Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1918-08-29

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said Cueto, grinning apprehensively
at Cobo. We've accomplished some
thing, anyhow, eh?" He nodded at
Rosa. "She's all that / told you.
Look at her!"
Colonel Cobo took time to scruti-
/ nize his prisoner
"Yesl She's pretty little spy
/ quite a prize, truly Now, then !"
/ His thick lips spread; ne spoke to
her more gently. 81 want you to tell
me about that brother of yours, eh2
/ Cueto said / would find him here.
Ia! Still frightened, | see. Well, I
| have way with women; / dare say
you'll be glad to tell me everything
| by and by" Then, seeing that his
men risked a scorching in their
search of the hut and were already
quarreling over the scanty plumber
which it afforded, he turned from
Rosa to call them away.
Profting by his inattention, Rosa
wriggled out of his grasp and ran to
Evangelina, who lay face down in
the dirt, her limbs sprawled loosely.
She flung herself upon the PROSTATE
body and cried the black woman's
! name, but she could awaken no re-
! Spouse.
The first pink of dawn was now
| deepening in the east, and as soon as
it had grown light enough to see to
travel Colonel Cobo prepared to re-
turn s2to his horses. The roof and
walls of the bohio had fallen away
to ashes its skeleton of poles and its
few pieces of crude furniture alone
were smoldering when he called his
men together and gave the word
to go.
"Come, my sweetheart" Cobo adj
dressed himself to the girl. Leave
that carrion for the buzzards."
Rosa looked up to find him leering
at her. She brushed the tears from
her eyes, crying:
$50 away! In Gods name haven't
you done harm enough?"
ooh, but you're going with me-"
The girl rose; her face was color
less; she was aquiver with indigna-
tion Leave me!' she stormed.
what have I done to you? Don't"
"Caramba A temper. Aud you
have strength, too, as / discovered.
Must I bind those pretty hands or"
Colonel Cobo reached forth, laugh
ing, and encircled her in his power
| full arms. Rosa fought him as she
| had fought at the first moment of des-
peration, but he lifted her easily and
went striding across the field behind
| his men.
Esteban's party made good time
over the hills and into the San Juan,
for Asensio knew the country we'll.
Mid-afternoon found them in sight of
La Joya. Cuetos cane was thick and
high; it was ready for the knife or
for the torch. The incendiaries dis
mounted In the shelter of wood and
removed the bags which they had
carried on their saddles. Inside these
bags were several snakes, the largest
perhaps eight feet in length. To the
tail of each the negroes fastened a
leather thong, and then to each thong
length of telegraph wire, the end
of which had been bent into a loop
| to hold a bundle of oil-soaked waste.
| These preliminaries accomplished
they bore the reptiles into the cane
fields at widely separated places and
lighted the waste.
Soon tongues Of flame appeared
and the green tops of the cane began
| to shrivel and to wave as the steady
| east wind took effect. Smoke bill
lowed upward and was hurried west
ward before the breeze; in a dozen
| places the fields burst into flame.
From somewhere came faint shout
| ing, then a shot or two, and finally
the ringing of bell.
| Esteban waited only until he saw
that his work of devastation was well
under way, then he led his followers
back toward the hills.
In the shelter Of ravine the party
/ took time to eat supper, their first
meal since leaving home, and it was
after dark when they finished. The
negroes, who were thoroughly tired,
were for spending the night here, but
Esteban, more cautious than they,
would not have it so. Accordingly,
the men remounted their weary
horses, though not without some
grumbling, and set out. At length
they crossed the summit and worked
down toward the Yumuri, but it
seemed as If daylight would never
come.
Esteban suddenly refined in his
horse. Look !" said he. "Yonder is
light"
"What is Evangelna thinking
about?" Asensio muttered.
But see! 1t grows brighter"
There followed moment or two dur
ing which there was no sound except
the breathing of the horses and the
creak of saddle feathers as the riders
- 1T. A.