Show N CHO I IBy By FRANK H. H SPEARMAN PEARMAN OO Frank Fron H. H Spearman Service CHAPTER Continued Continued 17 17 Hardly had the two faced about when the clatter of hoofs behind them indicated they were being fol fol- fol- fol lowed They broke the ponies into a sw swift t lope their pursuers rode faster taster Fortunately the distance was but short and as dusk fell Felipe and Carmen dashed safely through the opened doors into the mission compound and Felipe leaping leaping leap leap- ing from his horse closed the clumsy clumsy clumsy clum clum- sy gates behind them The clattering horsemen pulled up in m front of the church and with many shouts and oaths scattered over oyer the plaza demanding sion Felipe though mild was game in ina ina ina a pinch He caught up a blunderbuss blunderbuss blunderbuss blunder blunder- buss from the guards' guards quarters and coaxed two neophytes to arm and appear with him in the church tow tow- er The raiders yelled at them and one of them a renegade mission mission mission mis mis- sion Indian shouted insolently to Felipe to open the gates or they would break them open Felipe equally defiant declared he would shoot the first man that attempted it There were hesitation and wrangling wrangling wrangling wran wran- gling threats among the horsemen They milled around the plaza while within the church Padre Martinez and all in th the mission enclosure were on their knees before the Blessed Sacrament beseeching heaven for aid in the extremity An hour or more passed with the raiders raiders raiders raid raid- ers churning about the plaza but shy about testing Felipes Felipe's marksmanship marksmanship marksmanship marks marks- manship from the tower At length the renegade rode up to the tower for a talk with Felipe He explained that the party were squatters from the Melena and had no grudge against the mission if they were treated right The only man they wanted to square accounts with was Bowie and if he were sent out they would leave Felipe less shrewd than the renegade renegade renegade rene rene- gade told him at once that Bowie was not there This was really what they wanted to know inasmuch as ashe ashe ashe he was the only man they were afraid of The renegade rode away and presently the attack on the gates was renewed Fortunately a afew afew afew few of the young Indian mission boys inflamed with the spirit of their warlike ancestors had seized muskets from the guardhouse guardhouse guardhouse guard guard- house and they fired at the raiders through the portholes They did little damage but they scared the cowardly squatters enough to hold them off The renegade after a long time rode back to the tower for another talk with Felipe The party he said were ready to leave provided the padre would set out a cask of wine as a gesture of good will Felipe sent the message down down- stairs Padre Martinez had retreated retreat retreat- ed to the sacristy He called in Padre Gomez his assistant The assistant was for the proposal the padre against it Carmen was called in She listened to all that was urged and without hesitation sided with the assistant Only she added coolly set out a cask of brandy not of wine Those wretches will be less dangerous drunk than sober If it should occur occur occur oc oc- oc- oc cur to them to set fire to the quarters quarters quarters heaven knows what would happen happen happen hap hap- pen to us Her counsel was followed The gates were opened A cask of brandy brandy brandy bran bran- dy was rolled roIled out and a basket with drinking gourds was sent along The renegade with a heavy stone broached the cask and an I orgy of drinking began It absorbed the interest of the revelers for a time to the exclusion of all else For an hour that was long and anxious to the mission defenders the drunken yelling and singing I went on Then there came a knock at the sacristy door Panic seized the little group A whispered consultation consultation consultation con con- followed Knocking growing growing growing grow grow- ing momentarily more impatient continued Only a wax candle lighted light light- ed the room and with faces blanched as they listened to the pounding Carmen was told in whispers whispers whispers whis whis- pers to slip out and hide in the house Padre Martinez had already given absolution to his assistant and received it from him firmly believing believing ing their hour was at hand The venerable man now blessed himself asked for protection from above took up the candle in an unsteady hand and summoning St. St Michael to his aid threw open the door From the dark came a tart question question question ques ques- tion What is the matter here And Bowie booted and spurred stalked into the room Why did you not open the door An angel from heaven I exclaimed exclaimed exclaimed ex ex- claimed Padre Martinez Padre Martinez demanded Bowie Senorita Carmen has not come trume home She was here Where is ho is she 4 Still here senor I Thank God for that She left this room when your knocking began Why so We feared it was the drunken raiders in fn front They know she is here What shall we do senor Where are your soldiers San Jose was threatened this morning by the same men and they went down to offer protection They have not returned And they wont won't predicted Bowie Bow Bow- ie till tilI this fight