The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1919-12-18

cry men both were muy sabrosa, as
Jacket put il. This was not the boys
FIRST experience with such diet; hav-
ing campaigned before in the west,
he was accustomed TO the taste of
jutia. and he told O'Reilly how his
troop had once lived so long upon
these rats that II became impossible
to surprise n Spanish enemy. except
by approaching up the wind. as a
hunter stalks his game. Jacket grave
ly assured his friend that the
Spaniards could smell him and his
| brother patriots from a distance OF
, five kilometers-a statement. by the
way, which the American by this time
was ready TO believe.
Fortunately there was no shortage
Of food for the horses, and SO. despite
the necessity of numerous detours. the
party made good time. They crossed
into Matanzas. pushed on over rolling
hills. through sweeping savannas. past
empty clearings and deserted villages.
to their journeys end. A fortunate
encounter with a rebel partida from
, Gen. Betancourt's army enabled them
to reach headquarters without loss OF
time. and one afternoon. worn, ragged
and hungry. they dismounted in front
of that gallant officers hut.
| Gen. Betancourt read the letter
! which O'Reilly handed him. then look
1 ed up with smile.
so, You are one of Gomez'S
Americans, Ell? Well. l would never
have known il. to look at you: the
sun and the wind have made you into
/ a very good Cuban. And your
clothes One might almost mistake
you for a Cuban cabinet officer"
O'Reilly Joined in the laughter
evoked by this remark. He was quite
as tattered as the poorest of Betan-
courts common soldiers: his shoes
were broken and disreputable; his
cotton trousers. snagged by barbed
wire and brambles. and soiled by days
in the saddle and nights in the grass.
were in. desperate need of attention
His beard had Grown. too, and his
skin. where it was exposed, was burnt
to mahogany brown. Certainly
there was nothing about his appear
ance to bespeak his nationality.
The general continued: II am direct
ed in this letter to help you in some
enterprise. Command me. SIR
AS briefly as possible Johnnie made
known the object of his journey. The
officer nodded his comprehension. hut
as he did so a puzzled expression
crossed his face.
Yes. l reported that Miss varona
had gone into the city-I took some
pains to find out. Do you have reason
to doubt"
Not the least. sir"
''Then-why have you come all this
way?"
II came to find her and to fetch
her to her brother"
"But-you don't understand. She is
! actually inside the lines. in MatanZas
"a prisoner
Exactly. intend to go into Matan-
zas and bring her out"
Gen. Betancourt drew back, aston
| ished. MY dear man." he exclaimed.
. Are you mad?'
O'Reilly smiled family. quite prob
ably. All lovers are mildly mad.
believe"
"Ah. Lovers. I\begin to see. But
how do you mean to go about this
this-impossible undertaking."
You told me just now that I could
pass for a Cuban. Well. ] am going
to put it to the test. If I once get
I, into the city | shall manage somehow
I to get out again. and bring her with
me-"
"Um-m," The general appraised
O'Reilly speculatively. No doubt you
! can get init is not so difficult to
enter, / believe. and especially to one
! who speaks the language like a native.
But the return-I fear you will find
that another matter. Matanzas is a
| place of pestilence. hunger. despair.
| No one goes there from choice any
more, and no one ever comes out"
ITo he Cnrtinued-l