlin drunk. + +Rayder was still pale from the effects of his recent debauch and when +he found Amos in an intoxicated condition he went away, not caring to +stay and talk with him on important business matters lest he should +get drawn into another spree. Meanwhile, Carson had arrived and spread +the news of the imprisoned miners under the snow slide. Rayder learned +that this was the mine he had come to purchase through the connivance +of Amos and concluded to wait and see what time would develop. + +Day after day he sought Amos, but the latter was too drunk to talk +with any sense. He then sought Carson and offered financial assistance +in the rescue work, but the men spurned the offer. They felt they were +doing a God-given duty and to receive money for an act of that kind +would be debasing their manhood. Such was it then and such is now the +spirit of the West. He called at the Amos home, and while he was +received by the matron and failed to see Annie, he thought he detected +an air of distress in the surroundings, and attributed it to Amos' +condition. Feeling that he was at their home at an inopportune time, +he went away and started out to find Amos and if possible persuade him +to quit drinking. Not finding him at his office he took a nearer route +and entered the Bucket of Blood by the back door. He passed two or +three hoboes sitting on beer kegs on the outside. "Say, old timer, +can't I dig into ye for two bits?" asked one. The man was trembly and +his lips quivered as he spoke. Remembering his own recent condition +Rayder handed the fellow a dollar and motioning to the others, said: +"Divide up." The men jumped to their feet with alacrity and followed +the first man to the bar. + +Rayder walked to the faro table where Amos sat with his back to him +putting down twenty dollar gold pieces on the money. "I never squeal," +Amos was saying to another man who was drawing out the cards from the +box. "Bet yer life, man wins my money I never squeal," Amos was saying +to the dealer. "Got skads of it anyhow, and when that's gone I know +where to get a mine worth more an' a million." Rayder stood watching +the player tossing twenty after twenty in gold and tapping a tiny bell +now and then when a waiter came and took the orders from those seated +around the table watching the game. They all called for whisky except +the dealer, he took a cigar. It requires a clear head to deal faro. + +Rayder grew tired of watching and sat down. He was thinking where did +Amos get so much money? He had not attended to the business of his +office since his recovery and had had no occasion to look into his +check book. After a certain period of the night with Amos in his back +office, everything was a blank. He remembered the conversation about +Annie and the mine but had no recollection about signing the check. To +see Amos sitting at that table losing money like a prince at Monte +Carlo, almost took his breath. He began to feel certain now as to the +fabulous riches of the mine, for he could conceive of no other way by +which Amos could get possession of so much money. He had learned of +Mrs. Amos purchasing the ranch and paying for it in gold, and wondered +at the time. Then he thought that perhaps Amos was trying to throw him +off the purchase of the mine in order to secure the property himself. +There was a mystery somewhere he could not fathom. + +The board partition against which he sat was thin, and while he was +not playing eavesdropper, he could not help hearing: "The secret of +that mine has been known to me since I was a child," a woman was +saying, "but I never supposed Carson would locate it when I gave him +the papers." And then she recounted the story of the hidden Spanish +treasure in the Grand river hills and continued: "The two men they are +trying to rescue from under the snow slide are dead long ago and the +only one left that is interested is Carson. I will get him out of the +way, and you must file on the claim, I cannot, for I am an Indian, but +you can. Besides, I could never sing my death song in peace if he +lives." + +"Tonight, then," her companion said. "You had better act before +matters go any farther." + +Here was another revelation to Rayder, he saw coming through one +archway an Indian woman, and through the other, Coyote Jim who slowly +walked toward the faro table. Rayder's first and best impulse was to +see Carson and warn him of impending danger. His second thought was +that such a course would be bad financial policy. No, he would let the +woman kill him if she could and he would jump the claim himself. He +was certain now of its fabulous value and determined to have it at any +price. + +And so the old black crow sat and waited and plotted, while the other +old black crow gambled away his money, and when the shooting was over, +and the coal oil lamps flickered their sickly flame through the +curling powder smoke, Rayder was raised from the floor where he had +flattened himself against the baseboard, trembling like a frightened +sheep about to be led to the slaughter. + + + + +XXVII. + +A NIGHT OF TRAGEDIES. + + +The Lone Tree saloon and dance hall was ablaze with lights. Two +bar-keepers in white jackets were setting out the bottles over the +long, polished counter. There was the clink of glasses, as men stood +in rows drinking the amber-colored liquid. "Have another on me," was +frequently heard along the counter, as someone felt it was his turn to +set up the drinks to the crowd. + +A brawny miner stepped up to the side of a sheep herder who had been +edging in all evening to get free drinks--and squirted a mouthful of +tobacco juice in his ear. + +"If anybody else had done that but you, Bill, I'd be tempted to strike +him." + +"Don't let your friendship for me spoil your notions," the miner said +with a contemptuous look. + +The sheep herder made no reply, as he wiped his ear. The fire that +burned in his stomach demanded whiskey, and he would brook any insult +to get it. He had reached the level of the sodden, and others passed +him by. It was yet early in the night, and crowds were gathering in +the rear of the large room, about the roulette wheel, the crap tables +and faro layout, back of which the lookout was seated on a raised +platform. Stacks of coin in gold and silver were on the tables to +tempt the players. At other tables men were seated playing cards and +smoking. In an adjoining room, cut with archways, was the dance hall. +An orchestra on a platform played rag-time music, while painted women +in short dresses to give them a youthful appearance, sat on benches +against the wall, or danced with swaggering men to the calls of a +brawny bullet-headed floor manager. His bleared eyes and heavy swollen +jaw showed the effects of a recent debauch ending in a fist fight. + +The women urged their partners to drink at the end of every dance. +While the men drank whiskey, they gave the bar-keepers a knowing +look, and a bottle like the others was set out containing ginger ale +which the women drank as whiskey, and were given a check, which they +afterwards cashed as their percentage. + +While the sign on the windows read The Lone Tree Saloon and Dance +Hall, the place had earned the sobriquet of the Bucket of Blood, from +the many tragedies enacted therein. And this place was run by a woman, +Calamity Jane, famous in several mining camps. One fellow analyzed her +when he said: "She is a powerful good woman, except she hain't got no +moral character." + +Coyote Jim, faro dealer, sauntered in and took his place at the table. +His eyes were a steel blue, the kind that men inured to the mining +camps of the early west had learned were dangerous. His face was thin +and white, hair of a black blue, like a raven's wing, hung half way to +his shoulders. His thin hands handled the pasteboards in the box with +a dexterity that marked him an expert. Supple in form, with quick, +cat-like motions, he made one think of a tiger. + +A dark faced woman wearing a Spanish mantilla was winning at the +roulette wheel. The onlookers crowded about. She was winning almost +every bet. The interest grew intense, men crowded forward to catch a +glimpse of her whose marvelous luck surpassed anything in the history +of the Lone Tree. Her stack of chips of white, red and blue, grew +taller at every turn of the wheel. The face of the gambler at the +wheel grew vexed and then flushed with anger. The devil appeared to +have been turned loose and he was losing his stakes. The chips +vanished from his box in twenties, fifties and hundreds, and the group +of onlookers stared in astonishment. As he counted out his last +hundred he said: "If you win this you have broke the game." + +The woman lost and the gambler began to have hope, when she won again, +and so the pendulum of chance swung to and fro over those last hundred +chips for an hour, when the gambler slammed the lid of his box with +the exclamation: "You have busted the game!" + +The woman cashed in her checks. Over five thousand dollars was paid to +her. She walked up to the bar and threw down five hundred dollars on +the counter and said to a bar-tender: + +"I pay for everybody's drinks here tonight. Take no money from any of +them and when this runs short, call on me." + +The word was passed, "Free drinks at the bar," and the crowd surged +forward. A half-tipsy fellow raised his glass above the heads of +others. "Here's to Mary Greenwater, Queen of the Cherokee Indians!" + +"Rah fer Mary Greenwater," chattered old Amos, holding his reeling +form up by the bar rail. + +The invitation was even too much for Rayder, strong as had been his +resolution to let the stuff alone. The temptation of free drinks was +too great, he imagined he needed something and called for gin. + +Just then, some one came in and announced that the two men had been +rescued from under the snow-slide. The games stopped and the men at +the tables ordered their drinks from the waiters. The dance in the +adjoining room stopped in the middle of a set, while men and women +crowded about the bar. + +Only three in that room did not rejoice at the news--Mary Greenwater, +Coyote Jim and Rayder. Amos was too drunk to know whether he ought to +be sad or rejoice. He did neither, but gave another loud "Rah for Mary +Greenwater!" when a waiter led him to a seat. When the hubbub of +voices which the announcement of the rescue had created, had subsided +somewhat, the players resumed their games and amid the clink of chips +and glasses, could now and then be heard from some gamester, "Hold on +there, that's mine!" + +Mary Greenwater went to the faro table. "Get up, Coyote," she said, +"I'm going to bust this bank, and you and I have been together so much +that they will think you have throwed the game. Let some one else +deal." Another dealer was called and Mary laid down a hundred on the +ace. Men crowded about as before, when she was at the roulette wheel. +There was a hush for a moment, when the clear tones of a man at the +door rang out. + +"Hands up, everybody. Don't try to escape, the doors are guarded!" + +All was confusion in an instant. Calamity Jane, eyes ablaze, strode +from behind the curtain in the dance hall. Quick of action, she fired +at the nearest hold-up in mask. The uproar was furious. The lamps were +shot out by confederates of the hold-ups. The ball room women screamed +with fright, while jets of fire spit from revolvers in different parts +of the room. Men were afraid to make an outcry, lest a bullet would +follow at the sound of their voice. Coyote Jim was crouching like a +tiger, beside the stacks of coin on the table. In his hand was a long, +keen blade. He felt a stealthy hand near his own and he lunged the +knife. A heavy groan and a few words in a language which only he +understood, and the body sank to the floor. The tiger's blood was now +afire and he leaped upon the faro table, revolver in hand. His form +was outlined in silhouette by a light across the street, when a spark +flashed in the darkness and he fell headlong to the floor. There was a +heavy roar of voices, as the men stampeded to the door. + +When lights were brought from the outside, the masked men were gone +except one. He lay dead near the door, with a bullet from Calamity +Jane's revolver in his brain. Coyote Jim lay dead, and by his side, +Mary Greenwater, with her life's blood still ebbing from the knife +stab. + +From this scene of tragedy, Amos made his escape to end with the +horrors of delirium at home. The Bucket of Blood had maintained its +reputation. + +The excitement of the affair spread over the town, and among the +spectators who crowded in was a haggard man. His eyes were hollow and +deep-set, showing that he had undergone a severe mental strain for +weeks. He saw them lift the affrighted Rayder from his place of +safety at the baseboard, then his eyes rested on the dead woman at the +faro table. He threw a cloth over her face, and sat staring into +vacancy until the undertaker and assistants came. Then he took the +undertaker aside and said: "See to it that she has a Christian burial. +I will be responsible." When she was buried the next day, there was +one attendant beside the undertaker and his assistants, at the grave. + +The tragedies of the night marked a new era in Saguache. The better +element arose in their might and demanded that the Bucket of Blood be +forever closed. + + + + +XXVIII. + +FROM OUT THE SHADOWY PAST. + + +When Buchan arose in the cabin and said "I thought I heard a voice, +her voice," I was amazed. It did not occur to me that anyone would +attempt our rescue, else why had they not done it long ere this? + +He opened the door and shouted, then turning to me, exclaimed: "They +are digging us out." + +Our hearts leaped for joy. We shook hands in expression of delight and +Buchan danced a highland fling around the room. Two men, snow-covered, +entered and hailed us joyously. Then came a woman, followed by Carson. +She ran to Buchan and he caught her in his arms. I was deaf and could +not hear what they said or I would write it word for word, but he +kissed her and she cried, and he wiped away some tears, and I turned +my back and pretended to be talking to Carson. + +The men gathered up our few belongings and we hurriedly left the +cabin. Sleds were waiting at the foot of the mountain, and we were +soon speeding toward Saguache. The air was crisp and the stars shone +like eyes of tender sympathy over the white plain. We were brought to +a stop at the hotel. Men and women whom we had never seen came and +joyfully shook us by the hands, and had much to say in congratulation. +The news of Hattie's arrival and her interest in Buchan had spread +over the camp, and many were the motherly old women who came to say +sympathetic things and invite her to their homes, so great was their +admiration for her loyalty and sacrifice for the man she loved. + +The next day a mass meeting was called by the citizens. The Lone Tree +saloon and dance hall had to go. A railroad survey had been completed +through the town, and public works had been projected by the +newly-elected city council. A new era was dawning for Saguache. The +hall was crowded, as one citizen after another spoke of the future +possibilities of the town, and a good government that would no longer +tolerate a lawless element. When resolutions were passed and the +assembly was ready to adjourn, one speaker arose and said he heartily +endorsed everything that was said and done there that evening, but +there was another matter which should have attention: One of the men +rescued from under the snow-drift had just married the girl who had +arrived a few days before from California, and his partner who led the +rescue party had married an estimable young woman of the town. The +double wedding had occurred at the hotel an hour before, and he +thought it would be fitting to celebrate the event and the new era of +Saguache with a dance that night, in which everybody should be asked +to participate. A roar of approval greeted the speaker. There was no +resolution or motion. None was needed. Men instantly set to work +clearing the hall of chairs, while a committee was sent to the hotel +to announce to Buchan and Carson that a dance had been arranged that +night in their honor. + +Men came with their wives and their sweethearts, dressed just as they +were from their work, and the women as they were in their homes. +Evening clothes would have been as much out of place in that ballroom, +as the garb of a workman would be out of place in the ballroom of the +Waldorf-Astoria. The orchestra struck up, and Buchan and Hattie were +given the place of honor in the dance. Carson and Annie, being better +known, felt that they should largely play the part of host and yielded +every honor to Buchan and Hattie. The music was good. Everybody joined +in the spirit of goodfellowship, and the dance continued until the +small hours of the morning. + +It was toward the close that Rayder came upon the floor with a fat +widow milliner. He had taken a few drinks of gin and was trying to act +kittenish when, in the midst of a cotillion, the widow fell to the +floor in an epileptic fit. They bore the woman to an adjoining room, +where she soon recovered, but it was such a shock to Rayder's nerves +that he went out and braced up on a little more gin. + + * * * * * + +I was at the governor's reception in the state capitol of Colorado. +The rooms and corridors were brilliantly lighted. Men and women in +rich attire were there to do honor to the occasion. I was seated +behind a decoration of palms, when a prominent attorney and a +companion took seats near me. + +A heavy set man with a woman leaning on his arm entered the corridor. +They were well, but modestly dressed. There were grey streaks in their +hair, but their steps were firm and, both were the picture of good +health, evidence of good and wholesome lives. + +"Here comes Senator Buchan and lady," said the attorney to his +companion. "I knew those people twenty-five years ago. I was one of a +party to rescue Buchan and a companion from under a snow slide in the +Sangre de Christo mountains. The girl had come all the way from +California to help in the rescue. I don't believe she would have lived +two days longer if we had not got him out. Shows what the right sort +of love will do. It stands the test of time. There is no divorce +business in that. Buchan had an iron will, too. Somehow he and his +partners had discovered a lost Spanish mine and did not know its value +on account of some trickery of an assayer. But Silas Rayder did, so +Rayder hounded the boys to sell and finally when he offered a hundred +and fifty thousand dollars, they closed the deal. Carson had just +married, too. He took his money and invested it in a flouring mill. I +do not know what became of the other fellow, but Buchan put his money +in a bank and it failed in less than three months and he went to +running an engine on the Rocky Mountain railroads. It was a pretty +hard knock, but right there is where that girl came to the front like +a guardian angel. She told him that perhaps it was all for the best. +Riches do not always bring happiness. It is adversity that brings to +the surface our better natures and fires our ambitions to the nobler +and grander things of life. + +"Buchan must have had this in mind, for while he was running his +engine he was always trying to help some poor fellow. He accepted his +lot in life and worked for years content with the love of that woman +and when people saw he was made of the right sort of stuff they +elected him to the legislature and his very first act was to put +through a bill making eight hours a legal day's work. That very act +took the yoke of bondage off more than half a million workers. + +"It turned out just as the girl said. He has served the people three +terms and if he had not worked for their interests they would never +have sent him back the third time. + +"Adversity, sir, is oftimes the making of us. I never thought so when +Bob Lee surrendered and our dreams of imperialism vanished and left +most of us without a dollar. But I can see now it is all for the +best. As a nation united we welcome all men regardless of their +nationality, and, in return, they give us the best thoughts the world +can produce." + +"Rayder, what became of him?" asked his companion. + +"When Rayder bought the mine he thought he had millions but he only +took out of it about enough to get even when the vein gave out between +two big slabs of granite that came together like the thin end of a +wedge. A widow who had fits sued him about this time for a breach of +promise, and either to get out of that or get square with some old +enemy, he married the widow Amos." + +I arose and stood before the attorney and his companion. "I want to +shake hands with you, sir," I said. He arose, and in extending his +hand, said: "Your name, please?" + +"I am the other fellow you rescued from the cabin," I replied. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WHERE STRONGEST TIDE WINDS BLEW*** + + +******* This file should be named 30128-8.txt or 30128-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/0/1/2/30128 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: Where Strongest Tide Winds Blew</p> +<p>Author: Robert McReynolds</p> +<p>Release Date: September 29, 2009 [eBook #30128]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WHERE STRONGEST TIDE WINDS BLEW***</p> +<p> </p> +<h3 class="pg">E-text prepared by Roger Frank<br /> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (http://www.pgdp.net)</h3> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<p class='tp' style='font-size:2.0em;margin-bottom:60px;margin-top:40px;'>WHERE STRONGEST<br />TIDE WINDS BLEW</p> +<p class='tp' style='margin-bottom:10px;'>By</p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.2em;font-variant:small-caps;margin-bottom:20px;'>Robert McReynolds</p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:smaller;'>Author of</p> +<p class='tp' >“Thirty Years on the Frontier,” “Rodney Wilkes,”<br />“The Luxury of Poverty,” “A Modern Jean<br />Valjean,” “Facts and Fancies,” Etc.</p> +<div style='margin:30px auto; text-align:center;'> +<img alt='emblem' src='images/illus-emb.png' /> +</div> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:smaller;'>GOWDY-SIMMONS PUBLISHING CO.</p> +<p class='tp' style='margin-bottom:40px;'>Colorado Springs, Colo.<br />1907</p> +<hr class='pb' /> +<p class='tp' style='margin:20px auto;'>Copyright 1907<br />By Robert McReynolds.</p> +<hr class='pb' /> +<p class='center'>To<br /> +Honorable John B. Stephen<br /> +and<br /> +his estimable wife,<br /> +from the romantic story of whose<br /> +lives, the principal incidents<br /> +of this work are taken.<br /> +<br /> +Colorado City, Colorado<br /> +1907</p> +<hr class='pb' /> +<h3>ILLUSTRATIONS</h3> +<hr class='p10' /> +<table border='0' cellpadding='2' cellspacing='0' summary='Illustrations' style='margin:1em auto;'> +<col style='width:75%;' /> +<col style='width:25%;' /> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left'>SOUNDING THE DEPTHS</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_1'>24</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left'>WRECK OF THE SPANISH SLOOP SEVILLE.</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_2'>36</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left'>THE EARTH BEGAN TO ROCK AND REEL.</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_3'>84</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left'>THE HOME VOYAGE OF THE AVEN WAS FRAUGHT WITH ALL THE DANGERS OF THE SEA.</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_4'>148</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left'>FLIGHT OF THE TORPEDO BOAT.</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_5'>166</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left'>THE AREGUIPENA.</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_6'>212</a></td> +</tr> +</table> +<hr class='pb' /> +<h3>CONTENTS</h3> +<hr class='p10' /> +<table border='0' cellpadding='2' cellspacing='0' summary='Contents' style='margin:1em auto;'> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>I</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>Under the Sword of Damocles</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#I_UNDER_THE_SWORD_OF_DAMOCLES'>9</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>II</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>In Days of Innocence</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#II_IN_DAYS_OF_INNOCENCE'>24</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>III</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>Through Mists of the Sea</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#III_THROUGH_MISTS_OF_THE_SEA'>31</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>IV</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>Graves Gave up Their Dead</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#IV_GRAVES_GAVE_UP_THEIR_DEAD'>41</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>V</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>Fairest Flower of the Cordilleras</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#V_FAIREST_FLOWER_OF_THE_CORDILLERAS'>50</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>VI</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>A Humiliating Incident</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#VI_A_HUMILIATING_INCIDENT'>56</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>VII</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>In the Throes of Revolution</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#VII_IN_THE_THROES_OF_REVOLUTION'>64</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>VIII</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>Viva Generalissimo Pierola</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#VIII_VIVA_GENERALISSIMO_PIEROLA'>72</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>IX</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>Amid the Din of Battle</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#IX_AMID_THE_DIN_OF_BATTLE'>80</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>X</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>We Meet Again, Felicita</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#X_WE_MEET_AGAIN_FELICITA'>90</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XI</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>The Masque Ball at Tiravaya</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XI_THE_MASQUE_BALL_AT_TIRAVAYA'>98</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XII</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>Cowardly Act of a Villain</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XII_COWARDLY_ACT_OF_A_VILLAIN'>107</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XIII</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>Murderous Plan of the Insurgents</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XIII_MURDEROUS_PLAN_OF_THE_INSURGENTS'>115</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XIV</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>For the Sake of Humanity</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XIV_FOR_THE_SAKE_OF_HUMANITY'>125</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XV</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>In Desperate Struggle for Life</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XV_IN_DESPERATE_STRUGGLE_FOR_LIFE'>135</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XVI</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>The Screaming Winds of Night</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XVI_THE_SCREAMING_WINDS_OF_NIGHT'>143</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XVII</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>The Barbarian Meets His Ingomar</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XVII_THE_BARBARIAN_MEETS_HIS_INGOMAR'>151</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XVIII</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>On Sunny Seas Bound North</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XVIII_ON_SUNNY_SEAS_BOUND_NORTH'>159</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XIX</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>Death Ships of the Sea</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XIX_DEATH_SHIPS_OF_THE_SEA'>167</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XX</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>A Daughter of the Cherokees</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XX_A_DAUGHTER_OF_THE_CHEROKEES'>176</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XXI</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>Carson’s Blank Pages in Life</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XXI_CARSONS_BLANK_PAGES_IN_LIFE'>185</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XXII</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>A Voice from Centuries Past</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XXII_A_VOICE_FROM_CENTURIES_PAST'>195</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XXIII</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>The Two Old Black Crows</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XXIII_THE_TWO_OLD_BLACK_CROWS'>205</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XXIV</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>The Reckless Hand of Fate</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XXIV_THE_RECKLESS_HAND_OF_FATE'>214</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XXV</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>Cords of Love Are Strong</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XXV_CORDS_OF_LOVE_ARE_STRONG'>223</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XXVI</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>When the Death Gloom Gathers</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XXVI_WHEN_THE_DEATH_GLOOM_GATHERS'>231</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XXVII</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>A Night of Tragedies</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XXVII_A_NIGHT_OF_TRAGEDIES'>240</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XXVIII</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>From out the Shadowy Past</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XXVIII_FROM_OUT_THE_SHADOWY_PAST'>249</a></td> +</tr> +</table> +<hr class='pb' /> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_9' name='page_9'></a>9</span></div> +<h1>Where Strongest Tide Winds Blew</h1> +<div class='chsp' style='padding-top:0'> +<a name='I_UNDER_THE_SWORD_OF_DAMOCLES' id='I_UNDER_THE_SWORD_OF_DAMOCLES'></a> +<h2>I.</h2> +<h3>UNDER THE SWORD OF DAMOCLES.</h3> +</div> +<p>We built our cabin high on the slopes of +the Sangre de Christo range, overlooking +the broad, level San Luis Valley, in Colorado. +At the rear of the cabin rose a towering +cliff or rather a huge slab of rock +standing edgewise more than two hundred +feet high, apparently the upheaval of some +mighty convulsion of nature in ages gone. +Near the base of this cliff flowed a clear +crystal spring.</p> +<p>Some hundred yards west of the cabin +was the mouth of a tunnel into which we +had drifted with pick, shovel and giant +powder, a distance of 300 feet in five +months of hard toil. A trail led from the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_10' name='page_10'></a>10</span> +tunnel to the cabin along the mountain side, +which was thickly studded with tall pines. +Another trail led down the mountain slopes +in a winding way to the valley, almost a +mile below. Above, reaching far into the +blue dome of the sky, rose the peaks of the +snow-capped Sangre de Christo, glistening +in the morning sunlight, which threw +gaunt, fantastic shadows in cañon and deep +ravine.</p> +<p>It was a wild, weird scene, where man, +in strength and vigor, seems to imbibe a +portion of the divine essence that lives, and +moves, and has its being in the vast solitudes.</p> +<p>We struck pay rock at the first thirty +feet of tunneling, so Amos’ assay showed, +and the rock had gradually increased in +value, week by week. Buchan would take +samples of the ore every week or ten days +and walk a distance of twenty-five miles +to Saguache, where old man Amos, expert +geologist and assayer, would for two dollars +and fifty cents make out a clean printed +slip with figures in red ink, showing so +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_11' name='page_11'></a>11</span> +many ounces of lead, copper, silver and +gold to the ton.</p> +<p>The ore had not yet reached a value +which would pay to ship it, but the increase +of values was so steady, and Amos was so +extravagantly encouraging, that we were +always in buoyant expectation of rich ore. +He would say, “You boys have a wonderful +prospect. Keep right on with your +work; it is getting richer with every stroke +of your pick and you are likely to uncover +a million dollar drift any day.”</p> +<p>Buchan would bring the assay certificate +back to the cabin, where we would sit +late by the light of the pine knots in the +fire place and talk of the golden millions +which capitalists would yet gladly pay for +a half interest in the “Aberdeen.”</p> +<p>That was the name Buchan had given +the mine, after his home town in Scotland, +of which he always spoke with a fond tenderness.</p> +<p>Winter had come and we, John Buchan, +Will Carson, and myself, had chipped in +almost our last dollar and brought a wagon +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_12' name='page_12'></a>12</span> +load of flour, bacon and canned goods from +Saguache to the foot of the mountains, then +carried them on our backs to the cabin. +We quit work on the mine for ten days +and chopped firewood, which we corded at +the rear of our house. All hands felt that +we were as snugly housed for the winter +as the big grizzly bears in their lairs among +the rocks.</p> +<p>Snow had been falling for several days +and it lay deep on the mountain slopes and +in the wide expanse of the valley below. +We had not had an assay for two weeks +and all were anxious for another report +from Amos. Buchan wanted his mail also, +and he took a small bag of the rock and +tramped the twenty-five miles to Saguache. +It was a three days’ trip wading through +the unbroken snow drifts, and it was night +when he returned, weary, footsore and +angry.</p> +<p>I can see him yet, tears trickling down +his honest face, as he tried to tell something +about Amos. He spoke of “the +scamp, the villain, and robber,” and then +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_13' name='page_13'></a>13</span> +choked with rage. Like all Scotchmen, the +more he thought of the wrong done him, +the angrier he became; he would be more +angry tomorrow and it would be the day +after that his anger would reach the climax, +and begin to subside. This was not a +peculiarity of Buchan. It is a characteristic +of the Scotch.</p> +<p>We made him a cup of coffee and seated +him comfortably before the fire. When he +calmed down somewhat, he explained.</p> +<p>“The first thing I did the next morning +after reaching Saguache, was to eat breakfast, +and then I took the samples of ore to +Amos’ assay office. He was garrulous as +usual, and said to come in two hours and +he would have the certificate of the assay +ready for me. When I again called he +handed me the certificate and I paid him +the usual two dollars and fifty cents. It +showed nine dollars and ninety cents to the +ton. The usual increase of ten per cent. +over the last assay.</p> +<p>“I crossed over to the postoffice, and +while waiting for my mail, I noticed the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_14' name='page_14'></a>14</span> +snow standing ten inches high on the cap +of the flue of Amos’ assay furnace. I +thought, how in the deuce did he assay our +ore without melting the snow on the cap +of the flue? The more I thought about it +the more I was mystified. I went across +to his office and said, ‘Amos, I suppose +you gave us the usual fire test on this ore?’ +‘Yep,’ he answered. ‘Then tell me,’ I cried, +‘how in the devil did you make the fire test +without melting the snow off the cap of +your furnace flue?’ ‘Too cold to melt,’ he +replied.</p> +<p>“Then I rushed past him into the back +room. The furnace was cold and the frost +had gathered on the iron door. I don’t +suppose there had been a fire in it for a +week. I took Amos by the whiskers and +told him to own up that he had not made a +fire test of our ore. Then he acknowledged +that he had been guessing at it all +along.”</p> +<p>“You don’t mean there is a doubt about +us having pay rock?” we yelled in a chorus.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_15' name='page_15'></a>15</span></div> +<p>“All kinds of doubt,” said Buchan. “I +am told there is a suspicion that Amos +gives everybody an assay showing values, +where there are no values––this for the +purpose of keeping up work in the district––and +to those who have found values, he +gives them an assay showing nothing. At +the same time he gives Rayder, the Denver +capitalist, a tip and he buys up the property +for a song, giving Amos a fat commission +for his part in the deal. The +chances are that we have no more gold in +our rock than there is in that jug handle.”</p> +<p>The news was astounding. We sat for a +while by the fire like men stricken dumb. +There was no doubting Buchan’s statement. +Deception was no part of his nature. +He was nearly twenty-six years of +age, athletic, strong and quick of perception. +He had seen much of the world and +knew men. No, there could be no doubt; +he was not mistaken.</p> +<p>We were heartsick. Almost our last dollar +had gone to pay for the bogus assay. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_16' name='page_16'></a>16</span> +Our golden dream of months was vanishing. +Carson broke the silence.</p> +<p>“I will go to Saguache tomorrow. I +shall pulverize that jug handle and take it +to Amos; he does not know me; I shall +have him assay it, and if he gives me gold +values there will be trouble!”</p> +<p>I was awakened the next morning by the +sound of a hammer. Carson was pulverizing +the jug handle. After a hasty breakfast, +he buckled on his cartridge belt with +a Colt 44-six shooter in his holster, and +was soon wading through the snow-drifts +down the trail towards Saguache. I +watched him through the window until he +was lost to view.</p> +<p>The sun rose in a clear sky; the glistening +peaks of the Sangre de Christo shone +white against a turquoise blue; clumps of +snow melted from the branches of the pines +and made hollows in the smooth banks of +white where they fell.</p> +<p>I turned to Buchan. He was tossing +restlessly in his bunk.</p> +<p>“I would hate to be Amos if he gives +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_17' name='page_17'></a>17</span> +Carson an assay of values from that jug +handle.</p> +<p>“Yes, yes,” he muttered incoherently. +“The day of reckoning comes to all. I +have seen it. I have seen the sky turn +black, the waves rise mountain-high out of +the sea, the earth rock and reel, the dead +roll out of their coffins in the cerements +of their graves, the living fall upon their +faces to hide from the wrath of Almighty +God! I have seen it just as Paul tells +about it. I have heard the roar of the +winds, seen palaces crumble and fall––like +John of Patmos, I lift up my voice––I, +John.”</p> +<p>I was at his side in a moment, and saw +that he was delirious. The exertion +through the snow the day before, the loss +of sleep and intense anger, had made him +ill. I knew of a few simple remedies at +hand, and in a little while I had him sleeping +soundly.</p> +<p>The sun became warmer as the day advanced. +The snow melted on the cabin +roof and froze in drooping icicles at the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_18' name='page_18'></a>18</span> +eaves. All day I went noiselessly about +the cabin, letting Buchan sleep. A premonition +of impending danger crept over me. +I tried to throw off the dread feeling by +reading, but I could not concentrate my +thoughts on the pages of the book. Strange +thoughts came like they did to the man who +was being taken to the guillotine and +begged time of his captors to put his +thoughts on paper. I thought I would +write mine that day, or remember them at +least, but I cannot recall them. I only +know they were strange and fascinating, +as if I was living another life, on another +planet.</p> +<p>I brought in wood and water for the +night. The sound of the door slamming +awoke Buchan. He arose and sat by the +fire, which blazed up brightly from its +fresh supply of pine logs.</p> +<p>“Better, I see,” I observed, “but heavens +you were locoed this morning! talking +about the resurrection, the quaking earth, +and the dead rolling out from their +graves!”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_19' name='page_19'></a>19</span></div> +<p>“All true,” he said, quietly. “I have +seen those things, and what has happened +once may happen again.”</p> +<p>I was standing by the window, looking +out over the snow covered San Luis valley, +when even as he spoke I felt the ground +tremble. There was a rush of air and the +cabin became filled with a fine snow that +was stifling, then a thunderous roar, and +all was utter darkness.</p> +<p>I was choking with the snow particles. I +groped to the door and opened it and felt +a solid bank of snow.</p> +<p>I realized then that we were buried beneath +a snow slide.</p> +<p>We worked for hours, in silence and +darkness, digging our way through the +snow and shoveling it back into the cabin +as we tunneled toward the cliff. It was +early morning when we saw the light of +day.</p> +<p>Once in the open where we could breathe +the pure air we beheld a sight that would +appall the strongest heart. The great flat +rock, that had stood on edge at the back of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_20' name='page_20'></a>20</span> +the cabin, was now slanting at a sharp angle +above our heads. The avalanche from +near the summit of the Sangre de Christo +had struck the cliff and with its incalculable +tons tilted it, piling itself hundreds of +feet in the depth about us. The cliff might +fall at any moment and blot us out of existence.</p> +<p>Reaching a point of sight near the open +space at the edge of the base of the cliff we +could see something of the awful havoc +wrought by the avalanche. Huge rocks had +been loosened from their foundations and +with the speed of a meteor dashed to the +valley below. Great pines one hundred +feet in height had been torn up by their +roots and hurled down the mountain side +by the tremendous weight of the avalanche.</p> +<p>The cliff had sheltered our cabin and +saved our lives.</p> +<p>We cleared the snow away from the +chimney and out of the cabin. Our wood +was dry and we soon had a cheerful fire +blazing and the tea kettle boiling. But living +under that slanting cliff, from which we +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_21' name='page_21'></a>21</span> +could not escape, we felt, indeed that the +sword of Damocles hung by a spider web +above our heads.</p> +<p>When we had rested some and refreshed +ourselves with coffee, we tunneled from +the open space under the cliff to near the +entrance of the mine, intending to live in +the tunnel until the melting snows of the +spring released us from our prison. But +when we had tunneled through the snow to +near the entrance of the mine, we found +our way blocked by a debris of rock and +trees which would require weeks of labor +to remove. Tunnels in other directions +gave us no better results, and we became +resigned to our fate, returning to the cabin +to while away the dreary hours until the +hanging cliff above should become our +grave stone.</p> +<p>Days of gloom and monotony came and +went. We dug the snow away from our +windows and tunneled a hole to the top +which gave us a glare of reflected light.</p> +<p>Buchan had hitherto been silent as to his +past life. By a few stray remarks we had +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_22' name='page_22'></a>22</span> +caught glimpses of his romantic career, +but now he began relating in detail incidents +of his early life in Scotland, or on the +high seas, and later in Peru. His stories +were so full of human interest and replete +with love and romance, that I became more +than ever interested in him. But my hearing +was bad, and it had been getting worse +since the day of the avalanche, so I prevailed +upon him to write. I could read +better than listen, besides he would write +his better thoughts and nobler sentiments +when he would not speak them.</p> +<p>It was writing these memoirs of his +eventful life that furnished him pastime +and I was employed in reading them, during +the two months of our imprisonment +in our snow bound cabin.</p> +<p>By the dim light of the window by day +and the blaze of a pine log at night, he +wrote upon the scraps of paper found +about the cabin. As I now review the pile +I find it made up of paper bags, margins of +newspapers, fly leaves from a few old +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_23' name='page_23'></a>23</span> +books, and much of it on strips of a yellow +window shade, also on the backs of fancy +calendars with which Carson had adorned +our cabin, and almost a whole chapter I +find penciled finely on a pair of lady’s +cuffs that were strangely out of place in a +miner’s hut.</p> +<p>Buchan does not know that I am going +to give his story to the public and I shall +have to take chances and risk his displeasure. +In that event I have the defence of +pleading that no man has the right to withhold +so good a tale from the world.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_24' name='page_24'></a>24</span> +<a name='II_IN_DAYS_OF_INNOCENCE' id='II_IN_DAYS_OF_INNOCENCE'></a> +<h2>II.</h2> +<h3>IN DAYS OF INNOCENCE.</h3> +</div> +<p>As I peer into the dim past that haunts +the scenes of my childhood in Aberdeen, +Scotland, a thousand memories troop by +like the scenes of a panorama with the +footlights turned low; and when I contemplate +them in a meditative hour it leaves me +with as lonesome a feeling as if I had listened +to the old time song, “Home Sweet +Home,” which I have heard a thousand +times in distant climes, sometimes sung to +crowded audiences at the opera, and again +by the pioneer as he rattled his prairie +schooner over the plains.</p> +<p>It is a song that never grows old and +never will so long as men leave the home +of their childhood, around whose hearthstones +still play ghost-like, the recollections +of bye-gone years, tenderly touching +their sympathies as they pause for a +moment in their monied pursuits in other +lands.</p> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_1' id='linki_1'></a> +</div> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/illus-016.jpg' alt='' title='' width='320' height='520' /><br /> +<p class='caption'> +SOUNDING THE DEPTHS<br /> +</p> +</div> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_25' name='page_25'></a>25</span></div> +<p>The old red school house on Princeton +street, with the tall lank figure of Ellwood +for its presiding master and who believed +in and practiced the command of the Holy +Writ: “Spare the rod and spoil the +child,” was to me in those years of tenderness, +a dismal contemplation. But Sundays +had a brighter hue when Mother +would dress me in full Highland suit of +tartan, and adorn my cap with an eagle +feather, surmounted with a brooch of the +design of an arm with a dagger, bearing +the motto, “We fear nae fae.” With my +small claymore and buckled shoes and +plaid, how proudly I would walk up to the +barracks at Castle Gate, where the sentry +would salute me, and give me permission to +enter.</p> +<p>But those days had their troubles as +well as pleasures. The West North street +boys had a grievance against those of the +East North street and one Saturday both +sides met in battle array, armed with wooden +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_26' name='page_26'></a>26</span> +swords, near the North church at Queen +street. After a determined resistance +West North street was victorious, when +someone presented us with a flag. It was +a common piece of bunting, but to our +young heroes it was something to be looked +up to and defended with our lives before +the honor of West North street should be +sullied.</p> +<p>That banner cost us many a headache, +and many a soiled suit of clothes after the +usual Saturday battle. On one occasion we +sallied forth as usual to the battlefield, +carrying our banner, and shouting derisively +at our foe. The enemy had been reinforced +and after a hard struggle, they +captured our flag and carried it off in +triumph to East North street.</p> +<p>Our fellows were a crest-fallen lot, as we +sat on the steps of the church looking the +picture of dejection. However, a few days +later, I summoned the boys to meet in an +old building in Ferrier’s Lane. There +were fifteen of us and we came armed with +our wooden swords. After much debate +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_27' name='page_27'></a>27</span> +over the loss of our flag, a committee was +appointed to notify the East North street +fellows, that we were ready to offer battle, +and dared them to meet us the following +Saturday and bring the captured flag. They +accepted the challenge. When we met +again in the old building by the hazy and +flickering light of a tallow candle, with upraised +swords we swore to re-capture our +flag, uphold the honor of our street or die in +the attempt. I was chosen captain on this +occasion, and never did a general rack his +brain more for a plan of success than I did +to win this battle. Finally I hit upon a +stratagem and after school submitted it to +all. It was to proceed to the usual place of +battle, but at the corner of Queen street +five boys were to be stationed out of sight, +and when both armies met they were to +rush in on their standard bearer and capture +the flag. We met, and even to this day +I shudder at the ferocity of that battle. +Twice I was knocked down; several times +our street was on the retreat when someone +shouted––“Remember our oath!” and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_28' name='page_28'></a>28</span> +then another desperate rush, and along +with the charge of the five secreted ones +which so surprised the East North street +boys that they finally yielded, and we carried +off our flag in triumph. John Taylor’s +head was cut, John Ingerham’s eyes were +black, my right knee cap was out of place +and six or eight others were more or less +wounded. The boys of East North street +fared about the same. Good old Doctor +Ellis living in King street witnessed the +fight, but he kept my secret, for I told +Mother that I was hurt in running a race.</p> +<p>And so those delightful days of early +boyhood passed like one long summer day. +But a change came. My father died and +in a few months more, my loving Mother, +after a lingering illness, passed away. I +then left the home of my childhood to live +with my older brother, James.</p> +<p>Although every possible kindness was +shown me, there was lacking a mother’s +love, a mother’s sympathy and cheering +words, things that touch the tender chords +of a boy’s heart. At that time I was sent +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_29' name='page_29'></a>29</span> +to the Ledingham Academy, but it was useless. +The golden veil through which I had +looked out on the world was lifted, the +chain of love and affection broken. I saw +the great ships come with their strange men +from other ports of the world. I saw them +unfurl their snowy sails and speed over the +blue waters bound for the shores of other +climes. I watched them until they were but +a speck of white down on the blue horizon, +and I longed to be on board––to feel the +ship roll upon the billows and hear the +wind whistling through the rigging, to climb +aloft and view the limitless expanse of +ocean and feel that I was a part of these +white specters of the sea.</p> +<p>One day I saw in the windows of Knox +& Co., a sign which read:</p> +<p>“Two apprentices wanted for the sea.”</p> +<p>I went in and told them I wanted to become +a sailor. About this time another lad +about one year older than myself came in +on the same errand. An old gentleman, +after surveying us both for some moments, +remarked that in his opinion we were too +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_30' name='page_30'></a>30</span> +young, but told us to wait a few minutes as +Captain McKenzie would be in soon.</p> +<p>When Captain McKenzie came in he +asked us if it was with the consent of our +parents that we made application. Being +answered in the affirmative by James +Mitchell, the other boy, I answered that my +father and mother were dead, but my +brother would sign the necessary papers.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_31' name='page_31'></a>31</span> +<a name='III_THROUGH_MISTS_OF_THE_SEA' id='III_THROUGH_MISTS_OF_THE_SEA'></a> +<h2>III.</h2> +<h3>THROUGH MISTS OF THE SEA.</h3> +</div> +<p>Captain McKenzie sprang from his berth +in the wildest excitement. A moment before +a low voice called “Captain,” at his +state room door. “Who is there?” he +asked. “Donovan,” came the guarded reply. +“Captain, the mate has conspired +with the crew to mutiny and your throat +will be cut in an hour.”</p> +<p>James Mitchell and I were apprentices +on board the bark “Aven of Aberdeen.” +My brother James having reluctantly consented +that I should follow the fortunes +of the sea, signed the indenture papers.</p> +<p>The brig was bound for Archangel, Russia, +and we had on board a large amount +of specie and plate, the private fortunes +of a Russian Jew returning to his native +land after many years of success as a merchant +in Alexandria. Our berth was near +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_32' name='page_32'></a>32</span> +the captain’s, and Mitchell had heard the +warning given by Donovan. He was out of +his berth in an instant and gave me to understand +there was mutiny aboard. Together +we entered the captain’s cabin.</p> +<p>The Jew was apprised of the situation. +It was the intention of the mate and crew +to murder him and the Captain and put +the vessel about for a piratical cruise in the +Indian Ocean. They were a motley gang +of foreigners, low bred and capable of any +crime when led by a man like the mate, +fresh from a career of lawlessness on the +China coast.</p> +<p>The Jew was the most abject picture of +terror I ever saw. His hands trembled and +he shook like a man in a chill. He wanted +to hide, but that was useless. Captain McKenzie +armed himself with a belaying pin. +He placed one in the hands of each of us +boys and bade us follow him in silence. We +cautiously went on deck and we found the +helm deserted, and the mate and the entire +crew sitting together and drinking in +the fore part of the ship.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_33' name='page_33'></a>33</span></div> +<p>Captain McKenzie sprang into their +midst and with one blow from the pin killed +the mate. This subdued the others and +they slunk away to their duties. The captain +then called the men in front of him +and after ordering Donovan to the helm, +told them he was done with them and that +their future conduct would determine their +fate. At the same time he threatened to +kill the first man that manifested a mutinous +disposition, or dared to cross a given +line on the deck without his permission. He +then ordered the mate’s body overboard +and told the men to return to their duties.</p> +<p>The Captain and Donovan took turns at +the helm, while Mitchell or I was stationed +as a lookout to give instant warning of any +suspicious movements on the part of the +crew. For more than a week we stood to +our posts of duty, when one morning we +sailed into the smooth waters of the port +of Archangel, weary and exhausted from +the intense nervous strain and loss of +sleep.</p> +<p>The Captain notified the British consul +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_34' name='page_34'></a>34</span> +and a file of soldiers came on board and +arrested the crew. Six of them were afterwards +sent to prison for life.</p> +<p>The home voyage of the Aven was +fraught with all the dangers of the sea. We +had secured another crew in Archangel +but their seamanship was bad. When a +sudden storm would strike us it required +herculean efforts on the part of the captain +and Donovan to prevent the ship from +being driven ashore on the rocks.</p> +<p>Snow was falling and a wintry wind +dashed the waves over our decks and coated +the bulwarks with a mail of ice. Sleet +and snow clung to the rigging, making +every effort to handle the ship a hazardous +one. For three days we battled against the +elements and then we came in contact with +ice floes. Once our position was so perilous +that the Captain ordered the boats provisioned +and ready to be lowered when the +vessel should be crushed in the ice. By +skillful maneuvering we escaped from the +ice floes and had a pleasant day or two in +smoother seas.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_35' name='page_35'></a>35</span></div> +<p>It was night and I was standing by the +taffrail, when suddenly a giant specter +seemed to come up from out of the sea, +bearing directly down upon us. Her great +lantern swung in a glow in a fog, by which +I discerned moving objects.</p> +<p>“Collision! Collision!” I shouted at the +top of my voice. The cry was taken up by +the sailors, and ere it had died away there +was the crashing of timbers, falling spars +and the shouts of men.</p> +<p>We had been struck a glancing blow +abaft midships but the damage was not serious +enough to sink us. The other vessel, +which proved to be the brig “Rapid,” belonging +to the same company at Aberdeen, +stood off until its crew ascertained the extent +of our damage, then sailed away in +the darkness.</p> +<p>A month’s delay on the docks at Aberdeen +repairing damages, and we were +again on the high seas bound for the ports +of South America.</p> +<p>When off the West Indies the sky suddenly +became overcast, and we were soon +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_36' name='page_36'></a>36</span> +overtaken by a hurricane. The captain saw +it coming and prepared for it, yet when it +took the ship it roared and laid her down +so that I thought she would never get up +again. All that day and night we had +heavy squalls, and by morning the gale +was still increasing. Birds of sea and land +came on board. Driven by the winds, they +dashed themselves down upon the deck +without offering to stir until picked up, +and when let go they would not leave the +ship, but endeavored to hide from the wind. +By ten o’clock at night the storm had spent +its fury, and when I went to my bunk I +found it full of water. With the straining +of the ship, the seams had begun to leak. +I was surprised to note among the ship’s +crew that the most swaggering, swearing +bullies in fine weather were now the most +meek and mild-mannered of men when +death was staring them in the face.</p> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_2' id='linki_2'></a> +</div> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/illus-028.jpg' alt='' title='' width='567' height='367' /><br /> +<p class='caption'> +WRECK OF THE SPANISH SLOOP SEVILLE. (Page 30)<br /> +</p> +</div> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_37' name='page_37'></a>37</span></div> +<p>Then followed days when the sea was +smooth as glass. Our white sails hung idly +beneath the scorching skies. Sea weed +floated on the oily surface, as, day by day, +we lay seemingly motionless on the bosom +of the deep. The moon rose out of a phosphorescent +sea and cast its long golden +gleams on the azure blue, while the stars +shone like isles of light in the sky. There +was a dread in the infinite spaces about. +Again, there was scurrying, fleecy clouds +and our ship was scudding before the +breeze.</p> +<p>When I awoke one morning, we were +lying at anchor in the harbor of Buenos +Ayres. While unloading cargo, the Captain +desiring to go ashore, I was taken in +the boat along with two of the seamen. +After getting to the wharf, the Captain +said: “I expect you fellows to employ +your time cleaning that boat; it will be +five o’clock before I return.” After he +had gone, one of the sailors said to his +mate, “We will leave Spriggings (meaning +me) to clean the boat, and we will go +to shore.” After they were gone, I concluded +that I had been imposed upon and +I left the boat and went into the city, having +no intention of deserting the vessel at +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_38' name='page_38'></a>38</span> +that time. In my wanderings in the strange +city, and not knowing a word of Spanish, +I lost my way. Finally, when I returned +to the wharf, the boat was gone. It was +late when I was picked up by a policeman +and turned over to an Englishman, who +kindly took me to his home for the night. +The next morning I returned to the Aven +and received a reprimand.</p> +<p>A few days later we weighed anchor for +Valparaiso. The sky was overcast and the +sea was rolling high off the Patagonian +coast, when we heard signal guns of distress. +Captain McKenzie changed the +course of the ship and we soon came in +view of the Spanish sloop Seville going to +pieces on the rocks. Her bow was lifted +high, while the waves were breaking over +her stern. Her sails were in shreds, and +a dozen sailors clung to the rigging. We +lowered the life-boat, and after hours of +battle with wind and wave, rescued the +crew. They were in an exhausted and +famished condition, having been for almost +three days without food or water. They +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_39' name='page_39'></a>39</span> +were given every kindly attention by our +officers and crew.</p> +<p>We saw the dark, jagged, rugged +bluffs and steeps of Staten and Terra del +Fuego. We rounded Cape St. John, amid +tempestuous gales and giant seas of the +polar regions. We lost sight of the land, +reefed the sails close down and then bid +defiance to the storm. Strange sea birds +shrieked their dismal cries, while dull leaden +skies added to the gloom. We cleared +Cape Horn in safety and were soon sailing +over the smooth seas of the south Pacific +Ocean beneath the Southern Cross.</p> +<p>“Sail ho!” cried the lookout. All eyes +were turned to the leeward. A stately +ship, under full sail, had suddenly appeared, +bearing down upon us. She came +silently, the water splitting in foam at her +bows. We could see the crew working +about her decks, but no sound came from +the spectre. All at once we noticed her hull +and sails were transparent. We could see +through them to the ocean beyond.</p> +<p>It was only a mirage of the sea, but to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_40' name='page_40'></a>40</span> +our crew it was the spectre of the Flying +Dutchman––a phantom ship had crossed +our bow.</p> +<p>Once in port, no more would we walk +the deck of the Aven of Aberdeen. She +had seen a ghost.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_41' name='page_41'></a>41</span> +<a name='IV_GRAVES_GAVE_UP_THEIR_DEAD' id='IV_GRAVES_GAVE_UP_THEIR_DEAD'></a> +<h2>IV.</h2> +<h3>GRAVES GAVE UP THEIR DEAD.</h3> +</div> +<p>I was in the streets of Arica, Peru, when +the earth began to rock and reel. Buildings +surged and fell, with a crashing noise. +The dust rose dense, and darkened the +sky. The earth gaped and swallowed up +many of the people fleeing to the hills back +of the town. I followed to an elevation +where an awful sight met the terror-stricken +populace. The hills of Arica had for +centuries been the burying grounds of the +ancient Agmaras, a race of Indians who +ages ago it seems were fishermen. The +convulsions of the earth threw to the surface +hundreds of the dried bodies of the +Indians, still wrapped in their coarse garments, +the nature of the soil had prevented +decay. When the people beheld this they +believed the world had come to an end, and +they threw themselves on their faces praying +for mercy.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_42' name='page_42'></a>42</span></div> +<p>There was a thunderous roar from the +sea, growing louder and louder as each +moment of terror sped on, and then, with +one mighty crash, a tidal wave fifty feet +high,––the aftermath of the earthquake––struck +the shore, bearing upon its crest the +U. S. Battleship Wateree, one German and +two British vessels, leaving them stranded +far inland. A sailor from the Wateree was +in a boat, and as he was swept past his +vessel he waved the Stars and Stripes in +farewell to his comrades on board.