The Monticellonian., 1918-06-28
RainbOW's End
| A NOVEL by REX BEACH
Author
Copyright Thy Hnpe tS

Esteban turned sick, white face
over his shoulder and jerked out his
orders; then he kicked his tired
mount into swifter galIop. 1t was
he who first broke out into the clear
ing. One glance, and the story was
told.
The hut was but erumbling skel-
eton of eharred poles. Strung out
across the little field of malangas,
yuccas and sweet potatoes were sew
eral hilarious volunteers, their arms
filled with loot from the cabin. Be
hind them strobe an officer bearing
Rosa struggling against his breast.
Esteban drove his horse headlong
through the soft red earth of the
garden. His sudden appearance
seemed briefly to paralyze the ma
RAIDERS. 1t was moment before
they could drop their spells, unsling
their rifles and begin to fire at him,
and by that time he had covered half
the distance TO his sister. A bullet
brought his horse down and the boy
went flying over its neck. Nothing
but the loose loan saved him from
injury. As he rose TO his feet, breath
less and covered with the red dirt,
there came Il swift thudding of hoofS
and AsensiO swept past him like a
rocket. Esteban caught one glimpse
of the negro's face, a fleeing vision
of white teeth barred to the gums, of
Il; % Aa+
ed features; then Asensio was fairly
upon Colonel Cobo. The colonel, who
had dropped his burden. now tried to
dodge Asensio slashed once at him
with his long. murderous machete,
but the next instant he was engaged
with trooper who had fired almost
in his face.
Cobo's men, led by the terrified Pan
eho Gueto. turned and fled for cover,
believing themselves in danger of an
initiation Nor was the colonel him.
self in any condition to rally them,
for Asensio's blade had cloven one
full dark cheek to the bone, and the
shock and pain had unneryed him.
The field was small, the jungle was
close ut hand. a moment and the in
terlopers had vanished into it, all but
enc. who lay kicking among the broad
malanga leaves, and over whom Assem-
sio kept squirting his terrified horse,
hacking downward with insane fury.
This WIS the first handzfo-hand en-
counter Estebans men had had, and
their swift victory rendered them fero-
eious. Elnging their guns aside. they
went crashing into the brush on the
trail of their enemies.
Rosa found herself in her brothers
arms sobbing out the story of the out
rage and quiyering at every sound of
the chase. He was caressing her, and
telling her to have no further fears
both of them were fairly hySterical.
Evangeliha, thanks to her thick skull,
was not dead. Ia the course of time
under Rosas and ESteban's miniStra-
tions she regained her senses, and
found her lying sick and dazed, but
otherwise quite whole.
Then. there beside the ruins of the
hut. WAS ii strange scene of rejoicing.
Asensio recovered now from his burst
of savagery, was fearful. eompassion-
ate; his comrades laughed and chat
tered and Dragged about their pradig-
fous deeds of valor. over and over
thpy recounted their versions of the
encounter. each more fancifu than the
other. until il seemed that they must
have left the forest filled with eorpseS.
Esteban was grave. He had heard
of Colonel Gobo and remembering
that denim-clad figure out yonder in
the trampled garden, he knew that Sc
rjous consequences would follow. The
volunteers were reyenseful their
colonel WAS not the sort of man to
forgive a deep humiliation. Doubt
less he would put n price upon the
heads of all of them, and certainly he
would never allow them another en-
counter HpoH anywhere like even
terms. Then toe the narroWneSs OF
lsoSa's escape caused the boys heart
10 dissolve with terror.
After Il conference with Asensio he
decided ihut they must prepare for
flight. and late thai afternoon they all
set aut ta seek d safer refuge. EyaHge-
Iiha i'm tears att leaving her precious
aurden plot Their led horse, one of
tAose Lorenzo had captured. carried
ptfuay light bmden-ouly some
tools, some pans and kettles, and roll
of eharted hedcIothes