The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1918-08-23
CHAPTER II.
When the World Ran Backward

Esteban went about his plan Of de-
stroying Pancho Cueto with youthful
energy and zest. First he secured, ut
some pains. a half-stick Of dynamite. a
cap and fuse. and q gallon ~ more Of
kerosene; then he assembled his fol-
lowers and led them once again into
the San Juan.
La Joya was still tenanted when
early In the evening its rghtful owner
arrived the house and some Of its out
buildings showed lights. Esteban con-
cealed his men. While the horses
cropped and the negroes rested he ft-
ted fuse and cap to his precious piece
Of dynamite.
Now while Esteban was thus busted,
Pancho Cueto was entertaining an un-
welcome guest. In the late afternoon
he had been surprised By the visit Of a
dozen or more volunteers, and mas
mach 40 his relations with their colo
mel had been none Of the friendliest
since that ill-starred expedition into
the Yumur1. he had felt a chill Of ap-
p%rehensIon % seeing the redoubtable
Cobs himself It their head.
The colonel had explained that he
vas returning from Q trip up the San
Juan. taken for the purpose Of round
Ing up those Inhabitants who had been
dilatory In obeyfng the new orders
from Havana. That smoke to the south
ward va from nrss q his kindling:
hs had burned . good many crops and
houses and psnishsd q good many peo-
pie. and snee ibis VA exactly the sort
e task he liked - VA In ~ unpleas-
ant NEED He lad demanded Of Cueto
lodging Tor hims9lf aaA his troop. an
nouAdAG nat . part g his command
was semewAsrs behind and wsuld r.
join hin later In the night
Cueto had welcomed his visitor In
al humility; hs pat ~ the soldiers in
the bate sf the sugar mill. and then
installed Cobs ia his best room, after
which he ransacke1 the house for food
and drink and tobacco.
When Cobe nAaily teek himself OF
to bed Cssts followed IN better spirits
than h had enjoyed for some time.
For one thing. Il ri agreeable to look
forward to . night 81 uadisturbed re-
posA PaAeAo's approximations had fat
tened upon themsslves. and he had
been living Of late II 1 nightmare Of
terror
But ie seemed % him that he had
barely closed his eyes when he was
A-aknaAA hv . <r>->AAn~~ ~9hrc<fcr
and found himself il the center Of the
floor. undecided whether he had been
hurled from hia bed or whether he had
leaped thither. stu In Z daze, he heard
. shout from the direction Of Cobo's
ROOM then = din Of other voices. fol-
lowed By . rush Of feet: the next In
slant his door was flung back and hs
saw. By the light Of high-held torches.
Esteban varona and Z ragged rabble
Of black men. Cueto knew that he
faced death. He lodged . blow from
Estebanis dubbed ride only to behold
the flash Of Q machete. Crying out
again. he tried to guard himself from
the descending blade. hat tool late; the
sound Of his hoarse terror died In his
thr0at, half born.
"Quick! Soak the bed With oil and
are It" Esteban directed: then he ran
out into the hall 20 investigate that
other shouting. He found the chamber
whence Il issued and tried to smash
the door; but q the second blow he
heard . gunshot from within and the
wood splintersd outward almost into
his faes. simultaneously. from some
whore outside the house. arose the
notes Of I Spanish bugie-call.
Young varona waited to hear no
more. Nor did his men: realizing the
peril into which they had been led.
they bolted from the house n fast a.
they could 60. There was no need for
questions; from the direction Of the
sugar mill came beloved orders and
the sound Of men shouting to their
horse4 Evidently those were troops-
and trained troops. too. for they took
No time to saddle; they were up and
mounted almost before the marauders
had gained the backs Of their own ami
mails.
Instantly there began . blind battle
In desperately cramped quarters
Riders fought stirrup to stirrup with
clubbsd rides and machetes; saddles
we're emptied and the terrified horses
bolted. Some Of them lunged up the
bankA only @ tumble down again.
their threshing limbs and sharp-shod
hoofs working havoc than blows
from old-time battle-hammerA
Of course. sitter thu nrst moment Of
conflict, Esteban had not been able to
axest the leagt control over Ms men;
n met 10 eoul0 MT make hlmself
h2ns Ner eoQl1 - QaEo - 1eontA