THE ROB ROY RAID.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 13299, 7 February 1914, Page 9

THE ROB ROY RAID.

* -— m Bigby sprang to. his feet and listened. There was no mistaking the sound. A galloping horse was climbing the frozen grade. "That fool Irishman !" he ejaculated. "Drunk as a lord, I suppose, and winding the finest piece- of horseflesh m the country." He stepped to tho door and out on the porch, bis brow corrugated with annoyance.; From behind the mill at the mouth of the tunnel raced McCann, lying low on the horse's neck and rising m his stirrups with each forward lunge of the animal beneath him. This was no drunken rider. Snatching a blanket from the porch rail, Bigby ran out into the road to meet his foreman. "Great guns, Mike, what's the matter ?" he asked. "Ribels," answered McCann. "They bent tin minutes behint me. Took i Santa Eulalia this mornin'." They threw the blanket over the steaming horse and McCann removed tho bit. Bigby ran up the steps. "Perhaps we can hold them off or dicker with them for -a few hours, and I'll telegraph for troops," Bigby called out. "Can't tel-e-gruf," said McCann. "Th* wires is cut twixt here and Santa Eulalia an* Chihuahua, where th' troops is. An' if ye could tel-e-gruf it wouldn't be doin' ye army good, 'cause they've wrecked th 'thrain. Sure, I seen thim doin' it." "Did they have any trouble taking the town?" "No. There wasn't annybody to resist 'em but th' polis.' Th' ribels shot a -coople ay thim, an' are kapin' th* rest fur to shoot tomorra." "How. many rebels are there?" "About forty, I should say. There's mebbe twinty a-coomin' up here. • Th' others is to kape an eye on the town. There's th' blitherin' iggits now." Bigby turned to see a disorderly group of horsemen, m motley array, coming round the mill." Some slept m their saddles, others saiig m drunken bravado, but those who rode to the fore were grim and intent. Bigby spoke to McCann. "Blow the whistle, Mike, and get the men out o. the mine. There's no telling what these devils will do." McCann obeyed, and as the men emerged from the tunnel and caught sigEt of the rebels they scattered into the hills like so many leaves before an October gale. The rebels rode up to the company's office, which, was also Bigby's home. Bigby spoke m Spanish from the "steps. "Welcome, senor," he said to an individual m an old gray coat to which several odds and ends of gold braid were pinned, and who appeared to be the leader. ""Viva, viva la republica !" responded the leader, and his followers echoed him. The men then dispersed to plunder the company's property. Returning, they dumped armfuls of clothing, blankets, and various stores into the road. The American superintendent and the rebel general chatted pleasantly about the weather and discussed the merits of Bigby's blanketed mare. Tlie general concluded his remarks , with, "These tough Mexican ponies, , though, are tlie right kind for the sort of work wo have to do. That, kind of ■ horse is first rate for a *parade, but givo ', ma a bronco right off the range for , steady wear." Bigby agreed with the general. He was most fervently hoping his mount would not meet with the general's approval. > '. The door opened and Bigby's wife, a bride of six weeks, came forward; she was slight and girlish, with hair like the . copper iter husband mined and eyes like the blue of a placid sea. "Why, Alex !" she exclaimed. "What's all this?" The general '*v eyes glittered as he surveyed her. "A Gringo woman," he muttered under his breath. r, My dear," replied Bigby, "a rebel general and his comrades are "paying* us a call;" "Oh !" and she nodded* comprehendingly. Bigby turned, .to the general. "My wife," he said, lifting his sombrero. "Viva, viva la 'republica!" was the general's acknowledgement of the^ introduction as his sombrero was also lifted with sweeping gallantry. A brawl started m the road, the rich, rolling profanity of McCann and Mexican gibberish unpleasantly mingled. Mc- ' Cann started for the office. "Th' dirty diyils have took me dead baby's pictur' and won't give it back," i bo Bbouted as he ran up tho steps and ' into the house before Bigby could stop i him', to reappear with a Mauser levelled ' from hia shoulder.. A shot and puff of smoke from tne group m the road. McCann plunged headlong down the steps and lay still. • The dead silence which followed was ' broken by shouts of "Viva, viva la republic !" "This is unfortunate," said the rebel leader, glancing towards the prostrate form, "very unfortunate, indeed, but we ; can not have our rights disputed, senor." "Certainly _not," acquiesced Bigby < lightly, but he turned sick at the i thought of the woman beside him. Some of his men approached the gen- 1 cral and a low-voiced conversation took place. Tlie general turned to Bigby. j "Senor, my men tell me," he said, ' "that they havo found no money anywhere about the premises. Have you any? Any of yom* own or the company's ?" , ] "I 'have not," answered Bigby, ( "That also is unfortunate, very unfortunate indeed," continued the general. "This stuff," waving his hand toward the plunder m the road, "is all very well, but we can not carry on a revolution without money. We will have to tuiarch your house and office, Benor." "Very well," said Bigby, "you will find no money there." And knowing that he spoke tho truth and naturally anxious to be rid of him, -Bigby -handed the rebel leader the keys to the com]>any a safe. The house and office were ransacked, Alice Bigby's wedding silver and a few jewels being added to. the loot. Her wedding ring was forcibly drawn from her finger when Bigby gave up his watch. Then the general and his men, disappointed at finding no money, held another whispered conversation. "Senor, it is necessary that we have money," said the leader to Bigby, "and we expected to find some m this camp." "I am sorry I have not been able to accommodate you," replied Bigby. "But you may be able to yet, senor. How much do you think your neckwouid be worth to your company '* questioned the Mexican.