</p> +<p>The shocks had ceased and the storm +that followed had spent its fury, when the +pall of night came over the stricken city. +Human wolves crept from their hiding +places and began their work of prowling +amid the ruins and robbing the dead. All +night long they held high carnival amid +the scenes of terror and desolation.</p> +<p>Through it all I had been a silent, bewildered +spectator. I had fled to the hills +only because others did, for I could speak +but little of the language of the country. +I was among the graves when morning +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_43' name='page_43'></a>43</span> +dawned and I heard a voice in my own +language. Going to the spot I found a man +with a sprained ankle fighting away a +thief. I seized a rock and he ran. I aided +the injured man to a place of safety, where +we remained for several days until a conveyance +took us back to town.</p> +<p>The man whom I had helped was John +L. Thorndike, an American, well known in +Peru and all over South America, as having +built the highest standard-gauge railway +in the world, and a man who at once +became my warmest friend.</p> +<p>But to return to my ship. When the +Aven of Aberdeen reached Valparaiso, the +mate and a number of sailors immediately +deserted the vessel in a boat. The Captain +saw them leaving but was powerless to stop +them. That night John Mitchell and I +stood watch alone. There being no boat it +did not occur to them that we would attempt +to escape, but about midnight Mitchell +said to me, “Spriggings, I dare you to +run away.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_44' name='page_44'></a>44</span></div> +<p>“I’ll take the dare,” I said, “but how +will we get ashore?”</p> +<p>“We’ll launch one of the hatches,” he +replied.</p> +<p>It was no sooner said than we tied a rope +around one of the heavy hatches, and bearing +it to the side of the ship, we lowered it +noiselessly into the water, then let ourselves +down the rope and by holding to the +hatch, one on either side, we safely swam +ashore.</p> +<p>We avoided the business streets of Valparaiso +and made our way to the country, +where we hid in a grove until night. We +were without money, our clothes were such +as we wore at sea, night was coming on, +we were hungry and with no place to sleep. +Our only thought had been to escape from +the Aven, for we had imbibed the superstition +of sailors, and nothing could induce us +to remain aboard that vessel since the +phantom ship had crossed our bow.</p> +<p>I saw a light in a farmhouse in the distance +and on our approach the inmates +were aroused by the barking of their dog. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_45' name='page_45'></a>45</span> +The man was a typical Chilean, short and +stout. He looked curiously at us and by +signs Mitchell made him understand that +we were hungry. He entered the house +and returned with his wife and two children. +Mitchell repeated his signs and the +woman went inside and returned with a +cup of milk, which we drank greedily. The +man then beckoned us inside where we had +a supper of meat, bread and coffee. They +collected a number of sheep skins, gave +us two mats for covering, and we slept +soundly.</p> +<p>The next morning we helped the man in +his garden, drew water for the cattle and +made ourselves useful in other ways. I +went almost every day for two weeks to the +summit of the hill where I had seen a splendid +view of the bay, to see if the Aven was +still in port. One day I saw her spread her +sails and I watched her until she was but +a speck on the horizon.</p> +<p>Our host by this time, I think, knew we +had run away, for on one occasion he followed +me when I making my observation, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_46' name='page_46'></a>46</span> +but if he suspected anything he never took +any steps to have us arrested, and in fact +treated us with great kindness. When we +left he gave us a large package of food and +some clean stockings and shirts which his +wife had made for us.</p> +<p>It was nightfall when we entered Valparaiso. +Near the plaza Victoria we paused +before an English boarding house sign. As +we stood looking, a middle-aged man came +out and asked us our business. Before we +could reply he said: “I bet you are the +two boys from the Aven.” Our frightened +looks told him we were. He invited us in +and gave us supper.</p> +<p>We soon learned to our dismay that this +man was the notorious Cockney Spider, +keeper of a runaway sailor’s boarding +house. At night Cockney would start out +to some vessel in the bay of Valparaiso, +everything having been pre-arranged, take +off those sailors desiring to runaway, secrete +them in the house and when opportunity +offered, ship them again. The +amount of bounty paid by ships short of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_47' name='page_47'></a>47</span> +men was often large, and as Cockney always +arranged to have poor runaways deep +in debt for board and lodging, the sailor on +being re-shipped was worse off, and Cockney +the gainer. He often took desperate +chances in stealing sailors, as the coast +guard and other officials were sharp. Many +in that traffic were captured, but Cockney +always escaped.</p> +<p>After we spent the night in his home he +asked me if I could write. Replying in +the affirmative, I was installed as chief +book-keeper of the notorious runaway sailor +boarding house. My duties were to register +the sailors brought to the house, keep +a record of their meals, charge so much a +night for lodging, and present their bill +when they were ready to leave. I held the +position for two weeks, when one night +Cockney came home intoxicated and told +me that he had shipped Mitchell that night +on a French bark. A sailor gave me a sly +wink and whispered, “Your turn will come +next, he intends to ship you on a whaler.” +My experience with the ice on the Aven +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_48' name='page_48'></a>48</span> +had given me a horror of frozen seas, and +that night I stole away from the boarding +house.</p> +<p>I was in dread of Cockney Spider, and, +in my determination to escape, I became +a stowaway on a coast steamer and landed +at Arica, with a few dollars in my pocket, +paid to me by Spider.</p> +<p>When I arrived at Mollendo in company +with Mr. John L. Thorndike, he introduced +me to Mr. Hill, his general manager, +as his “boy protector” and told him +to give me employment and see that I was +well provided for.</p> +<p>In a short while I was in the railway +shops, learning the trade of machinist, and +later I was engineer on the railroad running +from the sea port of Mollendo to +Arequipa, more than one hundred miles in +the interior. The city is situated in a beautiful +and fertile valley in the heart of the +Andes. The majestic volcanic mountain +Misti some miles away rises nearly four +miles above the sea and smoke still issues +from its crater.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_49' name='page_49'></a>49</span></div> +<p>I had lately been transferred from the +shops in Mollendo to Arequipa, when, hearing +fabulous stories of rich gold finds in +the Andes, and being imbued with an adventurous +spirit, I resolved to try my fortune +in the new El Dorado.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_50' name='page_50'></a>50</span> +<a name='V_FAIREST_FLOWER_OF_THE_CORDILLERAS' id='V_FAIREST_FLOWER_OF_THE_CORDILLERAS'></a> +<h2>V.</h2> +<h3>FAIREST FLOWER OF THE CORDILLERAS.</h3> +</div> +<p>I was in the heart of the Cordilleras, +weary, footsore and alone. I was descending +a rocky cliff a few hundred feet from a +plateau, while the thunders roared with +terrific crash. The rain fell in sheets, +plunging in wild fury in cataracts down the +mountain side. There was desolation and +terror unutterable. I leaned close to a +shelving rock, and as I thought of once +happy days in Aberdeen, of the love bestowed +upon me by my dear mother––gone +forever from this world––my own condition, +now a homeless wanderer in a foreign +land, perhaps to soon meet death and my +body be devoured by condors, I laid my +head on my arms and wept bitterly.</p> +<p>I am not superstitious, neither do I believe +that my condition at that time caused +my mind to wander; a peaceful calm came +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_51' name='page_51'></a>51</span> +over me; it seemed as if some loving one +was near, fear vanished, and I looked up +but beheld nothing. The storm raged with +even greater fury. I walked and even began +to sing the “Garb of Old Gaul.” I ignored +the elements in their war and had +almost reached the plateau when the storm +ceased and the sun suddenly appeared. +Calm and warmth came from what a few +minutes before had seemed death and destruction.</p> +<p>A sudden turn in the trail and I beheld +a child seated beneath the thick, spreading +branches of a tree, her white apron filled +with alpine flowers. “How came she +here,” I wondered. Her dark bright eyes +gazed questioningly into mine, eyes +through which one could see the childish +spirit and feel the witchery of her magic +look; her raven locks fell in clusters over +her fair temples and ended in ringlets +about her shoulders; on her cheeks were +the glowing tints of youth and health. As +I spoke she rose and handed me a flower of +delicate tint. I gallantly pinned it on the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_52' name='page_52'></a>52</span> +lapel of my coat, which won from her a +pleasing look and smile. I could speak a +little Spanish and she seemed to understand +that I was going her way. Together +we walked along the trail. Her childish +grace appealed to me. A spirit of infinite +goodness seemed to radiate from within +and stirred my noblest impulses. A feeling +of content settled upon me.</p> +<p>Near by, I saw some Indian huts and the +tambo or tavern where Frank Dunn and I +had stopped on our way to Puno. The +child ran ahead, leaving me to follow.</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p>The first sight of Puno had satisfied me +that we had come to the most desolate +spot in the world, Nature’s remains seemed +to have been brought there and left without +burial. The ground was thickly covered +with a short, wild grass and appeared +to be the natural dwelling place of the +alpacas and wild vicunas.</p> +<p>I had been in Puno but a few days when +I was offered work on board one of the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_53' name='page_53'></a>53</span> +steamers, but I longed again for Arequipa +and friends. Dunn had secured work on +one of the steamers and refused to return. +I thought this was hard, as it was my +money that had helped him from the time +he left Arequipa until he secured employment. +My money was almost gone, but I +had gone to the Amaras market and bought +what edibles I needed, and without hesitation +had started alone to return to Arequipa, +over those fearful heights and +dread solitudes of the Cordilleras, when I +found her.</p> +<p>When we were entering the tambo an +elderly gentleman and the Indian host +were speaking in Spanish, and even from +my limited knowledge of the language I +knew they were talking about me.</p> +<p>No doubt but my appearance in the heart +of the Cordilleras wet, forlorn looking and +alone aroused his sympathy. After a difficult +attempt at opening a conversation, the +beautiful child I had met looking on all +the time, I was given to understand that +he desired me to eat with them. Of course +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_54' name='page_54'></a>54</span> +I consented, but I did not do justice to the +meal as the dark eyes of the young girl +were constantly upon me.</p> +<p>The gentleman gave me his name, Julian +Maldonado, and that of his daughter, Felicita +Maldonado. He was a well-to-do merchant +of elderly years. I learned that his +wife was dead and that their home was in +Lima. The servants made me a bed in the +room adjacent to my host. The next morning +I was aroused by one of them who said +his master wanted to see me. I went to +him and after telling him I was on my way +to Arequipa, and when there I would be +among my friends, he offered to purchase +a mule for me, but the only one to be had +was lame. However, I told him I was +young and would soon reach my destination. +Felicita then came in and announced +breakfast, after which the mules were +packed and, everything being in readiness, +we bade each other good-bye. Felicita +came toward me, and as she extended her +hand in her childish fashion, she placed in +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_55' name='page_55'></a>55</span> +my own a Peruvian twenty-dollar gold +piece, saying: “Adios mi amigo.”</p> +<p>I was almost speechless. I started forward +to return the money, but I had to +retain it, as they quickly mounted and +were gone before I could master my feelings.</p> +<p>Roll on, relentless Time. Felicita, fairest +flower of the Cordilleras, we shall meet +again, when love’s young dream shall awaken +amid the clash of arms and tragedies!</p> +<p>Nine days later I arrived in Arequipa, +sick, footsore and weary. My friends had +sent out searching parties believing that I +had been murdered. Their astonishment +was great when they found where I had +been and that I had spent many nights +alone amid the dangers of the mountains. +Many were the admonitions I received from +older heads.</p> +<p>I laughed at their words, and when I +thought of the beautiful Felicita, I dreamed +of love and felt an indescribable content +with my surroundings and all the world.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_56' name='page_56'></a>56</span> +<a name='VI_A_HUMILIATING_INCIDENT' id='VI_A_HUMILIATING_INCIDENT'></a> +<h2>VI.</h2> +<h3>A HUMILIATING INCIDENT.</h3> +</div> +<p>There was a night riot in the streets of +Ilo, knives gleamed in ruffian hands, curses +and blasphemy fell from sodden lips. Shots +were fired in the thick of the struggling +mass, as the mob crowded in frenzy about +some central figure. The crowd from behind +pressed forward and Thompson and +I were carried along by the crush of humanity, +until of necessity we began to fight +our way out. We had partially succeeded, +when we were surrounded by soldiers. At +sight of the soldiers the crowd began to +disperse, but unfortunately for us it was +too late, besides we had nothing to do with +the riot, and thought we had nothing to +fear.</p> +<p>The officer stepped up and placed +Thompson and I under arrest. We were +searched, but no arms were found on us. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_57' name='page_57'></a>57</span> +However, we were marched away to jail +and our feet placed in iron bars, fastened +with a heavy lock, which compelled us to lie +on our backs.</p> +<p>The next morning an officer appeared +and I notified him that I was a British subject, +and resented such treatment. He told +me that I was held for attempted murder. +Thompson was also under the same +charge. An Italian had been shot and +would probably die. I demanded an immediate +trial. Several officers of the railway +came and endeavored to set us free, +but their efforts were of no avail. There +was no British consul nearer than Arica, +about two days travel by steamer, and no +means for communicating with him until +the steamer arrived from the north.</p> +<p>Our prison was an old wooden structure, +and only one guard was over us. The officer +and his men had quarters some distance +away. It was our intention to ask +the soldier on guard for a drink of water +about midnight, when Thompson would +overpower him and take his keys. A small +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_58' name='page_58'></a>58</span> +boat was to be in readiness at a certain +place. Our plan was, after obtaining the +keys, to put the soldier in the stocks and +walk out, all of which could easily have +been accomplished, as the soldier was but +a small ignorant half-breed Indian. It was +Sunday night and we had decided to put +our plan in operation, when––imagine our +surprise––an officer informed us to get +ready to take the train for Moquequa.</p> +<p>We were accompanied by an officer and +six men. I asked the officer what the removal +was for, and he said our trial was to +be held and it was necessary for us to be +present. I asked permission to speak with +the engineer, which was given. I told him +I dreaded being taken into the interior, as +we would be away from our friends, and +begged him when we came to a certain +grade along the line to increase the speed +and I would jump off. I was familiar with +that part of the country, knew I could secure +a horse and go to Mollendo or Arequipa. +I knew also that the officer and his +men had never been on a train, and it would +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_59' name='page_59'></a>59</span> +be impossible for them to give chase.</p> +<p>But we were again doomed to disappointment. +The engineer feared to carry +out the plan and instead of increasing +speed, went slower than usual.</p> +<p>On our arrival at Moquequa we were +marched through the streets, to my great +humiliation, as I knew many people in the +town. Numbers of them came and offered +their sympathy. To our great indignation +we were thrown into a cell with six other +prisoners convicted of murder, and a more +ugly, villainous and desperate-looking lot +of characters would have been hard to find +anywhere. No attention had been paid to +my remonstrance, when an hour later a +gentleman, whom I had favored, presented +himself. After I told him the circumstances +of our detention he said he would +send a lawyer to defend us. In the meantime +he arranged with a hotel keeper to +send us regular meals, also mattresses and +blankets.</p> +<p>The day following I had many visitors, +some drawn by curiosity and others by +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_60' name='page_60'></a>60</span> +sympathy and good will. The latter were +profuse in their attentions. When a lawyer +appeared, I related to him the details +of our arrest. I did the talking, as Thompson +could not speak the language, while I +was becoming quite proficient in it. Upon +leaving, the lawyer promised to have us +free in eight days at most.</p> +<p>I passed away the dreary time pacing +that prison cell. It was about twenty feet +long and twelve feet wide, and contained +nothing but stone walls and floor, with a +heavy iron-grated window which looked +out on the plaza. A bottle of wine came +with each meal, instead of coffee, and I +shared it with the criminals in our cell. In +this way I soon won their good will, and as +they had all been convicted of murder, they +did not hesitate to tell me of their horrible +crimes.</p> +<p>There is no capital punishment in Peru. +Sentence for life, in that country, means +about fifteen years, and seldom do they +serve that length of time. Usually a revolution +releases them. At such times insurgents +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_61' name='page_61'></a>61</span> +invariably break open the prisons +and liberate the convicts, which happened +to these prisoners a few months later. We +were visited daily by my lawyer and finally +were told that four hundred dollars +would be required for our liberation.</p> +<p>“Liberate us and I will give you the +money,” was my answer.</p> +<p>Next day I bid adieu to my undesirable +residence and companions; Thompson had +no money and I paid all. After purchasing +new clothes and receiving the congratulations +of friends, we boarded the train for +Ilo. Mr. Hill returned from Lima that +day and after learning of the indignities inflicted +upon me, told his officials that they +should have notified the British consul and +compelled the Peruvian authorities to pay, +instead of taking my money.</p> +<p>I returned to work in the shops, and +three weeks afterward one of the office +clerks came in breathless and told me I +was to be arrested again along with Thompson. +The papers would be down from +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_62' name='page_62'></a>62</span> +Moquequa that night and tomorrow morning +they would come for us.</p> +<p>I was furious when I realized that we +were again facing punishment for a crime +of which we were innocent and I determined +to resist arrest, and leave Ilo.</p> +<p>I went to the office of the secretary of +the railroad, and after a long consultation, +it was agreed to have three of Mr. Hill’s +best horses in readiness at midnight. One +of the hostlers was to accompany us and +when we reached Tambo, Thompson and +I would take the train for Arequipa.</p> +<p>I went to my room, packed my clothes, +carefully loaded two revolvers and placed +my trunk and other articles of value in +the hands of my friends, with orders to +send them to Arequipa after the sensation +of my escape was over. After supper, to +allay any suspicion the authorities might +have, I strolled along the wharf, went into +a billiard hall and actually played a game +of billiards with the captain of the guard, +who I have no doubt had the order to arrest +me in his pocket. Thompson had gone +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_63' name='page_63'></a>63</span> +to his room. I followed thirty minutes later, +and at precisely twelve o’clock, I sallied +out of the house by the rear, and met +Thompson at the agreed place on the beach.</p> +<p>The night was dark, and everything being +in readiness, we mounted and rode +through the town dressed like natives. We +soon gained the highway leading to Tambo +and after being well clear of Ilo, we put +our horses to their best. We rode the fifty-five +miles to Tambo, over a rugged and +mountainous country and caught the train +for Arequipa, arriving that night after an +absence for me of two years.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_64' name='page_64'></a>64</span> +<a name='VII_IN_THE_THROES_OF_REVOLUTION' id='VII_IN_THE_THROES_OF_REVOLUTION'></a> +<h2>VII.</h2> +<h3>IN THE THROES OF REVOLUTION.</h3> +</div> +<p>The railroad had now been extended +from Arequipa to Puno. A revolution had +broken out and insurgents were cutting the +telegraph wires.</p> +<p>I was engineer on a combination locomotive +and coach and as this locomotive will +be in the scene of more than one tragedy, +I will describe it. It was specially designed +for the president and officers of the road, +weighing only eight tons. On the same +frame with the engine, in fact, a part of it, +was built a beautiful black walnut coach, +with a seating capacity of from twelve to +eighteen persons. It had two side doors +and one in front, which, when opened, communicated +with the engineer. There were +windows hung with beautiful damask curtains, +the carpets were of rich velvet, +and a center table and several cupboards +under the seats completed the furnishings. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_65' name='page_65'></a>65</span> +It was in reality a palace on wheels, named +The Arequipena, meaning a native of Arequipa. +I mention the design of the combination +engine-car for the reason that, on a +duplicate of The Arequipena, later occurred +one of the most perilous and tragic +events of my life.</p> +<p>The stretch of road from Julica to Cabanillas +was level and straight, except about +two miles from Cabanillas station, where a +heavy side cut and sharp curve was the +only obstruction to the view for miles. I +was going at the rate of forty miles an +hour, when, on nearing this curve, I beheld +a large Rogers locomotive with a train of +coaches coming toward me. I cannot describe +the thoughts that went through my +brain––there was a terrific crash––flying +debris––a hissing of steam––mingled with +the groans of the wounded and dying.</p> +<p>I was thrown out of the way of the +wreck and near the edge of a river, and +when I regained my senses a priest was +bending over me, bathing my forehead. I +gradually realized what had happened and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_66' name='page_66'></a>66</span> +went to my engine. There was scarcely a +vestige left of The Little Arequipena, only +a piece of the boiler and two pairs of driving +wheels. The shock was so great that +the little coach was hurled over the other +engine, which was not damaged much.</p> +<p>I saw several persons bending over some +one, and, on going closer, found William +Cuthbert, our traveling engineer, stretched +on the ground dying. Five soldiers +were dead beneath the ruins. One officer, +with his legs broken in two places, begged +that others be cared for first. The road-master +was in agony, his lower limbs +frightfully burned by escaping steam; all +the others were more or less seriously injured, +except myself. When relief came +our dead and wounded were taken to Arequipa.</p> +<p>We had been sent out to repair the wires, +and orders had come to me that we should +be given the right of way. The engineer +who collided with me told me that the commander +of the government forces had ordered +our superintendent to furnish transportation +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_67' name='page_67'></a>67</span> +for his troops to Puno at once, +and when informed that it would be impossible +to send a train until we were heard +from, he threatened to place the superintendent +in jail unless his orders were complied +with. No one on the other train was +hurt. They had six coaches full of soldiers, +the priest who assisted me being +among them.</p> +<p>The day after our arrival at Arequipa +the funeral of William Cuthbert took place. +The procession was the largest that I had +ever witnessed at any funeral in Arequipa, +natives as well as foreigners taking part.</p> +<p>It was a long time before I recovered +from the shock, not alone of the collision, +but the death of William Cuthbert who always +had been ready to befriend me and +who had given me much valuable information. +He lies buried in the cemetery at +Arequipa, in a vault. A marble slab was +erected to his memory.</p> +<p>The general manager sent for me one +day to come to his office in Arequipa, and +after talking over the cause of the collision, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_68' name='page_68'></a>68</span> +I told him that I considered him to blame +for allowing any engine and train to go +out without knowing first where we were, +and that it would have been better to have +gone to prison, that if he had been sent +there the American government would +have demanded his freedom, and he would +have been honored. As it stood, he was +to a certain extent responsible for that +dreadful affair. After some more words I +left the office, realizing that I had incurred +the displeasure of the head officer. +I concluded to leave, which I was sorry to +do, as I looked upon Arequipa as my only +home.</p> +<p>I visited Valparaiso and again met Cockney +Spider. He was still at his old business, +conducting a runaway sailors’ boarding +house. A few weeks later found me in +Panama, an engineer on the Panama and +Aspinwall railroad. The climate, I believe, +is the most wretched in the world, +and tropical vegetation grows the rankest. +In a few months I was stricken with the +yellow fever, but thanks to my robust constitution +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_69' name='page_69'></a>69</span> +I soon recovered. About this +time I met an official of the government +railway at Ilo, who desired me to return +and accept a position as engineer on the +road. I told him of my troubles in that +town with the officials. He met me soon +afterwards, with a contract duly drawn up +for eighteen months’ service and a guarantee +that I should not be molested by any +petty official.</p> +<p>When I arrived at Ilo, imagine my surprise +to find that the man who rowed me +ashore was the Italian who caused my arrest. +He offered to shake hands but I refused. +When I went to the hotel many of +my old native friends came to see me, and +informed me that after I had left they discovered +the person who did the shooting. +It was done by one of their own number, +who managed to get away.</p> +<p>It was very gratifying to thus have my +innocence established, but it did not recompense +for the time I had spent in jail and +the loss of money.</p> +<p>I had been running a train out of Ilo +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_70' name='page_70'></a>70</span> +about a month, when one night I was invited +to a “wake.” Having never attended +one, I accepted the invitation. At one +end of the room stood a large table, and +upon it the body of a child two years old. +On its head was a wreath of flowers. The +child was dressed in white; in its tiny +hands was a bouquet of flowers; the feet +were encased in small white slippers; lighted +candles surrounded the body. At either +end of the table were several old women, +who were employed by the family as +mourners, and they kept up a continual +low moaning sound. Occasionally they +would stop to partake of wine, and start +again, more dismal than ever. The room +was large and on each side were seated ladies +and gentlemen talking and laughing +and seemingly enjoying themselves. The +parents of the dead child appeared to have +surpassed the expectations of their friends +and made a great success of the “wake.”</p> +<p>There is a custom in Peru that when several +persons are gathered together there +is constant drinking. A large bottle of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_71' name='page_71'></a>71</span> +wine or whiskey is placed on the table +with one glass. A lady or gentleman will +fill the glass and drink to the health of +some one present. It is bad form to leave +any liquor in the glass, so it is always +drained, refilled and presented to the one +whose health has been drunk. It is an insult +to refuse to drink, after one has drank +to your health and the person accepting the +glass drinks to the health of some one else. +In this manner the glass is constantly on +the move. On this occasion, the wine was +on the table with the corpse.</p> +<p>About one o’clock in the morning not +seeing any disposition on the part of the +guests to retire, I bade our friends good +night.</p> +<p>I had barely reached the street when I +heard firing and saw people running. Suddenly +there came a volley of musketry, and +a woman dropped dead a few feet in front +of me. Almost immediately the streets +were deserted, but I could hear the cries +of “Vivia Pierola,” and I knew another +revolution had broken out.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_72' name='page_72'></a>72</span> +<a name='VIII_VIVA_GENERALISSIMO_PIEROLA' id='VIII_VIVA_GENERALISSIMO_PIEROLA'></a> +<h2>VIII.</h2> +<h3>VIVA GENERALISSIMO PIEROLA.</h3> +</div> +<p>I did not do anything for the woman. +Shot through the heart, she was past all +aid. I made a dash into a by-street, intending +to reach the station, get my engine +ready and go to Ilo to prevent the +insurgents from using the road to transport +their troops. But I ran into an officer’s +arms before I had gone a block. He +had been looking for me all night, and told +me I was his prisoner. I was to be taken +before Senor Pierola. Meantime I was to +be treated with every consideration, the +officer paying for breakfast and cigars, +and insisting on my drinking some ale +which he had taken as a contraband of +war.</p> +<p>It was some time before we could get +near the great leader of the revolution, +the approaches to his house being crowded +with people. Ladies were prominent +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_73' name='page_73'></a>73</span> +among the crowd, carrying flowers and +declaring their deliverer had come to make +Peru the greatest nation on the Pacific.</p> +<p>After the officer presented me Pierola +asked me if I spoke Spanish. Upon being +answered in the affirmative, he asked my +name, nationality and how long I had been +employed by the Peruvian government; all +of which being answered to his satisfaction, +he asked me if I would work for him, +and if I would, in the event of his being +victorious, I should be appointed to take +charge of the Ilo and Moquequa railways. +He only wanted me to convey troops down +the valley, take up some of the rails to prevent +the government troops from using the +line, and then before he retreated to another +position which he would fortify, to +dismantle the engine and hide the parts, so +that in case the government troops should +come to Moquequa the engine would be of +no service to them.</p> +<p>I replied that I was a British subject, +and that if I were to do what he requested +of me, and should be taken prisoner by the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_74' name='page_74'></a>74</span> +government, and the fact became known +that I had taken part, I would be unable +to claim the protection of my government. +He agreed that that was true, but he would +insure against that by sending a few troops +with me, and it would look as if force was +compelling me to do what, which without +force, I would not have done.</p> +<p>I finally agreed, and after giving my +word that I would not attempt to escape, +received orders to take the engine, as a +squad of soldiers would accompany me, +and at a certain place along the line which +they would designate, the rails would be +torn up. We started that afternoon.</p> +<p>We carried two flat cars to load the rails +on. About forty miles from Moquequa we +discovered another train coming toward +us, but upon our nearer approach they +backed off rapidly. It was a party of government +troops sent out to ascertain +whether the road was clear in order to +bring up their main body. Our company +then took up rails and made the road dangerous +in ten different places. We blew +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_75' name='page_75'></a>75</span> +up a small wooden bridge with giant powder.</p> +<p>The officer in charge made frequent stops +in the valley and levied a tribute of money +on all the wine merchants he could find. +They usually gave, as they knew too well +the consequence of refusing. Those who +hid away found, on their return, their wine +presses and vaults in ruins.</p> +<p>On our return to Moquequa, I was ordered +to disable the engine, which I did by +taking off both valve stems and driving +rods. The officer hid them and that was +the last I ever saw of them. We attended +a dance which lasted all night, and drank +much wine in anticipation of the success +of the revolution. It was a gala night. +There was dancing and music in nearly all +the houses.</p> +<p>In the early morning bugles, drums and +other instruments began making a hideous +noise, officers were commanding men to +form ranks, horses, mules and donkeys +were running hither and thither, and dogs +were barking. Here and there were +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_76' name='page_76'></a>76</span> +groups of men learning to load their rifles, +others endeavoring to parry and thrust +with cutlasses and making fierce swings at +an imaginary government soldier. Louder +and hoarser came the call of the officers, +but their commands were lost on the motley +crowd. After several hours the officers +succeeded in getting the men into some +kind of marching order.</p> +<p>I turned to a store to buy some cigars, +when I heard someone calling, and turning +I beheld three of my fellow prisoners that +a few months before were in jail convicted +of murder. One straightened out his hand +to me, but I did not take it. I asked them +how they escaped; it was the old story. The +insurgents needed recruits and they were +liberated on condition that they fight for +Pierola.</p> +<p>Such was Peru, and such it is today. Instead +of the people supporting the government, +the government supports the people, +and when all its favors become exhausted, +then some one arises and proclaims himself +president, organizes a band of thieves and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_77' name='page_77'></a>77</span> +murderers, and endeavors to gain control.</p> +<p>There have been exceptions, when an indignant +people, who have been trodden to +such an extent that it seems a revolution +is the only means of righting their wrongs; +but nine out of ten are the work of an ambitious +man who wants to become ruler.</p> +<p>I asked the ex-convicts where the other +three were who had been confined with +them. Two had died and the other was +with the troops. They begged for money +and I gave them a dollar each, and after +profusely thanking me they left to follow +the rear guard of Pierola’s scoundrels.</p> +<p>After purchasing my cigars, I followed +the main body of troops with my escort of +twenty soldiers, to keep guard over me, as +arranged with General Pierola. Our destination +was Torato, thirty miles from Moquequa. +The road led over passes and +wound around mountain sides, and from +several points of vantage I could see the +army on the march, with General Pierola +and a priest by his side in the lead. The +priest was there to inspire courage in those +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_78' name='page_78'></a>78</span> +who might waver. The army numbered six +hundred infantry and two hundred cavalry, +many of whom did not know the duties of +a soldier.</p> +<p>On arriving at Torato, I secured quarters +for myself and escort at the expense +of the insurgent general. A month passed +in wine drinking and dancing. There +were gay festivities every night, lasting +sometimes until late the next morning, the +officers seldom seeing their men. Instead +of drilling them, they spent their time telling +how they were going to annihilate the +government troops. Some little fortifying +had been done, but the natural surroundings +were sufficient to prevent a prudent +attack. One day the news came that the +government troops were advancing and +then some little work was done to prepare +for battle.</p> +<p>The day before the battle, I told General +Pierola I had no objections to following +him to the battlefield, but in consideration +of being a non-combatant, I asked the privilege +of selecting my own course, giving +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_79' name='page_79'></a>79</span> +him my word of honor that I would not +make any attempt to escape. He was satisfied +and gave me a pass allowing the +freedom I desired. The next day the cry +arose that the government troops were +only six miles away. There was hurrying +to and fro with no discipline. The priest +accomplished more by his cross than all +the officers. There was a babel of voices. +All were trying to give commands. Suddenly +heavy firing was heard, the outpost +had become engaged at last.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_80' name='page_80'></a>80</span> +<a name='IX_AMID_THE_DIN_OF_BATTLE' id='IX_AMID_THE_DIN_OF_BATTLE'></a> +<h2>IX.</h2> +<h3>AMID THE DIN OF BATTLE.</h3> +</div> +<p>The main body of the insurgent troops +began to move to the front, headed by General +Pierola and the priest marching to the +most unearthly music I ever heard. Women +were conspicuous and cheered as the +men marched past. “Viva Pierola!” was +heard on all sides.</p> +<p>Then came an order to double quick. +The outposts were driven in a short distance, +and the enemy was in a valley, surrounded +on both sides by a chain of hills +with a huge mountain in the background. +When I saw the position of the government +troops, I was satisfied they would be defeated +and the battle become a rout. There +were two regiments of infantry and one of +cavalry in the valley. Pierola stationed +his troops on each side of the pass and in +front, reserving his cavalry. In a short +time the engagement became general. The +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_81' name='page_81'></a>81</span> +priest encouraged the insurgents by displaying +the cross. He was a courageous +fellow, always to be found in places of +danger. I mounted a huge boulder and +could easily see all that was going on. The +government troops would waver and fall +back, and again they would renew the attempt +to scale the hillsides, which was impossible +as long as the insurgents held their +position.</p> +<p>There was a strange happening just +when success seemed assured. The insurgent +cavalry had taken no part up to this +time, as both sides of the valley had been +actively engaged. The insurgents along +the pass were running short of ammunition. +An order was sent to the captain of +the cavalry to send a company back to Torato +and assist in hurrying up supplies. +There was a brief cessation of hostilities. +I could plainly see the government troops +carrying their dead and wounded to the +rear, but still holding their position. When +another charge was made to take the +heights, the firing again became general. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_82' name='page_82'></a>82</span> +Suddenly arose the cry, “They come! +They come!” Firing along the sides of the +pass ceased, and I looked in amazement. +Evidently, something was wrong. The insurgents +were throwing away their arms +and running. There was a cloud of dust in +the direction of Torato, and I could easily +distinguish a company of cavalry, which I +knew was the company sent to hurry up the +ammunition. The insurgents saw them and +imagined that the government cavalry had +succeeded in getting to their rear. The +panic became a rout. In vain did Pierola +plead, as he threw himself in front of his +demoralized men, in vain did the priest +hold his crucifix on high, threatening and +pleading, but no persuasion could stop +those runaway cowards. The government +troops realized something was wrong, and +began to scale the heights. Still, if the +cavalry which had done no fighting, could +have been led to the side of the pass, the +day would still have been with Pierola, and +probably the stampede would have been +checked. But unfortunately for the would-be +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_83' name='page_83'></a>83</span> +president, there was no one in command +capable of meeting the emergency.</p> +<p>I became excited, and snatching a cutlass +from the hand of a retreating soldier, +threw myself in front of a column in a +vain endeavor to stop them, but they ran +over me like so many sheep. Terror had +lent them wings of flight and deprived them +of reason. By this time the government infantry +had reached the plateau and was +forming into companies. Their cavalry +had seized the heights and the day was +lost.</p> +<p>I saw General Pierola shake hands with +the priest and leave the field. The priest +mounted and he, too, was gone. The +ground was strewn with arms; even the +discordant musical instruments were discarded.</p> +<p>Thus an army of revolutionists, who, a +few hours before paraded through the +streets of Torato, cheered by fair women, +and shouting “Viva Pierola,” had won a +battle by natural surroundings and lost it +by their cowardice. I, too, thought it was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_84' name='page_84'></a>84</span> +time to retreat, as my escort of twenty soldiers +had long since disappeared. I rode +to Torato.</p> +<p>Along the way I overtook straggling +bands of insurgents going into town to +hide, while others were scaling the tallest +mountains. I went to my quarters, and +soon the town was surrounded.</p> +<p>The next morning about two hundred insurgents +were captured. The others were +hid in some mysterious way and the commanding +officer of the government troops +was made to believe that the main body of +the insurgents was in the mountains.</p> +<p>I sought the general of the government +troops to inform him of my presence. He +replied that he knew of my being a prisoner, +and asked me to return to Moquequa +at once and help to get the railway in operation +to convey his troops and prisoners.</p> +<p>I was glad no other questions were put +to me, and after pleading with the general +for my kind host who had treated me with +great kindness in Torato, and who was not +in sympathy with the revolutionists, he +agreed to exempt him from the payment of +money levied on nearly all the inhabitants.</p> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_3' id='linki_3'></a> +</div> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/illus-076.jpg' alt='' title='' width='303' height='443' /><br /> +<p class='caption'> +THE EARTH BEGAN TO ROCK AND REEL. (Page 33)<br /> +</p> +</div> +<p>Soon after this a troop ship arrived in +Ilo to convey prisoners and escort to Lima. +I felt sorry for the prisoners. Many of +them recognized me and kept calling, “Don +Juan, please try and help us,” but of +course I was powerless to do anything for +them. I was glad when they were aboard +the transport for I felt miserable in the +midst of so much suffering. But I knew +they would not suffer long. Another revolution +would set them free.</p> +<p>The railroad was again in running order +and everything progressing smoothly when +one morning at breakfast I was informed +that Pierola had broken out again. This +time his party had, by means unknown, +captured the Peruvian ironclad ram, Huascar. +He must have been aided by the officers, +or at least one of them who declared +in his favor. Howbeit, he had possession. +The Peruvian fleet was sent in pursuit, but +as the Huascar was the most powerful vessel +of the fleet, they had to give her up.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_85' name='page_85'></a>85</span></div> +<p>The fortunes of Pierola were brighter +now than ever. He could, with the exception +of Callao, have entire command +and control of all the sea ports along the +coast. But unfortunately for him, he began +to stop the British mail, and later the +French mail on the high seas, his object being +to intercept mail for the Peruvian government.</p> +<p>The British government dispatched H. +M. S. Amythist and the Shah to compel +him to surrender, the Huascar having had +full sway along the coast for a month.</p> +<p>The Huascar finally made her appearance +in the port of Ilo, and almost immediately +the Amythist and Shah hove in +sight. I had a good view from the beach +and saw a boat lowered from the Shah and +pull directly to the Huascar, I supposed for +the purpose of demanding her surrender. +However, if that was the object, it failed, +for upon the return of the boat to the Shah, +the Amythist cleared for action.</p> +<p>The afternoon was calm; not a ripple on +the ocean. The Huascar was nearest the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_86' name='page_86'></a>86</span> +shore, less than a mile from where I stood. +The Shah was over a mile distant seaward. +A signal flashed from the Shah and the +Amythist steamed toward the Huascar. +The Amythist was a wooden corvette, +equipped with twin screws. The Shah was +a commerce destroyer. Neither vessel was +a match for the modern ironclad Huascar.</p> +<p>Suddenly a shot came from the Shah. +The flag and pole at the stern of the Huascar +dropped overboard. The Huascar, +equipped with a revolving turret, sent a +shot at the Amythist, but it went wide of its +mark. The Amythist circled and sent a +broadside full on the Huascar, every shot +taking effect. With the aid of a glass I +could see the decks of the Amythist plainly +from my position on a huge rock. The +British sailors, stripped to the waist, cutlass +in hand, stood eagerly awaiting orders. +The gunners’ crews were engaged in firing +rapidly. The Huascar replied by slow but +heavy reports from her turret. The object +of the British was to disable the Huascar’s +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_87' name='page_87'></a>87</span> +turret, and they succeeded by directing all +shots against it.</p> +<p>The Huascar, finding she could not effect +the enemy by shots, turned to ram her. +The Amythist, being equipped with twin +screws, awaited the Huascar and when +within a short distance ran alongside and +poured her whole broadside on the rebel. +That was the last act before the Huascar +surrendered.</p> +<p>I was aboard the Huascar a few months +afterward at Mollendo and she presented a +most dilapidated appearance.</p> +<p>Thus again was General Pierola frustrated, +and by a British wooden vessel +against a crack ironclad of Peru. Pierola +escaped as usual, and the Huascar was +turned over to the Peruvian government.</p> +<p>A few days after the Amythist-Huascar +battle I discovered the people of Ilo were +cold and distant towards me, and I soon +learned the cause. Although they were in +favor of the existing government, they did +not relish the idea of their people being +beaten by the British. I could not condemn +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_88' name='page_88'></a>88</span> +the acts of my own country and I felt it +would be better to leave Ilo, which I did, +little dreaming of the exciting events which +were soon to follow.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_89' name='page_89'></a>89</span> +<a name='X_WE_MEET_AGAIN_FELICITA' id='X_WE_MEET_AGAIN_FELICITA'></a> +<h2>X.</h2> +<h3>WE MEET AGAIN, FELICITA.</h3> +</div> +<p>The theater of Arequipa was ablaze with +lights. The youth and beauty had assembled +to follow the fortunes of the Count de +Monte Christo. I was seated in the dress +circle listening to the weird warlike strains +of Spanish music, when my eyes fell upon +the occupants of a box. A beautiful girl, +half hidden by the rich draperies, was talking +with an aristocratic looking old gentleman, +while by their side sat a young man, +dark-browed and sinister looking. I arose +and entered the box from the side door. +“Don Julian Maldonado, I am delighted to +meet you,” I said, “I am the boy you befriended +some years ago in the Cordilleras.”</p> +<p>He took my hand delightedly and bade +me be seated, offering me a chair between +himself and daughter. Don Julian whispered +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_90' name='page_90'></a>90</span> +to me not to make myself known to +Felicita to see if she would recognize me. +All this was amusing to Don Julian, but +somewhat embarrassing to me, seated, as I +was, between them, and trying to carry on +a conversation with him. The expression +of wonderment in Felicita’s beautiful eyes +was disconcerting to say the least. It was +evident she did not remember me. And yet +how could she be expected to. She was a +child of only nine years when we first met, +and who now, seven years later found me +unexpected and unannounced sitting beside +her in a theater.</p> +<p>Laughingly I turned to her and asked if +she did not recognize me, explaining that +the reason her father had not presented +me was that we had met seven years ago.</p> +<p>While I was speaking she was looking +earnestly at me, but when I recalled their +journey to La Paz she appeared dubious +and asked if I was the young lad she met +near Puno and if it was possible that I had +grown to manhood and learned to speak +Spanish? When I reassured her, the look +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_91' name='page_91'></a>91</span> +of astonishment gave way to an exclamation +of joy.</p> +<p>The play was forgotten. We only talked +of our first meeting. She asked if I was +staying in Arequipa and on learning that +I was, promised that we should meet again, +as her father had decided to remain there +for some time. I was delighted but felt +somewhat disturbed because of the young +man in the box with her. When I began +to talk to Felicita he moved his seat farther +away. The Peruvians are the acme of +politeness.</p> +<p>The play being over, I assisted Felicita +with her wraps. Her father then introduced +me to Don Rodrigo Garcia, a fellow +traveller whom they had met on their journey +from Cusco to Arequipa.</p> +<p>I was not particularly well pleased with +the young man. First impressions sometimes +give rise to doubt and distrust. It +was so with me in this instance. Don +Julian insisted on my going home with +them. I walked with Felicita on one side +and Don Julian on the other, Don Rodrigo +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_92' name='page_92'></a>92</span> +walking just ahead of me. Their home was +on Calle Mercaderes, one of the prettiest +squares of the city. Like most Peruvian +homes, the house was of adobe with flat +roof and partitions of plastered cane. It +contained six rooms. In the windows were +heavy iron bars, like all houses of the better +class. They were very serviceable, for +Spanish lovers do their courting between +the window bars. The girl sits beside the +window and her wooer stands in the street; +the parents sometimes invite him in. +Should he request the company of the girl +to the play or to any entertainment, the +invitation must include the whole family. +This custom in the larger cities is dying +out, but in the inland cities it is still adhered +to.</p> +<p>Arriving at the door, I bade Felicita and +her father good night with the assurance +that I would dine with them the next day. +Don Rodrigo also was invited. His hotel +was on my way and I accompanied him. +He was splendid company, and after reaching +his hotel I accepted his invitation to a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_93' name='page_93'></a>93</span> +light lunch. Afterwards we enjoyed a cigar +and some rich old wine, but still I could +not overcome the aversion I first formed +for him.</p> +<p>The following day, long before the appointed +time for dinner, I was dressed and +ready. Chico, a half-breed Indian, whom I +had rendered a service one time when he +was being set upon by some of his own +people, and who afterwards slept in my +passage way, had my boots polished and +horse carefully groomed. He was a faithful +servant. He would find out where I +went and quietly follow, and after the manner +of his race, would lie down in some obscure +place in perfect contentment and +wait for me. I arrived at the home of Don +Julian at the appointed time, and found the +father and daughter awaiting me. A few +moments later, Don Rodrigo arrived and +we were seated in the parlor facing the +street. It was splendidly appointed. Although +the exterior of many Peruvian residences +appear shabby, the interior presents +a far different appearance.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_94' name='page_94'></a>94</span></div> +<p>I requested Felicita to play for us and +time passed quickly. Dinner being called I +took the liberty of escorting Felicita to the +table and was given the place beside her. +The Indian servants between courses, kept +our glasses filled. Felicita did not take +wine, and when dinner was over retired, +leaving us to enjoy our cigars and liquor. +We afterwards adjourned to the parlor, +where I gave my friends an account of my +life since our first meeting. I could see +that Don Rodrigo took every opportunity +to make light of my narrative.</p> +<p>I did not allude to being in Ilo during the +Amythist and Huascar affair, but after I +had given my friends a brief account of +myself, Don Rodrigo asked me my nationality. +I told him I was Scottish. He then +asked me what I thought of the Huascar +affair, hoping no doubt to belittle my +standing with Don Julian. I replied that I +had given it very little thought, and moreover +considered it a question for both governments +to settle, and was satisfied that +everything would be adjusted amicably.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_95' name='page_95'></a>95</span></div> +<p>My reply seemed to annoy him, as he +doubtless thought I would commit myself, +and take the part of the British. He arose, +and pleading a press of business, begged +permission to retire. He shook hands with +Don Julian and daughter, but merely +bowed to me. I was glad he was gone.</p> +<p>Never before had I been so happy as +now, in Felicita’s presence. For the first +time since leaving home this was the only +pleasure I had known. Felicita sang some +pretty Spanish ballads to the music of her +guitar and I went home that night with a +lightness of heart I had not experienced +for a long time.</p> +<p>My duties not requiring me to be away +from Arequipa often, much of my time was +spent with Felicita. Together we would +ride horseback over the picturesque valley, +with its olive and orange groves and along +shaded avenues of palms, with pebbly +brooks of crystal waters on either side. The +pure air and semi-tropical skies stimulated +our buoyant spirits, and made these the +halcyon days of my existence. My first +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_96' name='page_96'></a>96</span> +dreams of love when we met in the Cordilleras +were now a blissful reality.</p> +<p>I saw little of Don Rodrigo in the weeks +that followed and was seldom in the company +of my comrades. Once a week I +would join them at the club, but aside from +that I was always to be found at Don Julian’s +home.</p> +<p>Months sped by in sweet content as the +world took on a more roseate hue and the +future presented an alluring picture.</p> +<p>I met Don Rodrigo on the street one day +and as he nodded slightly I noticed an evil +look in his eyes. On returning to my room +late that night something glistened in the +moonlight on my door. I struck a match, a +blood red heart was traced on the panel, +and in the center stuck a dagger. What +did it mean?</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_97' name='page_97'></a>97</span> +<a name='XI_THE_MASQUE_BALL_AT_TIRAVAYA' id='XI_THE_MASQUE_BALL_AT_TIRAVAYA'></a> +<h2>XI.</h2> +<h3>THE MASQUE BALL AT TIRAVAYA.</h3> +</div> +<p>It was the night of the annual masque +ball at Tiravaya, a summer resort a few +miles from Arequipa. The hall was +crowded with dancers; many gentlemen +were in Cavalier costume, with swords +clanking at their sides. Others were in +helmets, gorglet and breastplate, to represent +Pizarro’s conquerors of Peru. Many +of the ladies wore quaint costumes and +rich attire of the court of Ferdinand and +Isabella, while a few were attired in +grotesque costumes. Felicita was dressed +as a princess of the court of the ancient +Incas, with a head dress of the rich plumage +of tropic birds. I was dressed in the +Highland garb of Scotland.</p> +<p>I soon discovered Felicita by the rosebud +in her hair. We took part in the grand +march and in nearly all the dances. The +soft strains of the music and the gayety +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_98' name='page_98'></a>98</span> +of the picturesque throng in the brilliantly +lighted room made the hours pass quickly +and it was soon time for unmasking. After +the general greeting was over, we proceeded +to the dining room where an elegant repast +was served. The supper being finished, +the music struck up again as the wine +was being served. Just then I observed +Rodrigo for the first time, and noticed that +he was intently watching me. I called Felicita’s +attention to him and she seemed to +be frightened. She wanted to return home, +but I assured her there was no danger; we +were among friends. She replied that I +was not familiar with Spanish hatred, and +that he would sooner or later insult me. I +had known for more than three months, +that he had proposed to Felicita and been +refused. I also knew he was a gambler and +lived on his chances at the faro table. Being +an expert and without any sense of honor, +even to one of that profession, he was +seldom unsuccessful. I had never mentioned +to Don Julian or Felicita his manner +of life.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_99' name='page_99'></a>99</span></div> +<p>An American, who unfortunately got under +the influence of wine, proposed a toast +to Peru, to which we all responded by raising +our glasses. Another toast was given +to the United States which received a similar +response. Toast followed toast in quick +succession. I merely raised my glass as I +had no desire to drink any more, and knowing +the long distance before me, I was on +the point of calling for Chico to have our +horses in readiness, when I heard my name +called and found that I was requested to +make a speech. I arose and congratulated +the company present for the pleasant time +we had passed, and the happy manner in +which everything had been conducted by +our host. All rose and gave him three +cheers.</p> +<p>Don Rodrigo then stepped to the center +between both tables, and asked everyone +present who denounced the British government +for its action in the Huascar affair, +to stand up. I knew the insult was meant +for me. I refused to stand, as also did +two of my British friends. After they were +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_100' name='page_100'></a>100</span> +seated Felicita again pleaded with me to +leave, but I could not do so with honor +then, and had I done so, I would have been +held in contempt afterwards. Don Rodrigo +came to where I was seated and addressing +himself to me said:</p> +<p>“I observe that you refuse to condemn +the action of the British government. Of +course you are a Britisher, but I must say +that the action of your government was +of the most cowardly nature, and anyone +who upholds such actions deserves the +name of coward; in fact, anyone who allows +himself to be ruled by the Queen of +Great Britain must be anything but a +brave man.”</p> +<p>I cannot describe the thoughts that ran +through my brain. I stood like one paralyzed. +I could neither move nor speak, but +I was conscious that everyone was looking +at me and seemed to enjoy my discomfiture. +Felicita placed both hands on my +right arm and looked pleadingly in my face. +I could see everything quite plainly, but I +was bereft of all powers. Then by a valiant +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_101' name='page_101'></a>101</span> +effort I recovered myself. Bending down, +I told Felicita to remain and not be +alarmed.</p> +<p>I arose and went to where Don Rodrigo +stood. I was calm and collected. “Don +Rodrigo,” I said, “I came here by invitation, +and when I accepted had no thought +of being insulted. Neither do I believe +that our host or the gentlemen present intended +that I should be. You have without +provocation on my part, insulted my +Queen and called her subjects cowards. +The country that gave me birth never produced +cowards and I want to convince you +that I am not an exception.” With this I +dealt him a terrific blow in the face.</p> +<p>He fell heavily to the floor and all was +confusion. Men leaped on tables and +chairs. Cries of “Down with the foreigner!” +were heard on every side. Then my +British friends came over to where I +stood, one of they saying, “Good, Jack, +the coward deserved it! Let us stand side +by side and show them how the Queen’s +subjects can defend themselves!”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_102' name='page_102'></a>102</span></div> +<p>I can see him now, his auburn hair disarranged +and partially hanging over his +forehead, his blue eyes sparkling with indignation, +his right hand holding a revolver. +The other said, “There are only +three of us but we will show them how +Britishers can fight,” at the same time +drawing his Colt’s. I had also pulled my +gun, anticipating the worst, when the +American drew near and said: “Jack, I +know nothing of your Queen or country; I +am an American, but you did right, and +what I would do under similar circumstances. +I will stand by you, although we +have little chance against such odds.”</p> +<p>By this time Don Rodrigo had been assisted +to his feet, blood all over his face. +The uproar ceased for a few minutes, as +the crowd was without a leader. The blow +had told with effect––two front teeth were +gone and both eyes were discolored, caused, +I think, by him coming in contact with the +floor. In a few moments cries of “Down +with the foreigner,” again commenced. We +knew it threatened our lives, but when they +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_103' name='page_103'></a>103</span> +looked down the barrels of four revolvers +they knew it also threatened some of their +lives.</p> +<p>Springing on a chair, I asked them to listen +to me. I told them that the quarrel they +had witnessed had been sought by Don +Rodrigo against me; and I asked why others +should suffer? Let him finish his quarrel +with me now or at any other time he +chose––I would always meet him, and surely +gentlemen such as I knew them to be +would not so far forget themselves as to +endeavor to overcome us, who had never +done them harm?</p> +<p>This appeal was effective. Don Rodrigo +had been washed, and never did I see a face +with such devilish and malignant expression. +I was young and strong, with quite +a knowledge of the art of self defense, and +I watched him very closely lest he should +draw a knife.