CHILDREN'S COLUMN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11535, 21 November 1900, Page 3

CHILDREN'S COLUMN.

SENTENCED TO BE SHOT. [BY GEORGE G. FARQTJHAR.] I. When the two horsemen cantered into the little town of Las Penas the square was already thronged with excited and gesticulating men, most of them dressed in semimilitary garb and armed with rusty Winchesters. They drew aside, scowling blackly, to allow the newcomers free passage to the inn.

" A particularly sinister-looking lot of customers, Ronald," was Mr. Fane comment as he and his nephew dismounted. "If this is a fair sample of your revolutionaries I don't think the Republic of San Xucar Is likely to benefit much by a change of President. Ough! And the inn seems packed with a similar noisy crowd." "Yes, they are evidently Don Sancho's supporters," replied Ronald Wilson. " It's clear the revolution is now in full swing, although there were only rumours of it when we left the coast four days ago. But tomorrow will see us safe at father's plantations, where we sha'n't be troubled by matters of this sort. Father takes no part in Central American politics." " He's wise," said Jack Fane, laughingly. "It's best to leave the Dagos to fight it out. But Don Sancho. Is that the Don Sancho Villar with whom I came to loggerheads on my last visit to your father, three years back?" . . " Same fellow," nodded Ronald. '" He's ambitious to be made boss of the Republic himself." " Umph!" murmured the lad's uncle, somewhat uneasily. "In that case I sincerely hope we sha'n't drop across him just now. I don't suppose he's forgotten our little squabble yet, and I wouldn't care to be placed at his mercy during the present state of affairs. He might choose to ignore the fact that I'm a non-combatant.- No, I'd rather not be brought into collision with the gentleman just now."' Giving their animals into the charge of a couple of servants, the , travellers strolled over to the hostelry, where the landlord speedily set meat and drink before them. But they were not permitted to eat the food in peace. A group of Don Sancho's soldiers, flushed with wine, greeted their entry with none too friendly glances, and these, sullen looks were presently succeeded by dark mutterings and outspoken imprecations. At length one of them rose to his feet. " Scnores," he cried, hoarsely, " I ask you to drink to the downfall of the tyrant." His comrades staggered erect. " Death to President Modores," they bellowed. " Perdition to the enemy of the Republic." Mr. Fane neither moved nor looked up, but calmly went on with his meal. The. officer strode across the floor. " Senor," he said, truculently. " You did not hear the toast, I presume?" " I'm an Englishman," responded Fane, curtly, "and therefore a neutral." The Spaniard grinned derisively. " That may be so!" and he shrugged his shoulders. " But how are we to know it? You are a stranger here. How are we to know that you're not sent to find our outnumbers and plans? It rests with you to allay our natural suspicions. I only request you to drink success to the cause of' Don Sancho Villar." A hasty exclamation rose to Mr. Fane's lips, but he managed to repress it. As he made no attempt to comply with their captain's suggestion, the murmurs of the soldiers grew more hostile. " Spy," and " foreign dog" were the least opprobrious of their epithets. The officer drew a step nearer. "Since you do not claim to be a friend," snapped he, his eyes glittering mischievously, " and have not the courage to declare yourself an enemy, I treat you as I would any other coward!" With that he caught up a wineglass and flung its contents full into the Englishman's face. The insult was not to be borne. Instantly Fane sprang forward, and with a swinging blow of his ust sent the yellow ruffian tumbling among the feet of the compatriots.

The fellow scrambled up mad with passion, and spluttering out oaths and Maledictions by the score. '■'. ■ ■ ,;-'- :V ' " You shall suffer for his, pig of an Inglese!" he yelled. "On him, men! Strike them flown!" '"/:•':" 11. ;-•■ :';,■: ■ ..; For close on five minutes the inn was in an uproar. Ronald leapt to his uncle's side, and, setting their backs to the wall, the pair made a desperate struggle of it before they were finally overpowered by their fieryeyed assailants. < tattered, and exhausted, they were being hauled into one corner of the room when a tall, fierce, sallow-visaged individual, resplendent in gold lace, appeared at the doorway. It was Don Sancho himself. "How now?" he ejaculated sharply. "Why this hubbub, Captain Suaiez?" Captain Suarez thereupon prodeeded to give his version of the incident —an account so garbled and distorted-that Mr. Fane broke out into indignant denials. Don Sancho waved ,his arm for silence, a malicious smile curling his thin lips. "Ha, my friend said he, regarding the Englishman with a hateful leer. "So I have the honour of meeting you again. It is a pleasure which may yet become a sorrow— if Captain Suarez speaks truly." "He does not!" interjected Fane. "It is all a tissue of deliberate lies!" " Nevertheless I have every confidence in him," replied the insurgent leader, coolly. " But I will hear both sides. There are witnesses enough, surely. We shall see— shall see." ff-

