The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-08-21
PART w.

+ lly. as we stood III the dark courtyard
lperhaps an hour after the attack,
F'either the danger or the Importance OF
this venture of yours. think, even II
I'VE are attacked again, that we shall
beat them of. but as you see, without
relief we are practically at their mercy
in the end. as we have no food, though,
rhank God, we shall have plenty of
nsater from the we'll"
"Look here" i said, colonel, / think
4 can pretty well guess what the risks
are, and Pm willing to take the chances
dor myself for the sake of the ladies,
even if II wasn't about the best chance
for myself as far as i can figure it up,
so don't trouble about that. / may get
through, and again L may not. Perhaps
the odds are a shade on the wrong side,
but you give me Just seven hours
fhat's three to go and four TO come
back before you try anything else. If
you don't hear of me by that time you
may reckon I've got into trouble, colonel
but somehow i don't think it'll come
to that"
The old man put out his hand to me
In the dark. and l gripped it hard. "It's
time was going now," l added. "Say
good-by for me to the ladies, colonel,
and expect nae back soon after day
light"
/ gave his hand another shake, and led
my bicycle out through the gateway.
keeping clear of the side where we had
piled the bodies, though / seemed 10
myself TO make out the heap in the
dark, and / pushed on TO get past it.
The colonel followed me TO the entrance,
and stood under the heavy shadow to
see me Off. / crept cautiously out into
the grayer darkness, and the last thing
! heard was the coloners whispered
farewell: "Good-by Wen look for
you in the morning."
1t was dark-the soft, mellow dark
ness of the tropical night. / could see
the road that ID up TO the fort, like
a grayer belt stretching down the slope
shade of the overgrown wilderness on
each side. Would IL be safe 20 mount?
Not yet, l thought, as / looked anxious
ly around me. The slope, l felt sure,
was place of danger, because there, il
anywhere, watch was sure to be kept,
and the slope might ut any moment
bring me against the sky line from the
point Of view of some watcher. Ideter-
mined to wait till reached the bottom
although / knew that i must by that
means lose all the assistance which the
slope would have given me. bent my
self almost double as / crept on: 1
drew the bicycle towards me till il too
seemed to creep along the ground.
The stiffness was intense Not q
breath of air seemed stirring, not a
GeHHd rose up -aRder the silent heaven.
held my breath as went, and yet tho
beating of my heart made sound in my
ears that seemed as loud as a drum.
For the moment all my faculties seemed
absorbed by that of hearing. On and
on-a single step at n time, with pause
after each, till at last reached the bot
tom. i waited moment TO listen. Ny
fancy conjured up dark figures every
where / turned my eyes. but there was
not sound. Should i mount now?
Once more l decided against Il. I
looked ahead and / could Just make out
the dim gray ribbon of the path stretch
fng up into the darkness. i crouched
and followed it.
had no idea IL had been so long. I
couId hoe sworn 1t had taken me an
hour to climb the slope down which I
had seemed to myself to fly only two
or three hours before. but at last | had
reached the top. / felt that had
.~~,vad NJ tho most crit;ooI s.o... a -
Journey. ] must mount now, and for
anything / could tell my mounting
might be the signal for volley from
the guns of my unseen enemies. With
q long breath l drew myself together.
and gradually-inch by inch-raised
myself TO my full height-still there was
not sound. i looked around me; did
my best to peer into the heavy shadow
that lay like a pail over the scene Z
could see but little. Behind me the ir-
regular outline Of the ruinous fort stood
out against the soft purple sly; on
either side vague shadowy forms
Knocked my efforts to penetrate the
darkness; in front the forest threw q
darker shade, and showed dim outline
against the heaven. With one last quick
glance around me mounted the seat.
Away! The moment felt the accus-
toned sensation of the saddle and the
soft gliding motion of the wheel felt as
ifIwas myself again. Bending forward.
that ] might keep TO the dim path,
threw my weight on the pedals and they
seemed TO respond like living things.
Away! And in another minute could
feel that we were on the downward
grade once more. Silently. but mo-
mentsrily faster, could feel that the
wheels were turning. though in the
c!inging darkness l could see nothing
I but the gray shadow OF what knew
must be the path. Darker, and darker
yet The shadows crouched low and
black on either hand, as IL preparing To
spring out upon me as 1 passed. felt
though cannot say that saw them as
swept by. All, now felt that was
nearing the spot where the two roads
joined. The cliff was rising higher and
lf<~Lcw 81, Al. x.t..Lt L..I