Vernon Parish Democrat., 1921-05-26
CHAPTER xlv-continued.

Don Juan's Hibernian blood thrilled
he cast about for weapon in this
emergency, and his glance rested on
the body Of the dead officer beside the
gate. To possess himself Of the lat
ter's heavy "cut-and-thrust" sword
was the work Of seconds, and with
a royal good will Don Juan launched
himself into the heart of the scrim-
mage. He had hazy impression that
he was striking and stabbing, that 9TH
ers were striking and stabbing at him,
that men crowded and breathed and
pressed and swore and grunted around
him, that the fghting-r,om was no
better than it might have been, but
was rapidly improving. Then the CORY
fog lifted, and Doctor Pacheco had
Don Juan by tile hand; they stood to-
gether in the arsenal entrance, and
the little Doctor was explaining to the
war-mad Don Juan that all was over
In so far as the arsenal was con-
cerhed-the survivors of the garrison
having surrendered-that now, having
the opportunity, he, Doctor Pacheco,
desired to thank Don Juan Cafetero
for his life. Don Juan looked at him
amazedly, for he hadn't the slightest
idea what the Doctor was talking
about. He spat, gazed around at the
litter Of corpses on the arsenal lawn,
and nodded his red head approvingly.
In an incredibly short space of
time the news that the arsenal had
been captured and that Sarros was
besieged in the palace spread through
the city. The sight of the red BAN
ner of revolution floating over the ar
senal for the first time in fifteen years
brought hundreds of willing recruits to
the rebel ranks, as Ricardo Ruey had
anticipated; these were quickly sup
piled with arms and ammunition; by
ten o'clock battalion had been
formed and sent off, together with the
machine gun company, to connect with
the San Bruno contingent advancing
from the south to turn the flank Of
the government troops, while the
equipping Of an additional battalion
proceeded within the arsenal, As
fast as the new levies were armed,
they were hurried off to re-enfOrce the
handful of white men who had, after
clearing the arsenal, advanced on the
palace and now, with machine guns
from the arsenal commanding all ave-
nues Of escape from the trap wherein
Sarros found himself, were calmly
awaiting developments, merely keeping
an eve open for sniDerS.
Thus the forenoon passed away. By
one o'clock Don Juan Cafetero-who in
the absence Of clOse-range fighting had
elected himself ordnance sergeant
passed out the last rifle and ammuni-
tlOn. he was red with slaughter,
slippery with gun-grease, dripping
with perspiration, and filthy with dust
and dirt. "Begorra," he declared, "a
s cOwld bottle av beer would go fine
now" Then, recalling his limitations,
he sighed and put the thought from
him. It revived in him, however, for
the frst time since he had left the
steamer, a memory of John Stuart
Webster, and his promise to the lat
ter to report on the progress Of the
war. So Don Juan sought Doctor
Pacheco in his headquarters and
learned that signal-man, heliograph-
ing from the roof of the arsenal, had
been in communication with General
Ruey. who reported the situation we'll
In hand. with no doubt of an over
whelming victory before the day
should be over. This and sundry other
bits Of information Don Juan Cleaned
and then deserted the Sobrantean rev.
Olutionary army quite as casually as
he had joined 1t, to make his precari-
GUS way down the Gale San Rosario
20 the bay.