The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1918-08-29


and Pinar del Rio were practically
dead. These three were skeletons,
picked bare of flesh by Weyler's beak.
The Jucaro-Moron trocha had been
greatly strengthened since CampOS'
day. 1t followed the line Of the trans
tnSular railway. Dotted at every quar-
ter of a mile along the grade were lit
tie forts connected by telephone and
telegraph lines. Between these fOrti-
mas were sentry stations Of logs or rail-
road ties. Eyes were keen, rifles were
ready, challenges were sharp, and cOun-
tersignS were quickly given on the Ju-
carO-Moron trocha.
In O'Reilly's party there were three
men besides himself-the ever-faithful
Jacket, a wrinkled old Camagueyan
who knew the bride trails of his prov
ince as a fox knows the tracks to its
lair, and a silent guajiro from farther
west, detailed to accompany the eXpe-
ditIon because of his wide acquaintance
with the devastated districts. Both
guides, having crossed the trocha more
than once, affected to scorn its ter
rOrs, and their easy confidence reas-
| sured O'Reilly in spite OF Esteban's
parting admonitiOn.
The American had not dreamed of
taking Jacket along, but when he came
to announce his departure the boy had
| fatty refused to be left behind.
Fifty miles of hard riding brought
| the party to the trOcha; they neared it
on the second morning after leaving
| Cuhitas, and sought a secluded camp
ing spot. Later in the day HiIariO, the
old Camagueyan, slipped away to re-
| cOnnOiter. He returned at twilight,
! but volunteered no report of what he
| had discovered. After an insistent
crOss-examfnation O'Reilly wrung from
him the reluctant admission that ev-
erything seemed favorable for cross
ing some time that night, and that he
had selected a promising point. Be
yond that the old man would say moth
ing.
Supper, a simple meal, was quickly
disposed of. Then followed a long
dispiriting wait, for a gibbous moon
rode high in the sky and the guides
refused to stir so long as it remained
there. 1t was a still night; in the
jungle no air was stirring, and dark.
ness brought forth a torment of mos
quitoes. AS day died the woods awOke
to sounds of bird and insect life
strange, raucous calls pealed forth
some familiar, others strange and IN
| accustomed. Sitting there in the dark
bedeviled by pest of insects, Knocked
at by these mysterious voices, and
looking forward to a hazardous enter
prise, O'Reilly began to curse his vivid
Imagination and to envy the impas
sfveness of his companions Ever
Jacket, he noted, endured the strain
better; the boy was cheerful, philo
surroundings. When the mosQuitoe:
became unbearabIe he put on his trou
sers, with some reluctance and mucl
ceremony.
Midnight brought a moist, warn
breeze and a few formless clouds
which served at times to dimIy OBJ
scure the moon. Watching the clouds
O'Reilly hoped that they might prove
to be the heralds of q storm. Nom
came. When the moon had finall,
crept down into the treetops old Hi
lario stepped upon his cigarette, thel
began silently to saddle up. The 9th
ers followed with alacrity, and fell il
behind him as he led the way into tn
forest
When they had covered a couple o
miles Hiiario refined in and the other
crowded close. Ahead, dimly discern
ible against the night sky, there az