fter us, but I had now become
reckless and did not mind. Then I stumbled over a root and fell face
down in the sand. Before I could arise fully the macho had turned and
thrown himself upon me. I managed to turn over on my back and gripped
him by throat and face, so that he was really in my power, and I felt
that he was subdued so that I could easily force him under, and, small
wonder, for with the terrible grip of my hand had I once crushed a
man's fingers in a wrestling match. Now I used the macho's body as a
shield against the furious onslaught of his people, who attacked me
with rocks, clubs, and anything they could lay hands to. I thought, and
I never ceased thinking and planning for one moment, that the affair
looked very serious for me, when I saw the cacique approach with my
pistol in hand, exclaiming, "Now, gringo, thou shalt die, on the altar
of the god, at the sacred shrine of Aztlan, I shall lay thy quivering
heart!" In vain I looked for help from my companion, who had sought
safety in flight. Something had to be done and that quickly. Surely I
had one trusty friend, true as steel, who would not forsake me in the
extremity of my peril. I bethought me of my little "American bulldog"
which I had picked up in the cars in Kansas, and which had ever since
followed me faithfully. "Sic-semper-Cerberus-Sic!" My right hand stole
to my hip, a short sharp bark, and the treacherous cacique fell over
with a crimson stain on his forehead. At the same moment a weird,
uncanny yelp pierced the night, and a tremendous shaggy phantom cloud
obscured the slender sickle of the moon. Terrified, the Indians
screamed "El Perro! El Perro de la Malinche!" and shrilly the voices of
frightened squaws took up the refrain, "Perro! Perro! Gringo Perro!"

When I staggered to my feet, I was alone, sorely bruised and wounded,
but master of the field. I recovered my revolver, which lay at my feet
and contrived to mount my horse, whose bridle had caught on the
greasewood brush, and I headed for home.

Not long thereafter I met my friend Reyes, who was followed by a
retinue of peons. "Gracias a Dios. Amigo!" he exclaimed, on seeing me.
"I came after your body, if it were to be found, and here you are
alive. When I heard the report of firearms and knowing that those
devils had your weapon, I feared the worst. How on earth did you manage
to escape them? Seeing you down and beset by the whole tribe, I gave
you up for dead and fled."

I told my fr