</p> +<p>Presently he said that he would be the +judge of time and place and manner of +meeting me, and that I would yet remember +Don Rodrigo Garcia. I did not answer +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_104' name='page_104'></a>104</span> +and he walked out of the hall. I drank +several glasses of wine with those who, but +a few moments before, were crying for revenge. +I found Chico near me, and could +hardly refrain from laughing when I discovered +that he had armed himself before +leaving Arequipa with a great navy revolver +he found in my room. I am satisfied +had an attack been made on us, Chico would +have done his part, provided he had found +a way to use the revolver. I am satisfied he +never saw one before he came to Arequipa.</p> +<p>I told him to get the horses ready and +my friends remained near to prevent any +treachery. However, we were not molested +on the way home. Felicita begged me to +watch Don Rodrigo. “I know,” she said, +“that man’s nature. He will watch you always, +and while he will not attack you +alone, he will pay others to inflict some injury +on you.”</p> +<p>Don Julian was waiting and had hot +cocoa ready for us. We both concluded +that we would better tell him what had +happened lest he hear a wrong version +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_105' name='page_105'></a>105</span> +from others. They were determined that +I should spend the remainder of the night +in their house, but I concluded it would appear +cowardly. So, I bade them good +night and, with Chico following, perfectly +happy over the few dollars I had given +him, I reached home in safety.</p> +<p>I thought much about the affair at Tiravaya +and determined to watch Don Rodrigo +closely. A week later Don Julian informed +me he was going to Aacna on business. He +would be gone several days, but Felicita +would stay here. Fatal mistake.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_106' name='page_106'></a>106</span> +<a name='XII_COWARDLY_ACT_OF_A_VILLAIN' id='XII_COWARDLY_ACT_OF_A_VILLAIN'></a> +<h2>XII.</h2> +<h3>COWARDLY ACT OF A VILLAIN.</h3> +</div> +<p>“Don Juan! Ah, Don Juan! Something +dreadful! Felicita!” cried Chico as he +burst into my room breathless near midnight.</p> +<p>“What is it?” I demanded, “quick, I +say,” but he could only gasp “Felicita!”</p> +<p>I hurried to the stable and saddled my +horse, Chico following. We rode with all +haste to the home of Don Julian. Everything +was in uproar. The Indian servants +moaned and cried, and pointed in the direction +of the road leading to the cemetery. +Thither I rode, fast as my horse could run. +It was a lonely road, with few houses by +the wayside and those were mostly Indian +huts. It was nearly one o’clock in the +morning, no one to be seen––on and on I +went. I could see a dark outline of what I +thought must be a vehicle of some kind. +As carriages are seldom used in Arequipa, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_107' name='page_107'></a>107</span> +I concluded that this must be bearing Felicita +away. I drove the spurs harder and +leaned forward, peering into the darkness. +I was gaining rapidly. I was certain now +that it was Felicita, for they were driving +at full speed. I never thought how I was +to rescue her, my whole purpose being to +catch up with that villain. Just then the +moon shone bright from behind a cloud +and lighted up the scene. The occupants +of the carriage now knew they were being +pursued, and they stopped. I could plainly +see two men unhitch two horses from behind +the carriage. They took Felicita from +the carriage and were forcing her to mount +when, suddenly, her horse became unmanageable, +and she fell to the ground. By +this time I was close upon them, and called +to Felicita to be brave, but the poor girl +never heard me, for she was unconscious. +Don Rodrigo stopped, as if determined to +resist me. Would to God he had! But he +put spurs to his horse and fled. I shot at +him, but as the distance was great, and the +light uncertain, the bullet went wide of the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_108' name='page_108'></a>108</span> +mark. I soon forgot him on reaching Felicita, +as she lay with an ugly cut on her head +caused by striking the carriage step when +she fell. There lay my child-friend, unconscious. +She was dressed for retiring, her +other clothes being in the carriage. My +first impulse was to pursue the accursed +scoundrel and avenge the insult to Felicita, +but I could not leave her there. I took her +in my arms and carried her to a near-by +Indian hut where, after some parley with +the poor, superstitious Indians, the door +was opened, and I laid my burden on some +sheepskins on the floor. Her hands were +cold and she appeared to be dead.</p> +<p>By this time, Chico arrived and brought +her clothes from the carriage. I staunched +the flow of blood with my handkerchief, +while Chico prepared some hot native liquor, +which I put to her lips. After a time, +she opened her eyes, but did not know me. +I called and called her name, but it was +long before consciousness returned. When +she did recognize me, a look of love and +happiness passed over her face. I would +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_109' name='page_109'></a>109</span> +not let her speak, but told her that when +she was taken home, she could tell me all. +The carriage driver had long since made +his escape, so I had sent to Arequipa and +had a closed carriage brought, in which I +took her home.</p> +<p>Time dragged wearily until the return of +her father. I remained by her side and +with the assistance of the Indian servants, +made her as comfortable as possible. I +had been without sleep so long that I had +gone into the parlor and laid down. I had +just awakened from a sleep when Don Julian +entered. Poor old man, he was overcome +with grief. He knew all, Felicita had +told him. From him I learned how the abduction +had taken place. About 11 o’clock +at night, Don Rodrigo had entered the bedroom +and before she realized what was being +done, Felicita had been carried to the +carriage in waiting. Leaving her in charge +of the driver, Don Rodrigo returned for +her clothes. No sooner was his back turned +than she screamed. This attracted the attention +of Chico, who had been enjoying a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_110' name='page_110'></a>110</span> +visit with Don Julian’s Indian servants in +the kitchen. He had run at full speed to +inform me.</p> +<p>It was the opinion of Don Julian that +Don Rodrigo had intended taking the child +to some remote Indian habitation in the +mountains, and demanding a ransom for +her.</p> +<p>This was a plausible theory, for besides +getting revenge for Felicita refusing his +hand in marriage, he would be able to extort +money from Don Julian, and also +avenge his fancied wrongs at my hands.</p> +<p>The following day Felicita was still weak +and nervous. The doctor advised that she +be taken to the sea coast for a time. She +protested, saying she was getting stronger, +but I knew she was only saying it to cheer +her father and myself. I could plainly see +her condition was precarious. After a long +consultation with the doctors, Don Julian +decided he would take her to Truxillo, their +former home. After considerable pleading, +she consented to go. I was to follow +when she recovered.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_111' name='page_111'></a>111</span></div> +<p>I accompanied them and their Indian +servants aboard the steamer and remained +aboard the little ferry boat, waving my +handkerchief until they faded into the distance. +I returned ashore, and although +I had not been in Mollendo for some time, +I had no desire to see my friends. I +wanted to be alone.</p> +<p>Weeks of dreary waiting followed. I +was not myself. Anxiously I looked for a +letter and with trembling hands I broke the +seal. The letter was dated Lima, and read: +“Don Juan, I am crazy. Felicita is dead. +Will write you all, when I am composed. +Julian.”</p> +<p>Never was human being more distracted +than I. Absenting myself from everybody +night after night in deep ravines and valleys, +among the lofty mountains that surrounded +Arequipa, I wandered. Many an +Indian no doubt looked upon me with superstitious +awe, walking without caring +whither I went, like one demented. A second +letter came stating that the death of +Felicita was caused by a terrible cold she +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_112' name='page_112'></a>112</span> +had contracted and the nervous shock suffered +on the night of the abduction. Like +his first, Don Julian’s letter was brief. He +said: “I will let you know where she is +buried in my next, and I think I will not +be long after her.”</p> +<p>I concluded to go to Lima, but another +letter, dated Truxillo, stated that he had +left Lima and would bury Felicita in Truxillo. +I received no more missives. To go +to Lima was useless, to go to Truxillo and +perhaps not find him there, would not accomplish +anything so I decided to wait until +I heard further news. I scarcely know +how I passed my time. Night after night +I would go up town, play billiards and visit +the drinking places, always with the +hope that I would meet Don Rodrigo.</p> +<p>I intended, when I heard from Don Julian +to make a trip to Truxillo, visit the +last resting place of Felicita, and perhaps +remain in Lima, away from scenes that +reminded me of the only happy time in my +existence, and its tragic ending. But circumstances +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_113' name='page_113'></a>113</span> +over which I had no control +changed my plans.</p> +<p>One night, as I was sitting alone in my +room, a boy handed me a telegram. It +was from the general manager of the railroad, +saying to report at his office at once +and bring all the engine runners with me, +and to enjoin absolute secrecy on the part +of the men. I did as requested, and now +begins one of the most exciting adventures +of my life.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_114' name='page_114'></a>114</span> +<a name='XIII_MURDEROUS_PLAN_OF_THE_INSURGENTS' id='XIII_MURDEROUS_PLAN_OF_THE_INSURGENTS'></a> +<h2>XIII.</h2> +<h3>MURDEROUS PLAN OF THE INSURGENTS.</h3> +</div> +<p>On my arrival at the manager’s office, +I found him in consultation with the Prefecto +of Arequipa and the General in command +of the regular army. I was informed +that another revolution was about to +be attempted in Peru in favor of General +Pierola.</p> +<p>The General said he had a valuable package +which must be delivered to the Prefecto +of Puno, that in the event the package +was captured it would ruin all their +plans. Would I undertake to deliver it for +the government? I turned to the general +manager and, speaking to him in English, +said: “There is some mystery connected +with this. Before I pledge myself to do +this, it will be necessary to have a clear +understanding.” He repeated my request +to the General, who informed me that a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_115' name='page_115'></a>115</span> +secret message had come over the wires +that a revolution had broken out again, +and this time the insurgents had taken +possession of several points to prevent the +government troops from reaching Puno; +that the package I was to take was a notice +to the Prefecto of Puno, for himself and +those in favor of the government, to proceed +to a designated place, where the government +troops would arrive, and march +by stages to Puno.</p> +<p>I realized the danger connected with +this undertaking and accepted the responsibility +with some trepidation. A generous +reward awaited me if I succeeded, but +it was understood in accepting the perilous +message, no instructions were to be given +me; that I was to use my own judgment +and, if danger threatened the package, to +destroy it before it should be captured.</p> +<p>The little Arequipena had long since +been rebuilt, and I at once proceeded to +put her in readiness for the journey. Manuel, +my fireman, was a native of Arequipa, +a powerfully built and sturdy fellow. He +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_116' name='page_116'></a>116</span> +had been much among the British and +American railway men and could understand +English.</p> +<p>After leaving orders as to the time of +starting, I called on an English friend and +confided my mission. I asked him, in event +of my death, to write to my relatives in +Scotland, giving the details. He did everything +in his power to dissuade me, but I +told him his talk was idle. No use, I had +made up my mind. Upon seeing the Arequipena +ready, the men in the shops questioned +me, but I evaded their questions.</p> +<p>I went to the office of the general manager +and he gave me the package, unaddressed, +done up securely, and sealed with +red wax. I placed it in the inside pocket +of my vest. The manager asked me to be +careful with myself. He would much rather +I should not go, but in my state of mind, +I was only too glad to get my thoughts off +the sad remembrance of Felicita’s fate.</p> +<p>I left Arequipa at ten o’clock that night, +cautiously and silently leaving the station. +I arrived at Puno the following evening +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_117' name='page_117'></a>117</span> +and lay over at Juliaca Junction a few +hours. At this point the station master +asked me where I was going. I replied +that I had orders for Puno. Leaving Juliaca, +I arrived at Puno at exactly five +o’clock. I blew the whistle for the station. +I noticed that it was crowded with people, +but saw no one I would suspect of being a +revolutionist. I put the engine in the shed, +and then went and washed up. I hid the +package in a secure place, where it was impossible +for anyone to find it, as I had +planned to go to the hotel, eat supper and +then learn my chances for getting to the +Prefecto, before I took the package from +its hiding place. The station of Puno, +like all terminal stations of the Arequipa +railway, was fenced in by corrugated iron, +about eight feet high, and it was necessary +to go through the station outlet, which was +only opened on the arrival and departure +of trains, or another outlet guarded by a +dog and night watchman. I went out by +the small gate, familiarly bidding the +watchman good evening. This gate only +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_118' name='page_118'></a>118</span> +employes had the right to use. I walked +up town to the hotel Inca. I met several +gentlemen who knew me and asked one to +play a game of billiards before supper. No +one seemed to think that my coming was +anything more than the usual routine of +railway business.</p> +<p>After darkness, I lit a cigar and strolled +down the street where the Prefecto lived. +I observed the sentry at the front entrance +and upon close observation, I found that +the rear of the house could be approached +by a little back street connecting with a +small alleyway by means of which the +house could be entered from the front.</p> +<p>I retraced my steps to the station but +did not go near the gate. I went around to +the engine shed, where an opening had been +made by the boys so they could get to their +rooms when out late nights and avoid +answering the questions of the watchman. +When I reached the Arequipena, the wipers +were cleaning her. I spoke to the foreman, +and getting the package, went out the same +way, no one noticing my departure. Then +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_119' name='page_119'></a>119</span> +going through, the narrow street I went up +the small alley and, seeing no one, presented +myself at the main entrance of the Prefecto’s +house. Here the sentry barred my +passage and demanded the password. I +told him to call the officer of the guard, and +when he appeared I explained that I had +important business with Senor Prefecto, +and desired to see him personally.</p> +<p>“Who are you?”</p> +<p>“The Senor Prefecto will answer that +question,” I replied.</p> +<p>I had folded the package and hid it in the +lining of my overcoat which I had thrown +over my arm. The officer withdrew for a +few minutes, but soon returned and allowed +me to pass the sentry. Halting in +front of a large door, a signal was given +and it was opened by another officer. I +was ushered in, and from there into an adjoining +room, where I was told to wait.</p> +<p>Presently there came in a priest, then an +officer with side arms, and last Senor Prefecto, +who asked me the nature of my business. +I replied that I had a message for +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_120' name='page_120'></a>120</span> +the Prefecto, which could be imparted to +him alone. When my errand was communicated +to him, he could do as he chose.</p> +<p>There was much hesitation before my request +for a private audience was granted, +but on being searched, overcoat and all, the +Senor Prefecto finally agreed to see me +alone. When the others had retired, I took +the package from the lining of my overcoat +and gave it to him.</p> +<p>I watched him closely as he read the contents. +His face became blanched, and his +hands shook in abject fear, although nothing +else could have been expected from +him, as he was an arrant coward.</p> +<p>After reading the document, he called +the others. He handed it to the priest, who +asked where I came from. I told him. +Then he wanted to know if anyone had +seen me enter here, and whether the arrival +of the Arequipena was known. I told +him I thought no one would pay any attention +to the arrival of the train but would +consider it the ordinary routine railway +business. A consultation was held, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_121' name='page_121'></a>121</span> +after they found that I knew the contents +of the message I had brought, they admitted +me to their council. They asked me to +get the Arequipena ready, and they and +the principal officers would flee to Arequipa. +I told them that such a course +could not be pursued, as all the telegraph +offices were in the hands of the insurgents, +and that our departure would become +known, the engine surrounded and all taken +prisoners. They agreed it would be impossible +to escape that way, and decided +that about midnight they would escape on +horseback. Just then an officer arrived and +reported that the insurgents had taken +possession of the station, and two engines, +one being the regular passenger. One of +the engine runners had been taken prisoner. +Their spy had reported that it was +their intention to take both engines and +several coaches loaded with soldiers and +arms; also, large quantities of powder had +been put on the Arequipena for the purpose +of destroying Sumbay bridge––to prevent +the passage of government troops.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_122' name='page_122'></a>122</span></div> +<p>I was forgotten for the time being, their +fear for their own safety outweighing all +other considerations. Another officer came +in and breathlessly added the climax. The +regiment of regulars had joined the insurgents!</p> +<p>I was now doing some rapid thinking. If +Sumbay bridge was destroyed and the fact +not known in Arequipa, the government +troops would come along and, with the engine +crew, be hurled into eternity. The +bridge being about one hundred and seventy-five +feet high and six hundred feet +long and on a curve with deep cuts on +either side and a heavy down grade, it +would be impossible for any train to stop, +unless warned beforehand.</p> +<p>This was the murderous scheme of the +insurgents.</p> +<p>I learned it was the intention of the insurgents +to proceed to Vincocaya in the +morning, destroy as they went along, the +telegraph offices, wait at Vincocaya until +the arrival of the regular passenger train +from Arequipa and then proceed to Sumbay +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_123' name='page_123'></a>123</span> +bridge. They evidently had calculated +with a great deal of precision, and if their +plans carried, victory would certainly be +theirs.</p> +<p>All these things were filling me with apprehension. +I knew I would be captured, +but how could I save the bridge? I was +determined to try at all hazards.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_124' name='page_124'></a>124</span> +<a name='XIV_FOR_THE_SAKE_OF_HUMANITY' id='XIV_FOR_THE_SAKE_OF_HUMANITY'></a> +<h2>XIV.</h2> +<h3>FOR THE SAKE OF HUMANITY.</h3> +</div> +<p>“This document calls for the payment of +$10,000, and guarantees you life employment +by the government of Peru, provided +you save the Sumbay bridge,” said the +prefecto as he handed me a paper duly +witnessed by the priest.</p> +<p>“No, Senor, I cannot accept it,” I replied. +“I will do my duty for the sake of +humanity. It is part of my plan to be captured +by the insurgents and should that +paper be found on my person, I would be +shot as a spy. If I succeed you can reward +me.”</p> +<p>I left the Prefecto and his party, wishing +them a safe journey, and sauntered +carelessly back to the Inca hotel. I entered +smoking a cigar and wearing a look of unconcern, +pretended I was not aware of any +revolutionary movement. There were several +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_125' name='page_125'></a>125</span> +men playing billiards in the parlors. +I took a chair and sat down to watch the +players. About 11 o’clock I asked to be +shown to my room, and retired, knowing +full well that I had been watched by a +citizen of Puno since my entrance to the +hotel, and I was satisfied I would soon be +taken prisoner.</p> +<p>About 2 o’clock in the morning, I was +awakened from a restless sleep by the +entrance of twelve men armed with bare +swords and revolvers. They were all talking +at once. I sat up in bed and appeared +to be amazed. The leader requested me to +dress and accompany him. The streets +were lined with people shouting the old familiar +cry, “Viva Pierola,” as I was +marched in the center of this crowd. The +cry resounded down street after street. The +city was wild with excitement. The escape +of the Prefecto was on every lip, as we +turned at a street corner and to the station. +We had great difficulty in obtaining +entrance, but a passage was cleared and I +was ushered into the presence of the leader +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_126' name='page_126'></a>126</span> +of the revolutionary forces. He was about +fifty years of age, some six feet in heighth, +and powerfully built, but with a countenance +far from pleasing.</p> +<p>With little ceremony, I was notified to +get the Arequipena ready to depart from +the station at 7 o’clock in the morning. The +principal officers would go with her, I was +told, and the regular train would follow +with the troops.</p> +<p>I replied that as a British subject it +would be impossible for me to comply, unless +force was used; that I protested +against this high-handed proceeding. I did +this so that, in the future, no one could +accuse me of aiding the rebels willingly. +He replied that he did not care for the British +government, that I would do as I was +told or suffer the consequences. They +then escorted me to the engine house, +where I found my fireman Manuel already +a prisoner; also Beaumont, the other +engineer, and his fireman.</p> +<p>After getting the engine ready, I requested +the officer in charge to allow us to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_127' name='page_127'></a>127</span> +procure something to eat. His permission +was given, then another procession +marched through the streets to the hotel, +where the rebel guards stood over us at +breakfast.</p> +<p>The Arequipena was ready. Behind +were the passenger engine and five +coaches, which rebel troops were already +entering. At breakfast I had managed to +get a few words with Beaumont.</p> +<p>As the Arequipena was to go ahead, I +would endeavor to get the officers out to +eat at Vincocaya. I would give a signal +for him to uncouple his engine and follow +at full speed. It would be impossible to +stop him and they would be at the mercy of +the government troops, which would leave +that afternoon, according to the instructions +given the Prefecto of Puno from Arequipa.</p> +<p>The officers came aboard the little Arequipena +and loaded on several barrels of +powder, picks and shovels to destroy the +abutments of the bridge.</p> +<p>There were eleven officers who came +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_128' name='page_128'></a>128</span> +aboard the coach, when to my surprise, I +beheld along with three soldiers, Don Rodrigo +Garcia, who was to guard me. I cannot +describe my feelings. I know I am not +a coward, but I was taken with a shock of +nervousness. It was not of long duration. +Indignation took the place of fear, but I +realized how formidable a task I had undertaken +to save Sumbay bridge. Howbeit, +I determined more than ever to succeed, +and the knowledge of that man being near +me, gave me renewed courage.</p> +<p>Before starting he hissed to me: “Don +Juan, we meet again.”</p> +<p>I did not answer. It was all I could do +to keep from attacking him despite the disadvantage +I was at. The thought of the +bridge, however, restrained any hasty action.</p> +<p>We left the station with the troop train +closely following. According to orders, our +first stop would be at Juliaca station. I +knew that when we reached there the telegraph +office would be destroyed. Telegraph +communication was cut off between Juliaca +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_129' name='page_129'></a>129</span> +station and Puno. Nearing the station, we +stopped to take water from a tank. I asked +permission from the leader to allow my +fireman to go and draw some oil, explaining +that I had none and it was necessary, +that his going there would not create suspicion, +and it would save much time. I +was greatly surprised when he consented. +I took a small piece of paper and wrote the +following in English: “Van Buren, I am +coming with rebels to destroy Sumbay +bridge. Hurry up troops. Buchan.” After +writing, I read aloud in Spanish: “Procure +from Senor Southers, the station master, +two quarts of engine oil for the Arequipena.” +I handed it to Manuel who understood +my meaning. He took the engine +cans and walked to the office.</p> +<p>My heart beat rapidly. I fairly held my +breath. Would he be able to see Southers +before I took water? Would Southers understand +my meaning and get the message +off before we arrived at the platform and +find the office destroyed? I delayed taking +water as long as possible, then pulled slowly +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_130' name='page_130'></a>130</span> +down the track to the platform. The +moment we stopped, the officers rushed in +the telegraph office and disconnected the +instruments from the wires. Don Rodrigo +and his three soldiers never left me for a +moment, which made me suspect that my +every movement would be closely watched.</p> +<p>The fireman came down the platform, +both engine oil cans in his hands. I asked +him if he had seen Southers. He replied +that he had and that everything was all +right. I received the oil and looked at him. +His look told plainly that the message was +sent. I felt that a heavy load had been +lifted and breathed freer. I looked at Don +Rodrigo. I was satisfied that in a short +time we would meet in a struggle that +would be the final one between us.</p> +<p>After the office had been destroyed we +started again, the troop train always close +behind us. We stopped at Cabanillas, Maravillas +and Santa Lucia and carried away +their telegraph instruments; then we ran +direct to Vincocaya. Arriving there the +telegraph office suffered like the others. I +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_131' name='page_131'></a>131</span> +pulled down in front of the hotel, then told +the officers that the passenger train was +due in an hour, and that it would be impossible +to proceed until its arrival. I +showed him the time card to satisfy him I +was telling the truth, and remarked that +advantage might be taken of the time by +having supper. Accordingly all of them, +left the Arequipena except Don Rodrigo +and the three soldiers. The officers left +their arms in the little coach. Now was the +time to act. Should I fail now, no other +chance would present itself, for, after the +arrival of the passenger train, the only +stop would be at Sumbay bridge, when it +would be too late. I figured that, after +Van Buren had received my message from +Juliaca the troops could not possibly arrive +at Sumbay bridge before eight o’clock that +night. It was four o’clock when we reached +Vincocaya and the passenger would be +leaving Sumbay station. Pucacancha was +another station between Sumbay and Vincocaya. +The grade being 160 feet to the +mile, the train makes very slow time between +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_132' name='page_132'></a>132</span> +Sumbay and Pucacancha. It was my +only hope to succeed in getting to Pucacancha +before the arrival of the passenger +train.</p> +<p>I was nervous. I got off the engine, then +called to Manuel to hand me another oil +can. I spoke to him in English to have +everything ready. I was going to run +away with the engine––would he assist me? +This I asked while I was pretending to oil +the engine, and I had to trust largely to +Manuel’s intuition, as he knew but little +English. He returned to the engine and +raised a full head of steam. I noticed Don +Rodrigo watching me from one of the side +doors of the coach. I climbed back on the +engine and put away the oil can, when Rodrigo +said with a significant tone: “My +time will soon come when I can avenge the +insult I received at Tiravaya.”</p> +<p>I did not answer. I knew his meaning. +When my services were no longer required, +he would, with his cowardly instinct, devise +a means to kill me. The three soldiers +were a fair sample of the poor ignorant +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_133' name='page_133'></a>133</span> +Peruvians. They were armed with +breech-loading rifles of French pattern, +bayonets fixed. After Rodrigo had muttered +his threat, he went into the little +coach, sitting directly behind me, and +could, by his position, observe every move +I made. Manuel was standing on the left +watching me. Although I had endeavored +to make him understand, he was not aware +of my plans. I looked back and saw the +troop train taking water at the tank. I +looked at Manuel, and he understood “the +time had come.”</p> +<p>With my left hand, I threw the throttle +wide open and with my right blew the signal +agreed upon. With a prayer to God I +threw myself upon the nearest soldier.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_134' name='page_134'></a>134</span> +<a name='XV_IN_DESPERATE_STRUGGLE_FOR_LIFE' id='XV_IN_DESPERATE_STRUGGLE_FOR_LIFE'></a> +<h2>XV.</h2> +<h3>IN DESPERATE STRUGGLE FOR LIFE.</h3> +</div> +<p>Don Rodrigo and his soldiers were surprised. +I dealt the one nearest me a terrific +blow in the face. Don Rodrigo raised +his hand to fire. I knocked his gun from +his hand. The other soldier thrust at me +with his bayonet, inflicting a severe scalp +wound, which along with another thrust at +me with his bayonet in my left arm, gave +him time to recover. I struck the soldier in +the face, and knocked him to the floor. The +other was coming at me, when Manuel, +armed with a shovel, brought it down with +terrific force on his head.</p> +<p>By this time the engine was going at +lightning speed, having reached a down +grade of 160 feet to the mile. The throttle +was wide open. I knew we would soon +reach some sharp curves and if the speed +was not checked, the engine would jump +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_135' name='page_135'></a>135</span> +the track. I called to Manuel to shut off +the steam, and apply the brakes. At this +time I was struggling with Don Rodrigo +for life or death. We had clinched one another. +I spoke once.</p> +<p>“Recuerdo Felicita,” I hissed in his ear.</p> +<p>He did not speak. He was never a physical +match for me, but at this moment he +seemed endowed with superhuman +strength. His face took on the awful look +of desperation, that comes to men when +death seems near at hand. His lithe body +struggled to be free of my grasp. He tried +to trip me and just then the engine rounded +a sharp curve causing him to stagger. The +side door of the coach was open. For a +moment he vainly tried to catch hold of +something, and then, with a shriek upon his +lips, fell from the speeding coach.</p> +<p>The struggle had lasted but a short time, +but it had seemed to me hours. Manuel bandaged +my head and arm. The two soldiers +remained perfectly passive, suffering from +severe blows. The one felled by Manuel +was still unconscious.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_136' name='page_136'></a>136</span></div> +<p>We were within three miles of Pucacancha, +rounding a sharp curve, when I looked +back and exclaimed: “My God, Manuel, +the troop train is coming!” My blood almost +froze, but realizing that this was no +time for fright, I determined to master the +situation.</p> +<p>I knew the two soldiers would not attempt +to molest us. They had learned a +lesson. I looked at my watch. In five minutes +the passenger, if on time, would be at +Pucacancha. The troop train could not +reach there for fifteen minutes, because at +all obscure places it would have to go slow +for fear of meeting obstructions on the +track.</p> +<p>I reached Pucacancha, stopping far +enough back to allow the passenger to pull +up and back on the side track. The siding +had only one switch, chiefly used for ballast +for the road bed. I looked anxiously +for the passenger. Seconds dragged like +hours. Would she never come? There was +a curve not far from the station, and the +passenger could not be seen until it almost +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_137' name='page_137'></a>137</span> +reached it. I listened. I could hear the +low tremulous noise of the rails, a puff of +black smoke went up from behind the +curve––at last it was in view, engine No. 8. +On seeing me the engineer came to a sudden +stop. I hurriedly told him what to do. +He was to back onto the siding and let me +pass, then pull out and follow me back to +Pampa de Avieras, where I told him the +government troops would surely be. Our +plans were quickly executed. I determined +that should the troop train come before I +could get by the passenger, Manuel and I +would desert the Arequipena, start her +back with a full head of steam, and cause a +collision. No doubt there would have been +loss of life, but it would have given an opportunity +to escape by going on the passenger +train.</p> +<p>Dobbie, the engineer, succeeded well in +backing into the clear. Not seeing the +troop train, I ran with a hammer and spike +when he left the switch with the Arequipena +ahead of him and spiked the track. +Just then the troop train came in sight. I +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_138' name='page_138'></a>138</span> +hurriedly boarded the Arequipena and +started, Dobbie backing up at fast as he +could.</p> +<p>There were several officers on the engine +of the troop train, and when they saw us +they compelled the engineer to increase +his speed, with the result he could not +check his train in time to stop it from running +into the switch. His engine jumped +the track half burying itself in the ground.</p> +<p>We arrived at Pampa de Avieras and the +government troops came thirty minutes +later. I was beginning to get weak from +loss of blood. My left arm seemed to be a +dead weight, and the muscles were painful +and swollen. The people from the passenger +train crowded about me and did everything +in their power to relieve my suffering. +The soldier who had been struck with +the shovel came out of his stupor.</p> +<p>I was lying in the coach of the Arequipena, +when the commanding officer of the +government troops came to see me. After +detailing the story to him, I turned over +fourteen rifles, ten revolvers, and seven +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_139' name='page_139'></a>139</span> +swords, all the cartridges and barrels of +powder, together with the three soldiers +whom I pleaded for, stating that compulsion +was the cause of their joining the insurgents. +I insisted on their hurrying to +Sumbay bridge, although I told him they +did not have anything now with which to +destroy the bridge. However, they could +post their troops should they arrive first +and be in position to command the approaches. +After leaving me, he ordered +his troops forward.</p> +<p>I was getting weaker and weaker. At +last orders came to go to Arequipa with the +Arequipena. The station master telegraphed +to have a doctor ready for me on +my arrival. It was nearly forty miles from +Pampa de Avieras to Arequipa, mostly +down grade. I had to give the engine up +to Manuel, as the pain in my arm became +so intense I had to lie down. The station +at Arequipa was crowded back to the +street, the news having been telegraphed +by the officer in command of the government +troops. I could hear cries of “Viva +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_140' name='page_140'></a>140</span> +Juancita!” that being my name in Spanish.</p> +<p>The people in Arequipa were loyal to the +existing government. The general manager +met me with the doctor. His eyes were +full of tears when he saw me. I presented +a horrible and bloody appearance, the +wound in my head still bleeding, my left +arm in a sling and my clothes almost in +rags.</p> +<p>I was carried from the coach by four of +my friends to my room where the faithful +Chico had everything prepared. Cries of +“Viva Juancita!” rent the air from the +time I left the coach until the doctor requested +silence. Manuel was taken home +by his friends. The poor people, ignorant +of the revolution, but knowing by the demonstration +that something unusual had +happened, realized that he had done something +deserving recognition.</p> +<p>My friends grouped about with tear-dimmed +eyes, and warmly pressed my +hand. Chico, looking at me with a most +sympathetic expression on his Indian features, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_141' name='page_141'></a>141</span> +did not restrain his tears. For days +I tossed in pain and delirium.</p> +<p>One day when the general manager +came, he told me that another engineer who +had taken out the Arequipena to repair the +telegraph, came up with a body of the insurgents +who were going to surrender, but +they intended to kill him first thinking he +was I. Only the timely interposition of +one who knew him, saved his life. The insurgents +had got their engine back on the +track after much time and labor, but it +was damaged and as they were out of +water, they gave up hope of winning their +cause.</p> +<p>The train bearing the government troops +stopped when within a few miles of Vincocaya, +where they picked up the body of Don +Rodrigo Garcia and buried it near the +track. He would have exulted over my +death, but I cannot say that I felt any satisfaction +because he was dead. It only +brought sad memories of the past.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_142' name='page_142'></a>142</span> +<a name='XVI_THE_SCREAMING_WINDS_OF_NIGHT' id='XVI_THE_SCREAMING_WINDS_OF_NIGHT'></a> +<h2>XVI.</h2> +<h3>THE SCREAMING WINDS OF NIGHT.</h3> +</div> +<p>I sat on the broad balcony of the British +consulate at Mollendo, looking out over the +blue waters of the Pacific. The soft breeze +from the south seas imparted the glow of +health. How proud I felt with the knowledge +that no one dared insult me beneath +the blue and crimson folds that waved +above. Safe from the assassin’s knife at +the hands of some of Pierola’s men, of +whom I had been warned, I felt a certain +refuge beneath the ensign of my country.</p> +<p>“Don Juan, does that make me a Britisher, +too?” asked Manuel, pointing to the +flag above.</p> +<p>“Yes, it protects you too. Pierola’s +men do not dare to harm us here.”</p> +<p>“Praised be the Virgin,” replied Manuel, +crossing himself.</p> +<p>The great bells of the cathedral tolled +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_143' name='page_143'></a>143</span> +out a funeral knell as a solemn procession +marched to a transport ship. They were +dust covered, haggard men, with a hunted +look, chained in pairs. On either side +marched a file of soldiers with fixed bayonets. +Pierola’s men were being taken to +Lima.</p> +<p>I arose from the balcony and went inside. +They had to pass under the balcony +of the British consulate to reach the wharf. +I did not care to witness their misery and +so remained indoors until their departure. +The revolution over, there was nothing now +to fear; Manuel packed my belongings and +we returned to Arequipa.</p> +<p>The general manager requested me to +take care of the shops of Vincocaya. It +would enable me to be quiet and recover +from my wounds, as there was nothing to +do but to see that the work was kept going. +Meanwhile the excitement of the revolution +would die out.</p> +<p>Vincocaya is situated high in the Andes, +above timber line, a desolate and dreary +waste of rock and crag, where wild winds +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_144' name='page_144'></a>144</span> +scream among the cliffs in the blackness of +the night, as though a thousand imprisoned +Joshuas were reaching upward for that +sun which will stand still no more over the +plains of Ajalon. Leaden clouds drift like +winding sheets among the peaks and hover +like a pall over cañon and deep ravine. +The grave of Don Rodrigo was but a few +miles distant, but I never visited it. There +have been times when I regretted not +stretching forth my hand to save him, but +at the time, with a most violent hatred of +the man and the many injuries I had received +from him, and the attempt to save +the bridge foremost in my mind, I found +excuse for lack of the finer feelings. And, +too, what would it benefit had he been +saved? His life was spent in debauchery, +the gambling table and plots to overthrow +any government where a leader in opposition +to the ruling power would promise him +a political office.</p> +<p>Deep down in my heart I felt the weight +of the past; those shrieking winds of the +night were the responsive echoes of my +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_145' name='page_145'></a>145</span> +soul for the loved and lost. Was it upon +this planet or upon some distant sphere +that we two had met and loved and builded +hopes as high as the lofty peaks that now +entombed me––hope and love that may +have been breathed in the morning of the +world when the spirit of God dwelt within +us––hope that existed before the wrathful +change that shattered all and turned an +Eden into blackness and despair?</p> +<p>Days, weeks and months passed. Often +I would spend hours in the wild solitudes +hunting the vicuna and alpaca, or in some +gloomy cañon communing with myself. +Within my spirit I could hear an undertone, +“Why cast thyself on waters wild, +believing that God is gone, that love is +dead and Nature spurns her child?” So, +from my grief, I arose at length to feel new +life returning. New hopes and ambitions +sprang forth in my soul that had so keenly +felt God’s chastening rod.</p> +<p>A year had passed. I was in Arequipa. +Chico had my room ready and my friends +gave me a splendid banquet in one of the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_146' name='page_146'></a>146</span> +largest restaurants in the city. In all ages +the world has had two ways of doing honor +to a man. One is by parade, the other by +setting him down to a banquet table and +making speeches about him until they overcrowd +his emotions and leave him limp and +speechless. I had to pass through this ordeal. +The Prefectos of Arequipa and +Puno, the Commanding General of the Government +troops, the manager and officials +of the railway and a host of friends of lesser +note, but none the less loyal hearts, +crowded the banquet room. They feasted, +drank wine, sang songs and made speeches +to me and about me that were enough to +have satisfied the vanity of a survivor of +Thermopylae. At the close, the Prefecto +of Puno arose, and after saying things that +were loudly applauded, presented me with +ten thousand dollars not as a gift, but as +something I had justly earned. He was +followed by the general manager of the +railroad, who said his company desired to +show their appreciation of my conduct in +the Sumbay bridge affair, and on their behalf +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_147' name='page_147'></a>147</span> +he presented me with two thousand +dollars. Manuel, too, came in for his share +of honors and praise. He was presented +with five hundred dollars by the Prefecto +of Puno and two hundred dollars by the +company––more money than he had ever +seen in his life, or ever hoped to possess. +Deserving fellow, his eyes streamed with +tears of joy and gratitude when he received +the money which would now enable +him to own a comfortable home. His pleasure +was even greater the next day, when I +gave him one thousand dollars.</p> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_4' id='linki_4'></a> +</div> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/illus-140.jpg' alt='' title='' width='569' height='364' /><br /> +<p class='caption'> +THE HOME VOYAGE OF THE AVEN WAS FRAUGHT WITH ALL THE DANGERS OF THE SEA. (Page 26)<br /> +</p> +</div> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_148' name='page_148'></a>148</span></div> +<p>A month later, and Arequipa was wild +with excitement. War had been declared +by Chile against allied Peru and Bolivia. +It was a sad blow, as Peru had been extremely +prosperous and was rapidly forging +ahead in the commerce of the world. I +had concluded to leave the country and +seek some other field, when a call was +made to the railroad men to assist the government +to convey troops from the interior +to the coast. I responded and was sent to +Santa Rosa on the proposed railway to +Cusco, the ancient capital of Peru. Here +a great number of Indians were huddled +together to be sent to Arequipa, and drilled +and sent to the coast. They were abject +and disconsolate. The priests were calling +on them to be brave and return victorious. +These people had never seen the ocean and +had never lived in an altitude of less than +two miles. There was much suffering in +store for them under the tropic sun of the +coast. I asked an officer if he thought +these men would make good soldiers. He +replied with an air of great importance, +and looking quite serious, that he had received +word that the Chilean navy was +coming to bombard Mollendo, and it was +his intention to instruct the Indians in the +use of the rifle. When the ships came near +enough, he would station his men among +the rocks and shoot the sailors off the +decks. This, too, with flint lock rifles––a +sample of the calibre of the Peruvian officer +of the interior and his unfortunate Indian +soldiers.</p> +<p>After getting to the head of the Tambo +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_149' name='page_149'></a>149</span> +valley, I proceeded to Mollendo and found +a terrible state of affairs. Everyone was +expecting the Chilean fleet; men and women +were carrying their household goods +to the mountains. At sight of every ship +on the horizon, whether sailing vessel or +steamer, a cry would go forth––“They +come––they come!” The greatest confusion +prevailed. There was no organization, +no discipline; everybody for himself, +and all running at the cry of––“They +come!”</p> +<p>One morning about ten o’clock the hostile +fleet did come.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_150' name='page_150'></a>150</span> +<a name='XVII_THE_BARBARIAN_MEETS_HIS_INGOMAR' id='XVII_THE_BARBARIAN_MEETS_HIS_INGOMAR'></a> +<h2>XVII.</h2> +<h3>THE BARBARIAN MEETS HIS INGOMAR.</h3> +</div> +<p>A heavy fog was clearing from the sea, +when from out of the mist rose the black +hull and conning tower of the Cochrane. +The senior officers of the flagship stood +grouped on the starboard rail. The wind +changed suddenly to the west, and, as it +changed, it rolled up patches of the fog and +revealed the black hull and conning tower +of the Enlado. A heavy cloud of smoke +poured from their funnels; decks cleared +for action when they should put into practice +the desperate objects of their existence.</p> +<p>A boat was lowered from the flagship +and rowed to the wharf of Mollendo by +sturdy Chileans, while an officer bore a +message to the Prefecto for all noncombatants +to leave the city, as bombardment +would begin in an hour.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_151' name='page_151'></a>151</span></div> +<p>As the boat was leaving, it was fired +upon. Then the ear-splitting reports which +followed showed how the flagship took this +breach of the rules of war. There was the +rushing swishing sound, the terrifying +screech of projectiles passing through the +air, followed by terrific explosions and the +crash of falling buildings.</p> +<p>In the city, pandemonium reigned. Men +and women with blanched faces, were fleeing +to the hills. Others threw themselves +upon the ground, too terror-stricken to +move. I heard a voice at my elbow calling +in English. It was the voice of a woman, +young and fair. “This way,” said I, and +we hurried toward the massive rock from +whose summit I had watched the battle of +the Huascar and Amythist two years before.</p> +<p>“We are safe now,” I said, as we stood +behind the thousands of tons of granite, +“safe as if we were behind the rock of Gibraltar.”</p> +<p>“Oh, mother, sister and Mr. Robinson––heaven +help them at this hour!” she exclaimed. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_152' name='page_152'></a>152</span> +A shell struck a stone building +and exploded by impact; fragments +screamed like a panther in the air.</p> +<p>The young woman’s face was blanched +to a death-like pallor, but she was calm, +and, kneeling by my side, she asked God to +help us. Aloud she prayed, a beautiful, +impressive prayer, one that must have +gone straight to the throne of heaven and +received its answer, for soon the wind +shifted and those belching volcanoes of the +sea were curtained by the fog; the firing +ceased.</p> +<p>We hurried to her home amid scenes of +desolation and confusion. Her family was +safe and, to my surprise, the Mr. Robinson +she had spoken of was an employe of our +railway, who had but lately arrived from +the United States and to whom I had been +introduced a few days before.</p> +<p>The bombardment was now over, but the +human wolves began to sack the city. Fire +was raging in some quarters and burned +far into the night. It lit the streets with a +lurid glare; its red light fell upon motionless +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_153' name='page_153'></a>153</span> +figures in the dust, and scurrying +forms, bent beneath their weight of +plunder.</p> +<p>Mr. Robinson was anxious to send his +family to Arequipa, and I lent them all possible +assistance, receiving their heartfelt +thanks. They were in a strange land, not +even knowing the language of the country. +Hattie, the young woman I had met, was +the sister-in-law of Mr. Robinson. Mrs. +Robinson and her mother, an aged woman, +were disappointed with Peru and were +glad to get away from the theatre of war.</p> +<p>I met the Indian soldiers the next day, +and the officer commanding was very indignant +at his superior for not allowing +him to go to the rocks at Mollendo and +pick off the gunners from the battle ships, +with flint lock rifles.</p> +<p>I was a frequent visitor at the home of +the Robinson family in Arequipa, with +whom I had now become well acquainted. It +was strange to my ears to hear them all +talk English, for seldom had I heard my +own language spoken by women. The old +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_154' name='page_154'></a>154</span> +lady was one of those quiet, sweet, motherly +women. Once introduced to her, it +seemed one had always known her. The +whole family was the happiest and most +cheerful I had ever met. Hattie Judson +became school teacher to the English and +American children in Arequipa, and her +gentle ways soon won the hearts of all. I +enjoyed taking her to the theatre and other +places of amusement, because of her bright +conversation and high ideals. From her +I began to catch a glimpse of the nobler +things of life, things that to me, being but +poorly educated and in a foreign land, had +been denied. She was a sweet singer and +an excellent performer on the piano, and +somehow when she sang I was able to understand +the soul-reaching depths of the +melody.</p> +<p>There was company at the house one +night, when I heard her sing for the first +time “Coming Thro’ the Rye.” My soul +floated back to Bonnie Scotland, as when a +boy I saw the waving fields of grain, the +cows in the barnyard, and the lassies coming +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_155' name='page_155'></a>155</span> +down the path from school; my mother +with the willow basket, bringing in the +clothes from the line, and father smoking +his pipe by the well––scenes that nevermore +would return.</p> +<p>In our walks in the shaded dells of the +mountains, she often told me of the United +States, the habits and customs of the people––how +ambitions and aspirations were +rewarded when accompanied by virtue and +industry. Of the history of Peru she knew +far more than I. It was interesting to hear +from her lips the strange stories of the +conquering Pizzaro hosts, whose mailed +heels had once trod the ground we walked, +and clanked the knell of a fallen empire.</p> +<p>My school had been the school of adversity. +I had grown up with men who knew +or cared little for the finer sensibilities. I +felt that her standards of life were superior +to mine. Her loyalty to God and holy +charity toward the humblest soul, bent my +spirit to profound respect. She was one +who could see all there was of good in mankind +and could measure the product of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_156' name='page_156'></a>156</span> +one’s powers and give them impulse and direction. +In my soul I bowed to the fair +graces of her character. Each day we met +I found in her some new wealth of noble +thoughts that created higher ideals in my +own untutored mind.</p> +<p>As time went on, fiercer rose the maddening +cries of war. I felt the hot blood +surge in my veins and I longed to be at the +front, amid the roar of cannon and the +clash of arms.</p> +<p>We were walking in a grove beneath the +swift glimmer of the tropical twilight, +when I told her that I felt it my duty to +fight for the land that had been the home +of my youth for so many years, and showed +her a letter in which I was offered an officer’s +commission on the Huascar. She laid +her hand on my arm and said, “There are +nobler things in life than the shedding of +the blood of fellow men. The youth of the +world goes out to fight for the empty glory +of another’s crown. It is not on the field of +carnage that greatest honors are won, but +in the nobler, more peaceful pursuits of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_157' name='page_157'></a>157</span> +life, doing good and becoming leaders of +men and preventing war, that one wins the +royal diadem of him who said, ‘peace on +earth, good will to men.’”</p> +<p>As she spoke in earnest eloquence, I +could have knelt and worshipped her. Her +delicate cheeks were flushed, and her eyes +were filled with tears.</p> +<p>No words of love had yet been spoken, +but the Barbarian knew and felt that he +had met his Ingomar.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_158' name='page_158'></a>158</span> +<a name='XVIII_ON_SUNNY_SEAS_BOUND_NORTH' id='XVIII_ON_SUNNY_SEAS_BOUND_NORTH'></a> +<h2>XVIII.</h2> +<h3>ON SUNNY SEAS BOUND NORTH.</h3> +</div> +<p>I met Mr. Robinson on the street one +day, bleeding from a wound on his face. +He said that Mr. Wood, superintendent of +our railway, had struck him. Two of Mr. +Wood’s children were attending Miss Judson’s +school, and on account of the official +position of their father, behaved in an ugly +manner. Miss Judson made complaint to +the school board, which exasperated Mr. +Wood and he demanded her resignation. +This the board would not permit. He called +Mr. Robinson to his office and dismissed +him from the service of the company. Being +requested by Mr. Robinson to give his +reasons for his dismissal, he struck him.</p> +<p>I was angry to think a young man would +so brutally use a man of Mr. Robinson’s +age, and, too, in a strange country. Before +I could restrain myself I demanded his reason +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_159' name='page_159'></a>159</span> +for striking Mr. Robinson. Mr. Wood +replied in a haughty manner that he was +not accustomed to account for his acts. I +replied: “Perhaps not, but when one of +your position and age so far forgets himself +as to strike an old man, any respect +you may be entitled to is dispelled by your +cowardly act.”</p> +<p>For a moment it looked serious. He +raised his hand as if to strike me. I said: +“Mr. Wood, if you attempt to go any farther +I will certainly be a far different antagonist +than Mr. Robinson, and teach you +that some of your acts, at least, will be rewarded +in a manner not to your liking.” +He knew he had gone too far, and said in a +quieter tone, that he did not consider the +affair any of my business.</p> +<p>“Mr. Robinson is an American; let his +countrymen investigate this matter. I will +deal with them.”</p> +<p>“Mr. Wood,” I replied, “I hope the time +will never come when a Briton will so far +forget his duty as not to go to the assistance +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_160' name='page_160'></a>160</span> +of any family, irrespective of nationality.”</p> +<p>At this moment some other shop men +came in, loud in their denunciation of Mr. +Wood. There is something that binds a +Britisher and an American when they are +away from their respective countries, and +among strangers. On many occasions I +have seen the Britisher and American argue +and even quarrel over the merits of +their countries but when serious trouble +arose, all jealousies would be cast aside, +and each one would endeavor to outdo the +other in kindness.</p> +<p>That night an indignation meeting was +held in a large building formerly used as a +storeroom. The employes all knew the reason +of Mr. Wood’s attack on Mr. Robinson. +Although the majority of them were working +under Mr. Wood, they felt the indignity +inflicted on Mr. Robinson was an insult to +them all, most of them having children attending +the school.</p> +<p>From the beginning of the school, Mr. +Wood had tried to dominate it. This was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_161' name='page_161'></a>161</span> +another reason for the employes’ grievances +and, chief of all, they were now being +paid in the depreciated currency of the +country. The meeting was conducted in a +quiet business manner. The sentiment was +to strike until Mr. Wood was removed from +office.</p> +<p>I told the men that that would be an injustice, +as the general manager was in +Lima and we had no one to appeal to. +Therefore we should continue to work until +we could communicate with him. This +appeal had the desired effect, as all could +see the injury our strike would inflict on +the railway.</p> +<p>I was then selected as the representative +of the employes to go to Lima and lay the +matter before the general manager. I was +about to start when I was handed a note +from the superintendent, saying that my +services were no longer required. I replied +that I would receive my orders from his +superior and proceeded on my journey.</p> +<p>At Lima I succeeded in reinstating Mr. +Robinson, and shortly after my return to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_162' name='page_162'></a>162</span> +Arequipa, Mrs. Robinson died. Grief at the +injury inflicted upon her husband and a +feeling of friendlessness in a foreign land, +had hastened her end. Another indignation +meeting was held and Mr. Wood was dismissed +from the service of the company. +Mr. Robinson became despondent and after +a few months decided to leave the country.</p> +<p>The war with Chile was still on. The +Peruvian army suffered defeat after defeat. +Her navy had made some show of +success at first, but not after the terrible +fight between the Huascar, and two Chile +ironclads, in which the Peruvians lost. The +currency of the country became practically +worthless. My accumulation of years was +almost swept away.</p> +<p>Mr. Robinson decided to return to their +home in San Louis Obispo, California, and +about this time I received an offer from the +Peruvian government to bring a torpedo +boat from Panama to Mollendo. The +Robinson family were going north on the +steamer which would carry me to Panama. +On leaving, our friends gave us a splendid +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_163' name='page_163'></a>163</span> +banquet and assembled at the station to +bid us farewell. Poor Chico, I can see him +yet, waving his old red handkerchief with +his right hand, his left covering his eyes.</p> +<p>When the ship moved out of the port, I +stood on the deck with Hattie. Mr. Robinson +and the aged mother stood near us +looking upon the scene amid a flood of +tears. The memory of their dead they +were leaving behind, was no doubt uppermost +in their minds.</p> +<p>I looked upon the mountains we were +just leaving until they were a mere speck. +I intended to perform one last service for +Peru, for, however much I had suffered, it +was my boyhood’s home, the only home I +had had since leaving my native shores.</p> +<p>We were a week making the voyage from +Mollendo to Panama. The weather was +fine and the sea was smooth. I was in company +with Hattie much of the time. In her +gentle way, she sought to dissuade me from +the perilous undertaking with the torpedo +boat. But when I reminded her of my duty +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_164' name='page_164'></a>164</span> +to Peru she said no more. I could see, however, +she was pained at the thought.</p> +<p>The north bound steamer had gone when +we arrived at Panama and the Robinsons +would have to wait ten days, which compelled +them to stay at the hotel in that sultry +city.</p> +<p>After visiting the Peruvian consul, who +had been notified of my mission by his +government, I learned that a Chilean cruiser +was watching the torpedo boat and it +was decided to await a dark night when we +could escape from Panama harbor. Meantime +I stopped at the same hotel with the +Robinsons. I made several trips around +the bay to test the speed of the boat and +was satisfied we could outrun the cruiser, +but somehow I began to dread the venture. +The full force of this feeling dawned on +me when I realized I was in love with +Hattie.</p> +<p>The day was drawing near for their departure, +when Hattie and I were seated on +the veranda of the hotel, looking out over +the Pacific. The afternoon wore away, the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_165' name='page_165'></a>165</span> +sun began to set in the dense blue haze of +the tropic ocean, the great cathedral bells +pealed out the hour of eight, the night birds +screeched from out the palms, and still we +sat in the glow of the twilight, talking of +our past and future.</p> +<p>The streets became silent and even some +stars had faded from the skies and the +ceaseless roar of the surf beating upon +the sands was music, when she promised to +be my wife.</p> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_5' id='linki_5'></a> +</div> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/illus-158.jpg' alt='' title='' width='568' height='362' /><br /> +<p class='caption'> +FLIGHT OF THE TORPEDO BOAT. (Page 158)<br /> +</p> +</div> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_166' name='page_166'></a>166</span> +<a name='XIX_DEATH_SHIPS_OF_THE_SEA' id='XIX_DEATH_SHIPS_OF_THE_SEA'></a> +<h2>XIX.</h2> +<h3>DEATH SHIPS OF THE SEA.</h3> +</div> +<p>A thick fog rose from the sea, as we +stole away in the darkness with the torpedo +boat. We had no distinguishing lights +and every sound was muffled. Even the +funnels were protected against the tell-tale +sparks of soft coal. The spume of the sea +fell over our forward deck in flecks, and +the waves splashed at our bow. The harbor +lights of Panama shone in a glow of +sickly yellow.</p> +<p>An officer stood by the hooded binnacle, +watching our course by the faint glow of a +tiny lamp. The bulldog engines, which I +was working, were speeding us at 17 knots +an hour and we were headed for Mollendo. +We had no armament. That was sent to +the Peruvian government by other means +and our only defense against the Chilean +cruiser was a clean pair of heels.