Judsonia weekly advance., 1918-08-07

6AO"t OAAiJ ths| luSC0 OL the open sea enabled the passengers of the Fair Play to identify that blacker darkness on the horizon ahead of them as land. Major Ramos was on the bridge with the captain. Two men were taking soundings in a blind search for that steep wall which forms the side of the old Bahama channel. When the lead finally gave them warn ing, the Fair Play lost her headway and came to stop, rolling lazily.
 Major Ramos spoke in low tone from the darkness above, calling for a volunteer boats crew to reconnoiter and to look for an opening through the reef. Before the words were out of his mouth O'Reilly had offered him. self.
 Ten minutes later he found himself at the steering oar of one of the ships lifeboats, heading shoreward. There was long nights work ahead; time passed, and so O'Reilly altered his course and cruised along outside the white water, urging his crew to hustler strokes.
 A mile-two miNs-it seemed like ten to the taut oarsmen, and then black hiatus of still water showed in phOsphOrescent foam. O'Reilly ex- plored it briefly; then he turned back toward the ship. Soon he and his crew were aboard and the ship was groping her way toward the break in the reef. Meanwhile, her deck became scene of feverish activity; out from her hold came cases of ammunition and medical supplies; the fieldpiece on the bow was hurriedly dismounted; the small boats. of which there was an extra number, were swung out, with the result that when the Fair Play had unanswered as close as she dared everything was in readiness.
 O'Reilly took the first load through, and discharged 1t upon sandy beach. Every man tumbled overheard and waded ashore with packing case; he dropped this in the sand above high tide mark, and then ran back for an other. It was swift, hot work. From the darkness on each side came the sounds of other boat crews similarly engaged.
 Daylight was coming when the last boat cast off and the Fair Play, with hoarse, triumphant blast of her whistle. faded into the north, her part in the expedition at an end.
 Dawn showed the voyagers that they were indeed fortunate, for they were upon the mainland of Cuba, and as far as they could see, both east and west, the reef was unbroken. Men were lolling about, exhausted, but Major Ra- mos allowed them no time for rest; he reused them, and kept them on the go until the priceless supplies had been collected within the shelter of the brush. Then he broke open certain packages and distributed arms among his followers.
 The three Americans, who were munching a tasteless breakfast of pilot bread, were joined by Major Ra- mos. "I am dispatching a message to General Gomez headquarters, ask ing him to send pack train and an escort for these supplies. There Is danger here; perhaps you would like to go on with the couriers."
 O'Reilly accepted eagerly; then thinking of the girl, he said doubt fully:
 "I'm afraid Miss Evans isn't equal to the trip"
 Nonsense! I'm equal to anything" Norine declared. And indeed she looked capable enough as she stood there in her short walking suit and stout boots.
 Branch clone declined the invitation, vowing that he was too weak to budge. If there was the faintest prospect of