Page 12 - lw3217

10 CHILDREN OF THE SOUTH

Juanita has betrayed her God! Roderigo talks. Villa
thinks and acts. Paper and pencil are brought. Juanita
is told to write. She will not do so. Roderigo with every
thing in his grasp, and now fearing to lose, raises his
arm and strikes at her viciously. Villa catches the
blow! "Enough, my friend. You have been very useful
but had that blow fallen-I would have had you shot.
I always shoot my men for that. We love but we do not
strike!"
Juanita has betrayed but she will go no further.
Rosita can write. She is the only one-man or woman
-in that whole assemblage-(Save Juanita) who can.
The message calling for help is written and signed
"Juanita," and pinioned to the buckle of Wolf dog's
collar.
Juanita is half carried to the beginning of the trail
but the Wolf-dog has streaked along it and is lost in the
trees long before it is reached. He knows not what
message he bears, but he knows his friend is needed.
And soon he comes, all caution thrown to the winds
of heaven, a veritable cyclone of fury.
He is trapped and stood before the Chief Villa!
whose manner has not changed a hair. Villa calls for
another chair and Manuel is invited to sit. He does so
and the duel beings.
On the one side an animal with intermittent human
feelings-who can neither read nor write. On the other,
an educated man-who, if there be alloy in his nature-
it is only sufficient to hold together the shining gold.
Yet in this duel of words they are not unequal. They
advance-they retreat. They parry-they thrust, in
Carta and in Tierce-Steel meets Steel! And still the
smoke comes through the nostrils of the Chief! - - -
"We hold different views, my rival countryman. We
cannot agree! - - You may be blindfolded and give
the order or not, as you please." - -The firing squad
- -Ramirez-we have waited long-We must be on
our journey.