"I have no idea," replied Bigby. "Well, wo shall see," came the quick retort, followed by a sharp command. Bigby was seized by a dozen hands, mounted on a bronco, his hands tied behind him and his feet under the pony's belly. .. " ■ "Now, senor." said the general, the last cord securely knotted, "if your com. pany sends 'to-morrow five thousand, American, to my headquarters m Santa Eulalie, you will be given your liberty. If they do not, you will be shot at sunset." "But how is "my company to be informed of your demand?" cooly asked Bigby. "Have you forgotten that the train is wrecked and all ways of communication <tkre cut between me and my company's headquarters m Chihuahua-: "No, senor, we have not .forgotten that you have a wife and that she has a good horse. It is only forty-five miles to Chihuahua. We look to the senora to save your hide and replenish our exchequer." Bigby and Alice looked long and steadily into each other's eyes. The general turned to Alice. "Senora," he said, "I warn you to return alone or accompanied only by whomever the company may send with the money. As long as your husband remains' m our hands any action on tlie part of . the Federal Government will mean his instant death. As Alice continued to stare white- ' faced and wide-eyed at Bigby the gen- '■ erai interrupted his directions to ask : ' "Do you understand, senora?" "Si," she breathed. "The road, part of the way, between ; here and Chihuahua," her director con- ' tinued, "is patrolled by Yaqui Indians. They are a savage lot, but as they are a part of my , force they will let you ' pass unharmed, senora, if you explain ' your errand." The general again removed his som- ' brero and bent his pudgy form low over the pommel of his saddle. "Buenos noches, senora. I wish you : success." ' Alice Bigby stood like a graven image until the last horseman was out of sigh' ' then crumpled to a senseless heap. • • • - Darkness came, and with it frozen i sleet and driving wind. Stung to life i again by the icy missiles, Alice dragged herself into the house and out into the i kitchen, where she heated herself a glass of milk. Then she led the horse j around to tho back steps, where she ] mixed a bucket of steaming bran. From ] the wall she^ took her husband's polaina i and sweater, and putting .them on, ; tightened his cartridge <belt and six- j shooter about her waist. Next* came her ] own riding boots, coat and fleece cap. < Then she faced the night and the storm. < She took a trail down the opposite side of the mountain from that which ] the rebels had taken. It was steep and ; perilous, but she' knew it well, and it ; cut tho distance to .Chihju_.ua some ten ; miles." Besides, m going this way she would avoid passing . through Santa j Eulalia and, she hoped, the Yaqui lines, ] for she "presumed they would be drawn < clos.e about the town. . i The sleet became a pelting rain as < they reached the lower levels, and a dense, warm mist as they emerged on i the valley road. , Tho road, though { muddy, was broad and straight,* and s here Alice' made good time. As she galloped along she raced abreast a Taging torrent which crossed the valley a hundred fet below. It seemed to her th the river m its might and fearlessness, roared from its abyss a friendly Godspeed. » ■ « A fiendish yell split the night. A. grotesque figure leaped from the darkness, reaching for the horse's head. The ' horse reared, plunged, lost its footing, 1 and with its helpless rider rolled over the embankment. Neighing, struggling i for a foothold, it slid to the flood. Many ' figures now crowded the road, the fire . of their rifles streaking the opaque , gloom, the night hideous with their 1 yells. Alice had not avoided the ' Yaquis. ! Losing its last footing, bruised and bleeding, the horse went into the river. A mile or so further on it clambered on a sand bar and m the first, faint ; gray of dawn stood, riderless. * . * * » In the official chamber on the second floor of the two-storied adobe gaol and ■ town hall of Santa Eulalia Bigby and the general sat talking. Against the door-jamb, snoring, leaned a guard, a J long cheroot sagging listlessly from the r corner of his mouth. Bigby and the general sat at a bare ] deal-table, one on either side. The general drummed nervously with his r stubby fingers, glancing out the window at the declining sun, the last Blant rays 1 of which reddened the room. Bigbywas unnaturally calm, but his gray eyes narrowed to slits, which a more ob- i servant man tJnan tho (rebel Igenterat might have noted with considerable con- j cern. "You see, senor," the smaller man r . was saying, "the