The Monticellonian., 1918-08-09

have time"
 "Never fear. I 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 mos quitoes hummed diSmally and settled in clouds upon the waiting pair, mad dening them with their poison. A half hour passed, then the two ghostly fig ures materialized once more.
 "Dios !" grumbled Hilario There are many strings to this Spanish gui- tar. What row when they discover that I have played Cuban danzon upon it." The old man seemed less surly than before.
 'Is the way clear?" o'Reilly in- quired
 "As far as the railroad, yes. We heard voices there and came back We will have to cut our way forward after We cross the track. Now, then. follow me without sound"
 Leading his horse by the bit ring Hilario moved out into the clearing, followed once more by his three com panions. In spite of all precautions the animals made tremendous racket, or so it seemed, and, despite Hilario's twisting and turnings, il was impos- sible to avoid an occasional loop of barbed wire, therefore flesh and cloth ing suffered grievously. But at length the party brought up under the railroad embankment and paused As carefully as might be the four men ascended the slope, crossed the rails and descended into the ditch on the other side An other moment and they encountered q taut strand of barbed wire. The metal lie < D of Hilario's shears sounded like Il pistol shot to O'Reilly Into the maze of strands they penetrated, yard by yard clipping and carefully laying back the wire as they went. Progress was slow; they had to feel their way the sharp barbs brought blood and muttered profanity at every step.
 None of the fbur ever knew what gave the alarm. Their first intimatiol of discovery came with a startling "Quien yive?" hurled at them from somewhere at their backs.
 An instant and the challenge was followed by Il Mauser shot. Other re- ports rang out as the sentry emptied his rifle in their direction.
 50, They are shooting bats i'' Hi lario grunted
 Antonio swung about and cooked his Remington, but the other spoke sharp ly. "Fool! If you shoot they will see the fire and riddle us. A curse on the spider that spun this web :"
 It was a test of courage to crouch among the charred stumps, enmeshed in that cruel tangle of wire, while the night was stabbed by daggers of fire and while the trocha awoke to the wild alarm. From somewhere in the distance came a shouted command and the sound of running feet, suddenly putting an end to further inaction. An tonic began to hack viciously with his machete, in an effort to aid Hilario's labors. The sound'of his sturdy blows betrayed the party's whereabouts so clearly that finally the older man could restrain himself no longer.
 tTiNe IL lp tittli, COiHpdiuIcSs IL iS game that We can play !"
 OReily had been gripping his rifle tensely. his heart in his throat his pulses pounding. As near panic as he had ever been, he found. oddly enough, that the mere act of throwing his weapon to his shoulder and firing 1t calmed him. The kick of the gun subdued his excitement and cleared his brain. He surprised himself by di- recting Jacket iH cool, authoritative voice, to shoot low. When he .ad emp tied the magazine he led two of the horses forward. Then, grasping his own machete he joined in clearing pathway.
 It seemed an interminable time ere they had extricated themselves from the trap but finally they succeeded and gained the welcome shelter of the woods, pausing inside it's shelter to cut the muffies from their horses feet. By this time the defenders of the tro- cha were pouring volley after yolley at random into the night.
 Now that the skirmish was over, Jacket began to boast of his part in It.
 Hal Perhaps they'll know better than to show themselves the next time