Part 40 (1/2)
”Ha!--They!--Where?”
”Close by, S'nor I saw thereat camp-fire up in the mountains They're not there now I came on to tell you I ran as fast as ever I was able, but they've been following I could hear the tramp of their horses behind all the way They must be near at hand now Hark!”
”Patria y Libertad!”
The cry ca shi+bboleth, other voices adding, ”Mueran los tyrannos!”
Instantaneously succeeded by the cracking of carbines, with shouts, and the clash of steel against steel--the sounds of a hand-to-hand fight, which the sta of horses proclaimed between cavalry
Never was conflict of shorter duration; over al commenced The confused sounds of the _ the hoof-strokes of the retreating horses, told that victory had declared itself for one side or the other They who listened were not long in doubt as to which sent up that triu open, burst alances couched for the thrust, others with drawn sabres,blood On ca: ”Mueran los tyrannos!” while he at their head, soon as showing hi voice, ”Rendite?”
By this a change had taken place in the tableau of figures beside the carriage The Hussars having reined back, had gathered in a ruck around their colonel, irresolute how to act Equally unresolved he to order them That cry, ”Country and Liberty,” had struck terror to his heart; and now seeing those it ca the three who rode foreht he could--the blood of the craven ran cold They were the radation; and he need look for no mercy at their hands With a spark of manhood, even such as despair soht Major Raalloped out to the gate and there h he had taken his sword out of its scabbard,in his saddle, as if the weapon was about to drop from his hand
On the instant after a blade more firmly held, and better wielded, flashed before his eyes; he who held it, as he sprung his horse up, crying out:
”Carlos Santander! your hour has co you”
Even the insulting threat stung hiht on randeur of his warlike dress in striking contrast with his cowardly mien
”Miserable wretch!” cried Kearney--for it was he who confronted him--”I don't want to kill you in cold blood Heaven forbidmurder
Defend yourself”
”He defend hisself!” scornfully exclaimed a voice--that of Cris Rock
”He dassen't as much as do that He hasn't the steel shi+rt on now”
Yet another voice at this ure, feroup Luisa Valverde it ho, rushi+ng out of the carriage and across the courtyard, cried out--
”Spare his life, Don Florencio He's not worthy of your sword”
”You're right thar, young lady,” endorsed the Texan, answering for Kearney ”That he ain't--an' bare worth the bit o' lead that's inside o' this ole pistol For all, I'llye”
The last words were acco Santander's horse to shy and rear up When the fore hoofs of the ani down upon the body of its rider, now lying lifeless along thein hilanced down at the dead ht upon it, showing handso in life, but now hastly pallor of death
No one stayed to gaze upon them, least of all the Texan, who had yet another life to take, as he deemed in the strict execution of duty and satisfaction of justice For it too was forfeit by the basest betrayal
The soldiers were out of their saddles now, prisoners all; having surrendered without striking a blow But crouching away in a shadowy corner was that thing of deforht well have escaped observation He did not, however The Texan had his eyes on hiliate And in those eyes now gleaeance not to be allayed save by a life sacrificed If Santander on seeing Kearney believed his hour was co towards hiht, he knew death was near now
In vain his protestations and piteous appeals Spite of all, he had to die And a death so unlike that usually meted out to criminals, as he himself to the co an end to hio hold of his collar, the Texan grasped hi hiht his head down upon the pave of a cocoa-nut shell by a hao, the mass of s, ars limp and motionless, in the last not even the power left for a spasmodic kick