The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1908-11-18

tap-un Droce ordered Sarge4.. 49,
nell WIKI q 0icseu squan 70 rpcoanol,e".
They scurried Off fl advance Of the
company. with Instructors to loco.e
the elusive enemy and open up the
secret of his position. Supposedly
Pillar was ten miles of among the
rocky foothills which guarded the pass
through the mountains As usual.
Banscmer was one of the scouts. lie
snatched his RI ions with the others
and went forth eagerly to court the
danger and excitement that was prom
ised. For days they had had no fight
ing worthy the name. Amigos every
where. villages peopled only by WON
en- and children. treacherous peaceful
ness on every side. This had beer
their encounter-an occasional ride
shot from the rice fields. crackle o.
guns far ahead, prisoner or two VIII"
had not been quick enough in trans
forming himself from combatant to
friend. that was all Now there seem
ed to be real fighting ahead.
Pillar was known to have many men
good soldiers all of them. The native
scout gave close and accurate direc-
lions as to his position 1t remained
for Connelrs men to draw him out If
possible. Captain Groce and the re.
mainCer of his eager company did no
march until long after the scouts
were on their prccariouS way.
Tw, hours after the party of eleven
left tIe village Il Mauser bullet from a
cuinp of trees far to the right cut
through the hat Of one of the scouts
who was some distance in advance of
his fellows. As he saw the scout stoop
70 pick up his hat Rogers turned to the
man nearest him ana rem lrked:
They'll get Kim sure as shootin
some day if he hikes along in that fool
way"
1t was no new experience for the
scouts to find the quarry gone when
they reached the place where they ex-
pected to find him. Pillars own scouts
had found that the ambuscade was
destined to fail of its purpose, and the
willy leader drew back into the more
accessible country. The scouting party
did not come in sight of the little
brown soldiers. Before noon they were
far up i'm the hills. everywhere met by
the physical assurance that the enemy
was not far ahead of them. Behind
them came Captain Groce and his men
and the two correspondents.
Amigos along the mountain road
gave information that was not worth
having. A deserted village showed
signs of the passage, and finally there
was proof ahead that Pillar had stop
ped to give battle. He had reached
his vantage ground. Cornell and his
men drew Lack and waited. Nightfall
came and with it the spiteful crack of
the NIauser rifle \ brawny trooper
toppled over with great hole in his
head. Pillars pickets could see like
cats in the night The native scout
reported that the big village Of Con
cepcion was not far ahead; Pillars men
were making their stand before this
rather important stronghold.
"We1 get a scrap that is a scrap
boys" said Cornell eXultingly. These
fellows are going to put up fight az
last They're like bees up yonder
We've got to fall back on the com
pany. If we don't, they'll chew us up
before the little captain can get to us"
Too well did the men know the belli-
cose temperament of the big Irishman
to think of grumbling at such com
mand. yet it was with a certain reluc-
lance which invariably accompanies a
backward step that the men retired to
meet the advancing company.
TO BE CONTINUE