Page:Weird Tales Volume 29 Number 1 (1937-01).djvu/19

though they said it was inexorable fate. They tell us nothing; we are helpless. Nor is that all. People, women as well as men, disappear; they vanish as though swallowed by an earthquake. 'Where is so and so?' we ask, and 'S-s-sh—La Murciélaga!' is the only answer. I came here with a full company a year ago. Today I have but two platoons; the others are all dead, deserted or vanished—La Murciélaga!

"Por Dios, until you came here with this explanation I had thought she was a legend, like Tezcatlipoca or the Thunder-Bird!"

"Then we may count upon your help, Monsieur le Capitaine?" de Grandin asked.

"With all my heart. Carajo, I would give this head of mine to lay my eyes upon La Murciélaga——"

An orderly tapped at the door, and he looked up with a frown. "Que cosa?" he demanded.

"A young caballero waits to see the captain," the man explained apologetically. "His hacienda was burglarized last night. Much livestock was driven off; the family plate was stolen. He is sure it was La Murciélaga, and has come to make complaint."

"Un milagro—a miracle!" the Commandant cried exultantly. "Two in one day, amigos. First come you with information of this cursed bat society, then comes a man with courage to denounce them for their thievery.

"Bring him in, muy pronto!" he commanded.

The man the orderly showed in was scarcely more than a lad, dark, slender, almost womanish in build, his sole claim to masculinity seeming to be based upon a tiny black mustache and a little tuft of beard immediately below his mouth, so small and black that it reminded me of a beetle perched between his chin and lip. He wore the old-time Mexican costume, short jacket and loose-bottomed trousers of black velveteen, a scarlet cummerbund about his waist, exceedingly high-heeled boots, a bright silk handkerchief about his head. In one hand he bore a felt sombrero, the brim of which seemed only the necessary groundwork to support row on row of glittering silver braid.

At sight of us he paused abashed, but when the Commandant presented us, his teeth shone in a glittering smile. "We are well met, Señores y Señorita," he declared; "you are come to seek these Children of the Bat, I am come to ask the commandante's aid. Last night they picked my house as clean as ever vultures plucked a carcass, and my craven peons refused to lift a hand to stop them. They said that it was death to offer opposition to La Murciélaga, but me, I am brave. I will not be intimidated. No, I have come to the police for aid."

"What makes you think it was La Murciélaga, sir?" the Commandant inquired. "These people of the bat are criminals, yes; but there are other robbers, too. Might not it be that——"

"Señor Commandante," broke in the other in a low, half-frightened voice, "would other robbers dare to leave this at my house?"" Opening his small gloved hand he dropped a folded bat-wing on the desk.

"Bring a file of soldiers quickly," he besought. "We can reach my house by sundown, and begin pursuit tomorrow morning. Señorita Meigs can lead us to the secret stronghold in the jungle, and we can take them by surprize."

Preparations were completed quickly. Two squads of cavalry with two machine-guns were quickly mustered at the barracks, and with young Señor Epilar to guide us, we set out for the scene of