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14
the position untenable and force you to
surrender, because your retreat -would be
oO
cut off.
“That is my opinion, too,” said Tom,
“‘but I wanted the opinion of all of you.
We have inflicted such a severe blow upon
the enemy, however, that I do not believe
he will reappear within a week, But to-
morrow we should move westward toward
the coast somewhere in the neighborhood
of Nariel, there to await the landing of the |a
American army. Just where the Ameri-
can soldiers will land "
within a few hours after their transports
are seen along the coast we will have
knowledge of the fact. Iam particularly
anxious to hold on to these two pieces of
artillery that my countrymen may see that
we have done something since I landed on
Cuban soil.”
“Done something!” exclaimed the old
man; “you have done wonders! At no
time during this war, or in the Ten Years
War, has Spain received such a blow at
the hands of the Cubans as you gave her
this day.” soe
** Yes,” said Colonel Julio, ‘I am known
to every officer in the Cuban army, from
the commander-in-chief down, and I’
make the statement to the world over m
own name, describing the battle, the num-
ber of forces engaged, and the tremendous
slaughter of the enemy. Ifthe American
Government does not give you a general’s
commission, the provisional government
of the Cuban Republic will.”
“*Please do not forget my officers and
men, colonel,” said Tom, “ for they fought
like heroes, obeying every order, not one
showing the white feather.”
“Yes, yes,” assented the colonel; “the
Cubans are good soldiers when well offi-
cered, but very poor when they are not.”
“You are right, colonel,” assented Tom;
“they lack discipline as well as confidence
in themselves.” .
** Discipline brings confidence, capitan,”
remarked the old man,
““Yes, colonel; it took a severe lesson to
convince my men that when I gave an
order I intended it to be obeyed. They un-
derstand now that I will shoot the men
who disobey orders,”
“Yes, yes; they got that lesson when
you captured the train. told my son
about it when we were in Cabanas prison.”
The little council of war broke up just as
night came on. Two lines of sentinels
were placed out on the road on either side
of the creek, whilst pickets were sent out
in both directions three miles beyond, with
instructions that they return at sunrise,
Early the next morning the scouts came
in to report that no enemy had been seen
anywhere, which was what the officers
expected, The two pieces of artillery were
at once moved down the bluff and across
<5
~ the creek out into the road. It wasa
difficult task and one hundred Cubans
were required to accomplish it,
While that was being done under the
supervision of Colonel Mariano, all the
Spanish prisoners on hand, with the ex-
ception of the oflicer’s were paroled not to
fight against Cuba again until exchanged,
“Now, men,” said Tom, addressing the
prisoners, ** we are going to leave you
here to take care of your wounded com-
rades, and also supply you with three
days’ rations for yourselves and them,
There are no Cuban forces this side of the
trocha except this command, hence you
need not.fear that you will be molested,
Be kind to your comrades who are wound-
ed and unable to help themselves, and
when you return to your command tell
your officers you are paroled, and:that you
will be shot in case of recapture if you
again take up arms against Cuba. Per-
haps you might tell them that you have
been treated kindly.”
“*So we have, capitan,” said several of
the soldiers ; **and we thank you for it.”
“Now, general,” said Tom, turning to
General La Vaga, “it was my intention
to exchange you for my friends here, and
would have done so had not Blanco acted
s
tempted to recapture you and you know
what followed. Now there is a little dif-
ference between the captain-general and
myself, as he holds in his possession some
legal documents of my father's and titles
to property in Cuba as well as in New
York and other places in the United
States. I called on him to ask for their
return the day before General Fitzhugh,Lee
left Havana; he refused to give them up,
notwithstanding the fact that I was a
American citizen and war had not been
declared between the United States and
5
will try to treat you with all the considera-
tion due a man of your rank.”
‘The general merely bowed his acknow]l-
edgments of the
verbally rendered, after which he and the
other officers were mounted on horseback
and placed under a strong guard,
“Colonel Julio Mariano was able to sit
wYTHAPPY
on a horse, which was to be led by one of
the soldiers, ‘Then the order to march
was. given, a strong body of fifty scouts
going in advance. .
