Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-10-16
IN the rgnt OF the gorge.

watched. But Tar up through tIe pass
itself the sound of sharp firing continued,
and every now and then a shrin yell in
dicated that the Apaches were evidently
having the best of it.
Again Mason rode to his captain. Il
beg 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.
"AIr. Mason, l have had too much OF
your interference" he said, ''and l will
tolerate no more. l am in command OF
this troop, sir, and l am responsible for
its proper conduct"
And Mason, rebufed, fell back with
out further word.
The pass was 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 1t
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 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 did not or would not hear him, he
galloped in front of the troop and stern
ly ordered the leaders to decrease their
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 a dozen shots
were fired in quick succession; a trooper
riding beside the first sergeant threw vi
his arms, with the sudden cry: "My God
I've got itr' and fell back from the sad
die Noel at the same instant felt a
twinge along his left arm, and, wheeling
his horse about, shouted: 'To the rear.
to the rear! We're ambushed" 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 III
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 cut Of harms way.
By this time Noel, at full gallon, had
gone four CT five hundred yards to the
rear. and there the first sergeant-not he
-IdluGu IiiC ~ SOtN-'N
fours, and faced il IN f!l3 front.
When Mason returned to them, lead
ing the two troopers and the dying man
his face was as black as thunder cloud
He rode up to his captain, who wa
stanching with a handkerchief Iittlt
stream of blood that seemed to be com
ing down his left arm, and addressed t.
him these words:
Capt. Noel, there were not more thar
six or eight Apaches guarding those
heights. There was no excuse in GOdt
world, sir, for retreat. l can take my
platoon and go through there now with
out difficulty, and once again, sir, i'm
plore you to let me do it
Ncel's reply was. Il have alread!
heard too much from you today, Mr
Mason. If hear one more word you 81
to the rear in arrest. l am woUIiced
sir, but viii not turn over this com
mand to you"
Wounded be hanged! Capt. Noel
you've got scratch of which CHILD
ought to be ashamed" was the furiOu.
reply, upon which Noel, considering
that he must at all hazards preserve the
dignity of his position, ordered Lieut.
Mason to consider himself in arrest
And, dismounting, and calling to one o.
two of the men to assist him, the captain
got out of his blouse and had the sleeve
of his undershirt cut off, and then, IL
full hearing of the combat up the pass
proceeded to have scratch, as Masor
had truly designated it, stanched ant
dressed.
Meantime, the troop, shamefaced and
disguised, dismounted and awaited fur
Their developments. For fifteen minutes
they remained there, listening to the bat
tie a mile away, and then there came {
sound that thrilled every man with ex
citement-with mad longing to dash tC
the front; there came crashes Of mus
kerry that told of the arrival OF strong
re-enforcements for one party or another
which party was soon developed by
the glorious, ringing cheers that they
well recognized to be those of their com
rades of Greene's battalion.
s'Bv heavensr' said Mason, with q
groan, "after all, we have lost our chance
It's Greene, not old K troop, that got
there in time to save them"
The looks that were cast towards Their
new captain by the men, standing in sui,
len silence at their horses heads, were
not those that any soldier would have
envied.
'Q9lNILNOO "a OIL