BOOK TWO. The Modern Argonauts.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 11553, 21 June 1899, Page 5 (Supplement)

BOOK TWO. The Modern Argonauts.

CHAPTER X. IN TUB lifcND OF REVOLUTION*,

San Jose, capital of that sturdy little republic of Central America which was through its sudden revolutions made Gautarica famous in history — San Jose was in its periodical state of eruption. The sharp crajh of rifles had been heard iv the streets for the last two hours or more, at times in volleys, but more often in tho isolated discharge of a single gun. Of course, a revolution was in progres — sometimes there weie several in a year — indeed, the good people of Gautaric>i were always in doubt with the rising of the sun whethpr the setting of the same would cast its benison upon the government they bad recently been enjoying or a totally new one — whether the faction of Robaldo, which held the reins would 'not have been succeeded by the ' outp ' 'inder the stirrring leadership of Montejo, late Piesident but now an exile. Indeed, it was a constant toss up as to which party should rule — balI'lots counted bat little, bullets were at a high permium. There was probably no very heavy lo.*B of life during each actual upheaval, | though a few men might be accidentally I killed — the Gantaricans, like all people of mixed blood, being partly Spanish and halfbreed Indians, love spectacular display, and while these battles always created a racket, there was actually little blood spilt, the purty that was outnumbered usually yielding up the palm and retiring to recuperate, while tfa* victors, instead of following up the advantage, calmly settled down to enjoy the fruits of their labour, amid muck merriment and feasting. While the hot little engagement was in progress the good citizens of San Jo3e who were non-combatants kept their doors hermetically sealed, holding themselves ready to issue forth en masse when "the adjudication had been decided, to greet the victors, no matter which . side one. with loud vivas and laurel wreaths — for in matters ''of this kind the people had learned through bitter experience, that it was necessary for the welfare of the community thac they should be non-partisan, and allow the politican's and solJiers to fight ifc out. I Thera was one man in San Jose on. this particular day, who, while a noncombatant, had resolved to see the whole business as far as possible. He knew there was a certain element of, danger in being abroad whether he wore the red cockade of Robaldo on his sombrero, or the green one that dis— tinguised the dark-skinned followers of Montejo, forupr Presidentof Guatarica, for that matter no colour at all ; but this party was in a dare devil mood an \ ready to snap his finders at all manner of peril. !-o Jack Overton sallied forth after arming himself, and endeavoured to gain an idea of how much progress the revolntion was making. He found the soldiers of Robaldo holding their own. It was altogether a guerilla syßtem of war fire* The opposing forces crouched behind fences and houses, while tree 3 often served as a bulwark against the leaden messengers that were flying, promiscuously around, seeking in a spiteful way some object upon which to rent their fury. Any man who has not witneised one of these periodical upheavals in this land of revolution have missed a remarkable experience

TO BE CONTINUED,

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