Arizona republican., 1902-07-20

said that they could meet the advanc
ing army at a point about two miles
from there.
When asked by Willie as to the cause
of the disturbance that had given them
all so much alarm. the officer explained
that he had investigated and found that
a party of irregular Cuban soldiers had
discovered a fugitive from the Spanish
lines and thinking that he was a spy
had given chase and fired at him sew
eral times until he was brought to the
ground. These soldiers, he stated, had
been following the American army and
had given him the informa ton that the
Americans had encamped the previous
night at FL Poso hill and We're then on
their way to make the assault on San
Juan.
Calling his men together the officer
ordered them to cut down several stout
limbs and construct two filters for the
wounded men.
While this was being done the party
returned to where Blinkie was lying
under the shade of the large tree and
were delighted to find his eyes open
and gazing around him with per-
picked expression. When he caught
sight of Willie and the others he
grinned and said weakly:
Morris tried to sever my jugular
vein but I guess he missed this time,
Ugh, but my back hurts
When he finished his remarks Willie
and Marcella looked a t each other and
the wounded man wonderingly. Each
understood the unspoken word of the
other but Blinkie himself was uncon-
scious of anything unusual in him. For
the first time since they had known
him he had spoken without suffering.
His articulation was low but nevertf e.
less clear and without the slightest
trace of the former impeachment in his
speech. The shock had restored to him
the full power of his tongue, but it
remained to be seen if the cure was
permanent.
His friends were overjoyed to find
him not as badly injured as they at first
supposed. The Cuban girl sat down
beside him and her presence was the
best tonic to the suffering man.. She
placed his head in her lap and smoothed
the wrinkles caused by his suffering,
from his brow.
Ramon and Willie understood the sit
uation and busted themselves in assist
ing the Cubans to prepare the filters.
In a short time the filters were ready
and they We're prepared to proceed on
their journey. Morris was still uncon-
scious but Blinkie was very much
alive and almost happy, for the fair
girl had succeeded in making him al
most forget his injury. She walked
by his side and kept the sun and the
flies from his face as they walked
along, having turned her pony over to
a footsore Cuban soldier. The litter
bearers rested at frequent intervals and
their progress was necessarily slow.
The country was familiar to the Gu
bans and the guide ahead reported that
they were within a half mile of where
the American army would have to
cross the fork of the San Juan river as
they had to follow the trail and could
not cross at any other point on account
of the dense growth of underbrush.
This was cheering news and when
Cuban soldier gave a startled eXclama-
ton they all looked to where he was
pointing eXcitedly. A short distance
ahead but we'll above the trees they saw
a monster balloon. When they saw
this inspiring sight Willie could not
refrain from giving a shout of Joy, for
he knew It was the observation balloon
used by the signal corps of the Amer
lean army and that their present
troubles were now at an end.
The balloon was about one hundred
feet in the air and was moving forward
slowly, for it was anchored to wagon.
They could dimly descry the forms OF
two men in the car.
They kept the balloon in sight and
hurried forward as rapidly as they
could to overtake it, for they knew
that it was being preceded or followed
by the troops.
There was as yet no sound of firing
In that direction but the battle was stu
in progress toward Ell Caney.
Shortly after sighting the balloon.
however, they were startled by the roar
of cannon and the sharp report of mus
kerry. The battle of San Juan hill was
begun.
Shells from the Spanish Notifications
screamed and Kissed through the air,
and was replied to by the battery sta
toned on Ell Poso hill, which up to this
time had been pounding at the walls OF
the Spanish Notifications at Ell Caney.
1t was evident that the Spanish fire
was mainly directed at the balloon
and soon IL was seen 10 WdDDlt anu
slowly descend. 1t had been punctured
and it's usefulness was over. The re-
mains of the balloon they saw shortly
afterward lying in the bed of the San
Juan.
AS the balloon disappeared from
view below the tops of the surrounding
trees the Americans opened on the
Spaniards on San Juan and the roar of
musketry and the deep toned reports of
the field pieces was now almost inces-
SAINT.
The light of battle was in Will!es
| eyes and his nerves tingled with excite
ment. 1t was sweet music and he
| itched to be in the front rank with his
| comrades. The sound of the battle
| also revived Blinkie but he groaned
when he was reminded by the pain of
| his wound that he was not able to ac
company the heroic army on that for
ward movement.
| Marcella soothed him and stated
| that he had done enough and that he
was not to worry himself but to try