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Midnight brought a moist, warm breeze and a few formless clouds which served at ti the clouds, O'Reilly hoped that they ht prove to be the heralds of a storm None came When the moon had finally crept down into the tree-tops old Hilario stepped upon his cigarette, then began silently to saddle up The others folloith alacrity, and fell in behind hier ventured to speak aloud; nothing but the occasional sound of a hoof striking upon root or stone, the creak of leather, or the rustle of branches against passing bodies gave evidence that mounted men were en route

When they had covered a couple of miles Hilario reined in and the others crowded close Ahead, diht sky, there appeared to be a thinning of the woods After listening for a moment or two, Hilario dismounted and slipped away; the three riders sat their saddles with ears strained Once ht beca of crickets, the strident call of tree-toads, the whining undertone of the mosquitoes

Hilario returned ord that all ell, and each s and strips of gunny-sack provided for the purpose Then, one by one, theyThe trocha lay before theht see out over a level waste of stumps and tree-trunks perhaps a quarter of a ainst the luminous western horizon opposite the inky forest stood like a wall Midway of the clearing there was a railroad grade with a telephone-pole or two li was silent and to all appearances deserted; nothing stirred, no sign of life appeared anywhere And yet, as the American studied the place, he had a queer, uncomfortable sensation that it was thickly peopled and that eyes were peering out at hiuresthe embankment, stumps stirred

O'Reilly felt a pair of reins thrust into his hand and found Hilario exao with you?" he inquired of the guide

The latter shook his head "Antonio will go; he will keep watch while I clear a path If you hear or see anything--"

Jacket interrupted with a sibilant: "Psst! Look! Yonder!"