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Updated: June 4, 2025
They know they are upon a scaffold a living scaffold with a halter and running noose around their necks. "Now, Nat!" says Walt, in undertone to Cully. "I guess we may spring the trap? Git your knife riddy." "It's hyar." "You take the critter to the left. I'll look arter that on the right." The latter is bestridden by Uraga. With Walt's ideas of duty are mingled memories that prompt to revenge.
At the same time a hint is given him that his incarceration is only precautionary, with a promise it will not be for long. Immediately after his removal, Uraga seats himself before an escritoire, which stands on one side of the room. Laying open the lid, he spreads a sheet of paper upon it, and commences to write what appears an epistle.
As the soldiers are in the uniform of Mexican lancers, it is needless to say they belong to the troop of Colonel Uraga. Superfluous to add that the two prisoners under the tree are Don Valerian Miranda and the doctor. Uraga himself is not visible, nor his adjutant, Roblez. They are inside the conical hut, the square one being occupied by Adela and her maid.
The instructions were given, and within two hours' time Captain Gil Uraga, of the Zacatecas Lancers, was in receipt of a challenge from the Kentuckian Colonel Miranda being its bearer. With such a voucher the lancer officer could not do otherwise than accept, which he did with cooler confidence for the very reason Miranda had made known.
At first it seemed to Hamersley the act of another enemy; but in a moment he knew it to be the behaviour of a friend at least a pacificator bent upon seeing fair play. "You are wrong, Captain Uraga," interposed he who had intermeddled, addressing himself to the officer. "This gentleman is a stranger in the country, and not acquainted with our customs."
Despite the influence of the aguardiente, fast loosening his tongue, he is yet somewhat cautious in his communications; and not until Uraga repeats the question does he make answer to it. Then comes the response, slowly and reluctantly, as if from one of his long-suffering race, who has discovered a mine of precious metal, and is being put to the torture to "denounce" it.
All have been in a like position before drawn up to fire upon prisoners, their countrymen. The patriots of their country, too; for the followers of Gil Uraga are all of them picked adherents of the parti preter. "Sergente!" asks Uraga, on coming forth from his tent, "is everything ready?" "All ready," is the prompt reply.
"In the last I disagree with you. I'm sorry to say, but have reasons. Now that I know the real character of this ruffian Uraga his deeds actually done, and others we suspect he's just the man who'll leave no stone unturned to discover your hiding place. He has more than one motive for doing so, but one that will move him to follow you here into the desert aye, to the uttermost end of the earth!"
With him I shall arrange that. And when you're out, go among the men and say a word to prepare them for the measure. You may tell them we've been trying the prisoners, and the result arrived at." The adjutant steps out of the tent; and while Uraga is swallowing another cup of Catalan to fortify him for his fearful purpose, the sergeant enters.
The sergeant simply nods assent, and, again saluting, is about to retire, when Uraga stays him with a second speech. "Let all take part in the firing except Galvez. Post him as sentry over the square tent. Direct him to stand by its entrance and see that the flap is kept down. Under no circumstances is he to let either of its occupants out. It's not a spectacle for women above all, one of them.
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