The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-06-24
Captain r. A. mitchell. /

preaching. Then, taking Jacks revolver.
| sailed forth.
passed down 10 my firewood, inspected
II to see that IL was all right. then went
on farther, crawling on my stomach and
listening. Noticing what In the dark
ness l supposed TO be log. i resolved
to crawl up behind IL for concealment.
On reaching II l raised my head and
looked down into the face OF a dead man.
IL was the body of one OF the guerriilas
We had shot during the day. This un-
canny object. encountered at dead or
night. startled me. There we're the ghast-
iy skin, the sunlfen cheek, the open
mouth, while the eyes were staring up
at tho heavens as II they saw wonders
hidden from the living l drew back. A
consciousness Of the horrors that awaited
US struck me like gust OF cold wind.
Perhaps before morning Helen Stanforth
or Jacqueline or little Buck or all OF US
would be lying stif and stark like that
dead guerrilla.
Then a greater strength. a daring, n
cunning never before felt welled within
me- crawled on till came so near the
guerrilla camp that could have thrown
a stone into II. They had no FIRE. and
this in itself was suspicious. 1 thought
/ heard voice. but II was doubtless
some animal or bird giving "A note or
warning 10 its mate. listened. but could
hear nothing which knew 10 be human.
At last L sat down on a rock and began
what 20 me seemed an endless vigil.
II was perhaps an hour after that
heard unmstakable sounds OF the guer-
rillas. / could see nothing. though
could hear voices. and voices at that time
OF night meant mischief Darling back
10 my wood, set the paper OF gunpowder
on the rock under the dry grass, keeping
q little In reserve and got stone ready
to use for a hammer. then listened for
sign OF advance. I had not long TO wait.
man must have stumbled. At any rate,
heard something which convinced me
the enemy was coming. and, laying on
my percussion powder, / raised the stone
and brought IL down.
Horror OF horrors, The grass was blown
away without being kindlsd. The last
chance was gone. 1t was dark as pitch;
not even a ray OF moonlight 10 protect
us against the coming cutthroats.
Wait a bit. There are several spears
OF grass smoldering, spark on the
end OF each. / gather them and put the
ember ends into the hollow OF my hand,
where / hold the reserve gunpowder. A
fiash-a mere bit OF fame no bigger than
a pea / nurse II and put more grass with
II. shove II all under the wood, and
beautiful bright flame shoots up that
gladdens my heart A joyful shout from
the fort sends a pleasant thrill through
every fibre In my body.
Ping A bullet within an inch OF my
nose. dart away into the darkness and
In another minute arm In the fortress.
/ had scarcely got behind the breast
works when the glare of the burning
wood showed me half a dozen men DASH
ing up TO the fire, and / knew they would
try TO scatter II.
when ] count three, IRE into the
crowd. One. two, three"
Four bullets fied at the little knot of
men below. We could not see who was
hit, but all turned and started down the
declivity, though one man dropped before
he had gone a dozen yards. We lost no
time in reloading and had a new charge
ready In every piece before seeing any
signs OF their return. But Buck, who
took more time and made more fuss about
his work than all the rest together. had
scarcely rammed his charge home and
fixed the percussion cap on the nipple
when three men made dash at the
fire. Two OF them reached II and began
to kick vigorously. i took deliberate aim
at one OF them and shot him through
the head. My gun had scarcely cracked
when Helen. let drive at the remaining
man. He staggered, but kept on kicking
at the fire. I snatched Bucks gun and
finished him, dropping him on the burn
ing brands. The third man. who had
started forward several times and each
time turned back, got out OF sight as
quickly astpossible.
Look a. darr' cried Ginger. pointing
to the east
I turned my head. and there above the
horizon was the faintest trace of dawn.