The Elbert County tribune., 1905-11-30
copyrlght. ls97. By =. Tennyson Neely.
CHAPTER XXI.
A Goddess Of Battle.


The retreat of the Spanish troops
from the scene of the dynamite wreck,
back over the i've or Elk miles sepa-
rating them from the slope where the
stranded ammunition car is settled,
has been accomplished in an almost
incredibly short space of time, for the
viyor of Gomez attacks has kept them
constantly on the jump.
Jack and Smithers have hastily
formed plan Of action They are re-
solved to take no part in the inev-
liable conflict that must be fought
round the carriage. unless actually
forced to do so by their determination
to protect the ladies': and If circum-
stances render It necessary for them
to enter the lists against all comers,
they are just as ready to meet Span
ish warriors or Cuban patriots as they
have stood against guerrileros.
The first man to reach the carriage
Is tall captain. whose sprinting quail
tiles have proven of no mean order
indeed, he is so easily able to out-dis-
tance all OF his comrades that Jack in
secret is ready to believe his athletic
abilities must have been gained in the
bull-ring eluding the mad rushes of an
infuriated old toro.
AS he comes up. he gasps out:
"Senor, an axe-something to break
open the door of the ammunition van.
We have no cartridges; we will be an
nihilated unless our guns are made
available"
So he chatters on. while gasping for
breath, and continues to beg for an
axe. Jack does not know where such
an implement can be found, and as for
Smithers, he would see the whole reg
iment in Guinea before he stirred
step to further their cause an iota.
Fortunately for the soldiers, they
have a friend in Senor Roblado, who
hardly relishes falling into the hands
of Gomez in this way, though he had
planned to visit the insurgent chief In
his camp, with the secret hope of be-
traying him to the authorities. Il
He has discovered an axe in the
guards den, and this he eagerly tosscs
TO the captain.
Then ensues as remarkable a NOV
ing panorama as Jack has ever seen.
While the blows of the axe sound
upon the barricaded doors of the other
the Spanish soldiers
have gathered around the carriage,
many of them wounded. and yet show
ing no disposition to capitulate.
So Travers. while secretly opposed
to the cause for which they fight, feels
himself bound to admire the way in
which these almost unframed recruits.
but recently from across the sea, face
death as it comes swooping down the
slope.
The officer in command forms his
men in phalanx Not shot do they
fire, because few guns contain load,
but with the grim front of veterans
they await the descent of the hawk.
Again the hillside is covered with a
rushing throng. Men come running
down in squads and singly. They have
no idea OF order. or discipline either,
just at present. as 1t is every man for
and these wild followers OF Gomez
mean to keep them moving until they
are swallowed up in the sea OF fire
that sweeps over the Cuban chaparral,
or kenneled in Havana.
Travers confesses to a tremendous
in the outcome; he believes
they will be safe once the battle is
over. no matter who wins. as Smithers
is surely on one side. while Senior Ro-
blado covers the other. 1t is only the