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\ ' . , " , . ' $ ATE or 1l [ CUMN WAR
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; : 't : ' , .BY ST'6 .R4m'
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. " ' - - ; ; . . Copyright , 1S7 ! ! , tly F. Tennyson Ne IY. I
"
, : , . CHAPTER XVI.-Contlnued ,
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, . ; : ; ; , ° , "Bravo ! II cries Jack ; "such sublime
. ' , ; . 4 : . \ . - courage must always command my 1'0'
. > i : BJect. I am at your side , senor If
"t ; . there are ladies to protect , every man
r. here , I am sure , will do his duty. "
. , ? Jack undoubtedly means every
f ' L' ' . word , although he dresses his inn-
_ . , ' - . - guage in this bombastic manner In ort .
. . : 't ' ' del' to match noblado , who , impressed
' : \ : ' . . with the fact that his devotion to uty-
. . : " . ; " ' : . . : . . . . as a Spanish gentleman has borne
. .t. : . .1" ' . " fruit , eagerly reaches out his long thin
. . . . . . . . ' . - band.
, . : : \ ; : . ; . " , "Sir , I salute 'ou. Such sentiments
,1- of lofty courage must always bind the
i r-r' : hearts of brave men In a common i
. ' brotherhood. There are four of us-
nay , six-to stand against the enemy.
We will be a match for all they can
, ' . . : ' . . bring against us. "
r r- , . ' " ( . , : . , "Tho battle , or massacre , whichever
, , . ; . ; : : ; . , . it may be , still goes on , " 1'emarls
. . . . Spencer , who thus enters Into the conversation . I
yersatlon for the first time.
.
"Then let us be malting ready
i. . . . _ _ against a possible attack , for I am
strongly inclined believe some of
: the rebels will find their way along
. the back trail , looking for us , as the
; : absence of my carriage from the train
-p- - is sure to be noticed. "
. . ' : _ , . . . .J. Hurrying to the side of the compartment -
, ' : . } ' , " ment , they proceed to do whatever is
. . ' : \ . - . : . . possible in order to protect the in-
t rlor. All work with a 'Wlm-cushlons
" - } , -i. . are utilized , the guard brings various
articles from his den and in
- < , , a very
brief space of time quite a respectable
, . ' _ : , - 'I showing Is made. .
. -
" "
' . . " . : ' : : "ot. . .Q. "Come , " says Jack , with consider-
- . . . . . . - - able satisfaction , when Smithers ap-
. , . -i " pears with his arms filled with more
: .f" , " " , - "trucl ' " with which to fill the cracks
. , t ' and crannies , "we are doing nobly , p1y
' 1' : " ; " ' dear fellow. nut , honestly , do you
. . txw' : ' : . , imagine there is any possibility of , our
' , ' 'here-Iowerlng his
' . being attacked ? -
voice to a whisper.
, - " 'VeIl , it wouldn't surprise mere ' -
joins the other , slowly and seriously.
. . : ; ; : . ' , " . "But , if it should come-they are
" your friends , you Imow-would
- ' !
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r
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" 'e' . . . . . " -
/A//
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"The guerrllJeros 5are. here I't !
' ; } ; ' : , open fire on them ? " Continues Trav-
. . : v2' , . . . . . ers , seeping to cut a Gordian Imol by
° the most direct meiholJ.
"Not it they were Gomez and his
. 'If men. I Imow them well , and their battle .
= tle cry of Cuba libra is music to my
cars. But there are others , sir. "
"Others ! You mean the Spanish
soldiers may retreat this way ? "
, ' "Not at a1l. Have yen not heard at
( f. the guerrllleros--the : men who fight
lA. under no flag , who war upon every
-
Copyright , 1899 , by Street and Smith-
one they meet , roabing pacifico and
belligerent \ alike ? "
"Yes , I have heard of these "evils.
But why should you fear that they
may descend upon us ? " inquires Trav-
Cl'S. They are standing just outside
the carriage , with Ah Sin and the
guard near by , ready to enter at any
time should it be necessary , and as
their conversation is carried on in low
tones , the chances oC its being over-
hear are slight indeed.
"These human birds at prey seem
to have inside Information as to when
a battle IH about lo take place , and
they hang round like \ dogs waiting to
pick up the crumbs from the master's
table. I only hope some day both Go-
mez and the Spaniards will turn round
and hunt these miserable go..betwe I
to the death. If they arc io the neigh- .