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_167' name='page_167'></a>167</span></div> +<p>Suddenly, the eye of a search-light opened, +and sent a long gleam of yellow into +the fog. It swung around and rested for +a moment on the column of smoke trailing +from our funnels and changed its color +from a black to a fiery red. It rested there +a moment, then closed and all was darkness. +The tumult was deafening. The +hissing rush of projectiles, as they struck +the water and exploded by impact, or +shrieked in ricochet overhead.</p> +<p>The brave officer at the binnacle fell to +the deck, his mangled body a quivering +mass. One funnel was struck midway and +cut in twain as though by a sharpened +blade. Fire darted up from the half funnel, +and showed the cruiser’s gunners the +correctness of their aim. It lit our deck +with its glare and showed the bodies of two +others on the forward deck bathed in blood. +Another officer coolly took his place at the +binnacle and directed a change in the +course of the boat.</p> +<p>The spurting jets of fire from our broken +funnel gleamed in the fog, like a beacon +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_168' name='page_168'></a>168</span> +light to those on board the gaunt black +monster of the seas, in pursuit of his prey. +A hunted thing on the black waves, we +crowded on every ounce of steam throughout +the watches of the night.</p> +<p>With the morning came the blaze of the +tropic sun. It drove the fog off the sea +and showed us the hull of the cruiser, looming +up out of the purple mist. Steadily, we +held our course, with steam up to the danger +line. By noon we had gained a little, +and again, with the approach of night, the +fog began to rise and soon enveloped us in +its grey cloak. But that beacon light from +our funnel shone hateful as its spurting +jets flashed signals to the enemy in pursuit.</p> +<p>Another night passed, and, when the fog +lifted again, there was the vampire even +nearer than before.</p> +<p>The nervous strain was telling on our +crew. The day before we joked and laughed––we +would outrun him yet in the night. +We would have; but for the glare from that +funnel. We might have stolen into some +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_169' name='page_169'></a>169</span> +cove and let him pass us in the dark, but for +that. He did not waste shot anymore, we +were going his way. He could afford to +wait. The third day the crew was worn +and silent. They had the look of desperation +in their faces, as they threw furtive +glances back at the spectre, the Ship of +Death––The Black Coffin––we called him +now.</p> +<p>At high noon, we met an American warship. +His crew crowded to his decks and +gave cheer after cheer in sympathy for our +desperate plight. The big greyhound of +the sea was chasing the rabbit he had bitten +and maimed, and the sympathy was +with the weak. By night the nervous strain +had become almost a frenzy. Then to add +to our peril, the coal in the bunkers was +running low. Something must happen in +our favor soon. Our signal still flashed +from the half funnel––our signal of distress––and +by midnight we called it our +funeral candle. The sky was clear now +and the stars were shining. We could see +lights flash now and then through the haze +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_170' name='page_170'></a>170</span> +of the sea. When morning came there he +was big, black, hideous––still in our wake.</p> +<p>Coal for eight more hours only. Surely +something would happen; help must come, +out of the sea, out of the sky, out of somewhere, +only it must come. The sea was +smooth; not a ship could be seen on the +horizon. All on board were in restless +anxiety. Only coal for three more hours.</p> +<p>We were now off Ecuador. The officer +in command called the crew.</p> +<p>“We shall have to surrender the boat,” +he said.</p> +<p>The assistant engineer, two stokers and +myself, all of us British, shouted “Never! +We are not here to lay in a Chilean prison +and perhaps be shot! We beach the boat!” +Our emphasis was our drawn revolvers.</p> +<p>Without a word, the officer headed the +boat for the shore. We gathered up a few +edibles and when we grounded the boat, +swam to the beach. The officer lingered +for some time after all were ashore, then +hurried over her sides and made his escape. +The Chilean cruiser launched her +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_171' name='page_171'></a>171</span> +boat, eight sailors to each side of rowlocks, +an ensign and a party of marines. +They rowed rapidly to the torpedo boat and +half of them climbed on board, when her +sides parted and a terrific flame shot upward, +bearing the bodies of a dozen men. +The officer had lit the fuse that did the +work.</p> +<p>Ten days afterwards the two stokers, +assistant engineer and myself, footsore and +ragged, went on board the British mail +steamer at Guayáquil and presented ourselves +to the gruff old captain.</p> +<p>“Get below in the stoke-hole and black +up,” he said, “the Chilean government offers +five thousand dollars reward for each +of you. If we are searched you are stokers.”</p> +<p>Meanwhile, on board another ship far to +the north were aching hearts. Hattie’s +aged mother fell ill when two days out from +Panama and the next day she passed away. +Rules required that the body be buried at +sea. It was a solemn group that assembled +at the ship’s gangway, while all that +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_172' name='page_172'></a>172</span> +was mortal of the aged mother rested on a +plank, one end of which was held by a +sailor. Slowly the chaplain read the beautiful +service. The ship was stopped. Not +a sound was heard and the midnight moon +was hidden by clouds. “Therefore we commit +this body to the deep,” was pronounced. +The plank was raised and the +body was swallowed up in the cavernous +depths of the ocean.</p> +<p>Hattie leaned upon the arm of Mr. Robinson, +who tenderly escorted her to the cabin +when the rites were over. To her the +world was gloomy and desolate, her sister +but recently buried in far away Arequipa +and the mother now in the sea. With a +fortitude beyond her years the Christian +girl bore bravely her deep sorrows, trusting +in Him “who doeth all things well.” +When the ship reached the open roadstead +of Port Harford, and she again landed on +the shores of her native California, she +went to her former home––a vine-clad cottage +in San Louis Obispo.</p> +<p>It was here I found her some weeks after +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_173' name='page_173'></a>173</span> +I assumed the role of stoker on the British +mail steamer. Mr. Robinson had gone to +his former home in Missouri, but Hattie +was protected by relatives. We talked +of our coming marriage. It was not possible +at that time. I had lost so much money +by exchange from the paper currency of +Peru to the gold of California, that I needed +time to replenish my almost depleted +purse. We decided that we would wait one +year, meanwhile I would go to Arizona and +run an engine on the railroad east of +Tuscon.</p> +<p>It made my heart glad to be in a country +once more where my own language was +spoken and among people whose customs +were like unto that of my native land. +There was no prejudice toward me on account +of my foreign birth, such as I had +often encountered in Peru. The hand of +fellowship was extended in this broad free +land of the United States, where the +greatness of men is measured almost by +merit alone.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_174' name='page_174'></a>174</span></div> +<p>What surprised me at first was the absence +of soldiers until I came to understand +the peace-loving disposition of the people, +and learned that in the hour of the country’s +need, all men became her defenders.</p> +<p>It was one of those balmy afternoons, so +characteristic of southern California, when +Hattie and I were seated in a park overlooking +the beautiful Los Ossis valley. Our +plans were made for the future, and I was +to leave that night for Arizona. It was +the tender parting of man and woman +whose lives had been seared by the hot +irons of adversity, and each felt that the +other was the one and all upon this planet.</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p>Here Buchan’s narrative was broken +short. He was writing the last chapter on +a pair of ladies’ dainty cuffs, when he +stopped and listened. He arose to his feet. +“Do you know,” he said, “I thought a +moment ago I heard something––her +voice.”</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_175' name='page_175'></a>175</span> +<a name='XX_A_DAUGHTER_OF_THE_CHEROKEES' id='XX_A_DAUGHTER_OF_THE_CHEROKEES'></a> +<h2>XX.</h2> +<h3>A DAUGHTER OF THE CHEROKEES.</h3> +</div> +<p>Mary Greenwater was not the ugly, +coarse-featured woman that many squaws +are. She possessed many of the fine features +of her white sisters. She had been +well educated at the Carlisle Indian +school, and had traveled much. While, with +other Cherokee Indians, she drew her annuities +from the government, yet she was +known to be the wealthiest woman of the +tribe. She was lavish in the expenditure +of money. Her home in the Cherokee hills +was elaborately furnished with the richest +of carpets and furniture; even a grand +piano adorned her parlor. But with all its +costly appointments, the house was a wilderness +of disorder. Like other of her +race, she despised anything akin to neatness. +Her dresses were gaudy in color and +extravagant in style. Pearl necklaces, diamond +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_176' name='page_176'></a>176</span> +brooches and rings were worn on all +occasions. She owned fine carriages and +many spirited horses. As a horsewoman, +she was an expert and as a pistol shot she +was accounted the best in the Cherokee nation. +Her servants were the half-breed Indian +Negroes to whom her word was as +absolute a law as any Caliph ever possessed +over a tribe. She was accustomed to command, +and if disobeyed she enforced her +orders at the point of the revolver she always +carried.</p> +<p>The source of Mary Greenwater’s +wealth was a mystery. Those of her tribe +gave themselves no concern about it, but +the matter was a subject of much comment +among the few white men in the territory. +Mercer, a young man of adventurous spirit, +hearing of her fabulous wealth, sought +her hand in marriage. After the wedding, +he used all his arts to wring from her the +secret of her riches. Once when she started +on one of her lone journeys to the hills +of the Grand River, he attempted to follow +and that was the last ever seen or heard of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_177' name='page_177'></a>177</span> +him. That the woman possessed the secret +of a vast amount of lost treasure was evident, +as she spent many Spanish gold coins +of ancient date as months rolled on, and +this induced Grim, a farm hand, to marry +her. She elevated him from a menial position, +to overseer of her ranch. She gave +him money, which he recklessly spent at +the faro tables at the Garrison. When she +refused to further indulge him in his reckless +expenditures, he, like Mercer, attempted +to follow her on her journey to the +Grand River hills one night. He was missed +by his companions who went in numbers +to search for him, taking an Indian +guide. They were led in an opposite direction +from the way he went and his fate +remained a mystery, until many months +later his body was found in the Grand River, +with a bullet in the brain.</p> +<p>Two years after the death of Grim, Carson +and a negro were hunting in the Grand +River country and were encamped one +night in the hills. While seated beside their +campfire, they heard a cry of distress. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_178' name='page_178'></a>178</span> +Upon going to the spot, they found a lone +Indian woman pinioned beneath her pony, +which had stepped into a wolf hole and +broke its leg. The woman was badly injured +and they carried her to their campfire +and made her comfortable. The next +day they constructed a rude litter and carried +her twenty miles to a place where she +could receive medical attention.</p> +<p>The woman was Mary Greenwater, and +this was, perhaps, the first act of kindness +she had ever received.</p> +<p>A certain escapade at the close of Carson’s +college days had caused him to migrate +to the West, where, like many others, +he became a soldier of fortune, drifting +whither the strongest tide wind blew. +When Mary Greenwater recovered she +sought him, and in her gratitude made +him the overseer of her ranch at a princely +salary.</p> +<p>In course of time they were married by +the ancient Indian ceremony of the Fastest +Horse. When the days of feasting +were over, and Mary Greenwater’s relatives +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_179' name='page_179'></a>179</span> +had returned to their cabins richer by +a number of ponies, Mary told Carson a +wondrous story of how, many summers +ago, when her grandfather was a boy, a +Spanish caravan came from Santa Fe and +was besieged in the Grand river hills for +many days, and of how, finding that they would +eventually be starved to death if +they remained, the travelers had hidden +their possessions among the lime rocks and +undertaken to cut their way through the +Indian hordes to a place of safety. Her +grandfather had found the hiding place of +the treasure and had kept it a profound +secret from all except herself, to whom he +told it only when he began to sing his death +song.</p> +<p>Mary Greenwater swore to Carson that +the hiding place of the Spanish treasure +would never be known except to one other +member of her tribe, and then not until +after her death. She told him there were +valuable papers which she knew none of +her people could ever use, and which she +later gave to Carson.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_180' name='page_180'></a>180</span></div> +<p>The documents were discolored and the +ink faded and this much Carson was able +to decipher: “Jean Maldonado visited a +far distant country north of Santa Fe––a +wide valley through which flowed a stream, +along the banks were bushes that bore fruit +like unto those of Spain––in the valley +were herds of oxen of the bigness and color +of our bulls––their horns are not so great––they +have a great bunch upon their fore +shoulders and more hair on the forepart +than on the hindpart; they have a horse’s +mane upon their backbone and much hair +and very long from the knees downward––they +have great tufts of hair hanging +from their foreheads and it seemeth they +have beards––they push with their horns––they +overtake and kill a horse––finally it is +a fierce beast of countenance and form of +body––we feared these beasts and stayed +near the mountains named the Sangre de +Christo.... Climbed the +mountain to a great flat rock that stood on +end like a platter.... Jean Maldonado, +commander of an expedition reached this +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_181' name='page_181'></a>181</span> +place 1750.... The mine yielded +much gold in a rock like white china––Babtiste +beat it out with––Mattheo returned +from Santa Fe with more donkeys––loaded +donkeys with much unbeaten rock––returned +to Santa Fe”––</p> +<p>Here the ink was so faded that nothing +more could be made of the manuscript. +The accompanying map was more perfect. +The tracings showed the mountain ranges. +It had been drawn almost with the precision +of an engineer. The route from Santa +Fe through the mountain passes was +clearly shown; there were marks of each +day’s stops. Where the map showed the +end of the journey there was the rude +drawing of a cliff set on edge and below it +was marked “Gold.”</p> +<p>Carson pondered over the quaint document +for many days. The Indian marriage +with Mary Greenwater had become +a matter of regret. While the woman +loved him, yet her love was like a new +bowie knife, to be handled with care. He +decided to leave the Grand River country +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_182' name='page_182'></a>182</span> +and bide his time until Mary Greenwater +should make one of her long visits to the +hills. One night he mounted the best +horse on the ranch and driving thirty others +ahead of him, set out for Colorado. On +the way he sold most of the horses to +ranchmen and cattlemen and netted a neat +sum.</p> +<p>When Mary Greenwater returned and +found her spouse had vanished, her fury +knew no bounds. Ordinarily the Indian +squaw might be deserted by her lord and +she would stoically accept her fate. Mary +might have done so had she not been +spoiled by being educated at Carlisle. Her +savage blood grew hot for revenge. She +made another trip to the Grand river hills, +presumably for a larger amount of money, +placed her affairs in the hands of her Indian-Negro +servants, and started on the +trail of Carson, believing she would have +no trouble in overtaking a man driving +that many head of horses. Meanwhile the +fall rains set in and the shallow rivers of +the plains became raging torrents. But to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_183' name='page_183'></a>183</span> +a woman of Mary Greenwater’s determined +character, these things were obstacles only +for the time being. Her heart was bad and +her love of revenge strong.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_184' name='page_184'></a>184</span> +<a name='XXI_CARSONS_BLANK_PAGES_IN_LIFE' id='XXI_CARSONS_BLANK_PAGES_IN_LIFE'></a> +<h2>XXI.</h2> +<h3>CARSON’S BLANK PAGES IN LIFE.</h3> +</div> +<p>When Carson left the cabin he followed +the winding trail that led to the valley below. +The road to Saguache showed the +hoofprints of a prospector’s outfit, and the +marks of a sleigh leading to Del Norte. +The glare of the sun on the reflected snow +was blinding and he drew his hat down +over his eyes. He was thinking of his +worthless life since leaving college. Once +he had builded lofty hopes of future doings +in the world, but he had allowed himself +to drift; his ship of fate had gone +wherever the strongest tide wind carried. +He saw now that he might have marked out +some honorable career and piloted his +course toward it. Others of his class in +college were in a fair way to make their +mark in the world. Why was it not so +with him? It was born in him, as it had +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_185' name='page_185'></a>185</span> +been in his father, to choose the wild life of +the frontier in preference to holding the +presidency of a bank in Atlanta. He felt +that the world in its wildest freedom was +his for his pleasure. The cords of restraint +which society demanded were to +him the fetters of a tyrant ruler, and so, +as Sampson broke the green withes which +bound him, Carson broke the laws of society––nay +civilization, and married a +squaw according to the ceremony of her +people. He repented the act to some extent, +and then cast his cares aside, with +the comforting knowledge that the world +was too busy a place for people to give +themselves much concern over his affairs. +Long ago he realized that if he threw himself +into the swirl of humanity and allowed +himself to become a part of its motives and +its emotions, that it would require a herculean +effort to attain a position where he +could look over the heads of other men. +That position, he argued, was not worth +the life-long effort required. Withal, he +could not bring himself to quite understand +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_186' name='page_186'></a>186</span> +why he had married Mary Greenwater, +unless that she possessed some occult +power and gained control over forces +of his nature which he did not understand. +True, there was but little or no obligation +to the ceremony. It held good in the Cherokee +Indian nation, that government within +a government. Outside that limited +space of ground it was null and void. He +was a free man under the laws of his own +government. Yet that act, of his own creation, +somehow seemed to stand over him +like a Frankenstein with an uplifted axe.</p> +<p>The snow was deep, and as he plodded +along with these thoughts running through +his mind, he heard a cry. Glancing backwards +he saw a horse drawing a sleigh, +plunging madly down the road. The reins +were held by a woman, frantically urging +the horse forward. Some distance behind +four huge mountain lions were in hot +pursuit, their heavy bodies crouching and +springing forward many feet at a leap. +Carson took in the situation at a glance +and, raising his hand as a signal to the girl +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_187' name='page_187'></a>187</span> +in the sleigh to rein in, he sprang into the +vehicle as she passed. The momentary +pause had given the beasts a chance to +gain, when, drawing his revolver, he fired +at the foremost and sent it rolling in the +snow. Another shot and a second lion +paused with a mighty roar. At this the +other two turned and fled in the opposite +direction.</p> +<p>Carson now took the reins and stopped +the horse. The animal was trembling with +fright, while the girl was calm but pale.</p> +<p>“Rather a close shave, eh, Sis?”</p> +<p>“Truly,” she replied, “how fortunate +you were here. I was driving to Del Norte +when I met the lions. They were gamboling +in the snow like kittens. When I +turned Bess, they pursued. I want the +one you have just killed, I want to have +him mounted to remember today,––and––and––you.”</p> +<p>“By all means, Miss, you shall have it, +but where are you going now?”</p> +<p>“Back to Saguache after this fright. +Poor Old Bess could not have stood the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_188' name='page_188'></a>188</span> +race much farther. See how she trembles. +I am the niece of Mr. Amos. My name is +Annie Amos. I have friends in Del Norte, +whom I intended to visit. I shall wait now +until I have an escort.”</p> +<p>“Ah––my name is Carson––Jack Carson. +I was going to Saguache to see Mr. Amos, +the assayer, to have him test a jug handle,––er, +that is, to have the jug handle test +him. I don’t mean that; I mean our mine is +named the Jug Handle, I will get it right +after awhile, and I want him to make a test +of the ore.”</p> +<p>“Confound it,” he thought as he turned +the horse, “I haven’t the sense of a jackrabbit +to make a break like that.”</p> +<p>One of the lions lay pawing the snow in +its death struggle and as Carson came +near, it reared itself as if to make one last +leap. Its eyes gleamed in savage yellow, +foam fell in flecks from its mouth, while a +tiny stream of crimson stained the snow. +Carson’s weapon spit fire and the creature +rolled over motionless. He dragged the +carcass to the end of the sleigh and, lifting +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_189' name='page_189'></a>189</span> +it upon the edge of the box, made it fast.</p> +<p>“If you are going to Saguache to see +my uncle, I fear you will be disappointed +as he left this morning for an absence of +several days.”</p> +<p>“That does not matter as I have other +business anyway. Most any time will do, +as I am in town quite often. We would +better not drive so fast. Your horse is in +a foam.”</p> +<p>Carson was fast becoming interested in +the girl at his side. Her calm poise, after +the exciting adventures with the mountain +lions, surprised him. Other women would +have been hysterical, but here by his side +sat a girl not yet out of her teens, as calm +and collected as a veteran soldier after the +battle. And Amos, the man he was going +to see and intended to kill if he proved to +be the villain he suspected him to be, was +her uncle.</p> +<p>The white billows rose rank on rank on +the distant mountains, while the snow of +the valley shrunk visibly away, leaving the +grey rocks naked and protuberant.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_190' name='page_190'></a>190</span></div> +<p>The newly-made acquaintances chatted +gaily as the horse jogged along.</p> +<p>“I was thinking of your remark awhile +ago,” said Carson, “that you would go to +Del Norte tomorrow if you had an escort, +and as I have some time to idle away it +would give me pleasure to drive you over.”</p> +<p>“It would give me equal pleasure to have +you do so,” she replied with admirable +frankness, “that is, if you are going there +anyway.”</p> +<p>“I may need to purchase some new implements +with which to work the Aberdeen––I +mean the Jug Handle mine,” he explained. +“I have heard of a new drill they +are working over there and it may be just +the thing for the formation we are now in.”</p> +<p>“I see,” said the girl, as a mischievous +smile flitted about her lips, “and I am very +glad you will accompany me. I shall make +you acquainted with some of my very dear +friends.”</p> +<p>Carson was forgetting his millions in +the mine and letting his mind wander to +the expected joys of entertaining and being +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_191' name='page_191'></a>191</span> +entertained by people of real worth +once more. He felt returning pride, and +then the thought of the Frankenstein +with the uplifted axe made him groan inwardly. +But pshaw! she did not know––never +would know, and what people do not +know will not hurt them, he reasoned.</p> +<p>He felt an increasing admiration for the +girl beside him. They were alone in the +wide expanse of valley and had known each +other only an hour, yet this girl was willing +to trust to his honor and manhood. +And be it said for Carson, as it may be said +for thousands of other men on the American +frontier, he would have yielded his life +rather than betray that sacred trust. Instances +like this are common in the West.</p> +<p>As they drove down the main street of +Saguache, the passers looked curiously +at the pair in the sleigh and at the dead +lion strapped behind. When they stopped +in front of the postoffice, a crowd gathered +around the sleigh. A supple figure edged +through the crowd and addressed the girl:</p> +<p>“Kill it all by yourself, Annie?”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_192' name='page_192'></a>192</span></div> +<p>The familiarity with which he spoke nettled +the girl, and she turned her head without +answering. The supple figure felt the +rebuff and all the more because others noticed +it. He stood his ground, however, +until Carson returned and when he saw his +face he quickly drew out of sight.</p> +<p>“Tomorrow at seven,” said Carson, as +he bade her good-bye at her house.</p> +<p>Carson went to his hotel with a lighter +heart than he had had for months. He lit +a cigar and sat by the window, then felt +for something in his pocket, and threw it +in the wood-box. “There are other jug +handles,” he said to himself.</p> +<p>He walked the streets aimlessly until +supper. He retired early and tried to +sleep, but his thoughts ran wild on the +events of the day. He could think of no +one except Annie. It was still early in the +night, when he arose from a restless bed +and went out on the streets. Lights blazed +from the Lone Tree saloon, and as he entered +he saw a crowd about the faro table. +The sudden exclamations of many voices +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_193' name='page_193'></a>193</span> +told that some one was winning heavily. +He pressed forward through the crowd +and saw the form of a woman. When she +partially turned her face, he felt his heart +give a great throb, and he fled into the +street.</p> +<p>The remainder of the night he walked +through the crunching snow, while the +silent stars seemed to gaze with tearful +eyes upon him in this, the greatest misery +he had ever known. He walked several +miles out of town to avoid meeting anyone +he knew and then presented himself at the +Amos residence.</p> +<p>“I believe it is seven o’clock, Miss Annie,” +he said, when she answered his call.</p> +<p>“Yes, and I am ready,” was the cheerful +answer.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_194' name='page_194'></a>194</span> +<a name='XXII_A_VOICE_FROM_CENTURIES_PAST' id='XXII_A_VOICE_FROM_CENTURIES_PAST'></a> +<h2>XXII.</h2> +<h3>A VOICE FROM CENTURIES PAST.</h3> +</div> +<p>Buchan was ready to throw the lever of +his engine and roll out of Tucson, when a +messenger handed him a packet bearing +the postmark of Peru. The missive showed +signs of age, and, having traveled much, +had reached its destination at last. He +tossed it into his tool box and an hour later +when speeding over the scorched deserts of +Arizona, he opened the packet. The letter +was dated at Truxillo and read:</p> +<blockquote> +<p>“Dear Don Juan––I have been ill for +many months, and I feel that my end is +drawing nigh, but before I go I want to do +something for you. I have heard how Don +Rodrigo so justly met his end, and with +this knowledge I die easier. You are young +and strong, with a long life of usefulness +ahead, and I feel that in entrusting to you +a family secret, I am only doing that which +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_195' name='page_195'></a>195</span> +I would have done had Felicita lived. She +was the last of our house and the heritage +of our family belonged to her. As it is, I +make you my heir to the valuable papers +handed down to me from my ancestors. +May they prove to you a blessing. Would +that I had more to give you. May the +blessings of the Virgin ever rest upon +you.</p> +<p class='ralign'>“Julian.”</p> +</blockquote> +<p>Accompanying the letter was a parchment +scroll, dated Lima, 1752. It read:</p> +<p>“I, Jean Maldonado, do write of my +extraordinary adventures in Nueva Espanola, +wherein I was duly appointed the +Commander of an expedition to the land of +Quivera, in search of the Seven Cities of +Cibola, in the service of his excellency, the +viceroy of Santa Fe. A barbarian told us +he would lead us unto a land to the far +north, where shops blazed with jewels and +common cooking vessels were made of +gold; that the metal was so common as to +be of no value. The king of this city took +his noonday meals beneath a golden canopy, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_196' name='page_196'></a>196</span> +hung with tinkling silver bells. +There was a sea upon which this king rode +in a canoe, which would carry twenty +horses. Upon its prow was an idol of beaten +gold. The canoe was fitted with sumptuous +cushions, upon which the monarch +took his siestas, to the music made by +dancing maidens with bells and castanets. +Fish as large as horses abounded, and +sweet fruit bigger than a soldier’s helmet +grew upon the trees. The monarch who +ruled over this land was long-bearded, +white-haired, and wore robes of bright-hued, +rich stuffs, and slept in a garden +where trees were hung with a thousand +bells, which made exquisite music when +shaken by the wind. And this king worshipped +the golden image of a woman, the +Queen of Heaven, and ate from gold and +silver bowls, of which the dais he sat upon +was made. He spoke with vast assurance +and said he would conduct us thither whenever +we should follow.</p> +<p>“We journeyed northward many leagues +over mountains and came to a wide valley +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_197' name='page_197'></a>197</span> +watered by a stream. Farther on were +high mountains and we named them Sangre +de Christo and marked three mountains +‘Spanish Peaks’ on our map, that we +might not miss our way. One day a pious +soldier saw the barbarian with his face in a +pool of water, talking with the devil. After +that we were suspicious. After many days’ +journey we found the city, but alas, it was +mud huts, and the only metal was a copper +plate around the old chief’s neck and by +which he sat great store. There were no +golden vessels, no image of the Virgin, no +golden dais and no silver bells.</p> +<p>“The wicked barbarian then said he +had led us into the desert to die. Our soldiers +were wroth and I ordered him hanged +on a considerable tree, to let him know +there was a God in heaven and a King in +Spain.</p> +<p>“We turned our steps backward after +we had set up a cross, and journeyed into +the valley. Now there were many oxen +come into the valley of the figure and color +of our bulls, but their horns were not so +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_198' name='page_198'></a>198</span> +great. They had a great bunch upon their +fore shoulders and more hair upon their +fore parts than on their hind parts. They +had a horse’s mane upon their backbone +and much hair from the knees downward. +They had great tufts of hair hanging from +their foreheads and it seemeth that they +had beards, because of the great store of +hair at their chins and throats. In some +respects they resembled a lion, and in some +others the camel. They pushed with their +horns, and they overtook and killed horses. +Finally, it was a foul and fierce beast of +countenance.</p> +<p>“We have stayed close to the mountains +where we could flee to the rocks if they +pursued us. We were crossing the mountain, +when we came upon a spring near +unto a huge cliff that sat on the edge like +a platter. We camped here many days until +the bulls left the valley. Some distance +from the rock like a platter, Casteanda +found gold in a white rock, which we did +beat up and saved much pure gold. Casteanda +journeyed to Santa Fe and returned +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_199' name='page_199'></a>199</span> +with more donkeys, and we loaded +upon them much unbeaten rock. We all +then journeyed back to Santa Fe, for the +barbarians were angry at our intrusion +and we went in haste, leaving more gold +in the white rock than would load a ship’s +boat. I cut in the rock, high up, the words:</p> +<p class='center'>“‘Jean Maldonado.<br /> +“‘Commander of an Expedition, reached this place, 1750.’</p> +<p>“All this, so that the subjects of Spain +might know this country belonged to His +Majesty.</p> +<p>“We journeyed back to Santa Fe after +many days of hardships and we found a +new Viceroy had been appointed and he +demanded our gold. This we were loath +to give up, and after selling it to a trader +for the coin of the realm, we started across +the country for New Orleans, knowing well +not to go south for the new Viceroy would +pursue us and take the gold.</p> +<p>“We journeyed along the banks of a considerable +river by night and hid ourselves +by day. We saw many thousands of ferocious +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_200' name='page_200'></a>200</span> +bulls grazing, and when they ran the +noise was like thunder and it made us +afraid. We crossed many rivers and finally +came to a country of wooded hills +where the Barbarians were thick and ferocious.</p> +<p>“The Barbarians pursued us and we +hid our gold and records in a cave and +rolled a stone over the hole and fled. They +killed nearly all of our expedition and our +mules. Baptiste was sorely wounded in +the breast with an arrow and notwithstanding +we bled him copiously, he died.</p> +<p>“The treatment given us by the Barbarians +irritated us exceedingly and we fell +upon them with swords when they were not +in great numbers.</p> +<p>“We came to a river whose waters were +red, like unto the color of the tiles on +the houses of Seville, and after journeying +along its banks for many nights, we came +unto the River of the Holy Ghost, which +DeSoto discovered and here we found +safety.</p> +<p>“While all these things were new in my +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_201' name='page_201'></a>201</span> +mind I made another map in order that I +might take another expedition to the mine +when the Viceroy grew rich from the spoils +of office and would trouble us no more. But +he did write unto the people of Spain that +I would be hanged upon my return to Santa +Fe, therefore I desisted in returning. +Being extremely irritated at his conduct I +sought my fortune in Peru, until such time +when he should be called to heaven, which +call even now, in my old age, has not yet +been made, over which misfortune I have +sorely grieved.”</p> +<p>Accompanying this document was a map +with the Sangre de Christo range, the +Spanish Peaks, the River, Valley and flat +cliff on edge, plainly marked. The distance +from Santa Fe and the mountain passes +was clearly indicated.</p> +<p>A month later Buchan was transferred +on a run out of Santa Fe where the hand +of Fate and Chance again took part. He +received a letter from Mr. Robinson who +had joined a surveying party and had fallen +ill at Saguache. The letter implored +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_202' name='page_202'></a>202</span> +him to come, if he ever expected to see him +alive. True to his old time friendship, he +lost no time in reaching his bedside. Mr. +Robinson lingered a few weeks and died. +This was more sad news for Hattie in her +far-away home, amid the Santa Lucia +mountains. She alone remained of the +happy family who had gone to Arequipa +with fond hopes for the future beneath +those sunny skies.</p> +<p>I, the writer, had been with Carson a +few days before prospecting in the Sangre +de Christo mountains, when by chance we +rested at the spring beside the peculiar +shaped cliff. I noticed that Carson was interested +in the surroundings, but I thought +nothing of it at the time. The formation +of the cliff appealed to my fancy, and I +chanced to mention it to Buchan one day +when he became excited and asked to be +shown its whereabouts.</p> +<p>Together with Carson we visited the +spot. Being an old prospector, I soon discovered +formations that looked like pay +ore. My years of experience in these +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_203' name='page_203'></a>203</span> +mountains had taught me that a man +might work a lifetime and gain nothing, +and again from the outcroppings of a stone +at grass roots he might develop a mine +worth a million dollars.</p> +<p>Carson and Buchan were sanguine over +our prospects, too much so, I thought, for +men who had no experience in mining.</p> +<p>I located the claim so as to include the +cliff and spring and when I made out the +registration papers, I said: “Gentlemen, +what shall we call the mine?”</p> +<p>“Name it the Maldonado,” said Carson.</p> +<p>“What!” exclaimed Buchan, turning an +ashen paleness.</p> +<p>“The Major Domo,” replied Carson, +looking somewhat abashed.</p> +<p>“Name it the Aberdeen,” said Buchan. +“I like to hear that name spoken, it was +my old home in Scotland.”</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_204' name='page_204'></a>204</span> +<a name='XXIII_THE_TWO_OLD_BLACK_CROWS' id='XXIII_THE_TWO_OLD_BLACK_CROWS'></a> +<h2>XXIII.</h2> +<h3>THE TWO OLD BLACK CROWS.</h3> +</div> +<p>Amos sat in the little back room of Rayder’s +office in Denver. His beady black eyes +glistened beneath his beetle brows. A +pleased expression shone on his thin face, +drawn in wrinkles like stained parchment. +Rayder was out, but had left instructions +for him to wait. As he sat there his eye +caught sight of something interesting on +Rayder’s desk. The door was closed and +he was alone. He leaned forward and took +up some slips of paper for closer inspection. +They were certificates of assay from +Pendleton. The pleased look vanished as +he noted Amos No. 1, Amos No. 2, Amos +No. 3, and so on for a dozen or more slips. +Rayder did not trust him, and had had the +sample of ore assayed by Pendleton for +corroboration.</p> +<p>“He does not even believe in honesty +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_205' name='page_205'></a>205</span> +among thieves,” he mused, as he carefully +replaced the papers. Then the pleased +look came back to his face.</p> +<p>“All the better,” he thought. “He will +deal now and it is my time to strike before +the iron cools.”</p> +<p>He drew his chair further back from the +desk, and pretended to be reading a newspaper +when he heard Rayder coming.</p> +<p>“Just the man I have been wanting to +see,” said Rayder, extending his hand, +“how is everything in Saguache and how is +Annie?”</p> +<p>“Annie is handsome as ever, but there is +a new assayer coming to town next month +and I understand he is on the dead square, +and what we do we have got to do all-fired +quick. How is this for an eye-opener?” +He took from his pocket several lumps of +shining ore.</p> +<p>“Sylvanite,” exclaimed Rayder. “What +does it run?”</p> +<p>“Eighty ounces to the ton. There is a +quarter of a million dollars on the dump +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_206' name='page_206'></a>206</span> +and the fellows think it is copper and +pyrites of iron.”</p> +<p>“How would it do to contest the claim?”</p> +<p>“Dangerous business, they have taken +to killing claim jumpers. One was shot +last week, and this outfit will shoot, no +mistake. It is better to buy them out for +a song. They are about broke anyway. +They believe everything I tell them, have +a child-like confidence in me, same as +everybody has. I tell you, Rayder, I stand +at the top in the estimation of everybody, +and all we have got to do is to have the +buyer on the ground, and when they come +in with their next samples I will prove to +them their values have run out, show them +some rich stuff from down the valley and +like all others of their class, they will +stampede.”</p> +<p>“That sounds good, but tell me more of +Annie, did she appreciate the cloak I sent +her for a Christmas present?”</p> +<p>“Appreciate it! I should say she did. +She just worships it because it came from +you, and say, she has your photograph on +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_207' name='page_207'></a>207</span> +the wall where she can see it all the time. +She just dotes on that picture. I tell her +there is the chance of her life, a fine house, +fine clothes, a chance to go abroad and +cultivate her musical talent, become a +great singer and meet dukes and lords and +crowned heads. Why, the girl is just crazy +over you, and I believe she would marry +you even if you did not have a cent. It is +like marrying December to May, you sixty +and she nineteen, pretty and vivacious––warm +up your old bones, eh?”</p> +<p>Rayder’s eyes shone and he stroked his +beard with delight. “Charley,” he called +to his office boy, “bring up a quart of +whisky, some lemons and sugar.”</p> +<p>“Sweet creature, I love thee,” said +Amos a few minutes later, holding up a +half goblet of whisky. “You do the proper +thing in setting out these kind of glasses; +puts me in mind of my old home down in +Texas, where we never drink out of anything +smaller than a tin cup or a gourd.”</p> +<p>“Here is to Annie and Rayder––may +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_208' name='page_208'></a>208</span> +your posterity become presidents and +wives of presidents.”</p> +<p>“Drink hearty,” said Rayder, emptying +his glass, which he had filled to the fullness +of Amos’ out of compliment.</p> +<p>“Charley, bring up a box of perfectos,” +he shouted. “You may then lock up and +go home.”</p> +<p>The glasses were again drained and the +two black crows chattered until the streets +were growing quiet for the night. Supper +was forgotten in the love feast of Amos +and Rayder.</p> +<p>“Do you know, Amos, I always did love +you just like a brother?”</p> +<p>“Here, too, Rayder, you know the first +time we saw each other, I sez to myself––I +sez––there is a man that would stick to a +friend through thick and thin.”</p> +<p>“You are that kind of a man yourself, +Amos, is the reason you have a good opinion +of me. I never had a friend in distress +yet that I didn’t help him out.”</p> +<p>“That’s right, Rayder, that’s right. +Them’s the qualities that go to make up +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_209' name='page_209'></a>209</span> +nature’s noblemen. Lord, if I had a known +you years ago we’d a bin millionaires––my +knowledge of mines and your sagacity. +That’s what counts, and you never fail in +your estimate of men, either. Lord, you +was born under lucky stars.</p> +<p>“Take another drink, Rayder, take a +cistern full. ’Taint often we meet on auspicious +occasions like this, and we won’t go +home ’till mornin,’ and we won’t go home +’till morning, hic––hurrah for Annie, Rayder, +and a million outer the mine.”</p> +<p>“An’ she shame short of share of prosperity +to my brother Amos,” and Rayder +took another drink.</p> +<p>“Shay, Rayder, you come and go home +with me and hang around a day or two +until you buy the mine and play sweet +with Annie, an’ the night of the weddin’ +we’ll hev a dance and send you away on +your bridal tour in a blaze of glory.”</p> +<p>“I’ll do it, I’ll do it, Amos, an’ then +we’ll be almost brothers ’cordin’ ter law, +anyway.”</p> +<p>“Shay, Rayder, did I tell ye I had a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_210' name='page_210'></a>210</span> +little mix up with a woman, an’ I’m scared +to death ’fear old woman ’ill find it out. +I got ’ter square the deal or I’m a goner +and stuff’s all off, want yer to let me take +ten thousand fer few days, got ter blow a +lot o’ money on weddin’, too, yer see.”</p> +<p>“All right, Amos, youse’s square a man’s +ever met. I’ll let ye hev it.”</p> +<p>“Good, thet’s relief; sooner I get it easier +mind’ll be. Nuthin’ like ’mediate action +to relieve man’s mind, you know. Let’s +take nuther drink and ye can write th’ +check with steadier hand.”</p> +<p>Rayder swallowed another drink while +Amos fumbled about the desk until he +found Rayder’s check book.</p> +<p>“Bet ye can’t spell ten without making a +crook. There now, if you can write thousand +as well you’re a peachareno. Bully, +now write Silas Rayder at the bottom. +You’re a brother in fact, Rayder, an’ I love +ye better as any brother. Shay, let’s hev +nuther bottle.”</p> +<p>And Amos pocketed the check and quietly +slipped down stairs, to the saloon and was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_211' name='page_211'></a>211</span> +back with another quart before Rayder +had roused from his drunken stupor. He +poured out another half goblet of whisky.</p> +<p>“Shay, Rayder, de ye know about story +of Guvner of North Carolina sed to Guvner +of South Carolina, to effet an’ words, it +was long time between drinks?”</p> +<p>“An’ that was a damn shame Guvner hed +to wait, ought to had you along an’ famous +epigram ed never been born.”</p> +<p>Half an hour later Rayder was stretched +upon the lounge in the little back office, dead +to the world. Amos sat by the window +sobering up until the grey of the morning. +The sleeping man roused, and Amos gave +him another half goblet of whisky followed +by a sip of water. He had drawn the +blinds and left the coal-oil lamp burning +when it grew light, lest the sleeping man +should arouse and discover it was daylight.</p> +<p>When the office boy came, he cautioned +him not to awaken Rayder. He then crossed +over to the bank, called for the face payment +of the check in gold coin. He took +the money to the Wells Fargo Express +company’s office and expressed it to his +wife in Saguache.</p> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_6' id='linki_6'></a> +</div> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/illus-204.jpg' alt='' title='' width='569' height='361' /><br /> +<p class='caption'> +THE AREGUIPENA. (Page 56)<br /> +</p> +</div> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_212' name='page_212'></a>212</span></div> +<p>Rayder was sleeping when he returned. +He placed the check book in its accustomed +place in the desk, destroyed all evidence of +the night’s debauch and left a note on the +desk saying: “My dear Rayder, I have +been suddenly called home by the illness of +my wife. Come to Saguache as soon as +you can make it convenient. Amos.”</p> +<p>When Rayder awoke it was four o’clock +in the afternoon. His head was in a whirl +and every muscle was twitching. He called +Charley and sent for a doctor. The doctor +saw the trouble at a glance. He called a +hack and accompanied Rayder to his home.</p> +<p>“This will never do, Mr. Rayder. You +have drank much whisky in your time and +it has become a poison to your system. Do +not look for me to get you out of this in less +time than four weeks.”</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_213' name='page_213'></a>213</span> +<a name='XXIV_THE_RECKLESS_HAND_OF_FATE' id='XXIV_THE_RECKLESS_HAND_OF_FATE'></a> +<h2>XXIV.</h2> +<h3>THE RECKLESS HAND OF FATE.</h3> +</div> +<p>The day was fair when Carson left +Saguache with pretty Annie Amos seated +beside him in the sleigh. Although he had +spent the night in fearful anxiety, walking +the streets, he now felt such a relief over +getting out of town, undiscovered by Mary +Greenwater, that he was bubbling over with +high spirits. In the presence of Annie his +better nature stood outward and he even +surprised himself with his quick sallies of +wit and repartee. Annie was charmed with +his presence, and as the two chatted gaily, +they did not notice the lowering clouds +about the Spanish Peaks, until a strong +wind began to raise and soon one of those +sudden storms so common to the region +was coming in all its fury. In a short +while it became a raging blizzard. The +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_214' name='page_214'></a>214</span> +snow drifted in blinding swirls, so dense +that the horse’s head could not be seen.</p> +<p>Carson had experienced the blizzard on +the range and knew the only safe course +was to let the horse have the reins, and +trust to its animal instinct to find a shelter. +He drew the robes securely about Annie +and endeavored to allay her fears, although +conscious of the peril they were in. The +horse was plodding its way through the +snow-drifts and it was evident that the +animal would soon become exhausted. The +blizzard might last all night, or it might +continue for three days. On those trackless +wastes in such a storm death by freezing +was almost certain, unless they reached +a place of shelter. The hours dragged by. +He kept up an incessant talking with +Annie, lest she should fall into the fatal +sleep. The girl was quick to perceive his +tender care, and in full apprehension of +their danger, felt a growing confidence in +the man beside her. She knew that he fully +realized their peril and admired him for +his efforts to conceal his fears from her.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_215' name='page_215'></a>215</span></div> +<p>It was growing darker and the horse was +moving with feeble steps. Carson was at +the point of giving vent to his fears, when +the animal stopped. He left the sleigh, +and upon going to the horse’s head, found +they were beside a cabin. His heart gave a +great leap of joy and he called exultantly +to Annie.</p> +<p>The cabin was deserted, but, praise +Providence, it was shelter. The door +swung open on its hinges. There was a +fireplace with some half-burned logs in a +heap of ashes. When Annie was securely +inside, he brought in the robes from the +sleigh and next unhitched the horse and +brought the animal inside the cabin. This +made Annie’s heart leap with joy; she had +not considered how they would protect the +horse, and this humane act on the part of +Carson gave her the most implicit confidence +in the man. There is nothing to +fear from a man who is so kind to animals, +was her mental comment.</p> +<p>Soon there was a blazing fire on the +hearth. Some poles were found by the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_216' name='page_216'></a>216</span> +door. These Carson dug from the snow +and brought inside. He had no axe +with which to cut them, and in the emergency, +he laid the ends together in the fire +slantwise from the chimney, and as they +burned away, he shoved the logs forward. +The wind screamed in wildest fury, while +the snow drifted in through the rough clapboard +roof.</p> +<p>Until now no thought had been given to +the lunch which Annie had prepared for +the trip. She brought it out from among +the wraps and when Carson gave the horse +a buttered biscuit as his share of the meal, +she watched the act with a thrill of gladness. +The blazing logs gave warmth and +light, and the man and woman sat and +talked throughout the long watches of the +night, while the snow drifted and the wind +screamed and roared, making the loose +clapboards of the roof creak and groan.</p> +<p>There these two, thrown together by the +reckless hand of fate, told incidents of +their lives and won the love and sympathy +of each other. A new song was born in +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_217' name='page_217'></a>217</span> +Carson’s breast. For a moment he +seemed to remember a former life; somewhere +out in the wide, white waste and +hush of infinite space, where they had +known each other and now their souls imprisoned +in forms of clay, they had met by +chance and renewed an old affinity.</p> +<p>As she told him the simple story of her +life, he listened with ever-increasing interest. +An orphan at an early age, she had +since lived in the home of her Uncle Amos. +Everything had gone well until the last +year, when her uncle brought Rayder to +their home and insisted that she should regard +him as a suitor for her hand. Rayder, +old and grey, had dyed his whiskers +and tried to appear boyish. His intentions +were well enough––he would give her all +she would ask that money could purchase––but +she could not love the man and could +never think of becoming his wife. Amos, +her uncle, was a man of avarice and greed. +He insisted that it was a duty she owed +him for his fatherly care in bringing her +up. He dwelt on the advantages it would +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_218' name='page_218'></a>218</span> +be to him in his old age and that it would +be only right for her to help him in this +way. He had appealed to her generous +nature and sought to make her believe this +sacrifice on her part would be just and +right. Amos’ wife had taken the same +view of the matter and urged that the wedding +should be at an early date. Annie, +alone in the world, had no one to whom +she could go for counsel. Some of the +coarse women of the mining camp who +came to their home thought her the most +fortunate of girls to have a suitor as rich as +Rayder, and ridiculed the idea of her refusing +to accept the greatest opportunity +of her life. Some of their husbands were +rough, uncouth men, who cared nothing for +the luxuries of a home, spent most of their +money and time drinking and gambling at +the Lone Tree, and they gauged conditions +as they were with themselves. They were +honest-hearted women of the frontier who +believed they were doing the girl a kindness. +It was not through bravery that she +was cool and collected, yesterday, in the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_219' name='page_219'></a>219</span> +presence of death from the lions, she told +him, but because she had almost made up +her mind that she did not care. Death had +lost its terrors in the contemplation of impending +fate.</p> +<p>He did not tell her of the burden of his +heart. He did not feel that he dared to ask +for sympathy. At that hour he would +have given ten years of his life to undo his +marriage with Mary Greenwater by the ancient +custom of the Swiftest Horse. He +knew the Indian woman and knew that she +intended to kill him and yet he felt helpless, +powerless. He did tell the girl beside +him that he, too, was alone in the world +and hoped to merit the love of a good woman +and that his every act in life should +go to prove his sincerity. And so, amid the +wild scenes of the night, they talked.</p> +<p>At noon the following day, the storm +abated and when the flurries of snow had +ceased they saw the town of Del Norte well +down on the plain.</p> +<p>Annie was received at the home of her +friends with delight and when she told them +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_220' name='page_220'></a>220</span> +of her recent adventures, they gave expression +to heartfelt joy for Annie’s +safety, and called Carson a hero.</p> +<p>Carson did not leave Del Norte for six +weeks. Meanwhile, Annie visited her +friends. When the two were not together +in the cozy parlor at Annie’s host’s, Carson +kept close in his room at the hotel. He +wanted to delay the meeting with Mary +Greenwater as long as possible. If she was +only a man,––ah, that would be different! +It would then be knife to knife, or bullet +to bullet––he would not shrink. But she +was a woman, an educated Indian woman +upon whom society had some claim, and +she had some claim upon it.</p> +<p>Annie promised to become his wife and +it was arranged that she should return to +her uncle’s home, and as soon as he could +arrange his affairs at the mine they would +go to an eastern state. He first intended, +however, to make a clean breast of the +Mary Greenwater affair, and trust his fate +to her love for him.</p> +<p>When he reached the foot of the Sangre +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_221' name='page_221'></a>221</span> +de Christo range, through the great depths +of snow, he saw the fearful havoc of the +snow slide and noted the slanting position +of the edgewise cliff. Thinking it was of +but recent occurrence, he hurried to +Saguache and gave the alarm that two of +his companions were buried beneath the +mountain of snow.</p> +<p>In no place in the world does an appeal +for help meet with a quicker response +than among the pioneers of the west. The +news flew over the town like wildfire that +two miners were imprisoned in a snow +slide. A relief party was organized at +once and Carson led them to the base of +the range.</p> +<p>Mary Greenwater saw Carson organizing +the relief, she stood within a few feet +of him unobserved, and could have shot +him, but she knew better than shoot a man +in the act of aiding the distressed. The +crowd would hang her, woman or no woman, +and she knew it. Some other time +than this––she would wait.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_222' name='page_222'></a>222</span> +<a name='XXV_CORDS_OF_LOVE_ARE_STRONG' id='XXV_CORDS_OF_LOVE_ARE_STRONG'></a> +<h2>XXV.</h2> +<h3>CORDS OF LOVE ARE STRONG.</h3> +</div> +<p>Hattie Judson sat by the window overlooking +the green wheat fields of the Los +Ossis valley. The bells in the old mission +were calling the humble worshippers of the +valley, just as they had done for more than +one hundred and forty years. She +watched the blue haze of the valley growing +denser in the shadows of the evening. +She heard the low boom of a signal gun roll +up from the sea. It was from the coast +steamer in the open roadstead, the signal +she was listening for in the hope that it +would bring her a letter––the letter for +which she had been waiting for six weeks.</p> +<p>The shadows from the coast hills crept +up the valley, and the stars shone, when +the whistle of the little narrow-gauge engine +announced its arrival from the port. +She put on her wraps and went to the postoffice +and waited a good long hour before +the mail was distributed. There was nothing +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_223' name='page_223'></a>223</span> +in her box except the San Francisco paper. +And yet she felt intuitively there +must be some news. She returned to her +home with a vague feeling of dread and lit +the parlor lamp. Mechanically she scanned +the headlines of the paper when her eye +caught the line:</p> +<p class='center'>“Imprisoned Miners in Snow-slide;<br /> +Relief Party Working Night and Day.”</p> +<p>“Saguache, Colo.––Word reached here +last night that John Buchan and James +Winslow, miners working a claim on the +Sangre de Christo range, were buried in +their cabin beneath a snow slide. It is believed +the men are alive although there +seems to be small hope of rescuing them +on account of an overhanging cliff which +may topple at any moment, with the melting +snows and crush them out of existence. +Rescue parties are at work night and day.”</p> +<p>The room seemed to whirl and grow dark +as she finished reading. Tears came to +her eyes and she cried aloud. The members +of the family came to find the cause +of her outcry and found her in a flood of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_224' name='page_224'></a>224</span> +tears. They read the dispatch and knew +the cause. The paper was two days old +from San Francisco. What could she do? +She must know at once. She went to the +telegraph office and sent a message of inquiry +to the mayor of Saguache. It was +twelve o’clock when the message came: +“Lines all down in San Luis valley.” +There was a telegraph line to San Louis +Obispo, but no coast line railroad nearer +than Paso Robles Hot Springs, sixty +miles inland. It would be three days before +there was another steamer for San Francisco. +She felt that if she waited the suspense +would kill her. She must go to +Saguache.</p> +<p>In the grey of the morning she was +seated beside a driver in a light running +rig behind the swiftest pair of horses in +the town. The northern express was due +at noon and the distance of sixty miles +must be made. The fleet animals climbed +the mountain slopes and crossed the divide +of the Santa Lucia range, and went speeding +through the beautiful Santa Marguerite +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_225' name='page_225'></a>225</span> +valley with its carpet of green, enlivened +with splashes of yellow from the wild mustard +blossoms. Across the swift flowing +ford of the Salinis river, through deep ravines +and mountain gorges, and over miles +and miles of sun-baked sand and dreary +waste of stunted cactus and sagebrush, the +horses sped.</p> +<p>The scorched winds of the desert caught +up the sands and hurled them hot into their +faces and stung them like tiny sparks.</p> +<p>Dripping with foam the horses were +reined up at the depot platform in just +five hours and fifty minutes from the time +of starting––a record that stands in San +Louis Obispo today as the best ever made, +and that too by a big-hearted western man +who did it only to aid a woman in distress.</p> +<p>The train sped over miles of brown and +parched desert, studded with a growth of +palms that rattled in the sultry wind like +dried sunflower stalks. The scenes were +scarcely noticed by Hattie as she sat in the +coach busied with her own thoughts. The +train was an express but it seemed to her +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_226' name='page_226'></a>226</span> +to creep along. The rumble of the wheels +clanking on the iron rails seemed to say: +“You’ll be too late, you’ll be too late.”</p> +<p>At Sacramento there was a wait of four +hours for the east bound express, and Hattie +sat in the depot where she could watch +the clock, tick, tock, tick, tock––swinging +the pendulum in these moments of suspense +and waiting. Those monotonous sounds +persistently repeated the single theme, seconds +were born and ushered into eternity +with the slow swing of the pendulum; every +tick brought the time of starting nearer, +but the pendulum swung so slow.</p> +<p>Those four hours watching the clock +were the most tedious of her life. When +the time was drawing nigh and the waiting +passengers were stirring about, the man +in the ticket office came out and wrote +upon the blackboard, “East bound Express +two hours late.”</p> +<p>Again the slow swinging pendulum sent +a torrent of woe to the unhappy girl, and +when the train rolled into the yards she +felt as though she had lived within sound +of that clock for a year.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_227' name='page_227'></a>227</span></div> +<p>The green valley changed to the red +earth of the foothills, still showing signs of +the gold hunters of 1849. The puffing and +wheezing of the engine told they were +climbing steep grades, and soon they were +in the snows of the Sierra Nevada mountains. +The train entered the forty-two +mile snow shed and when half way through +struck a hand car, derailing the engine.</p> +<p>It was day without, but dark within the +sheds. A kindly woman with her daughter +occupied the berth opposite Hattie. She +noticed the troubled look on the girl’s face +and from that time on until they separated +at Cheyenne, did everything she could to +make the journey pleasant. But there was +the ever present suspense and doubt.</p> +<p>It was ten hours before the train was +again under way, but they had lost the +right of way on the road and were compelled +to make frequent stops on the sidings +to allow other trains to pass.</p> +<p>As the train skirted the Great Salt Lake +with its bleak and desolate islands of rock +rising in silhouette against the cold grey +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_228' name='page_228'></a>228</span> +skies, Hattie compared the scene to the +feeling of utter desolation within her soul.</p> +<p>A storm was raging on the Laramie +plains and when the snow plow, driven by +the tremendous force of an extra engine in +front, stuck fast in the snow, she began +to have some conception of the mighty +force of an avalanche, and the difficulty of +reaching imprisoned men beneath its +weight.