Montezuma's Mines.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 244, 13 October 1903, Page 6

Montezuma's Mines.

..BY.. V> $t George Ratftborne

CHAPTER 111. A MEETING UNDER FIRE.

The wbjole demeanour ofi the man changed in that one second of time— every trace of indifference vanished as if by magic, and his appearance was that of the active worker—ready to strike, and strike, hard, for the cause in which he had enlisted. The squire was not asleep—he, too, had heard the sudden tempest in a teapot that announced the rush of the assailants for the cars, and could give a pretty accurate guess as to what it. meant, so that when Bob turned in that quarter there was no need of urging on his part to influence the other to folOn the way there came about a collision, which was not strange, considering how thick the brigands appeared to be in the vicinity of the train. Squire Kip expected to hear his companion enter some sort of remonstrance, but was hardly prepared to see his riaht arm shoot out with th> speed and force of a catapult, while the object against which that fist struck bounded back fully six feet, to land in a shuddering heap. "Heavens! smashed his skull! he exclaimed. "I hope so," was the only remark made by the man who possessed that arm of steel. He had not ceased to advance all the while—it seemed as though he intended that no obstacle should prevent him from reaching the scene of disturbance in time to throw his castor into the arena and line up on the side of those who were exposed to the robbers. At last they reached the sleeper from which they had so recently made their exit.

It was evidently in the throes of some convulsion, if one could judge from the weird sounds that burst from its interior.

A man stood on the platform, a man who carried a gun, which he attempted to advance into the face of Bachelor Bob as the latter bounced up the steps. One thrust of his hand and the American had hold of the barrel—then the weapon was twisted out of the grasp of the Mexican as easily as though he were a lad, the butt smashed against his face, and the last Squire Kip saw of the chap he was standing on his head in the drain alongside the tracks. It was hardly a ceremonious method of asking the fellow to quit, but effective €Jll the same, and at such a time as this deeds talk more eloquently than words.

Once inside, what a scene of wild commotion broke upon their vision! Several desperadoes were holding up the passengers with little scruple, forcing them to disgorge their valuables on pain of death.

It is astonishing how, under such distressing conditions, even valiant men who have faced bullets in battle will allow themselves to be robbed without even a feeble protest—indeed, some of them acting as though it were a huge joke, so great is their desire to placate the villains who do the looting.

Doubtless there Avere brave men in this very car, but they lacked organisation and a nervy leader, without Avhich valour il frequently ovenvhelnied by diplomacy-

Bastian had come in the nick of time

One of the brutes was threatening a terrified Avoman, aa'lio, shrieking and sobbing, hadly kneAV Avhat she Avas al/out. The sight fired his blood. Perhaps there Avas three or four of the same ilk in the car at the time, all desperate, heavily-armed bravos, Avho would apparently as soon slay as eat. Little he cared —had there, been a dozen instead they would not have stopped him. The Avay he descended upon that marauder was a sight for the gods—at least it had the effect of exalting him in the estimation of Squire Kip, avlio had never, in all his peregrinations, seen anything quite so heroic. Perhaps the Mexican, under the spur of the moment, thought a cyclone from the Sierras had overwhelmed him, or a Avild eat engine shooting doAvn the grade had plunged through the Pullman.

Perhaps he had little opportunity to make even the easiest guess in the Avorld, for total collapse folloAved so speedily in the Avake of the attac!: that his thinking box must have been utterly demoralised and overAvhelmed.

It was a good beginning; at the same time, the man who came out on top was Avell aware he might not fare so Avell in succeeding rounds. Mor« than one passenger witnessed this signal and successful raid on the enemy; and, as might be expected, it aroused their hopes.

New courage- took possession, and ■wKere they had been disposed to humbly hand out their valuables, as in duty bound, they now groped for weapons, filled with a sudden martial spirit. Such enthusiasm is as catching as the measles.

But it chanced that one of the brigands also discovered what had happened to the ill-fated chap in the rear. The awful spectacle paralysed his tongue for the moment, but immediately lie broke forth into the shrillest harangue mortal ears had ever heard. What followed was more like a nightmare than any respectable comedy.

Shots were fired, women screamed and hid their heads under pillows, no doubt believing, like the ostrich, that because they could not see they were safe from danger; the car became fouled with powder smoke, and men in their berths took occasion to peep out in order to "blaze away, or else fling some missile at the trio of miscreants.

