Arizona republican., 1902-07-20

plicity was no doubt by this time dis
covered in aiding the American pris-
oners to escape. together with the dis
appearance of her brother. Ramon
from his post as sergeant of the guard
The brother and sister had now deter
mined to join the American army, for
both felt that the rule of Spain was
short in Cuba and they could soon re-
tire from the strife.
About an hour after the party had
started cannonading was begun by the
Americans on their left front A furi-
Gus fuSiilade of shells Missed far above
| their heads. The Cuban officer eX
planned that the firing came from Ell
PoSo, where a battery of artillery had
taken up a position and was storming
the fertilization from that point
reinforcing the artillery of Lawton on
the right wing. Lawton's battery had
now ceased firing and the sound Of
musketry was heard proceeding from
that direction.
The boys in blue were marching on
Ell Caney and had arrived within the
zone of execution with small arms.
Several minutes elapsed after the firing
was begun from Ell Poso hill, and the
silence from the Spanish forts at e!
Caney was at last disturbed by the
roar of field guns.
The enemy had returned the fire and
shells few screaming through the air
toward the dense cloud of smoke that
lowered above the American position
on Ell Poso. The Americans were at a
great disadvantage from the fact that
their field pieces were using black
powder, disclosing the position of their
guns to the Spaniards. The SpaniardS
on the other hand were using smokeless
powder and their guns were doing
deadly execution on the American bat
terry.
Having Travelled about four miles
our friends stopped to rest under the
shade of a large spreading tree. They
were hungry, having been without food
since the previous night when Willie
and Blinkie with Ramon had met Mar
celia at the house in the woods. Mar
celia had a little of the provender left
that she had brought from the Span
ish garrison, and this she generously
gave to Willie and Blinkie. They re-
fused to eat until she shared a portion
of it with them. She refused on the
plea that she was not hungry and sug-
gested that her share be given to Nor
ris, who since his disappointment in
finding that the Cubans were not Span
ish soldiers, had remained sullenly
silent, though darting venomous
glances at Marcella whenever he could
catch her eye. Blinkie divided the food
into three portions and going over to
Morris handed him his share.
Morris hands had been unbound by &
Cuban soldier so that he could eat. The
traitor stretched out his hand to take
the meat and bread and then delibar-
ately spat on it and threw it in the
face of Blinkie.
The latter became pale with anger,
| for this insult in the presence of Mar
celia was more than he could stand.
He drew back his fist to strike Morris
| but Willie called out to him to desist.
Grumbling, Blinkie lowered his fist and
went sullenly back to join the others.
| He got a sympathetic look from the
| eyes of the fair Cuban girl which mol
| lifted his ruffied feelings, and his hun
ger being paramount he sat down on
the ground and ate his bread and meat
| in evident enjoyment.
Their hunger being partially salts
! fed and feeling refreshed with the
| short stop Willie suggested that they
continue their journey to the American
| lines.
He had hardly uttered the words
when they were startled by the report
| of firearms in the vicinity. They
| Jumped to their feet in alarm. The
| Cuban soldiers looked uneasily at each
| other and in the direction of the dis
| turbance. The officer gave a command
| TO- Ito t.n
said that he would proceed with his
party a short distance and Investigate
the cause of the shooting. Willie and
| Ramon also said that they would re-
connoiter. so Willie handed his weapon
to Blinkie and told him to keep close
watch on Morris. They had forgotten
that Morris arms had been unbound
for the latter shrewdly held them De-
hind him. Marcella said she would
also stay. The soldiers departed fol-
lowed by Willie and Ramon, leaving
| Marcella. Blinkie and Morris.
| Marcella was standing near the
trunk of the tree and Blinkie had par
1 TALLY turned and was watching her
forgetting in his admiration of the
pretty picture she made in her male
attire and with her long tresses hang
| been imposed on him.
Morris was quick to notice his alb
straction and edged silently toward
him.
Marcella had been looking in the di-
rection taken by the soldiers but hap
pened to turn and saw at glance
Blinkie's preoccupation and the move
ment of Morris. She uttered hasty
exclamation to warn Rlinkie but il was
too late. With a leap like a panther
springing on it's prey Morris leaped
forward and snatched the rifle from