The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-02-15
Soldiers of FORTUNE.
cHAPrER xxx. coNr1N1IEn

CHAPTER XIX CONTINUED.
you'll proclaim yourself an idiot, II you
don't get down from there" Clay said,
laughing. Il thank you for permitting me
TO serve with you, gentlemen. I shall have
great pleasure in telling our President how
well you acquitted yourself in this row.
battle. ! mean. And now I would suggest
that you store the prisoners weapons in
the Palace and put a guard over them, and
then conduct the men themselves to the
military prison, where you can release Gem
eral RoJas and escort him back to the city
in a triumphal procession. You'd like that,
wouldn't your"
was for him alone. Clay declined II, plead
ing that he must look after his wounded.
Il can hardly believe there are any Dead
he said to Kirkland. For, IL II takes 2,OO0
bullets to kill a man in European warfare,
it must require about 10000 to kill a man In
South America
He told Kirkland to march his men back
to the mines. and to see that there were no
s~tragglers, "Tf they want to, celebrate. let
them celebrate when they get to the mines.
but not here They have made a good
record to-day. and l won't have 1t spoiled
by rioting. They shall have their reward
later. Between Rojas and Mr.. Langham
they should all be rich men,"
The cheering from the housetops
since the firing had changed suddenly into
handclappings, and the cries, though still
un"dtstinguishable. were of q different sound.
Clay saw that the Americans on the bal
comics of the club and OF the theater had
thrown themselves far over the ratings and
were all looking in the same direction and
waving their hats and cheering loudly. and
he heard above the shouts of the people the
regular tramp of mems feet marching in
step. and the rattle of 9. machine gun as IL
bumped and shook over the rough stones
IL sa NFa n Ghnr a@F -~l It'll
and the two boys ran with him up the slope,
crowding each other TO get a better view.
The mol parted at the palace gates, and
they saw two lines of blue-jackets. spread
out like the sticks of a fan, dragging the
gun between them, the fniddies i'm their
tight-buttoned tunics and CATERS. and be-
hind them more biue-jackets with bare.
bronzed throats. and with the swa2eer and
roll of the sea in their legs and shoulders.
An American flag foated above the white
helmets of the marines. Its presence and
the sense of pride which the sight of these
men from home awoke in them made the
fight just over seem mean and petty, and
they took Off their hats and cheered with
the others.
A First Lieutenapt. who felt his impor-
lance apd also a sense of disappointment at
having arrived too late to see the fighting,
left his men at the gate of the palace. and
advanced up the terrace, stopping TO ask for
as he came. Each group IN
which he addressed himself pointed to CLAY.
The sight of his own flag had reminded CLAY
that the banner of Mendoza still hung from,
the mast beside which he was standing and
as the officer approached he was busily en-
gagged in untwisting its halyards and pulling
il down.
The Lieutenant saluted him doubtfulIy.
Can YOU tell me who is in command
here?' he asked. He spoke somewhat
sharply. for Clay was not a military loot-
ing parsonage covered as he was with dust
and perspiraion. and with his sombrero on
the back of his head. ]