'
borhood and see us , we must . expect
to fight for our lives. "
"Now I understand what' you mean.
The fires will draw them. "
"That is a fact , sir , it they come
at all. "
"What we meant for our preserva-
tion may prove our ruin. Well , it often
happens so. Perhaps it might be wise
to extinguish them , and remain in the
darl We could have them ready to
light if we heard a train coming.'i
"I should feel more at ease , Blr. If
you knew these guerrilleros : as well as
I do , you would be fully as anxious to
avoid discovery by them , it it could
be done. "
"Perhaps r. am even . more so , since I
have something to think of that does
not bother your mind , Smithers"-
turning his thumb over his shoulder in
the direction of the carriage , and the
agent knows what he means.
"Suppose we call Senor Roblado out ,
then , and put him in possession of the
facts ? " continues Jaclt. "Whatever he
decides , that we will cIo. "
Smithers does not immediately re-
ply , and Jack notices that his com-
panion appears to be looking earnestly
beyond the fire , shading his eyes with
his hand In order that he may see the
belter.
"What has struck you ? " he demands .
mands , qulcl\ly.
"I am afraid , sir , your suggestion ,
though a good one , comes a little too
late. Look yonder at the moving fig-
m'es-two , five , a dozen , twenty. Yes ,
I am sorry to say we have been discovered -
covered ; the guerr1l1p.ros' here ! "
. . .
CHAPTER XVII.
"Guerra a Cuchlllol"
Although Smithers' words are startling .
lIIng enough to alarm the bravest ,
Travers does not show much indica-
tion of such a feeling , as , following
the extended finger of his agent , he ,
too , readily dIscovers the moving fig-
ures.
They appear to come out of the
woods In couples or little squads. At
that distance , and with only the firelight .
light to guide him , Jack can see that
they are rough.looking men , some of
them negroes , carrying guns and machetes .
chetes ; but that is as far as his observation -
servation goes.
How his companion is enabled to
determine their Identity as guerrillas ,
and not the patriots fighting under the
banner of Gomez , is a puzzle too deep
for Jaclt.
It Is a time for prompt action. They
will have to retreat to their rude fort-
ress and meet the expected assault
bra vel ) ' .
"Where is the guard ? " asked Smith t
ers.
ers."And
"And Ah Sin ? " echoes Jack.
Both have , indeed , vanished tempo-
rarily. Nor do they appear to be inside .
.
side the fire lines.
"We will have to leave them out.
\
- . -
There Is hardly room , for all Inside , nt
any rate. ' Come , ' sir ; " let us onter. "
At the door they meet the sonar : .
"What is wrong , gontlemen" ho
asks , quick to catch the scent ot dan
ger in thb air.
"The guerr111eros have come , Renor. ,
I am afraid wo will have war to the
knife , " remarks Smithers ; amid Ito
blade , thrusting out ; his hen , beholds
the rough men already gathering about
the fire that Is down the incline.
He utters a favorite ejaculation.
"Senors , it looks as though wo are
in for it. I trust you will not forget
your promise to assist in the defense
oC the ladles , " the old Spaniard says ,
hoarsely.
Several exclamations in feminine
voices from the dark interior announce
that both Juanita and her step-sister
; . Ii' . . . II IL I If
' 17 ? r
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1
llhhiitl *
I. rewarded by , a low "Thank you. "
have heard what manner of danger
menaces them.
"You can depend upon us , senor , "
Is the quiet response Jack mal\Cs.
The two men enter the compartment .
ment , and the door is barricaded. , Ah
Sin and the guard will have to look
out for themselves when the storm
cloud bursts.
It has hardly needed the words of
'Smlthers to warn Travers of the des-
perate' business ahead ot them , and
the only fear he experiences is for the
safety of Je sie.
There is a peculiar satisfaction in
being so close to this woman who has
entered In and taken possession of his
heart , although he is under bond not
to betray his Identity. Jack rather en-
joys the situation , or al- least he would
it It were not for , the deadlY peril
which hovers over the one he loves.
At any rate , he is deeply grateful for
the peculiar conditions ! that allow him
the privilege of standing up in her de.
fence.
Little Is said wthln the car ; the time
for words has gone by , and action
must take their place.
Bo far as they can see , the newcomers -
ers have not as' yet fully grasped the
true inwardness of the situation. Attracted -
tracted by - the light ot the fires , they
have arrived at the railroad , to find a
carriage standing there ; but what that
vehicle at transportation actually contains .
talns Is as yet but a surmise with
them.