</p> +<p>The railroad ended at a little station in +the San Luis valley and then followed +many miles of staging in a crowded coach. +Everywhere the girl met with the most profound +respect and attention from fellow +passengers. She was always given the +best seat in the coach, and otherwise made +as comfortable as circumstances would permit. +Such was the gallantry of these men +of the frontier to the girl who was traveling +alone.</p> +<p>At the last stage station before reaching +Saguache, she heard men talking of the +imprisoned miners in the Sangre de Christo +mountains, but she was unable to learn +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_229' name='page_229'></a>229</span> +any of the particulars other than that the +relief party was still working. When, at +last, she alighted at the hotel in Saguache +her first question was concerning the imprisoned +men. They will have them out +in a few days if nothing happens was the +assurance given by the landlady. “They +are alive, we know, for we can see the +smoke coming out from under the rock.”</p> +<p>The two men under the snow slide had +been the talk of the town for days. Every +day a new party went to the scene to relieve +those who had worked the day and +night before, tunneling up the steep mountain +side through snow of an unknown +depth.</p> +<p>When Hattie reached the tunnel she +begged to be allowed to go to the end of it +where the men were working. She was assisted +up the mountain side by willing +hands and when she reached the workers +one of them said: “The boys are all right +for we can hear their voices.”</p> +<p>It was then she gave an exclamation of +joy, and when Buchan said to me in the cabin, +“It seems that I hear her voice,” he +was right.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_230' name='page_230'></a>230</span> +<a name='XXVI_WHEN_THE_DEATH_GLOOM_GATHERS' id='XXVI_WHEN_THE_DEATH_GLOOM_GATHERS'></a> +<h2>XXVI.</h2> +<h3>WHEN THE DEATH GLOOM GATHERS.</h3> +</div> +<p>Amos staggered out of the fog of powder +smoke and groped his way to the door. He +took the center of the street reeling as he +went, and made his way to his home. The +scenes at the Bucket of Blood were magnified +in his whisky-crazed brain. He raved +in wild delirium, fighting the demons that +gathered around his bedside. The doctor +came and shook his head. “He has been +drinking so long that my medicine will not +act,” he said. Amos glared wildly from +his bloodshot eyes when a monkey seemed +to leap on the footboard. He held a glass +in his hand. “Have a cocktail, Amos,” said +the monkey, as he tossed the liquid into the +air and caught it in another glass. Amos’ +throat was parched and he wanted the cocktail, +but the monkey did not give it to him. +A rhinoceros came creeping through the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_231' name='page_231'></a>231</span> +wall and looked at him with its leaden eyes. +The monkey tossed the cocktail into the +wide open mouth of the rhinoceros, who +smacked his lips and said to the monkey, +“Let’s play ante over.”</p> +<p>“All right,” replied the monkey, “what +with?”</p> +<p>“Get his eye, get his eye,” exclaimed the +rhinoceros.</p> +<p>The monkey crept forward and plucked +out one of Amos’ eyes, as he groaned and +yelled. For awhile the rhinoceros was on +one side of the dresser and the monkey on +the other, tossing his eye to and fro between +them. The scene changed. He was +on a white horse, plunging down a steep +rocky road lined with trees on either side; +pythons and rattlesnakes reached out from +among the branches striking their fangs at +his head. There was the form of a dead +woman behind him on the horse. Her cold +arms clung about his neck as little devils +came out from behind the trees and +shouted: “You did it; you did it.” The +horse was now plunging over a snow-covered +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_232' name='page_232'></a>232</span> +country. He felt the icy winds chill +his heart. He was trying to shake off the +dead arms that clung to his neck, when +the horse stopped in a wild spot among the +rocks. A grave digger, with the flesh of +face and arms dried to the bone, appeared. +“We will bury her here,” he said as he +sunk his spade into the earth. As the grave +digger threw up the clods they turned to +little devils, the size of frogs and yelped, +“We are the sins of Amos come out of the +grave.” The vision passed and another +appeared. Three Sisters of Charity stood +at the footboard of his bed. They were +looking down on him with sorrowful eyes. +One of them lifted her hand and all was a +livid flame. Amos raised his head and +gave one prolonged shriek. A shriek of +death.</p> +<p>When Amos returned to Saguache after +his spree with Rayder his first act was to +purchase a ranch in the San Luis valley +and deed it to his wife. He then went to +his assay office and drew down the blinds +and sat in the shadows like a cunning old +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_233' name='page_233'></a>233</span> +spider in hiding waiting for the unwary +fly for which he had wove his web. His life +had been that of the iconoclast who creates +nothing to adorn the world’s great gallery +of gods. But he was not philosophical +enough to evolve an idea that would disrupt +existing beliefs.</p> +<p>It was some weeks after his arrival +home, when he espied Rayder one morning +coming down the street towards his office. +He cautiously turned the key in his office +and slipped over to the Bucket of Blood +and returned with some beer and two +quart bottles of whisky. When Rayder +returned an hour later he was maudlin +drunk.</p> +<p>Rayder was still pale from the effects +of his recent debauch and when he found +Amos in an intoxicated condition he went +away, not caring to stay and talk with him +on important business matters lest he +should get drawn into another spree. +Meanwhile, Carson had arrived and spread +the news of the imprisoned miners under +the snow slide. Rayder learned that this +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_234' name='page_234'></a>234</span> +was the mine he had come to purchase +through the connivance of Amos and concluded +to wait and see what time would develop.</p> +<p>Day after day he sought Amos, but the +latter was too drunk to talk with any sense. +He then sought Carson and offered financial +assistance in the rescue work, but the +men spurned the offer. They felt they were +doing a God-given duty and to receive +money for an act of that kind would be debasing +their manhood. Such was it then +and such is now the spirit of the West. He +called at the Amos home, and while he was +received by the matron and failed to see +Annie, he thought he detected an air of distress +in the surroundings, and attributed it +to Amos’ condition. Feeling that he was +at their home at an inopportune time, he +went away and started out to find Amos +and if possible persuade him to quit drinking. +Not finding him at his office he took +a nearer route and entered the Bucket of +Blood by the back door. He passed two or +three hoboes sitting on beer kegs on the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_235' name='page_235'></a>235</span> +outside. “Say, old timer, can’t I dig into +ye for two bits?” asked one. The man was +trembly and his lips quivered as he spoke. +Remembering his own recent condition +Rayder handed the fellow a dollar and motioning +to the others, said: “Divide up.” +The men jumped to their feet with alacrity +and followed the first man to the bar.</p> +<p>Rayder walked to the faro table where +Amos sat with his back to him putting +down twenty dollar gold pieces on the +money. “I never squeal,” Amos was saying +to another man who was drawing out +the cards from the box. “Bet yer life, man +wins my money I never squeal,” Amos was +saying to the dealer. “Got skads of it anyhow, +and when that’s gone I know where to +get a mine worth more an’ a million.” +Rayder stood watching the player tossing +twenty after twenty in gold and tapping a +tiny bell now and then when a waiter came +and took the orders from those seated +around the table watching the game. They +all called for whisky except the dealer, he +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_236' name='page_236'></a>236</span> +took a cigar. It requires a clear head to +deal faro.</p> +<p>Rayder grew tired of watching and sat +down. He was thinking where did Amos +get so much money? He had not attended +to the business of his office since his recovery +and had had no occasion to look into +his check book. After a certain period of +the night with Amos in his back office, +everything was a blank. He remembered +the conversation about Annie and the mine +but had no recollection about signing the +check. To see Amos sitting at that table +losing money like a prince at Monte Carlo, +almost took his breath. He began to feel +certain now as to the fabulous riches of the +mine, for he could conceive of no other way +by which Amos could get possession of so +much money. He had learned of Mrs. Amos +purchasing the ranch and paying for it in +gold, and wondered at the time. Then he +thought that perhaps Amos was trying to +throw him off the purchase of the mine in +order to secure the property himself. There +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_237' name='page_237'></a>237</span> +was a mystery somewhere he could not +fathom.</p> +<p>The board partition against which he sat +was thin, and while he was not playing +eavesdropper, he could not help hearing: +“The secret of that mine has been known +to me since I was a child,” a woman was +saying, “but I never supposed Carson +would locate it when I gave him the papers.” +And then she recounted the story +of the hidden Spanish treasure in the +Grand river hills and continued: “The +two men they are trying to rescue from +under the snow slide are dead long ago and +the only one left that is interested is Carson. +I will get him out of the way, and you +must file on the claim, I cannot, for I am an +Indian, but you can. Besides, I could never +sing my death song in peace if he lives.”</p> +<p>“Tonight, then,” her companion said. +“You had better act before matters go +any farther.”</p> +<p>Here was another revelation to Rayder, +he saw coming through one archway an +Indian woman, and through the other, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_238' name='page_238'></a>238</span> +Coyote Jim who slowly walked toward the +faro table. Rayder’s first and best impulse +was to see Carson and warn him of impending +danger. His second thought was +that such a course would be bad financial +policy. No, he would let the woman kill +him if she could and he would jump the +claim himself. He was certain now of its +fabulous value and determined to have it +at any price.</p> +<p>And so the old black crow sat and waited +and plotted, while the other old black crow +gambled away his money, and when the +shooting was over, and the coal oil lamps +flickered their sickly flame through the +curling powder smoke, Rayder was raised +from the floor where he had flattened himself +against the baseboard, trembling like a +frightened sheep about to be led to the +slaughter.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_239' name='page_239'></a>239</span> +<a name='XXVII_A_NIGHT_OF_TRAGEDIES' id='XXVII_A_NIGHT_OF_TRAGEDIES'></a> +<h2>XXVII.</h2> +<h3>A NIGHT OF TRAGEDIES.</h3> +</div> +<p>The Lone Tree saloon and dance hall +was ablaze with lights. Two bar-keepers +in white jackets were setting out the bottles +over the long, polished counter. There +was the clink of glasses, as men stood in +rows drinking the amber-colored liquid. +“Have another on me,” was frequently +heard along the counter, as someone felt it +was his turn to set up the drinks to the +crowd.</p> +<p>A brawny miner stepped up to the side +of a sheep herder who had been edging in +all evening to get free drinks––and squirted +a mouthful of tobacco juice in his ear.</p> +<p>“If anybody else had done that but you, +Bill, I’d be tempted to strike him.”</p> +<p>“Don’t let your friendship for me spoil +your notions,” the miner said with a contemptuous +look.</p> +<p>The sheep herder made no reply, as he +wiped his ear. The fire that burned in his +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_240' name='page_240'></a>240</span> +stomach demanded whiskey, and he would +brook any insult to get it. He had reached +the level of the sodden, and others passed +him by. It was yet early in the night, and +crowds were gathering in the rear of the +large room, about the roulette wheel, the +crap tables and faro layout, back of which +the lookout was seated on a raised platform. +Stacks of coin in gold and silver +were on the tables to tempt the players. +At other tables men were seated playing +cards and smoking. In an adjoining room, +cut with archways, was the dance hall. An +orchestra on a platform played rag-time +music, while painted women in short dresses +to give them a youthful appearance, sat +on benches against the wall, or danced with +swaggering men to the calls of a brawny +bullet-headed floor manager. His bleared +eyes and heavy swollen jaw showed the effects +of a recent debauch ending in a fist +fight.</p> +<p>The women urged their partners to drink +at the end of every dance. While the men +drank whiskey, they gave the bar-keepers a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_241' name='page_241'></a>241</span> +knowing look, and a bottle like the others +was set out containing ginger ale which +the women drank as whiskey, and were given +a check, which they afterwards cashed +as their percentage.</p> +<p>While the sign on the windows read The +Lone Tree Saloon and Dance Hall, the +place had earned the sobriquet of the +Bucket of Blood, from the many tragedies +enacted therein. And this place was run +by a woman, Calamity Jane, famous in several +mining camps. One fellow analyzed +her when he said: “She is a powerful +good woman, except she hain’t got no +moral character.”</p> +<p>Coyote Jim, faro dealer, sauntered in +and took his place at the table. His eyes +were a steel blue, the kind that men inured +to the mining camps of the early west had +learned were dangerous. His face was thin +and white, hair of a black blue, like a +raven’s wing, hung half way to his shoulders. +His thin hands handled the pasteboards +in the box with a dexterity that +marked him an expert. Supple in form, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_242' name='page_242'></a>242</span> +with quick, cat-like motions, he made one +think of a tiger.</p> +<p>A dark faced woman wearing a Spanish +mantilla was winning at the roulette wheel. +The onlookers crowded about. She was +winning almost every bet. The interest +grew intense, men crowded forward to +catch a glimpse of her whose marvelous +luck surpassed anything in the history of +the Lone Tree. Her stack of chips of white, +red and blue, grew taller at every turn of +the wheel. The face of the gambler at the +wheel grew vexed and then flushed with +anger. The devil appeared to have been +turned loose and he was losing his stakes. +The chips vanished from his box in twenties, +fifties and hundreds, and the group +of onlookers stared in astonishment. As +he counted out his last hundred he said: +“If you win this you have broke the game.”</p> +<p>The woman lost and the gambler began +to have hope, when she won again, and so +the pendulum of chance swung to and fro +over those last hundred chips for an hour, +when the gambler slammed the lid of his +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_243' name='page_243'></a>243</span> +box with the exclamation: “You have +busted the game!”</p> +<p>The woman cashed in her checks. Over +five thousand dollars was paid to her. She +walked up to the bar and threw down five +hundred dollars on the counter and said to +a bar-tender:</p> +<p>“I pay for everybody’s drinks here tonight. +Take no money from any of them +and when this runs short, call on me.”</p> +<p>The word was passed, “Free drinks at +the bar,” and the crowd surged forward. +A half-tipsy fellow raised his glass above +the heads of others. “Here’s to Mary +Greenwater, Queen of the Cherokee Indians!”</p> +<p>“Rah fer Mary Greenwater,” chattered +old Amos, holding his reeling form up by +the bar rail.</p> +<p>The invitation was even too much for +Rayder, strong as had been his resolution +to let the stuff alone. The temptation of +free drinks was too great, he imagined he +needed something and called for gin.</p> +<p>Just then, some one came in and announced +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_244' name='page_244'></a>244</span> +that the two men had been rescued +from under the snow-slide. The games +stopped and the men at the tables ordered +their drinks from the waiters. The dance +in the adjoining room stopped in the middle +of a set, while men and women crowded +about the bar.</p> +<p>Only three in that room did not rejoice +at the news––Mary Greenwater, Coyote +Jim and Rayder. Amos was too drunk to +know whether he ought to be sad or rejoice. +He did neither, but gave another +loud “Rah for Mary Greenwater!” when +a waiter led him to a seat. When the hubbub +of voices which the announcement of +the rescue had created, had subsided somewhat, +the players resumed their games and +amid the clink of chips and glasses, could +now and then be heard from some gamester, +“Hold on there, that’s mine!”</p> +<p>Mary Greenwater went to the faro table. +“Get up, Coyote,” she said, “I’m going to +bust this bank, and you and I have been +together so much that they will think you +have throwed the game. Let some one else +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_245' name='page_245'></a>245</span> +deal.” Another dealer was called and +Mary laid down a hundred on the ace. Men +crowded about as before, when she was at +the roulette wheel. There was a hush for +a moment, when the clear tones of a man +at the door rang out.</p> +<p>“Hands up, everybody. Don’t try to escape, +the doors are guarded!”</p> +<p>All was confusion in an instant. Calamity +Jane, eyes ablaze, strode from behind +the curtain in the dance hall. Quick of action, +she fired at the nearest hold-up in +mask. The uproar was furious. The lamps +were shot out by confederates of the hold-ups. +The ball room women screamed with +fright, while jets of fire spit from revolvers +in different parts of the room. Men +were afraid to make an outcry, lest a bullet +would follow at the sound of their voice. +Coyote Jim was crouching like a tiger, beside +the stacks of coin on the table. In his +hand was a long, keen blade. He felt a +stealthy hand near his own and he lunged +the knife. A heavy groan and a few words +in a language which only he understood, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_246' name='page_246'></a>246</span> +and the body sank to the floor. The tiger’s +blood was now afire and he leaped upon +the faro table, revolver in hand. His form +was outlined in silhouette by a light across +the street, when a spark flashed in the +darkness and he fell headlong to the floor. +There was a heavy roar of voices, as the +men stampeded to the door.</p> +<p>When lights were brought from the outside, +the masked men were gone except one. +He lay dead near the door, with a bullet +from Calamity Jane’s revolver in his brain. +Coyote Jim lay dead, and by his side, Mary +Greenwater, with her life’s blood still ebbing +from the knife stab.</p> +<p>From this scene of tragedy, Amos made +his escape to end with the horrors of delirium +at home. The Bucket of Blood had +maintained its reputation.</p> +<p>The excitement of the affair spread over +the town, and among the spectators who +crowded in was a haggard man. His eyes +were hollow and deep-set, showing that he +had undergone a severe mental strain for +weeks. He saw them lift the affrighted +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_247' name='page_247'></a>247</span> +Rayder from his place of safety at the +baseboard, then his eyes rested on the +dead woman at the faro table. He threw +a cloth over her face, and sat staring into +vacancy until the undertaker and assistants +came. Then he took the undertaker +aside and said: “See to it that she has a +Christian burial. I will be responsible.” +When she was buried the next day, there +was one attendant beside the undertaker +and his assistants, at the grave.</p> +<p>The tragedies of the night marked a new +era in Saguache. The better element arose +in their might and demanded that the +Bucket of Blood be forever closed.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_248' name='page_248'></a>248</span> +<a name='XXVIII_FROM_OUT_THE_SHADOWY_PAST' id='XXVIII_FROM_OUT_THE_SHADOWY_PAST'></a> +<h2>XXVIII.</h2> +<h3>FROM OUT THE SHADOWY PAST.</h3> +</div> +<p>When Buchan arose in the cabin and +said “I thought I heard a voice, her voice,” +I was amazed. It did not occur to me that +anyone would attempt our rescue, else why +had they not done it long ere this?</p> +<p>He opened the door and shouted, then +turning to me, exclaimed: “They are digging +us out.”</p> +<p>Our hearts leaped for joy. We shook +hands in expression of delight and Buchan +danced a highland fling around the room. +Two men, snow-covered, entered and hailed +us joyously. Then came a woman, followed +by Carson. She ran to Buchan and +he caught her in his arms. I was deaf and +could not hear what they said or I would +write it word for word, but he kissed her +and she cried, and he wiped away some +tears, and I turned my back and pretended +to be talking to Carson.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_249' name='page_249'></a>249</span></div> +<p>The men gathered up our few belongings +and we hurriedly left the cabin. Sleds were +waiting at the foot of the mountain, and +we were soon speeding toward Saguache. +The air was crisp and the stars shone like +eyes of tender sympathy over the white +plain. We were brought to a stop at the +hotel. Men and women whom we had never +seen came and joyfully shook us by the +hands, and had much to say in congratulation. +The news of Hattie’s arrival and her +interest in Buchan had spread over the +camp, and many were the motherly old women +who came to say sympathetic things +and invite her to their homes, so great was +their admiration for her loyalty and sacrifice +for the man she loved.</p> +<p>The next day a mass meeting was called +by the citizens. The Lone Tree saloon and +dance hall had to go. A railroad survey +had been completed through the town, and +public works had been projected by the +newly-elected city council. A new era was +dawning for Saguache. The hall was +crowded, as one citizen after another spoke +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_250' name='page_250'></a>250</span> +of the future possibilities of the town, and +a good government that would no longer +tolerate a lawless element. When resolutions +were passed and the assembly was +ready to adjourn, one speaker arose and +said he heartily endorsed everything that +was said and done there that evening, but +there was another matter which should +have attention: One of the men rescued +from under the snow-drift had just married +the girl who had arrived a few days +before from California, and his partner +who led the rescue party had married an +estimable young woman of the town. The +double wedding had occurred at the hotel +an hour before, and he thought it would be +fitting to celebrate the event and the new +era of Saguache with a dance that night, in +which everybody should be asked to participate. +A roar of approval greeted the +speaker. There was no resolution or motion. +None was needed. Men instantly set +to work clearing the hall of chairs, while a +committee was sent to the hotel to announce +to Buchan and Carson that a dance +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_251' name='page_251'></a>251</span> +had been arranged that night in their +honor.</p> +<p>Men came with their wives and their +sweethearts, dressed just as they were +from their work, and the women as they +were in their homes. Evening clothes +would have been as much out of place in +that ballroom, as the garb of a workman +would be out of place in the ballroom of the +Waldorf-Astoria. The orchestra struck up, +and Buchan and Hattie were given the +place of honor in the dance. Carson and +Annie, being better known, felt that they +should largely play the part of host and +yielded every honor to Buchan and Hattie. +The music was good. Everybody joined in +the spirit of goodfellowship, and the dance +continued until the small hours of the morning.</p> +<p>It was toward the close that Rayder +came upon the floor with a fat widow milliner. +He had taken a few drinks of gin +and was trying to act kittenish when, in the +midst of a cotillion, the widow fell to the +floor in an epileptic fit. They bore the woman +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_252' name='page_252'></a>252</span> +to an adjoining room, where she soon +recovered, but it was such a shock to Rayder’s +nerves that he went out and braced +up on a little more gin.</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p>I was at the governor’s reception in the +state capitol of Colorado. The rooms and +corridors were brilliantly lighted. Men and +women in rich attire were there to do honor +to the occasion. I was seated behind a decoration +of palms, when a prominent attorney +and a companion took seats near me.</p> +<p>A heavy set man with a woman leaning +on his arm entered the corridor. They +were well, but modestly dressed. There +were grey streaks in their hair, but their +steps were firm and, both were the picture +of good health, evidence of good and +wholesome lives.</p> +<p>“Here comes Senator Buchan and lady,” +said the attorney to his companion. “I +knew those people twenty-five years ago. +I was one of a party to rescue Buchan and +a companion from under a snow slide in +the Sangre de Christo mountains. The girl +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_253' name='page_253'></a>253</span> +had come all the way from California to +help in the rescue. I don’t believe she +would have lived two days longer if we had +not got him out. Shows what the right sort +of love will do. It stands the test of time. +There is no divorce business in that. +Buchan had an iron will, too. Somehow he +and his partners had discovered a lost +Spanish mine and did not know its value on +account of some trickery of an assayer. +But Silas Rayder did, so Rayder hounded +the boys to sell and finally when he offered +a hundred and fifty thousand dollars, they +closed the deal. Carson had just married, +too. He took his money and invested it in +a flouring mill. I do not know what became +of the other fellow, but Buchan put his +money in a bank and it failed in less than +three months and he went to running an +engine on the Rocky Mountain railroads. +It was a pretty hard knock, but right there +is where that girl came to the front like a +guardian angel. She told him that perhaps +it was all for the best. Riches do not always +bring happiness. It is adversity that +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_254' name='page_254'></a>254</span> +brings to the surface our better natures +and fires our ambitions to the nobler and +grander things of life.</p> +<p>“Buchan must have had this in mind, for +while he was running his engine he was always +trying to help some poor fellow. He +accepted his lot in life and worked for years +content with the love of that woman and +when people saw he was made of the right +sort of stuff they elected him to the legislature +and his very first act was to put +through a bill making eight hours a legal +day’s work. That very act took the yoke of +bondage off more than half a million workers.</p> +<p>“It turned out just as the girl said. He +has served the people three terms and if +he had not worked for their interests they +would never have sent him back the third +time.</p> +<p>“Adversity, sir, is oftimes the making of +us. I never thought so when Bob Lee surrendered +and our dreams of imperialism +vanished and left most of us without a dollar. +But I can see now it is all for the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_255' name='page_255'></a>255</span> +best. As a nation united we welcome all +men regardless of their nationality, and, +in return, they give us the best thoughts the +world can produce.”</p> +<p>“Rayder, what became of him?” asked +his companion.</p> +<p>“When Rayder bought the mine he +thought he had millions but he only took +out of it about enough to get even when the +vein gave out between two big slabs of +granite that came together like the thin +end of a wedge. A widow who had fits +sued him about this time for a breach of +promise, and either to get out of that or get +square with some old enemy, he married the +widow Amos.”</p> +<p>I arose and stood before the attorney and +his companion. “I want to shake hands +with you, sir,” I said. He arose, and in +extending his hand, said: “Your name, +please?”</p> +<p>“I am the other fellow you rescued from +the cabin,” I replied.</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WHERE STRONGEST TIDE WINDS BLEW***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 30128-h.txt or 30128-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/0/1/2/30128">http://www.gutenberg.org/3/0/1/2/30128</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Where Strongest Tide Winds Blew + + +Author: Robert McReynolds + + + +Release Date: September 29, 2009 [eBook #30128] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WHERE STRONGEST TIDE WINDS BLEW*** + + +E-text prepared by Roger Frank and the Project Gutenberg Online +Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 30128-h.htm or 30128-h.zip: + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/30128/30128-h/30128-h.htm) + or + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/30128/30128-h.zip) + + + + + +WHERE STRONGEST TIDE WINDS BLEW + +by + +ROBERT McREYNOLDS + +Author of + +"Thirty Years on the Frontier," "Rodney Wilkes," +"The Luxury of Poverty," "A Modern Jean Valjean," +"Facts and Fancies," Etc. + + + + + + + +Gowdy-Simmons Publishing Co. +Colorado Springs, Colo. +1907 + +Copyright 1907 +By Robert McReynolds. + + + + + To + Honorable John B. Stephen + and + his estimable wife, + from the romantic story of whose + lives, the principal incidents + of this work are taken. + + Colorado City, Colorado + 1907 + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + SOUNDING THE DEPTHS 24 + WRECK OF THE SPANISH SLOOP SEVILLE. 36 + THE EARTH BEGAN TO ROCK AND REEL. 84 + THE HOME VOYAGE OF THE AVEN WAS FRAUGHT WITH ALL THE DANGERS OF + THE SEA. 148 + FLIGHT OF THE TORPEDO BOAT. 166 + THE AREGUIPENA. 212 + + + + +CONTENTS + + I UNDER THE SWORD OF DAMOCLES 9 + II IN DAYS OF INNOCENCE 24 + III THROUGH MISTS OF THE SEA 31 + IV GRAVES GAVE UP THEIR DEAD 41 + V FAIREST FLOWER OF THE CORDILLERAS 50 + VI A HUMILIATING INCIDENT 56 + VII IN THE THROES OF REVOLUTION 64 + VIII VIVA GENERALISSIMO PIEROLA 72 + IX AMID THE DIN OF BATTLE 80 + X WE MEET AGAIN, FELICITA 90 + XI THE MASQUE BALL AT TIRAVAYA 98 + XII COWARDLY ACT OF A VILLAIN 107 + XIII MURDEROUS PLAN OF THE INSURGENTS 115 + XIV FOR THE SAKE OF HUMANITY 125 + XV IN DESPERATE STRUGGLE FOR LIFE 135 + XVI THE SCREAMING WINDS OF NIGHT 143 + XVII THE BARBARIAN MEETS HIS INGOMAR 151 + XVIII ON SUNNY SEAS BOUND NORTH 159 + XIX DEATH SHIPS OF THE SEA 167 + XX A DAUGHTER OF THE CHEROKEES 176 + XXI CARSON'S BLANK PAGES IN LIFE 185 + XXII A VOICE FROM CENTURIES PAST 195 + XXIII THE TWO OLD BLACK CROWS 205 + XXIV THE RECKLESS HAND OF FATE 214 + XXV CORDS OF LOVE ARE STRONG 223 + XXVI WHEN THE DEATH GLOOM GATHERS 231 + XXVII A NIGHT OF TRAGEDIES 240 + XXVIII FROM OUT THE SHADOWY PAST 249 + + + + +WHERE STRONGEST TIDE WINDS BLEW + +I. + +UNDER THE SWORD OF DAMOCLES. + + +We built our cabin high on the slopes of the Sangre de Christo range, +overlooking the broad, level San Luis Valley, in Colorado. At the rear +of the cabin rose a towering cliff or rather a huge slab of rock +standing edgewise more than two hundred feet high, apparently the +upheaval of some mighty convulsion of nature in ages gone. Near the +base of this cliff flowed a clear crystal spring. + +Some hundred yards west of the cabin was the mouth of a tunnel into +which we had drifted with pick, shovel and giant powder, a distance of +300 feet in five months of hard toil. A trail led from the tunnel to +the cabin along the mountain side, which was thickly studded with tall +pines. Another trail led down the mountain slopes in a winding way to +the valley, almost a mile below. Above, reaching far into the blue +dome of the sky, rose the peaks of the snow-capped Sangre de Christo, +glistening in the morning sunlight, which threw gaunt, fantastic +shadows in canyon and deep ravine. + +It was a wild, weird scene, where man, in strength and vigor, seems to +imbibe a portion of the divine essence that lives, and moves, and has +its being in the vast solitudes. + +We struck pay rock at the first thirty feet of tunneling, so Amos' +assay showed, and the rock had gradually increased in value, week by +week. Buchan would take samples of the ore every week or ten days and +walk a distance of twenty-five miles to Saguache, where old man Amos, +expert geologist and assayer, would for two dollars and fifty cents +make out a clean printed slip with figures in red ink, showing so +many ounces of lead, copper, silver and gold to the ton. + +The ore had not yet reached a value which would pay to ship it, but +the increase of values was so steady, and Amos was so extravagantly +encouraging, that we were always in buoyant expectation of rich ore. +He would say, "You boys have a wonderful prospect. Keep right on with +your work; it is getting richer with every stroke of your pick and you +are likely to uncover a million dollar drift any day." + +Buchan would bring the assay certificate back to the cabin, where we +would sit late by the light of the pine knots in the fire place and +talk of the golden millions which capitalists would yet gladly pay for +a half interest in the "Aberdeen." + +That was the name Buchan had given the mine, after his home town in +Scotland, of which he always spoke with a fond tenderness. + +Winter had come and we, John Buchan, Will Carson, and myself, had +chipped in almost our last dollar and brought a wagon load of flour, +bacon and canned goods from Saguache to the foot of the mountains, +then carried them on our backs to the cabin. We quit work on the mine +for ten days and chopped firewood, which we corded at the rear of our +house. All hands felt that we were as snugly housed for the winter as +the big grizzly bears in their lairs among the rocks. + +Snow had been falling for several days and it lay deep on the mountain +slopes and in the wide expanse of the valley below. We had not had an +assay for two weeks and all were anxious for another report from Amos. +Buchan wanted his mail also, and he took a small bag of the rock and +tramped the twenty-five miles to Saguache. It was a three days' trip +wading through the unbroken snow drifts, and it was night when he +returned, weary, footsore and angry. + +I can see him yet, tears trickling down his honest face, as he tried +to tell something about Amos. He spoke of "the scamp, the villain, and +robber," and then choked with rage. Like all Scotchmen, the more he +thought of the wrong done him, the angrier he became; he would be more +angry tomorrow and it would be the day after that his anger would +reach the climax, and begin to subside. This was not a peculiarity of +Buchan. It is a characteristic of the Scotch. + +We made him a cup of coffee and seated him comfortably before the +fire. When he calmed down somewhat, he explained. + +"The first thing I did the next morning after reaching Saguache, was +to eat breakfast, and then I took the samples of ore to Amos' assay +office. He was garrulous as usual, and said to come in two hours and +he would have the certificate of the assay ready for me. When I again +called he handed me the certificate and I paid him the usual two +dollars and fifty cents. It showed nine dollars and ninety cents to +the ton. The usual increase of ten per cent. over the last assay. + +"I crossed over to the postoffice, and while waiting for my mail, I +noticed the snow standing ten inches high on the cap of the flue of +Amos' assay furnace. I thought, how in the deuce did he assay our ore +without melting the snow on the cap of the flue? The more I thought +about it the more I was mystified. I went across to his office and +said, 'Amos, I suppose you gave us the usual fire test on this ore?' +'Yep,' he answered. 'Then tell me,' I cried, 'how in the devil did you +make the fire test without melting the snow off the cap of your +furnace flue?' 'Too cold to melt,' he replied. + +"Then I rushed past him into the back room. The furnace was cold and +the frost had gathered on the iron door. I don't suppose there had +been a fire in it for a week. I took Amos by the whiskers and told him +to own up that he had not made a fire test of our ore. Then he +acknowledged that he had been guessing at it all along." + +"You don't mean there is a doubt about us having pay rock?" we yelled +in a chorus. + +"All kinds of doubt," said Buchan. "I am told there is a suspicion +that Amos gives everybody an assay showing values, where there are no +values--this for the purpose of keeping up work in the district--and +to those who have found values, he gives them an assay showing +nothing. At the same time he gives Rayder, the Denver capitalist, a +tip and he buys up the property for a song, giving Amos a fat +commission for his part in the deal. The chances are that we have no +more gold in our rock than there is in that jug handle." + +The news was astounding. We sat for a while by the fire like men +stricken dumb. There was no doubting Buchan's statement. Deception was +no part of his nature. He was nearly twenty-six years of age, +athletic, strong and quick of perception. He had seen much of the +world and knew men. No, there could be no doubt; he was not mistaken. + +We were heartsick. Almost our last dollar had gone to pay for the +bogus assay. Our golden dream of months was vanishing. Carson broke +the silence. + +"I will go to Saguache tomorrow. I shall pulverize that jug handle and +take it to Amos; he does not know me; I shall have him assay it, and +if he gives me gold values there will be trouble!" + +I was awakened the next morning by the sound of a hammer. Carson was +pulverizing the jug handle. After a hasty breakfast, he buckled on his +cartridge belt with a Colt 44-six shooter in his holster, and was soon +wading through the snow-drifts down the trail towards Saguache. I +watched him through the window until he was lost to view. + +The sun rose in a clear sky; the glistening peaks of the Sangre de +Christo shone white against a turquoise blue; clumps of snow melted +from the branches of the pines and made hollows in the smooth banks of +white where they fell. + +I turned to Buchan. He was tossing restlessly in his bunk. + +"I would hate to be Amos if he gives Carson an assay of values from +that jug handle. + +"Yes, yes," he muttered incoherently. "The day of reckoning comes to +all. I have seen it. I have seen the sky turn black, the waves rise +mountain-high out of the sea, the earth rock and reel, the dead roll +out of their coffins in the cerements of their graves, the living fall +upon their faces to hide from the wrath of Almighty God! I have seen +it just as Paul tells about it. I have heard the roar of the winds, +seen palaces crumble and fall--like John of Patmos, I lift up my +voice--I, John." + +I was at his side in a moment, and saw that he was delirious. The +exertion through the snow the day before, the loss of sleep and +intense anger, had made him ill. I knew of a few simple remedies at +hand, and in a little while I had him sleeping soundly. + +The sun became warmer as the day advanced. The snow melted on the +cabin roof and froze in drooping icicles at the eaves. All day I went +noiselessly about the cabin, letting Buchan sleep. A premonition of +impending danger crept over me. I tried to throw off the dread feeling +by reading, but I could not concentrate my thoughts on the pages of +the book. Strange thoughts came like they did to the man who was being +taken to the guillotine and begged time of his captors to put his +thoughts on paper. I thought I would write mine that day, or remember +them at least, but I cannot recall them. I only know they were strange +and fascinating, as if I was living another life, on another planet. + +I brought in wood and water for the night. The sound of the door +slamming awoke Buchan. He arose and sat by the fire, which blazed up +brightly from its fresh supply of pine logs. + +"Better, I see," I observed, "but heavens you were locoed this +morning! talking about the resurrection, the quaking earth, and the +dead rolling out from their graves!" + +"All true," he said, quietly. "I have seen those things, and what has +happened once may happen again." + +I was standing by the window, looking out over the snow covered San +Luis valley, when even as he spoke I felt the ground tremble. There +was a rush of air and the cabin became filled with a fine snow that +was stifling, then a thunderous roar, and all was utter darkness. + +I was choking with the snow particles. I groped to the door and opened +it and felt a solid bank of snow. + +I realized then that we were buried beneath a snow slide. + +We worked for hours, in silence and darkness, digging our way through +the snow and shoveling it back into the cabin as we tunneled toward +the cliff. It was early morning when we saw the light of day. + +Once in the open where we could breathe the pure air we beheld a sight +that would appall the strongest heart. The great flat rock, that had +stood on edge at the back of the cabin, was now slanting at a sharp +angle above our heads. The avalanche from near the summit of the +Sangre de Christo had struck the cliff and with its incalculable tons +tilted it, piling itself hundreds of feet in the depth about us. The +cliff might fall at any moment and blot us out of existence. + +Reaching a point of sight near the open space at the edge of the base +of the cliff we could see something of the awful havoc wrought by the +avalanche. Huge rocks had been loosened from their foundations and +with the speed of a meteor dashed to the valley below. Great pines one +hundred feet in height had been torn up by their roots and hurled down +the mountain side by the tremendous weight of the avalanche. + +The cliff had sheltered our cabin and saved our lives. + +We cleared the snow away from the chimney and out of the cabin. Our +wood was dry and we soon had a cheerful fire blazing and the tea +kettle boiling. But living under that slanting cliff, from which we +could not escape, we felt, indeed that the sword of Damocles hung by a +spider web above our heads. + +When we had rested some and refreshed ourselves with coffee, we +tunneled from the open space under the cliff to near the entrance of +the mine, intending to live in the tunnel until the melting snows of +the spring released us from our prison. But when we had tunneled +through the snow to near the entrance of the mine, we found our way +blocked by a debris of rock and trees which would require weeks of +labor to remove. Tunnels in other directions gave us no better +results, and we became resigned to our fate, returning to the cabin to +while away the dreary hours until the hanging cliff above should +become our grave stone. + +Days of gloom and monotony came and went. We dug the snow away from +our windows and tunneled a hole to the top which gave us a glare of +reflected light. + +Buchan had hitherto been silent as to his past life. By a few stray +remarks we had caught glimpses of his romantic career, but now he +began relating in detail incidents of his early life in Scotland, or +on the high seas, and later in Peru. His stories were so full of human +interest and replete with love and romance, that I became more than +ever interested in him. But my hearing was bad, and it had been +getting worse since the day of the avalanche, so I prevailed upon him +to write. I could read better than listen, besides he would write his +better thoughts and nobler sentiments when he would not speak them. + +It was writing these memoirs of his eventful life that furnished him +pastime and I was employed in reading them, during the two months of +our imprisonment in our snow bound cabin. + +By the dim light of the window by day and the blaze of a pine log at +night, he wrote upon the scraps of paper found about the cabin. As I +now review the pile I find it made up of paper bags, margins of +newspapers, fly leaves from a few old books, and much of it on strips +of a yellow window shade, also on the backs of fancy calendars with +which Carson had adorned our cabin, and almost a whole chapter I find +penciled finely on a pair of lady's cuffs that were strangely out of +place in a miner's hut. + +Buchan does not know that I am going to give his story to the public +and I shall have to take chances and risk his displeasure. In that +event I have the defence of pleading that no man has the right to +withhold so good a tale from the world. + + + + +II. + +IN DAYS OF INNOCENCE. + + +As I peer into the dim past that haunts the scenes of my childhood in +Aberdeen, Scotland, a thousand memories troop by like the scenes of a +panorama with the footlights turned low; and when I contemplate them +in a meditative hour it leaves me with as lonesome a feeling as if I +had listened to the old time song, "Home Sweet Home," which I have +heard a thousand times in distant climes, sometimes sung to crowded +audiences at the opera, and again by the pioneer as he rattled his +prairie schooner over the plains. + +It is a song that never grows old and never will so long as men leave +the home of their childhood, around whose hearthstones still play +ghost-like, the recollections of bye-gone years, tenderly touching +their sympathies as they pause for a moment in their monied pursuits +in other lands. + +[Illustration: SOUNDING THE DEPTHS] + +The old red school house on Princeton street, with the tall lank +figure of Ellwood for its presiding master and who believed in and +practiced the command of the Holy Writ: "Spare the rod and spoil +the child," was to me in those years of tenderness, a dismal +contemplation. But Sundays had a brighter hue when Mother would +dress me in full Highland suit of tartan, and adorn my cap with an +eagle feather, surmounted with a brooch of the design of an arm +with a dagger, bearing the motto, "We fear nae fae." With my small +claymore and buckled shoes and plaid, how proudly I would walk up +to the barracks at Castle Gate, where the sentry would salute me, +and give me permission to enter. + +But those days had their troubles as well as pleasures. The West North +street boys had a grievance against those of the East North street and +one Saturday both sides met in battle array, armed with wooden +swords, near the North church at Queen street. After a determined +resistance West North street was victorious, when someone presented us +with a flag. It was a common piece of bunting, but to our young heroes +it was something to be looked up to and defended with our lives before +the honor of West North street should be sullied. + +That banner cost us many a headache, and many a soiled suit of clothes +after the usual Saturday battle. On one occasion we sallied forth as +usual to the battlefield, carrying our banner, and shouting derisively +at our foe. The enemy had been reinforced and after a hard struggle, +they captured our flag and carried it off in triumph to East North +street. + +Our fellows were a crest-fallen lot, as we sat on the steps of the +church looking the picture of dejection. However, a few days later, I +summoned the boys to meet in an old building in Ferrier's Lane. There +were fifteen of us and we came armed with our wooden swords. After +much debate over the loss of our flag, a committee was appointed to +notify the East North street fellows, that we were ready to offer +battle, and dared them to meet us the following Saturday and bring the +captured flag. They accepted the challenge. When we met again in the +old building by the hazy and flickering light of a tallow candle, with +upraised swords we swore to re-capture our flag, uphold the honor of +our street or die in the attempt. I was chosen captain on this +occasion, and never did a general rack his brain more for a plan of +success than I did to win this battle. Finally I hit upon a stratagem +and after school submitted it to all. It was to proceed to the usual +place of battle, but at the corner of Queen street five boys were to +be stationed out of sight, and when both armies met they were to rush +in on their standard bearer and capture the flag. We met, and even to +this day I shudder at the ferocity of that battle. Twice I was knocked +down; several times our street was on the retreat when someone +shouted--"Remember our oath!" and then another desperate rush, and +along with the charge of the five secreted ones which so surprised the +East North street boys that they finally yielded, and we carried off +our flag in triumph. John Taylor's head was cut, John Ingerham's eyes +were black, my right knee cap was out of place and six or eight others +were more or less wounded. The boys of East North street fared about +the same. Good old Doctor Ellis living in King street witnessed the +fight, but he kept my secret, for I told Mother that I was hurt in +running a race. + +And so those delightful days of early boyhood passed like one long +summer day. But a change came. My father died and in a few months +more, my loving Mother, after a lingering illness, passed away. I then +left the home of my childhood to live with my older brother, James. + +Although every possible kindness was shown me, there was lacking a +mother's love, a mother's sympathy and cheering words, things that +touch the tender chords of a boy's heart. At that time I was sent to +the Ledingham Academy, but it was useless. The golden veil through +which I had looked out on the world was lifted, the chain of love and +affection broken. I saw the great ships come with their strange men +from other ports of the world. I saw them unfurl their snowy sails and +speed over the blue waters bound for the shores of other climes. I +watched them until they were but a speck of white down on the blue +horizon, and I longed to be on board--to feel the ship roll upon the +billows and hear the wind whistling through the rigging, to climb +aloft and view the limitless expanse of ocean and feel that I was a +part of these white specters of the sea. + +One day I saw in the windows of Knox & Co., a sign which read: + +"Two apprentices wanted for the sea." + +I went in and told them I wanted to become a sailor. About this time +another lad about one year older than myself came in on the same +errand. An old gentleman, after surveying us both for some moments, +remarked that in his opinion we were too young, but told us to wait a +few minutes as Captain McKenzie would be in soon. + +When Captain McKenzie came in he asked us if it was with the consent +of our parents that we made application. Being answered in the +affirmative by James Mitchell, the other boy, I answered that my +father and mother were dead, but my brother would sign the necessary +papers. + + + + +III. + +THROUGH MISTS OF THE SEA. + + +Captain McKenzie sprang from his berth in the wildest excitement. A +moment before a low voice called "Captain," at his state room door. +"Who is there?" he asked. "Donovan," came the guarded reply. "Captain, +the mate has conspired with the crew to mutiny and your throat will be +cut in an hour." + +James Mitchell and I were apprentices on board the bark "Aven of +Aberdeen." My brother James having reluctantly consented that I should +follow the fortunes of the sea, signed the indenture papers. + +The brig was bound for Archangel, Russia, and we had on board a large +amount of specie and plate, the private fortunes of a Russian Jew +returning to his native land after many years of success as a merchant +in Alexandria. Our berth was near the captain's, and Mitchell had +heard the warning given by Donovan. He was out of his berth in an +instant and gave me to understand there was mutiny aboard. Together we +entered the captain's cabin. + +The Jew was apprised of the situation. It was the intention of the +mate and crew to murder him and the Captain and put the vessel about +for a piratical cruise in the Indian Ocean. They were a motley gang of +foreigners, low bred and capable of any crime when led by a man like +the mate, fresh from a career of lawlessness on the China coast. + +The Jew was the most abject picture of terror I ever saw. His hands +trembled and he shook like a man in a chill. He wanted to hide, but +that was useless. Captain McKenzie armed himself with a belaying pin. +He placed one in the hands of each of us boys and bade us follow him +in silence. We cautiously went on deck and we found the helm deserted, +and the mate and the entire crew sitting together and drinking in the +fore part of the ship. + +Captain McKenzie sprang into their midst and with one blow from the +pin killed the mate. This subdued the others and they slunk away to +their duties. The captain then called the men in front of him and +after ordering Donovan to the helm, told them he was done with them +and that their future conduct would determine their fate. At the same +time he threatened to kill the first man that manifested a mutinous +disposition, or dared to cross a given line on the deck without his +permission. He then ordered the mate's body overboard and told the men +to return to their duties. + +The Captain and Donovan took turns at the helm, while Mitchell or I +was stationed as a lookout to give instant warning of any suspicious +movements on the part of the crew. For more than a week we stood to +our posts of duty, when one morning we sailed into the smooth waters +of the port of Archangel, weary and exhausted from the intense nervous +strain and loss of sleep. + +The Captain notified the British consul and a file of soldiers came +on board and arrested the crew. Six of them were afterwards sent to +prison for life. + +The home voyage of the Aven was fraught with all the dangers of the +sea. We had secured another crew in Archangel but their seamanship was +bad. When a sudden storm would strike us it required herculean efforts +on the part of the captain and Donovan to prevent the ship from being +driven ashore on the rocks. + +Snow was falling and a wintry wind dashed the waves over our decks and +coated the bulwarks with a mail of ice. Sleet and snow clung to the +rigging, making every effort to handle the ship a hazardous one. For +three days we battled against the elements and then we came in contact +with ice floes. Once our position was so perilous that the Captain +ordered the boats provisioned and ready to be lowered when the vessel +should be crushed in the ice. By skillful maneuvering we escaped from +the ice floes and had a pleasant day or two in smoother seas. + +It was night and I was standing by the taffrail, when suddenly a giant +specter seemed to come up from out of the sea, bearing directly down +upon us. Her great lantern swung in a glow in a fog, by which I +discerned moving objects. + +"Collision! Collision!" I shouted at the top of my voice. The cry was +taken up by the sailors, and ere it had died away there was the +crashing of timbers, falling spars and the shouts of men. + +We had been struck a glancing blow abaft midships but the damage was +not serious enough to sink us. The other vessel, which proved to be +the brig "Rapid," belonging to the same company at Aberdeen, stood off +until its crew ascertained the extent of our damage, then sailed away +in the darkness. + +A month's delay on the docks at Aberdeen repairing damages, and we +were again on the high seas bound for the ports of South America. + +When off the West Indies the sky suddenly became overcast, and we were +soon overtaken by a hurricane. The captain saw it coming and prepared +for it, yet when it took the ship it roared and laid her down so that +I thought she would never get up again. All that day and night we had +heavy squalls, and by morning the gale was still increasing. Birds of +sea and land came on board. Driven by the winds, they dashed +themselves down upon the deck without offering to stir until picked +up, and when let go they would not leave the ship, but endeavored to +hide from the wind. By ten o'clock at night the storm had spent its +fury, and when I went to my bunk I found it full of water. With the +straining of the ship, the seams had begun to leak. I was surprised to +note among the ship's crew that the most swaggering, swearing bullies +in fine weather were now the most meek and mild-mannered of men when +death was staring them in the face. + +[Illustration: WRECK OF THE SPANISH SLOOP SEVILLE. (Page 30)] + +Then followed days when the sea was smooth as glass. Our white sails +hung idly beneath the scorching skies. Sea weed floated on the oily +surface, as, day by day, we lay seemingly motionless on the bosom of +the deep. The moon rose out of a phosphorescent sea and cast its long +golden gleams on the azure blue, while the stars shone like isles of +light in the sky. There was a dread in the infinite spaces about. +Again, there was scurrying, fleecy clouds and our ship was scudding +before the breeze. + +When I awoke one morning, we were lying at anchor in the harbor of +Buenos Ayres. While unloading cargo, the Captain desiring to go +ashore, I was taken in the boat along with two of the seamen. After +getting to the wharf, the Captain said: "I expect you fellows to +employ your time cleaning that boat; it will be five o'clock before I +return." After he had gone, one of the sailors said to his mate, "We +will leave Spriggings (meaning me) to clean the boat, and we will go +to shore." After they were gone, I concluded that I had been imposed +upon and I left the boat and went into the city, having no intention +of deserting the vessel at that time. In my wanderings in the strange +city, and not knowing a word of Spanish, I lost my way. Finally, when +I returned to the wharf, the boat was gone. It was late when I was +picked up by a policeman and turned over to an Englishman, who kindly +took me to his home for the night. The next morning I returned to the +Aven and received a reprimand. + +A few days later we weighed anchor for Valparaiso. The sky was +overcast and the sea was rolling high off the Patagonian coast, when +we heard signal guns of distress. Captain McKenzie changed the course +of the ship and we soon came in view of the Spanish sloop Seville +going to pieces on the rocks. Her bow was lifted high, while the waves +were breaking over her stern. Her sails were in shreds, and a dozen +sailors clung to the rigging. We lowered the life-boat, and after +hours of battle with wind and wave, rescued the crew. They were in an +exhausted and famished condition, having been for almost three days +without food or water. They were given every kindly attention by our +officers and crew. + +We saw the dark, jagged, rugged bluffs and steeps of Staten and Terra +del Fuego. We rounded Cape St. John, amid tempestuous gales and giant +seas of the polar regions. We lost sight of the land, reefed the sails +close down and then bid defiance to the storm. Strange sea birds +shrieked their dismal cries, while dull leaden skies added to the +gloom. We cleared Cape Horn in safety and were soon sailing over the +smooth seas of the south Pacific Ocean beneath the Southern Cross. + +"Sail ho!" cried the lookout. All eyes were turned to the leeward. A +stately ship, under full sail, had suddenly appeared, bearing down +upon us. She came silently, the water splitting in foam at her bows. +We could see the crew working about her decks, but no sound came from +the spectre. All at once we noticed her hull and sails were +transparent. We could see through them to the ocean beyond. + +It was only a mirage of the sea, but to our crew it was the spectre +of the Flying Dutchman--a phantom ship had crossed our bow. + +Once in port, no more would we walk the deck of the Aven of Aberdeen. +She had seen a ghost. + + + + +IV. + +GRAVES GAVE UP THEIR DEAD. + + +I was in the streets of Arica, Peru, when the earth began to rock and +reel. Buildings surged and fell, with a crashing noise. The dust rose +dense, and darkened the sky. The earth gaped and swallowed up many of +the people fleeing to the hills back of the town. I followed to an +elevation where an awful sight met the terror-stricken populace. The +hills of Arica had for centuries been the burying grounds of the +ancient Agmaras, a race of Indians who ages ago it seems were +fishermen. The convulsions of the earth threw to the surface hundreds +of the dried bodies of the Indians, still wrapped in their coarse +garments, the nature of the soil had prevented decay. When the people +beheld this they believed the world had come to an end, and they threw +themselves on their faces praying for mercy. + +There was a thunderous roar from the sea, growing louder and louder as +each moment of terror sped on, and then, with one mighty crash, a +tidal wave fifty feet high,--the aftermath of the earthquake--struck +the shore, bearing upon its crest the U. S. Battleship Wateree, one +German and two British vessels, leaving them stranded far inland. A +sailor from the Wateree was in a boat, and as he was swept past his +vessel he waved the Stars and Stripes in farewell to his comrades on +board. + +The shocks had ceased and the storm that followed had spent its fury, +when the pall of night came over the stricken city. Human wolves crept +from their hiding places and began their work of prowling amid the +ruins and robbing the dead. All night long they held high carnival +amid the scenes of terror and desolation. + +Through it all I had been a silent, bewildered spectator. I had fled +to the hills only because others did, for I could speak but little of +the language of the country. I was among the graves when morning +dawned and I heard a voice in my own language. Going to the spot I +found a man with a sprained ankle fighting away a thief. I seized a +rock and he ran. I aided the injured man to a place of safety, where +we remained for several days until a conveyance took us back to town. + +The man whom I had helped was John L. Thorndike, an American, well +known in Peru and all over South America, as having built the highest +standard-gauge railway in the world, and a man who at once became my +warmest friend. + +But to return to my ship. When the Aven of Aberdeen reached +Valparaiso, the mate and a number of sailors immediately deserted the +vessel in a boat. The Captain saw them leaving but was powerless to +stop them. That night John Mitchell and I stood watch alone. There +being no boat it did not occur to them that we would attempt to +escape, but about midnight Mitchell said to me, "Spriggings, I dare +you to run away." + +"I'll take the dare," I said, "but how will we get ashore?" + +"We'll launch one of the hatches," he replied. + +It was no sooner said than we tied a rope around one of the heavy +hatches, and bearing it to the side of the ship, we lowered it +noiselessly into the water, then let ourselves down the rope and by +holding to the hatch, one on either side, we safely swam ashore. + +We avoided the business streets of Valparaiso and made our way to the +country, where we hid in a grove until night. We were without money, +our clothes were such as we wore at sea, night was coming on, we were +hungry and with no place to sleep. Our only thought had been to escape +from the Aven, for we had imbibed the superstition of sailors, and +nothing could induce us to remain aboard that vessel since the phantom +ship had crossed our bow. + +I saw a light in a farmhouse in the distance and on our approach the +inmates were aroused by the barking of their dog. The man was a +typical Chilean, short and stout. He looked curiously at us and by +signs Mitchell made him understand that we were hungry. He entered the +house and returned with his wife and two children. Mitchell repeated +his signs and the woman went inside and returned with a cup of milk, +which we drank greedily. The man then beckoned us inside where we had +a supper of meat, bread and coffee. They collected a number of sheep +skins, gave us two mats for covering, and we slept soundly. + +The next morning we helped the man in his garden, drew water for the +cattle and made ourselves useful in other ways. I went almost every +day for two weeks to the summit of the hill where I had seen a +splendid view of the bay, to see if the Aven was