The record-union., 1897-07-18

contracted broWS that the soldiers
would settle the account against their
foes to the utter1nost farthing when
their time should come.
Two days afterwards patches of raw
blue, moving here and there against the
white glare of sun-baked earth and
stones, showed that the enemy were at
last investing the fort. Every now ana
then little puffs of smoke drifted out
across the hot dust, and handful OF
slugs ffattened themselves vlclousiy
against the parapet or tore through the
Silken folds of the flag. Whenever
man showed himself within range, the
CaZadores fired in return; but the
Arabs who had crawled into gunshot OF
the fort We're mostly invisible, for, by
long practice. they are adopts in the
art of concealing themselves behind
stone or euphorbia bush, and OCCASION
ally even wriggle out of sight into the
sand
Towards afternoon, while the defend
ers crouched down on the hot stones
under the burning sun, Lieutenant Car
los called out "Vfva la Espania!'' and
sprang to his feet. Every man rose,
and looking seawards, saw patch or
white canvas far out on the gleamlhs
water. As they did so two guns hashed
somewhere along the edge OF the ra-
vine, and a soldier dropped his rlf1e,
which clattered upon the stones; then'
clutching at his side, sank down IN
limp heap in the shadow of the wall.
The CaZadore dropped out OF slght
like the furry denizens of a warren at
the crack Of double barrel. Don Ro-
senCo. however. was an old soldier who
had suffered many things in the fever
swamps of the Philippines and had seen
his men die round him Like flies pc
Meath the prieto by muddy cuban IA
goons. So. being far too knlghtly a
gentleman to show any trace OF hurry'
he walked leisurely and erect TOWARDS
the Sergeant who knelt beside the sun
figure, and asked, rs he hard nit
''Muerto completament-qut deah'
was the answer; and the CommanddIte
passed slowly towards the shelter OH d
turret, feeling that he would give much
to meet the enemy hand TO hand'
though he knew that, should the de-
tenders sally out every man Woulo go
down before the accurate aim or mo-
den marksmen. Anxiously the garrl-
SON watched the sail grow larger anu
larger, gasping for breath as they
crouched in the scanty shadow, Whlle
the thin stream of blood, which at hrst
trickled slowly across the Scorchlng
stones, dried up into little flakes ana
whirled away down the rush OF the
strong trade wind.
AT last. with bitter disappointment
and sinking hearts, they saw it was
only a tiny schooner, a bacalao fisher.
When sunset came the Celaje dropped
anchor behind the reef, and her big
launch. with six men in it, at once
pulled ashore. All safely reached the
fort. in spite of long-range firing; for
the Arabs having the fear of the two
brass guns before their eyes, dared not
venture too near in a solid body When
Salvador Herrera. master, entered the
square, he found himself In the pres
enca of a. dozen sun-scorched, ragged
soldiers, hollow checked and worn oy
famine and sleepless nights, While the
Commandante. leaning heavily on ms
sword, greeted him witha quiet srnlie'
s'You bring us good news, trusc-
dispatches. doubtless SAID the OIL
GER: but the seaman answered;
"Senor, to my sorrow, L nave no
word: the gunboat Conde lies at SANTA
Cruz. but there are no orders Tor net
to sail. 1 can take a dispatch back 10
Tenpr-iffe or embark your men III Tie
Celaje." ,,,s
Don Rosendo's face darkened and his
fingers closed tightly around his SWORD
hilt. while the Captain grew red anu
continued, stammering:
"I am but a plain man, and know
little of these things. If, therefore, you
desire them, such poor provisions as
are in the schooner are at your COM
mand.''
More than one of the CaZadores cast
a wistful glance at the tall masts Oh
the schooner, sweeping to and 1fo
across the saffron and orange of the
sunset For a space the Command
ante also looked seaward in silence, ms
eyes following the trembling line OIL
ruddv light across the rolling water,
until he saw again in fancy his qulnta
in the sunny vale of OrotaVa. me
burning sand and red dust of Africa
faded away, and instead the white cone
of the great peak OIL Tenerlfte shohe
against the azure sky; Whlle De-
meath the pine woods which clothe Its
slopes, Villa Orotava nestled among
feathery palms, groves OF orange trees
and vineyards, with the odor OF roses,
heliotrope and jasmine filling the scent
ed air-a place of wine and sunshine,
watered by snoW-fed streams and re-
freshed by sparkling fountains.
Then a rif1e-butt grated on the pave
ment. and the Commandante was once
more a soldier in the heart of the Sa-
hara Drawing up his tall figure, he
looked round at the waiting soldiers,
and his voice was sharp and clear:
MY children 1 have hidden nothing
from you, for we share a common peril;
but while a stone of the fort stands to-
gether l stay, to live or die for Spain.
Now we have provisions to last until
the gunboat comes, and strong walls
for shelter it is not G hard thing to
hold out against a handful of rascally
Arabs. Beside, they have your COM
rades blood on their hands,; and the
eyes of the famine-stricken soldiers
flashed as they shouted, Viva la Es-
pana."
Next morning the Celaje, after land
ing a few sacks of gofio and bacalao
with barrel of water, put to sea, carry
ing the Commentaries dispatch. The
garrison, with sinking hearts, watched
her grow smaller and smaller, until her
white canvas seemed no larger than a
sea-bird's wing; but clenched teeth and
set faces told of stern determination
to play the man when the end came.
Then the boat vanished out of sight,
and they were utterly alone once more.
Slowly the weary hours dragged by.
The sun rose higher and poured down
its pitiless heat at noon, then sank to-
ward the western horizon; and when