Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1918-09-06

Jacket, he noted, endured the strain
better; the boy was cheerful, philo-
sophical, quite unimpressed by his
surroundings. WheR the mosquitoes
became unbearable he put on his trou-
sers. with some reluctance and much
ceremony.
Midnight brought a moist, warm
breeze and q few formless clouds
which served Mt times to dimly OBJ
, scure the mooE. Watching the clouds,
OReilly hoped that they might prove
to be the heralds of a storm. None
came. When the moon had finally
crept down into the treetops old Hi
larlo stepped upon his cigarette, then
began silently to saddle UP. The 9th
ers followed with alacrity, and fell In
behind him as he led the way into the
forest.
When they had covered a couple of
miles HilariO reined In and the others
crowded close. Ahead, dimly discern
ible against the night sky, there ap-
peared to be a thinning Of the woods.
After listening for a moment or two,
Hilario d%ismOunted and slipped away;
the three riders sat their saddles with
ears strained.
Hilario returned with word that all
was well, and each man dismounted to
mufie the feet Of his horse with rags
and strips Of gunnysack provided for
the purpose. Then, one by one, they
moved forward to the edge Of the
clearing. The trocha lay before them.
O'Reilly felt a pair of reins thrust
into his hand and found HilariO exam
lining a large pair of timers shears.
do you wish me to go with your
he inquired Of the guide.
The latter shook his head. "Antonio
will go; he will keep watch while
clear a path. If anything goes wrong,
wait here. Don't ride away until we
have time"
"Never fear. I won't desert you"
the American treasured him. =
The two Whitehead figures slipped
!. away, became indistinct, and then dis
appeared. The night was hot, the nos
, quitoes hummed dismally and settled
in clouds upon the waiting pair, mad
!, dening them with their poison. 4 half
hour passed, then the two ghostiy fig
ures materialiZed once more.
!, "Diosw grumbled Hilario. "TheI'
are many strings to this Spanish gui
. tar. What a row when they discover
! that I have played a Cuban danzol
i, upon it." The old man seemed les
surly than before.
as the way clearw O'Reilly In
u quircd.
"As far as the railroad, yes. W
= heard voices there, and came bacl
J. We will have to cut our way forwar
C nfter we cross the track. Now, ther
E. follow me without a sound"
T. Leading his horse by the bit RIM
le Hilario moved out into the clearing
followed once more by his three con
III panions. In spite Of all %precautior
v the animals made a tremendous racke
or so It seemed, and, despite Hilario
twisting and ~turnings, 1t was impo
sible to avoid an occasional loop
barbed wire, therefore flesh and clot
ing suffered grievously. But at lengi
n the party brought up under the railrot
embankment and paused. AS careful
os might be the four men assembled Il
slope, crossed the rails and descend'
into the ditch on the other side. A
n other moment and they encountered
Il taut strand of barbed wire. The met;
N lie snip OF Hilario's shears sound
like n pistol shot to OReilly. Into I
I maze of strands they penetrated, va
i by yard, clipping and carefully layi
Il back the wire as they went. Progre
IA was slow they had to feel their wa
~ the sharp barbs brought blood a
\ muttered profanity at every step.
1 None of the four ever knew WI
\ gave the alarm. Their first intimati
of discovery came with a startli
"Ouien vive?" hurled at them fr
\ somewhere at tnelr Odcks.
\ An instant and the challenge v
N followed by a Mauser shot. Other
J ports a out as the sentry empt
his rifle In their direction.
$50! They are shooting bats"
lnrio grunted.
+. Antonio swung about and cooked
Remington, hut the other SPOKE sha
ly. "Foo!! Il sou shoot they sill
the fire and riddle US. A curse on
spider that spun this web"
It was a test Of courage to GRO
among the charred stumps, nun
e. In that cruel tangle of wire, waile
night was stabbed by daggers OF
and while the trocha awoke to
oss- wild alarm. From somewhere In
t he distance came q shouted command
Be the sound of running feet, sudd'
9th putting an end to further inaction.
tonic began to hack viclously with
rkly machete, in an effort to aid Hilai
ong. labors. The sound of his sturdy oil
noon betrayed the party's whereabouts
Iides clearly that finally the older man c.
med restrain himself no longer.
the "Give t to them, co%mpadres;
lark a game that we can play!
NOS O'Rellly had been gripping his
woke tensely, his heart in his throat,
life: pulses pounding. AS near a PAM
orth, he had ever been ne iounu' o
nm. nnD, VI. that tho nero at OF thro'