San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-08-16


bound and helpless, with all those fierce
young fighters close at hand.
The word is passed among the men:
Follow closely, but look well to your
footing. Dislodge no stones" Then,
slowly and stAalthily as before, on they
go-this time down the hill towards the
faint lights of the Indian bivouac. A
hundred yards more and Lane holds up
his hand, 4 signal to halt; and here he
gives Mr.. Royce few instructions in
low tone. The youngster mods his head
and mutters to several of the men as he
passes: Follow me-" They disappear
among the rocks AMI trees to the right.
and it is evident thas they mean to work
around to the east Of the bivOuac, so as
TO partially inCirCle them. Little by lit
tie the wan light grows brighter. and
close at hand objects far more distinct.
An Indian is just passing in front of the
nearest blaze and is lost in the gloom
among the stunted trees. One or two
forms are moving about, but they can
only dimly be distinguished. Lane
argues, however. that they are getting
ready to move and no time is to be lost
Spread out now" is the order, ''wel
to the right and left, and move forward.
Be very careful" And once more they
resume their Catlika advance. Nearer
and nearer they creep upon the unsus-
pecting foe. and soon many a form of
sleeping Apache can be made out, lying
around in the grassy basin in which they
are hiding for the night. Lane motions
to Corp. Riley to come close to his side
Il can see nothing that looks like pris-
oners: they must be among the trees
there. where that farthest fire is burning
Keep close to me with Your men. Pass
the word to the right, there. All ready
And now they are so near the indians
that the voices of one or two squaws can
be heard chatting in low tones; then the
feeble wall of an infant is for Il moment
brought to their straining ears; then far
out over the level valley to the west
there is a sound that causes Lanes blood
to tingle-faint, distant, but uumistaka-
ble-a chorus of Apache yells. The raid
ers are coming back; it is time to strike
the blow. Now or never seems to be the
and then into each others faces.
Forward! no shot, no sound, till they
see us; then cheer like mad as You charge!
Come on, mem!
Quickly now following his lead, they
go leaping down the hillside. Thirty
fifty yards without mishap or discovery.
Sixty, and still no sound from the de-
Il
of carbine sliding down the rocks.
muttered execration: then shrill. pierre.
ing scream from the midst of the bivouac;
then
Charger!
In they go!-the Devils own DIS"
The still air rings with their wild hur-
rains and the crash of their carbines. The
fame jets light up the savage scene and
show squaws and screaming children
rushing for shelter among the rocks;
Apache warriors springing from the
ground, some manfully facing the rush
of the foe, others fleeing like women
down the hillside.
Never hating an instant, the soldiers
dash through the camp, driving the
dusky occupants heller s4elter. Lane
finds himself confronted one instant by
a savage warrior whose eyes CLEAN like
tigers under the thatCh of coarse black
hair, and whose teeth gnash in fury as
he tries to force fresh cartridge into
his breech loader. No time for Lane to
reload He clubs his carbine, and the
hammer comes crashing down on the In
dams skull just as Corp. Riley drives
bullet through his heart.
Look to the captives, man." shouts
Lane. Don't follow me! Drive them!
drive them, Royce" are his ringing or
ders. as he himself dashes on past the
fires and into the feeble morning light
beyond.
Bang! bang! the carbines are ringing
through the rocks and trees; cheer upon
cheer goes up from the little command,
mingled with Indian yells and the
screams of the terrified children.
"Riley's got EN-, sir" he hears his boy
tTumpeter call. Some of EN-, anyhow
There's two white women"
Never mind. lad, " he answers Don't |
sound the recall till tell you"
And again his ringing voice is heard |
among the tumult: Forward! forward!
drive them! keep them on the run, men!" |
And so for five minutes longer, firing |
whenever a savage head appears, infict- |
ing and receiving many a savage blow,
but still VIGOROUSLY forcing their way |
onward, the little band follow their