Evening star., 1896-01-25

they are like the Hessians of your revolu-
ton; only they are not even hired, but COM
PEELED to fight. Yes, we must eventually
win, for we are fighting for a principle as
old as eternity, as broad as the world.
They? What are they here for? Merely to
uphold the tottering throne of a baby king,
Eot yet out of the nursery. PahI'
Two hours of marching brought us to the
end of our journey. The last hour was over
rocks and fallen trees, across the rocky
beds of torrents and beneath high trees that
obscured the sky. Then, without warning
a beautiful valley opened to our gaze, set
like bowl in among the peaks of towering
mountains.
A Cuban Stronghold.
The entrance to this basin was a break
in the mountain WALL which rose jagged
and forbidding on every side. There was no
other means of ingress, and that was well
defended by cannon, planted to command
the approach. Under the beetling cliffs.
and half hidden by the rank growths of
wild bamboo, were numerous huts of palm
leaves, which gave shelter to the insurgents
and their families. Once within this vale
of safety, the men cast off all restraint.
They picketed their horses, gathered to-
gether the plunder of the expedition, and
then went to seek the repose they had
so fairly earned. One would not have
then occupied by band of some two hum
dred men. said to be fierce and bloodthirsty,
rapacoIs and cruel. For children played
contentedly in the sun, and women passed
to and fro between the houses to the
springs in the edge of the forest.
Thus found myself in one Of the Cuban
strongholds, and by a perversity that is
ore of the characteristics of man. no sooner
was I we'll within it than I wanted to get
out! Yet that was not SO easy matter.
Two days went by; third was well on its
way to conclusion when Don Maxine
came to me, holding a newspaper.
q
he said, with savage grin.
"See what the Spanish diarios say about
you. There is little hope for you to get
through their lires. after this. Read
1 took the paper. an official organ of the
government. published in the city of Glen
fuegos, and read the following:
Officially promulgated. The report re-
ceived last night that the battalion of Cap
tain Faustino Alvarez was attacked by an
overwhelming force of rebels seems to
be confirmed. The rebel chief. the notori-
Gus and sanguinary monster. Gomez. the
abhorred and detested scourge Of the noun
tain districts, pounced upon the ingenio
Of Santa Clara about midday of the 11th.
THE losses experienced by the gallant
captain were inconsiderable. but he con-
sfdered 1t best to make a change of base
for future operations. The rebels lost more
than half their number, left dead on the
field, and among them, as all friends of law
and order will be glad to know, the in
fernal rebel, leader Of the guerrillas Max
imo Gomez.
Somewhat Mixed.
"a strange rumor is current that the
Yankee, Smith, who passed through Santa
Clara on his way to the mountains, gave
the information to Gomez that resulted
| in the raid. He was well provided with Off
cial passports, and Was allowed free pas
sage through our lines; yet. see the manner
in which our clemency was abused! He
is said to be with Gomez in his noun tain
retreat-tnis quondam official of the Ameri.
can government-and the consul general a,
Havana is said to be cognizant of his ac-
| tions. Let us be on the alert, when he es.
says to return to the coast, and serve him
| as we did the filibusters of the 'Virginius
Shooting is too good; wild horses should
rend him limb from limb"
You see,' said Gomez, with a grim
| smile, "the situation is complicated 1 an
| left dead on the field; yet you are with me
| plotting some new deviltry. Now, how are
you going to get out of it?''
This was poser. AS said in the open
| ing sentence of my letter, it was not m,
| fault at all, but that of the Secretary O.
War. He got me into this fix, and it de
wolves upon him, as a gentleman, to ge
| me out If only the President could b,
| persuaded to acknowledge the Cubans a.
belligerents. That is my only chance.