Evening star., 1936-05-10


John did not enlarge the hole. but
went over to the base of the tank and
began feeling the valves. There were
two, and they were both locked with
large padlocks. But by putting the
machete under the handle of the low
est valve John managed to turn the
pipe itself in its socket. 1t came loose
in his hands, and two-inch stream of
gasoline gushed out with a faint.
whispering roar.
John scrambled over the wall, and
put his right hand over the little hole
at the outer end of the tunnel. In less
than minute he felt the cold touch of
gasoline seeping around his fingers.
He listened carefully. No sound came
from the Plaza below. He could see the
dim outlines of the two guns in the
starlight, but the sentries were either
asleep or standing in the deeper
shadows.
Gradually the rushing sound of the
gasoline became faint and died away.
John knew that the reservoir was full
as high as the valve opening. With
sort of wordless prayer he took his
hand away from the opening and
hacked at the wall with the machete.
A foaming river of gasoline poured
down the slope toward the Plaza.
John fell back and waited few
seconds, waving his right hand around
in the air to make sure it was free of
gasoline. Then he took out pack Of
matches. He lit one. He touched it to
the others. And he tossed the pack,
still flaring, into the stream of gasoline.
A dull, putting explosion tossed
orange fame fifty feet in the air,
lighting up the country for miles
around. Down the hill rolled waves of
smoke and flame, running in broad
band across the Plaza, leaping beside
the guns. Men shouted. Men screamed.
Soldiers ran half-naked along the
street. They stood helpless. their faces
white in the bright light. their revol-
vers drawn.
By the time the first soldiers arrived
in the Plaza. John was already over
the ridge and dashing into the back
door of the hotel. Servants huddled in
corners. screaming historically. but
there were no men in sight. They were
all in the Plaza, milling in helpless
panic.
In the doorway of Janet's room
stood the dark skinned girl, Rosita.
her eyes wide with terror. John pushed
her aside and entered. Janet was
dressed in pajamas under linen bath
robe. but John grabbed her by the
arm.
Come onT he cried. There's no
time to dress. Let's get out of here"
They ran across the patio and out
the back door. No one paid them the
slightest attention. Just as they
reached little dark alley which ran
behind the row of houses on the Plaza,
a series of thunderous explosions
shook the air. The fire had reached the
piles of ammunition. Shells burst
spreading patches of yellow light
against the black sky. Screams of
panic came from the Plaza. The
flames licked higher still. as thatched
roofs of houses began to burn.
John squeezed Janet's slender.
warm arm. Are you scared?" he
asked.
"You bet I'm scaredr
so am l. We'd better hurry and
get to the fort"
In the glare of the flames they
could see the old fort standing out
clearly on it's hill.
Il know the way" said Janet. But
we've got to keep off the road. The
Colonel has sentries posted around
the fort. They'll be running down to
see what's going on"
They picked their way through
thorny scrub along little burro trail
which paralleled the road. The explo-
s;ons continued Several pro1Ds of