The Monticellonian., 1918-08-02
CHAPTER xIV-continued.


 koof"
 "So?" Lopez's handsome face cloud ed. "You are hungry, then?'
 Norine confessed that she was. I'm starving" said she. "I haven't had decent meal for a week."
 God be praised I know where there is goat. not two leagues away!" said the colonel
 But I don't want goat" Norine complained 'I want-well, pickles. and jam, and sardines. and-candy, and-tooth-powderl Real boarding house luxurles. I'd just like to rob a general store."
 Lopez furrowed his brows and lost himself in thought. Later. while the others were talking, he drew Ramos aside and for a while they kept their heads together; then they invited Jud- son to join their council.
 When o'Rei1ly joined Judson for supper the latter met him with a broad grin on his face. Well" said he, "You can get ready to saddle up when the moon rises"
 "What do you mean?"
 "The colonel took Miss Evans at her word. We're going to raid San Antonio de los Banos-two hundred of us-to get her some pickles, and jam, and candy, and tooth=powder."
 Certain histories of the Cuban War for Independence speak of "The Bat tie. of San Antonio de los Banos." It is quite a stirring story to read and 1t has but one fault. fault, by the way, not uncommon in histories-it is main ly untrue.
 In the first place. the engagement was in no sense battle, but merely raid. The number of troops engaged was, perhaps, one-fifth of the generous total ascribed by the historians. and as military maneuver 1t served no purpose whatsoever. Nevertheless, since the affair had Il direct bearing upon the fortunes of several people connected with this story. it is, per haps, worth relating.
 Lopez and his troop approached the town in the early morning. AS they deployed for the attack the colonel is- sued private instructions to certain members of his command.
 "O'Reilly. you and Senor Branch will enter one grocery store after another. You will purchase that jam, those sar- dimes, and whatever else you think Miss Evans would like. Captain Jud- son, you and Major Ramos will go to the apothecary shop-I understand there is very good one-and look for tooth-powder and candy and the like. I shall see that the streets are cleared. then I shall endeavor to discover some pickles; but as God is my judge, I doubt If there is such a thing this side of Habana."
 Leslie Branch, whose temper had not improved with the long night ride, in- quired, caustically: Do you expect us to buy the groceries? We'll. I'm broke. and so is O'Reilly. If you don't give us some change, colonel. we'll have to open charge account in your name."
 "Caramba!" muttered Lopez. T in- tended to borrow from you gentlemen. We'll never mind-we'll commander what we wish in the name of the re- public"
 Lopez attack proved complete surprise, both to the citizens anG to the garrison of the town. The rebel bugle gave the first warning of what was afoot and before the Castilian troops who were loitering off duty could re- gain their quarters, before the citizens could take cover or the shopkeepers close and bar their heavy wooden shut ters, two hundred ragged horsemen were yelling down the streets.
 There followed typical Cuban en- gagement-ten shouts to one shot. There was a mad charge on the heels of the scurrying populace, a scattering pop-pop of rifles. cheers. cries. shrieks of defiance and far-1ung insults direct ed at the fortinas
 O'Reilly, with Branch and Jacket close at his heels, whirled his horse into the first bodega he came to. The store was stocked with general mer- chandise, but its owner, evidently a Spaniard, did not tarry to set a price upon any of it. As the three horsemen came clattering in at the front he went flying out at the rear, and, although O'Reilly called reassuringly after him. his only answer was the slamming of a back door, followed by swiftly dimin- ishing cries of fright.
 There was no time to waste. John. nie dismounted and, walking to the shelves where some imported canned goods were displayed. he began to se- lect those delicacies for which he had been sent. The devoted Jacket was at his side. The little Cuban exercised no restraint; he seized whatever was most handy, meanwhile cursing ferociously, as befitted a bloodthirsty bandit. Boys are natural robbers. and at this oppor- tunity for loot Jackets soul famed savagely and he swept the shelves bare as he went.
 Hey. Leslie! Get something to carry this stuff in," O'Reilly directed over his shoulder.
 Spurred by O'Reilly's tone and by a lively rattle of ri1e-shots outside, Les lie disappeared into the living-quarters at the back of the store. moment later he emerged with huge armful of bedclothes, evidently snatched al random. Trailing behind him, like 8 bridal veil. was q mosquito-net which in his heste he had torn from its fas tenings.
 q guess this is poor!" he exulted