The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1901-02-15

cross to what rumor said was the
certain site Of Manoa. on the opposite
side.
For day and n half we trampcd
up this stony desert and then Camo TO
wall of rock at the head. SO steep
that the stream which leaped over II
was torn by the air Gcnds to frag-
ments In its fall and dropped into the
| pool Mt the bottom rs rainbow
stricken shower OF shimmoring mist
We looked round I'm dismay. Willie
Trchalion took off his skin skullcap. laid
1t on rock, sat down beside It. and
screwing his mouth up into knot be-
gan to whistle dolefully. Job. as usual.
grinned.
Alec went forward to reconnoitcr.
hoping to find some practicable spot.
but in van. Back again" was the
word, and with tightened belts, too, for
our provisions were all consumed, and
there was no chance Of getting any
more till we came again to the wooded
country we had passed through two
days before.
Such march, fasting, was enough
to make the cheeriest of us shudder,
but no one grumblcd; there was moth
Ing to be gained by 1t. So with an
empty feeling about the waistband and
the comforting knowledge that that
feeling would soon become Il gnawing
pain back we trudged, until we came
to the pass where narrow ledge Of
rock, jutting out from the steep cliff
and overhangng the water, had form
ed our path on the way up. None but
sailor or goat could have passed
along 1T, and, as single file was impera-
tive. our procession was struggling.
We were tollfully feeling our way
along this dangerous mouse walk when
shout Of dismay from in front told
us that some accident had happened to
the leaders. The jutting elbow Of
rock prevented us from seeing what
was wrong, but the word was quietly
passed down the line that n large body
Of Spaniards held the open ground In
which the track ended and had captur.
ed Alec (who was leading) with a
noosed cord before he could draw iron
In his own defense.
Willie Trehalion and were bringing
up the rear. The rest struggled back
to us and asked what was to be done.
"They call on us to surrender" said
the lad who had been close on Alec's
heels.
Knowing that there's no food here,
an knowing we can't come to honest
pIow1,'' nddcu wTTne Trehalion, polish
ing his head thoughtfully, 1.-The dons
have us on the hip, Master Topp."
What do you advise, Willie?" said /.
Don't know" he answered. "I'd
tiefer die. though, than yield to the
Spanish DEVILS"
"Quick, then" cried. Follow me,
those who dare, and let the rest guard
the path"
1t was n desperate chance that
tried, but 1t was just possible that
some of us might Ec able to founder
through the rocks and falls and rapids
and so come out on the Spaniards far
ther down the rtyeF vrl 1t fnNsf6h nNf6h cySet. And
so. with 40 Of the stout fellows after
me, slipped into the tearing current.
Sometimes we swan, sometimes we
waded, sometimes we were borne along
like SO many helpless logs Of wood
down cataracts and through eddies.
and Of those that escaped drowning nj
were bruised and battered till their
flesh was like. jelly or their bones
broke like water rotted twigs. And of
the survivors, though it is wormwood
even now to speak it, as the current
carried their half drowned hedfes
ashore not one escaped instant OF suo-
seQuent capture.