The Raymer enterprise., 1919-04-10


Ing him to send Z pack train and an
escort for these supplies. There Is
danger here; perhaps you would like
to 60 on with the couriers."
O'Reiily accepted eagerly; then
thinking Of the girl. he said doubt.
fully:
T'm afraid Miss Evans isn't equal
to the trip"
Nonsense I'm equal to anything"
Norine declared. And indeed she looked
capable enough as she stood there In
her short walking suit and stout boots.
Branch alone declined the invitation.
vowing that be 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 10 the meantime.
II took O'Reilly but q short time to
collect the few articles necessary for
the trip: indeed. his bundle was SO
small that Norine was dismayed.
Cant l take any clothesr' she In.
quired In a panic. Il can't live with.
out q change"
1T II something you'll have to
learn" he told her. @An insurrecto
with two shirts Il wealthy. Some Of
them haven't any"
"Isn't 1t likely to rain on usi"
TITS almost sure to-"
Miss Evans pondered this prospect; !;
then she laughed. 1T must feel fun.
n.y." she said.
There were three other members Of
the travelling party. men who knew
something of the country round about !:
they we're good fighters. doubtless, but
In spitJ Of their shiny new weapons
they esembled soldiers even less than
did their major. All were dressed a.
they had been when they left New
York; one even wore q derby hat and
pointed pateAt-leather shoes. Never.
theless Nofine Evans thought the little
cavalcads presented quite q martial
appearance a. It hled away into the
Jungle.
The nrst few miles were trying. for
tho coast was swampy and thickly
grown up to underbrush; but In time
the Jungle gave place to higher timber
and to open savannas deep in guinea
grasA Soon after noon the travellers
came to Q farm, the owner Of which
was known to ono Of the guides, and
here . stop was made In order to ~
cure horses and food.
Johnnie. who was badly tagged from
the previous nisht's work. found 4
shady spot and stretched himself out
for q nap.
The shade was grateful O'Reilly
enjoyed his sleep
The party had penetrated to the foot
hills Of tho Sierra Do CubitaA and a.
they ascended. the scenery changed.
Rarely u the Cuban landscape any.
thing but pleasing. II II q smiling
island. 1t has been said, too, that ev.
erythlng In It II friendly to man: the
people are amiable. warm-hearted; the
very animals and insects are harmless
But here In the Cubitas range Ill was
different The land was stern and for.
bidding: canyons deep and damp
raised dripping walls to the sky; bride
paths skirted lodges that were bold
and fearsome, or lost themselves In
gloomy 1ungles as nolsome as Spanish
dungeons. Hidden away In these fast.
nesses, the rebel government had es-
tablished Its capital. Here safe from
surprise, the soldiers Of Comes and
Maceo and Garcia rested between at
tacks, nursing their wounded and re-
cruiting their strength for further sal.
lies.
1t was a strange seat Of govern.
ment-no nation ever Id q stranger
for the state buildings were huu Of
bark and leaves, the army was uni
formed 10 rags. Cook fires smoldered
In the open glades; cavalry horses
grazed In the grassy streets, and wood
smoke drifted over them.
The second evening brought O'ReiIly
and Miss Evans safely through, and at
news Of the expeditions success q
pack train was made ready to 60 to
Its assistance. Norine's letter from the
New York junta was read, and the
young woman was warmly welcomed.
One Of the better huts was vacated for
her use, and the officers Of the pro-
visional government called to pay their
respects.
There were other Americans in Gu.
bitas, as O'Reilly soon discovered. Dur.
ing his first inspection of the village
he heard himself hailed In his own Ian.
guage, and a young man In dirty
white trousers and jacket strobe
toward him.
welcome to our cityi" the stranger
cried. "Tm Judson, captain Of artil.
lery, DEPARTMENT. del Oriente; and
you're the fellow who came with the
quinine lady. aren't your
OReilly acknowledged his identity.
and Judson grinned "Have you met
the old man." be inQuired-"General
0omezr
mo; I'd like to meet him"
Come along. then; I'll introduce
you."
Gen. Naximo Gomez, father Of d.