The herald., 1898-07-17
Nv.

laigne hand and foot, and as he lay
against the wall a new device came
to him as an inspiration.
"Ah!" he cried, as if stirred by in
finite joy, you are loyal Spaniards.'
Nothing else," said the commander,
gruffly, peering at him. What did you
Think"
II supposed you were rebels. That
was why I tried to avoid you"
The commander grunted incredulous-
ly.
who are your" he asked.
Maurice Delaigne. I am French
man, captain
What are you doing here?"
II am journeying to Guanajay
Where is your pass? For If you
speak the truth, you must have
permission to go through the lines''
II cannot reach my pocket, captain"
Search him."
Delaigne was rolled over until all his
pockets had been explored Nothing
was found in the way of papers except
a few Of his personal cards, which went
far to establish his statement of his
name and nationality. His coat had
been torn in the struggle, and Delaigne,
calling attention to this fact, suggested
that his permit to pass the lines had
been lost.
1T may be on the ground here,' he
said, If it hasn't been torn to pieces,
or tramped into the turf
Look for it," said the captain.
The prisoners slender hope was that
these soldiers, knowing something of
international feelings and relations,
of.f5o n sd \
and let him go. OF course they would
find no pass, but they might prefer to
regard it as lost than risk complica-
tions with France by holding a French
man as prisoner of war. Two or three
soldiers were paving over the ground
while the torch was held so that it's
fantastic rays illumined one spot after
another.
Here it is,' said one Of them, pres
emily.
Where did you get this?'' asked the
captain, holding the paper so that the
prisoner could see it. 1t was the map.
Il made it," said Delaigne, from a
map in Havana. needed something of
the kind, for am not familiar with the
roads,
take him along" said the captain,
then. ''He is undoubtedly a spy
The halter around Delaigne's legs
was removed. and one end fastened to
the cord about his wrists, which were
held together behind his back. The
other end was attached to saddle.
The troop then remounted and proceed
ed. Delaigne trotted along beside a
horse and thanked the stars for their
obscurity, for in the darkness the pace
was necessarily a slow one.
Dawn was breaking when at length
the troop halted at fertilization in
the outer circle. There was a block
house that could not have stood a min
ute before an old fashioned American
howitzer, the beginning of a carlista,
as the Spaniards call style of in
trenchment invented by the adherents
of the Pretender, Don Carlos, and some
crude huts for so much of the garrison
as could not be accommodated in the
fort" Seated upon q stump in front
of the structure, his feet again in q
halter, two soldiers on guard over him,
there was as little chance for escape as
If he were in the deepest dungeon of
Cabanas.
The captain of the troop made his
report to the commandant of the Fort
standing before the door thereof, and
Delaigne heard their conversation,
which they were at no pains to sub
due. 1t appeared that the troop was
one Of many attachments that had
been summoned hurriedly to Havana
In anticipation of an engagement when
the blockading squadron swelled to
such numbers on the Saturday previ-
GUS, This troop, having been stationed
in Pinar del Rio province, had been
making forced march of it to reach
the threatened capital in time. The
commandant told the captain that the
bombaTdment appeared to be "off," and
that orders had been received to de-
tain the troop at the line Of outer for
tifications until further Instructions
For long time Delaigne sat upon
the stump, wondering, hopeful and dis
couraged in turns. It was some con-
ISOLATION, and his one basis for hope.
that the Spaniards had not found the
packet Of official documents. The
morning was yet early when he saw a
messenger despatched toward Havana
on swift horse. This might mean
much, or nothing for him. About two
hours later sentry brought in peas
ant who was taken within the fort"
+ Shortly afterward the commandment
came out, approached the stump, and
4 showed Delaigne the official papers.
DeAGigns looked at them without
5Nvincin9. "A e.asS
.1his loyal peasant" said the COM