If Rosa
had not put herself behind prison walls, if she were still in
hiding somewhere on the island, it would be a simple matter to
seek her out. But Matanzas, of all places!
Then, too, the pacificos, according to all reports, were dying
like flies in the prison camps. Norine wondered if there might not
be a terrible heartache at the end of O'Reilly's quest? Her face
was grave and worried when, hearing him speak to her, she turned
to take his outstretched hand.
"You will be careful, won't you?" she implored. "And you'll be
stout of heart, no matter what occurs?"
He nodded. "It's a long way back here to Cubitas. You may not see
or hear from me again."
"I understand." She choked miserably. "You mean you may not come
back. Oh, Johnnie!"
"Tut, tut! We O'Reillys have more lives than a litter of cats. I
mean I may not see you until the war is over and we meet in New
York. Well, we've been good pals, and--I'm glad you came to Cuba."
His grasp upon her two hands was painful.
"You must go, I know, and I wouldn't try to keep you, but--"
Norine faltered, then impulsively she drew him down and kissed him
full upon the lips. "For Rosa!" she whispered. Her eyes were
shining as she watched him pass swiftly out of sight.
XXII
THE TROCHA
Of all the military measures employed by the Spaniards in their
wars against Cuban independence, perhaps the most unique was the
trocha--trench or traverse.
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