Altogether this was quite too warm to suit their blood —all of them were

A ROMANCE OF LOVE AND ADVENTURE ««««« UNDER MEXICAN SKIES. «««««

Author of " My Hilileparde," '• Omar Kassam,-Swashbuckler," " Dr. Jack," " The Winning of Isolde," "A Warrior Bold," etc.

wounded, and uncertain as to what fate awaited them if they dallied longer, they beat an inglorious retreat- • Thus the last shot Avas fired, the last boot hurled with unerring aim through the smoky atmosphere, and for the moment at least peace had descended upon the scene. ' •

Men appeared, partially dressed, but armed for the fray—men who were burning to wipe out their seeming cowardice of a minute before—men who were in a condition to accomplish wonders in the line of heroic deeds.

In Bachelor Bob they recognised a leader well worthy of the name, and arouud him they clustered, like a colony of bees.

Ho knew full well that .this was only the beginning—four of the desperadoes had been put to flight, but perhaps they would speedily return with ten times their number.

It was a gra>"o condition thai menaced the*m, and one that must be grappled without gloves if results were to be attained.

Bob seemed to know just what should be clone, and to Squire Kip he confided the task of defending the rear end of the car, while he himself looked after the forward part.

Here all the danger would plainly lie, since the marauders were up ahead. They had hardly appeared when business began at the old stand, and shots were fired.

Bastian was quick to respond, and his success in this line seemed to equal his other performances, since his volley brought about a dispersal of the quartet that had opened the bombardment.

They dodged and ran, all the while shouting Spanish execrations and howling for reinforcements.

These latter Avould not be long in coining, since there was little, excitement for the majority in smashing a car door, and they really yearned for some means of exploiting their ardour. Meanwhile Bastian set rbout making as sturdy a defence as his force would admit.

Five men there were under him, and one of them the remarkable dandy, who had been pointed out as the prince of toreadors.

The number was insignificant, but! more than once history records the glorious achievements of even a smaller force than this, and surely what had been'done Before could be accomplished again. So he stationed them as advantageously as possible, and giving rapid though comprehensive directions, awaited the savage assault. It began to look very like war. Indeed, the evidences of battle were in plain view, while- those sounds from down the road, where the messenger still banged away his defiance, certainly accentuated the situation.

When Bachelor Bob witnessed the number of recruits that flocked to the standard of those whom he had Irarled back in defeat he could not really see much hope of his little band, however gallant their defence, holding out against such an army; but it was not his nature to despair, no matter how black the case might appear. Led by the disappointed and furious would-be looters, the motley crowd surged on.

Angry cries filled the air, while several swung blazing torches above their heads, as though seized with a temptation to fire the coach, regardless of the holocaust that might ensue. "Steady, boys," said Bastian, noting with some degree of pleasure that Squire Kip and two of his retinue had crept from the rear, eager to have a hand in the coining engagement; for such a reinforcement counted heavily at this time.

Already some of the desperadoes had opened fire-, though without realising exactly what they were up against.

When lead is singing about the ears it requires nerves of steel to curb the natural spirit of impatience and keep one's fire in check until every shot will count. Colonel William Preseott, at the battle of Bunker Hill, knew the value of it when he ordered his Continentals to hold their fire until they could see the whites of their enemies' eyes.

At length, realising that the time had come to strike a blow in defence of the women whose cause they had assumed, Bastian let fly.

His men were not slow to imitate his example, and the volley created some consternation among the advancing host, several in the foremost rank having fallen. Still they came sweeping on like a tidal wave.

The shooting now becamt general. Every man was an oracle to himself, and placed his lead where he believed it would do the most good.

So that, all things considered, there was quite a lively little business going on at the tiiuo;

Lead stock -was away up, and those engaged in the trading seemed very reckless as to how they disposed of their

surplus. Casualties "were frequent

Fortunately, they were generally on the .side of the advancing forces. Nor was this to be wondered at, considering the fact that our friends were more or less in hiding, while the brigands, outlined in silhouette against the blazing fires, offered conspicuous marks.

Pity the man who could not make his bullets bring about some result, with so many things in his favour. Thus, keeping constantly at it. they might have soon demoralized the enemy, who were already showing some signs of alarm.

But Bob Bastian was shocked when no report followed the pressure of his finger. His weapon, alas! had reached its limit, and the foe still came on almost as ugly and threatening as ever.

As from the heavens above he heard a mellow .Spanish voice say:

"Will the brave American senor use this?" and as a small, but serviceable revolver fell at his feet, he looked up at the car window to catch a glimpse of a queenly head, surrounded by midnight hair, and see the Hash of the most glorious and radiant eyes it had ever been his fortune to see.

(To be continued daily.)