Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1921-06-24
CHAPTER xIv-continued.


Don Juan's Hibernlan 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-room was no
better than 1t 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 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. eazed 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 bah
ner of revolution floating over the ar
senal for the first time in fifteen years
brought hundreds of willing recruits 10
the rebel ranks, as Ricardo Ruey had
anticipated: these we're quickly sup
piled with arms and ammunition by
ten O'clock a 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 eye open for snipers.
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-
ton He was red with slaughter
slippery with gun-grease. dripping
with perspiration, and filthy with dust
and dirt. "Begorra," he declared, "a
cowId bottle av beer would go fine
now" Then, recalling his limitations,
be sighed and put the thought from
him. Ii revived in him. however, for
the first 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 !
var. So Don Juan sought Doctor |
Pacheco in his headquarters and
Earned that signal-man, heliograph-
Ing from the roof of the arsenal. had
3een in communication with General
Ruey. who reported the situation well
n hand, with no doubt of an over
ghelming victory before the day
bo,,Id bo o;-or This oud cfrndrv other
,its of information Don Juan Cleaned
ind then deserted the Sobrantean rev.
,lutionary army quite as casually as
lie had joined it, to make his precari-
JUS way down the Gale San Rosario
o the bay.
CHAPTER XIV.