Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1890-08-31

time and again, threw up his hand and
warned the men not to ride over the
heels of his horse.
Seven o'clock came, and still they
had not got beyond the Pyramids.
Eight O'Clock, and they were not in
sight of the pass. Nine o'clock, and
still the gorge was not in view. 1t was
not until nearly ten that the massive
gateway seemed to open before them,
and then, far to the front, their eager
ears could catch the sound OF very
sharp and rapid firing.
"My God,'' said Mason, with ire
pressible excitement, "there's no ques-
tiOn about it, captain, Lanes surround
ed 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.. Ma
son. The only safe way TO do it will be
to dismount and throw a line OF Skin
mishers ahead. If Lane is surrounded
the Apaches undoubtedly will open fire
us 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 a trot moved forward
few hundred yards, and then, to the
intense disgust of Mr.. Mason, ordered
the first platoon dismounted and pushed
ahead as skirmiShers. Compelled 20
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 i
shrill yell indicated that the ApacheS
were evidently having the best of it.
Again Mason rode to his captain. II
beg you, sir" he said, ito 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
follow 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 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 ut 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 mo-
ment they reached the bank Mason
struck trot without any orders and the
men followed him.
Noel fastened forward shouting out,
"Walk, walk. But finding that that
either did not or would not hear him he
galloped in front of the troop and stern
ly ordered the leaders to decrease their
gate and not again to take the trot UNI
less 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 sudden cry: My
! God! I've got it," and fell back from the
saddle Noel at the same time felt
twinge along his left arm, and wheeling
| his horse about shouted: TO the rear.
| to the rear. We're ambuShedn 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 ApachcS,
some aimed at the fleeing troop and
others at the little group of men that
remained behind; for the poor fellow
who had been shot through the breast
Law insenSible 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 on 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
gone four or five hundred yards TO the
rear, and there the first sergeant-not
he-rallied the troop, reformed 1t,
counted tours and faced it To the front. !
When Mason returned to them, lead
ing the two troopers and the dying man,
his face was as black as a thunder |
cloud. He rode up to his captain, who |
was Stanching with handkerchief a |
little stream of blood that seemed to be |
coming down his left arm, and address
ed TO him these words:
Capt. Noel, there were not more than
six or eight Apaches guarding those
heights. There was no excuse in Gods
world. sir, for a retreat. 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,"
TO BE CONTINUED,