The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1890-09-12


send them back as rapidly as possible,
guided by three or four men. to where
his horses are corraled, while he and
his little band interpose between them
and any rally the Apaches may make.
Knowing we'll that they are armed
with magazine rifles and supplied by a
paternal bureau with abundant ammu-
milton, knowing that they outnumber
him three to one, knowing that by sun
rise the whole tribe will have reassem-
bled and must infallibly detect the pitt
full weakness of his own force, it is a
desperate chance to take; but it is the
only one-absolutely the only one-to
save those tortured, agonized women,
those terror stricken little ones, from u
fate more awful than words can portray.
BY s OF 0 in the morning, he argues, X
troop must certainly reach him; he
knows them to be fresh and strong; he
knows that they have had only short and
easy marches and therefore can easily
come ahead all night long and be'round-
ing the Pyramid spur by daybreak. He
knows Mason we'll and can count on
that young officer doing his. level best"
to support him. Alas. he does not know
that Mason is compelled by this time to
fall back to second place and that the
last man on whom he can possibly count
sin pinch" is now in command of the
looked for troop.
The night wears on without alarm.
Well nigh exhausted, Lane has thrown
himself at the foot of a tree to catch
what sleep he may, and he feels as
though he had not closed his eyes when
Corp. Shea bends over him to say it is 2
o'clock. Noiselessly the men are arous-
ed; silently they roll out of their blan-
kets, and obedient to the low toned ''fall
in" of the first sergeant, seize their arms
and take their place in line. There Lane
briefly explains the situation; tells them
of the position of the Apache bivouac;
details Corp. Riley and four men to
search for, secure and HE away with
the prisoners, and orders all the rest to
fight like the devil TO drive the Apaches
heller SHELTER into the rocks.
LET not one word be said nor trig-
ger pulled until we are right among
them. Wait for my command, unless
we are detected and fired on. If we are,
blaze away ut once; but never stop your
rush: get right i'll among them. Let
Riley and his men make instant search,
be sure they leave neither woman nor
child behind, and start them back here.
The rest of us will fall back slowly,
keeping between them and the Apaches
all the time. Never let them get near
those prisoners. That is the main object
OF our attack. Once back here with the
horses, we can pick out places in the
rocks from which we can stand the
Apaches off until K troop comes. Rest
assured Lieut.. Mason and his men will
be along by 8 or 8; and it cannot be
that the cavalry now pursuing the
Apaches from the north will be more
than few hours behind. Now, do you
understand? for there will be no chance
of orders up there. Leave your can
teens; leave anything that will hinder or
rattle Those Of Jon who have on spurs,
take them off, Those Of you who have
Tonic or Apache moccasins, take off
your top boots and put them on; they
are all the better for going up these hill
sides. Now get your coffee, men; make
no noise, light no additional fires, and
be ready to move in twenty minutes
Then he pencils this brief note:
Commanding Officer Troop K, Eleventh
Cavalry:
1--WE have headed the Apaches and
will attack their camp the instant it is
light enough to see, rescue their cap
tives, then fall back here to the gorge of
the San Simon. They far outnumber
US, and you cannot reach us too soon.
count upon your being here by in the
morning, and hope with your aid to hold
the enemy until Greene's command ar
rives. Then we ought to capture the
whole band. Do not fail me.
FREDERICK LANE,
Captain Eleventh Cavalry"
This he gave to Sergt. Luce, with or
ders to ride back on the trail until he
meets K troop and deliver it to Lieut..
Mason or whoever is in command, and
in half an hour Luce is away.
And now, just as the dawn is break
ing and faint pallid light is stealing
through the tree tops along the rocky
range, there come creeping slowly,
noiselessly along the slope score of
shadowy forms, crouching from bowlder
to bowlder, from tree to tree. Not
word is spoken, save now and then
whispered caution. Foremost, carbine
in hand, is the captain, now hating
moment to give some signal to those
nearest him, now peering ahead over the
rocks that bar the way. At last he
reaches point where, looking down the
dark and rugged hillside before him, he
sees something which causes him to un-
sling the case in which his field glasses
are carried, to gaze thither long and
fixedly. With all eyes upon their leader,
the men wait and listen; some cautiously
try the hammers Of their carbines and
loosen few cartridges in the loops of
their prairie belts. A signal from Lane
brings Mr.. Royce, the young second
lieutenant, to his side. It is the boys
first experience of the kind, and his
heart is humping, but he means to be
one Of the foremost in the charge when
the time comes. Watching closely, the
nearest men can see that the captain is
pointing out some object nearer at hand