The Glenwood post., 1907-02-02
Ge eManWho
Went Wrong
By c. B. LEWIS
By c. D. LEWIS
Copyright. 1905, by p. C. Eastment

There had been q gale in the gulf all
night long, and a. daylight came and
the Cuban scouts looked out of the
thicket in which they had lain through
the night the white topped waves were
chasing each other ashore like SO many
wild horses. They were there to meet
Q blockade runner which was to have
landed q cargo for them the previous
night, but the gale had kept her away
from the coast.
| What Il itr was asked as one Of
the group uttered a shout and pointed
out to sea.
"Boomw came the report of a can.
non as II in answer.
Three miles of the coast was tiny
craft heading straight for the shore
under q bit Of sail, and not half a mile
behind her was a Spanish gunboat
which had opened fire at the reeling,
dancing target. Such was the tumble
Of the waves that the larger craft
might have fired all day long and only
planted lucky shot by accident and it
soon became apparent to the watchers
that If the little craft were handled
right she would at least reach the
breakers in safety. Then heaven help
the man who was sailing her. She
came on like gull. sometimes hove up
until she seemed to launch herself
through the air and again sinking so
far out of sight and being hidden so
long that the watchers held their
breath and spoke no word.
"A-h-h-h! Cheer!"
AS the water began to shoal the gun.
boat slowed her head around and wal
lowed in the trough Of the sea for a
moment as If she would turn turtle.
and then got her keel under her and
steamed out to sea. The scouts waved
their hats and cheered the man who
was holding the stem Of the boat,
hardly more than a skiff, straight for
the beach at their feet They ran and
pulled down a vine from a tree. form.
ed In line with the outer man up to
his waist in the boiling foam, and
when the craft struck the first breaker
and was hurled end over end the
stranger was caught by the collar Of
bis jacket and drawn out Of the grip
Of the deadly undertow
"Well done and thanks for It," he
said five minutes later, when he had
cleared his eyes and mouth of salt
water.
How came you atloat in that craft?"
asked the leader.
II came from Key West to join you.
| inc xnI, txg
to headquarters"
But you braved the gale In that
craft?"
II scudded before 1t all night"
And you-you have come to help US
fghtT'
Take me to headquarters" answer.
ed the man. And he shut his jaws and
would talk no more.
A man was detailed to conduct him
to insurgent headquarters. What the
stranger said to the general never
perhaps he simply said that like many
another American free lance he had
come to help Cuba win her indepen-
dence. Good nlen were too scarce for
any caviling. In two days the stran-
ger, who had simply been dubbed
Yankee" was scouting. He was ST.
lent and taciturn and made no friends,
but when it was found that he had
plenty Of courage the men rallied to
him and were led by him without
hsartburnings or jealousies. They said
Of him to each other when cut of ear
shot:
He is educated. He is gentleman.
He has gone wrong somehow. Let it
be bis secret, however"
Three months after the landing, Gen
eral Weyler had offered a reward for
Yankee. dead or alive He detailed
fifty scouts for no other purpose but to
look for him.
Day by day he rallied at them for
their want of success. One by one their
number dwindled away under the bull
let's Of Yankees little band Of ten.
The Spanish tried bribery, but the In
surgents turned their backs on the
sums named. They set traps, but the
Cuban scouts scented them and refused
to walk In.
In six months a hundred Spanish SOL
dlsrs owed their death to the little
oand, ana hundred night alarms could
be laid to the same cause. Then there
came day when Spanish cunning pre-
vailed. Men were sent out to be de-
feated and fall beneath Cuban bullets,
while those who lived fell back In SEEM
Ing panic. The ruse succeeded, and the
ten. led by Yankee, suddenly found
| themselves surrounded.
1t was on the edge Of an old sugar
plantation. When the leader saw that
retreat was cut OF and that he was sur.
rounded on all sides. he gave orders to
retreat to the engine house Of the mill.
1t was small brick building, and when
doors and windows had been barricad.
ed 1t made strong little fort 1t was
so strong that, although there were 400
Spanish infantry on the ground they