Evening star., 1918-02-03

80 w
"Yt
came an alarm. over the low promon-
tory that cut off the eastern coast
line a streamer of smoke was seen
There was a scurry for cover The
little band lay low and watched while
than a mile outside the line of froth
The three Americans. who were
munching a tasteless breakfast OF
pilot bread, were joined by Maj
Ramos. He was no longer the immacu
late parsonage he had been. He was
barefooted: his clothes were torn; his
trousers were rolled up to the knee and
whitened by sea water. while the re-
volver at his hip and the bandoiier OF
cartridges over his shoulder lent him
an anonymously ferocious appearance
Ever since Norine had so rudely shat
tered his romantic fancies the major
had treated both her and ORetlly with
a stiff and distant formality. He began
now by saying:
II am dispatching a message to Gen
Gomez's headquarters. asking him to
send a pack train and an escort for
these supplies. There ts danger here;
perhaps you would like to go on with
the couriers."
OReilly accepted eagerly. Then
thinking Of the girl. he said. doubt
fully:
1 u
the trip"
Nonsense! I'm equal to anything .
Norine declared. And. indeed. she look
ed capable enough as she stood there
in her short walking suit and stout
boots.
Branch alone declined the invitation
vowing that he was too weak to bulge
If there was the faintest prospect OF
riding to the interior he infinitely pre-
ferred to await the opportunity. he
said. even at the risk of an attack by
1t took O'Reilly but a. short time to
collect the few articles necessary for
the trip. Indeed. his bundle was So
small that Norine was dismayed.
Cant l take any clothes" she in
quired in panic. Il can't live without
a change"
1T is something you'll have to learn.
he told her AN insurrecto with two
shirts is wealthy. Some of them
haven't any"
Isn't it likely to rain on u.s."
It's almost sure to-
Miss Evans pondered this prospect
Then she laughed. 1T must feel
funny" she said.
There were three other members OF
the travelling party-men who knew
something of the country round about
They were good fighters. doubtless. but
in spite of their shiny new weapons
they resembled soldiers even less than
did their major. All were dressed as
York. One even wore a derby hat and
pointed patent-leather shoes Never
theless. Norine Evans thought the little
cavalcade presented quite a martial ap-
pearance as it filed away into the
jungle.
The first few miles were trying. for
the coast was swampy and thickly
grown up to underbrush. but in time
and to open savannas. deep in guinea
grass. Soon after noon the travellers
came to a farm. the owner Of which
was known to one of the guides, and
here a stop was made in order to Sc
cure horses and food.
1t was charming little rancho. The
palm-thatched house was set in a grove
of NANCY and mango trees, all heavily
burdened with fruit. There was a
Wanda patch, and. wonder of wonders
there were a half-dozen cows doing
in the shade. Spying these animals
Norine promptly demanded glass OF
milk. and o'Reiily translated her re-
quest to the farmer.
The man was oblising until he learn
ed that the American lady purposed
drinking the milk fresh and warm
Then he refused positively. Fresh
milk was fun of fever. he explained
1t was alive with germs. He would
bring her. instead, some which had
been boiled and salted in the usual
Cuban manner. This he did. but after
one bitter mouthful Norine insisted
upon her original request. With a
dubious shake of his head and further
warning the farmer directed his son tC
oblige the pretty lady by milking one
of the cows. He made il plain how.
ever that he disclaimed all rpsponsi-
biIity for the result
Johnnie, who was badly tagged from
the previous nights work found 4
shady spot and stretched himself ou,
for a nap. He inquired idly if there
were any Spaniards in the vicinity and
learned that there were. but that they
seldom came this way
wed never see them here, If il
were not for these sin vergueuzas--may
a bad lightning split them,--who take
the countryman explained. I'D like tt
guide them once. I'd lead them into q
swamp and leave them to sink in the
mud: then I'd go back and cut off theil
heads. Ha! That would be a satisfac-
tion. now. wouldn't it,"
O'Reilly agreed sleepily that it would
doubtless be a very great satisfactior
indeed
I'm as good a patriot as God ever
made the fellow ran on. 'You con see
that. Ell? But what do you think?
have a brother. very blood brother
who would sell himself for a peseta
He passed here the other day at the
head Of a whole Spanish guerrillero'
The speaker barred his teeth and spa
viciously. Christ! How l would like
to cut his throat
The shade was grateful. OReill,
doZed. He was awakened by beinl
roughly shaken. and he found the mar
with the derby hat bending over him
The fellow was excited; his eyes wert