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

49,
%ss.sss5 XXI
Zane finds himself confronted one instant
by u sdU0ge t0drrtor.
Not an instant too soon, although he
has ridden hard since earliest dawn, has
Lane reached the rocky pass. North
and south the Peloncillos are shrouded
in the gloom of coming night, and all
over the arid plain to the eastward dark
ness has settled down. In previous
scouts he has learned the country well,
and he knows just where to turn for
tanks of cool water for horses, mules
and men-the cavalry order of prece-
dence when creature comforts are to be
doled out. He knows just where to con-
,ceal his little force in the recesses of the
rocks and let them build tiny fires and
make their coffee and then get such rest
as is possible before the coming day; but
there is no rest for him. Taking two
veteran soldiers with him, and leaving
the troop to the command Of his lieuten-
ant, an enthusiastic young soldier only
year out of the cadet gray, the captain
rides westward through the cleaning.
lie must determine at once whether the
Indians are coming toward the pass by
which the San Simon makes its burst
through the range, or whether, having
made wide detour around the little post
at Bowie among the Chiricahua noun
tains, they are now heading southwark
again and taking the shortest line to the
border before seeking to regain once
more their old trail along the San Ber-
nardino. How often have their war
parties gone to and fro along those rocky
banks, unmolested, unpursued!
And now secure in the belief that
they have thrown all the cavalry far to
the rear in the "stern chase" which no
Apache breads, well knowing how easily
he can distance his hampered pursuers,
the renegades, joined by gang of the
utterly ''unreconstructed" Chiricahaus,
are taking things easily and making
raids on the helpless ranches that lie to
the right or left of their line of march.
Fortunately for the records these are
few in number; had there been dozens
more they would only have served to
swell the list of butchered men, Of plum
-dered ranches, of burning stacks and
corrals, of women and children borne off
to be the sport of their leisure. hours
when once secure in the Businesses of the
Sierra Madres far south of the line.
Death could not come too soon to the re-
lief of these poor creatures, and Lane
and all his men had been spurred to the
utmost effort by the story of the railway
hands that they had plainly seen several
women and children bound to the spare
animals the renegades drove along across
the iron track.
Among the passengers in the pillaged
stage coach were the wife and daughter
of an Indian agent, who had only recent
ly come to this arid territory and knew
little of the ways of its indigenous peo-
pie. Nothing had since been seen or
heard of them. Capt. Rawlins and two
soldiers, going up as witnesses before
court martial at Grant, were found
hacked almost beyond recognition, and
the driver, too, who seemed to have
crawled out among the rocks to die.
Verify the Apaches had good reason to
yrevel in their success! They had hood
winked the bureau, lodged the cavalry,
plundered right and 4eft until they were
rich with spoil, and now, well to the
south Of the railway, with a choice of
either east or west side of the range,
their main body and prisoners are halted
Ito rest the animals, while miles to the
rear their faithful vedettes keep watch
against pursuers, and miles out to the
west the most active young warriors are
crying havoc at the ranch Of Tres Her
nsnos. 1t is the red glare of the flame
towards the sunset horizon that tells
Lane the Apaches cannot be far away.
The instant he and his comrades issue
from the gorge and peer cautiouslyto
the right and left not only do they see
the blaze across the wide valley, but
northward, not more than half mile
away, there rises upon the night wind a
sound that they cannot mistake-the
war chant of the Chiricahuas.
Thank God" cries Lane, 1--WE are
here ahead of them!'
Half an hours reconnaissance reveals
to him their position. Far up among the
powders of the range, where pursuing
horsemen cannot rush upon them in the
mgnt, tney nave maze their D1vouac, ana
are having a revel and feast while await
ing the return of the raiders or news
from the rear that they must be moving.
The range is rugged and precipitous
north of the gorge; cavalry cannot pene-
.trate it; but Lanes plan is quickly laid
He will let his men sleep until
O'Clock, keeping only three sentries ON
the lookout, one of them mounted and
west of the gorge to give warning should
the Indians move during the night. Then,
leaving the horses concealed among tho
rocks south of the stream, with two men
to guard them, he will lead his company
up the heights and as close as possible to
the Apache camp, lie in hiding until it is
light enough to distinguish objects. then