Evening star., 1918-02-24


their fidelity he had no guarantee. Now
that his mind had become engaged with
thoughts of treachery, 4 determined
effort was necessary to keep himself
in hand and OReilly fell back finally
upon his elemental trust in the Cuban
character-scant consolation under the
circumstances.
Midnight brought a moist, warm
breeze and a few formless clouds which
served at times to dimly obscure the
moon. Watching the clouds. O'lteilly
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 Hilario stepped upon
his cigarette. then began silently to
saddle up. The others followed with
alacrity, and fell in behind him as he
longer ventured to speak aloud; nothing
but the occasional sound of hoof
striking upon root or stone, the creak
of leather, the rustic of branches
against passing bodies gave evidence
that mounted men were en- route.
When they had covered couple
of miles Hilario refined in and
the others crowded close. Ahead,
dmly discernible against the night
sky, there appeared to be thinning of
the woods. After listening for mo-
ment or two. HiIario dismounted and
slipped away; the three riders sat
their saddles with ears strained. Once
more the myriad voices of the night
crickets. the strident call of tree
toads. the whining undertone of the
mosquitoes.
Hilario returned with word that all
was well, and each man dismounted
to muffie the feet of his horse with
rags and strips of gunny sack provided
for the purpose Then, one by one.
they moved forward to the edge of
the clearing. The trocha lay before
them
After the cavernous obscurity of the
jungle the night seemed suddenly to
tighten and OReilly found himself
stumps and tree trunks perhaps a
quarter of mile wide, extending
right and left as far as he could see.
Against the luminous western horizon
wall. Midway of the clearing there
was a railroad grade with telephone
pole or two 1imned against the sky.
The clearing was silent and to all
no sign of life appeared anywhere.
And yet. as the American studied the
place. he had queer, uncomfortable
sensation that it was thickly peopled
from the gloom Blurred forms took
shape. phantom figures moved along
the emhankment, stumps stirred.
O'Reilly felt a pair of reins thrust
into his hand. and found Hilario ex
amining a large pair of timers
DO you wish me to go with you?"
he inquired of the guide.
The latter shook his head. Antonio
will go:l he will keep watch while /
clear a path If you hear or see any
thing
Jacket interrupted with a sibilant:
'Psst. Look, Yonder,"
A lanternlike illumination had leaped
out OF the blackness and now approached
swiftly down the railroad grade.
O'Reilly laid a heavy hand upon the
old Camagueyan and inquired in sharp
suspicion, What does that mean-an
alarm"
There was breathless moment, dur
ing which the four men followed the
erratic course of the spark. Then
Antonio chuckled. "Alabaos. A light
eucullo when you see one?" He eau
tiously tested the ejector of his car
bine and frightened the cord that served
as his belt.
o'Reilly drew deep breath of re-
lief. He had never become wholly ac-
customed to the giant light beetles of
the tropics, although he had carried
one often on sentry duty to see the
face of his watch, and not infrequently
had seen Cuban women wearing them
in their hair as ornaments.
love" he muttered. 'It gave me a
fright"
Hilario resumed his instructions: "If
anything goes wrong. wait here
Don't ride away until we have
time
Never fear. won't desert YOU"
the American reassured him.
The two white-clad figures slipped
away, became indistinct, and then dis
appeared. The, night was hot, the
mosquitoes hummed dismalIy and set
tied in clouds upon the waiting pair,
maddening them with their poison.
After time horse snorted and
Jacket cursed nervously.
I'd like to see where we are" the
boy muttered.
DO you know these menr O'Reilly
asked him.
NO. Cod deliver me from such un-
pleasant fellows
II hope they're honest"
Humph. / trust nobody" There
was pause Never mind" Jacket as
sured his companion. Il will make
short work of them if they prove to be
traitors"
A half hour passed, then the tvn
shostiy figures materialized once moro
"Dios!' grumbled Hilarfo There
are many strings to this Spanish
guitar. What a row when they dis
cover that I have played Cuban
DAMON upon it" The old man seemed
less surly than before, and O'Reilly felt
ashamed of his recent suspicious.
rs the way clear?" he inquired.