Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1918-08-30
CHAPTER xIv-contInued

CHAPTER Aforementioned
-
'sWe've been talking about food"
leslie Branch advised his commanding
officer. miss Evans isn't a burning
patriot like the rest Of US, and % Of
course she can't share our ravenous ap-
petite for beef cooked and eaten on the
Aoof."
"So?" Lopez's handsome face cloud
I'd. "You are hnngry, then?"
Norine confessed that she was. TIN
Atarvingi" said she. II haven't had q
decent meal for a week."
"God be praised I know where there
is a goat, not two leagues away" said
che colonel.
"But I don't want a goat" Norine
complained. II want-wel, pickles,
and Jam. and sardines, and-candy,
and-tooth-powder! Real boarding
house Injuries. I'd Just like to rob a
general store"
Lopez furrowed his brows and lost
himself In thought Later. while the
others we're talking, he drew Ramos
aside and for a while they kept their
heads together; then they invited Jud-
son to Join their council.
When O'Rcilly Joined Judson for
supper the latter met him with a broad
grin on his face. "Well," said he, "You
can get ready to saddle up when the
, moon rises"
"What do you meanT"
"The colonel took Miss Evans at hel
, word. We're going to raid San Antonio
de los Banos-two hundred Of us-tC
get her some pickles, and jam, ant
candy, and tooth-powder."
Certain histories Of the Cuban Wal
Nor Independence speak Of "The Bat
tie Of San Antonio de los Banos." i
As. quite a stirring story to read and 1
has but M fault, a fault, by the way
mot uncommon in histories-it is main
ly untrue.
In the first place, the engagement
was In no sense a battle, but merely
traid. The number Of troops engaged
was, perhaps. one-6fth Of the generous
total ascribed by the historians, ant
as a military maneuver 1t served NJ
purpose whatsoever. Nevertheless
since the affair had a direct bearing
upon the fortunes Of several peopl'
: connected with this story, 1t Is, per
haps, worth relating.
Lopez and his troop approached th,
town In the early morning. As the,
deployed for the attack the colonel is
sued private instructions to certail
members OF his command.
"O'Reilly, you and Senior Branch vii
enter n grocery store after another
You will purchase that jam, those sal
dimes, and whatever else you thin
Miss Evans would like. Captain Jud
son, you and Major Ramos will 90 t
the apothecafy shop% understan
there is q very good one-and look 70
tooth-powder and candy and the like.
shall see that the streets are cleared
then I shall endeavor to discover som
pickles; but as God is my Judge,
doubt II there is such a thing this sid
Of Habana."
Leslie Branch, whose temper had nc
| improved with the long night ride, II
CURED, causttcally: do you expect u
TO buy the groceries? Well, I'm brok'
and SO is O'Reilly. If you don't give U
some change, colonel, we'll have I
open a charge account in your name"
"Caramba !" muttered Lopez. II IL
tended to borrow from you gentlemen
We'll, never mind-weTl commander
what we wish in the name of the n
public"
Lopez' attack proved a complet
surprise, both to the citizens and to tt
garrison of the town. The rebel bug
gave the first warning of what WE
afoot, and before the Castilian trooK
who were lettering off duty could r
+ gain their quarters, before the either
could take cover or the shopkeepel
close and bar their heavy wooden shu
tiers, two hundred ragged horseme
were yelling down the streets.
There followed a typical Cuban e.
g~agement-ten shouts to n she
There was a mad charge on the hee
Of the scurrying p%opulace, a scatterir
pop-pop Of rifles, cheers, cries, shriel
of defiance and far-lung insults dired
ed at the fortinas.
O'Reilly, with Branch and Jack
close at his heels, whirled his hor'
into the frst bodega he came to. IT
store was stocked with general me
chandise, but its owner, evidently
Epaniard, did not tarry to set a pri
upon any Of It. As the three horsem'
came Gathering In at the front he we
Aying out at the rear, and, althoul
O'Reilly called reassurfngly after bill
ms only answer was the slamming Of
back door. followed by swiftly dimi
ishing cries Of fright.
/ There was no time to waste. job
pie dismeunted and, walking to d
shelves where some imported cam,
goods were displayed, he began to
leet those delicacies for which he hi
been sent. The devoted Jacket was
Il his side. The little Cuban exercised