still in port. One +day I saw her spread her sails and I watched her until she was but a +speck on the horizon. + +Our host by this time, I think, knew we had run away, for on one +occasion he followed me when I making my observation, but if he +suspected anything he never took any steps to have us arrested, and in +fact treated us with great kindness. When we left he gave us a large +package of food and some clean stockings and shirts which his wife had +made for us. + +It was nightfall when we entered Valparaiso. Near the plaza Victoria +we paused before an English boarding house sign. As we stood looking, +a middle-aged man came out and asked us our business. Before we could +reply he said: "I bet you are the two boys from the Aven." Our +frightened looks told him we were. He invited us in and gave us +supper. + +We soon learned to our dismay that this man was the notorious Cockney +Spider, keeper of a runaway sailor's boarding house. At night Cockney +would start out to some vessel in the bay of Valparaiso, everything +having been pre-arranged, take off those sailors desiring to runaway, +secrete them in the house and when opportunity offered, ship them +again. The amount of bounty paid by ships short of men was often +large, and as Cockney always arranged to have poor runaways deep in +debt for board and lodging, the sailor on being re-shipped was worse +off, and Cockney the gainer. He often took desperate chances in +stealing sailors, as the coast guard and other officials were sharp. +Many in that traffic were captured, but Cockney always escaped. + +After we spent the night in his home he asked me if I could write. +Replying in the affirmative, I was installed as chief book-keeper of +the notorious runaway sailor boarding house. My duties were to +register the sailors brought to the house, keep a record of their +meals, charge so much a night for lodging, and present their bill when +they were ready to leave. I held the position for two weeks, when one +night Cockney came home intoxicated and told me that he had shipped +Mitchell that night on a French bark. A sailor gave me a sly wink and +whispered, "Your turn will come next, he intends to ship you on a +whaler." My experience with the ice on the Aven had given me a horror +of frozen seas, and that night I stole away from the boarding house. + +I was in dread of Cockney Spider, and, in my determination to escape, +I became a stowaway on a coast steamer and landed at Arica, with a few +dollars in my pocket, paid to me by Spider. + +When I arrived at Mollendo in company with Mr. John L. Thorndike, he +introduced me to Mr. Hill, his general manager, as his "boy protector" +and told him to give me employment and see that I was well provided +for. + +In a short while I was in the railway shops, learning the trade of +machinist, and later I was engineer on the railroad running from the +sea port of Mollendo to Arequipa, more than one hundred miles in the +interior. The city is situated in a beautiful and fertile valley in +the heart of the Andes. The majestic volcanic mountain Misti some +miles away rises nearly four miles above the sea and smoke still +issues from its crater. + +I had lately been transferred from the shops in Mollendo to Arequipa, +when, hearing fabulous stories of rich gold finds in the Andes, and +being imbued with an adventurous spirit, I resolved to try my fortune +in the new El Dorado. + + + + +V. + +FAIREST FLOWER OF THE CORDILLERAS. + + +I was in the heart of the Cordilleras, weary, footsore and alone. I +was descending a rocky cliff a few hundred feet from a plateau, while +the thunders roared with terrific crash. The rain fell in sheets, +plunging in wild fury in cataracts down the mountain side. There was +desolation and terror unutterable. I leaned close to a shelving rock, +and as I thought of once happy days in Aberdeen, of the love bestowed +upon me by my dear mother--gone forever from this world--my own +condition, now a homeless wanderer in a foreign land, perhaps to soon +meet death and my body be devoured by condors, I laid my head on my +arms and wept bitterly. + +I am not superstitious, neither do I believe that my condition at that +time caused my mind to wander; a peaceful calm came over me; it +seemed as if some loving one was near, fear vanished, and I looked up +but beheld nothing. The storm raged with even greater fury. I walked +and even began to sing the "Garb of Old Gaul." I ignored the elements +in their war and had almost reached the plateau when the storm ceased +and the sun suddenly appeared. Calm and warmth came from what a few +minutes before had seemed death and destruction. + +A sudden turn in the trail and I beheld a child seated beneath the +thick, spreading branches of a tree, her white apron filled with +alpine flowers. "How came she here," I wondered. Her dark bright eyes +gazed questioningly into mine, eyes through which one could see the +childish spirit and feel the witchery of her magic look; her raven +locks fell in clusters over her fair temples and ended in ringlets +about her shoulders; on her cheeks were the glowing tints of youth and +health. As I spoke she rose and handed me a flower of delicate tint. I +gallantly pinned it on the lapel of my coat, which won from her a +pleasing look and smile. I could speak a little Spanish and she seemed +to understand that I was going her way. Together we walked along the +trail. Her childish grace appealed to me. A spirit of infinite +goodness seemed to radiate from within and stirred my noblest +impulses. A feeling of content settled upon me. + +Near by, I saw some Indian huts and the tambo or tavern where Frank +Dunn and I had stopped on our way to Puno. The child ran ahead, +leaving me to follow. + + * * * * * + +The first sight of Puno had satisfied me that we had come to the most +desolate spot in the world, Nature's remains seemed to have been +brought there and left without burial. The ground was thickly covered +with a short, wild grass and appeared to be the natural dwelling place +of the alpacas and wild vicunas. + +I had been in Puno but a few days when I was offered work on board one +of the steamers, but I longed again for Arequipa and friends. Dunn +had secured work on one of the steamers and refused to return. I +thought this was hard, as it was my money that had helped him from the +time he left Arequipa until he secured employment. My money was almost +gone, but I had gone to the Amaras market and bought what edibles I +needed, and without hesitation had started alone to return to +Arequipa, over those fearful heights and dread solitudes of the +Cordilleras, when I found her. + +When we were entering the tambo an elderly gentleman and the Indian +host were speaking in Spanish, and even from my limited knowledge of +the language I knew they were talking about me. + +No doubt but my appearance in the heart of the Cordilleras wet, +forlorn looking and alone aroused his sympathy. After a difficult +attempt at opening a conversation, the beautiful child I had met +looking on all the time, I was given to understand that he desired me +to eat with them. Of course I consented, but I did not do justice to +the meal as the dark eyes of the young girl were constantly upon me. + +The gentleman gave me his name, Julian Maldonado, and that of his +daughter, Felicita Maldonado. He was a well-to-do merchant of elderly +years. I learned that his wife was dead and that their home was in +Lima. The servants made me a bed in the room adjacent to my host. The +next morning I was aroused by one of them who said his master wanted +to see me. I went to him and after telling him I was on my way to +Arequipa, and when there I would be among my friends, he offered to +purchase a mule for me, but the only one to be had was lame. However, +I told him I was young and would soon reach my destination. Felicita +then came in and announced breakfast, after which the mules were +packed and, everything being in readiness, we bade each other +good-bye. Felicita came toward me, and as she extended her hand in her +childish fashion, she placed in my own a Peruvian twenty-dollar gold +piece, saying: "Adios mi amigo." + +I was almost speechless. I started forward to return the money, but I +had to retain it, as they quickly mounted and were gone before I could +master my feelings. + +Roll on, relentless Time. Felicita, fairest flower of the Cordilleras, +we shall meet again, when love's young dream shall awaken amid the +clash of arms and tragedies! + +Nine days later I arrived in Arequipa, sick, footsore and weary. My +friends had sent out searching parties believing that I had been +murdered. Their astonishment was great when they found where I had +been and that I had spent many nights alone amid the dangers of the +mountains. Many were the admonitions I received from older heads. + +I laughed at their words, and when I thought of the beautiful +Felicita, I dreamed of love and felt an indescribable content with my +surroundings and all the world. + + + + +VI. + +A HUMILIATING INCIDENT. + + +There was a night riot in the streets of Ilo, knives gleamed in +ruffian hands, curses and blasphemy fell from sodden lips. Shots were +fired in the thick of the struggling mass, as the mob crowded in +frenzy about some central figure. The crowd from behind pressed +forward and Thompson and I were carried along by the crush of +humanity, until of necessity we began to fight our way out. We had +partially succeeded, when we were surrounded by soldiers. At sight of +the soldiers the crowd began to disperse, but unfortunately for us it +was too late, besides we had nothing to do with the riot, and thought +we had nothing to fear. + +The officer stepped up and placed Thompson and I under arrest. We were +searched, but no arms were found on us. However, we were marched away +to jail and our feet placed in iron bars, fastened with a heavy lock, +which compelled us to lie on our backs. + +The next morning an officer appeared and I notified him that I was a +British subject, and resented such treatment. He told me that I was +held for attempted murder. Thompson was also under the same charge. An +Italian had been shot and would probably die. I demanded an immediate +trial. Several officers of the railway came and endeavored to set us +free, but their efforts were of no avail. There was no British consul +nearer than Arica, about two days travel by steamer, and no means for +communicating with him until the steamer arrived from the north. + +Our prison was an old wooden structure, and only one guard was over +us. The officer and his men had quarters some distance away. It was +our intention to ask the soldier on guard for a drink of water about +midnight, when Thompson would overpower him and take his keys. A +small boat was to be in readiness at a certain place. Our plan was, +after obtaining the keys, to put the soldier in the stocks and walk +out, all of which could easily have been accomplished, as the soldier +was but a small ignorant half-breed Indian. It was Sunday night and we +had decided to put our plan in operation, when--imagine our +surprise--an officer informed us to get ready to take the train for +Moquequa. + +We were accompanied by an officer and six men. I asked the officer +what the removal was for, and he said our trial was to be held and it +was necessary for us to be present. I asked permission to speak with +the engineer, which was given. I told him I dreaded being taken into +the interior, as we would be away from our friends, and begged him +when we came to a certain grade along the line to increase the speed +and I would jump off. I was familiar with that part of the country, +knew I could secure a horse and go to Mollendo or Arequipa. I knew +also that the officer and his men had never been on a train, and it +would be impossible for them to give chase. + +But we were again doomed to disappointment. The engineer feared to +carry out the plan and instead of increasing speed, went slower than +usual. + +On our arrival at Moquequa we were marched through the streets, to my +great humiliation, as I knew many people in the town. Numbers of them +came and offered their sympathy. To our great indignation we were +thrown into a cell with six other prisoners convicted of murder, and a +more ugly, villainous and desperate-looking lot of characters would +have been hard to find anywhere. No attention had been paid to my +remonstrance, when an hour later a gentleman, whom I had favored, +presented himself. After I told him the circumstances of our detention +he said he would send a lawyer to defend us. In the meantime he +arranged with a hotel keeper to send us regular meals, also mattresses +and blankets. + +The day following I had many visitors, some drawn by curiosity and +others by sympathy and good will. The latter were profuse in their +attentions. When a lawyer appeared, I related to him the details of +our arrest. I did the talking, as Thompson could not speak the +language, while I was becoming quite proficient in it. Upon leaving, +the lawyer promised to have us free in eight days at most. + +I passed away the dreary time pacing that prison cell. It was about +twenty feet long and twelve feet wide, and contained nothing but stone +walls and floor, with a heavy iron-grated window which looked out on +the plaza. A bottle of wine came with each meal, instead of coffee, +and I shared it with the criminals in our cell. In this way I soon won +their good will, and as they had all been convicted of murder, they +did not hesitate to tell me of their horrible crimes. + +There is no capital punishment in Peru. Sentence for life, in that +country, means about fifteen years, and seldom do they serve that +length of time. Usually a revolution releases them. At such times +insurgents invariably break open the prisons and liberate the +convicts, which happened to these prisoners a few months later. We +were visited daily by my lawyer and finally were told that four +hundred dollars would be required for our liberation. + +"Liberate us and I will give you the money," was my answer. + +Next day I bid adieu to my undesirable residence and companions; +Thompson had no money and I paid all. After purchasing new clothes and +receiving the congratulations of friends, we boarded the train for +Ilo. Mr. Hill returned from Lima that day and after learning of the +indignities inflicted upon me, told his officials that they should +have notified the British consul and compelled the Peruvian +authorities to pay, instead of taking my money. + +I returned to work in the shops, and three weeks afterward one of the +office clerks came in breathless and told me I was to be arrested +again along with Thompson. The papers would be down from Moquequa +that night and tomorrow morning they would come for us. + +I was furious when I realized that we were again facing punishment for +a crime of which we were innocent and I determined to resist arrest, +and leave Ilo. + +I went to the office of the secretary of the railroad, and after a +long consultation, it was agreed to have three of Mr. Hill's best +horses in readiness at midnight. One of the hostlers was to accompany +us and when we reached Tambo, Thompson and I would take the train for +Arequipa. + +I went to my room, packed my clothes, carefully loaded two revolvers +and placed my trunk and other articles of value in the hands of my +friends, with orders to send them to Arequipa after the sensation of +my escape was over. After supper, to allay any suspicion the +authorities might have, I strolled along the wharf, went into a +billiard hall and actually played a game of billiards with the captain +of the guard, who I have no doubt had the order to arrest me in his +pocket. Thompson had gone to his room. I followed thirty minutes +later, and at precisely twelve o'clock, I sallied out of the house by +the rear, and met Thompson at the agreed place on the beach. + +The night was dark, and everything being in readiness, we mounted and +rode through the town dressed like natives. We soon gained the highway +leading to Tambo and after being well clear of Ilo, we put our horses +to their best. We rode the fifty-five miles to Tambo, over a rugged +and mountainous country and caught the train for Arequipa, arriving +that night after an absence for me of two years. + + + + +VII. + +IN THE THROES OF REVOLUTION. + + +The railroad had now been extended from Arequipa to Puno. A revolution +had broken out and insurgents were cutting the telegraph wires. + +I was engineer on a combination locomotive and coach and as this +locomotive will be in the scene of more than one tragedy, I will +describe it. It was specially designed for the president and officers +of the road, weighing only eight tons. On the same frame with the +engine, in fact, a part of it, was built a beautiful black walnut +coach, with a seating capacity of from twelve to eighteen persons. It +had two side doors and one in front, which, when opened, communicated +with the engineer. There were windows hung with beautiful damask +curtains, the carpets were of rich velvet, and a center table and +several cupboards under the seats completed the furnishings. It was +in reality a palace on wheels, named The Arequipena, meaning a native +of Arequipa. I mention the design of the combination engine-car for +the reason that, on a duplicate of The Arequipena, later occurred one +of the most perilous and tragic events of my life. + +The stretch of road from Julica to Cabanillas was level and straight, +except about two miles from Cabanillas station, where a heavy side cut +and sharp curve was the only obstruction to the view for miles. I was +going at the rate of forty miles an hour, when, on nearing this curve, +I beheld a large Rogers locomotive with a train of coaches coming +toward me. I cannot describe the thoughts that went through my +brain--there was a terrific crash--flying debris--a hissing of +steam--mingled with the groans of the wounded and dying. + +I was thrown out of the way of the wreck and near the edge of a river, +and when I regained my senses a priest was bending over me, bathing my +forehead. I gradually realized what had happened and went to my +engine. There was scarcely a vestige left of The Little Arequipena, +only a piece of the boiler and two pairs of driving wheels. The shock +was so great that the little coach was hurled over the other engine, +which was not damaged much. + +I saw several persons bending over some one, and, on going closer, +found William Cuthbert, our traveling engineer, stretched on the +ground dying. Five soldiers were dead beneath the ruins. One officer, +with his legs broken in two places, begged that others be cared for +first. The road-master was in agony, his lower limbs frightfully +burned by escaping steam; all the others were more or less seriously +injured, except myself. When relief came our dead and wounded were +taken to Arequipa. + +We had been sent out to repair the wires, and orders had come to me +that we should be given the right of way. The engineer who collided +with me told me that the commander of the government forces had +ordered our superintendent to furnish transportation for his troops +to Puno at once, and when informed that it would be impossible to send +a train until we were heard from, he threatened to place the +superintendent in jail unless his orders were complied with. No one on +the other train was hurt. They had six coaches full of soldiers, the +priest who assisted me being among them. + +The day after our arrival at Arequipa the funeral of William Cuthbert +took place. The procession was the largest that I had ever witnessed +at any funeral in Arequipa, natives as well as foreigners taking +part. + +It was a long time before I recovered from the shock, not alone of the +collision, but the death of William Cuthbert who always had been ready +to befriend me and who had given me much valuable information. He lies +buried in the cemetery at Arequipa, in a vault. A marble slab was +erected to his memory. + +The general manager sent for me one day to come to his office in +Arequipa, and after talking over the cause of the collision, I told +him that I considered him to blame for allowing any engine and train +to go out without knowing first where we were, and that it would have +been better to have gone to prison, that if he had been sent there the +American government would have demanded his freedom, and he would have +been honored. As it stood, he was to a certain extent responsible for +that dreadful affair. After some more words I left the office, +realizing that I had incurred the displeasure of the head officer. I +concluded to leave, which I was sorry to do, as I looked upon Arequipa +as my only home. + +I visited Valparaiso and again met Cockney Spider. He was still at his +old business, conducting a runaway sailors' boarding house. A few +weeks later found me in Panama, an engineer on the Panama and +Aspinwall railroad. The climate, I believe, is the most wretched in +the world, and tropical vegetation grows the rankest. In a few months +I was stricken with the yellow fever, but thanks to my robust +constitution I soon recovered. About this time I met an official of +the government railway at Ilo, who desired me to return and accept a +position as engineer on the road. I told him of my troubles in that +town with the officials. He met me soon afterwards, with a contract +duly drawn up for eighteen months' service and a guarantee that I +should not be molested by any petty official. + +When I arrived at Ilo, imagine my surprise to find that the man who +rowed me ashore was the Italian who caused my arrest. He offered to +shake hands but I refused. When I went to the hotel many of my old +native friends came to see me, and informed me that after I had left +they discovered the person who did the shooting. It was done by one of +their own number, who managed to get away. + +It was very gratifying to thus have my innocence established, but it +did not recompense for the time I had spent in jail and the loss of +money. + +I had been running a train out of Ilo about a month, when one night I +was invited to a "wake." Having never attended one, I accepted the +invitation. At one end of the room stood a large table, and upon it +the body of a child two years old. On its head was a wreath of +flowers. The child was dressed in white; in its tiny hands was a +bouquet of flowers; the feet were encased in small white slippers; +lighted candles surrounded the body. At either end of the table were +several old women, who were employed by the family as mourners, and +they kept up a continual low moaning sound. Occasionally they would +stop to partake of wine, and start again, more dismal than ever. The +room was large and on each side were seated ladies and gentlemen +talking and laughing and seemingly enjoying themselves. The parents of +the dead child appeared to have surpassed the expectations of their +friends and made a great success of the "wake." + +There is a custom in Peru that when several persons are gathered +together there is constant drinking. A large bottle of wine or +whiskey is placed on the table with one glass. A lady or gentleman +will fill the glass and drink to the health of some one present. It is +bad form to leave any liquor in the glass, so it is always drained, +refilled and presented to the one whose health has been drunk. It is +an insult to refuse to drink, after one has drank to your health and +the person accepting the glass drinks to the health of some one else. +In this manner the glass is constantly on the move. On this occasion, +the wine was on the table with the corpse. + +About one o'clock in the morning not seeing any disposition on the +part of the guests to retire, I bade our friends good night. + +I had barely reached the street when I heard firing and saw people +running. Suddenly there came a volley of musketry, and a woman dropped +dead a few feet in front of me. Almost immediately the streets were +deserted, but I could hear the cries of "Vivia Pierola," and I knew +another revolution had broken out. + + + + +VIII. + +VIVA GENERALISSIMO PIEROLA. + + +I did not do anything for the woman. Shot through the heart, she was +past all aid. I made a dash into a by-street, intending to reach the +station, get my engine ready and go to Ilo to prevent the insurgents +from using the road to transport their troops. But I ran into an +officer's arms before I had gone a block. He had been looking for me +all night, and told me I was his prisoner. I was to be taken before +Senor Pierola. Meantime I was to be treated with every consideration, +the officer paying for breakfast and cigars, and insisting on my +drinking some ale which he had taken as a contraband of war. + +It was some time before we could get near the great leader of the +revolution, the approaches to his house being crowded with people. +Ladies were prominent among the crowd, carrying flowers and declaring +their deliverer had come to make Peru the greatest nation on the +Pacific. + +After the officer presented me Pierola asked me if I spoke Spanish. +Upon being answered in the affirmative, he asked my name, nationality +and how long I had been employed by the Peruvian government; all of +which being answered to his satisfaction, he asked me if I would work +for him, and if I would, in the event of his being victorious, I +should be appointed to take charge of the Ilo and Moquequa railways. +He only wanted me to convey troops down the valley, take up some of +the rails to prevent the government troops from using the line, and +then before he retreated to another position which he would fortify, +to dismantle the engine and hide the parts, so that in case the +government troops should come to Moquequa the engine would be of no +service to them. + +I replied that I was a British subject, and that if I were to do what +he requested of me, and should be taken prisoner by the government, +and the fact became known that I had taken part, I would be unable to +claim the protection of my government. He agreed that that was true, +but he would insure against that by sending a few troops with me, and +it would look as if force was compelling me to do what, which without +force, I would not have done. + +I finally agreed, and after giving my word that I would not attempt to +escape, received orders to take the engine, as a squad of soldiers +would accompany me, and at a certain place along the line which they +would designate, the rails would be torn up. We started that +afternoon. + +We carried two flat cars to load the rails on. About forty miles from +Moquequa we discovered another train coming toward us, but upon our +nearer approach they backed off rapidly. It was a party of government +troops sent out to ascertain whether the road was clear in order to +bring up their main body. Our company then took up rails and made the +road dangerous in ten different places. We blew up a small wooden +bridge with giant powder. + +The officer in charge made frequent stops in the valley and levied a +tribute of money on all the wine merchants he could find. They usually +gave, as they knew too well the consequence of refusing. Those who hid +away found, on their return, their wine presses and vaults in ruins. + +On our return to Moquequa, I was ordered to disable the engine, which +I did by taking off both valve stems and driving rods. The officer hid +them and that was the last I ever saw of them. We attended a dance +which lasted all night, and drank much wine in anticipation of the +success of the revolution. It was a gala night. There was dancing and +music in nearly all the houses. + +In the early morning bugles, drums and other instruments began making +a hideous noise, officers were commanding men to form ranks, horses, +mules and donkeys were running hither and thither, and dogs were +barking. Here and there were groups of men learning to load their +rifles, others endeavoring to parry and thrust with cutlasses and +making fierce swings at an imaginary government soldier. Louder and +hoarser came the call of the officers, but their commands were lost on +the motley crowd. After several hours the officers succeeded in +getting the men into some kind of marching order. + +I turned to a store to buy some cigars, when I heard someone calling, +and turning I beheld three of my fellow prisoners that a few months +before were in jail convicted of murder. One straightened out his hand +to me, but I did not take it. I asked them how they escaped; it was +the old story. The insurgents needed recruits and they were liberated +on condition that they fight for Pierola. + +Such was Peru, and such it is today. Instead of the people supporting +the government, the government supports the people, and when all its +favors become exhausted, then some one arises and proclaims himself +president, organizes a band of thieves and murderers, and endeavors +to gain control. + +There have been exceptions, when an indignant people, who have been +trodden to such an extent that it seems a revolution is the only means +of righting their wrongs; but nine out of ten are the work of an +ambitious man who wants to become ruler. + +I asked the ex-convicts where the other three were who had been +confined with them. Two had died and the other was with the troops. +They begged for money and I gave them a dollar each, and after +profusely thanking me they left to follow the rear guard of Pierola's +scoundrels. + +After purchasing my cigars, I followed the main body of troops with my +escort of twenty soldiers, to keep guard over me, as arranged with +General Pierola. Our destination was Torato, thirty miles from +Moquequa. The road led over passes and wound around mountain sides, +and from several points of vantage I could see the army on the march, +with General Pierola and a priest by his side in the lead. The priest +was there to inspire courage in those who might waver. The army +numbered six hundred infantry and two hundred cavalry, many of whom +did not know the duties of a soldier. + +On arriving at Torato, I secured quarters for myself and escort at the +expense of the insurgent general. A month passed in wine drinking and +dancing. There were gay festivities every night, lasting sometimes +until late the next morning, the officers seldom seeing their men. +Instead of drilling them, they spent their time telling how they were +going to annihilate the government troops. Some little fortifying had +been done, but the natural surroundings were sufficient to prevent a +prudent attack. One day the news came that the government troops were +advancing and then some little work was done to prepare for battle. + +The day before the battle, I told General Pierola I had no objections +to following him to the battlefield, but in consideration of being a +non-combatant, I asked the privilege of selecting my own course, +giving him my word of honor that I would not make any attempt to +escape. He was satisfied and gave me a pass allowing the freedom I +desired. The next day the cry arose that the government troops were +only six miles away. There was hurrying to and fro with no discipline. +The priest accomplished more by his cross than all the officers. There +was a babel of voices. All were trying to give commands. Suddenly +heavy firing was heard, the outpost had become engaged at last. + + + + +IX. + +AMID THE DIN OF BATTLE. + + +The main body of the insurgent troops began to move to the front, +headed by General Pierola and the priest marching to the most +unearthly music I ever heard. Women were conspicuous and cheered as +the men marched past. "Viva Pierola!" was heard on all sides. + +Then came an order to double quick. The outposts were driven in a +short distance, and the enemy was in a valley, surrounded on both +sides by a chain of hills with a huge mountain in the background. When +I saw the position of the government troops, I was satisfied they +would be defeated and the battle become a rout. There were two +regiments of infantry and one of cavalry in the valley. Pierola +stationed his troops on each side of the pass and in front, reserving +his cavalry. In a short time the engagement became general. The +priest encouraged the insurgents by displaying the cross. He was a +courageous fellow, always to be found in places of danger. I mounted a +huge boulder and could easily see all that was going on. The +government troops would waver and fall back, and again they would +renew the attempt to scale the hillsides, which was impossible as long +as the insurgents held their position. + +There was a strange happening just when success seemed assured. The +insurgent cavalry had taken no part up to this time, as both sides of +the valley had been actively engaged. The insurgents along the pass +were running short of ammunition. An order was sent to the captain of +the cavalry to send a company back to Torato and assist in hurrying up +supplies. There was a brief cessation of hostilities. I could plainly +see the government troops carrying their dead and wounded to the rear, +but still holding their position. When another charge was made to take +the heights, the firing again became general. Suddenly arose the cry, +"They come! They come!" Firing along the sides of the pass ceased, and +I looked in amazement. Evidently, something was wrong. The insurgents +were throwing away their arms and running. There was a cloud of dust +in the direction of Torato, and I could easily distinguish a company +of cavalry, which I knew was the company sent to hurry up the +ammunition. The insurgents saw them and imagined that the government +cavalry had succeeded in getting to their rear. The panic became a +rout. In vain did Pierola plead, as he threw himself in front of his +demoralized men, in vain did the priest hold his crucifix on high, +threatening and pleading, but no persuasion could stop those runaway +cowards. The government troops realized something was wrong, and began +to scale the heights. Still, if the cavalry which had done no +fighting, could have been led to the side of the pass, the day would +still have been with Pierola, and probably the stampede would have +been checked. But unfortunately for the would-be president, there was +no one in command capable of meeting the emergency. + +I became excited, and snatching a cutlass from the hand of a +retreating soldier, threw myself in front of a column in a vain +endeavor to stop them, but they ran over me like so many sheep. Terror +had lent them wings of flight and deprived them of reason. By this +time the government infantry had reached the plateau and was forming +into companies. Their cavalry had seized the heights and the day was +lost. + +I saw General Pierola shake hands with the priest and leave the field. +The priest mounted and he, too, was gone. The ground was strewn with +arms; even the discordant musical instruments were discarded. + +Thus an army of revolutionists, who, a few hours before paraded +through the streets of Torato, cheered by fair women, and shouting +"Viva Pierola," had won a battle by natural surroundings and lost it +by their cowardice. I, too, thought it was time to retreat, as my +escort of twenty soldiers had long since disappeared. I rode to +Torato. + +Along the way I overtook straggling bands of insurgents going into +town to hide, while others were scaling the tallest mountains. I went +to my quarters, and soon the town was surrounded. + +The next morning about two hundred insurgents were captured. The +others were hid in some mysterious way and the commanding officer of +the government troops was made to believe that the main body of the +insurgents was in the mountains. + +I sought the general of the government troops to inform him of my +presence. He replied that he knew of my being a prisoner, and asked me +to return to Moquequa at once and help to get the railway in operation +to convey his troops and prisoners. + +I was glad no other questions were put to me, and after pleading with +the general for my kind host who had treated me with great kindness in +Torato, and who was not in sympathy with the revolutionists, he agreed +to exempt him from the payment of money levied on nearly all the +inhabitants. + +[Illustration: THE EARTH BEGAN TO ROCK AND REEL. (Page 33)] + +Soon after this a troop ship arrived in Ilo to convey prisoners and +escort to Lima. I felt sorry for the prisoners. Many of them +recognized me and kept calling, "Don Juan, please try and help us," +but of course I was powerless to do anything for them. I was glad when +they were aboard the transport for I felt miserable in the midst of so +much suffering. But I knew they would not suffer long. Another +revolution would set them free. + +The railroad was again in running order and everything progressing +smoothly when one morning at breakfast I was informed that Pierola had +broken out again. This time his party had, by means unknown, captured +the Peruvian ironclad ram, Huascar. He must have been aided by the +officers, or at least one of them who declared in his favor. Howbeit, +he had possession. The Peruvian fleet was sent in pursuit, but as the +Huascar was the most powerful vessel of the fleet, they had to give +her up. + +The fortunes of Pierola were brighter now than ever. He could, with +the exception of Callao, have entire command and control of all the +sea ports along the coast. But unfortunately for him, he began to stop +the British mail, and later the French mail on the high seas, his +object being to intercept mail for the Peruvian government. + +The British government dispatched H. M. S. Amythist and the Shah to +compel him to surrender, the Huascar having had full sway along the +coast for a month. + +The Huascar finally made her appearance in the port of Ilo, and almost +immediately the Amythist and Shah hove in sight. I had a good view +from the beach and saw a boat lowered from the Shah and pull directly +to the Huascar, I supposed for the purpose of demanding her surrender. +However, if that was the object, it failed, for upon the return of the +boat to the Shah, the Amythist cleared for action. + +The afternoon was calm; not a ripple on the ocean. The Huascar was +nearest the shore, less than a mile from where I stood. The Shah was +over a mile distant seaward. A signal flashed from the Shah and the +Amythist steamed toward the Huascar. The Amythist was a wooden +corvette, equipped with twin screws. The Shah was a commerce +destroyer. Neither vessel was a match for the modern ironclad +Huascar. + +Suddenly a shot came from the Shah. The flag and pole at the stern of +the Huascar dropped overboard. The Huascar, equipped with a revolving +turret, sent a shot at the Amythist, but it went wide of its mark. The +Amythist circled and sent a broadside full on the Huascar, every shot +taking effect. With the aid of a glass I could see the decks of the +Amythist plainly from my position on a huge rock. The British sailors, +stripped to the waist, cutlass in hand, stood eagerly awaiting orders. +The gunners' crews were engaged in firing rapidly. The Huascar replied +by slow but heavy reports from her turret. The object of the British +was to disable the Huascar's turret, and they succeeded by directing +all shots against it. + +The Huascar, finding she could not effect the enemy by shots, turned +to ram her. The Amythist, being equipped with twin screws, awaited the +Huascar and when within a short distance ran alongside and poured her +whole broadside on the rebel. That was the last act before the Huascar +surrendered. + +I was aboard the Huascar a few months afterward at Mollendo and she +presented a most dilapidated appearance. + +Thus again was General Pierola frustrated, and by a British wooden +vessel against a crack ironclad of Peru. Pierola escaped as usual, and +the Huascar was turned over to the Peruvian government. + +A few days after the Amythist-Huascar battle I discovered the people +of Ilo were cold and distant towards me, and I soon learned the cause. +Although they were in favor of the existing government, they did not +relish the idea of their people being beaten by the British. I could +not condemn the acts of my own country and I felt it would be better +to leave Ilo, which I did, little dreaming of the exciting events +which were soon to follow. + + + + +X. + +WE MEET AGAIN, FELICITA. + + +The theater of Arequipa was ablaze with lights. The youth and beauty +had assembled to follow the fortunes of the Count de Monte Christo. I +was seated in the dress circle listening to the weird warlike strains +of Spanish music, when my eyes fell upon the occupants of a box. A +beautiful girl, half hidden by the rich draperies, was talking with an +aristocratic looking old gentleman, while by their side sat a young +man, dark-browed and sinister looking. I arose and entered the box +from the side door. "Don Julian Maldonado, I am delighted to meet +you," I said, "I am the boy you befriended some years ago in the +Cordilleras." + +He took my hand delightedly and bade me be seated, offering me a chair +between himself and daughter. Don Julian whispered to me not to make +myself known to Felicita to see if she would recognize me. All this +was amusing to Don Julian, but somewhat embarrassing to me, seated, as +I was, between them, and trying to carry on a conversation with him. +The expression of wonderment in Felicita's beautiful eyes was +disconcerting to say the least. It was evident she did not remember +me. And yet how could she be expected to. She was a child of only nine +years when we first met, and who now, seven years later found me +unexpected and unannounced sitting beside her in a theater. + +Laughingly I turned to her and asked if she did not recognize me, +explaining that the reason her father had not presented me was that we +had met seven years ago. + +While I was speaking she was looking earnestly at me, but when I +recalled their journey to La Paz she appeared dubious and asked if I +was the young lad she met near Puno and if it was possible that I had +grown to manhood and learned to speak Spanish? When I reassured her, +the look of astonishment gave way to an exclamation of joy. + +The play was forgotten. We only talked of our first meeting. She +asked if I was staying in Arequipa and on learning that I was, +promised that we should meet again, as her father had decided to +remain there for some time. I was delighted but felt somewhat +disturbed because of the young man in the box with her. When I began +to talk to Felicita he moved his seat farther away. The Peruvians are +the acme of politeness. + +The play being over, I assisted Felicita with her wraps. Her father +then introduced me to Don Rodrigo Garcia, a fellow traveller whom they +had met on their journey from Cusco to Arequipa. + +I was not particularly well pleased with the young man. First +impressions sometimes give rise to doubt and distrust. It was so with +me in this instance. Don Julian insisted on my going home with them. I +walked with Felicita on one side and Don Julian on the other, Don +Rodrigo walking just ahead of me. Their home was on Calle Mercaderes, +one of the prettiest squares of the city. Like most Peruvian homes, +the house was of adobe with flat roof and partitions of plastered +cane. It contained six rooms. In the windows were heavy iron bars, +like all houses of the better class. They were very serviceable, for +Spanish lovers do their courting between the window bars. The girl +sits beside the window and her wooer stands in the street; the parents +sometimes invite him in. Should he request the company of the girl to +the play or to any entertainment, the invitation must include the +whole family. This custom in the larger cities is dying out, but in +the inland cities it is still adhered to. + +Arriving at the door, I bade Felicita and her father good night with +the assurance that I would dine with them the next day. Don Rodrigo +also was invited. His hotel was on my way and I accompanied him. He +was splendid company, and after reaching his hotel I accepted his +invitation to a light lunch. Afterwards we enjoyed a cigar and some +rich old wine, but still I could not overcome the aversion I first +formed for him. + +The following day, long before the appointed time for dinner, I was +dressed and ready. Chico, a half-breed Indian, whom I had rendered a +service one time when he was being set upon by some of his own people, +and who afterwards slept in my passage way, had my boots polished and +horse carefully groomed. He was a faithful servant. He would find out +where I went and quietly follow, and after the manner of his race, +would lie down in some obscure place in perfect contentment and wait +for me. I arrived at the home of Don Julian at the appointed time, and +found the father and daughter awaiting me. A few moments later, Don +Rodrigo arrived and we were seated in the parlor facing the street. It +was splendidly appointed. Although the exterior of many Peruvian +residences appear shabby, the interior presents a far different +appearance. + +I requested Felicita to play for us and time passed quickly. Dinner +being called I took the liberty of escorting Felicita to the table and +was given the place beside her. The Indian servants between courses, +kept our glasses filled. Felicita did not take wine, and when dinner +was over retired, leaving us to enjoy our cigars and liquor. We +afterwards adjourned to the parlor, where I gave my friends an account +of my life since our first meeting. I could see that Don Rodrigo took +every opportunity to make light of my narrative. + +I did not allude to being in Ilo during the Amythist and Huascar +affair, but after I had given my friends a brief account of myself, +Don Rodrigo asked me my nationality. I told him I was Scottish. He +then asked me what I thought of the Huascar affair, hoping no doubt to +belittle my standing with Don Julian. I replied that I had given it +very little thought, and moreover considered it a question for both +governments to settle, and was satisfied that everything would be +adjusted amicably. + +My reply seemed to annoy him, as he doubtless thought I would commit +myself, and take the part of the British. He arose, and pleading a +press of business, begged permission to retire. He shook hands with +Don Julian and daughter, but merely bowed to me. I was glad he was +gone. + +Never before had I been so happy as now, in Felicita's presence. For +the first time since leaving home this was the only pleasure I had +known. Felicita sang some pretty Spanish ballads to the music of her +guitar and I went home that night with a lightness of heart I had not +experienced for a long time. + +My duties not requiring me to be away from Arequipa often, much of my +time was spent with Felicita. Together we would ride horseback over +the picturesque valley, with its olive and orange groves and along +shaded avenues of palms, with pebbly brooks of crystal waters on +either side. The pure air and semi-tropical skies stimulated our +buoyant spirits, and made these the halcyon days of my existence. My +first dreams of love when we met in the Cordilleras were now a +blissful reality. + +I saw little of Don Rodrigo in the weeks that followed and was seldom +in the company of my comrades. Once a week I would join them at the +club, but aside from that I was always to be found at Don Julian's +home. + +Months sped by in sweet content as the world took on a more roseate +hue and the future presented an alluring picture. + +I met Don Rodrigo on the street one day and as he nodded slightly I +noticed an evil look in his eyes. On returning to my room late that +night something glistened in the moonlight on my door. I struck a +match, a blood red heart was traced on the panel, and in the center +stuck a dagger. What did it mean? + + + + +XI. + +THE MASQUE BALL AT TIRAVAYA. + + +It was the night of the annual masque ball at Tiravaya, a summer +resort a few miles from Arequipa. The hall was crowded with dancers; +many gentlemen were in Cavalier costume, with swords clanking at their +sides. Others were in helmets, gorglet and breastplate, to represent +Pizarro's conquerors of Peru. Many of the ladies wore quaint costumes +and rich attire of the court of Ferdinand and Isabella, while a few +were attired in grotesque costumes. Felicita was dressed as a princess +of the court of the ancient Incas, with a head dress of the rich +plumage of tropic birds. I was dressed in the Highland garb of +Scotland. + +I soon discovered Felicita by the rosebud in her hair. We took part in +the grand march and in nearly all the dances. The soft strains of the +music and the gayety of the picturesque throng in the brilliantly +lighted room made the hours pass quickly and it was soon time for +unmasking. After the general greeting was over, we proceeded to the +dining room where an elegant repast was served. The supper being +finished, the music struck up again as the wine was being served. Just +then I observed Rodrigo for the first time, and noticed that he was +intently watching me. I called Felicita's attention to him and she +seemed to be frightened. She wanted to return home, but I assured her +there was no danger; we were among friends. She replied that I was not +familiar with Spanish hatred, and that he would sooner or later insult +me. I had known for more than three months, that he had proposed to +Felicita and been refused. I also knew he was a gambler and lived on +his chances at the faro table. Being an expert and without any sense +of honor, even to one of that profession, he was seldom unsuccessful. +I had never mentioned to Don Julian or Felicita his manner of life. + +An American, who unfortunately got under the influence of wine, +proposed a toast to Peru, to which we all responded by raising our +glasses. Another toast was given to the United States which received a +similar response. Toast followed toast in quick succession. I merely +raised my glass as I had no desire to drink any more, and knowing the +long distance before me, I was on the point of calling for Chico to +have our horses in readiness, when I heard my name called and found +that I was requested to make a speech. I arose and congratulated the +company present for the pleasant time we had passed, and the happy +manner in which everything had been conducted by our host. All rose +and gave him three cheers. + +Don Rodrigo then stepped to the center between both tables, and asked +everyone present who denounced the British government for its action +in the Huascar affair, to stand up. I knew the insult was meant for +me. I refused to stand, as also did two of my British friends. After +they were seated Felicita again pleaded with me to leave, but I could +not do so with honor then, and had I done so, I would have been held +in contempt afterwards. Don Rodrigo came to where I was seated and +addressing himself to me said: + +"I observe that you refuse to condemn the action of the British +government. Of course you are a Britisher, but I must say that the +action of your government was of the most cowardly nature, and anyone +who upholds such actions deserves the name of coward; in fact, anyone +who allows himself to be ruled by the Queen of Great Britain must be +anything but a brave man." + +I cannot describe the thoughts that ran through my brain. I stood like +one paralyzed. I could neither move nor speak, but I was conscious +that everyone was looking at me and seemed to enjoy my discomfiture. +Felicita placed both hands on my right arm and looked pleadingly in my +face. I could see everything quite plainly, but I was bereft of all +powers. Then by a valiant effort I recovered myself. Bending down, I +told Felicita to remain and not be alarmed. + +I arose and went to where Don Rodrigo stood. I was calm and collected. +"Don Rodrigo," I said, "I came here by invitation, and when I accepted +had no thought of being insulted. Neither do I believe that our host +or the gentlemen present intended that I should be. You have without +provocation on my part, insulted my Queen and called her subjects +cowards. The country that gave me birth never produced cowards and I +want to convince you that I am not an exception." With this I dealt +him a terrific blow in the face. + +He fell heavily to the floor and all was confusion. Men leaped on +tables and chairs. Cries of "Down with the foreigner!" were heard on +every side. Then my British friends came over to where I stood, one of +they saying, "Good, Jack, the coward deserved it! Let us stand side by +side and show them how the Queen's subjects can defend themselves!" + +I can see him now, his auburn hair disarranged and partially hanging +over his forehead, his blue eyes sparkling with indignation, his right +hand holding a revolver. The other said, "There are only three of us +but we will show them how Britishers can fight," at the same time +drawing his Colt's. I had also pulled my gun, anticipating the worst, +when the American drew near and said: "Jack, I know nothing of your +Queen or country; I am an American, but you did right, and what I +would do under similar circumstances. I will stand by you, although we +have little chance against such odds." + +By this time Don Rodrigo had been assisted to his feet, blood all over +his face. The uproar ceased for a few minutes, as the crowd was +without a leader. The blow had told with effect--two front teeth were +gone and both eyes were discolored, caused, I think, by him coming in +contact with the floor. In a few moments cries of "Down with the +foreigner," again commenced. We knew it threatened our lives, but when +they looked down the barrels of four revolvers they knew it also +threatened some of their lives. + +Springing on a chair, I asked them to listen to me. I told them that +the quarrel they had witnessed had been sought by Don Rodrigo against +me; and I asked why others should suffer? Let him finish his quarrel +with me now or at any other time he chose--I would always meet him, +and surely gentlemen such as I knew them to be would not so far forget +themselves as to endeavor to overcome us, who had never done them +harm? + +This appeal was effective. Don Rodrigo had been washed, and never did +I see a face with such devilish and malignant expression. I was young +and strong, with quite a knowledge of the art of self defense, and I +watched him very closely lest he should draw a knife. + +Presently he said that he would be the judge of time and place and +manner of meeting me, and that I would yet remember Don Rodrigo +Garcia. I did not answer and he walked out of the hall. I drank +several glasses of wine with those who, but a few moments before, were +crying for revenge. I found Chico near me, and could hardly refrain +from laughing when I discovered that he had armed himself before +leaving Arequipa with a great navy revolver he found in my room. I am +satisfied had an attack been made on us, Chico would have done his +part, provided he had found a way to use the revolver. I am satisfied +he never saw one before he came to Arequipa. + +I told him to get the horses ready and my friends remained near to +prevent any treachery. However, we were not molested on the way home. +Felicita begged me to watch Don Rodrigo. "I know," she said, "that +man's nature. He will watch you always, and while he will not attack +you alone, he will pay others to inflict some injury on you." + +Don Julian was waiting and had hot cocoa ready for us. We both +concluded that we would better tell him what had happened lest he hear +a wrong version from others. They were determined that I should spend +the remainder of the night in their house, but I concluded it would +appear cowardly. So, I bade them good night and, with Chico following, +perfectly happy over the few dollars I had given him, I reached home +in safety. + +I thought much about the affair at Tiravaya and determined to watch +Don Rodrigo closely. A week later Don Julian informed me he was going +to Aacna on business. He would be gone several days, but Felicita +would stay here. Fatal mistake. + + + + +XII. + +COWARDLY ACT OF A VILLAIN. + + +"Don Juan! Ah, Don Juan! Something dreadful! Felicita!" cried Chico as +he burst into my room breathless near midnight. + +"What is it?" I demanded, "quick, I say," but he could only gasp +"Felicita!" + +I hurried to the stable and saddled my horse, Chico following. We +rode with all haste to the home of Don Julian. Everything was in +uproar. The Indian servants moaned and cried, and pointed in the +direction of the road leading to the cemetery. Thither I rode, fast +as my horse could run. It was a lonely road, with few houses by the +wayside and those were mostly Indian huts. It was nearly one +o'clock in the morning, no one to be seen--on and on I went. I could +see a dark outline of what I thought must be a vehicle of some kind. +As carriages are seldom used in Arequipa, I concluded that this +must be bearing Felicita away. I drove the spurs harder and leaned +forward, peering into the darkness. I was gaining rapidly. I was +certain now that it was Felicita, for they were driving at full +speed. I never thought how I was to rescue her, my whole purpose +being to catch up with that villain. Just then the moon shone bright +from behind a cloud and lighted up the scene. The occupants of the +carriage now knew they were being pursued, and they stopped. I could +plainly see two men unhitch two horses from behind the carriage. They +took Felicita from the carriage and were forcing her to mount when, +suddenly, her horse became unmanageable, and she fell to the +ground. By this time I was close upon them, and called to Felicita to +be brave, but the poor girl never heard me, for she was unconscious. +Don Rodrigo stopped, as if determined to resist me. Would to God +he had! But he put spurs to his horse and fled. I shot at him, but +as the distance was great, and the light uncertain, the bullet +went wide of the mark. I soon forgot him on reaching Felicita, as +she lay with an ugly cut on her head caused by striking the +carriage step when she fell. There lay my child-friend, unconscious. +She was dressed for retiring, her other clothes being in the +carriage. My first impulse was to pursue the accursed scoundrel +and avenge the insult to Felicita, but I could not leave her there. +I took her in my arms and carried her to a near-by Indian hut +where, after some parley with the poor, superstitious Indians, the +door was opened, and I laid my burden on some sheepskins on the +floor. Her hands were cold and she appeared to be dead. + +By this time, Chico arrived and brought her clothes from the carriage. +I staunched the flow of blood with my handkerchief, while Chico +prepared some hot native liquor, which I put to her lips. After a +time, she opened her eyes, but did not know me. I called and called +her name, but it was long before consciousness returned. When she did +recognize me, a look of love and happiness passed over her face. I +would not let her speak, but told her that when she was taken home, +she could tell me all. The carriage driver had long since made his +escape, so I had sent to Arequipa and had a closed carriage brought, +in which I took her home. + +Time dragged wearily until the return of her father. I remained by her +side and with the assistance of the Indian servants, made her as +comfortable as possible. I had been without sleep so long that I had +gone into the parlor and laid down. I had just awakened from a sleep +when Don Julian entered. Poor old man, he was overcome with grief. He +knew all, Felicita had told him. From him I learned how the abduction +had taken place. About 11 o'clock at night, Don Rodrigo had entered +the bedroom and before she realized what was being done, Felicita had +been carried to the carriage in waiting. Leaving her in charge of the +driver, Don Rodrigo returned for her clothes. No sooner was his back +turned than she screamed. This attracted the attention of Chico, who +had been enjoying a visit with Don Julian's Indian servants in the +kitchen. He had run at full speed to inform me. + +It was the opinion of Don Julian that Don Rodrigo had intended taking +the child to some remote Indian habitation in the mountains, and +demanding a ransom for her. + +This was a plausible theory, for besides getting revenge for Felicita +refusing his hand in marriage, he would be able to extort money from +Don Julian, and also avenge his fancied wrongs at my hands. + +The following day Felicita was still weak and nervous. The doctor +advised that she be taken to the sea coast for a time. She protested, +saying she was getting stronger, but I knew she was only saying it to +cheer her father and myself. I could plainly see her condition was +precarious. After a long consultation with the doctors, Don Julian +decided he would take her to Truxillo, their former home. After +considerable pleading, she consented to go. I was to follow when she +recovered. + +I accompanied them and their Indian servants aboard the steamer and +remained aboard the little ferry boat, waving my handkerchief until +they faded into the distance. I returned ashore, and although I had +not been in Mollendo for some time, I had no desire to see my friends. +I wanted to be alone. + +Weeks of dreary waiting followed. I was not myself. Anxiously I looked +for a letter and with trembling hands I broke the seal. The letter was +dated Lima, and read: "Don Juan, I am crazy. Felicita is dead. Will +write you all, when I am composed. Julian." + +Never was human being more distracted than I. Absenting myself from +everybody night after night in deep ravines and valleys, among the +lofty mountains that surrounded Arequipa, I wandered. Many an Indian +no doubt looked upon me with superstitious awe, walking without caring +whither I went, like one demented. A second letter came stating that +the death of Felicita was caused by a terrible cold she had +contracted and the nervous shock suffered on the night of the +abduction. Like his first, Don Julian's letter was brief. He said: "I +will let you know where she is buried in my next, and I think I will +not be long after her." + +I concluded to go to Lima, but another letter, dated Truxillo, stated +that he had left Lima and would bury Felicita in Truxillo. I received +no more missives. To go to Lima was useless, to go to Truxillo and +perhaps not find him there, would not accomplish anything so I decided +to wait until I heard further news. I scarcely know how I passed my +time. Night after night I would go up town, play billiards and visit +the drinking places, always with the hope that I would meet Don +Rodrigo. + +I intended, when I heard from Don Julian to make a trip to Truxillo, +visit the last resting place of Felicita, and perhaps remain in Lima, +away from scenes that reminded me of the only happy time in my +existence, and its tragic ending. But circumstances over which I had +no control changed my plans. + +One night, as I was sitting alone in my room, a boy handed me a +telegram. It was from the general manager of the railroad, saying to +report at his office at once and bring all the engine runners with me, +and to enjoin absolute secrecy on the part of the men. I did as +requested, and now begins one of the most exciting adventures of my +life. + + + + +XIII. + +MURDEROUS PLAN OF THE INSURGENTS. + + +On my arrival at the manager's office, I found him in consultation +with the Prefecto of Arequipa and the General in command of the +regular army. I was informed that another revolution was about to be +attempted in Peru in favor of General Pierola. + +The General said he had a valuable package which must be delivered to +the Prefecto of Puno, that in the event the package was captured it +would ruin all their plans. Would I undertake to deliver it for the +government? I turned to the general manager and, speaking to him in +English, said: "There is some mystery connected with this. Before I +pledge myself to do this, it will be necessary to have a clear +understanding." He repeated my request to the General, who informed me +that a secret message had come over the wires that a revolution had +broken out again, and this time the insurgents had taken possession of +several points to prevent the government troops from reaching Puno; +that the package I was to take was a notice to the Prefecto of Puno, +for himself and those in favor of the government, to proceed to a +designated place, where the government troops would arrive, and march +by stages to Puno. + +I realized the danger connected with this undertaking and accepted the +responsibility with some trepidation. A generous reward awaited me if +I succeeded, but it was understood in accepting the perilous message, +no instructions were to be given me; that I was to use my own judgment +and, if danger threatened the package, to destroy it before it should +be captured. + +The little Arequipena had long since been rebuilt, and I at once +proceeded to put her in readiness for the journey. Manuel, my fireman, +was a native of Arequipa, a powerfully built and sturdy fellow. He +had been much among the British and American railway men and could +understand