San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-08-18

SEEMED 20 open before them, ana then,
far to the front, their eager ears could
catch the sound of very sharp and rapid
firing.
My GOl!' said Mason, with irrepres-
sible excitement, there's no question
about it, captain, Lanes surrounded
there! For heavens sake, sir. let's get
ahead to his support"
Ride forward, sergeant" said Noel
to Luce, land show us the shortest way
you know to where Capt. Lane has cor
raled his horses-I don't like the idea of
entering that pass in column, Mr.. Mason.
The only safe way to do it will be to dis
mount and throw a line of skirmishers
ahead. If Lane is surrounded the
Apaches undoubtedly will open fire on
us as we pass through"
Suppose they do, sir; we've got men
enough to drive them back. What we
want is to get through there as quickly
as possible"
But Noel shook his head, and, forming
line to the front at trot, moved for
ward few hundred yards, and then, to
the intense disgust of Mr. Mason, ordered
the first platoon dismounted and pushed
ahead as sl,irmishers. Compelled to
leave their horses with number four of
each set, the other troopers, sullenly, but
in disciplined silence, advanced afoot up
the gentle slope which led to the heights
on the right of the gorge
Not a shot impeded their advance; not
a sound told them that they were even
watched But far up through the pass
itself the sound of sharp firing continued,
and every now and then a shrill yell in
Dictated that the Apaches were evidently
having the best of it,
Again Mason rode to his captain. Il
Deg you, sir" he said "to let me take
my platoon, or the other one, and charge
through there. 1t isn't possible that
they can knock more than one or two
of US out Of the saddle; and if you fol-
low with the rest of the men they can
easily be taken care Of" But Noel this
time rebuked him.
Mr.. Mason, have had too much of
your interference" he said, land | will
tolerate no more. am in command of
this troop, sir, and am responsible for
its proper conduct"
And Mason. rebuffed, fell back with
out further word.
The pass Vas reached, and still not a
shot had been fired. Over the low ridge
the dismOunted troopers went, and not
an Apache was in sight. Then at last it
became evident that to cross the stream
they would have to ford; and then the
recall" was sounded, the horses were
run rapidly forward to the skirmish line,
the men swung into saddle, the rear
platoon closed on the one in front, and
cautiously, with Mason leading and Noel
hanging back a little as though to direct
the march Of his column, the troop
passed through the river and came out
on the other side. The moment they
reached the bank Mason struck trot
without any orders and the men fol-
lowed him.
Noel fastened forward, shouting out,
Walk, walk" But, finding that they
either diu not or would not hear him, he
galloped in front of the troop and stern
gait and not again to take the trot unless
he gave the command.
Just at this minute, from the heights
to the right and left, half dozen shots
were fired in quick succession; trooper
riding beside the first sergeant threw up
his arms. with the sudden cry: MY God!
I've got it, and fell back from the sad
die. Noel at the same instant felt a
twinge along his left arm, and, wheeling
bis horse about, shOuted: ITO the rearl
to the rear! We're ambushedv' And,
despite the rallying cry of Mason and
the entreaties Of the guide, the men,
taking the cue from their leader, refined
to the right and left about and went
Gathering out of the pass.
More shots came from the Apaches,
some aimed at the fleeing troop and
others at the little group of men that re-
manned behind; for the poor fellow who
had been shot through the breast lay in
sensible by the side of the stream, and
would have been abandoned to his fate
but fOr the courage and devotion of
Mason and two of the leading men.
Promptly jumping from their horses, |
they raised him between them, and, lay
ing him across the pommel of one of the |
saddles, supported by the troopers, the |
wounded man was carried back to the |
ford, and from there out of harms way. |
BY this time Noel. at full gallop, had |
gore four or five hundred yards to the
rear. and there the first sergeant-not he