FOOLING THE SPANISH GUERRILLAS.
"_Halte!_"
It was the cry of the nearest of the Spanish horsemen. He had espied
us just as Alano let out his cry of alarm, and now he came galloping
toward us at a rapid gait.
"Let us run!" I ejaculated to my Cuban chum. "It is our only chance."
"Yes, yes! but to where?" he gasped, staring around in bewilderment. On
one side of the road was a woods of mahogany, on the other some palms
and plantains, with here and there a great rock covered with thick
vines.
"Among the rocks--anywhere!" I returned. "Come!" And, catching his
hand, I led the way from the road while the horseman was yet a hundred
feet from us.
Another cry rang out--one I could not understand, and a shot followed,
clipping through the broad leaves over our heads. The horseman left the
road, but soon came to a stop, his animal's progress blocked by the
trees and rocks. He yelled to his companions, and all of the guerrillas
came up at topmost speed.
"They will dismount and be after us in a minute!" gasped Alano. "Hark!
they are coming already!"
"On! on!" I urged. "We'll find some hiding-place soon."
Around the rocks and under the low-hanging plantains we sped, until the
road was left a hundred yards behind. Then we came to a gully, where
the vegetation was heavy. Alano pointed down to it.
"We can hide there," he whispered. "But we will be in danger of snakes.
Yet it is the best we can do."
I hesitated. To make the acquaintanceship of a serpent in that dense
grass was not pleasant to contemplate. But what else was there to do?
The footsteps of our pursuers sounded nearer.
Down went Alano, making leaps from rock to rock, so that no trail
would be left. I followed at his heels, and, coming to a rock which
was partly hollowed out at one side and thickly overgrown, we crouched
under it and pulled the vines and creepers over us.
It was a damp, unwholesome spot, but there was no help for it, and
when several enormous black beetles dropped down and crawled around my
neck I shut my lips hard to keep from crying out. We must escape from
the enemy, no matter what the cost, for even if they did not make us
prisoners we knew they would take all we possessed and even strip the
coats from our backs.
Peering from between the vines, we presently caught sight of three of
the Spaniards standing at the top of the gully, pistols in hand, on the
alert for a sight of us. They were dark, ugly-looking fellows, with
heavy black mustaches and faces which had not had a thorough washing in
months. They were dressed in the military uniform of Spain, and carried
extra bags of canvas slung from their shoulders, evidently meant for
booty. That they were tough customers Alano said one could tell by
their vile manner of speech.
"Do you see them, Carlo?" demanded one of the number. "I thought they
went down this hollow?"
"I see nothing," was the answer, coupled with a vile exclamation. "They
disappeared as if by magic."
"They were but boys."
"Never mind, they were rebels--that is enough," put in the third
guerrilla, as he chewed his mustache viciously. "I wish I could get a
shot at them."
At this Alano pulled out his pistol and motioned for me to do the same.
"We may as well be prepared for the worst," he whispered into my ear.
"They are not soldiers, they are robbers--bandits."
"They look bad enough for anything," I answered, and produced my
weapon, which I had not discharged since the brush with the alligator.
"If they are in the hollow it is odd we do not see them on their
trail," went on one of the bandits. "Perhaps they went around."
His companions shook their heads.
"I'll thrash around a bit," said one of them; and, leaving the brink of
the gully, he started straight for our hiding-place.
My heart leaped into my throat, and I feared immediate discovery. As
for Alano, he shoved his pistol under his coat, and I heard a muffled
click as the hammer was raised.
When within ten feet of us the ugly fellow stopped, and I fairly held
my breath, while my heart appeared to beat like a trip-hammer. He
looked squarely at the rock which sheltered us, and I could not believe
he would miss discovering us. Once he started and raised his pistol,
and I imagined our time had come; but then he turned to one side, and I
breathed easier.
"They did not come this way, _capitan_!" he shouted. "Let us go around
the hollow."
In another moment all three of the bandits were out of sight. We heard
them moving in the undergrowth behind us, and one of them gave a scream
as a snake was stirred up and dispatched with a saber. Then all became
quiet.
"What is best to do now?" I asked, when I thought it safe to speak.
"Hush!" whispered Alano. "They may be playing us dark."
A quarter of an hour passed,--it seemed ten times that period of time
just then,--and we heard them coming back. They were very angry at
their want of success; and had we been discovered, our fate would
undoubtedly have been a hard one. They stalked back to the road, and a
moment later we heard the hoof-strokes of their horses receding in the
distance.
"Hurrah!" I shouted, but in a very subdued tone. "That's the time we
fooled them, Alano."
My Cuban chum smiled grimly. "Yes, Mark, but we must be more careful in
the future. Had we not been so busy talking we might have heard their
horses long before they came into view. However, the scare is over, so
let us put our best foot forward once again."
"If only we had horses too!" I sighed. "My feet are beginning to get
sore from the uneven walking."
"Horses would truly be convenient at times. But we haven't them, and
must make the best of it. When we stop for our next meal you had best
take off your boots and bathe your feet. You will be astonished how
much rest that will afford them."
I followed this advice, and found Alano was right; and after that
I bathed my feet as often as I got the chance. Alano suffered no
inconvenience in this particular, having climbed the hills since
childhood.
We were again on rising ground, and now passed through a heavy wood of
cedars, the lower branches sweeping our hats as we passed. This thick
shade was very acceptable, for the glare of the sun had nearly blinded
me, while more than once I felt as if I would faint from the intense
heat.
"It's not such a delightful island as I fancied it," I said to my chum.
"I much prefer the United States."
"That depends," laughed Alano. "The White Mountains or the Adirondacks
are perhaps nicer, but what of the forests and everglades in Florida?"
"Just as bad as this, I suppose."
"Yes, and worse, for the ground is wetter, I believe. But come, don't
lag. We must make several more miles before we rest."
We proceeded up a hill and across a level space which was somewhat
cleared of brush and trees. Beyond we caught sight of a thatched hut.
Hardly had it come into view than from its interior we heard a faint
cry for help.