The Press., 1898-07-21

the Vegetable Compound
talked down or dead by this time.
''ShaIl we go and sect" asked guard.
''No, hombre. Let the poor brute
alone" said another.
To the men who watched all night
for fear that the prisoner might escape
it seemed century before midnight
gave way to the darkness that comes
before dawn, though to the prisoner
quien sabe? Such waiting is hard even
on the men who are not to die, and
there was a sound of relief when at last
the first bugIe sounded. 1t was time to
get the prisoner and march. Because
soldier is allowed two priyileges-to be
executed before dawn and to be- shot in
his uniform-there was no need to
change the clothes of Private Santiago
Moreno. So far as costume was concern
ed he was ready.
In front of the prison, stiff1y drawn
up into line in the darkness. stood the
squad of the Twenty third private Mo-
reno's own regiment) which was to at
tend to the claw of fire, !" and in the
corridor waited impatiently the two
guards who were detailed to walk on
either side of him. The prisoner, how
ever, was not ready, and deep disgust
and scorn were shown on every face
when the warder appeared and stated
grimIy that the prisoner was weeping
como IN nino and had begged one mo-
ment 8 grace. Weeping indeed A pref
ty way for a soldier of the Twenty third
to die And men who had thought pri-
vately that they would aim low in the
ley de fuga hardened their hearts. A
coward did not deserve such treatment
That the prisoner, barely visible in
the gray dawn, was perfectly calm and
composed when he did appear made no
difference to them. Perhaps he had
mustered up some courage after his
weeping, but he had played the coward
for all that, and towards death was
no loss.
Out on the bare, swampy plains of
San Geronimo, just where Mount Ajus-
90 rises up, bleak and rock covered, was
the place of execution. The walk was
not long for the men, to the sound of
the mufaed marcha, but very dreary.
There was hardly light enough to see
each others faces, and the trees and
cactus shrubs doomed up gray and ghost
~ along the side of the rocky trail. AS
for the condemned man, though he
might have played the part of a coward
in the prison, there was no sign of fear
now. With quick, light steps, almost
understanding the regular pace of the
others, he. walked out bravely, as
though going to another decoration by
Ell presidente instead of to the death of
murderer at the hands of the very
men with whom he had fought at Ma
tanzas and Huella and other places, arm
to arm, back to back.
Here was the spot, and, with his
back to Ajusco, his feet sinking into the
damp ground, and the gray mist of
the morning resting like a pail about
him, the prisoner was allowed to stand
for a moment, while the captain made
brief address, concluding with the
statement that only because the prison
or was soldier the law of fire. would
be put into effect-when the word
'uno" was pronounced he was to run
for his life. On the craggy side OF
Ajusco he might find shelter, perhaps.
"Uno-dos-tre would be counted.
at "tres, " the squad would fire. There.
fore he would have to hasten-other-
wise, God have mercy on his soul.
"AtencionP' The soldiers stood on
guard.
"Unol' was counted slowly. The
prisoner stood stock still, and the man
nearest swore that there was smile on
his face s'Dosr' (Dios de la vida, was
he paralyzed, that he could not run,
even to save his life?) and at last slow
ly, "Tres Firew
| MotionIeSs, Mortified, the men had
watched. Still the prisoner stood there,
head up and shoulders back. At the
sound of the "tres,' however, muskett
were lowered and every hammer pull.
ed. Out Numbered the salute of bullets
veritabla hail of them. and the soil
tary, pathetic figure tottered, then reel
ed over, face downward in the damp
grass. Dead, of Counsel How could il
be otherwise? The captain should have
looked to make sure, but he wanted hii
breakfast and some cognac. Merely
glancing casually at the body, he gave
/ the order to march, and with the marchs
once more ringing out the men trampeC
back through the light of the coming
day to barracks and breakfast, leaving
the dead man alone on the plain.
The next day Private Santiago More
no himself, whom we have seen sho
and left dead on the San Geronimo
plains. was there at sunset, pale, orazeC
with grief and holding in his arms {
dead body in the uniform of a soldier
but with the sweet, peaceful face of I
woman who had offered up her life fol
a friend. When the sun went down, hi
lifeless form remained, still clasping-
even in death-the other body that haC
been thought his. Herman Felix il
Argonaut.