Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1918-07-02
CHAPTER xIv-continued.

A@CSIle DFdHCH duNlSeQ MS COMMANDING
officer. Miss Evans isn't a burning
patriot like the rest of us, and so Of
course she can't share our ravenous APP
petite for beef cooked and eaten on the
hoof."
"So?" Lopez's handsome face cloud
ed. You are hungry, thenT
Norine confessed that she was. 'I'm
starvingp' said she. 81 haven't had
Gecent meal for week"
God be praised know where there
fs a goat not two leagues away" said
the colonel
But / don't want a goat" Norine
complained. Il want-well, pickles,
and jam, and sardines, and-candy,
and-tooth-pOwder Real boarding
house luxuries. I'd just like to rob
general store"
Lopez furrowed his brows and lost
himself in thought. Later, while the
others were talking, he drew Ramos
aside and for while they kept their
heads together; then they invited judi
son to join their council.
When O'Reilly joined Judson for
supper the latter met him with a broad
grin on his face. "WelI," said he, "You
can get ready to saddle up when the
moon rises"
"What do you mean?"
'The colonel took Miss Evans at her
word. We're going to raid San Antonio
de los BanOs-twO hundred of us-to
get her some pickles, and jam, and
candy, and toOth-powder"
Certain histories of the Cuban War
for Independence speak of "rhe Bat
tie of San Antonio de los Banos" 1t
is quite stirring story to read and it
has but one fault, fault, by the way,
not uncommon in histories-it is main
ly untrue.
In the first place, the engagement
was in no sense a battle but merely
raid. The number Of troops engaged
was, perhaps, one-fifth of the generous
total ascribed by the historians, and
as military maneuver it served no
purpose whatsoever. Nevertheless,
since the affair had a direct bearing
upon the fortunes of several people
connected with this story, it is, per-
haps worth relating.
Lopez and his troop approached the
town in the early morning. AS they
deployed for the attack the colonel is
sued private instructions to certain
members of his command.
"O'Reilly, you and Senior Branch will
enter one grocery store after another
You will purchase that jam, those sar-
dimes, and whatever else you think
Miss Evans would like. Captain Jud-
son, you and Major Ramos will go to
the apOthecary shOp-I understand
there is a very good one-and look for
toOth-pOwder and candy and the like
shall see that the streets are cleared,
then 1 shall endeavor to discover some
pickles; but as God is my judge,
doubt if there is such thing this side
of Habana."
Leslie Branch, whose temper had not
improved with the long night ride, in
CURED, causdcally: do you expect us
to buy the groceries? Well, I'm broke
and so is O'Reilly. If you don't give us
some change, colonel, We'll have to
open charge account in your NAME"
"Caramba :" muttered Lopez. 81 in
tended to borrow from you gentlemen.
Well, never mind-well commander
what we wish in the name of the re-
public"
Lopez attack proved a complete
surprise, both to the citizens and to the
garrison of the town. The rebel bugle
gave the first warning of what was
afOOt, and before the Castilian troops
who were lettering off duty could re-
gain their quarters, before the citizens
could take cover or the shopkeepers
close and bar their heavy wooden shut
ters, two hundred ragged horsemen
were yelling down the streets.
There followed a typical Cuban en-
gagement-ten shouts to one shot.
There was mad charge on the heels
of the scurrying populace, a scattering
pOp-pOp o rites, cheers, cries, shrieks
of defiance and far-flung insults direct
ed at the fortinas.
O'Reilly, with Branch and Jacket
close at his heels, whirled his horse
into the first bodega he came to. The
store was stocked with general mer-
chandiSe. but its owner, evidently a
Spaniard, did not tarry to set a price
upon any of 1t. AS the three horsemen
came Gathering in at the front he went
flying out at the rear, and although
O'Reilly called reasSuringly after him.
his only answer was the Slamming of a
back door, followed by swiftly dimin-
fishing cries of fright.
There was no time TO waste. John
ME dismOunted and, walking TO the
shelves where some imported canned
goods were displayed. BIS began TO Sc
lect those delicacies for which he had
been sent. The devoted jacket was at
his side. The little Cuban exercised no
restraint; he seized whatever was most
. handy, meanwhile curSing ferociouSly,
as beftted a bloodthirsty bandit. Boys
are natural robbers, aud ut this oppor-
tunity for loot Jackets soul famed
savagely and he swept tie shelves bare
as he went.
"Hey, Leslie, Get something to carry
this stuff in" 0'Reilly directed over
his shoulder.
Spurred by o'Rsilly's tone and by a
lively rattle of rifle-shots outside, Les
lie disappeared into the living-ouarters
at the back of the store. A moment
later he emerged with huge armful
of bedclothes, evidently snatched at
random. Trailing behind him, like a
bridal veil, was moSquito-net, which
b I'm his haste he had torn from its fas-
Jennings.
q guess this IS poor!" he exulted.
'Beddingi Pillowa. Mosquito-netl I'll
sleep comfortable after this"
Dumping his burden of sheets, blank
cts, and brilliantly oolored cotton quilts
upon the floor. Branch selected two of
the stoutest and began to knot the cor
ners together.