Evening star., 1896-01-25

ferred good American dollars to Spanish
paper, or insurgent promises to pay; and
to blind his eyes 1 had only to place
dollar over each one God knows how
many concealed rebels noted our move
ments, ambushed in the forest but An
tonic plodded ahead. driving my pack mule
before him. But suddenly, at turn of the
trail, Antonio and the mule came back
upon me in full retreat
What the devil do you mean by this?'
i shouted at the guide, as the mule brush
ed past me, nearly sweeping me from my
saddle with the projecting panniers. An
tonic made no reply, but jerking his thumb
significantly over his shoulder, seized my
horse by the bride and drew him aside
into gully.
"Histr' said he forcing the animals
farther back, into the shade of a great
trumpet tree. TT is Gomez out for raid"
But he will see US here; let US get
further back
Antonio cast at me a glance of whitening
contempt. "Of course he will; but there is
time to retreat.
"Quien vfve% A clear voice cut the air
"A friend
HAITI came next. in a tone of COM
mand. What is it?''
The Insurgenf Chief.
There was low consultation, and a few
minutes later Antonio came with order
for me to appear. The insurgent chief was
superbly mounted, upon a black stallion;
at his belt dangled two large revolvers,
from the pommel of his saddle hung a
carbine, and in the hollow of his arm he
carried a saber He was a large man, with
a face half hidden in bushy beard.
He looked at me susplciousiy. What do
you here, senor?
produced my pass passports a He scanned ed
His stern features softened. Then you
cannot be spy; the Americans are friends
of Cuba, is it not sop
assured him that it and that my
self was animated by The best of inten-
tions towards him and his cause.
We'll, we will see. These mountains are
mine," he said with gesture of import
ance. Go anywhere you like; but don't at
tempt to return until you have allowed me
to entertain you ,as my guest Here" TAX
ing a scrap of paper from the pocket of his
embroidered jacket; this will carry you
anywhere You will excuse me, senior, but
/ have important business on hand. After
my men have gone by. take the trail that
turns to the left which will carry you to
an open plateau, and from there you may
see very pretty fight, little later. Adios." "
He waved his hand and his troops filed
past me. about a hundred strong, on their
way to raia the hacienda had left few
hours before. They were motley crew,
but fierce looking and well mounted. each
man armed to the teeth, though ill-clad
and baggard. We took the trail again, and
soon rC6Ched tne Htlie plateau
Guerrilla Methods.
An hour or more passed by, then 1 saw
the guerrilla troop struggling out into the
fields below. At the same moment puff OF
smoke shot out from a corner of one of the
cane fields. No harm was done, apparently,
for saw nobody fall nor any horse stumble;
but the troopers at once deployed, right and
left and plunged into the canes. Then /
could see the flashing of machetes, hear the
faint reports of revolvers, and later noted
the fleeing forms of several soldiers. As
these latter gained the protection of the
adobe wall that ran around the planter $
house and the sugar works, level sheet of
smoke puffed out from numerous apertures
in it, and before the reports of guns reached
me several saddles were emptied and rider
less horses rearing in terror.
As the blast of a bugle reached me saw
the troop divide again and sweep around
the wall, as though seeking an entrance.
They evidently found q breach, for 1 saw
nothing more of them for long time; then,
with sudden outburst of smoke and flame,
heard the rattle of revolvers and mus
kerry. The ingenio had been fired; its
thatched roof sent volumes of smoke into
the heavens. There was brief space OF
silence. terminated by tremendous explo-
sion; the dwellings and out houses had been
blown up with dynamite. The cane fields
were again alive with fugitives, but this
time 1t was the Spaniards who were in the
open, mercilessly shot and sabered by theiI
pursuers. They made for the woods, but
few ever reached a shelter. I could see the
swing Of the lasso mere ami there; and as q
bugle call rang out, family brought to my
ears by the breeze, noted the horsemen re
turning, dragging their prisoners behind
them.
The Midnight Capture.
That was the last token Of life about tn,
place ere darkness fell around 1t. Save fo
the drifting column of smoke. and the falleI
roofs of the buildings, the peaceful vale!
gave no hint of having been the scene o
slaughter. 1t was now evident that we wer
to pass the night beneath the mango tree
to proceed farther was out of the question