English. + +After leaving orders as to the time of starting, I called on an +English friend and confided my mission. I asked him, in event of my +death, to write to my relatives in Scotland, giving the details. He +did everything in his power to dissuade me, but I told him his talk +was idle. No use, I had made up my mind. Upon seeing the Arequipena +ready, the men in the shops questioned me, but I evaded their +questions. + +I went to the office of the general manager and he gave me the +package, unaddressed, done up securely, and sealed with red wax. I +placed it in the inside pocket of my vest. The manager asked me to be +careful with myself. He would much rather I should not go, but in my +state of mind, I was only too glad to get my thoughts off the sad +remembrance of Felicita's fate. + +I left Arequipa at ten o'clock that night, cautiously and silently +leaving the station. I arrived at Puno the following evening and lay +over at Juliaca Junction a few hours. At this point the station master +asked me where I was going. I replied that I had orders for Puno. +Leaving Juliaca, I arrived at Puno at exactly five o'clock. I blew the +whistle for the station. I noticed that it was crowded with people, +but saw no one I would suspect of being a revolutionist. I put the +engine in the shed, and then went and washed up. I hid the package in +a secure place, where it was impossible for anyone to find it, as I +had planned to go to the hotel, eat supper and then learn my chances +for getting to the Prefecto, before I took the package from its hiding +place. The station of Puno, like all terminal stations of the Arequipa +railway, was fenced in by corrugated iron, about eight feet high, and +it was necessary to go through the station outlet, which was only +opened on the arrival and departure of trains, or another outlet +guarded by a dog and night watchman. I went out by the small gate, +familiarly bidding the watchman good evening. This gate only employes +had the right to use. I walked up town to the hotel Inca. I met +several gentlemen who knew me and asked one to play a game of +billiards before supper. No one seemed to think that my coming was +anything more than the usual routine of railway business. + +After darkness, I lit a cigar and strolled down the street where the +Prefecto lived. I observed the sentry at the front entrance and upon +close observation, I found that the rear of the house could be +approached by a little back street connecting with a small alleyway by +means of which the house could be entered from the front. + +I retraced my steps to the station but did not go near the gate. I +went around to the engine shed, where an opening had been made by the +boys so they could get to their rooms when out late nights and avoid +answering the questions of the watchman. When I reached the +Arequipena, the wipers were cleaning her. I spoke to the foreman, and +getting the package, went out the same way, no one noticing my +departure. Then going through, the narrow street I went up the small +alley and, seeing no one, presented myself at the main entrance of the +Prefecto's house. Here the sentry barred my passage and demanded the +password. I told him to call the officer of the guard, and when he +appeared I explained that I had important business with Senor +Prefecto, and desired to see him personally. + +"Who are you?" + +"The Senor Prefecto will answer that question," I replied. + +I had folded the package and hid it in the lining of my overcoat which +I had thrown over my arm. The officer withdrew for a few minutes, but +soon returned and allowed me to pass the sentry. Halting in front of a +large door, a signal was given and it was opened by another officer. I +was ushered in, and from there into an adjoining room, where I was +told to wait. + +Presently there came in a priest, then an officer with side arms, and +last Senor Prefecto, who asked me the nature of my business. I replied +that I had a message for the Prefecto, which could be imparted to him +alone. When my errand was communicated to him, he could do as he +chose. + +There was much hesitation before my request for a private audience was +granted, but on being searched, overcoat and all, the Senor Prefecto +finally agreed to see me alone. When the others had retired, I took +the package from the lining of my overcoat and gave it to him. + +I watched him closely as he read the contents. His face became +blanched, and his hands shook in abject fear, although nothing else +could have been expected from him, as he was an arrant coward. + +After reading the document, he called the others. He handed it to the +priest, who asked where I came from. I told him. Then he wanted to +know if anyone had seen me enter here, and whether the arrival of the +Arequipena was known. I told him I thought no one would pay any +attention to the arrival of the train but would consider it the +ordinary routine railway business. A consultation was held, and after +they found that I knew the contents of the message I had brought, they +admitted me to their council. They asked me to get the Arequipena +ready, and they and the principal officers would flee to Arequipa. I +told them that such a course could not be pursued, as all the +telegraph offices were in the hands of the insurgents, and that our +departure would become known, the engine surrounded and all taken +prisoners. They agreed it would be impossible to escape that way, and +decided that about midnight they would escape on horseback. Just then +an officer arrived and reported that the insurgents had taken +possession of the station, and two engines, one being the regular +passenger. One of the engine runners had been taken prisoner. Their +spy had reported that it was their intention to take both engines and +several coaches loaded with soldiers and arms; also, large quantities +of powder had been put on the Arequipena for the purpose of destroying +Sumbay bridge--to prevent the passage of government troops. + +I was forgotten for the time being, their fear for their own safety +outweighing all other considerations. Another officer came in and +breathlessly added the climax. The regiment of regulars had joined the +insurgents! + +I was now doing some rapid thinking. If Sumbay bridge was destroyed +and the fact not known in Arequipa, the government troops would come +along and, with the engine crew, be hurled into eternity. The bridge +being about one hundred and seventy-five feet high and six hundred +feet long and on a curve with deep cuts on either side and a heavy +down grade, it would be impossible for any train to stop, unless +warned beforehand. + +This was the murderous scheme of the insurgents. + +I learned it was the intention of the insurgents to proceed to +Vincocaya in the morning, destroy as they went along, the telegraph +offices, wait at Vincocaya until the arrival of the regular passenger +train from Arequipa and then proceed to Sumbay bridge. They evidently +had calculated with a great deal of precision, and if their plans +carried, victory would certainly be theirs. + +All these things were filling me with apprehension. I knew I would be +captured, but how could I save the bridge? I was determined to try at +all hazards. + + + + +XIV. + +FOR THE SAKE OF HUMANITY. + + +"This document calls for the payment of $10,000, and guarantees you +life employment by the government of Peru, provided you save the +Sumbay bridge," said the prefecto as he handed me a paper duly +witnessed by the priest. + +"No, Senor, I cannot accept it," I replied. "I will do my duty for the +sake of humanity. It is part of my plan to be captured by the +insurgents and should that paper be found on my person, I would be +shot as a spy. If I succeed you can reward me." + +I left the Prefecto and his party, wishing them a safe journey, and +sauntered carelessly back to the Inca hotel. I entered smoking a cigar +and wearing a look of unconcern, pretended I was not aware of any +revolutionary movement. There were several men playing billiards in +the parlors. I took a chair and sat down to watch the players. About +11 o'clock I asked to be shown to my room, and retired, knowing full +well that I had been watched by a citizen of Puno since my entrance to +the hotel, and I was satisfied I would soon be taken prisoner. + +About 2 o'clock in the morning, I was awakened from a restless sleep +by the entrance of twelve men armed with bare swords and revolvers. +They were all talking at once. I sat up in bed and appeared to be +amazed. The leader requested me to dress and accompany him. The +streets were lined with people shouting the old familiar cry, "Viva +Pierola," as I was marched in the center of this crowd. The cry +resounded down street after street. The city was wild with excitement. +The escape of the Prefecto was on every lip, as we turned at a street +corner and to the station. We had great difficulty in obtaining +entrance, but a passage was cleared and I was ushered into the +presence of the leader of the revolutionary forces. He was about +fifty years of age, some six feet in heighth, and powerfully built, +but with a countenance far from pleasing. + +With little ceremony, I was notified to get the Arequipena ready to +depart from the station at 7 o'clock in the morning. The principal +officers would go with her, I was told, and the regular train would +follow with the troops. + +I replied that as a British subject it would be impossible for me to +comply, unless force was used; that I protested against this +high-handed proceeding. I did this so that, in the future, no one +could accuse me of aiding the rebels willingly. He replied that he did +not care for the British government, that I would do as I was told or +suffer the consequences. They then escorted me to the engine house, +where I found my fireman Manuel already a prisoner; also Beaumont, the +other engineer, and his fireman. + +After getting the engine ready, I requested the officer in charge to +allow us to procure something to eat. His permission was given, then +another procession marched through the streets to the hotel, where the +rebel guards stood over us at breakfast. + +The Arequipena was ready. Behind were the passenger engine and five +coaches, which rebel troops were already entering. At breakfast I had +managed to get a few words with Beaumont. + +As the Arequipena was to go ahead, I would endeavor to get the +officers out to eat at Vincocaya. I would give a signal for him to +uncouple his engine and follow at full speed. It would be impossible +to stop him and they would be at the mercy of the government troops, +which would leave that afternoon, according to the instructions given +the Prefecto of Puno from Arequipa. + +The officers came aboard the little Arequipena and loaded on several +barrels of powder, picks and shovels to destroy the abutments of the +bridge. + +There were eleven officers who came aboard the coach, when to my +surprise, I beheld along with three soldiers, Don Rodrigo Garcia, who +was to guard me. I cannot describe my feelings. I know I am not a +coward, but I was taken with a shock of nervousness. It was not of +long duration. Indignation took the place of fear, but I realized how +formidable a task I had undertaken to save Sumbay bridge. Howbeit, I +determined more than ever to succeed, and the knowledge of that man +being near me, gave me renewed courage. + +Before starting he hissed to me: "Don Juan, we meet again." + +I did not answer. It was all I could do to keep from attacking him +despite the disadvantage I was at. The thought of the bridge, however, +restrained any hasty action. + +We left the station with the troop train closely following. According +to orders, our first stop would be at Juliaca station. I knew that +when we reached there the telegraph office would be destroyed. +Telegraph communication was cut off between Juliaca station and Puno. +Nearing the station, we stopped to take water from a tank. I asked +permission from the leader to allow my fireman to go and draw some +oil, explaining that I had none and it was necessary, that his going +there would not create suspicion, and it would save much time. I was +greatly surprised when he consented. I took a small piece of paper and +wrote the following in English: "Van Buren, I am coming with rebels to +destroy Sumbay bridge. Hurry up troops. Buchan." After writing, I read +aloud in Spanish: "Procure from Senor Southers, the station master, +two quarts of engine oil for the Arequipena." I handed it to Manuel +who understood my meaning. He took the engine cans and walked to the +office. + +My heart beat rapidly. I fairly held my breath. Would he be able to +see Southers before I took water? Would Southers understand my meaning +and get the message off before we arrived at the platform and find the +office destroyed? I delayed taking water as long as possible, then +pulled slowly down the track to the platform. The moment we stopped, +the officers rushed in the telegraph office and disconnected the +instruments from the wires. Don Rodrigo and his three soldiers never +left me for a moment, which made me suspect that my every movement +would be closely watched. + +The fireman came down the platform, both engine oil cans in his hands. +I asked him if he had seen Southers. He replied that he had and that +everything was all right. I received the oil and looked at him. His +look told plainly that the message was sent. I felt that a heavy load +had been lifted and breathed freer. I looked at Don Rodrigo. I was +satisfied that in a short time we would meet in a struggle that would +be the final one between us. + +After the office had been destroyed we started again, the troop train +always close behind us. We stopped at Cabanillas, Maravillas and Santa +Lucia and carried away their telegraph instruments; then we ran direct +to Vincocaya. Arriving there the telegraph office suffered like the +others. I pulled down in front of the hotel, then told the officers +that the passenger train was due in an hour, and that it would be +impossible to proceed until its arrival. I showed him the time card to +satisfy him I was telling the truth, and remarked that advantage might +be taken of the time by having supper. Accordingly all of them, left +the Arequipena except Don Rodrigo and the three soldiers. The officers +left their arms in the little coach. Now was the time to act. Should I +fail now, no other chance would present itself, for, after the arrival +of the passenger train, the only stop would be at Sumbay bridge, when +it would be too late. I figured that, after Van Buren had received my +message from Juliaca the troops could not possibly arrive at Sumbay +bridge before eight o'clock that night. It was four o'clock when we +reached Vincocaya and the passenger would be leaving Sumbay station. +Pucacancha was another station between Sumbay and Vincocaya. The grade +being 160 feet to the mile, the train makes very slow time between +Sumbay and Pucacancha. It was my only hope to succeed in getting to +Pucacancha before the arrival of the passenger train. + +I was nervous. I got off the engine, then called to Manuel to hand me +another oil can. I spoke to him in English to have everything ready. I +was going to run away with the engine--would he assist me? This I +asked while I was pretending to oil the engine, and I had to trust +largely to Manuel's intuition, as he knew but little English. He +returned to the engine and raised a full head of steam. I noticed Don +Rodrigo watching me from one of the side doors of the coach. I climbed +back on the engine and put away the oil can, when Rodrigo said with a +significant tone: "My time will soon come when I can avenge the insult +I received at Tiravaya." + +I did not answer. I knew his meaning. When my services were no longer +required, he would, with his cowardly instinct, devise a means to kill +me. The three soldiers were a fair sample of the poor ignorant +Peruvians. They were armed with breech-loading rifles of French +pattern, bayonets fixed. After Rodrigo had muttered his threat, he +went into the little coach, sitting directly behind me, and could, by +his position, observe every move I made. Manuel was standing on the +left watching me. Although I had endeavored to make him understand, he +was not aware of my plans. I looked back and saw the troop train +taking water at the tank. I looked at Manuel, and he understood "the +time had come." + +With my left hand, I threw the throttle wide open and with my right +blew the signal agreed upon. With a prayer to God I threw myself upon +the nearest soldier. + + + + +XV. + +IN DESPERATE STRUGGLE FOR LIFE. + + +Don Rodrigo and his soldiers were surprised. I dealt the one nearest +me a terrific blow in the face. Don Rodrigo raised his hand to fire. I +knocked his gun from his hand. The other soldier thrust at me with his +bayonet, inflicting a severe scalp wound, which along with another +thrust at me with his bayonet in my left arm, gave him time to +recover. I struck the soldier in the face, and knocked him to the +floor. The other was coming at me, when Manuel, armed with a shovel, +brought it down with terrific force on his head. + +By this time the engine was going at lightning speed, having reached a +down grade of 160 feet to the mile. The throttle was wide open. I knew +we would soon reach some sharp curves and if the speed was not +checked, the engine would jump the track. I called to Manuel to shut +off the steam, and apply the brakes. At this time I was struggling +with Don Rodrigo for life or death. We had clinched one another. I +spoke once. + +"Recuerdo Felicita," I hissed in his ear. + +He did not speak. He was never a physical match for me, but at this +moment he seemed endowed with superhuman strength. His face took on +the awful look of desperation, that comes to men when death seems near +at hand. His lithe body struggled to be free of my grasp. He tried to +trip me and just then the engine rounded a sharp curve causing him to +stagger. The side door of the coach was open. For a moment he vainly +tried to catch hold of something, and then, with a shriek upon his +lips, fell from the speeding coach. + +The struggle had lasted but a short time, but it had seemed to me +hours. Manuel bandaged my head and arm. The two soldiers remained +perfectly passive, suffering from severe blows. The one felled by +Manuel was still unconscious. + +We were within three miles of Pucacancha, rounding a sharp curve, when +I looked back and exclaimed: "My God, Manuel, the troop train is +coming!" My blood almost froze, but realizing that this was no time +for fright, I determined to master the situation. + +I knew the two soldiers would not attempt to molest us. They had +learned a lesson. I looked at my watch. In five minutes the passenger, +if on time, would be at Pucacancha. The troop train could not reach +there for fifteen minutes, because at all obscure places it would have +to go slow for fear of meeting obstructions on the track. + +I reached Pucacancha, stopping far enough back to allow the passenger +to pull up and back on the side track. The siding had only one switch, +chiefly used for ballast for the road bed. I looked anxiously for the +passenger. Seconds dragged like hours. Would she never come? There was +a curve not far from the station, and the passenger could not be seen +until it almost reached it. I listened. I could hear the low +tremulous noise of the rails, a puff of black smoke went up from +behind the curve--at last it was in view, engine No. 8. On seeing me +the engineer came to a sudden stop. I hurriedly told him what to do. +He was to back onto the siding and let me pass, then pull out and +follow me back to Pampa de Avieras, where I told him the government +troops would surely be. Our plans were quickly executed. I determined +that should the troop train come before I could get by the passenger, +Manuel and I would desert the Arequipena, start her back with a full +head of steam, and cause a collision. No doubt there would have been +loss of life, but it would have given an opportunity to escape by +going on the passenger train. + +Dobbie, the engineer, succeeded well in backing into the clear. Not +seeing the troop train, I ran with a hammer and spike when he left the +switch with the Arequipena ahead of him and spiked the track. Just +then the troop train came in sight. I hurriedly boarded the +Arequipena and started, Dobbie backing up at fast as he could. + +There were several officers on the engine of the troop train, and when +they saw us they compelled the engineer to increase his speed, with +the result he could not check his train in time to stop it from +running into the switch. His engine jumped the track half burying +itself in the ground. + +We arrived at Pampa de Avieras and the government troops came thirty +minutes later. I was beginning to get weak from loss of blood. My left +arm seemed to be a dead weight, and the muscles were painful and +swollen. The people from the passenger train crowded about me and did +everything in their power to relieve my suffering. The soldier who had +been struck with the shovel came out of his stupor. + +I was lying in the coach of the Arequipena, when the commanding +officer of the government troops came to see me. After detailing the +story to him, I turned over fourteen rifles, ten revolvers, and seven +swords, all the cartridges and barrels of powder, together with the +three soldiers whom I pleaded for, stating that compulsion was the +cause of their joining the insurgents. I insisted on their hurrying to +Sumbay bridge, although I told him they did not have anything now with +which to destroy the bridge. However, they could post their troops +should they arrive first and be in position to command the approaches. +After leaving me, he ordered his troops forward. + +I was getting weaker and weaker. At last orders came to go to Arequipa +with the Arequipena. The station master telegraphed to have a doctor +ready for me on my arrival. It was nearly forty miles from Pampa de +Avieras to Arequipa, mostly down grade. I had to give the engine up to +Manuel, as the pain in my arm became so intense I had to lie down. The +station at Arequipa was crowded back to the street, the news having +been telegraphed by the officer in command of the government troops. I +could hear cries of "Viva Juancita!" that being my name in Spanish. + +The people in Arequipa were loyal to the existing government. The +general manager met me with the doctor. His eyes were full of tears +when he saw me. I presented a horrible and bloody appearance, the +wound in my head still bleeding, my left arm in a sling and my clothes +almost in rags. + +I was carried from the coach by four of my friends to my room where +the faithful Chico had everything prepared. Cries of "Viva Juancita!" +rent the air from the time I left the coach until the doctor requested +silence. Manuel was taken home by his friends. The poor people, +ignorant of the revolution, but knowing by the demonstration that +something unusual had happened, realized that he had done something +deserving recognition. + +My friends grouped about with tear-dimmed eyes, and warmly pressed my +hand. Chico, looking at me with a most sympathetic expression on his +Indian features, did not restrain his tears. For days I tossed in +pain and delirium. + +One day when the general manager came, he told me that another +engineer who had taken out the Arequipena to repair the telegraph, +came up with a body of the insurgents who were going to surrender, but +they intended to kill him first thinking he was I. Only the timely +interposition of one who knew him, saved his life. The insurgents had +got their engine back on the track after much time and labor, but it +was damaged and as they were out of water, they gave up hope of +winning their cause. + +The train bearing the government troops stopped when within a few +miles of Vincocaya, where they picked up the body of Don Rodrigo +Garcia and buried it near the track. He would have exulted over my +death, but I cannot say that I felt any satisfaction because he was +dead. It only brought sad memories of the past. + + + + +XVI. + +THE SCREAMING WINDS OF NIGHT. + + +I sat on the broad balcony of the British consulate at Mollendo, +looking out over the blue waters of the Pacific. The soft breeze from +the south seas imparted the glow of health. How proud I felt with the +knowledge that no one dared insult me beneath the blue and crimson +folds that waved above. Safe from the assassin's knife at the hands of +some of Pierola's men, of whom I had been warned, I felt a certain +refuge beneath the ensign of my country. + +"Don Juan, does that make me a Britisher, too?" asked Manuel, pointing +to the flag above. + +"Yes, it protects you too. Pierola's men do not dare to harm us +here." + +"Praised be the Virgin," replied Manuel, crossing himself. + +The great bells of the cathedral tolled out a funeral knell as a +solemn procession marched to a transport ship. They were dust covered, +haggard men, with a hunted look, chained in pairs. On either side +marched a file of soldiers with fixed bayonets. Pierola's men were +being taken to Lima. + +I arose from the balcony and went inside. They had to pass under the +balcony of the British consulate to reach the wharf. I did not care to +witness their misery and so remained indoors until their departure. +The revolution over, there was nothing now to fear; Manuel packed my +belongings and we returned to Arequipa. + +The general manager requested me to take care of the shops of +Vincocaya. It would enable me to be quiet and recover from my wounds, +as there was nothing to do but to see that the work was kept going. +Meanwhile the excitement of the revolution would die out. + +Vincocaya is situated high in the Andes, above timber line, a desolate +and dreary waste of rock and crag, where wild winds scream among the +cliffs in the blackness of the night, as though a thousand imprisoned +Joshuas were reaching upward for that sun which will stand still no +more over the plains of Ajalon. Leaden clouds drift like winding +sheets among the peaks and hover like a pall over canyon and deep +ravine. The grave of Don Rodrigo was but a few miles distant, but I +never visited it. There have been times when I regretted not +stretching forth my hand to save him, but at the time, with a most +violent hatred of the man and the many injuries I had received from +him, and the attempt to save the bridge foremost in my mind, I found +excuse for lack of the finer feelings. And, too, what would it benefit +had he been saved? His life was spent in debauchery, the gambling +table and plots to overthrow any government where a leader in +opposition to the ruling power would promise him a political office. + +Deep down in my heart I felt the weight of the past; those shrieking +winds of the night were the responsive echoes of my soul for the +loved and lost. Was it upon this planet or upon some distant sphere +that we two had met and loved and builded hopes as high as the lofty +peaks that now entombed me--hope and love that may have been breathed +in the morning of the world when the spirit of God dwelt within +us--hope that existed before the wrathful change that shattered all +and turned an Eden into blackness and despair? + +Days, weeks and months passed. Often I would spend hours in the wild +solitudes hunting the vicuna and alpaca, or in some gloomy canyon +communing with myself. Within my spirit I could hear an undertone, +"Why cast thyself on waters wild, believing that God is gone, that +love is dead and Nature spurns her child?" So, from my grief, I arose +at length to feel new life returning. New hopes and ambitions sprang +forth in my soul that had so keenly felt God's chastening rod. + +A year had passed. I was in Arequipa. Chico had my room ready and my +friends gave me a splendid banquet in one of the largest restaurants +in the city. In all ages the world has had two ways of doing honor to +a man. One is by parade, the other by setting him down to a banquet +table and making speeches about him until they overcrowd his emotions +and leave him limp and speechless. I had to pass through this ordeal. +The Prefectos of Arequipa and Puno, the Commanding General of the +Government troops, the manager and officials of the railway and a host +of friends of lesser note, but none the less loyal hearts, crowded the +banquet room. They feasted, drank wine, sang songs and made speeches +to me and about me that were enough to have satisfied the vanity of a +survivor of Thermopylae. At the close, the Prefecto of Puno arose, and +after saying things that were loudly applauded, presented me with ten +thousand dollars not as a gift, but as something I had justly earned. +He was followed by the general manager of the railroad, who said his +company desired to show their appreciation of my conduct in the Sumbay +bridge affair, and on their behalf he presented me with two thousand +dollars. Manuel, too, came in for his share of honors and praise. He +was presented with five hundred dollars by the Prefecto of Puno and +two hundred dollars by the company--more money than he had ever seen +in his life, or ever hoped to possess. Deserving fellow, his eyes +streamed with tears of joy and gratitude when he received the money +which would now enable him to own a comfortable home. His pleasure was +even greater the next day, when I gave him one thousand dollars. + +[Illustration: THE HOME VOYAGE OF THE AVEN WAS FRAUGHT WITH ALL THE +DANGERS OF THE SEA. (Page 26)] + +A month later, and Arequipa was wild with excitement. War had been +declared by Chile against allied Peru and Bolivia. It was a sad blow, +as Peru had been extremely prosperous and was rapidly forging ahead in +the commerce of the world. I had concluded to leave the country and +seek some other field, when a call was made to the railroad men to +assist the government to convey troops from the interior to the coast. +I responded and was sent to Santa Rosa on the proposed railway to +Cusco, the ancient capital of Peru. Here a great number of Indians +were huddled together to be sent to Arequipa, and drilled and sent to +the coast. They were abject and disconsolate. The priests were calling +on them to be brave and return victorious. These people had never seen +the ocean and had never lived in an altitude of less than two miles. +There was much suffering in store for them under the tropic sun of the +coast. I asked an officer if he thought these men would make good +soldiers. He replied with an air of great importance, and looking +quite serious, that he had received word that the Chilean navy was +coming to bombard Mollendo, and it was his intention to instruct the +Indians in the use of the rifle. When the ships came near enough, he +would station his men among the rocks and shoot the sailors off the +decks. This, too, with flint lock rifles--a sample of the calibre of +the Peruvian officer of the interior and his unfortunate Indian +soldiers. + +After getting to the head of the Tambo valley, I proceeded to +Mollendo and found a terrible state of affairs. Everyone was expecting +the Chilean fleet; men and women were carrying their household goods +to the mountains. At sight of every ship on the horizon, whether +sailing vessel or steamer, a cry would go forth--"They come--they +come!" The greatest confusion prevailed. There was no organization, no +discipline; everybody for himself, and all running at the cry +of--"They come!" + +One morning about ten o'clock the hostile fleet did come. + + + + +XVII. + +THE BARBARIAN MEETS HIS INGOMAR. + + +A heavy fog was clearing from the sea, when from out of the mist rose +the black hull and conning tower of the Cochrane. The senior officers +of the flagship stood grouped on the starboard rail. The wind changed +suddenly to the west, and, as it changed, it rolled up patches of the +fog and revealed the black hull and conning tower of the Enlado. A +heavy cloud of smoke poured from their funnels; decks cleared for +action when they should put into practice the desperate objects of +their existence. + +A boat was lowered from the flagship and rowed to the wharf of +Mollendo by sturdy Chileans, while an officer bore a message to the +Prefecto for all noncombatants to leave the city, as bombardment would +begin in an hour. + +As the boat was leaving, it was fired upon. Then the ear-splitting +reports which followed showed how the flagship took this breach of the +rules of war. There was the rushing swishing sound, the terrifying +screech of projectiles passing through the air, followed by terrific +explosions and the crash of falling buildings. + +In the city, pandemonium reigned. Men and women with blanched faces, +were fleeing to the hills. Others threw themselves upon the ground, +too terror-stricken to move. I heard a voice at my elbow calling in +English. It was the voice of a woman, young and fair. "This way," said +I, and we hurried toward the massive rock from whose summit I had +watched the battle of the Huascar and Amythist two years before. + +"We are safe now," I said, as we stood behind the thousands of tons of +granite, "safe as if we were behind the rock of Gibraltar." + +"Oh, mother, sister and Mr. Robinson--heaven help them at this hour!" +she exclaimed. A shell struck a stone building and exploded by +impact; fragments screamed like a panther in the air. + +The young woman's face was blanched to a death-like pallor, but she +was calm, and, kneeling by my side, she asked God to help us. Aloud +she prayed, a beautiful, impressive prayer, one that must have gone +straight to the throne of heaven and received its answer, for soon the +wind shifted and those belching volcanoes of the sea were curtained by +the fog; the firing ceased. + +We hurried to her home amid scenes of desolation and confusion. Her +family was safe and, to my surprise, the Mr. Robinson she had spoken +of was an employe of our railway, who had but lately arrived from the +United States and to whom I had been introduced a few days before. + +The bombardment was now over, but the human wolves began to sack the +city. Fire was raging in some quarters and burned far into the night. +It lit the streets with a lurid glare; its red light fell upon +motionless figures in the dust, and scurrying forms, bent beneath +their weight of plunder. + +Mr. Robinson was anxious to send his family to Arequipa, and I lent +them all possible assistance, receiving their heartfelt thanks. They +were in a strange land, not even knowing the language of the country. +Hattie, the young woman I had met, was the sister-in-law of Mr. +Robinson. Mrs. Robinson and her mother, an aged woman, were +disappointed with Peru and were glad to get away from the theatre of +war. + +I met the Indian soldiers the next day, and the officer commanding was +very indignant at his superior for not allowing him to go to the rocks +at Mollendo and pick off the gunners from the battle ships, with flint +lock rifles. + +I was a frequent visitor at the home of the Robinson family in +Arequipa, with whom I had now become well acquainted. It was strange +to my ears to hear them all talk English, for seldom had I heard my +own language spoken by women. The old lady was one of those quiet, +sweet, motherly women. Once introduced to her, it seemed one had +always known her. The whole family was the happiest and most cheerful +I had ever met. Hattie Judson became school teacher to the English and +American children in Arequipa, and her gentle ways soon won the hearts +of all. I enjoyed taking her to the theatre and other places of +amusement, because of her bright conversation and high ideals. From +her I began to catch a glimpse of the nobler things of life, things +that to me, being but poorly educated and in a foreign land, had been +denied. She was a sweet singer and an excellent performer on the +piano, and somehow when she sang I was able to understand the +soul-reaching depths of the melody. + +There was company at the house one night, when I heard her sing for +the first time "Coming Thro' the Rye." My soul floated back to Bonnie +Scotland, as when a boy I saw the waving fields of grain, the cows in +the barnyard, and the lassies coming down the path from school; my +mother with the willow basket, bringing in the clothes from the line, +and father smoking his pipe by the well--scenes that nevermore would +return. + +In our walks in the shaded dells of the mountains, she often told me +of the United States, the habits and customs of the people--how +ambitions and aspirations were rewarded when accompanied by virtue and +industry. Of the history of Peru she knew far more than I. It was +interesting to hear from her lips the strange stories of the +conquering Pizzaro hosts, whose mailed heels had once trod the ground +we walked, and clanked the knell of a fallen empire. + +My school had been the school of adversity. I had grown up with men +who knew or cared little for the finer sensibilities. I felt that her +standards of life were superior to mine. Her loyalty to God and holy +charity toward the humblest soul, bent my spirit to profound respect. +She was one who could see all there was of good in mankind and could +measure the product of one's powers and give them impulse and +direction. In my soul I bowed to the fair graces of her character. +Each day we met I found in her some new wealth of noble thoughts that +created higher ideals in my own untutored mind. + +As time went on, fiercer rose the maddening cries of war. I felt the +hot blood surge in my veins and I longed to be at the front, amid the +roar of cannon and the clash of arms. + +We were walking in a grove beneath the swift glimmer of the tropical +twilight, when I told her that I felt it my duty to fight for the land +that had been the home of my youth for so many years, and showed her a +letter in which I was offered an officer's commission on the Huascar. +She laid her hand on my arm and said, "There are nobler things in life +than the shedding of the blood of fellow men. The youth of the world +goes out to fight for the empty glory of another's crown. It is not on +the field of carnage that greatest honors are won, but in the nobler, +more peaceful pursuits of life, doing good and becoming leaders of +men and preventing war, that one wins the royal diadem of him who +said, 'peace on earth, good will to men.'" + +As she spoke in earnest eloquence, I could have knelt and worshipped +her. Her delicate cheeks were flushed, and her eyes were filled with +tears. + +No words of love had yet been spoken, but the Barbarian knew and felt +that he had met his Ingomar. + + + + +XVIII. + +ON SUNNY SEAS BOUND NORTH. + + +I met Mr. Robinson on the street one day, bleeding from a wound on his +face. He said that Mr. Wood, superintendent of our railway, had struck +him. Two of Mr. Wood's children were attending Miss Judson's school, +and on account of the official position of their father, behaved in an +ugly manner. Miss Judson made complaint to the school board, which +exasperated Mr. Wood and he demanded her resignation. This the board +would not permit. He called Mr. Robinson to his office and dismissed +him from the service of the company. Being requested by Mr. Robinson +to give his reasons for his dismissal, he struck him. + +I was angry to think a young man would so brutally use a man of Mr. +Robinson's age, and, too, in a strange country. Before I could +restrain myself I demanded his reason for striking Mr. Robinson. Mr. +Wood replied in a haughty manner that he was not accustomed to account +for his acts. I replied: "Perhaps not, but when one of your position +and age so far forgets himself as to strike an old man, any respect +you may be entitled to is dispelled by your cowardly act." + +For a moment it looked serious. He raised his hand as if to strike me. +I said: "Mr. Wood, if you attempt to go any farther I will certainly +be a far different antagonist than Mr. Robinson, and teach you that +some of your acts, at least, will be rewarded in a manner not to your +liking." He knew he had gone too far, and said in a quieter tone, that +he did not consider the affair any of my business. + +"Mr. Robinson is an American; let his countrymen investigate this +matter. I will deal with them." + +"Mr. Wood," I replied, "I hope the time will never come when a Briton +will so far forget his duty as not to go to the assistance of any +family, irrespective of nationality." + +At this moment some other shop men came in, loud in their denunciation +of Mr. Wood. There is something that binds a Britisher and an American +when they are away from their respective countries, and among +strangers. On many occasions I have seen the Britisher and American +argue and even quarrel over the merits of their countries but when +serious trouble arose, all jealousies would be cast aside, and each +one would endeavor to outdo the other in kindness. + +That night an indignation meeting was held in a large building +formerly used as a storeroom. The employes all knew the reason of Mr. +Wood's attack on Mr. Robinson. Although the majority of them were +working under Mr. Wood, they felt the indignity inflicted on Mr. +Robinson was an insult to them all, most of them having children +attending the school. + +From the beginning of the school, Mr. Wood had tried to dominate it. +This was another reason for the employes' grievances and, chief of +all, they were now being paid in the depreciated currency of the +country. The meeting was conducted in a quiet business manner. The +sentiment was to strike until Mr. Wood was removed from office. + +I told the men that that would be an injustice, as the general manager +was in Lima and we had no one to appeal to. Therefore we should +continue to work until we could communicate with him. This appeal had +the desired effect, as all could see the injury our strike would +inflict on the railway. + +I was then selected as the representative of the employes to go to +Lima and lay the matter before the general manager. I was about to +start when I was handed a note from the superintendent, saying that my +services were no longer required. I replied that I would receive my +orders from his superior and proceeded on my journey. + +At Lima I succeeded in reinstating Mr. Robinson, and shortly after my +return to Arequipa, Mrs. Robinson died. Grief at the injury inflicted +upon her husband and a feeling of friendlessness in a foreign land, +had hastened her end. Another indignation meeting was held and Mr. +Wood was dismissed from the service of the company. Mr. Robinson +became despondent and after a few months decided to leave the +country. + +The war with Chile was still on. The Peruvian army suffered defeat +after defeat. Her navy had made some show of success at first, but not +after the terrible fight between the Huascar, and two Chile ironclads, +in which the Peruvians lost. The currency of the country became +practically worthless. My accumulation of years was almost swept +away. + +Mr. Robinson decided to return to their home in San Louis Obispo, +California, and about this time I received an offer from the Peruvian +government to bring a torpedo boat from Panama to Mollendo. The +Robinson family were going north on the steamer which would carry me +to Panama. On leaving, our friends gave us a splendid banquet and +assembled at the station to bid us farewell. Poor Chico, I can see him +yet, waving his old red handkerchief with his right hand, his left +covering his eyes. + +When the ship moved out of the port, I stood on the deck with Hattie. +Mr. Robinson and the aged mother stood near us looking upon the scene +amid a flood of tears. The memory of their dead they were leaving +behind, was no doubt uppermost in their minds. + +I looked upon the mountains we were just leaving until they were a +mere speck. I intended to perform one last service for Peru, for, +however much I had suffered, it was my boyhood's home, the only home I +had had since leaving my native shores. + +We were a week making the voyage from Mollendo to Panama. The weather +was fine and the sea was smooth. I was in company with Hattie much of +the time. In her gentle way, she sought to dissuade me from the +perilous undertaking with the torpedo boat. But when I reminded her of +my duty to Peru she said no more. I could see, however, she was +pained at the thought. + +The north bound steamer had gone when we arrived at Panama and the +Robinsons would have to wait ten days, which compelled them to stay at +the hotel in that sultry city. + +After visiting the Peruvian consul, who had been notified of my +mission by his government, I learned that a Chilean cruiser was +watching the torpedo boat and it was decided to await a dark night +when we could escape from Panama harbor. Meantime I stopped at the +same hotel with the Robinsons. I made several trips around the bay to +test the speed of the boat and was satisfied we could outrun the +cruiser, but somehow I began to dread the venture. The full force of +this feeling dawned on me when I realized I was in love with Hattie. + +The day was drawing near for their departure, when Hattie and I were +seated on the veranda of the hotel, looking out over the Pacific. The +afternoon wore away, the sun began to set in the dense blue haze of +the tropic ocean, the great cathedral bells pealed out the hour of +eight, the night birds screeched from out the palms, and still we sat +in the glow of the twilight, talking of our past and future. + +The streets became silent and even some stars had faded from the skies +and the ceaseless roar of the surf beating upon the sands was music, +when she promised to be my wife. + +[Illustration: FLIGHT OF THE TORPEDO BOAT. (Page 158)] + + + + +XIX. + +DEATH SHIPS OF THE SEA. + + +A thick fog rose from the sea, as we stole away in the darkness with +the torpedo boat. We had no distinguishing lights and every sound was +muffled. Even the funnels were protected against the tell-tale sparks +of soft coal. The spume of the sea fell over our forward deck in +flecks, and the waves splashed at our bow. The harbor lights of Panama +shone in a glow of sickly yellow. + +An officer stood by the hooded binnacle, watching our course by the +faint glow of a tiny lamp. The bulldog engines, which I was working, +were speeding us at 17 knots an hour and we were headed for Mollendo. +We had no armament. That was sent to the Peruvian government by other +means and our only defense against the Chilean cruiser was a clean +pair of heels. + +Suddenly, the eye of a search-light opened, and sent a long gleam of +yellow into the fog. It swung around and rested for a moment on the +column of smoke trailing from our funnels and changed its color from a +black to a fiery red. It rested there a moment, then closed and all +was darkness. The tumult was deafening. The hissing rush of +projectiles, as they struck the water and exploded by impact, or +shrieked in ricochet overhead. + +The brave officer at the binnacle fell to the deck, his mangled body a +quivering mass. One funnel was struck midway and cut in twain as +though by a sharpened blade. Fire darted up from the half funnel, and +showed the cruiser's gunners the correctness of their aim. It lit our +deck with its glare and showed the bodies of two others on the forward +deck bathed in blood. Another officer coolly took his place at the +binnacle and directed a change in the course of the boat. + +The spurting jets of fire from our broken funnel gleamed in the fog, +like a beacon light to those on board the gaunt black monster of the +seas, in pursuit of his prey. A hunted thing on the black waves, we +crowded on every ounce of steam throughout the watches of the night. + +With the morning came the blaze of the tropic sun. It drove the fog +off the sea and showed us the hull of the cruiser, looming up out of +the purple mist. Steadily, we held our course, with steam up to the +danger line. By noon we had gained a little, and again, with the +approach of night, the fog began to rise and soon enveloped us in its +grey cloak. But that beacon light from our funnel shone hateful as its +spurting jets flashed signals to the enemy in pursuit. + +Another night passed, and, when the fog lifted again, there was the +vampire even nearer than before. + +The nervous strain was telling on our crew. The day before we joked +and laughed--we would outrun him yet in the night. We would have; but +for the glare from that funnel. We might have stolen into some cove +and let him pass us in the dark, but for that. He did not waste shot +anymore, we were going his way. He could afford to wait. The third day +the crew was worn and silent. They had the look of desperation in +their faces, as they threw furtive glances back at the spectre, the +Ship of Death--The Black Coffin--we called him now. + +At high noon, we met an American warship. His crew crowded to his +decks and gave cheer after cheer in sympathy for our desperate plight. +The big greyhound of the sea was chasing the rabbit he had bitten and +maimed, and the sympathy was with the weak. By night the nervous +strain had become almost a frenzy. Then to add to our peril, the coal +in the bunkers was running low. Something must happen in our favor +soon. Our signal still flashed from the half funnel--our signal of +distress--and by midnight we called it our funeral candle. The sky was +clear now and the stars were shining. We could see lights flash now +and then through the haze of the sea. When morning came there he was +big, black, hideous--still in our wake. + +Coal for eight more hours only. Surely something would happen; help +must come, out of the sea, out of the sky, out of somewhere, only it +must come. The sea was smooth; not a ship could be seen on the +horizon. All on board were in restless anxiety. Only coal for three +more hours. + +We were now off Ecuador. The officer in command called the crew. + +"We shall have to surrender the boat," he said. + +The assistant engineer, two stokers and myself, all of us British, +shouted "Never! We are not here to lay in a Chilean prison and perhaps +be shot! We beach the boat!" Our emphasis was our drawn revolvers. + +Without a word, the officer headed the boat for the shore. We gathered +up a few edibles and when we grounded the boat, swam to the beach. The +officer lingered for some time after all were ashore, then hurried +over her sides and made his escape. The Chilean cruiser launched her +boat, eight sailors to each side of rowlocks, an ensign and a party of +marines. They rowed rapidly to the torpedo boat and half of them +climbed on board, when her sides parted and a terrific flame shot +upward, bearing the bodies of a dozen men. The officer had lit the +fuse that did the work. + +Ten days afterwards the two stokers, assistant engineer and myself, +footsore and ragged, went on board the British mail steamer at +Guayaquil and presented ourselves to the gruff old captain. + +"Get below in the stoke-hole and black up," he said, "the Chilean +government offers five thousand dollars reward for each of you. If we +are searched you are stokers." + +Meanwhile, on board another ship far to the north were aching hearts. +Hattie's aged mother fell ill when two days out from Panama and the +next day she passed away. Rules required that the body be buried at +sea. It was a solemn group that assembled at the ship's gangway, while +all that was mortal of the aged mother rested on a plank, one end of +which was held by a sailor. Slowly the chaplain read the beautiful +service. The ship was stopped. Not a sound was heard and the midnight +moon was hidden by clouds. "Therefore we commit this body to the +deep," was pronounced. The plank was raised and the body was swallowed +up in the cavernous depths of the ocean. + +Hattie leaned upon the arm of Mr. Robinson, who tenderly escorted her +to the cabin when the rites were over. To her the world was gloomy and +desolate, her sister but recently buried in far away Arequipa and the +mother now in the sea. With a fortitude beyond her years the Christian +girl bore bravely her deep sorrows, trusting in Him "who doeth all +things well." When the ship reached the open roadstead of Port +Harford, and she again landed on the shores of her native California, +she went to her former home--a vine-clad cottage in San Louis Obispo. + +It was here I found her some weeks after I assumed the role of stoker +on the British mail steamer. Mr. Robinson had gone to his former home +in Missouri, but Hattie was protected by relatives. We talked of our +coming marriage. It was not possible at that time. I had lost so much +money by exchange from the paper currency of Peru to the gold of +California, that I needed time to replenish my almost depleted purse. +We decided that we would wait one year, meanwhile I would go to +Arizona and run an engine on the railroad east of Tuscon. + +It made my heart glad to be in a country once more where my own +language was spoken and among people whose customs were like unto that +of my native land. There was no prejudice toward me on account of my +foreign birth, such as I had often encountered in Peru. The hand of +fellowship was extended in this broad free land of the United States, +where the greatness of men is measured almost by merit alone. + +What surprised me at first was the absence of soldiers until I came to +understand the peace-loving disposition of the people, and learned +that in the hour of the country's need, all men became her defenders. + +It was one of those balmy afternoons, so characteristic of southern +California, when Hattie and I were seated in a park overlooking the +beautiful Los Ossis valley. Our plans were made for the future, and I +was to leave that night for Arizona. It was the tender parting of man +and woman whose lives had been seared by the hot irons of adversity, +and each felt that the other was the one and all upon this planet. + + * * * * * + +Here Buchan's narrative was broken short. He was writing the last +chapter on a pair of ladies' dainty cuffs, when he stopped and +listened. He arose to his feet. "Do you know," he said, "I thought a +moment ago I heard something--her voice." + + + + +XX. + +A DAUGHTER OF THE CHEROKEES. + + +Mary Greenwater was not the ugly, coarse-featured woman that many +squaws are. She possessed many of the fine features of her white +sisters. She had been well educated at the Carlisle Indian school, and +had traveled much. While, with other Cherokee Indians, she drew her +annuities from the government, yet she was known to be the wealthiest +woman of the tribe. She was lavish in the expenditure of money. Her +home in the Cherokee hills was elaborately furnished with the richest +of carpets and furniture; even a grand piano adorned her parlor. But +with all its costly appointments, the house was a wilderness of +disorder. Like other of her race, she despised anything akin to +neatness. Her dresses were gaudy in color and extravagant in style. +Pearl necklaces, diamond brooches and rings were worn on all +occasions. She owned fine carriages and many spirited horses. As a +horsewoman, she was an expert and as a pistol shot she was accounted +the best in the Cherokee nation. Her servants were the half-breed +Indian Negroes to whom her word was as absolute a law as any Caliph +ever possessed over a tribe. She was accustomed to command, and if +disobeyed she enforced her orders at the point of the revolver she +always carried. + +The source of Mary Greenwater's wealth was a mystery. Those of her +tribe gave themselves no concern about it, but the matter was a +subject of much comment among the few white men in the territory. +Mercer, a young man of adventurous spirit, hearing of her fabulous +wealth, sought her hand in marriage. After the wedding, he used all +his arts to wring from her the secret of her riches. Once when she +started on one of her lone journeys to the hills of the Grand River, +he attempted to follow and that was the last ever seen or heard of +him. That the woman possessed the secret of a vast amount of lost +treasure was evident, as she spent many Spanish gold coins of ancient +date as months rolled on, and this induced Grim, a farm hand, to marry +her. She elevated him from a menial position, to overseer of her +ranch. She gave him money, which he recklessly spent at the faro +tables at the Garrison. When she refused to further indulge him in his +reckless expenditures, he, like Mercer, attempted to follow her on her +journey to the Grand River hills one night. He was missed by his +companions who went in numbers to search for him, taking an Indian +guide. They were led in an opposite direction from the way he went and +his fate remained a mystery, until many months later his body was +found in the Grand River, with a bullet in the brain. + +Two years after the death of Grim, Carson and a negro were hunting in +the Grand River country and were encamped one night in the hills. +While seated beside their campfire, they heard a cry of distress. +Upon going to the spot, they found a lone Indian woman pinioned +beneath her pony, which had stepped into a wolf hole and broke its +leg. The woman was badly injured and they carried her to their +campfire and made her comfortable. The next day they constructed a +rude litter and carried her twenty miles to a place where she could +receive medical attention. + +The woman was Mary Greenwater, and this was, perhaps, the first act of +kindness she had ever received. + +A certain escapade at the close of Carson's college days had caused +him to migrate to the West, where, like many others, he became a +soldier of fortune, drifting whither the strongest tide wind blew. +When Mary Greenwater recovered she sought him, and in her gratitude +made him the overseer of her ranch at a princely salary. + +In course of time they were married by the ancient Indian ceremony of +the Fastest Horse. When the days of feasting were over, and Mary +Greenwater's relatives had returned to their cabins richer by a +number of ponies, Mary told Carson a wondrous story of how, many +summers ago, when her grandfather was a boy, a Spanish caravan came +from Santa Fe and was besieged in the Grand river hills for many days, +and of how, finding that they would eventually be starved to death if +they remained, the travelers had hidden their possessions among the +lime rocks and undertaken to cut their way through the Indian hordes +to a place of safety. Her grandfather had found the hiding place of +the treasure and had kept it a profound secret from all except +herself, to whom he told it only when he began to sing his death +song. + +Mary Greenwater swore to Carson that the hiding place of the Spanish +treasure would never be known except to one other member of her tribe, +and then not until after her death. She told him there were valuable +papers which she knew none of her people could ever use, and which she +later gave to Carson. + +The documents were discolored and the ink faded and this much Carson +was able to decipher: "Jean Maldonado visited a far distant country +north of Santa Fe--a wide valley through which flowed a stream, along +the banks were bushes that bore fruit like unto those of Spain--in the +valley were herds of oxen of the bigness and color of our bulls--their +horns are not so great--they have a great bunch upon their fore +shoulders and more hair on the forepart than on the hindpart; they +have a horse's mane upon their backbone and much hair and very long +from the knees downward--they have great tufts of hair hanging from +their foreheads and it seemeth they have beards--they push with their +horns--they overtake and kill a horse--finally it is a fierce beast of +countenance and form of body--we feared these beasts and stayed near +the mountains named the Sangre de Christo.... Climbed the mountain to +a great flat rock that stood on end like a platter.... Jean Maldonado, +commander of an expedition reached this place 1750.... The mine +yielded much gold in a rock like white china--Babtiste beat it out +with--Mattheo returned from Santa Fe with more donkeys--loaded donkeys +with much unbeaten rock--returned to Santa Fe"-- + +Here the ink was so faded that nothing more could be made of the +manuscript. The accompanying map was more perfect. The tracings showed +the mountain ranges. It had been drawn almost with the precision of an +engineer. The route from Santa Fe through the mountain passes was +clearly shown; there were marks of each day's stops. Where the map +showed the end of the journey there was the rude drawing of a cliff +set on edge and below it was marked "Gold." + +Carson pondered over the quaint document for many days. The Indian +marriage with Mary Greenwater had become a matter of regret. While the +woman loved him, yet her love was like a new bowie knife, to be +handled with care. He decided to leave the Grand River country and +bide his time until Mary Greenwater should make one of her long visits +to the hills. One night he mounted the best horse on the ranch and +driving thirty others ahead of him, set out for Colorado. On the way +he sold most of the horses to ranchmen and cattlemen and netted a neat +sum. + +When Mary Greenwater returned and found her spouse had vanished, her +fury knew no bounds. Ordinarily the Indian squaw might be deserted by +her lord and she would stoically accept her fate. Mary might have done +so had she not been spoiled by being educated at Carlisle. Her savage +blood grew hot for revenge. She made another trip to the Grand river +hills, presumably for a larger amount of money, placed her affairs in +the hands of her Indian-Negro servants, and started on the trail of +Carson, believing she would have no trouble in overtaking a man +driving that many head of horses. Meanwhile the fall rains set in and +the shallow rivers of the plains became raging torrents. But to a +woman of Mary Greenwater's determined character, these things were +obstacles only for the time being. Her heart was bad and her love of +revenge strong. + + + + +XXI. + +CARSON'S BLANK PAGES IN LIFE. + + +When Carson left the cabin he followed the winding trail that led to +the valley below. The road to Saguache showed the hoofprints of a +prospector's outfit, and the marks of a sleigh leading to Del Norte. +The glare of the sun on the reflected snow was blinding and he drew +his hat down over his eyes. He was thinking of his worthless life +since leaving college. Once he had builded lofty hopes of future +doings in the world, but he had allowed himself to drift; his ship of +fate had gone wherever the strongest tide wind carried. He saw now +that he might have marked out some honorable career and piloted his +course toward it. Others of his class in college were in a fair way to +make their mark in the world. Why was it not so with him? It was born +in him, as it had been in his father, to choose the wild life of the +frontier in preference to holding the presidency of a bank in Atlanta. +He felt that the world in its wildest freedom was his for his +pleasure. The cords of restraint which society demanded were to him +the fetters of a tyrant ruler, and so, as Sampson broke the green +withes which bound him, Carson broke the laws of society--nay +civilization, and married a squaw according to the ceremony of her +people. He repented the act to some extent, and then cast his cares +aside, with the comforting knowledge that the world was too busy a +place for people to give themselves much concern over his affairs. +Long ago he realized that if he threw himself into the swirl of +humanity and allowed himself to become a part of its motives and its +emotions, that it would require a herculean effort to attain a +position where he could look over the heads of other men. That +position, he argued, was not worth the life-long effort required. +Withal, he could not bring himself to quite understand why he had +married Mary Greenwater, unless that she possessed some occult power +and gained control over forces of his nature which he did not +understand. True, there was but little or no obligation to the +ceremony. It held good in the Cherokee Indian nation, that government +within a government. Outside that limited space of ground it was null +and void. He was a free man under the laws of his own government. Yet +that act, of his own creation, somehow seemed to stand over him like a +Frankenstein with an uplifted axe. + +The snow was deep, and as he plodded along with these thoughts running +through his mind, he heard a cry. Glancing backwards he saw a horse +drawing a sleigh, plunging madly down the road. The reins were held by +a woman, frantically urging the horse forward. Some distance behind +four huge mountain lions were in hot pursuit, their heavy bodies +crouching and springing forward many feet at a leap. Carson took in +the situation at a glance and, raising his hand as a signal to the +girl in the sleigh to rein in, he sprang into the vehicle as she +passed. The momentary pause had given the beasts a chance to gain, +when, drawing his revolver, he fired at the foremost and sent it +rolling in the snow. Another shot and a second lion paused with a +mighty