Argosy All-Story Weekly, August 9, 1924 — page 40: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

190 months he was himself again, and very proud of having been raised to the grade of sargento. III. AFTER three months spent in preparation General Aguilar decided to stake all his chances on one decisive engagement. San Pedro being the key to the rich north coast, the plan was to attack this city. The army made an impressive sight as it moved through the mountainous country. The mounted officers each wore a pictu- resque uniform glittering with gold braid, a highly ornamented sword, and a heavy automatic revolver. ‘Two thousand infan- trymen strung out single file on the narrow trails, followed by hundreds of pack mules loaded with machine guns, ammunition, and camp supplies, filling the countryside with that strange medley of sounds peculiar to a moving army. Up and down the pine-clad slopes, through the shallow swift stream, at a slow, even speed they advanced until within ten miles of their objective. Here the general divided his army, send- ing one half around by the Ulua River to attack from one side, while he planned to attack simultaneously from the other. Outside of a few skirmishes, Larry had never been in a battle. Now, as the prep- arations for the attack were completed, he realized that in a few hours he would be under fire. A feeling of uncertainty came over him. How would he act? Would he prove an arrant coward, or would this cold sensation at the pit of his stomach disap- pear, once he was in the thick of the com- bat? Heretofore he had looked upon death as something impersonal and remote—an or- deal he would have to face some time, but far in the future. Now, however, he had a premonition that he would not come through this battle alive. No one but Panama Joe knew where he was. If he was killed, his family would never hear of it. He would be listed in that “ port of missing men ” whose myste- rious existence hides the secret of many aching hearts. He thought of writing to his mother, but why should he? It was better that, she never know of his death than to ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY, discover to what depths he had descended. He could send a few lines to Joe, telling him to notify her that he had been killed accidentally. Tearing a leaf from his note- book, he scrawled his message, giving Joe his mother’s address, and instructing him what to tell her in case he did not return. He placed the letter in an envelope and turned it over to the courier to take back over the route just traversed by the army. Aguilar took up a commanding position on a slight elevation about a mile from the first line of the city’s defense. From here he ordered the attack, having an unob- structed view of the whole field. Between the opposing armies stretched an open plain with a few trees scattered over it. Taking advantage of whatever shelter they found, the infantry moved forward. Machine guns, planted in the most unex- posed places, set up their rattle, while the rifle fire created a steady roar. When the attack checked to some degree the fire of the enemy, the machete men rushed for- ward. A few minutes of hand-to-hand fighting, and the first line of defense was taken. Larry grew calmer after his first terror caused by the whine of bullets passing near him. He was able then to take an intelli- gent interest in the fighting in his immediate vicinity, although seeing very little of the battle as a whole. But a greatly superior force of the enemy swept down upon the attacking forces from the rear. Soon the revolutionists were in a panic. General Aguilar issued orders for retreat, whereupon officers and men fled for the protection of the mountains. In this ignominious flight Larry found Aguilar and himself separated from the remainder of the staff. They were nearing the heavy forests when the general’s horse was shot down. Glancing back as he entered the woods, Larry saw that the horse in falling had pinned the rider’s leg under it. Aguilar was making frantic efforts to free himself as a squad of machete men rushed toward him from the pursuing line in a frenzy of blood lust. For a moment Larry gazed in terror. To return would be useless, one against over- whekming odds. The other officers had gone GOMIGIOO S C(O)