San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1883-08-09

the sight does not hold their eyes
more than a second. To the right
to the left-above them-down the
valley-they are looking for a hoof-
print, for a trampled spot, for a brok-
en- twig-for a sign, however insight.
| iicant, to prove that men have passed
that way. They find nothing. The
signals up the mountain side were
visible only for seconds.
After the first wild burst OF speed
the lone horse looks back, He sees
that he is not being pushed and he
RECEIVERS courage. He no longer runs
| in a straight line, but he sweeps away
to the right, and changes his gait to a
trot. When he hears the shouts Of
pursuit and the louder thump of hoof.
beats he will straighten away and
show the pursuers gait which no.
thing but whirlwind can equal.
Look! 1t is onlya quarter OF a mic
now to the turn in the valley. The
lone horse has suddenly stopped to
sniff the air. His ears are pointed
straight ahead, his eyes grow larger
and take on a frightened look, and he
half wheels as if he would gallop back
to those who have seemingly pursued.
Five, eight, ten seconds, and with a
snort of alarm he breaks into terri
fic run, takes the extreme left Of the
valley, and goes tearing out of sight
as if followed by lions.
Halt"
The grim sargent sees "signs" in
the actions of the horse. Every
trooper is looking ahead and to the
right. The green valley runs into
the fringe, the fringe into dense
thicket, the thicket into rock and pine
and mountain slope. No eye can pc
netrate that fringe. The Indians may
be in ambush there, or the horse may
have scented wolf or grizzly.
"F'orward!"
No man knows what danger turks
in the fringe, but the order was to
scout beyond the bend. TO disobey
is ignominy and disgrace; to ride for
ward is-wait! There is no air STIR
ring in the valley. Every limb and
bough is as still as if made of iron.
There is silence which weighs like
a heavy burden, and the harsh note
of the hawk or buzzard would be a
relief.
Here is the bend. The valley con-
tinues as before-no wider, no mar
rower-level and unbroken, The
wild horse was out of sight long ago,
and the six troopers see nothing but
the green grass as their eyes sweep
the valley from side to side.
Turn the bend and ride down the
valley for mile or so and keep your
eyes open to discover any pass leading
out"
Haiti"
1t is more than a mile beyond the
bend. No pass has been discovered
No signs of trail have been picked
up. The sergeant has raised himself
up for a long and careful scrutiny,
when an exclamation causes him to
turn his face up the valley. Out from
the fringe ride the demons who have
been lurking there to drink blood.
Five--ten-twenty--ffty - the line
has no end. 1t stretches clear across
the valley before a word has been
spoken. Then it faces to the right
and 200 Indians in war paint, face the
grim old sergeant and his five troop.
ers.
Into line-right dress"
1t is the sergeant who whispers the
order. Six to 200, but he will face
the danger. To retreat down the
valley is to be overtaken one by one
and shot from the saddle or reserved
for torture. Down the valley there is
no hope; up the valley is the camp
and rescue. The two lines face each
other for moment without q move
ment.
Now, men, one volley-sling car
bines-draw sabres and charged"
4 sheet Of flame-a roar-a cloud
of smoke, and the six horses spring
forward. Then there is grand yell,
a rush by every horse and rider, and
a whirlpool begins to circle. Sabres
flash and clang---arrowS whistle---re-
volvers pop-.-voices shout and scream,
and then the whirlpool ceases. 1t is
not three minutes since the first car
bine was fired, but the tragedy has