Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-15

fortified tions. another DASH saber and re-
volver. and a triumphal retreat-this was
the program that Slater's Horse proposed
to Itself.
Next morning they rode up and down the
rolling hills in the early dawn for two
hours. and then rested for the heat of the
DAY in a cool and very secluded grove
where they would be screened from any
wandering guerrillas. Late at night they
saddled again and rode cautiously forward
till they were not more than forty rods
from the trocha itself. They could see the
watch fires on the further side of the great
redouht, shining between the strands of the
Garbed wire fence stretched along the
brink
Between them and the trocha lay a dan
gerous obstacle. an ingenious defense, COM
posed of number of wires drawn six
inches apart and foot above the ground
This formed a net work over which 1t was
Impossible TO ride. and as its width was I'M
certain, dangerous to leap. Slater knew
of this impeachment, however, and had made
his plans accordingly. Half a dozen then
dlsmounted in silence. and, taking each a
pair OF nippers from his saddle bags, crept
forward into the darkness. The rest of the
troop sat silently on horseback hearkening
to the sounds and voices from the Spanish
camp. and to the occasional clicking noise
right ahead " here their comrades were cut
ting the hostile wires.
In the course of half an hour the men
came back. and in whispers reported the
way clear The wires had been cut and
DRAGGED aside, 80 as to leave a road of
sufficient width for the passage of the
troop. even in the hurried retreat which
must follow. The whole party then dis
mounted and led the horses stealthly for
ward, TIL almost at the very brink of the
trocna- The SpaniardS the other side
We're clearly visible. while they themselves
were hidden in deep shadows. Three men
were left with the animals. and the rest
scrambled into the ditch and I'D the other
side.
So quietly all this done that the
whole performance PASSED unobserved till
Slater spranS upon the parapet and began
siashing at the wires with his machete.
Then there was a shout and shot from the
nearest Spaniard, followed by q msceI-
laneous rattle of rifles along the lines.
The troops swarmed out, and saw string
OF men hacking furiousiy at the wires with
one hand and plying a revolver with the
other. In the dim fire light their numbers
could not be ascertained.
At this amazing spectacle the soldiers
fired a Volley: that is discharged their
rifles in the general direction of the foe.
When the smoke blew of. this opera ton
seemed 10 have produced no effect on the
invaders. who had now cut and torn the
strands apart and were actually within the
Enclosure. They bore down in line on the
Spaniards. revolver In one hand. blade In
the other. No soldier marksmen were they
ku; n whose lives had often and often
hung upon a pistol shot, and now their
enemies felt the effect. In ten seconds thir
II of the gray uniforms were writhing on
the sod, and the remainder beheld the
macheteS flashing in their faces. The Cas-
tillians are not without a proverb that
teaches that discretion is the better part
of valor; they drew back Their shots seem
ed to have no effect on these madmen.
" hose pistols emitted q continuous stream
OF fire. The withdrawal became retreat
the retreat panic. They crowded together
and ran for the tents-a hundred men
routed by seventeen. Slater did not pursue
them further. The long roll was sounding
up and down the lines. and the firing would
bring down a dozen regiments in five min
utes- He had done all that was necessary,
had cut up the enemy's lines with a small
quarter OF a company. and without loss. so
that 1t was time to retreat as swiftly as he
had made the attack.
A torch was thrust into the nearest clus-
ter of tents. the Maxim guns within reach
were tumbled into the ditch. and the little
band went back as they had come. leaving
the cut wires and the rows of dead to mark
where they had passed. A minute more
and they were mounted and laundering
across the country again.
AS they rode. Slater said to the man
nearest him. a graduate of Harvard. I'VE
have sins,ed the Spanish Kings beard, Ell p"
And the other replied. Precisely" Then
after mile or 50. They won't let this
pass. do you Think"
What do you mean? That they'll follow
us?"
Yes
Nonsense. Not bit of it,
He was wrong, for there was at that mo-
meiit rage ana curSlHs IN the spanish camp.
Inc officer in command at that POINT had
laid heavy wager that the rebels would
never break the lines. Naturally he was
furious. That the majesty of the powers of
Spain should he sighted. that the works
should be broken. that his men should be
slaughtered-this was bad enough in all
conscience, but that he should lose his gold
doubloons-this was unbearable. He fumed
and swore and called to him a captain Of
guerrilla cavalry.
Captain
Senior"
You have hundred men In your troop"
"a hundred and fifty"
Good. Pursue these accursed Americans
There are not more than thirty. Follow
them to Santiago IL necessary, but catch
them, dead or alive"
Very we'll. general replied the guer-
rilla, and retired to muster his men and to
sound the Boots and saddles" A hundred
70 twenty would be long odds, even for
Slaters horse.
30 1t came about that when Skaters mon