Evening star., 1918-02-10
FROM LAST SUNDAY.
ePEAKINo OF FOOD.
XVII.

CONTINUED FROM LAST SUNDAY.
SPEAKING OF FOOD.
XVII.
Il was part Of the strategy practiced
By me Cuban leaders to divide their
forces into separate columns for the
purpose Of raiding the smaller Spanish
garrisons and harassing the troops sent
to their relief. reassembling these bands
only when and where some telling blow
was to be struck. Not only had the
uaglita1 value Of this practice been amply
demonstrated, but 1t had been proved a
necessity. owing to the fact that the in
surrsctcs were compelled to live or the
country.
When o'ReiIly and Branch enlisted in
s4ened to the command Of Col Miguel
Lopez. and 1t was under his leadership
that they made their first acquaintance
with the peculiar methods of Cuban
Active service for the two Americans
began at once: scarcely a week had
opportunity OF tasting the salt Of life"
in its full flavor. for the young Matan-
xas colonel was one of the few Cuban
commanders who really enjoyed a fight.
of Branch's fitness to take the field at
all-he had suffered a severe hemorrhage
shortly after his arrival at Cubitas-and
4 was only after hystsrical al demonstsa- mon "a
would not be left behind. AT first
the Cubans regarded him with mingled
contempt and pity. for certainly no less
service with them. Nevertheless. he
would doubtless have made many
friends among them had he not begun
his service by refusing to abide by
nf nd hv O.
all instruction in the use of arms, de-
claring this ~ be. in his case. a silly
waste of effort Such an attitude very
naturally. aroused resentment among
the other men: it was not long before
they began to grumble at the liberty
allowed this headstrong weakling.
But upon the occasion of the very first
fight this i'll will disappeared as IL by
magic. for. although Branch deliber-
ately disobeyed orders, he neverthe-
less displayed such amazing audacity
in the face OF the enemy. such the
atrical contempt for bullets, as to stu
up to his reputation; he continued to
be insanely daring, varying his exploits
to correspond with his moods, with the
result that he attained a popularity
which was unique, nay, sensational.
His conduct in the face of this gen.
era1 admiration was no less unexpected
than his behavior under fire. Branch
grufdy refused to accept any tribute
whatever: he snarled. he fairly barked
at those of his comrades who tried to
express their appreciation Of his con-
duct-a demeanor which OF course
among the Cubans. He was uniformly
surly and sour; he sHeered. he scofYed,
he found fault. He had the tongue of
q common scold, and he used it with
malevolent abandon.
1t was fortunate indeed that he knew
no Spanish and that most of his COM
panions were equally ignorant of Eng
hsh. for mere admiration. even of the
fervent Latin quality, would scarcely
have been proof against his spleen. AS
1t was his camp mates endured his
vituperations blandly. putting him
down as pleasing eccentric in whom
there blazed a curious but inspiring
spirit of patriotism.
OfReilly alone understood the reason
Tor the fellows morbid irritability, his
suicidal recklessness; but when he
privately demonstrated he was gruf1y
told to mind his own business. Branch
datly refused to modify his conduct;
he seemed really bent upon cheating
the disease that made his life misery
But. as usual. fate was perverse:
she refused to humor the sick mans
hope. When, after blindly inviting
death. Leslie had emerged from sew
prise-and perhaps a natural relief at
finding himself whole-became tinged
with certain apprehension lest he
survive those deliberately courted dan
s.
privations OF camp life. Cuban equip
ment was of the scantiest. Cuban
dews are heavy; Cuban nights are cool
these were perils indeed for a weak
Rain filed him with more terror than
hxed bayonets; a chill caused him
keener CONSERVATION than did a thou
sand Spaniards; he began to have ag-
some leaky hovel of a hospital It
was typical of his peculiar irritability
that he held O'Reiily in some way re-
sponsible. and vented upon him his
The fellows tongue grew ever
sharper: his society became intoler-
able. his gloom oppressive and ire
sistibly contagious. When, after sew
umn went into camp for a short rest,
O'Reilly decided that he would try to
throw of the burden Of Leslie's over
whelming detection. and. if possible,
Of Capt. Judson.
On the day after their arrival o'Reilly
and the big artilleryman took advan-
ana wash their clothes; then, while
they lay in their hammocks, enjoying
the luxury of a tattered oilcloth shelter
and waiting for the sun to dry their
garments. o'Reilly spoke what was in
TN getting about fed up on Les
lie." he declared. Hes the world
champion crepe hanger, and he's paint
ed the whole world such a deep, de-
spondent blue that I'm completely
my hands"
.adson grunted- What aiIs him?'
well. he wears wreath of immor-
telles day and night. Haven't you
guessed why he runs such desperate
chances? He's sick-thinks he's going
to die anyhow, and wants to finish the
job quick I'm the one who has to
endure him..
"Suicide?"
1T amounts to that"
The devil" Judson pondered for q
moment Cant you cheer him up?"
TT" O'Reilly lifted his hands in a
gesture of helplessness. when I try
he gets sore at my heartless indiffer-
ence: when ] sympathize he declares
I'm nudsing him closer to his grave
says I'm kicking the crutches out from
under him. He's just plain vitriol
I'D rather live with an adder"
ORefllys youthful asistente, who at
the moment was painstakingly manu-
featuring a huge. black cigar for him.
self out of some purloined tobacco,
pricked up his ears at the mention of
Eranch's name and now edged closer,
exc1aiming:
'Caramba. There's a hero for you.
Meester Branch is the bravest man I
ever seen, Our people call him El
oReilly jerked his head toward the
CUBAN You see? He's made the hit
OF his life, and yet he resents it. The
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