United States or Lithuania ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
I did not at first comprehend the novelty that was about to be introduced. I was not kept long in ignorance. One of the Jarochos, seizing me by the collar, dragged me back from the ledge, and transferred the noose from my neck to my ankles. Horror heaped upon horror! I was to be hung head downwards! "That will be much prettier won't it, Lopez?" "Yes, Captain."
"The gentleman will have time to make himself ready for heaven before he dies won't he, Lopez?" "Yes Captain." "Take out the gag let him have his tongue free; he'll need that to pray with won't he, Lopez?" "Yes, Captain." One of the Jarochos jerked the bayonet roughly from my mouth, almost dislocating my jaw. The power of speech was gone.
I sometimes officiate in that capacity myself. Don't I, Lopez?" "Yes, Captain." A diabolical laugh burst from the Jarochos, who had dismounted, and were standing out upon the cliff, the better to witness the spectacle of our hanging. "Well, Lopez, does any of them say `yes'?" "No, Captain." "Ask the Irishman there; ask him he ought to be a good Catholic."
Lopez, I have a better plan," he cried: "why did I not think of it before? It's not too late yet. Ha! ha! ha! Carambo! They shall dance upon their heads! That's better isn't it, Lopez?" "Yes, Captain." A cheer from the Jarochos announced their approval of this change in the programme. The padre made a sign to Lopez, who approached him, appearing to receive some directions.
Chane stepped forward, and swore away the lives of the five Jarochos in less than as many minutes. "Enough!" said the major, after the Irishman had given his testimony. "Lieutenant Claiborne," continued he, addressing an officer the youngest in rank, "what sentence?" "Hang!" replied the latter in a solemn voice. "Lieutenant Hillis?" "Hang!" was the reply. "Lieutenant Clayley?"
We were not to take that awful leap into eternity which I had been picturing to myself. A fate more horrible still awaited us. We were to be hanged over the precipice! As if to aid the monster in his inhuman design, several pine-trees grew out horizontally from the edge of the cliff; and over the branches of these the Jarochos commenced reeving their long lazos.
We were not long in learning into whose hands we had fallen; for the name "Jarauta" was on every tongue. They were the dreaded "Jarochos" of the bandit priest. "We're in for it now," said Raoul, deeply mortified at the part he had taken in the affair with the cure. "It's a wonder they have kept us so long. Perhaps he's not here himself, and they're waiting for him."
The wind whistled through the leaves, and its melancholy moaning sounded like our death-dirge. Several times through the night I heard the howl of the prairie wolf, and I knew it was Lincoln; but the Jarochos had pickets all around, and the hunter dared not approach our position. He could not have helped us.
About thirty of the Jarochos guarded us, and we now saw them under the broad light of day; but they did not look a whit more beautiful than they had appeared under the glare of the blazing rancho on the preceding night. Lopez was at their head, and never relaxed his vigilance for a moment. It was plain that he considered the padre a man of his word.
The question was put to Chane, in mockery, of course, for it was impossible for him to answer it; and yet he did answer it, for his look spoke a curse as plainly as if it had been uttered through a trumpet. The Jarochos did not heed that, but only laughed the louder. "Well, Lopez, what says Saint Patrick? `Yes' or `no'?" "`No', Captain." And a fresh peal of ruffian laughter rang out.
Word Of The Day