The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1921-03-04

CHAPTER xlV-continued.
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Don Juan's Hibernian blood thrilled
he cast about for a 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 a hazy impression that
he was striking and stabblng, that 9th
ers were striking and stabbing at him.
that men crowded and breathed and
pressed and swore and grunted around
him, that the fighting-room was no
better than it might have been, but
was rapidly improving. Then the CORY
fog lifted, and Doctor Pacheco had
Don Juan by the 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-
cerned-the survivors of the garrison
having surrendered-that now, having
the opportunity, he, Doctor Pacheco
desired 70 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 approvlngly.
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
equlppIng of an additional battalion
proceeded within the arsenal. As
fast as the new levfes were armed
they were hurried off to re-enfOrce tbs
handful of white men who had, aftel
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 calml!
awaiting developments, merely keeping
an eye open for snlpers.
Thus the forenoon passed away. B!
one O'Clock Don Juan Cafetero-who II
the absence of cIose-range fighting hat
elected himself ordnance sergeant
passed out the last rifle and ammuni
ton. He was red with slaughter
slippery with gun-grease, dripping
with perspiration, and filthy with dus
and dirt. "Begorra," he declared, ="
cOwld bottle av beer would go tin
now" Then, recalling his limitations
he sighed and put the thought sror
him. It revived in him, however, TO
the first time since he had left tn
steamer, a memory of John StuaI
Webster, and his promise to the la
ter to report on the progress of tn
war. SO Don Juan sought DOctc
PachecO I'm his headquarters an
learned that a signal-man, heliograpl
ing from the roof of the arsenal, ha
been in communication with Generi
Ruey. who reported the situation we
in hand, with no doubt of an owe
whelming victory before the da
should be over. This and sundry othG
bits of information Don Juan gleane
and then deserted the Sobrantean re-
OIutiOnary army quite as casually
he had joined It, to make his precar
GUS way down the Gale San Rosar
to the bay.
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