The Ordway new era., 1918-11-29

siveness of his companions. Even
jacket, he noted, endured the strain
better; the boy was cheerful. philo-
sOphical, quite unimpressed by his
surroundings. When the mosquitoes
became unbearable he put on his trou-
sers, with some reluctance and much
ceremony.
Midnight brought moist. warm
breeze and few formless clouds
which served at times to dimly OBJ
scure the moon. Watching the clouds.
O'Reilly hoped that they might prove
to be the heralds of storm. None
came. When the moon had finally
crept down into the treetops old HI
lario stepped upon his cigarette, then
began silently to saddle up. The 9TH
ers followed with alacrity, and fell in
behind him ns he led the way into the
forest.
When they had covered couple of
miles Hilario reined in and the others
crowded close. Ahead. dimly discern
ible against the night sky. there ap-
peared to be thinning of the woods.
After listening for a moment or two,
Hilario dismOunted and slipped away {;
the three riders sat their saddles with
ears strained.
Hllario returned with word that all
was well. and each man dismounted to
muffie the feet of his horse with rags
and strips of gunnysack provided for
the purpose. Then, one by one, they
moved forward to the edge Of the
clearing. The trocha lay before them.
O'Reilly felt pair of reins thrust
into his hand and found Hilario exam
lining a large pair of timers shears.
do you wish me to go with your
he inquired of the guide.
The latter. shook his head. Antonio
will go: he will keep watch while
clear n path. If anything goes wrong.
walt here. Don't ride away until we
have time"
''Never fear. I won't desert you,"
the American reassured him.
The two whlte-clad figures slipped
away, became indistinct, and then dis
appeared. The night was hot, the mos
Quitoes hummed dismally and settled
in clouds upon the waiting pair. mad
dening them with their poison. A half
hour passed, then the two ghostly fig
h1 Go AhatCAiaAiLCA OhSO
'Diosr' grumbied Hilario. "There
are many strings to this Spanish gui-
tar. What row when they discover
that / have played a Cuban damon
upon It," The old man seemed less
surly than before.
"Is the way clear3" O'Reilly In
quired.
"As far as the railroad. yes. We
heard voices there, and came back.
We will have to cut our way forward
after we cross the track. Now, then,
follow me without sound"
Leading his horse by the bit ring.
HIlario moved out Into the clearing.
followed once more by his three COM
panions. In spite Of all precautions
the animals made tremendous racket,
or SO it seemed, and. despite Hilario's
twisting and turnings, 1t was impos-
sible to avoid an occasional loop Of
barbed wire, therefore flesh and cloth
ing suffered grievously. But at length
the party brought up under the railroad
embanlSment and paused. As carefully
as might be the four men assembled the
slope, crossed the rails and descended
into the ditch on the other side. An
other moment and they encountered a
taut strand of barbed wire. The metal
lie snip of Hilario's shears sounded
like pistol shot to OReilly. Into the
maze Of strands they Penetrated, yard
by yard, clipping and carefully laying
back the wire us they went Progress
was slow; they had to feel their way !;
the sharp barbs brought blood and
muttered profanity at every step.
None Of the four ever knew what
gave the alarm. Their first intimation
of discovery came with startling
"Quien vive7" hurled at them from
somewhere at their backs.
An instant and the challenge was
followed by a Mauser shot. Other re-
ports rang out as the sentry enH1ed
his rifle In their direction.
$50! They are shooting batsw IT.
lario grunted.
Antonio swung about and cooked his
Remington, but the other spoke sharp
ly. fool! II you shoot they will see
the fire and riddle us A curse on the
spider that spun this webb"
1t was test Of courage to crouch
among the charred stumps. enmeshed
In that cruel tangle Of wire. while the
night was stabbed by daggers Of fire
and while the trocha awoke to the
wild alarm. From somewhere in the
distance came q shouted command and
the sound of running feet. suddenly
putting an end to further inaction. An
tonic began to hack viciously with his
machete, in an effort to aid Hilario's
labors. The sound OF his sturdy blows
betrayed the party's whereabouts so
clearly that finally the older man could
restrain himself no longer.
"Glve 1t to them. compadres; 1t Is
game that we can playl"
O'Reilly had been gripping his rife