roar. At this the other two turned and fled in the opposite +direction. + +Carson now took the reins and stopped the horse. The animal was +trembling with fright, while the girl was calm but pale. + +"Rather a close shave, eh, Sis?" + +"Truly," she replied, "how fortunate you were here. I was driving +to Del Norte when I met the lions. They were gamboling in the +snow like kittens. When I turned Bess, they pursued. I want the +one you have just killed, I want to have him mounted to remember +today,--and--and--you." + +"By all means, Miss, you shall have it, but where are you going now?" + +"Back to Saguache after this fright. Poor Old Bess could not have +stood the race much farther. See how she trembles. I am the niece of +Mr. Amos. My name is Annie Amos. I have friends in Del Norte, whom I +intended to visit. I shall wait now until I have an escort." + +"Ah--my name is Carson--Jack Carson. I was going to Saguache to see +Mr. Amos, the assayer, to have him test a jug handle,--er, that is, to +have the jug handle test him. I don't mean that; I mean our mine is +named the Jug Handle, I will get it right after awhile, and I want him +to make a test of the ore." + +"Confound it," he thought as he turned the horse, "I haven't the sense +of a jackrabbit to make a break like that." + +One of the lions lay pawing the snow in its death struggle and as +Carson came near, it reared itself as if to make one last leap. Its +eyes gleamed in savage yellow, foam fell in flecks from its mouth, +while a tiny stream of crimson stained the snow. Carson's weapon spit +fire and the creature rolled over motionless. He dragged the carcass +to the end of the sleigh and, lifting it upon the edge of the box, +made it fast. + +"If you are going to Saguache to see my uncle, I fear you will be +disappointed as he left this morning for an absence of several days." + +"That does not matter as I have other business anyway. Most any time +will do, as I am in town quite often. We would better not drive so +fast. Your horse is in a foam." + +Carson was fast becoming interested in the girl at his side. Her calm +poise, after the exciting adventures with the mountain lions, +surprised him. Other women would have been hysterical, but here by his +side sat a girl not yet out of her teens, as calm and collected as a +veteran soldier after the battle. And Amos, the man he was going to +see and intended to kill if he proved to be the villain he suspected +him to be, was her uncle. + +The white billows rose rank on rank on the distant mountains, while +the snow of the valley shrunk visibly away, leaving the grey rocks +naked and protuberant. + +The newly-made acquaintances chatted gaily as the horse jogged along. + +"I was thinking of your remark awhile ago," said Carson, "that you +would go to Del Norte tomorrow if you had an escort, and as I have +some time to idle away it would give me pleasure to drive you over." + +"It would give me equal pleasure to have you do so," she replied with +admirable frankness, "that is, if you are going there anyway." + +"I may need to purchase some new implements with which to work the +Aberdeen--I mean the Jug Handle mine," he explained. "I have heard of +a new drill they are working over there and it may be just the thing +for the formation we are now in." + +"I see," said the girl, as a mischievous smile flitted about her lips, +"and I am very glad you will accompany me. I shall make you acquainted +with some of my very dear friends." + +Carson was forgetting his millions in the mine and letting his mind +wander to the expected joys of entertaining and being entertained by +people of real worth once more. He felt returning pride, and then the +thought of the Frankenstein with the uplifted axe made him groan +inwardly. But pshaw! she did not know--never would know, and what +people do not know will not hurt them, he reasoned. + +He felt an increasing admiration for the girl beside him. They were +alone in the wide expanse of valley and had known each other only an +hour, yet this girl was willing to trust to his honor and manhood. And +be it said for Carson, as it may be said for thousands of other men on +the American frontier, he would have yielded his life rather than +betray that sacred trust. Instances like this are common in the West. + +As they drove down the main street of Saguache, the passers looked +curiously at the pair in the sleigh and at the dead lion strapped +behind. When they stopped in front of the postoffice, a crowd gathered +around the sleigh. A supple figure edged through the crowd and +addressed the girl: + +"Kill it all by yourself, Annie?" + +The familiarity with which he spoke nettled the girl, and she turned +her head without answering. The supple figure felt the rebuff and all +the more because others noticed it. He stood his ground, however, +until Carson returned and when he saw his face he quickly drew out of +sight. + +"Tomorrow at seven," said Carson, as he bade her good-bye at her +house. + +Carson went to his hotel with a lighter heart than he had had for +months. He lit a cigar and sat by the window, then felt for something +in his pocket, and threw it in the wood-box. "There are other jug +handles," he said to himself. + +He walked the streets aimlessly until supper. He retired early and +tried to sleep, but his thoughts ran wild on the events of the day. He +could think of no one except Annie. It was still early in the night, +when he arose from a restless bed and went out on the streets. Lights +blazed from the Lone Tree saloon, and as he entered he saw a crowd +about the faro table. The sudden exclamations of many voices told +that some one was winning heavily. He pressed forward through the +crowd and saw the form of a woman. When she partially turned her face, +he felt his heart give a great throb, and he fled into the street. + +The remainder of the night he walked through the crunching snow, while +the silent stars seemed to gaze with tearful eyes upon him in this, +the greatest misery he had ever known. He walked several miles out of +town to avoid meeting anyone he knew and then presented himself at the +Amos residence. + +"I believe it is seven o'clock, Miss Annie," he said, when she +answered his call. + +"Yes, and I am ready," was the cheerful answer. + + + + +XXII. + +A VOICE FROM CENTURIES PAST. + + +Buchan was ready to throw the lever of his engine and roll out of +Tucson, when a messenger handed him a packet bearing the postmark of +Peru. The missive showed signs of age, and, having traveled much, had +reached its destination at last. He tossed it into his tool box and an +hour later when speeding over the scorched deserts of Arizona, he +opened the packet. The letter was dated at Truxillo and read: + + "Dear Don Juan--I have been ill for many months, and I feel that + my end is drawing nigh, but before I go I want to do something for + you. I have heard how Don Rodrigo so justly met his end, and with + this knowledge I die easier. You are young and strong, with a long + life of usefulness ahead, and I feel that in entrusting to you a + family secret, I am only doing that which I would have done had + Felicita lived. She was the last of our house and the heritage of + our family belonged to her. As it is, I make you my heir to the + valuable papers handed down to me from my ancestors. May they + prove to you a blessing. Would that I had more to give you. May + the blessings of the Virgin ever rest upon you. + + "Julian." + +Accompanying the letter was a parchment scroll, dated Lima, 1752. It +read: + +"I, Jean Maldonado, do write of my extraordinary adventures in Nueva +Espanola, wherein I was duly appointed the Commander of an expedition +to the land of Quivera, in search of the Seven Cities of Cibola, in +the service of his excellency, the viceroy of Santa Fe. A barbarian +told us he would lead us unto a land to the far north, where shops +blazed with jewels and common cooking vessels were made of gold; that +the metal was so common as to be of no value. The king of this city +took his noonday meals beneath a golden canopy, hung with tinkling +silver bells. There was a sea upon which this king rode in a canoe, +which would carry twenty horses. Upon its prow was an idol of beaten +gold. The canoe was fitted with sumptuous cushions, upon which the +monarch took his siestas, to the music made by dancing maidens with +bells and castanets. Fish as large as horses abounded, and sweet fruit +bigger than a soldier's helmet grew upon the trees. The monarch who +ruled over this land was long-bearded, white-haired, and wore robes of +bright-hued, rich stuffs, and slept in a garden where trees were hung +with a thousand bells, which made exquisite music when shaken by the +wind. And this king worshipped the golden image of a woman, the Queen +of Heaven, and ate from gold and silver bowls, of which the dais he +sat upon was made. He spoke with vast assurance and said he would +conduct us thither whenever we should follow. + +"We journeyed northward many leagues over mountains and came to a wide +valley watered by a stream. Farther on were high mountains and we +named them Sangre de Christo and marked three mountains 'Spanish +Peaks' on our map, that we might not miss our way. One day a pious +soldier saw the barbarian with his face in a pool of water, talking +with the devil. After that we were suspicious. After many days' +journey we found the city, but alas, it was mud huts, and the only +metal was a copper plate around the old chief's neck and by which he +sat great store. There were no golden vessels, no image of the Virgin, +no golden dais and no silver bells. + +"The wicked barbarian then said he had led us into the desert to die. +Our soldiers were wroth and I ordered him hanged on a considerable +tree, to let him know there was a God in heaven and a King in Spain. + +"We turned our steps backward after we had set up a cross, and +journeyed into the valley. Now there were many oxen come into the +valley of the figure and color of our bulls, but their horns were not +so great. They had a great bunch upon their fore shoulders and more +hair upon their fore parts than on their hind parts. They had a +horse's mane upon their backbone and much hair from the knees +downward. They had great tufts of hair hanging from their foreheads +and it seemeth that they had beards, because of the great store of +hair at their chins and throats. In some respects they resembled a +lion, and in some others the camel. They pushed with their horns, and +they overtook and killed horses. Finally, it was a foul and fierce +beast of countenance. + +"We have stayed close to the mountains where we could flee to the +rocks if they pursued us. We were crossing the mountain, when we came +upon a spring near unto a huge cliff that sat on the edge like a +platter. We camped here many days until the bulls left the valley. +Some distance from the rock like a platter, Casteanda found gold in a +white rock, which we did beat up and saved much pure gold. Casteanda +journeyed to Santa Fe and returned with more donkeys, and we loaded +upon them much unbeaten rock. We all then journeyed back to Santa Fe, +for the barbarians were angry at our intrusion and we went in haste, +leaving more gold in the white rock than would load a ship's boat. I +cut in the rock, high up, the words: + + "'Jean Maldonado. + "'Commander of an Expedition, reached this place, 1750.' + +"All this, so that the subjects of Spain might know this country +belonged to His Majesty. + +"We journeyed back to Santa Fe after many days of hardships and we +found a new Viceroy had been appointed and he demanded our gold. This +we were loath to give up, and after selling it to a trader for the +coin of the realm, we started across the country for New Orleans, +knowing well not to go south for the new Viceroy would pursue us and +take the gold. + +"We journeyed along the banks of a considerable river by night and hid +ourselves by day. We saw many thousands of ferocious bulls grazing, +and when they ran the noise was like thunder and it made us afraid. We +crossed many rivers and finally came to a country of wooded hills +where the Barbarians were thick and ferocious. + +"The Barbarians pursued us and we hid our gold and records in a cave +and rolled a stone over the hole and fled. They killed nearly all of +our expedition and our mules. Baptiste was sorely wounded in the +breast with an arrow and notwithstanding we bled him copiously, he +died. + +"The treatment given us by the Barbarians irritated us exceedingly and +we fell upon them with swords when they were not in great numbers. + +"We came to a river whose waters were red, like unto the color of the +tiles on the houses of Seville, and after journeying along its banks +for many nights, we came unto the River of the Holy Ghost, which +DeSoto discovered and here we found safety. + +"While all these things were new in my mind I made another map in +order that I might take another expedition to the mine when the +Viceroy grew rich from the spoils of office and would trouble us no +more. But he did write unto the people of Spain that I would be hanged +upon my return to Santa Fe, therefore I desisted in returning. Being +extremely irritated at his conduct I sought my fortune in Peru, until +such time when he should be called to heaven, which call even now, in +my old age, has not yet been made, over which misfortune I have sorely +grieved." + +Accompanying this document was a map with the Sangre de Christo range, +the Spanish Peaks, the River, Valley and flat cliff on edge, plainly +marked. The distance from Santa Fe and the mountain passes was clearly +indicated. + +A month later Buchan was transferred on a run out of Santa Fe where +the hand of Fate and Chance again took part. He received a letter from +Mr. Robinson who had joined a surveying party and had fallen ill at +Saguache. The letter implored him to come, if he ever expected to see +him alive. True to his old time friendship, he lost no time in +reaching his bedside. Mr. Robinson lingered a few weeks and died. This +was more sad news for Hattie in her far-away home, amid the Santa +Lucia mountains. She alone remained of the happy family who had gone +to Arequipa with fond hopes for the future beneath those sunny skies. + +I, the writer, had been with Carson a few days before prospecting in +the Sangre de Christo mountains, when by chance we rested at the +spring beside the peculiar shaped cliff. I noticed that Carson was +interested in the surroundings, but I thought nothing of it at the +time. The formation of the cliff appealed to my fancy, and I chanced +to mention it to Buchan one day when he became excited and asked to be +shown its whereabouts. + +Together with Carson we visited the spot. Being an old prospector, I +soon discovered formations that looked like pay ore. My years of +experience in these mountains had taught me that a man might work a +lifetime and gain nothing, and again from the outcroppings of a stone +at grass roots he might develop a mine worth a million dollars. + +Carson and Buchan were sanguine over our prospects, too much so, I +thought, for men who had no experience in mining. + +I located the claim so as to include the cliff and spring and when I +made out the registration papers, I said: "Gentlemen, what shall we +call the mine?" + +"Name it the Maldonado," said Carson. + +"What!" exclaimed Buchan, turning an ashen paleness. + +"The Major Domo," replied Carson, looking somewhat abashed. + +"Name it the Aberdeen," said Buchan. "I like to hear that name spoken, +it was my old home in Scotland." + + + + +XXIII. + +THE TWO OLD BLACK CROWS. + + +Amos sat in the little back room of Rayder's office in Denver. His +beady black eyes glistened beneath his beetle brows. A pleased +expression shone on his thin face, drawn in wrinkles like stained +parchment. Rayder was out, but had left instructions for him to wait. +As he sat there his eye caught sight of something interesting on +Rayder's desk. The door was closed and he was alone. He leaned forward +and took up some slips of paper for closer inspection. They were +certificates of assay from Pendleton. The pleased look vanished as he +noted Amos No. 1, Amos No. 2, Amos No. 3, and so on for a dozen or +more slips. Rayder did not trust him, and had had the sample of ore +assayed by Pendleton for corroboration. + +"He does not even believe in honesty among thieves," he mused, as he +carefully replaced the papers. Then the pleased look came back to his +face. + +"All the better," he thought. "He will deal now and it is my time to +strike before the iron cools." + +He drew his chair further back from the desk, and pretended to be +reading a newspaper when he heard Rayder coming. + +"Just the man I have been wanting to see," said Rayder, extending his +hand, "how is everything in Saguache and how is Annie?" + +"Annie is handsome as ever, but there is a new assayer coming to town +next month and I understand he is on the dead square, and what we do +we have got to do all-fired quick. How is this for an eye-opener?" He +took from his pocket several lumps of shining ore. + +"Sylvanite," exclaimed Rayder. "What does it run?" + +"Eighty ounces to the ton. There is a quarter of a million dollars on +the dump and the fellows think it is copper and pyrites of iron." + +"How would it do to contest the claim?" + +"Dangerous business, they have taken to killing claim jumpers. One was +shot last week, and this outfit will shoot, no mistake. It is better +to buy them out for a song. They are about broke anyway. They believe +everything I tell them, have a child-like confidence in me, same as +everybody has. I tell you, Rayder, I stand at the top in the +estimation of everybody, and all we have got to do is to have the +buyer on the ground, and when they come in with their next samples I +will prove to them their values have run out, show them some rich +stuff from down the valley and like all others of their class, they +will stampede." + +"That sounds good, but tell me more of Annie, did she appreciate the +cloak I sent her for a Christmas present?" + +"Appreciate it! I should say she did. She just worships it because it +came from you, and say, she has your photograph on the wall where she +can see it all the time. She just dotes on that picture. I tell her +there is the chance of her life, a fine house, fine clothes, a chance +to go abroad and cultivate her musical talent, become a great singer +and meet dukes and lords and crowned heads. Why, the girl is just +crazy over you, and I believe she would marry you even if you did not +have a cent. It is like marrying December to May, you sixty and she +nineteen, pretty and vivacious--warm up your old bones, eh?" + +Rayder's eyes shone and he stroked his beard with delight. "Charley," +he called to his office boy, "bring up a quart of whisky, some lemons +and sugar." + +"Sweet creature, I love thee," said Amos a few minutes later, holding +up a half goblet of whisky. "You do the proper thing in setting out +these kind of glasses; puts me in mind of my old home down in Texas, +where we never drink out of anything smaller than a tin cup or a +gourd." + +"Here is to Annie and Rayder--may your posterity become presidents +and wives of presidents." + +"Drink hearty," said Rayder, emptying his glass, which he had filled +to the fullness of Amos' out of compliment. + +"Charley, bring up a box of perfectos," he shouted. "You may then lock +up and go home." + +The glasses were again drained and the two black crows chattered until +the streets were growing quiet for the night. Supper was forgotten in +the love feast of Amos and Rayder. + +"Do you know, Amos, I always did love you just like a brother?" + +"Here, too, Rayder, you know the first time we saw each other, I sez +to myself--I sez--there is a man that would stick to a friend through +thick and thin." + +"You are that kind of a man yourself, Amos, is the reason you have a +good opinion of me. I never had a friend in distress yet that I didn't +help him out." + +"That's right, Rayder, that's right. Them's the qualities that go to +make up nature's noblemen. Lord, if I had a known you years ago we'd +a bin millionaires--my knowledge of mines and your sagacity. That's +what counts, and you never fail in your estimate of men, either. Lord, +you was born under lucky stars. + +"Take another drink, Rayder, take a cistern full. 'Taint often we meet +on auspicious occasions like this, and we won't go home 'till mornin,' +and we won't go home 'till morning, hic--hurrah for Annie, Rayder, and +a million outer the mine." + +"An' she shame short of share of prosperity to my brother Amos," and +Rayder took another drink. + +"Shay, Rayder, you come and go home with me and hang around a day or +two until you buy the mine and play sweet with Annie, an' the night of +the weddin' we'll hev a dance and send you away on your bridal tour in +a blaze of glory." + +"I'll do it, I'll do it, Amos, an' then we'll be almost brothers +'cordin' ter law, anyway." + +"Shay, Rayder, did I tell ye I had a little mix up with a woman, an' +I'm scared to death 'fear old woman 'ill find it out. I got 'ter +square the deal or I'm a goner and stuff's all off, want yer to let me +take ten thousand fer few days, got ter blow a lot o' money on +weddin', too, yer see." + +"All right, Amos, youse's square a man's ever met. I'll let ye hev +it." + +"Good, thet's relief; sooner I get it easier mind'll be. Nuthin' like +'mediate action to relieve man's mind, you know. Let's take nuther +drink and ye can write th' check with steadier hand." + +Rayder swallowed another drink while Amos fumbled about the desk until +he found Rayder's check book. + +"Bet ye can't spell ten without making a crook. There now, if you can +write thousand as well you're a peachareno. Bully, now write Silas +Rayder at the bottom. You're a brother in fact, Rayder, an' I love ye +better as any brother. Shay, let's hev nuther bottle." + +And Amos pocketed the check and quietly slipped down stairs, to the +saloon and was back with another quart before Rayder had roused from +his drunken stupor. He poured out another half goblet of whisky. + +"Shay, Rayder, de ye know about story of Guvner of North Carolina sed +to Guvner of South Carolina, to effet an' words, it was long time +between drinks?" + +"An' that was a damn shame Guvner hed to wait, ought to had you along +an' famous epigram ed never been born." + +Half an hour later Rayder was stretched upon the lounge in the little +back office, dead to the world. Amos sat by the window sobering up +until the grey of the morning. The sleeping man roused, and Amos gave +him another half goblet of whisky followed by a sip of water. He had +drawn the blinds and left the coal-oil lamp burning when it grew +light, lest the sleeping man should arouse and discover it was +daylight. + +When the office boy came, he cautioned him not to awaken Rayder. He +then crossed over to the bank, called for the face payment of the +check in gold coin. He took the money to the Wells Fargo Express +company's office and expressed it to his wife in Saguache. + +[Illustration: THE AREGUIPENA. (Page 56)] + +Rayder was sleeping when he returned. He placed the check book in its +accustomed place in the desk, destroyed all evidence of the night's +debauch and left a note on the desk saying: "My dear Rayder, I have +been suddenly called home by the illness of my wife. Come to Saguache +as soon as you can make it convenient. Amos." + +When Rayder awoke it was four o'clock in the afternoon. His head was +in a whirl and every muscle was twitching. He called Charley and sent +for a doctor. The doctor saw the trouble at a glance. He called a hack +and accompanied Rayder to his home. + +"This will never do, Mr. Rayder. You have drank much whisky in your +time and it has become a poison to your system. Do not look for me to +get you out of this in less time than four weeks." + + + + +XXIV. + +THE RECKLESS HAND OF FATE. + + +The day was fair when Carson left Saguache with pretty Annie Amos +seated beside him in the sleigh. Although he had spent the night in +fearful anxiety, walking the streets, he now felt such a relief over +getting out of town, undiscovered by Mary Greenwater, that he was +bubbling over with high spirits. In the presence of Annie his better +nature stood outward and he even surprised himself with his quick +sallies of wit and repartee. Annie was charmed with his presence, and +as the two chatted gaily, they did not notice the lowering clouds +about the Spanish Peaks, until a strong wind began to raise and soon +one of those sudden storms so common to the region was coming in all +its fury. In a short while it became a raging blizzard. The snow +drifted in blinding swirls, so dense that the horse's head could not +be seen. + +Carson had experienced the blizzard on the range and knew the only +safe course was to let the horse have the reins, and trust to its +animal instinct to find a shelter. He drew the robes securely about +Annie and endeavored to allay her fears, although conscious of the +peril they were in. The horse was plodding its way through the +snow-drifts and it was evident that the animal would soon become +exhausted. The blizzard might last all night, or it might continue for +three days. On those trackless wastes in such a storm death by +freezing was almost certain, unless they reached a place of shelter. +The hours dragged by. He kept up an incessant talking with Annie, lest +she should fall into the fatal sleep. The girl was quick to perceive +his tender care, and in full apprehension of their danger, felt a +growing confidence in the man beside her. She knew that he fully +realized their peril and admired him for his efforts to conceal his +fears from her. + +It was growing darker and the horse was moving with feeble steps. +Carson was at the point of giving vent to his fears, when the animal +stopped. He left the sleigh, and upon going to the horse's head, found +they were beside a cabin. His heart gave a great leap of joy and he +called exultantly to Annie. + +The cabin was deserted, but, praise Providence, it was shelter. The +door swung open on its hinges. There was a fireplace with some +half-burned logs in a heap of ashes. When Annie was securely inside, +he brought in the robes from the sleigh and next unhitched the horse +and brought the animal inside the cabin. This made Annie's heart leap +with joy; she had not considered how they would protect the horse, and +this humane act on the part of Carson gave her the most implicit +confidence in the man. There is nothing to fear from a man who is so +kind to animals, was her mental comment. + +Soon there was a blazing fire on the hearth. Some poles were found by +the door. These Carson dug from the snow and brought inside. He had +no axe with which to cut them, and in the emergency, he laid the ends +together in the fire slantwise from the chimney, and as they burned +away, he shoved the logs forward. The wind screamed in wildest fury, +while the snow drifted in through the rough clapboard roof. + +Until now no thought had been given to the lunch which Annie had +prepared for the trip. She brought it out from among the wraps and +when Carson gave the horse a buttered biscuit as his share of the +meal, she watched the act with a thrill of gladness. The blazing logs +gave warmth and light, and the man and woman sat and talked throughout +the long watches of the night, while the snow drifted and the wind +screamed and roared, making the loose clapboards of the roof creak and +groan. + +There these two, thrown together by the reckless hand of fate, told +incidents of their lives and won the love and sympathy of each other. +A new song was born in Carson's breast. For a moment he seemed to +remember a former life; somewhere out in the wide, white waste and +hush of infinite space, where they had known each other and now their +souls imprisoned in forms of clay, they had met by chance and renewed +an old affinity. + +As she told him the simple story of her life, he listened with +ever-increasing interest. An orphan at an early age, she had since +lived in the home of her Uncle Amos. Everything had gone well until +the last year, when her uncle brought Rayder to their home and +insisted that she should regard him as a suitor for her hand. Rayder, +old and grey, had dyed his whiskers and tried to appear boyish. His +intentions were well enough--he would give her all she would ask that +money could purchase--but she could not love the man and could never +think of becoming his wife. Amos, her uncle, was a man of avarice and +greed. He insisted that it was a duty she owed him for his fatherly +care in bringing her up. He dwelt on the advantages it would be to +him in his old age and that it would be only right for her to help him +in this way. He had appealed to her generous nature and sought to make +her believe this sacrifice on her part would be just and right. Amos' +wife had taken the same view of the matter and urged that the wedding +should be at an early date. Annie, alone in the world, had no one to +whom she could go for counsel. Some of the coarse women of the mining +camp who came to their home thought her the most fortunate of girls to +have a suitor as rich as Rayder, and ridiculed the idea of her +refusing to accept the greatest opportunity of her life. Some of their +husbands were rough, uncouth men, who cared nothing for the luxuries +of a home, spent most of their money and time drinking and gambling at +the Lone Tree, and they gauged conditions as they were with +themselves. They were honest-hearted women of the frontier who +believed they were doing the girl a kindness. It was not through +bravery that she was cool and collected, yesterday, in the presence +of death from the lions, she told him, but because she had almost made +up her mind that she did not care. Death had lost its terrors in the +contemplation of impending fate. + +He did not tell her of the burden of his heart. He did not feel that +he dared to ask for sympathy. At that hour he would have given ten +years of his life to undo his marriage with Mary Greenwater by the +ancient custom of the Swiftest Horse. He knew the Indian woman and +knew that she intended to kill him and yet he felt helpless, +powerless. He did tell the girl beside him that he, too, was alone in +the world and hoped to merit the love of a good woman and that his +every act in life should go to prove his sincerity. And so, amid the +wild scenes of the night, they talked. + +At noon the following day, the storm abated and when the flurries of +snow had ceased they saw the town of Del Norte well down on the +plain. + +Annie was received at the home of her friends with delight and when +she told them of her recent adventures, they gave expression to +heartfelt joy for Annie's safety, and called Carson a hero. + +Carson did not leave Del Norte for six weeks. Meanwhile, Annie visited +her friends. When the two were not together in the cozy parlor at +Annie's host's, Carson kept close in his room at the hotel. He wanted +to delay the meeting with Mary Greenwater as long as possible. If she +was only a man,--ah, that would be different! It would then be knife +to knife, or bullet to bullet--he would not shrink. But she was a +woman, an educated Indian woman upon whom society had some claim, and +she had some claim upon it. + +Annie promised to become his wife and it was arranged that she should +return to her uncle's home, and as soon as he could arrange his +affairs at the mine they would go to an eastern state. He first +intended, however, to make a clean breast of the Mary Greenwater +affair, and trust his fate to her love for him. + +When he reached the foot of the Sangre de Christo range, through the +great depths of snow, he saw the fearful havoc of the snow slide and +noted the slanting position of the edgewise cliff. Thinking it was of +but recent occurrence, he hurried to Saguache and gave the alarm that +two of his companions were buried beneath the mountain of snow. + +In no place in the world does an appeal for help meet with a quicker +response than among the pioneers of the west. The news flew over the +town like wildfire that two miners were imprisoned in a snow slide. A +relief party was organized at once and Carson led them to the base of +the range. + +Mary Greenwater saw Carson organizing the relief, she stood within a +few feet of him unobserved, and could have shot him, but she knew +better than shoot a man in the act of aiding the distressed. The crowd +would hang her, woman or no woman, and she knew it. Some other time +than this--she would wait. + + + + +XXV. + +CORDS OF LOVE ARE STRONG. + + +Hattie Judson sat by the window overlooking the green wheat fields of +the Los Ossis valley. The bells in the old mission were calling the +humble worshippers of the valley, just as they had done for more than +one hundred and forty years. She watched the blue haze of the valley +growing denser in the shadows of the evening. She heard the low boom +of a signal gun roll up from the sea. It was from the coast steamer in +the open roadstead, the signal she was listening for in the hope that +it would bring her a letter--the letter for which she had been waiting +for six weeks. + +The shadows from the coast hills crept up the valley, and the +stars shone, when the whistle of the little narrow-gauge engine +announced its arrival from the port. She put on her wraps and went +to the postoffice and waited a good long hour before the mail was +distributed. There was nothing in her box except the San Francisco +paper. And yet she felt intuitively there must be some news. She +returned to her home with a vague feeling of dread and lit the parlor +lamp. Mechanically she scanned the headlines of the paper when her +eye caught the line: + + "Imprisoned Miners in Snow-slide; + Relief Party Working Night and Day." + +"Saguache, Colo.--Word reached here last night that John Buchan and +James Winslow, miners working a claim on the Sangre de Christo range, +were buried in their cabin beneath a snow slide. It is believed the +men are alive although there seems to be small hope of rescuing them +on account of an overhanging cliff which may topple at any moment, +with the melting snows and crush them out of existence. Rescue parties +are at work night and day." + +The room seemed to whirl and grow dark as she finished reading. Tears +came to her eyes and she cried aloud. The members of the family came +to find the cause of her outcry and found her in a flood of tears. +They read the dispatch and knew the cause. The paper was two days old +from San Francisco. What could she do? She must know at once. She went +to the telegraph office and sent a message of inquiry to the mayor of +Saguache. It was twelve o'clock when the message came: "Lines all down +in San Luis valley." There was a telegraph line to San Louis Obispo, +but no coast line railroad nearer than Paso Robles Hot Springs, sixty +miles inland. It would be three days before there was another steamer +for San Francisco. She felt that if she waited the suspense would kill +her. She must go to Saguache. + +In the grey of the morning she was seated beside a driver in a light +running rig behind the swiftest pair of horses in the town. The +northern express was due at noon and the distance of sixty miles must +be made. The fleet animals climbed the mountain slopes and crossed the +divide of the Santa Lucia range, and went speeding through the +beautiful Santa Marguerite valley with its carpet of green, enlivened +with splashes of yellow from the wild mustard blossoms. Across the +swift flowing ford of the Salinis river, through deep ravines and +mountain gorges, and over miles and miles of sun-baked sand and dreary +waste of stunted cactus and sagebrush, the horses sped. + +The scorched winds of the desert caught up the sands and hurled them +hot into their faces and stung them like tiny sparks. + +Dripping with foam the horses were reined up at the depot platform in +just five hours and fifty minutes from the time of starting--a record +that stands in San Louis Obispo today as the best ever made, and that +too by a big-hearted western man who did it only to aid a woman in +distress. + +The train sped over miles of brown and parched desert, studded with a +growth of palms that rattled in the sultry wind like dried sunflower +stalks. The scenes were scarcely noticed by Hattie as she sat in the +coach busied with her own thoughts. The train was an express but it +seemed to her to creep along. The rumble of the wheels clanking on +the iron rails seemed to say: "You'll be too late, you'll be too +late." + +At Sacramento there was a wait of four hours for the east bound +express, and Hattie sat in the depot where she could watch the clock, +tick, tock, tick, tock--swinging the pendulum in these moments of +suspense and waiting. Those monotonous sounds persistently repeated +the single theme, seconds were born and ushered into eternity with the +slow swing of the pendulum; every tick brought the time of starting +nearer, but the pendulum swung so slow. + +Those four hours watching the clock were the most tedious of her life. +When the time was drawing nigh and the waiting passengers were +stirring about, the man in the ticket office came out and wrote upon +the blackboard, "East bound Express two hours late." + +Again the slow swinging pendulum sent a torrent of woe to the unhappy +girl, and when the train rolled into the yards she felt as though she +had lived within sound of that clock for a year. + +The green valley changed to the red earth of the foothills, still +showing signs of the gold hunters of 1849. The puffing and wheezing of +the engine told they were climbing steep grades, and soon they were in +the snows of the Sierra Nevada mountains. The train entered the +forty-two mile snow shed and when half way through struck a hand car, +derailing the engine. + +It was day without, but dark within the sheds. A kindly woman with her +daughter occupied the berth opposite Hattie. She noticed the troubled +look on the girl's face and from that time on until they separated at +Cheyenne, did everything she could to make the journey pleasant. But +there was the ever present suspense and doubt. + +It was ten hours before the train was again under way, but they had +lost the right of way on the road and were compelled to make frequent +stops on the sidings to allow other trains to pass. + +As the train skirted the Great Salt Lake with its bleak and desolate +islands of rock rising in silhouette against the cold grey skies, +Hattie compared the scene to the feeling of utter desolation within +her soul. + +A storm was raging on the Laramie plains and when the snow plow, +driven by the tremendous force of an extra engine in front, stuck fast +in the snow, she began to have some conception of the mighty force of +an avalanche, and the difficulty of reaching imprisoned men beneath +its weight. + +The railroad ended at a little station in the San Luis valley and then +followed many miles of staging in a crowded coach. Everywhere the girl +met with the most profound respect and attention from fellow +passengers. She was always given the best seat in the coach, and +otherwise made as comfortable as circumstances would permit. Such was +the gallantry of these men of the frontier to the girl who was +traveling alone. + +At the last stage station before reaching Saguache, she heard men +talking of the imprisoned miners in the Sangre de Christo mountains, +but she was unable to learn any of the particulars other than that +the relief party was still working. When, at last, she alighted at the +hotel in Saguache her first question was concerning the imprisoned +men. They will have them out in a few days if nothing happens was the +assurance given by the landlady. "They are alive, we know, for we can +see the smoke coming out from under the rock." + +The two men under the snow slide had been the talk of the town for +days. Every day a new party went to the scene to relieve those who had +worked the day and night before, tunneling up the steep mountain side +through snow of an unknown depth. + +When Hattie reached the tunnel she begged to be allowed to go to the +end of it where the men were working. She was assisted up the mountain +side by willing hands and when she reached the workers one of them +said: "The boys are all right for we can hear their voices." + +It was then she gave an exclamation of joy, and when Buchan said to me +in the cabin, "It seems that I hear her voice," he was right. + + + + +XXVI. + +WHEN THE DEATH GLOOM GATHERS. + + +Amos staggered out of the fog of powder smoke and groped his way to +the door. He took the center of the street reeling as he went, and +made his way to his home. The scenes at the Bucket of Blood were +magnified in his whisky-crazed brain. He raved in wild delirium, +fighting the demons that gathered around his bedside. The doctor came +and shook his head. "He has been drinking so long that my medicine +will not act," he said. Amos glared wildly from his bloodshot eyes +when a monkey seemed to leap on the footboard. He held a glass in his +hand. "Have a cocktail, Amos," said the monkey, as he tossed the +liquid into the air and caught it in another glass. Amos' throat was +parched and he wanted the cocktail, but the monkey did not give it to +him. A rhinoceros came creeping through the wall and looked at him +with its leaden eyes. The monkey tossed the cocktail into the wide +open mouth of the rhinoceros, who smacked his lips and said to the +monkey, "Let's play ante over." + +"All right," replied the monkey, "what with?" + +"Get his eye, get his eye," exclaimed the rhinoceros. + +The monkey crept forward and plucked out one of Amos' eyes, as he +groaned and yelled. For awhile the rhinoceros was on one side of the +dresser and the monkey on the other, tossing his eye to and fro +between them. The scene changed. He was on a white horse, plunging +down a steep rocky road lined with trees on either side; pythons and +rattlesnakes reached out from among the branches striking their fangs +at his head. There was the form of a dead woman behind him on the +horse. Her cold arms clung about his neck as little devils came out +from behind the trees and shouted: "You did it; you did it." The horse +was now plunging over a snow-covered country. He felt the icy winds +chill his heart. He was trying to shake off the dead arms that clung +to his neck, when the horse stopped in a wild spot among the rocks. A +grave digger, with the flesh of face and arms dried to the bone, +appeared. "We will bury her here," he said as he sunk his spade into +the earth. As the grave digger threw up the clods they turned to +little devils, the size of frogs and yelped, "We are the sins of Amos +come out of the grave." The vision passed and another appeared. Three +Sisters of Charity stood at the footboard of his bed. They were +looking down on him with sorrowful eyes. One of them lifted her hand +and all was a livid flame. Amos raised his head and gave one prolonged +shriek. A shriek of death. + +When Amos returned to Saguache after his spree with Rayder his first +act was to purchase a ranch in the San Luis valley and deed it to his +wife. He then went to his assay office and drew down the blinds and +sat in the shadows like a cunning old spider in hiding waiting for +the unwary fly for which he had wove his web. His life had been that +of the iconoclast who creates nothing to adorn the world's great +gallery of gods. But he was not philosophical enough to evolve an idea +that would disrupt existing beliefs. + +It was some weeks after his arrival home, when he espied Rayder one +morning coming down the street towards his office. He cautiously +turned the key in his office and slipped over to the Bucket of Blood +and returned with some beer and two quart bottles of whisky. When +Rayder returned an hour later he was maudlin drunk. + +Rayder was still pale from the effects of his recent debauch and when +he found Amos in an intoxicated condition he went away, not caring to +stay and talk with him on important business matters lest he should +get drawn into another spree. Meanwhile, Carson had arrived and spread +the news of the imprisoned miners under the snow slide. Rayder learned +that this was the mine he had come to purchase through the connivance +of Amos and concluded to wait and see what time would develop. + +Day after day he sought Amos, but the latter was too drunk to talk +with any sense. He then sought Carson and offered financial assistance +in the rescue work, but the men spurned the offer. They felt they were +doing a God-given duty and to receive money for an act of that kind +would be debasing their manhood. Such was it then and such is now the +spirit of the West. He called at the Amos home, and while he was +received by the matron and failed to see Annie, he thought he detected +an air of distress in the surroundings, and attributed it to Amos' +condition. Feeling that he was at their home at an inopportune time, +he went away and started out to find Amos and if possible persuade him +to quit drinking. Not finding him at his office he took a nearer route +and entered the Bucket of Blood by the back door. He passed two or +three hoboes sitting on beer kegs on the outside. "Say, old timer, +can't I dig into ye for two bits?" asked one. The man was trembly and +his lips quivered as he spoke. Remembering his own recent condition +Rayder handed the fellow a dollar and motioning to the others, said: +"Divide up." The men jumped to their feet with alacrity and followed +the first man to the bar. + +Rayder walked to the faro table where Amos sat with his back to him +putting down twenty dollar gold pieces on the money. "I never squeal," +Amos was saying to another man who was drawing out the cards from the +box. "Bet yer life, man wins my money I never squeal," Amos was saying +to the dealer. "Got skads of it anyhow, and when that's gone I know +where to get a mine worth more an' a million." Rayder stood watching +the player tossing twenty after twenty in gold and tapping a tiny bell +now and then when a waiter came and took the orders from those seated +around the table watching the game. They all called for whisky except +the dealer, he took a cigar. It requires a clear head to deal faro. + +Rayder grew tired of watching and sat down. He was thinking where did +Amos get so much money? He had not attended to the business of his +office since his recovery and had had no occasion to look into his +check book. After a certain period of the night with Amos in his back +office, everything was a blank. He remembered the conversation about +Annie and the mine but had no recollection about signing the check. To +see Amos sitting at that table losing money like a prince at Monte +Carlo, almost took his breath. He began to feel certain now as to the +fabulous riches of the mine, for he could conceive of no other way by +which Amos could get possession of so much money. He had learned of +Mrs. Amos purchasing the ranch and paying for it in gold, and wondered +at the time. Then he thought that perhaps Amos was trying to throw him +off the purchase of the mine in order to secure the property himself. +There was a mystery somewhere he could not fathom. + +The board partition against which he sat was thin, and while he was +not playing eavesdropper, he could not help hearing: "The secret of +that mine has been known to me since I was a child," a woman was +saying, "but I never supposed Carson would locate it when I gave him +the papers." And then she recounted the story of the hidden Spanish +treasure in the Grand river hills and continued: "The two men they are +trying to rescue from under the snow slide are dead long ago and the +only one left that is interested is Carson. I will get him out of the +way, and you must file on the claim, I cannot, for I am an Indian, but +you can. Besides, I could never sing my death song in peace if he +lives." + +"Tonight, then," her companion said. "You had better act before +matters go any farther." + +Here was another revelation to Rayder, he saw coming through one +archway an Indian woman, and through the other, Coyote Jim who slowly +walked toward the faro table. Rayder's first and best impulse was to +see Carson and warn him of impending danger. His second thought was +that such a course would be bad financial policy. No, he would let the +woman kill him if she could and he would jump the claim himself. He +was certain now of its fabulous value and determined to have it at any +price. + +And so the old black crow sat and waited and plotted, while the other +old black crow gambled away his money, and when the shooting was over, +and the coal oil lamps flickered their sickly flame through the +curling powder smoke, Rayder was raised from the floor where he had +flattened himself against the baseboard, trembling like a frightened +sheep about to be led to the slaughter. + + + + +XXVII. + +A NIGHT OF TRAGEDIES. + + +The Lone Tree saloon and dance hall was ablaze with lights. Two +bar-keepers in white jackets were setting out the bottles over the +long, polished counter. There was the clink of glasses, as men stood +in rows drinking the amber-colored liquid. "Have another on me," was +frequently heard along the counter, as someone felt it was his turn to +set up the drinks to the crowd. + +A brawny miner stepped up to the side of a sheep herder who had been +edging in all evening to get free drinks--and squirted a mouthful of +tobacco juice in his ear. + +"If anybody else had done that but you, Bill, I'd be tempted to strike +him." + +"Don't let your friendship for me spoil your notions," the miner said +with a contemptuous look. + +The sheep herder made no reply, as he wiped his ear. The fire that +burned in his stomach demanded whiskey, and he would brook any insult +to get it. He had reached the level of the sodden, and others passed +him by. It was yet early in the night, and crowds were gathering in +the rear of the large room, about the roulette wheel, the crap tables +and faro layout, back of which the lookout was seated on a raised +platform. Stacks of coin in gold and silver were on the tables to +tempt the players. At other tables men were seated playing cards and +smoking. In an adjoining room, cut with archways, was the dance hall. +An orchestra on a platform played rag-time music, while painted women +in short dresses to give them a youthful appearance, sat on benches +against the wall, or danced with swaggering men to the calls of a +brawny bullet-headed floor manager. His bleared eyes and heavy swollen +jaw showed the effects of a recent debauch ending in a fist fight. + +The women urged their partners to drink at the end of every dance. +While the men drank whiskey, they gave the bar-keepers a knowing +look, and a bottle like the others was set out containing ginger ale +which the women drank as whiskey, and were given a check, which they +afterwards cashed as their percentage. + +While the sign on the windows read The Lone Tree Saloon and Dance +Hall, the place had earned the sobriquet of the Bucket of Blood, from +the many tragedies enacted therein. And this place was run by a woman, +Calamity Jane, famous in several mining camps. One fellow analyzed her +when he said: "She is a powerful good woman, except she hain't got no +moral character." + +Coyote Jim, faro dealer, sauntered in and took his place at the table. +His eyes were a steel blue, the kind that men inured to the mining +camps of the early west had learned were dangerous. His face was thin +and white, hair of a black blue, like a raven's wing, hung half way to +his shoulders. His thin hands handled the pasteboards in the box with +a dexterity that marked him an expert. Supple in form, with quick, +cat-like motions, he made one think of a tiger. + +A dark faced woman wearing a Spanish mantilla was winning at the +roulette wheel. The onlookers crowded about. She was winning almost +every bet. The interest grew intense, men crowded forward to catch a +glimpse of her whose marvelous luck surpassed anything in the history +of the Lone Tree. Her stack of chips of white, red and blue, grew +taller at every turn of the wheel. The face of the gambler at the +wheel grew vexed and then flushed with anger. The devil appeared to +have been turned loose and he was losing his stakes. The chips +vanished from his box in twenties, fifties and hundreds, and the group +of onlookers stared in astonishment. As he counted out his last +hundred he said: "If you win this you have broke the game." + +The woman lost and the gambler began to have hope, when she won again, +and so the pendulum of chance swung to and fro over those last hundred +chips for an hour, when the gambler slammed the lid of his box with +the exclamation: "You have busted the game!" + +The woman cashed in her checks. Over five thousand dollars was paid to +her. She walked up to the bar and threw down five hundred dollars on +the counter and said to a bar-tender: + +"I pay for everybody's drinks here tonight. Take no money from any of +them and when this runs short, call on me." + +The word was passed, "Free drinks at the bar," and the crowd surged +forward. A half-tipsy fellow raised his glass above the heads of +others. "Here's to Mary Greenwater, Queen of the Cherokee Indians!" + +"Rah fer Mary Greenwater," chattered old Amos, holding his reeling +form up by the bar rail. + +The invitation was even too much for Rayder, strong as had been his +resolution to let the stuff alone. The temptation of free drinks was +too great, he imagined he needed something and called for gin. + +Just then, some one came in and announced that the two men had been +rescued from under the snow-slide. The games stopped and the men at +the tables ordered their drinks from the waiters. The dance in the +adjoining room stopped in the middle of a set, while men and women +crowded about the bar. + +Only three in that room did not rejoice at the news--Mary Greenwater, +Coyote Jim and Rayder. Amos was too drunk to know whether he ought to +be sad or rejoice. He did neither, but gave another loud "Rah for Mary +Greenwater!" when a waiter led him to a seat. When the hubbub of +voices which the announcement of the rescue had created, had subsided +somewhat, the players resumed their games and amid the clink of chips +and glasses, could now and then be heard from some gamester, "Hold on +there, that's mine!" + +Mary Greenwater went to the faro table. "Get up, Coyote," she said, +"I'm going to bust this bank, and you and I have been together so much +that they will think you have throwed the game. Let some one else +deal." Another dealer was called and Mary laid down a hundred on the +ace. Men crowded about as before, when she was at the roulette wheel. +There was a hush for a moment, when the clear tones of a man at the +door rang out. + +"Hands up, everybody. Don't try to escape, the doors are guarded!" + +All was confusion in an instant. Calamity Jane, eyes ablaze, strode +from behind the curtain in the dance hall. Quick of action, she fired +at the nearest hold-up in mask. The uproar was furious. The lamps were +shot out by confederates of the hold-ups. The ball room women screamed +with fright, while jets of fire spit from revolvers in different parts +of the room. Men were afraid to make an outcry, lest a bullet would +follow at the sound of their voice. Coyote Jim was crouching like a +tiger, beside the stacks of coin on the table. In his hand was a long, +keen blade. He felt a stealthy hand near his own and he lunged the +knife. A heavy groan and a few words in a language which only he +understood, and the body sank to the floor. The tiger's blood was now +afire and he leaped upon the faro table, revolver in hand. His form +was outlined in silhouette by a light across the street, when a spark +flashed in the darkness and he fell headlong to the floor. There was a +heavy roar of voices, as the men stampeded to the door. + +When lights were brought from the outside, the masked men were gone +except one. He lay dead near the door, with a bullet from Calamity +Jane's revolver in his brain. Coyote Jim lay dead, and by his side, +Mary Greenwater, with her life's blood still ebbing from the knife +stab. + +From this scene of tragedy, Amos made his escape to end with the +horrors of delirium at home. The Bucket of Blood had maintained its +reputation. + +The excitement of the affair spread over the town, and among the +spectators who crowded in was a haggard man. His eyes were hollow and +deep-set, showing that he had undergone a severe mental strain for +weeks. He saw them lift the affrighted Rayder from his place of +safety at the baseboard, then his eyes rested on the dead woman at the +faro table. He threw a cloth over her face, and sat staring into +vacancy until the undertaker and assistants came. Then he took the +undertaker aside and said: "See to it that she has a Christian burial. +I will be responsible." When she was buried the next day, there was +one attendant beside the undertaker and his assistants, at the grave. + +The tragedies of the night marked a new era in Saguache. The better +element arose in their might and demanded that the Bucket of Blood be +forever closed. + + + + +XXVIII. + +FROM OUT THE SHADOWY PAST. + + +When Buchan arose in the cabin and said "I thought I heard a voice, +her voice," I was amazed. It did not occur to me that anyone would +attempt our rescue, else why had they not done it long ere this? + +He opened the door and shouted, then turning to me, exclaimed: "They +are digging us out." + +Our hearts leaped for joy. We shook hands in expression of delight and +Buchan danced a highland fling around the room. Two men, snow-covered, +entered and hailed us joyously. Then came a woman, followed by Carson. +She ran to Buchan and he caught her in his arms. I was deaf and could +not hear what they said or I would write it word for word, but he +kissed her and she cried, and he wiped away some tears, and I turned +my back and pretended to be talking to Carson. + +The men gathered up our few belongings and we hurriedly left the +cabin. Sleds were waiting at the foot of the mountain, and we were +soon speeding toward Saguache. The air was crisp and the stars shone +like eyes of tender sympathy over the white plain. We were brought to +a stop at the hotel. Men and women whom we had never seen came and +joyfully shook us by the hands, and had much to say in congratulation. +The news of Hattie's arrival and her interest in Buchan had spread +over the camp, and many were the motherly old women who came to say +sympathetic things and invite her to their homes, so great was their +admiration for her loyalty and sacrifice for the man she loved. + +The next day a mass meeting was called by the citizens. The Lone Tree +saloon and dance hall had to go. A railroad survey had been completed +through the town, and public works had been projected by the +newly-elected city council. A new era was dawning for Saguache. The +hall was crowded, as one citizen after another spoke of the future +possibilities of the town, and a good government that would no longer +tolerate a lawless element. When resolutions were passed and the +assembly was ready to adjourn, one speaker arose and said he heartily +endorsed everything that was said and done there that evening, but +there was another matter which should have attention: One of the men +rescued from under the snow-drift had just married the girl who had +arrived a few days before from California, and his partner who led the +rescue party had married an estimable young woman of the town. The +double wedding had occurred at the hotel an hour before, and he +thought it would be fitting to celebrate the event and the new era of +Saguache with a dance that night, in which everybody should be asked +to participate. A roar of approval greeted the speaker. There was no +resolution or motion. None was needed. Men instantly set to work +clearing the hall of chairs, while a committee was sent to the hotel +to announce to Buchan and Carson that a dance had been arranged that +night in their honor. + +Men came with their wives and their sweethearts, dressed just as they +were from their work, and the women as they were in their homes. +Evening clothes would have been as much out of place in that ballroom, +as the garb of a workman would be out of place in the ballroom of the +Waldorf-Astoria. The orchestra struck up, and Buchan and Hattie were +given the place of honor in the dance. Carson and Annie, being better +known, felt that they should largely play the part of host and yielded +every honor to Buchan and Hattie. The music was good. Everybody joined +in the spirit of goodfellowship, and the dance continued until the +small hours of the morning. + +It was toward the close that Rayder came upon the floor with a fat +widow milliner. He had taken a few drinks of gin and was trying to act +kittenish when, in the midst of a cotillion, the widow fell to the +floor in an epileptic fit. They bore the woman to an adjoining room, +where she soon recovered, but it was such a shock to Rayder's nerves +that he went out and braced up on a little more gin. + + * * * * * + +I was at the governor's reception in the state capitol of Colorado. +The rooms and corridors were brilliantly lighted. Men and women in +rich attire were there to do honor to the occasion. I was seated +behind a decoration of palms, when a prominent attorney and a +companion took seats near me. + +A heavy set man with a woman leaning on his arm entered the corridor. +They were well, but modestly dressed. There were grey streaks in their +hair, but their steps were firm and, both were the picture of good +health, evidence of good and wholesome lives. + +"Here comes Senator Buchan and lady," said the attorney to his +companion. "I knew those people twenty-five years ago. I was one of a +party to rescue Buchan and a companion from under a snow slide in the +Sangre de Christo mountains. The girl had come all the way from +California to help in the rescue. I don't believe she would have lived +two days longer if we had not got him out. Shows what the right sort +of love will do. It stands the test of time. There is no divorce +business in that. Buchan had an iron will, too. Somehow he and his +partners had discovered a lost Spanish mine and did not know its value +on account of some trickery of an assayer. But Silas Rayder did, so +Rayder hounded the boys to sell and finally when he offered a hundred +and fifty thousand dollars, they closed the deal. Carson had just +married, too. He took his money and invested it in a flouring mill. I +do not know what became of the other fellow, but Buchan put his money +in a bank and it failed in less than three months and he went to +running an engine on the Rocky Mountain railroads. It was a pretty +hard knock, but right there is where that girl came to the front like +a guardian angel. She told him that perhaps it was all for the best. +Riches do not always bring happiness. It is adversity that brings to +the surface our better natures and fires our ambitions to the nobler +and grander things of life. + +"Buchan must have had this in mind, for while he was running his +engine he was always trying to help some poor fellow. He accepted his +lot in life and worked for years content with the love of that woman +and when people saw he was made of the right sort of stuff they +elected him to the legislature and his very first act was to put +through a bill making eight hours a legal day's work. That very act +took the yoke of bondage off more than half a million workers. + +"It turned out just as the girl said. He has served the people three +terms and if he had not worked for their interests they would never +have sent him back the third time. + +"Adversity, sir, is oftimes the making of us. I never thought so when +Bob Lee surrendered and our dreams of imperialism vanished and left +most of us without a dollar. But I can see now it is all for the +best. As a nation united we welcome all men regardless of their +nationality, and, in return, they give us the best thoughts the world +can produce." + +"Rayder, what became of him?" asked his companion. + +"When Rayder bought the mine he thought he had millions but he only +took out of it about enough to get even when the vein gave out between +two big slabs of granite that came together like the thin end of a +wedge. A widow who had fits sued him about this time for a breach of +promise, and either to get out of that or get square with some old +enemy, he married the widow Amos." + +I arose and stood before the attorney and his companion. "I want to +shake hands with you, sir," I said. He arose, and in extending his +hand, said: "Your name, please?" + +"I am the other fellow you rescued from the cabin," I replied. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WHERE STRONGEST TIDE WINDS BLEW*** + + +******* This file should be named 30128.txt or 30128.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/0/1/2/30128 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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