The march was a leisurely one and all
day long the two lovers rode side by side
in advance of the other's, both being su-
premely happy in each other's company.
A little before night came on they
reached a beautiful little village of about
ousand inhabitants. The’ villagers
had heard of the disastrous defeat of the
Spaniards, and were secretly rejoicing
when the victors appeared.
Then their pent up feelings found vent
The entire population
streets to welcome the
there wasaSpanish sympathizer in the
entire village it was unknown to the
°
ne
ers. .
t was a fortunate thing, however, that
the command had plenty of rations with
them, as there was very little food to be
had there, other than the native fruits
that grew abundantly all over the island,
It was from that village that Tom again
sent the same messenger witha flag o:
truce to Blanco, He had promoted him to
a captaincy, and he now knew that he
would be bolder and more defiant than
a
” he said to him, “for
you to deliver to Blanco and tell him that
since his recent act of treachery he must
confide the documents to you, and trust to
my honor to release the general when I re-
ceive them. ou can say that the general
will be escorted undera flag of truce to
the nearest Spanish post within twenty-
four hours after the documents are re-
ceived. If he refuses to give them up you
can tell him that the general will be shot
immediately upon your return without
them, Here isa little note also from the
eneral, written merely to satisfy the
captain-general that he is a prisoner in my
nds.”
CHAPTER XVIIL
TOM GETS A REGIMENT AND WHIPS THE
SPANIARDS TWICE IN ONE DAY,
Tom remained at the village with his lit-
tle command for a wee'’x, in order that his
men might have a much ‘needed rest, and
at the same time afford the native popula-
tion of the province a chance to rally to
his standard,
The simple fact that he had artillery,
with over three hundred men and horses,
so encouraged the insurgent sentiment
that over two hundred recruits joined him
before the end of the week, He had rifles,
however, for only one hundred of them,
but all were armed with the machete,
Before the week enaed the messenger
o had been sent to Havana returned
with a statement from Blanco that he had
instituted a search for the documents, and
that as soon as they were found they
would be sent to him by a messenger un-
der flag of truce,
“Allright,” laughed Tom, when he got
the report, “that saves the general's life
for the time being, but ic means that an
attempt will be made to destroy us, He
will pay dearly for it, though, as Iam not
to be caught napping.”
On the very day the messenger returned
aparty of about one hundred and sixty
American filibusters landed on the coast,
theugh the little transport that brought
them over was captured by a Spanish gun-
boat, A Spanish coastguard pursued them
and they retreated to the interior, fighting
over every inch of ground,
s$soon as Tom heard of it he sent del
Pino with one hundred men to theirassist-
ance, with instructions to pilot them to
camp, The next day they arrived, still
ursued by about three hundred of the
panish coastguard,
“Good!” said Tom; ‘ we'll gobble up
that coastguard or know the reason why.”
With efficient guides he got around into
the rear of the coastguard, and attacked
them furiously, Del Pino and the filibus-
ters then turned on them, thus getting
them between two fires,
hen about one-third of their force had
been killed and wounded the Spaniards
attempted tocut their way through, but
the attempt was futile and they were com-
pelled to surrender and ask for quarter,
“All right,” said Tom, ‘“tyou will be
treated as prisoners of war, but you must
sign a parole not to fight against the Cu-
ban Republic untilexchanged, The ofticers,
however, will be retained as prisoners for
the present.”
