Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1918-06-18

of the Fair Play to identify that
Dlacker 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 Roadway
and came to stop, rolling lazily.
| Major Ramos spoke in a 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 a long nights work ahead; time
passed, and so O'Reilly altered his
| course and cruised along outside the
white water, urging his crew to lustier
| strokes
A mile-two miles-it seemed like
| ten to the taut oarsmen, and then a
| black hiatus Of still water showed in
| phOsphOrescent foam. O'Reilly ex-
| plored 1T briefly; then he turned back
toward the ship. Soon he and his crew
were aboard and the ship was cropping
her way toward the break in the reef.
Meanwhile, her deck became a 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 it upon a sandy beach.
Every man tumbled overheard and
waded ashore with a packing case; he
dropped this in the sand above high
| tide mark, and then ran back for an
other. 1t 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
| u
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. II 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 c0urierS."
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 alone declined the invitation,
vOwing that he was too weak to bulge.
If there was the faintest prospect of
riding to the interior he infinitely pre-
ferred to await the opportunity. he
said. even at the risk of an attack by
Spanish soldiers in the meantime.
1t took O'Reilly but short time to
collect the few articles necessary for
the trip; indeed, his bundle was SO
small that Norine was diSmayed.
Cant 1 take any clothes?" she in
Quired in panic. II can't live with
out change"
1T Is something you'll have to
learn" he told her. can insurrecto
with two shirts is wealthy Some of
them haven't any"
isn't it likely to rain on us?"
Its almost sure to-"
Miss Evans pondered this prospect;
then she laughed. 1T must feel fun
n.y." she said.
There were three other members of
the travelling party, men who knew
something of the country round about:
they were good fighters, doubtless, but
In spite of their shiny new weapons
they resembled soldiers even less than
did their major. All were dressed as
they had been when they left New
York: one even wore a derby hat and
pointed patent-leather shoes. Never
theless Norine Evans thought the little
cavalcade presented quite a martial
appearance as Ii fled away into the
jungle.
The first few miles were trying, for
the coast was swampy and thickly
grown up to underbruSh; but In time
the jungle gave place TO higher timber
and TO open savannas deep in guinea
grass. Soon after noon the travellers
came 10 a farm, the owner of which
was known to one of the guides, and
here a stop was made in order to Sc
cure horses and food.
Johnnie, who was badly tagged from
the previous nights work, found
shady spot and stretched himself out
for nap.