Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1919-01-16

Into the Maze of Strands They Pene-
trated.
ly. Fool If you shoot they Will see
the fire and riddle us. A curse on the
spider that spun this web !"
1t was test of courage to crouch
among the charred stumps, enmeshed
in that cruel tangle of wire, while the
night was stabbed by daggers of fire
and while the trocha awoke to the
Wild alarm. From somewhere in the
distance came a shouted command and
the sound of running feet suddenly
putting an end to further inaction. An
tonic began to hack viciously with his
machete. in an effort TO aid Hilario's
labors. The sound of his sturdy blows
betrayed the party's whereabouts so
clearly that finally the older man could
restrain himself no longer.
Give it to them, compadres; 1t Is
game that we can playl"
O'Reilly had been gripping his rife
tensely, his heart in his throat. his
pulses pounding. AS near panic as
he had ever been. he found. oddly
enough, that the mere act of throwing
his weapon to his shoulder and firing
1t Gained him. The kick of the gun
subdued his excitement and cleared
his brain. He surprised himself by d.
recting jacket in a cool, authoritative
voice, to shoot low When he had emp
tied the magazine he led two of the
horses forward. Then, grasping his
own machete, he Joined in clearing q
pathway.
1t seemed an interminable time ere
they had extricated themselves from
the trap, but finally they succeeded
and gained the welcome shelter of the
woods, pausing inside its shelter to
cut the muffies from their horses feet.
BY this time the defenders of the tro-
cho were pouring volley after yolley
at random into the night
Now that the skirmish was over
jacket began TO boast of his part In It,
"Ha Perhaps they'll know better
than TO show themselves the next time
1 come this way" said he. You saw
me, didn't you? Well, I made a few
Spanish widows tonight"
When no one disputed his assertion
Jacket proceeded further in praise Of
himself, only to break off with q word
less cry of dismay.
whats the matter?" Johnnie in
CURED.
Look Behold mer walled the
hero. 81 have left the half Of my beau
tiful trousers on that barbed wire !"
Antonio swung leg over his saddle,
saying Come along, amigos; we have
fifty leagues ahead Of US. The war
Will be over while we stand here COS
slping.".
O'Reilly's adventures on his swift
ride through Las Villas have no part IN
this story. 1t Is only necessary to
say that they were numerous and va
ried, that OReilly experienced excite
ment a-plenty, and that upon more than
one occasion ne was forced to think
and to act quickly in order to avoid
clash with some rowing guerrilla band.
Food became a problem Immediate
ly after the travellers had crossed the
trocha. Such apprehensive families as
still lurked sin the woods were liberal
enough-Antonio, by the way, knew all
OF them-but they had little to give,
and, In consequence, O'Reilly's party
learned the taste of wild fruits, Der
ries and palmetto hearts. Once they
managed to kill a small pig, the sole
survivor of some obscure country trap-
edy. but the rest Of the time their
meat, when there was any. consisted
OF iguanns-those big, repulsIve liz
ards-and jutias, the Cuban field rats.
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
nils, through sweeping savannas, past |
empty clearings and deserted villages. |
10 their journeys end. A fortunate |
encounter with rebel partida from
General Betancourt's army enabled
them to reach headquarters without |
loss OF time. and one afternoon, worn.
naggard and hungry, they dismounted
In front Of that gallant officers hut
General Betancourt read the letter
which QReilly handed him. then
looked up with a smile.
sol You are one Of Gomez Ameri-
cans Ell? Well, I would never have
known 1t, to look at you; the sun and
the wind have made you into a very
Rood Cuban. And your clothes One