is over What shall shan we do senor We will wait for two more angels angels angels an- an gels Padre Martinez suggested Bowie and Simmie will willbe willbe willbe be here any minute What I want to do is to find the senorita quick to quiet her fears It was only his searching voice in the house that drew Carmen Cannen from her hiding place to find refuge in his arms Weve been frightened to death at home my dearest he whispered Tell me meI I what's happened happened happened hap hap- Carmen you are safe darling darling dar dar- ling safe Tell me A gleam of light flamed through the high window What is that whispered Carmen Car Car- men Nothing to worry about They were getting wood together for a bonfire when I scented the outfit You see my precious one he continued continued continued con con- gravely this is what this beautiful country is coming to These ruffians are as bad as the savages and with no more regard for women Come back with me meto meto meto to the sacristy and Simmie Simmie Simmie Sim Sim- mie will be here very soon But and Simmie arriving arriving arriving ing soon soon brought disquieting news The disturbance in the plaza had all been made by six or eight of the I I I t 1 I 1 I I l 4 a f To square accounts with Bowie I backwash from the squatters The two scouts in their search for Carmen Carmen Carmen Car Car- men had reconnoitered the river and the Melena From a squatter straggler straggler straggler gler they had learned that Blood was back with his friends but that supplies were low and they were talking of raiding the mission that night If Blood undertakes this tonight its it's not a good place for our Senorita Senorita Senorita Seno Seno- rita said Bowie in the sacristy conference that followed He wont won't I leave without plenty of fight But Butwell Butwell Butwell But But- well we'll see sec The Texan declared that Carmen should be spirited away Well Vell have our hands full to take care of the Indian women if Blood starts in inon inon inon on brandy They had scarcely finished their talk when a chorus of cheering yells out in front gave notice of fresh arrivals Had there been any doubt as to this a loud knocking came at the outer door The padres looked to the Texan for guidance He whispered to Carmen She disappeared disappeared disappeared dis dis- dis- dis appeared from the room The knocking grew violent Put out the candle Padre said Bowie Then open the door Open the door echoed the blanching man as it was pounded loudly from the other side I Dont be afraid murmured Bowie No one will come in Stand back the rest of you and keep out of range of the door The Texan took his place just lust to the side of the door itself Throw it wide open he directed Open went the door A flicker from the bonfire outlined the burly figure of the man who was knocking knocking knocking knock knock- ing other eager ones stood behind him in demanded the raider loudly that's deaf retorted Bowie What do you want Blood Oh Ohl Its It's the rancho pet eh Well Im I'm glad youre you're here Dont waste your breath You may need it Say what your our business business business busi busi- ness is or get off this property Blood laughed truculently My Texan friend Im I'm here t to tell you you'll get off ofT this this property before you are a hour half-hour older I talk to Padre Martinez Here he is Say your say Senor Blood asked the padre what do you want I want supplies for twenty-five twenty men men flour flour bread meat wine and brandy brandy presto Senor Blood you know no hungry hungry hungry hun hun- gry man is turned from this door for you have been fed here more than once But I have not such supplies in the mission tonight for five men much less twenty I demand these supplies right now in the tho name of the United States of America And what will you do if you dont don't get them interposed Bowie casually Shut up Bowie My men must be fed Padre youve you've got tons of food If vou you cant can't find this food in your old mission I can and will find it for you I Its a dark night Blood suggested suggested suggested sug sug- Bowie Better wait till morning Blood stamped ferociously on the tile pavement He roared at Bowie He stormed at the padre Dont depend on me to hold these hungry boys back I cant can't do it They want money and they want supplies and they'll burn this place to the ground if they dont don't get both Blood youre you're wasting your breath intervened Bowie If you or your ruffians try to touch so much muchas as a strip of bacon here tonight somebody will get killed Now Im I'm going to shut this door and go to tobed tobed tobed bed and I advise you to do the same Bowie Ive I've got a long score to settle with you you you- you Wait till daylight Blood Im I'm going to bed He slammed the door shut Clamor outside grew to a roar A hasty conference took place in the sacristy the sacristy the despairing fathers fathers fathers fa fa- fa- fa the Texans and Felipe with Carmen anxiously listening Bowie did not seek to disguise the situation With twenty or thirty men behind him Bloods Blood's boast that he would clean the mission out might be a serious one Simmie noticed that Bowie looked grave He knew the Texan was not squeamish about facing odds But Carmen's presence presence presence pres pres- ence was another matter Should anything happen