The state herald., 1919-01-03
CHAPTER xv,-cea.lnu.a. i.

- tattered ~ the poorest Of Betan-
courts common soldiers; his shoes
were broken and disrsputable; his cot
ton trousers, snaggsd By barbed wire
and brambles. and soiled BY days In
TIE saddle and nights In the grass,
were In desperate need Of attention.
Hls beard had grown. too, and his skin.
whsee II was expoeed, was burnt 10
Q mahogany brown. Certainly thsre
vas nothing about his appearance 10
bsspeak his nationality.
The general continued: II am direct
u tn this lsttsr to help you In some
HeSprtse. Command me, dr."
~ briefly - possible Johnnie made
mown the object ee his journey. The
o6aesr nodded his comprehension, but
- hs did % . pushed expression
crossed his faea
sYss. rsportsd that Mss varona
had gone into ths d0l took some
pains 10 md ogk Do you have reason
b doubt@.
mot the Least, sif!s
.Tnen-why have you come all this
wayr
came to md her and to fstch her
b her brother"
.But-you don't understand shs u
eetnally insids he lnss. IN Matan-
sas-a 0eisoosf."
1xActly. I intend 10 80 into Matan-
~ and bring hse out"
0ensEal BetAneourt drew back, a.
toolahsd. NY dear mani" hs sx-
claimed. "Ars you madr
OReilly smiled faintly. ~Quits
probably. Al lovers are mildly mad.
! bslisvs."
.Ahi Lovsrsi begin to ~. But
how % you mean to 90 about this
tAis-mpossible undertakingf"
You told me Just now that ] could
pas for Q Cuban. Well, / am going
10 put It to the test. II I once get into
tAs dty I shall manage somehow 10
sst out again. and bring her With ma"
. sUm-mi" The general appraised
0Rslly speculativsly. "No doubt you
- get Init II nqt p dimcult 70 en-
u. / believe. anl especially 10 one
Who speaks the language like . native.
But the return-I fear you viii ind
tAAt smother matter. Natansas u q
place Of pestilencs, hunger. despair.
No one goes there frnm choice any
moee. and no one svse comes out"
20 shoult imagine" The speak
sr's earela6 tone added to General Be-
tance6Ft's astonishment. Bless mel"
- exclaimed. "What an extraordi-
nary young mani II It possible that
you % not comprehend the terrible
condidonsr A sudden thought struck
him and hs inquired quickly: Tell me.
you are not by any chance that hero
thsy call N Demoniof I have heard
that he 10 indeed q demon. NOT Very
WE'LL You say you wish to visit Ma
tanaas. and am instructed to help
you. How can do sor'
0'Reilly hssitatsd an instant For
sos thing. need moasy. III haven't
Q single psseta."
sYou are welcome to the few dol.
iass posssas."
Johnnie sxprssssd his gratitude for
this ready assistance. 'One thing
moro" said he. "wil you give my
boy. Jacket, Q nsw pair Of trousers
and ssnd him back 70 The Orient at the
AFse opportuuatyr
s0f course. Il 70 DONE" Ths gen.
eeal laid . ffisndly hand upon 0'Reil.
w Ghoulder. saying. gravely: TT
would relieve NJ Intensely to send you
hack With him, for ] have fears for
ths succsss Of yoaf venture. Matanxas
b bell; Il has swallowed up thou.
sands Of our good countrymen: thos-
sands have died there. I'm afraid yo0
do not realise what risks you are tax
Ing"
O'Rsilly did not allow this well
meant warning to influence him. nor
did he ustea 70 ths admooitions ef
those other Cubans who tried to argue
with him out Of his purposs. once Il
became known. On the contrary, he
procssdsd With his preparations and
spsut that afternoon In satisfying him.
self that Rosa had indeed left The Pan
Dc Aatansas before Cobo's raid.
Amoog BstaAeoart's troops was Q
man who had bssn living In the hills
At hs time Assnsio and his family
had abandoned their struggle for a.
istsaes. and 10 him 0'Reilly went. This
fellow. Il seemed. had remained with
his family In the mountains some time
aftsf Asensio's departure. Il was
from him that 0'Rsilly heard his arst
authentic report Of The atrocities pr.
petrated By Cobo's volunteers. This
man hnd lost his wife. his little con,
and all the scanty belongings hs pos.
scssed. With shaking hands up.
stretched to heaven. the fellow cufSed
the nuthor Of bis misfortunes.
Il live for one tAinsi" hs cried
shriily-'to meet that monster. and to
butcher him, % he butchers women
and chiidrcn."
o'Reilly purposely ieft his most On.
pleasant task to tho last. whsa his
arrangements had been completed and