Part 6 (1/2)

MURDEROUS PLAN OF THE INSURGENTS

On er's office, I found him in consultation with the Prefecto of Arequipa and the General in coular 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 govern to hilish, said: ”There is soe myself to do this, it will be necessary to have a clear understanding” He repeated my request to the General, who infore had coain, and this tients had taken possession of several points to prevent the governe I was to take was a notice to the Prefecto of Puno, for hiovernovernes to Puno

I realized the danger connected with this undertaking and accepted the responsibility with soenerous reward awaitedthe perilous iven er 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 beenthe British and Alish

After leaving orders as to the tilish friend and confided my mission I asked him, in event ofthe details He did everything in his power to dissuade me, but I told him his talk was idle No use, I hadthe Arequipena ready, the men in the shops questioned me, but I evaded their questions

I went to the office of the general e, unaddressed, done up securely, and sealed with red wax I placed it in the inside pocket of er asked me to be careful with o, but in hts 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 stationI 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 croith 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 io to the hotel, eat supper and then learnto the Prefecto, before I took the package fro place The station of Puno, like all terminal stations of the Arequipa railas 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 watch the watchht to use I walked up town to the hotel Inca I ame of billiards before supper No one see 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 ate I went around to the engine shed, where an opening had been et to their roo the questions of the watch her I spoke to the foree, went out the sah, the narrow street I went up the s no one, presented myself at the main entrance of the Prefecto's house Here the sentry barred e and deuard, 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 e door, a signal was given and it was opened by another officer I was ushered in, and fro 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 e 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 ranted, but on being searched, overcoat and all, the Senor Prefecto finally agreed to see e froave it to him

I watched him closely as he read the contents His face becah nothing else could have been expected fro 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 hiht 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 ht, they adet the Arequipena ready, and they and the principal officers would flee to Arequipa I told theraph offices were in the hands of the insurgents, and that our departure would becoine surrounded and all taken prisoners They agreed it would be iht 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 are quantities of powder had been put on the Arequipena for the purpose of destroying Suovern, their fear for their own safety outweighing all other considerations Another officer caulars had joined the insurgents!

I was now doing soe was destroyed and the fact not known in Arequipa, the governine 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 ents

I learned it was the intention of the insurgents to proceed to Vincocaya in the raph offices, wait at Vincocaya until the arrival of the regular passenger train froe 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 kneould be captured, but how could I save the bridge? I was determined to try at all hazards

XIV

FOR THE SAKE OF HUMANITY