When the filibusters learned that it was
a young American in command of the Cu-
bans, they greeted him with regular old-
fashioned American hurrahs, they were
mostly Southern men from Texas, Missi
e| sippi, Alabama, Georgia and Ilorida, Only
a few of them, however, could speak Span-
ish, They were led by a Captain Gresham,
who had been commissioned by the Cuban
Junta of New York,
8 soon as the prisoners were paroled
they were ordered to bury their dead and
care for their wounded, after which they
were permitted to march back tothe coast,
DAYS ‘e—
taking their wounded with them. Their
Mauser rifles, to the number of nearly three
hundred, with full cartridge belts were the
trophies of the
Tom immediately sent out messengers, | ¢
all through the province, to tell the people
e had arms and ammunition for three
hundred more men, and invited that num-
ber to join his standard. The impression
went out at the same time that the party
of filibusters was a part of the American
army that was about to make a descent on
the island;
Volunteers came in hourly, and within
three days he had a Cuban behind every-
one of the captured Mausers, thus raising
his force to about eight hundred besides
the hundred and sixty filibusters.
So far as the new recruits were ccn-
cerned they were simply an armed mob
without organization or discipline. Tom
caled a council of war of all the officers,
including Captain Gresham and the two
Marianos, .
**Gentlemen,” he said to them, “ we have
men enough now to form a regiment of at
least ten companies, besides two pieces of
artillery, and it strikes me that we should
lose no time in
regiment of infantry was about five miles
away advancing leisurely, as if waiting to ,
hear the attack from the rear by the fiying
battery that had been sent up from the
oast.
Tom waited a couple of hours to permit
his men to dine, and then decided to march
out and open ight.
Naturally the encmy’s scouts reported
his approach and they made ready to re-
ceive him, not doubting in the least that
the insurgents would be attacked in the
rear.
It.was a furious fight for nearly an hour,
and, but for the six pieces of artillery, and
the splendid sharpshooting of the Ameri-
can filibusters, Tom’s regiment woul,
probably have been defeated.
was, though, after suffering the .
loss of about a hundred and fifty men, the
Spaniards retreated, hurrying back to
avana in a state of utter demoralization.
the arms of the dead and wounded Span-
iards on the field, they were astounded at
seeing a Spanish officer approach bearing
a flag of true
[10 BE CONTINUED.]
its
I suggest that Colonel Julio Mariano be
placed in command, on account of his in-
fluence among the people of this prov-
ince.”
It was promptly agreed to by all the
officers present, and he accepted the posi-
tion, but advised that all the officers of the
line from colonel down to captain. should
be Americans. He proposed Captain Tom
Taylor's name as colonel, with Captain
Gresham as lieutenant-colonel and a lieu-
tenant of the filibusters as major,
The Americans were very much sur-
prised at his suggestions, but he explain-
ed to them that his reason for so doing
was that the presence of American offi-
cers in the field would have a splendid
effect upon the native population.
For,” said he in his explanation, “ Cap-
tain Taylor bas dealt Spain harder blows
on the field than any Cuban had hitherto
done, My father and I will devote all
our energies to the task of organizing
companies and regiments and placing
them in the ”
The council broke up with everyone
satisfied with the result of its delibera-
tions, Tom Taylor immediately ordered
the force to be divided into ten compan-
ies, reserving the filibusters as a support
for the battery. Then the task of drill-
ing the men began at once, but ere two
days had been consumed in that work
they received the startling report that a
regiment of Spanish’ infantry had been
quietly landed on the coast ‘some thirty
miles away, and was pushing forward to-
wards the village with a battery of flying
artillery,
“Gentlemen,” said Tom to _his officers,
“we'll have a fight, and I'll wager my
sword against a pipe that another regiment
is on the way from Havana for the purpose
of getting us between two fires, If we wait
here both regiments will reach the village
about the same time. I propose that we
march out ten or twelve miles towards the
coast, and tackle those fellows before the
others can come to their assistance.”
**Good | good !” exclaimed Colonel Mar-
iano; ‘and if we move in the night we
can form an ambuscade entirely unknown
to the enemy and probably capture their
flying battery.” -
“Just what I want to do,” said Tom.
“It is a good road,” explained the old
colonel, “‘ and we can probably be in posi-
tion before midnight.”
