Read Online Gone to Texas by Don Worcester - Free Book Online Page B

know you’re hiding a king’s prisoner. Turn him over to us or you’ll take his place.” Ellis cursed under his breath as he heard the footsteps approaching.
    â€œHe’s in that one,” the Irish captain said. Soldiers removed the lid, dragged him out, and bound him hand and foot. Two of them picked him up and threw him down into their boat, bruising him badly but not breaking any bones. He wished they’d killed him.
    When Ellis was back in his cell, Carreño ordered his arms and legs shackled. He was bitterly disappointed that he had come so close to escaping before being betrayed. At least I was free for a while and heard the birds sing, he thought. He looked for Bill. The white lizard had become wary again; it took Ellis a week to regain its confidence.
    One morning a few months later, a captain and a sergeant came to bring food and inspect Ellis’ shackles as usual. The captain remarked to the sergeant that he needed some rocks blasted. “We have men who can drill the holes,” the sergeant replied, “but none to set the charges.”
    Seeing an opportunity to get out of his cell again, Ellis announced that he knew blasting. The captain ignored him, but a few days later, the sergeant told Ellis that Carreño had given orders for him to do the blasting. “If you behave, you can earn many privileges,” the sergeant said. “Just don’t try to escape.” Ellis nodded as if agreeing, but his thoughts were on flight.
    The shackles were replaced by a heavy chain around each ankle. By wrapping the chains around his waist, Ellis was able to walk under guard to the blasting site. He saw twenty soldiers guarding forty prisoners, and was astonished to recognize Nolan’s old scout among them. “Luciano,” he called, “why are you here?”
    The old man’s wrinkled face broke into a broad smile, and he came to give Ellis an abrazo. “It’s good to see you, my friend,” he said. “They called me a traitor to Spain for serving Señor Nolan—that’s why I’m here.” A soldier ordered him to get back to work.
    Ellis made matches for igniting the blasting powder in the gallery of a house not far away. In the evening, he questioned the prisoners about escaping. They talked it over, and one of them said, “Some of us will go with you if you tell us when, and give the signal.”
    â€œTomorrow afternoon, when you see me carry a basket of stones to the dump, get ready,” Ellis replied, “but we must not flee until the soldiers are on the run. Each of you try to grab a soldier’s gun.”
    As blaster, Ellis wasn’t required to carry away the debris, but he loaded a basket with broken stones, hoisted it to his left shoulder, and carried it to the dump. A bored soldier stood there, yawning and watching the prisoners through half-closed eyes. Ellis paused beside him as if out of breath. He took a stone from the basket, knocked the soldier down, and seized his musket. The prisoners all threw rocks at the soldiers, who hastily retreated.
    In the distance, Ellis saw reinforcements coming on the run, and most of the prisoners quickly scattered. Ellis and Luciano ran off together, both still in chains. Because the old man had difficulty keeping up with him, Ellis stopped and fired at their pursuers, who were gaining on them but who stopped momentarily.
    â€œI’ll hold them back while you get away,” Ellis told Luciano. “Go and don’t stop till you’re in the woods. I’ll join you there.” Luciano ran ahead but soon returned with his hat full of rocks.
    â€œWhat are you doing?” Ellis called, trying to conceal his irritation.
    â€œI’m here to help you, my friend. See, I brought more stones.”
    Ellis glanced at the soldiers. “There are too many of them now,” he exclaimed. “We’ve got to get into the woods.” He fired a shot to slow the