The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-10-04

i Cormac scarcely saw it as he eagerly
climbed the tree until finally, near its
i topmost branch, he could look out on
a wide sweep of country below the
hillside.
And now he made out a little com.
pany of United States Regulars fee
ing from a Mexican company some
distance in the rear. Now they have
gained the hill and the shelter Of some
trees. Then, all at once, Cormac
knew what he must do. They could
be guided more quickly by sound. He
must bear his drum.
Seating himself firmly in the
branches of the trees, he took the
sticks in his hands and began to beat
a rhythmical tattoo on the drum.
During the long winter months at
home he had practiced with it again
and again, and more than one officer
in SCOTS army had noticed his splen-
! did execution Faster and faster,
louder and louder he beat, and nearer
and nearer came the gallant little
company, helped to amazing swiftness
| by the welcome sound Never once
did Cormac stop until an hour later
the dusty troop came dashing up the
! top of the hill Then, his drum silent
for once, Cormac came swiftly down
| the tree and ran to meet them. And
10! it was company he knew well,
j and they recognized him.
Quick" he said. II have safe hid
ing for you-follow me-" And he ran
and parted the bushes.
"Look," he said to the leader of the
band, look at this notch-follow it.
You will come out in the open, go up
the causeway beyond-don't turn to
right or left it will bring you to the
outskirts of the city where even now
the American army is encamped."
i They gave suppressed cheer and
thanked him as they rapidly filed
through. The bushes closed again
and once more he was alone. Why
had he not followed them?
] Without a moments delay he now
ran northward with all his might. The
Mexicans were coming from the east
little band of United States troops
had gone west. His intention was
obvious-to act as a decoy and lead
, the enemy away.
, And now he is beating his drum
again, and the pursuing Mexicans
guided by the sound, gave chase
They were not sure where the en-
trance to the secret road lay. The
understanding was that Scott, the spy
| Nv nh 0e
| known-would come out to meet them
: as soon as he had led the American
troops into ambush.
For three miles Cormac led the
chase, until they had gained on him
/ Suddenly there was shout, and look
ing over his shoulder he saw the first
company of infantry in full view
: Calmly he turned around, and with
his back to tree he began the soul
, stirring tattoo again which had stop
/ ped for a few moments.
On came the Mexican troops, hot
J and angry. Here was Scott, the spy!
; There was no doubt it was he, though
he had discarded his coat and cap
But where were the American sol
) diers, and-at that moment the leader
: caught sight of the drum, an Ameri
can drum beyond a doubt and seeing
it he raised a shout.
Traitor" he exclaimed, "traitor!"
And now they understood that they
we're far from the defile that led tc
( the city. Cormac was surrounded by
) the dark, fierce faces. He heard the
/ excited denunciations in Spanish
: Then the leader, who could speak
3 English, advanced.
You are Scott, the spy" he asked
mo"
, The man threw back his head anC
7 laughed. 1--WE know you,'' he said, CSC
) you need not deny it. Where are the
troops we were pursuing?"
: "They are safe"
you led them into the ambush?"
: Yes
"And then you led us off on wrong
2 scent?"
3 yes"
: The officer turned to his men, "He
: is dog" he said. He thought tt
!, fool us by pretending he was in oul
employ, while all the time he was
!, false and only waited for an oppor
i tunity to serve his own country. But
j he has been caught in his own net
and now you shall decide what We
! will do with him.
HE must die"
Y cat once?"
> yes, at once He is double
2 traitor, false to his own country, false
5 to u.s.
!. For a few seconds longer Cormat
!, stood there, but the dark scowline
faces were not seen. For six months
7 he had faced death every day, ant
, without fear, SO why should he be
: afraid now? What was it that Father
Martin had said when his mother
l died? All, he remembered now-that
death was like a bad place on the
. road, quickly passed And then he
e had said, "At evening time it shall bt
l light" Well, it was evening now He
must fold his hands and say his pray
: ers for the last long sleep.
The commanders voice rang out;
4 Bind him to the tree"
They bound him with his face to thu
h tree and his back to them. Strange
t ly they did not take away his drum
$ 1t hung over his back and down the
left side, just over the heart.
!, Stand back and fire.