Arizona republican., 1902-07-06

peared to be well acquainted With thelr surroundings, and kept a direct course through the darkness. After walking about five minutes Ramon stopped and cautioned his comrades to exercise eX- treme caution, as they were near the line of outposts and were in greater danger than they were before. Lying down on the ground he whispered for the others to follow his example: he then worked himself along the ground taking great care not to make the slightest sound. Willie and Blinkie followed in the same manner. The leader halted at frequent intervals to listen for any strange sound, and when he was satisfied that all was we'll pro ceeded as before.
 The party had gone about hundred yards in this manner and Blinkie was beginning to grunt. for he had to carry his rifle forward on the ground and the work was getting tiresome. Becoming reckless he raised to a stopping position and he was thus not only able to relieve the cramped con- dition of his limbs but could make bet ter progress. While peering through the darkness to one side he did not notice that the men ahead of him had
 
 carelessness when he fell prostrate over Willies legs. He fell with thud, the rifle falling from his hand and striking noisily against the ground. Willie gave utterance to a substantial oath while the faithful Ramon nut tered "Maledicto.''
 There was no use for further eau ton, the mischief had been done. for a stentorian voice not ten yards away called out, Alta, Quien va?" They remained breathless for moment. ! when once again came the challenge, followed by the ominous click of the magazine bolt of rifle.
 Ramon whispered for the others to
 follow him as rapidly as possible and he started forward at q run followed l by the others. Alta shouted the i sentry and q bullet whistled past the
 running men. The alarm of the sen 1 try had been taken by other sentries l and to add to the din a sound in the i direction of the garrison apprised. them | that their flight had been discovered
 and that pursuit had been organized. l The fear of recapture and the fate | they knew was in store for them, if 1 they again got into the clutches of the | Spaniards made them reckless of the 1 bullets that flew past them in the
 darkness. Keeping Close behind Ra-
 mon they soon were past the outward
 line of outposts, but the leader did not
 sIacken his pace. Once Blinkie stum-
 bled and plowed his face into the ground. He resumed his feet with an i oath, which he did not seek to sup press.
 After they had been running for sev- l eral minutes and their breath was be- | coming labored Ramon suddenly dart
 ed from the path which he had been | following with the instinct of blood
 hound, and dashed through the bushes | to the left He then slackened his pace and waited for the others to join
 him, Speaking with difficulty from the l eXertion of the long run, he told Will lie in Spanish that they were now well
 outside of the lines but that they | would have to make haste and put
 several miles between them and the Spaniards for the country would be secuted for them. He stated that | about a half mile from there they | would find temporary shelter in hid den house in the brush and it was there they would meet with another
 of their friends who was going to con- duct them to the American lines. He
 was going to go with them, he said
 for his usefulness with the Spaniards
 was over and he would also be shot il
 captured.