Evening star., 1924-07-06

the bridge across the stream were
stationed half q dozen more soldiers.
Feeling that q moments delay would
be our ruin. since the officer behind
us had probably by this time dis
patched someone to fetch us back.
seized my revolver and pointed 1t to
the beautiful red seal of the Gallo
motor license, while l ordered the in
terpreter to say that the onicer in
the village had recognized our right
to proceed and that 1 would stand no
interference. .One OF the usual end
less discussions would have ensued
had it not been for the obvious power
Of my Colt.
The cook was shaking like a jelly,
so l leaped out of the chair. bundled
him into it. and ordered the whole
procession majestically ON. waved the
sentres out of the way. and stolidly
marched through them. The bluff
succeeded for the moment, and we had
great hopes that the worst was over.
because, however much the southern
ers might wish TO get US back. they
dared not sweep out far beyond their
own lines for fear of the advancing
northerners. We imagined that, ex-
cept for few scouting parties, We
were now beyond the scope Of their
army-but We were wrong.
A rapid mile through green, fertile
country. and just as we were talking
cheerfully Of breakfast in the shell
ter Of thin belt Of trees by the road
side we literally fell across a line of
PROSTATE forms, waiting. rifle to shoul-
L. a.. -, l>,~ H.rf AAI4 L. IN,
front The first chair had actually
got through before a scream from my
companion, They're numbering the
cook" brought me up painting.
To the left Maxim commanded
the plain, and the muxzles Of other
machine-guns protruded from brush
wood farther away. A clever en-
tanglement Of branches hid a double
row of gray-clad soldiers. Some Of
these had dragged the cook from his
chair, not too gently. for a trickle Of
red showed on his livid skin.
1 rushed to the aid of the cook.
gesticulating wildly with my pass
port. He gave a sort Of gurgle and
Topped across my feet. Pulling him
up, I tried to get him away from the
soldiers were turning over with in
terest. He showed unexpected reluc-
tance Me no likee leave him
chicken he walled. and I discovered
that the two miserable fowls had hung
downward under may chair all through
that long march!
| don't know how many minutes or
hours passed before the messenger
who had been sent back with news of
our capture returned. His advent was
followed by some slight activity.
Chairs were brought forward and we
were motioned into them. Guards
closed round US, and the unfortunate
cook was finally wrenched away and
made to walk behind with other pris-
oners.
TWILIGHT was approaching as We
filed into the narrow, cobbled
streets that we had hoped never to
see again. The interpreter was far
in the rear, so we could ask no Ques-
tions as to our destination. Past
shuttered shops and temples we went,
beyond the low, windowless houses.
to where the general had his lodging
in some merchants dwelling.
Behind this was a great court used
as a drilling ground. prison yard.
and a place for grimmer work still,
as three od-stained wooden trf-
angles showed. The instant they
saw these the prisoners began pro-
testing frantically. Some flung them
selves on the ground. chin-chinning
violently: a few were sullenly un-
moved Our chairs were set down on
one side, and the whole mass of pris-