Government's men are fighting for pay. We are fighting from principle ; there is a great difference, i senor, and we have never known defeat. We have nothing to lose and everything to gain, therefore we stop at , nothing." "Then why don't you go down and take Chihuahua?" asked Bigby. "That I would do to-night, senor," answered the general, "if I had five hundred rounds of ammunition, but they ** will not sell us that much at a time." "Who's 'they'?" from Bigby. Tlie general raised his brows m sur- ] prise, then laughed. "The Government af course, senor." > J "Do you mean to toll me that the Federal Government is supplying you with tho ammunition to carry on this I rebellion?" "Ah, senor, you Gringos are so — cr — pardon me, senor, plain-speaking. Not exactly that, senor. _ou see, since the . United States has forbidden the sale of firearms or ammunition to tho rebels, i Federal Government officials will some- ] times supply us if the consideration is sufficient." ; "I Bee," said Bigby, "and was it for , such a purpose that my ransom was to have been used?" "It was, senor." The general glanced out the window the last time and arose. : "I am very sorry,' senor, that your company has not communicated with me. I shall regret deeply signing the order for your execution, but I must do as I say or my threats would never avail me anything." Bigby also arose, leaning heavily on the table. "Oh, sit down a minute, general. 1 have something I want to say to you." "Certainly, senor. A last request is it?" "As the general spoke ho stopped to , draw hi 3 chair under him again; and ,

as ho did so tha table, thrown upwards by the whole weight of Bigby's body, struck him a smashing blow under the chin and ho fell unconscious to tho floor. The guard awoke with a start, but at the sight of Bigby's steady hand and calculating eye behind the general's appropriated six-shooter ho turned and fled, shouting loudly for help. Bigby ran to the window. A roadster m which were seated a nian and a woman and across tho back of which was printed, "Rob Roy Mining Co., Chihuahua," stopped with a lurch and a whirr before the gaol. In an instant the saloons were emptied and the car and its occupants surrounded bj a curious and eager crowd. Tho woman was bundled to the ears m an auto robe and her features veiled, but Bigby recognised her. In another moment he held his wife m his arms, and she cried for joy at sight of him. And well she might, even though the flashes from the Yaqui rifles had left liei unscathed. As her horse had lost his last footing and gone into the river she had thrown her arms about a clump of brush and clung to tho river's brink. Then step by step m the pitch blackness, cowering under the brush and overhanging crags, or wading m the river to her armpits, she had made her way through the Yaqui lines-. After hours of terror, and taxed almost to the limit of her physical endurance, she had dared to take to tlie road again when she reached that stretch m the rivers' course where it widens out on a barren and sandy plain. Then a mile or so of trudging and she came upon her horse m the gray dawn. The remaining part of the ride she had made m a coma of fear and exhaustion. A friend had seen her riding aimlessly about the streets of Chihuahua and .taken her to the home of Daniel Gilman. Daniel Gillman, the company's president, stood up, a small canvas sack" m his hand. "Here, you vermin, here's —our money," ho shouted. "Who'll I give this to. Where's your leader?" Bigby, unhindered, climbed into the car and slipped into the driver's seat beside his wife. Still Daniel Gillman waited. At last a man with uplifted sabre shouldered his way through the crowd toward the car. "Here, senor," he called, "I'll take that money," and upon reaching the Americans he saluted awkwardly. "The general has been hurt, senor, and pan not come m person, senOr, but he sends his * compliments, senor, and hopes you enjoyed your trip from Chihuahua. Here is a receipt, senor. When our republic is established we will repay this little loan. I will count the, money, senor," and he reached for the canvas sack. . Bigby's .foot moved. The roadster leaped forward. Tlie general's aide was knocked off his feet, and it was only Bigby's strong left arm that saved Daniel Gillman and his five thousand. American,, a plunge over the wheel guard. In an instant the car had ploughed through the parting throng, dived behind the railroad sheds ' and was skimming merrily down the grade to Chihuahua. The army of the republic stood agape with astonishment, staring helplessly after their departed prisoner and the swiftly vanishing ransom.