The Washington herald., 1915-12-05
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anu ItUCcu anu Heiu uy the udtcu
Spaniards. He felt his heart throb as
he looked once more down upon thar
collection of houses. He could see the
stone barricades. and the gap where the
Spanish sentry stood. and there in front
were the gardens belonging to the
pacificos. He must pass that sentry to
get into the town. and then he would
be safe. If recognized. he would be
taken prisoner and sent to some penal
colony in chains. but he might pass the
sentry as a pacifico. Surely he was
ragged and dirty enough.
And then he thought of his returning
home in disgrace. Estrella would be
sure to learn why he had come back and
recalled how only a few weeks before
he had whispered to her his intention Of
joining the patriots in their fight for lib
erty. And he went and fetched his
horse and as he frightened the cinch she
came to him. and taking something from
her bosom. kissed it. and pressed 1t into
his palm. He scarcely dared look at II.
but as soon as he got outside OF the
Spanish lines he had sewed the emblem
upon his hat and now he remembered It
was still there. And taking off his
weather-stained jipi jape. he cut from
it miniature Cuban flag. II would not
do to let the Spaniards see it. though.
"Disgra ced,' he mUtteTed - dis
graccd!"
| Reaching for stick he fastened the
flag TO it. and stuck 1t into the ground
like a flagstaff. Then he ran his
machete into the ground by the side of
1t. and unbuckling his belt. threw It
down.
There said he; Il must part with
these relics / love. | can take nothing
back with me-" And pushing the bushes
| aside he took one more look at the town.
1.-The valley was deserted. and so down
the hill he cautiously proceeded into the
{ field planted by the pacificos 1t was al
ready growing late. and he would max"
the sentry believe that he was a pacifiCn
going home from his daily toll.
Looking about for something to aid
him in carrying out the deception his ey--
fell upon two green pumpkins. One Of
these he placed on his head and with
: the other under his arm he walked boI'l-
, IL out into the road There was tho
: stone barriCadn in front Of him and t.rs
drowsv sentinel leaning against it. EIt
= Santiaco's footsteps awoke him from
his rcverie. and he called out. tn" 60
Ian trembled at the sound Of tn" hated
voice. hut II was not a challenge. only I
: simple call.
, ola. paisano. what hast thou got
there
Santiago was So frightened that he
> scarcely know what he had so he an
r swered. "Watcrmelons.
''Oh, canst thou give a fellow one"
/ queried the soldier.
Truly. friend don't believe they
; are very good" said Santiago. ap-
preaching. and allowing the soldier to
: take the pumpkin from under his
> arm. And the other pumpkin he let
l fall. but caught it just in time to save
it's breaking upon the ground. He
, looked up to see the soldier in the act
of releasing his bayonet to try the
melon. and he felt himself quaking
: at his own deception and the result
The soldier had the pumpkin In one
hand. the bayonet in the other. and
his gun between the two. To better
manipulate he let his gun fall against
the barricade and looked down at
the pumpkin which Santiago had let
fall
"Forsooth. I think you have given
ME the poorest melon and kept the
better one for yourself That won't
do. paisano: just let me try that one"
> and. dropping on one knee, he let go
the pumpkin which he held ana
plunged his daggerlike bayonet into
the other. with the remark. suppose
this was an insurgent"'
Quickly the ex-rebel felt his anger
rise He had been sent out Of the
rebel camp disgraced. and now he
was being taunted by the kneelins
soldier And again the picture of Es-
trelIa. and what she would say. fash
ed before his mind. and shifting like
the settings in a tableau. he remem-
; bered the words of the colonel: You
came into this camp without a gum"
So quickly did the thoughts pass
through his mind that the soldier had
scarcely drawn TIE blade to cut again
Z when the Cuban, with bound. seized
the gun. ana swinging II Win III Ills
might. brought it down upon the SOL
dier's head. The soldier fell back pros
trate, with never a sound
1t was the work Of a moment to
loosen the cartridge belt and shoulder
straps and fling them over his own
shoulders; and the next moment Santi-
ago was speeding on his way back
through the pumpkin field to his point
of observation on the hills. He had not
only got a gun," but cartridges also
When he reached the hills the sun was
already casting its mellow light through
the valley. and he could scarcely dis
tinguish the ant-like forms moving
about the gap which marked the en-
trance to the town.
They will not come after me tonight.
he said; and strapping on his machete.
he placed the emblem of his country's
; freedom in his belt. and grasping the
captured gun tightly, set out to find his
horse.
And Santiago found his horse. went
back to his companions. and exhibited
his prize in triumph. and they all re-
joiced and said he had done well. and
without hesitation the colonel gave him
lieutenancy. And that is how Santiago
got his gun.