The Monticellonian., 1918-08-02

harebrained exploit which delights q Cuban audience. When Leslie re joined his comrades. therefore, he was | greeted with shouts and cheers
 "Caramba He would risk his life for clean shirt. There's fel- low for youl He enjoys the hum of these Spanish bees BraYoi Tell us what the bullets said to you" they cried, crowding around him in an admiring circle.
 O'Reilly, unable to contain himself, burst forth in rage: Lopez ought to e@lss'tzmartial you
 lnfuriated, he rvle over to where i Captain Judson was engaged. in mak ing litter upon which to carry the sick prisoner they had rescued from the jail. "This chap here is all fn," said Judson I'm afraid we aren't go- ing to get him through"
 Following Judson's glance, O'Reilly beheld an emaciated figure lying in the shade of a nearby guava bush. The man was clad in filthy rags, his face was dirty and overgrown with a months beard; pair of restless eyes 1 stared unblinkingly at the brazen sky. His lips were moving; from them is sued steady batter of words, but oth- erwise he showed no sign of life.
 You said he was starving" Johnnie dismounted and lent Judson hand with his task.
 That's what I thought at first, but he's sick. I suppose it's tbat internal dungeon fever. We can swing him be- tween our horses, and-'
 Judson looked up to discover that Johnnie was poised rigidly, his mouth open, his hands halted in midair. The sick mans voice had risen, and OReil- y, with a peculiar expression of amaZement upon his face, was strain ing his ears to hear what he said.
 "Eh? Whats the matter?" Judson inquired.
 For q moment O'Reilly remained frozen in his attitude, then without a word he str0de to the sufferer. He bent forward, staring into the vacant, up- turned face. A cry burst from his throat, cry that was like q sob, and, Kneeling, he gathered the frail, filthy figure into his arms.
 ''Esteban p he cried. "Esteban! This is OReilly. ORail-ye Don't you know me? O'Reilly, your friend, your broth CT! For Gods sake, tell me what they've done to you! Look at me, Es- tebani Look at me! Look at me Oh, Estebani"
 Such eagerness, such thankfulness, such passionate pity were in his friends hoarse voice that Judson drew closer. He noticed that the faintest flame of reason fliekered for an instant in the sick mans hollow eyes; then they began to rove again, and the same rustling whisper recommended. O'Reil- ly held the boy tenderly in his arms; tears rolled down his cheeks as he i'm plored EStehan to hear and to heed him.
 "Try to hear me! Try!' There was fierce agony in the cry. Where is Rosa? Rosa? You're safe now; you can tell me. You're safe with OReilly. came back I came back for you and Rosa. :. Where is she? Is She-dead?"
 Other men were assembling now. The column was ready to move, but Judson signaled to Colonel Lopez and made known the identity of the sick stranger. The colonel came forward swiftly and laid a hand upon O'Reil- ly's shoulder, saying:
 "So! You were right, after all. Es- teban Varona didn't die. God must have sent us to San Antonio to deliver him."
 Hes sick, sick :" O'Reilly said, huskily. Those Spaniards Look what they've done to him." His voice changed. He cried, fiereely: Well, I'm late again. I'm always just little bit too late. He'll die before he can tell me"
 Wait! Take hold of yourself. We'll do all that can be done to save him. Now come, we must be going, or all San Antonio will be upon us."
 O'Reilly reused. Put him in my arms" he ordered. "I'll carry him to camp myself"
 But Lopez shook his head, saying, gently: Its long march. and the litter would be better for him. Thank heaven we have an angel of mercy awaiting us. and she will know how to make him we'll"
 When the troop resumed its retreat Esteban Narona lay suspended upon swinging bed between O'Reilly and Judson's horses. Although they car ried him as carefully as they could throughout that long hot journey, he never ceased his babbling and never awoke to his surroundings.
 CHAPTER xV.
 Norine Takes Charge.
 During the next few days OReilly