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Page 57
At this Ridge started back and clapped a hand to his pistol.
"But I do not forget," continued the other, "that I am also your
prisoner, on parole not to fight against your countrymen, or that to
you I owe my life. So I am come to save yours and aid your escape, or
die beside you in making the attempt. First, though, let us exchange
prisoners, for, amigo, it has come to me within these two days that I
cannot desert my own people in this time of their need. Let me then
remain with them until all is over, which must be shortly. Then, if I
still live, I will return to you and seek my cousin. Oh, my friend,
grant me this favor, and with every breath I will thank you! May it be
so? Will you do as I ask?"
"Of course I will," answered Ridge, heartily. "I had already guessed
your feelings, and made up my mind to give back your parole if you
should ask for it. So now you are free to act as seems to you best."
"God bless you, amigo!" cried the young Spaniard, his face radiant with
joy. "Now they come! Conceal yourself, while I do what may be done to
save you."
CHAPTER XXII
ROLLO IN CUBA
The sound of voices and of men crashing through the underbrush as they
advanced up the hill from all sides was distinctly heard, and Ridge
realized, with dismay, how completely he was surrounded. It did not
seem possible that he could escape, but he mechanically obeyed his
friend's instructions, and, diving into a dense thicket, lay flat on
the ground beneath its leafy shelter.
At that same moment Navarro raised a great shout of "Here he is! There
he goes! Look out for him!" He also fired several shots in rapid
succession; and one of these wounding the horse that Ridge had ridden,
sent it crashing in terrified flight directly towards the Spanish
troops in the ravine. After the flying animal sprang the lieutenant,
firing as he ran, and yelling to those on the hill to follow him.
With savage cries, and as eagerly as hounds in sight of a fox, the
Spaniards gave over their careful beating of every covert, and rushed
from all sides towards the scene of disturbance. Several of them
passed so close to Ridge that he could have touched them, but in their
blind haste they failed to notice him. In another moment they had
swept over the crest of the hill and were plunging down its farther
side. Before they reached the bottom, Ridge's wounded and terrified
horse burst from cover directly among the ambushed troops in the
ravine, by whom it was quickly killed. Then came the pursuers.
"Where is he? What have you done with him?" demanded Lieutenant
Navarro, excitedly.
"Who, se�or?"
"The spy! The Americano!"
"We have seen no one, only this brute of a horse."
"But he was mounted on it. I saw him and fired. He fled in this
direction, and we pursued him."
"He must have been hit and fallen from the saddle."
"Then he is still close at hand," panted Major Alvarez, who had just
reached the scene, "and alive or dead we must find him. Scatter, men,
and search!" he added, fiercely, turning to the baffled soldiers of his
command, who were crowding confusedly behind him.
This command was never obeyed; for at that moment, with a shriek and a
roar, a shell from one of the American war-ships dropped into the
ravine, and burst among the startled Spaniards. Their presence had
been detected by the firing on the hillside, and with the range thus
obtained the Yankee gunners sent shell after shell with deadly
precision among the ambushed troops.
Completely demoralized by the awful effect of this fire, the Spaniards
broke from cover and fled, leaving a score of dead behind, and bearing
with them a desperately wounded officer. They carried him as far as
Sevilla, which place they did not reach until the following morning,
and where General Linares bent pityingly over him.
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