_ . . . . , " . . . . . . . . ' _ or . . . _ - . _ . . " - <
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, ) ' , UIIUI : ,
! J A TALE or 111t : CUMN WAR
N _ J fiY . " ( . DRX fW )2 ) ; . 'J
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- ' "
Copyright , 1897 , by F. Tennyson Ncely.
CHAPTER XIX-Continued.
Perhaps he has just discovered the
threatening danger from fire , or It
may be the railway carriage Is already .
ready ablaze. Jack Is convinced that
the danger springs from this source ,
and not on account of their demor-
'if k allzed enemies.
" lie Is 10th to leave his present
I anchorage ; he believes he could remain -
. ; main Indefinitely in such close prox-
: unity to the divinity in the form of a
. . . . . girl who is moulding his fate with her
/ fair hands as a potter shapes his clay.
Duty calls , and he obeys.
, I Upon passing through the opening
' ! which the vigorous onslaught of the ,
. a agent fashioned , he finds the trio
r . awaiting him
Outside , the Ore rages , and the
craclcling of a few minutes before Is
rapidly growing : Into an Increasing
roar as the flames leap from tree to
j tree.
"Rather an uncomfortable situation ,
I declare , " is the way in which he
greets thcm.
\Vell , I should say so , " emphatically -
call ) ' declares Smithers , who has lost
his coolness , and dances about like a
man on a scorching gridiron.
"Have you made any discovery ? Is
the carriage on fire ? " for ho can
think of nothing less , to judge from
Smithers' actions.
"Il's worse , " groans the agent.
"How can that be ? " asks Travers ,
mentally deciding that his trusted
agent must have his usually stead
- mind affected in some way by the
i
. , y. . , continuous run of ill luck that seems
. to haunt him.
( "Because , unless we get out of this
spot instanter , we're bound for kingdom -
dam come by the shortest route on
record , " comes the quick , mysterious
. reply.
y' "Tell me what you have discovered , "
' he says , In his quiet way , which even
the presence of the most startling
. . , -
\ r.- . : danger docs not seem to disturb to
r any extent. ,
\ "It Is easily done. The guard has I
, just been giving It to me You remember -
member several of the compartments
I
.
-t i JII
. . . . ' %
, . . . ]
f fr ,
' " ; . - 11
.
) " ,
. ,
"They contain a ton of ammunition ! " i
iI I
of this carriage are loclwd. I have
I .
\ just learned they contain a ton oC ammunition '
munition for the use of the Spanish .
army In the Oelll. If the flrc-IC a
single spark enters there , we will nev
er know what struck us , Senor Jacl. "
CHAPTER XX.
Just So Napoleon Retreated From
Mosccw
In his excitement Smithers hall
mentioned a name upon which his lips
arc supposed to be scaled ; but ftS
olllado and Spencer have not can ;
- < :
Copyright , IS9 : ! , by street and Smith.
eluded their argument at the door of
the other comlllu'hnent , it hurlllr
seems possible that any damage can
result from such a slip of the tongue.
No man fancies finding himself
placed over the magazine of n burning .
Ing ship , and the startling informa-
tion conveyed In Smithers' crude but
effective manner gives Jack some un
easiness , though it is to his credit
that it Is of others and not himself he
thinks.
"Come , " ho says , cheerily ; "it
seems as though we've jumped out
of the 'ing.pan into the fire , and
our last state is worse than the Orst.
The question Is , how can we improve
the situation ? "
Smithers shakes his head helpless-
ly. For once in his life he can see no
outlet , since it appears to he n choice
between two evils-tho raging Ore on
one hand , and the mob of half frenzied
guorrilleros on the other , 'if they desert -
sert the car and try to escape down
the track between the flaming jaws
"Come to the door , and I will show
you , " declares Travers , promptl
The other files there on eager
wings It Is not a very pleasant atmosphere -
mosphere upon which they thrust i
their heads. The heat has become
very Intense , and Jack , as he places
a hand upon the side of the carriage
and comprehends what power those
roaring pyramids of flame can show ,
whistles expressively , remembering
what is contained In those two sealed
chambers be 'ond-a free passport to
tine sIdes.
"Lool , " he cries , pointing down the
lines of glittering - rails : "notice that
- -
this wind comes from that quarter.
