The Raymer enterprise., 1919-03-27
CHAPTER xD.
When the World Ran Backward.

When the World Ran Backward.
Esteban went about his plan Of de
stroying Pancho Cueto with youthful
energy and zest. First he secured, at
some pains, a half-stick Of dynamite. q
cap and fuse. and gallon VI more Of
kerosene< then he assembled his fol-
lowers and led them once again into
the San Juan
La Joya was still tenanted when
early In the evening its rightful owner
arrived; the house and some Of Its out
buildings showed lights. Esteban con-
cealed his men. While the horses
cropped and the negroes rested be fit-
ted fuse and cap to his precious piece
of dynamite.
Now while Esteban was thus busied,
Pancho Cueto was entertaining an un-
welcome guest. In the late afternoon
he had been surprised BY the visit Of .
dozen or more volunteers, and inas-
much a. his relations with their colo
mel had been none Of the friendliest
since that ill-starred expedition into
the Yumun. he had felt chill Of ap-
prehension on seeing the redoubtable
Cobo himself at their head.
The colonel had explained that he
was returning from a trip up the San
Juan, taken for the purpose Of round
ing up those Inhabitants who had been
dilatory In obeying the new orders
from Havana. That smoke to the south
ward was from fires Of his kindlipg
he had burned a good many crops and
houses and punished good many peo-
pie, and since this was exactly the sort
Of task he liked be was In no unpleas-
ant mood. He had demanded Of Cueto
lodging for himself and his troop, an
nouncing that Q part Of his command
was somewhere behind and would ~
Join him later In the night.
Cueto had welcomed his visitor In
all humility; he put up the soldiers In
the bate Of the sugar mill. and then
installed Cobo In his best room, after
which he ransacked the house for food
and drink and tobacco.
When Cobo finally took himself ofI
to bed Cueto followed In better spirits
than he had enjoyed for some ume,
For one thing. II was agreeable to look
forward to a night Of undisturbed re-
pose. Pancho's apprehensions had fat.
tened upon themselves, and he had
been living Of late in q nightmare Of
terror.
But II seemed to him that he had
barely closed his eyes when he wal
awakened by q tremendous vibration
and found himself In the center Of the
floor. undecided whether he had beer
hurled from his bed or whether he had
leaped thither. Still In a daze, he heard
q shout from the direction Of Cobo'l
room, then 4 din Of other voices, fol.
lowed BY q rush Of feet; the next In
slant his door was flung back and he
saw, BY the light Of high-held torches
Esteban varona and a ragged rabble
Of black men. Cueto knew that be
faced death. he lodged a blow from
Esteban's dubbed rife only to behold
the fash Of q machete. Crying out
again, he tried to guard himself from
the descending blade. but too late; the
sound of his hoarse terror died In his
throat. half born.
Quick! Soak the bed with oil and
fire It." Esteban directed; then he ran
out into the hall TO investigate that
other shouting. He found the chamber
whence II issued and tried to smash
the door; but at the second blow he
heard q gunshot from within and the
wood splintered outward almost into
his face. simultaneously. from some
where outside the house. arose the
notes Of Spanish bugle-call.
Young varona waited to hear nc
more. Nor did his men; realizing thu
peril into which they had been led
they bolted from the house a. fast al
they could 60. There was no need fol
questions; from the direction Of thu
sugar mill came beloved orders and
the sound Of men shouting to theil
horses. Evidently those were troops-
and trained troops too. for they tool
no time to saddle; they were up and
mounted almost before the marauderi
had gained the backs of their own ami
| mails.
Instantly there began q blind battle
In desperately cramped quarters
Riders fought stirrup to stirrup with
dubbed rifles and machetes; saddles
were emptied and the terrified horssl
bolted. Some Of them lunged up tn
banks. only to tumble down again
their threshing limbs and sharp -shot
hoofs working more havoc than blow
from old-tims battle-hammerA
OF course, after the flrst moment d
confict, Estsban had not been able b
sxsst the least control over bis msn
n met, be could not make himssl
hard Nor eeuA ~ pArs ~ bseatl