The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1895-07-06
CROSSING THE RIVER.

den an hour perhaps along the road when
directly ahead heard a loud ''Holai' and
saw squad Of Spanish cavalry coming
upon us at furious gallop.
The negro had probably gone on the in
slant OF my departure and betrayed me, in
hope Of a reward.
The black boy with me cried out in alb
ject terror, and slipping off his mule took
to the hedge. Not caring for hand TO
hand fight with eight or ten troopers,
wheeled through gap in the hedge on the
other side and rode for life, keeping to COW
er Of row Of palms.
Crack, crack, whiz, whiz, went half a
dozen carbine shots past me- They were
hard after me, and my horse was nearly ex-
hausted
Beyond the cane was belt OF low or
ange trees, and through these / went down
upon the bank Of one Of those deep, slug
gish Cuban creeks half choked with high
rank grass. There was no time TO look for
ford l spurred my horse, and with the
first spring he landed in the middle, over
his back in mud and water, and there
stuck fast l slid over his head and strug-
gled to the farther bank, wet to the skin
and plastered with mud.
On that side were also orange trees, and
through these, the water streaming off me,
1 ran, stimulated by the crack of a carbine
from behind, for a trooper had seen me. 1
emerged from the orchard at full run and
came upon a deserted sugar warehouse,
where, in large storage shed, 1 saw 80 or
40 hogsheads OF molasses ranged in a row,
on their sides upon platform against the
back wall. Suddenly a thought flashed
into my mind.
/ quickly rolled two Of the full hogsheads
back little from the others and placed In
the gap an empty hogshead with the open
end turned to the wall Fortunately the
outer head was painted red, like the 9th
ers. To toss my carbine into the well and
slip my body down beside the wall and
into the empty hogshead was only the
work OF moment, and then by two OF
three vigorous pulls and bitches l contriv'
ed to work the cask with myself in II SC
far back that the open head could not
readily be detected, even by one passing
close TO the row. My hogshead thus re
} sembled the others.
Thus ensconced, drew my revolver and
, waited. Scarcely had got inside when
with loud "Holar' and shouts of Gar
ramba!" "Perro Americano" four or fiv'
troopers, who had managed TO get theii
horses through the creek, came gallopinl
up TO the mill, followed by others on foo
all wet and swearing.
0 Through tiny crack in the dry head o
5 my cask l could catch glimpses Of them
g They had tracked me TO the shed, and nov
: / shuddered TO see that they had detecte'
A my footprints on the platform. The
5 rushed along past the row OF hogsheads
r following my last tracks TO the well. Thi
r they examined closely and even threv
n down six OF eight heavy stones, thinking
. that l might be ducking under the water
d Then they came back, past the row O
d hogsheads, Tuning and execrating mt
@ One Of them ran along on the tops Of I'll
Il hogsheads and came slowly back, actual
? standing for several seconds upon the yer
70 one in which was doubled up.
e A minute later, and they all hurrie
n away to search the engine house and othe
Nc buildings. For fully half an hour l hear
them rummaging and shouting. Twic
20 their officer came back 10 the well, and Il
70 last time he had two of the men pitc
J. down more and heavier stones, seeming
te be OF the opinion that l must be dow
there
$ At length they went on, 20 search furtl
$ er, no doubt l kept close to my tub 4
a. an hour or two and then, unable to bes
c. the cramped position longer crept car
e. tiously out and hid In the engine hous
ir where remained all day. When IL WI
~ dark. l sailed forth and made my wa
Ut back TO Tunas on foot, where was warn
}. ly welcomed by my comrades in arms