The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1898-09-13
A COURT MARTIAL.

General Gomez and several officers
of his staff were taking their after din
ner nap" siesta" is the Spanish word
for it-when there was commotion in
the thick chaparral between them and
the narrow, rugged road which ran all
the way from the mountains to the
western coast of Cuba.
The thorny underbrush was pulled
and tossed about until the billowy sur
face seemed to be swept and dashed by a
storm.
Pedro, the watchful sentinel who was
guarding the sleeping general and his
companions, clutched his rifle with a
firmer grip. He knew that struggle
was going on in those tangled bushes
and vines, and the men who were head
ed in his direction might be either
friends or foes
"Quien sabe?" was Pedro's low voiced
comment, after his keen eyes had taken
in the situation.
The noise of the scuff1e or skirmish in
the chaparral suddenly died away, and
the sentinel heard only an occasional
oath, but the moving tops of the bushes
warned him that the strangers were ap-
preaching him.
''They swear like the pious defenders
of our holy cause" said Pedro, "but
that is no sign. There are Spanish dew
lis who can outswear the Cubans, and
even the pig dog Yankees have learned
the trick. Carrajo is word which
will soon belong to all languages. I"
Perhaps it would be we'll to awaken
the general. Gomez was with a small
scouting party, and after their hurried
dash into the enemy's territory the tired
troopers were enjoying their first nap
in week.
While the soldier was considering the
matter his commander solved the prob.
lem for him. The rebel general has a
way of sleeping with one eye open, and
his little catnaps are easily disturbed.
"What is it, Pedro?''
The vigilant guard quietly told his
wakeful general about the movements
and suspicious noises in the chaparral.
By this time all of the officers and
awake and ready with their weapons to
resist an attack or make dash into the
forest.
Captain Vando and his men are to
meet us here, I" said Gomez, "and it is
about time. The only Spaniards in this
vicinity are dead ones. Their friends
did not even bury them when they left
last week. You may rest assured that
Vando is the man who has broken our
siesta. -
With rush and a swish a dozen
men plunged out of the bushes into the
comparatively open space occupied by
the general and his followers.
Their faces and their uniforms were
Enthusiastically Cuban, and Captain Van
do and his commander lost no time in
embracing each other in the most affeo-
Tomato fashion.
The newcomers had with them fet-
tered prisoner-a tall man with dark,
stern face, who wore the uniform of
Spanish captain. Gomez looked at him
curiously as he listened to whispered
report from Vando.
Then he frowned and his eyes flashed
fire.
"Carrajol" he Missed between his
teeth "a good days work, Vando. I'll
not forget it. +"
The Spaniard in the captains uni
form said nothing, but looked about
him with naughty stare.
''What can we do for Captain Lo-
pez?'' asked General Gomez, with a
pleasant smile.
"Release me, restore my weapons and
my horse" said the prisoner. 81 was
on a peaceful mission, visiting a sick
friend. when your men ambushed me
on the road. They have treated me with
great indignity, but let that pass. Give
me my liberty and l promise to say
nothing of your movements in this dis
trict.
1T gives me great pain to refuse
your request, replied Gomez courte-
ously, "but we have given your case
our careful consideration for the past
six months, and the main object of our
recent scouting expeditions was to cap
ture you. You see, captain, you are not
an ordinary guerrilla. You have gang
of the worst cutthroats and robbers in
all Cuba. You have never met us in a
fair fight. All of your work is done in
;he dark. You destroy the homes Of
peaceful farmers, murder and rob
wounded prisoners, assault helpless
women, and Captain Vando reports that
when you were captured you had on
your person the watch and the handker-
chief of a Red Cross nurse, a young wo-
man who was outraged and murdered
by you and your ruffians two nights
ago."
1t is lie, " shouted the SpaDiard
81 found the handkerchief in the road
the watch bought from a soldier"
Mistakes will occur in wartimes, I"
answered Gomez calmly, land l may
be mistaken now, but am willing to
swear to the truthfulness of Vando's re-
port. -
II must go with you, then, and be
tried by court martial, suppose?" said
Lopez
"You will be tried by court mar
tial, :" responded the general smilingly.
your trial is in progress now. This is
a court martial, and it is formal and
orderly enough considering the fact
that we are in the enemy's country,
liable to be killed at any moment by
your ambushed robbers. Yes, captain,
this is court martial, and from what
| know of your record, together with
Vando's report, the only thing to be
done is to pronounce and execute the
sentence of the court. Bind him to that
treeP'
Two stalwart Cubans dragged the
Spaniard to a tree and quickly bound
him so that he could not move.
"This is murder, said the prisoner,
"and you will suffer for it. .
"War is a bad thing, remarked the
general softly, with a sad look in his
big black eyes, "and murder is part
of it. | lie awake nights mourning over