Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-07-30
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CHAPTER KIN.
.rhs lion Trail" '.Ths SposIaesr
Hasre q ~ Saasst" &C.

Inc night was m0OnlesS and warm.
An impalpable haze dimmed the star
glow, only the diffused illumination Of
the open sea enabled the passengers
Of the Fair Play to identity that
blacker darknesi on the horizon ahead
Of them as land Major Ramos was on
the bridge with the captain. Two men
were taking soundings In !. blind
search for that steep wall which forms
the side OF the old, Bahama channel.
When the lead finally gave them warn
Ing, the Fair Play lost her Roadway
and came to q stop, rolling laxily.
Major Ramos spoke IN q low tone
from the darkness above. calling for a
volunteer boats crew to recol,noiter
and to look for IN opening through the
reef. Before the words were out Of
his mouth O'ReIlly had o6ereai him.
self.
Ten minutes later he found himself
ut the steering oar Of one Of the ships
lifeb0ats. heading shorewarl. There
was long nights work ahead; time
passed, and 80 O'Reilly altered his
course and crulsed along outside the
white water, urging his crew to lustier
strokes.
A mile-twoi miles-it seemed like
ten to the taut oarsmen. and then o
black hiatus Of still water showed In
phosphorescent foam. O,Reilly ex.
plored it briefly; then he turned back
toward the ship. Soon he and his crew
were aboard and the ship was cropping
her way toward the break In tile reef.
Meanwhile, her deck became Il scene
Of feverish activity; out from her hold
came cases Of ammunition and medical
supplies; the neldpiece on the bow was
hurriedly dismounted; the small boats,
Of which there was an extra number,
were swung out, with the result that
when the Fair Play had Unanswered
as close as she dared everything was
In readiness.
O'R4illy took the flrst load through,
and discharged It upon q sandy, beach.
Every man tumbled overheard and
waded ashore with a packing case; he
dropped this in the sand above high
tide mark. and then ran back for an
other. It was swift, hot work. From
the darkness on each side cflme the
sounds Of other boat crews similarly
engaged.
Daylight was coming when the last
boat cast of and the Fair Play, With
a hoarse, triumphant blast Of her
whistle, faded into the north, her part
in the expedition at an end.
Dawn showed the yoyagers that they
were indeed fortunate, for they were
upon the mainland Of Cuba, and as far
as they could see, both east and west,
the reef was unbroken. Men were
solling about, exhausted, but Major Ra-
mos allowed them no time for rest; he
reused them, and kept them on the 60
until the priceless supplies had been
collected within the shelter Of the
brush. Then he broke open certain
packages and distributed arms among
his followers.
/ The three Americans, who were
munching tasteless breakfast of
pilot bread, were Joined by Major Ra.
mos. II am dispatching a message
to General Gomez headquarters, ask
ing him to send pack train and aa
escort for these supplies. There is
danger here; perhaps you would like
to go on with the couriers."
O'Reilly accepted eagerly; then
thinking Of the girl, he said doubt
fully:
"rm afraid Miss Evans isn't equal
to the trip"
Nonsense! I'm equal to anything"
iNorine declared. And indeed she looked
capable enough as she stood there In
Der short walking suit and stout boots.
Branch alone declined the invitation,
vowing that he was too weak to bulge.
II 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
Spanish soldiers In the meantime.
It took O'Reilly but short time to
collect the few articles necessary for
the trip; indeed, his bundle was so
small that Norine was dismayed.
Cant / take any clothes" she in
quired in panic. II can't live with
out change"
/, 1T is something you'll have to
learn" he told her. An !nsurrectQ