Most of them think there is something between us, anyhow."
"I don't quite understand how I manage to resist you," O'Reilly
told her, "for I think you're perfectly splendid. Probably that's
why I'd hate to see you married to some one-legged veteran of this
amateur war."
"Women don't marry legs," she told him, lightly. Then, more
seriously, she asked, "What are you doing about Rosa?"
"I'm waiting to hear from Matanzas Province. When I joined the
army I had to go where I was sent, of course, but General Gomez
has started inquiries, and as soon as I learn something definite I
shall follow it up. I shall go where the trail leads."
"You still have hope?"
He nodded. "I refuse to let myself doubt."
When O'Reilly joined Judson for supper the latter met him with a
broad grin on his face. "Well," said he, "it seems you started
something with your game of 'Vittles.' You can get ready to saddle
up when the moon rises."
"What do you mean?"
"The colonel took Miss Evans at her word. We're going to raid San
Antonio de los Banos--two hundred of us--to get her some pickles,
and jam, and candy, and tooth-powder."
XIX
THAT SICK MAN FROM SAN ANTONIO
Certain histories of the Cuban War for Independence speak of "The
Battle of San Antonio de los Banos." They relate how one thousand
patriots captured the village after a gallant and sanguinary
resistance by its Spanish garrison; how they released the
prisoners in the local jail, replenished their own supplies, and
then retired in the face of enemy reinforcements.
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