to him in the fight what might happen to her He asked Carmen to step outside a moment He then spoke to Padre Martinez Im put in an awkward position Padre I dont don't like to seem to run away from you in face of these drunken devils But my first responsibility is for Senoritas Senorita's safety safety safe safe- ty and if they made good their threat to fire the mission she might find herself in the worst kind of danger Padre Martinez laid his hand on Bowies Bowie's arm I understand perfectly perfectly perfectly per per- my son I ask you to take before all else whatever measures are necessary to protect our Senorita Seno Seno- rita rita for for as our benefactress we feel that she is ours as well Whatever Whatever What What- ever may happen here it is your duty to protect her Bowie called Carmen into the con con- ference He laid the situation before before before be be- fore her Padre his hands clasped in in anxiety listened She looked from one to the other and back to Bowie in confidence You know best Don Henry she said trust trust- fully He called in and Simmie Simmie Simmie Sim Sim- mie and told them what he meant to do Felipe he dispatched to scout the quadrangle and search for an opening not covered by Bloods Blood's men Felipe came back with no good news He shook his head Those men are everywhere Ben uBen he said to Pard aloe when the big gate is thrown open by Felipe fire your pistols you and Simmie and Felipe straight into the crowd outside Ill I'll be shooting shooting shooting shoot- shoot ing both pistols from the saddle while we dash through the bunch before they can shoot back Cover Felipe with your rifles boys while he shuts and bars the gate after us Is it all clear Clear as daylight Henry mumbled mumbled mumbled mum- mum bled Just say when Felipe aided by a neophyte was bringing up the horses Bowie began began began be be- gan to check over the cinches Felipe Felipe Felipe Fe lipe he said in surprise the matter with these horses They are trembling with sweat Senor I know I saw it Quien sabe All the horses in the stable are sweating and nervous I do donot donot donot not know why Padre Martinez came out with Carmen Padre said Bowie what does this mean these mean these horses See how they sweat and tremble Hasten hasten my son I Something Something Something Some Some- thing may happen They know more than we do Hasten exclaimed the agitated padre Bowie mounted his restive horse Pard aloe passed Carmen up into his arms to face him Clasp me under under under un un- un- un der the arms querida so as to leave my arms free Hand me the hackamore for the Senoritas Senorita's horse Felipe Bowie fastened this with knots for some play to the horn of his saddle With Carmen snuggling low against him he drew his pistols When the gate is opened he said to the scouts send your pistol pistol pistol pis pis- pis- pis tol fire straight into their faces and yell yeH like Indians Then poke our horses hard and away we go Are you ready Open The dash out was a shock to the score of men some on foot but most in the saddle who were crowded crowd crowd- ed around the big gate The pistol fire the yelling the two horses prodded prodded prodded prod prod- ded and spurred trampling and charging into the raiders threw them into momentary confusion Bowie yelling discharged his pistols pistols pis pis- pis to the right and left The raiders raiders raiders raid raid- ers ducked and dodged as their horses reared on one another A volley of oaths an enraged yell from Blood went up a scattering flash of rifle and pistol fire lighted the plaza for an instant But the gate gale had clanged shut and the phantom riders had melted into the darkness of the night Long afterward Bowie learned that no two of the stunned guerillas agreed on who had ridden out through the big gate or just what had actually happened Bowie did not slow the almost uncontrollable horses until they had reached cover cover cover cov cov- er in the doubly dark alameda Carmen Carmen Carmen Car Car- men parted from his embrace slowly slowly slowly slow slow- ly it seemed such a natural place to rest her head hend and in her ear close to his breast she had heard his heartbeat Suddenly she remembered herself Darling are you hurt Tell me quick No vida mia mia no But you he whispered She laughed low and cautiously I am not Thank God we are safe I think so but we may be pur pur- sued I hope not Now I will give you a more comfortable seat What is that Quito mio Carmen Carmen Carmen Car Car- men spoke from her own saddle and her voice betrayed her acute alarm Bowie noticed the low sharp rum rum- bling But he was so alert to the danger of pursuit that he did not at first comprehend He was not left long in doubt The rumbling grew instantly loud loud- er The horses became able They shook with terror A deafening roar burst on the ears Of Of a sudden Carmen and Bowie were rocked in their saddles the saddles the earth was heaving in terr terrifying ying waves Temblor gasped Car Car- men Temblor Bowie seized her bridle The feet of the frantic horses sprawled their legs sank toward the ground So abrupt was the halt haIt that Carmen was pitched over her horses horse's head as he scrambled to keep his legs under him The savage roar of the temblor as it wrenched the earth was ear- ear splitting Bowie leaped from |