Soon after night came on the regi-
ment was put in motion, and a quick
march of ten miles was made along the
main road in thedirection of the coast,
Colonel Mariano was familiar with
every foot of ground in that locality, and
was thus enabled to select a most suitable
spotforastand. The two field pieces were
placed in position where they were entire-
y concealed by the bushes.
The men then slept on their arms, but
were called up about daylight by their
flicers, who had received reports from the
scouts that the enemy was advancing rap-
ve
Thesun was just gilding the tops of
the trees when the Spafiiards with their
flying battery came hurrying on with the
expectation of meeting the insurgents at
the village ten miles away,
The fight opened with a blast from the
two field pieces and nearly a thousand
rifles. Within five minutes the flying bat-
tery was captured and the Spanish regi-
ment scattered like leaves in a gale,
t was no use to pursue them, as they had
scattered and were forcing their way back
to the coast.
“Now,” said Tom, ‘‘ we'll turn back in
order to give a welcome to Bianco's men
from Havana,”
They reached the village again a little
after noon, tired and hungry, but full of | n
fight. They now had six pieces of artillery
besides nearly two hundred Mausers that
had been picked up along the road over
which the enemy had flea, .
. The scouts broughs in the news thata
P. T. RAYMOND’S NEW BASEBALL
STORY BECINS IN THE NEXT NUMBER.
0
(This story commenced in No. 201.) .
A Pager of His Ow
low Phil Bright Became
an Editor.
By C. LITTLE,
Author of “ Young Bob Sampson,” “ The
G een,” “The Boy Diplomat,”
“The Senator's Secretary,”
“* Young Thomas
Ly” ete,, ete.
CHAPTER XIII.
A MYSTERIOUS FRIEN
END. .
Puiu was so thoroughly nouplused at Mr,
i e had ever -
Haliburton’s cool denia
had the stolen packet that he could make
no answer. .
He could reply to Potter's bullying
sneers, or Tom Smith’s brutal threats, but
when he was given the lie direct in such a *
calm, bloodless manner, he was at a loss
tor words with which to defend himself.
The two men passed on, leaving him
standing on the walk feeling as if he had
been stunned, and it was a few minutes
before he could even gather his thoughts,
“Well, if that isn’t the must impudent,
brazen-faced lie I ever heard!” he finally
managed to say. ‘He never had it, eh?
Well, 1 know he did, because 1 saw him ,
take it. Well, he’s too strong for me now,
and perhaps I was foolish to beard him,
like that, but Ican wait, and some day I
shall tell him he lies to his face, and hold
my own in spite of him.”
Saturday came, and Phil was ready to
print the first part of his paper, having
now a full force to help him, and the new
office being much more convenient than
the old one,
Ashe was making up the forms in: the
forenoon, his friend Preston entered, went
over to where he stood, and said: *
“Well, I've come to put in that little
i «Where’ll you have it?” ~
“What little engine?” asked Phil. “‘We
have no power except muscle to run our
2
5
ess,
“Well, I've got an engine down on the
street, all the same, and it’s marked for the
News office, and there’s a man ready to set
it up, connect the belts and everything.”
“e Where did it come from?”
“{'m sure I don’t know, The agent told
me it was at the station, and that I was to -
fetch it over, and that’s all I know.”
“T'll go and look at it,” said Phil, and he
forthwith went down-stairs without stop-
ing to put on his hat or his coat, being fol-
owed at a slower pace by Mr. Preston,
He found a new two-horse power engine,
plenty large enough for his use, together
with belts, wheels and everything necessa-
ry to run it, the whole being quite compact
and capable of being set up in a small
a
oftice, and there was nothing to show from
where it had been sent or by whom,
“TJ presume it’s from Mr, Brinkerhof,”
il, “He went to New York
and probably sent it up, knowing that I
needed it, Probably he includes it in the
fittings of the office, Iam sure itis very
kind of him. Ican do work much better
Ow, an can work off a larger edition
than before in half the time,”
The engine was set up, and the inside of
the News was printed _that afternoon,
everyone in the office being greatly inter:
ested in the work,
Tt was simply addressed to the News .°.
+