Jack does not fancy their looks at
all.
all.He
He has been thrown in contact with
crowds of rough men during his life
on Texan plains and In Colorado
mountains , but never in all his experience .
ence has he run across such a tough-
looking lot as those assembling around
the fire that was built for protection
and has betrayed its trust.
Fully half of the guerrillas are
blacks , and in the firelight they . have
the appearance of demons or gnomes.
As to the others , the least said about
them the better since their appearance
does not go far toward reassuring the
ladles when they venture to take an
ob ervatlon.
"Do YOU suppose they ; will attack
I
,
, . -r
J-its" asks Roblado , with considerable
anxiety In his voice. 1"
, "I don't question it In the least , "
replies Smthera , , who develops some
of the qualities of n leader in this
emergency.
"Then iff that be 80 , we should first
of , all endeavor to protect the ladies
from flying lead. Col. Spencer ; will
you kindly vacate Ulllt corner ? We
can arrange It so that they may bo
safe there. "
Spencer , oC course , does BO. Jack
Imagines the man Is a trifle nervous
and scared. Perhaps he has been R
drinking hard , and Is not In good con-
dition for proving his mettle. All the ;
more reason , then , why those who
have no such excuse should do their
duty. ' :
In arranging the cushions so as to a
protect the two gJrls. Jack chances to
touch the hand , oC Jessie Cameron , and
Is amazed at the remarkable thrill that ;
seemB to run over his whole frame ,
just as might a shock from a galvanic
hattery. x
"Come , " he mutters to himself In
some dismay : "I had no Idea It had
gone as far as that. This Is really
alarming. "
Nevertheless , , he continueD to carry
out his work , and is rewarded by a low
"Thank you , " that amply repays him
for everything.
"What are they-doing now ? " he asks
Smitherp , who bas been keeping
watch.
"Gatherld ; about the fire and talking ,
the matter over , with many extrava-
gnat jestures. They seem a little
afraid lest the carriage contain soldiers
diers and that they may raise ahaI" -
nets' nest - about their ears. But I am
afraid the 1Iery orators who urge an
immediate attack have the best at the
bargain ; for already some of them are
advancing : and , from the way they
hold their guns , they mean business. " ;
t
It would ; be strange Indeed If everyone . 4
one within ' the railway carriage did
not in a greater or less degree feel a
sensation 'f as . .It their nerves are
strained to the utmost.
The situation warrants It. Deadly
toes gather wltbout - foes against
I
whom ordinary methods of warfare
may not avail , and who will prove to
be veritable demons once the battle Is ;
on. _
Quarter need be neither asked nor
given , and the re.Jult of the coming engagement .
gagement must be a survival of the
fittest. f
It Is this fact that nerves the defenders . Ii
ers of the carriage to do their very t
best. P. I
"
Smithers Is quite correct when ho 11 '
declares the most venturesome at the ; j
guerrillas arc adyanclng to the attack. '
The light at the fire discloses this I'
fact-and as the men at bay. crouch .
there beside the opening , watching '
this advance , they seem to live days j
In the few seconds that pass. '
y
"It would be folly to let them get too '
close , " , Bays the senor , grinding his .
teeth.
"You arc right. Therefore call out n
and warn them that they stand on the I
dead line. " t1 :
noblado Is quick to accept this suggestion . : H
gestlon which Smithers advances. Ho ,
raises his voice and sends out a hoarse " :
bellow. The guerrillas hear , and In. t : '
stlncUvely pause ; but , as If ! realizing . :
from the tone in which they are addressed . ,
dressed that they cannot have soldiers i' ;
to deal with , they laugh his ponderous ! .
threats to scorn. I
. .
"Down ! " cries Smithers , pulling j :
Jack with him. "
Several shots have sounded , and the i
bullets crash into the woodwork ot till . i '
car.
( To be continued. ) f
Still Bitter. '
f'
"She says she was dying to speak to
you yesterday when we saw you , " remarked . :
marked the peacemaker. ,
"Well , " replied the belligerent girl ,
"why doesn't she then ? " f
#
"You mean you'd be glad to have
her speak to you ? " 7
"No ; die. " ,
j
All the world Is the temple of God.
Us worship is ministration. The COIl1- !
monest service Is DIvine servlce- j
George MacdoDah1.