The fire cats In the teeth of It very
slowly , If at all. It is in the other direction -
rection the greatest danger lies We
are playing a peculiar part , you lmow.
This cur Is like the huge pendulum of
It clocl We have swung to the left
and to the right-now we will go for.
ward again "
Smlthel's grasps his meaning , and
mentally : swears at his own stupidity
in failing to conceive such a simple
remedy.
"You have discovered the only pos
sible chance Good luck to you , sir
The sooner wo arc on the toboggan
the better ; and , Ah Sin , see to it that
you have your great joss guard us as
wo rush between those fiery hands
joined across the track below , for
should a spark enter one of those com
partments , wo're done for. If you
need any assistance , slr- " But
Travers Is already out of the door and
bending low beside one of the front
wheols.
Again he matches his superb mus-
cular ability against the grits : adhes-
Ive qualities of cold Iron. Ills former .
mer experience has taught him something '
thing , and he does not waste any precious .
clous time In useless lIulllng , but
works the pin backward and forward
with resolute jet'ls.
As before , ho wlns-pluclt and
brawn have again triumphed over
cold metal.
No sooner docs he feel the car begin ,
gin to move than he makes a plunge
again for the door which Smlthors
has held open This time It might , ho
very unpleasant hanging outside
the footboard , since a sea of fire
awaits them below.
Hardly has he gained the interior
and the door been closed than they
are in it. There Is a flash of name
on either side fiS the tire licks the
framework of the moving carrlago.
These In the secret of the ammunition
tlon hold their breath In very suspense '
ponse , but greatly to their relief no
explosion follows :
The bottom reached , a run across ,
and lip the opposite rise they rass
.ti. _ _ _ _ _ . . _ _ _ _ _ _ - _ .
about halfway to the point from , which
their drat lash occul'I'ell.
. lack Is in re\llInoss. : Much depends
on his ability to block the wheels
agnin.
Hanging from the foot hoard , he
leaps ) off at the proper moment \ , and
applies ) his novel \ l brake with the same , .
success ns heforc.
'l'her seem to have escaped another
great dangOl'
Smithers is uncnR ' . 110 males a
circuit of the carriage , snlllln lime
all' Jack Is below , and almost im-
molliatel he hears the agent utter nn
exclamation. 'l'hen Smithers' Bead
appears against the sIQ'
'rho roof is nfire-rlght over one of
the other scctions , and d I can't get at
it with mr hand or foot ! If 1 you could \
secure a small quantity of water- "
But Jack has already leaped into
the gun I'd's den and seized upon n
gallon can he remembers discovering
there
"lIore-hore ! Take it and bo quick ,
my dear fellow ! " he says , handing it
up.
Smithors promptly seizes hold of the
can , and turns to accomplish his pur
:
f
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t
The strong wind brings to his ears a
crash of shots and loud outcries.
pose , reappearing a minute later with
a relieved air and an empty water ves-
sel.
'rhe country is saved , sir , " Is his
cheering report , and from this Tl'In'ers
understands that the deluge of water
foil upon the right spol.
'l'hm'e Is much to think of still.
While danger from the blaring
need not alarm them-fol'
woods 1'm - the
time being , at Jeast-they dread to
think of what might happen should
there he a change of wind , and this is
apt to occur at any hoUl' .
Jack and Smithers talk It over In
the forward compartment , and Senor
Roblado joins them
The Spanish artist docs not seem
as enthusiastic as hefore. He asks
questions nnll ( makes suggestions , hut
ovldmllly his spirit Is talllod. Perhaps
the multltlllle of dangers descending
upon them In succession have ! : something -
thing to Ito with this change In his
manner.
There Is one who thinks differently - ,
ly , and this Is the astute 1\11' Smithers.
'When Hoblllllo retires again to the
other compartment , to ascertain how
the ladles are faring . the agent takes
advantage of hIs lilting to hastily remark -
mark In an undertone :
'VoU , ho's guessed it , Senor .Tacle.
He lmows you are the Squire John
again against whom they played their
curds In Edinburgh "
"What do you suppose ! ho will 110 ? "
"Nothing just at presen t , "
"nut he hates me "
"Quite true ; and ret just at present
he depends upon you for his very life
When we get , hack to Havana , IC For-
tune Is so rind ] n's to allow us , then
look out for storms , hut not here. "
"It's lIttle I care , you know , 60 long
as I am able to serve her. That is the
full extent of my mission to Cuba.