There and then the court of inquiry was held, Don Sancho constituting himself both judge and jury in one. Needless to remark, the captain's'tale was amply confirmed by the evidence of his subordinates, who betrayed no scruples of conscience in asserting that "the Inglese," after roundly abusing Don Sancho and his partisans, had ended by making an unprovoked attempt upon the life of their captain. It was useless for Mr. Fane to protect against such flagrant mendacity Don Sancho would not listen to him. "It is clear to me, senor, that you have far outstepped the limits of the neutrality you profess," said he, sternly. "In act, if not ayowedly, you have espoused the dictator's cause and thereby hrought yourself within the rule of martial law. Under the circumstances it becomes my duty— painful duty, Senor Fane—to pronounce the only possible sentence .upon you— sentence of death! At daybreak to-morrow you will be led out and be shot!" " You dare not' carry out so absurd a threat!" stammered Fane, aghast. "The British Government will never— " Pah! You will be shot, not as an Englishman, but as a spy of Luis Modores. We can supply proof enough of that, if required, to satisfy a hundred Governments. Once before you crossed my path, senor. I will take good care ycu never have another opportunity." Turning to Captain Saurez, the revolutionary chief went on: — " I hand him over into your custody, senor captain, knowing that you may be trusted to guard him well. Take him away! The boy we can deal with afterwards."

Seeing there was no help for it, Mr. Fane permitted himself to be conducted from the inn, through the crowded squarehooted and jeered "at by the rabble there—to a low building on the outskirts of the village. Into this hut he was thrust, the door being shut upon him, and a soldier posted outside with a loaded rifle.,

Half an hour later, when dusk had deepened into night, Ronald was likewise marched into the place. " The greasy old sinner!" cried he, in reply to his uncle's questions. "He says he means to keep me prisoner until father either agrees to join his side or pay two thousand dollars into his war-chest. He is neither more nor less than a vile brigand, holding me to ransom. But you, Uncle Jack! Surely he won't ever dare——to kill you!" " That's his intention beyond a doubt. He'll be only too glad of a chance to wipe off old scores. Yes, Ronald, I'm afraid we're in a precious sore pickle now." of old rope and frayed bridles suspended from the walls—was soon in utter darkne.>s, save where a patch of blue-black sky could be seen through the tiny foot-square window. Nor did there seem any way out of it. The hut— stable or harness-room ordinarily, to judge from the straw litter and the bits Escape by means of this narrow orifice was absolutely impossible, even for a slim youngster like Ronald.

" Couldn't we make a rush for it?" queried Ronald in a whisper. 'The door is only fastened with a latch; it has no bolt or lock. There's just a chance." " No, Ronald ; our best plan is to lie quiet. The sentinel's more than human if he can stand many hours of such intent vigilance." ni. Mr. Fane was right. Towards midnight, as near as he could tell, there came a slight saratching noise against the door-panels, followed by the click of a rifle-stock as it was grounded on the earth without. Ronald stole over and peered through the crannj. The soldier was sitting propped in an angle of the doorway, his weapon resting between his knees.

Swiftly and silently the captives completed their preparations and took up a position close to the exit. Lifting the latch, Ronald suddenly flung wide the door, which, opening inwards, brought the sentinel sprawling on his back inside the building. Before he could realise what had occurred, Jack Fane had him by the throat, while Ronald, deft as a sailor, was engaged in pinioning him with leather cords, finishing the operation by ramming a knotted rope between his teeth and tying it securely behind his neck. And there they left him, gagged and helpless. Favoured by the pitchy darkness Ronald and his uncle crept warily from the spot, turning their faces to the south. As luck would have it, they blundered upon half a dozen horses, hobbled and unguarded, not more than a mile from the town; a couple of these they straightway requisitioned. But their adventures were not yet over. They had left Las Penas some six or seven miles behind and were beginning to congratulate themselves on their freedom from pursuit when unexpectedly they were challenged. " Halt!" came a sharp command from the trees On their right. " Stand, there." Instead of obeying, they dug their heels into the flanks of their nags and galloped for dear life. A zipping bullet brought Ronald's horse to its knees, the riSer being thrown. At once his companion pulled up and dismounted. "No, no," urged the boy, getting to his feet. " Don't stop for me. I'm not hurt. Ride —ride on!" The clatter of hoofs came nearer, and soon they were surrounded by a press of alert troopers. Gazing hard at them Ronald gave vent to a cry of joy, " Look, uncle! See" their badges. We're safe—safe. These are the President's men." As Mr. Fane quickly learned, they were indeed the advance guard of President Modores' army, even then on its way to attack Don Sancho. Ere dawn the main body of the Presiden's forces had flung itself into Las Penas, where, taken wholly by surprise, Don Sancho's motley horde made but a feeble resistance. Their generalissimo himself was among the first to fall. By this death the Republic of San Xucar was ensured another period of comparative —until, that is, some new aspirant arises to make a similar bold stroke for the Presidentship.—Chums.