The Mena weekly star., 1919-02-13
CHAPTER XVI.
The Troeha.

UT all the military measures em ployed by the Spaniards in their wars against Cuban independence, perhaps the most unique was the trocha- trench or traverse. Martinez Campos during the Ten Years war built the first trocha just west of the Cubltas mountains where the waist of the island is narrowest. Not until Wey. ler's time were the two methods of paclfication, the trocha and the concen. tration camp, developed to their fullest extent Although his trochas hindered the free movement of Cuban troops and his prison camps decimated the peaceful population of several prov. inces, the Spanish cause gained little. Both trenches and prison camps be- came Spanish graveyards.
 At the time Johnnie O'Reilly set out for Matanzas the war--a war without battle, without victory, without defeat had settled into grim contest of en- durance. In the east, where the insur- rectos were practically supreme, there vas food of a sort, but beyond the Ju. caro-Moron trocha-the old one of Campos' building-the country was sick. Immediately west of 1t, in that district which the Cubans called Las Villas, the land lay dying, while the entire provinces of Hatanzas, Habana and Pinar del Rio were practically dead. These three were skeletons, picked bare of flesh by Weyler's beak
 The Jucaro-Moron trocha had been greatly strengthened since Campos day. It followed the line of the trans insular railway. Dotted at every quar- ter of mile along the grade were lit- te forts connected by telephone and telegraph lines. Between these forti- nas were sentry stations of logs or rail- road ties. Eyes were keen, rifles were ready, challenges were sharp, and coun- tersigns were quickly given on the Ju- caro-Moron trocha.
 In O'Reilly's party there were three men besides himself--the ever-faithful Jacket, wrinkled old Camagueyan who knew the bridle trails of his prov lnee as fox knows the tracks to its ialr, and silent guajiro from farther west, detailed to accompany the expe- dltlon because of his wide acquaintance with the devastated districts. Both guides, having crossed the trocha more than once, affected to scorn its ter Tors, and their easy confidence reas- sured O'Reilly in spite of Esteban's parting admonition.
 The American had not dreamed of taking Jacket along. but when he came 10 announce his departure the boy had natly refused to be left behind.
 Fifty miles of hard riding brought the party to the trocha; they neared 1t on the second morning after leaving Ouoitas and sought secluded camp Ing spot Later in the day Hilario, the oid Camagueyan, slipped away to re- eonnoiter. He returned at twilight, put volunteered no report of what he mad discovered. After an insistent eross-examination O'Reilly wrung from nm the reluctant admission that ev- erything seemed favorable for cross ing some time that night. and that he nad selected promising point. Be sohd that the old man would say noth- ing.
 supper, simple meal, was quickly uisposed of. Then followed long, uisniritine walt for a gibbous. moon reae high in the sky and the guides ~ .eIused to stir so long as it remained shere. It was still night; in the Jungle no air was stirring, and dark Asss brought forth torment of mos suitoes. As day died the woods awoke - sounds of bird and insect life;