The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-07-04

their thrOatS i LED them IN cneeTS ior
Maduro, and I knew that that good
mans face must have frightened as he
heard them and understood that the
meeting was over.
have seen men who, in Maduro's po-
sition, would have been jealous, but I
will do the general the justice to say
that his was not a small nature; on the
contrary. upon my return to his tent he
greeted me with hands extended and a
warmth of expression that / could not
doubt the sincerity Of.
I'VE have had no chance to strike q
blow" he repeated. IF l could give
the army one battle it would restore
their spirit; but what can I do with
an enemy who is always out of sight?'
So he harped on that string. 1.-THE men
begin to be exhausted with the sleep
less nights. The strangest part of the
whole matter is that they say that
our opponents are led by a woman"
"Oh! That becomes interesting
Who Is the amazon"
"The wife, or rather the widow, OF
Sanchez, the chief who was taken"
"Whose head you sent as q present
to the kng?"
"The same. They insist that his
widow is a witch who protects her fol-
lowers with charms and spells, and
that she is followed with blind devO-
tion by the rebels, who idolize her."
'"rruly that Is an entertaining story"
said l, thinking what good corre-
spondent some journal lost when Ma
duro adopted the profession of arms.
Besides that" he continued, "the
Aqua Alta seems to be bewitched."
The Aqua Alta is swift stream
that is fed by tributaries from number
less mountain ravines. When there is
u rain it becomes q swollen raging
torrent. The river was the boundary
Of the territory of the rebels, whose
capital, FL Libertad, is perched upon
u precipitous hill crest that is almost
inaccessible. The city lies only six
miles beyond the Aqua Alta, but Gen.
Maduro had not been able to cross
the stream with his artillery. Three
times he had essayed to build bridges.
and each time the river had swept the
structure away. The only permanent
crossing was an old Indian bridge that
swung like hammock from cliff to
cliff. over that no large bodies of men
could be moved. nor the guns, without
which an attack upon the stronghold
would be useless.
1t was here that the father of the
king had been killed fifteen years be-
fore, and I knew the ground well.
AS the general and l conversed, a
rattle of musketry started us both to
our feet. "They are at it again." he
cried, running out as he spoke.
Several men had fallen; others were
scattered seeking such shelter as they
could find. A wounded man crawled
toward a baggage wagon. behind which
a group of soldiers had taken refuge,
but second ball killed him before
he reached it. On the right of the
camp the officers succeeu>u in form
ing the men, who We're for the most
! part old soldiers, and returned an in
effectual fire, that only provoked a
mocking yell from our assailants.
The confusion, however, did not last
beyond the first few moments of attack.
A degree of order was restored and then
a simultaneous, sweeping charge from
the sides of the camp drove the guerril-
las from their position; but none of them
were killed,while we counted a dozen Of
our force lifeless and more than double
that number who We're wounded. After
this a stronger picket line was pushed
out and partial quiet succeeded.
With the sound of firing the old habit
of my military youth reasserted itself,
and l seemed to understand things
without seeing them; to reason without
thinking.
sEappra1 OF ha1 hi,.fxr
with fifty rounds EACH" requested.
Maduro waved his hand toward the
already quieting camp.
Take as many men as you like, senior.
1t is said that you know every veteran
in the army by name. There are many
who have served under you; choose for
yourself"
Then I quickly chose thirty good
stanch volunteers out of the host that
pressed their service upon me. 1t was
an embarrassment of riches.
Next time" i called to the disap-
pointed ones that 1 was obliged to re-
ject and so we made haste, on foot, to
reach the bridge. i felt assured that
with speed we might anticipate the
rebels. as they would not hurry after
the attack, having, as they thought,
finished their night work. Well, I in
tended to cut out some more of a seri-
GUS nature for them before the moon
rose.
AT ten o'clock I was at the river We
were early for our opponents. Sap
porter. an old sergeant, whose mettle
knew well. whispered that we might
allow them to get upon the bridge and
then by cutting away the end, dash
them all into the stream. The plan had
its merits, but for many reasons did
not like 1t. / though. it a disadvantage
to destroy all communication between
the two sides of the river, and besides,
! have prejudice against that way Of
fighting.
We lay hid behind the powders that
were strewn by the side of the streams
precipitous bank. We were to fire as
the foremost of the enemy reached the
bridge. charging them from the flank
and rear and chasing them across into
their own country If our fire left any of
them to chase.
We had not waited very long when
about hundred and fifty men ap-
preached, with no apparent anticipation
of danger. Not a sound, hardly q
breath. from behind the rocks, till the
bridge was almost reached. when some
fellow of my party, too impatient to
wait the word of command, pulled the
trigger and then the volley blazed out
and the veterans rose with n yeu and
charged. The moon was now up and we
could see very distinctly by the bridge
a huddled mass Of men who forgot their
recent pleasant excursion when con-
frOnted with retribution. Pell-mell
they ran for life. and our bullets did
much damage among them.
No doubt the rebels fears magnified
our numbers, and think that one of my
hardened old soldiers would have been
a match for any three Of them at least.