And from the way matters are going ,
I have strong hopes that sooner .01'
later pucccss will come to me. nut let
us forget , the future , and take care
or the nrescnt. \Ve have seen no signs
- - _ _ - -0. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
of our enemies mound , and yet barl'-
ly l hollo\'o they have loft. the nelghhor-
hool1 Look out here at ho t sly- 'ou
have spent H0l110 years : In Cuba , 'roll
mo what you thlnle of the chances for
a l10wnr . . .UI' of rain. "
"n tUB certainly clouded over ; hut
you 1now ! ; ut this Benson of lie year
we usually have a daily rain after the
noon lUH\I' "
"That's what I look for , 1113' deer fol-
low ; It would ho In direct line with , .
\1 \
our luclt. Hut you seem to ho listen.
ing. What Is It. you hear ? "
"Pllt your head out again , sir , antI
you will he 1'11113' Informod. "
.Tacle docs us l'e < 1l1estf d.
The strong wind hears to his ears
a crash of shots and loud outcries ;
nor is Travers more hllcl\\vard about
guessing their meaning than his coin- +
panlon expcctel1.
'rhoy are advancing this way , and i'
fighting as they come , " lie declares.
"That Is true as gospel , sir The
men of Gomez have them on the run
May the god of battles prosper their
cause until Spanish rule in Cuba IFJ ,
known 110 more. " - '
.1ucl's curiosity Is again aroused ,
and he wonders what strange fortune
has welded the career of ills Briton
with the cause of liberty In the Gem
of the Antilles ; hilt certainly there Is
no time to hear the story now.
. .
Doubtless the explosion of the dynn-
mite destroyed the bridge , and caused
the wreck of the mllllar train , hut
the majority of the troops aboard have
escaped , and meet the attack of their
foes with a bravery that proves their
right to a part In the traditions or
olden Spanish chl\'alry.
While our friends keep watch and
ward , wondering what new and
strange experience Is about to he their "
portion , a crush of musketry sounds
just beyond the crest of the 11111.
"They are coming , " exclaims Smith-
ers , laboring under unusual excite-
menL '
Moving figures are seen , and the
lIght of the stlll-hul'ning trees glints
from polished gun barrels and shining
.
'l'hoy are Spanish soldiers who gath- " 'C
er there and gaze In wonder at the '
fiery scene spread before them.
Our friends can even hear their loud
exclamations at night of lie carriage.
Senor nohlado Is of course wildlY r
delighted Ilt the coming of the niiii-
tary ; he springs to the ground and
maIms all mllnner of frantic gestures , ,
inviting thom to come on , meanwhile
bawling at the top of his voice.
Whether they understand what ho
means 01' not , the soldiers spend but
a brief time In il'resollltion.
Shots and shouts tell that the enemy .
emy presses hot upon their trail , tlO
that every little while it Is necessary
to turn at hay and heat off the eager
I'ehelti.
a
So Napoleon retreated from Moscow ,
leaving u trail of blood through all j ,
southwestern nussln. Down the slope
they come , helter-slcolter. Jack woe-
dons whether his friend Gen. 'l'oledo Is 1 " .
one of the olllcers In the frollt. .
The cries they now utter are indica- I :
tlve of great joy. At first he Is puz- ;
lcd to account for them , hut whom the
leading soldiers draw nearer ho Is
able to catch the tenor of these exul- .
taut shouts 'rhoy have fought under i
.
heavy disadvantages , sillco theh' weapons -
ons arc nearly all empt , and the sight \
of lie carriage laden with ammunition j
causes hilarious Rutisfactlon
( 1'0 he continue ! )
A Reasonable Claim , . i
I
"We'll dispense with your services , r i
sir , " said MI' 1\I01'chant stormly . "I . . E
'
saw you coming out of 11 saloon too l l
day. I told you I'd discharge you for ; . ,
that , didn't I ? " I
"Why , no , air , " replied Galley , " 'ou - .
said you'd discharge mo if ! you I saw \
mo going Into one. I think I deserve j
Home credit for corning out.-Phila-
delphla Press
Snow on Vesuvius.
Vesuvius tinder a mantle of snow
was one of the curiosities to bo witnessed -
nessed at Nalllcs in tae first week
ot January ,
, .
a
ti.
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