The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-12-14

for that watchtul soldier is now lying
comfortably on his back outside, with
gag in his mouth, and his hands are
tied to his feet"
swell, who are you and what do you
want here2" i exclaimed in Spanish.
The young man in white duck laugh
ed. "You are an American; anybody
could tell that by your Spanish. Oh, l
know about you. Speak English"
"Certsinly," I replied. "What do
you want here?"
"The news"
"What news2"
care the Spanish warships, Vizcays
and Oquendo, still at Porto Rico? Has
the torpedo flotilla arrived there, or has
IL goue to st. Vincent, at Cape Verdep"
at is contrary to the rules of the ca
BILE company for me to give such infor-
nation" l replied. "Besides, all these
Spanish government messages are in
cipher, which l am not supposed to
know anything about"
"Don't let the cipher trouble you,"
he replied laughing. ~ have the key
to their cipher all right"
"As to who l am" he continued,
"my names Macomber. l am the cor
respondent of the -" He named
an American journal. "News as to
the Whereabouts of the Spanish torpedo
boats and those cruisers would be valu.
able Just now, not only to my paper,
but to the American navy at Key West.
Now, you are an American, and good
patriot, 1 dare say. Will you help us
out?"
"rm a good patriot" said 1. "And
l am also an honest man, employed
here to do a certain duty, which l will
not betray."
"You will not help me, then? Very
well, | shall examine your tapes by
force"
cit is not my business to fight for
Spain," said l. 81 have no force TO re-
sist you, but will not help you"
"Thanks. That's all l ask. Just you
sit quiet"
"Do you think you can read our
tapes2" asked incredulously.
"Sure. / was cable operator three
years."
"But where did you get your cipher
key?.'
"That's matter that was arranged
in Havana three months ago. Your
tape bobbins for the current week are
in the table drawer, presume?"
"Look for YOURSELF" l said. "But
my fellow operator here is Spaniard.
do not speak for him. Senior Merode,"
l said in Spanish, "these gentlemen
wish to see the record tapes"
Merode had stood listening, making
out what we said with difficulty.
"Nuncal" (never) he exclaimed excit-
eddy and made jump for the big table
drawer, with some notion, think, of
destroying the tapes. He was plucky
fellow. But the Cuban seized him by
the collar before he could open the
drawer, flung him violently backward
on the floor and drew his machete.
Don't hurt him, Luiz," shouted
Macomber, and then, after steady
| glance at me, he stepped to the drawer
himself and took out the rolls of tape.
"This will be a somewhat long and
tedious business" he remarked, begin
ming to unroll one of them. "You
might help me if you would, but at
least oblige me by turning up the lamp
little and placing it on the table here"
"Thanks," he went on when had
complied, and he began rapidly unroll-
ing the tape through his fingers. He
read well and fast, and his running
comment amused me.
"Ob, this is a dandy siphon of yours,
isn't it?" "What ails your mouse mill?"
"Say, friend, your record here looks
like the teeth of an old, dull buck saw.
Your inks coagulated."
l sat back and quietly looked on.
Merode still lay on the floor. The Gu
bon stood watching US both. If Merode
stirred, he shook his machete al him.
Thus fully an hour passed. 1t seemed
much more than an hour indeed before
our American visitor found what he
sought.
"Ah!" he exclaimed at last. "Here
we are. So the Vizcaya and Oquendo
left Porto Rico for st Vincent last
Sunday. Good. Blanco is informed
that the torpedo flotilla is going to St.
| Vincent, too, instead of coming to Ha
vana. That's all I wanted to know
he continued, turning to me. "SOrry
to leave your tapes in such mess, but
l really cannot stop to roll them ur
again, for must be we'll out to sea be-
fore daylight. Oblige US now, both o.
| youS w AOuuoihihS IuAoV lulu oAeOA wv
bid you good night"
But just then there was new noise
outside. The door opening to the street
was flung back, and there stood Span
ish lieutenant from the fort, with hal
dozen soldiers at his back, for the
Spanish sentry-a boy of eighteen
whom they had gagged and tied up out
side of the house, had proved more
nimble than they had thought him. He
had worked himself loose and had run
to the fort for aid.
The Cuban turned instantly, killed
the lieutenant with a swing of his ma
chete and was at once shot down by {
soldier who fred over the shoulder o
his falling officer.
Macomber showed better judgmen
if less courage. He dashed the laml
out and grasped me by the arm. "Hell
me out" he said.
1t would be difficult for any one t,
resist the appeal of fellow country
man at such time, While the soldier