The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1914-02-06

had leaped through the window. glass
and all. and was on the porch. From
here as two bullets sped after him, ne
leaped down upon the back of horse
that was being held by soldier.
Striking the animal with the butt OF
his revolver, he went careerlng OH
through the darkness like rocket.
From the men on the drive, from
men On the porch, came a rain OF bui-
lets; and Holton, who had learned a
trick or two in the way of horseman-
ship, slipped down along the animal S
body, shielding himself almost COM
pletely. But the horse was exposed
and a whining bullet pierced the steed
to the heart. He suddenly plunged for
ward, throwing Holton to the ground.
then rolled over and was still.
Holton landed on his knees, and, al
though Jared, was not stunned. He
scrambled along desperately, regain
ing his feet, and struck out for the
woods, about hundred feet away.
He toiled on for two hours, distanc-
ing all sounds of pursuit, and then
flung himself on the wet ground like
a tired animal and fell at once into a
deep sleep. When he awoke the sun
was shining through the trees.
But it was not this that had reused
him. 1t was the roaring of field ord
nance and the racketing Of small arms.
Evidently they were at it again. His
one thought was that this was the End
of July, and that on the morrow the
Spanish warships meant to dash out
of the harbor and attempt an escape.
His fleet must be warned. That was
what he was there for, and this, from
now on, must be the single aim of his
life, the one thought in his mind, the
supreme struggle Of his body.
BY constant concentration upon the
object of his mission, he brought his
mental condition into sort Of hys-
terra. The heat, too, had got into his
brain. AS he stumbled over log he
would sob or curse, and once, when
he tripped and was thrown fiat, he lay
for a second, weeping like child
So he went on until once, upon
climbing tree to ascertain his posi-
ton, he looked down upon the upper
valera of the haghar~ He. W v s.sss1ths
journey would bring him within sig
nal of his fleet.
He struggled feebly, and then lay
back with the realization that, great
as was the eXigency, he was not able
to meet it. A sort Of stupor, partl!
hunger, partly fatigue, stole over him
and he closed his eyes.
1t was night when he opened theo
again, starlit night. At first he coul'
not recall where he was. Then he y
membered, and with a start remeA
bered why he was there.
He sat up and with difficulty got v
his feet. Then he walked. He did nc
know he was walking; he had no col
seriousness OF moving, and no sense c
direction; but his subconscious pow
ers were leading him right. A breat
of pure salt air blew on his face. H
turned toward a line of brush an
parted it, and there, below him, la
the Spanish feet, their lights, reflec
ed in the velvet waters, twinkling an
winking. He heard the chug-chug of
steam launch, and several times tn
murmur of voice rose to his ears.
Farther down, in the moonlight, h
could see the masts and funnel of Ho1
sons Merrimac. Ships bells struc
as he looked, and the sound floate
sweetly to the hilltops.
He turned his face seward an
walked along, partially revivified
his rest. At length a sense Of opel
ness came upon him, the sensation {
a vast void in front Of him. H
paused, and then stole noiselessly O.
ward, until at last, passing throug
a growth of manigut, the wide e
panse Of the Caribbean lay befol
him.
Here he flung himself on the grour
and waited for morning. His liml
were aching with almost unbearab
pain. His eyes burned with fever, h
head throbbed. And yet all the,
things he regarded lightly, for IL
Caribbean was in front of him, and IL
American fleet would receive his war
Ing as soon as God brought the daw