The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1890-09-19


sir. came slowly, because my horse
was worn ont. aud because Capt. Lane
thought that | would meet the troop
very much nearer the pass. It's more
than fifteen miles. l reckon"
Had the attack begun before you
efty'
..Yes, sir: and could hear the shots
as came out of the pass-hear them dis
tinctly."
MAY inquire what the news is, cap
tainY' said Mr.. Mason. riding up to his
side
'sWeu." was the reply. Lane writes
that he has headed the Apaches, and that
he is Just moving in to the attack"
evil you permit me to see the note,
sir?" said Mason, trembling with exas-
peration at the Indifferent manner i'll
which it was received.
Noel hesitated: "Presently-presently,
Mr.. Mason. Well move forward at
trot. now.
Sergt. Luce refined about, and, riding
beside the first sergeant of X troop, told
him in low tones of the adventures of
the previous day and night, and the fact
that the Apaches were there just north
of the pass and in complete force. The
result seemed to be, as the word was
passed among the men, to increase the
gait to such an extent that they crowded
upon the leaders, and Noel, time and
again, threw up his hand and warned
the men not to ride over the heels of his
horse. ERA w
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 Godw said Mason, with irrepres-
sible excitement, ''there's no question
about it, captain, Lanes surrounded
there! For heavens sake, sir, let's get
ahead to his support"
Ride forward, sergeant" said Noel
to Luce, "and 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.. Mason.
The only safe way to do it will be to dis
mount and throw line of skirmishers
ahead. If Lane is surrounded the
Apaches undoubtedly will open fire on
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 trot, moved for
ward few hundred yards, and then, to
the intense disgust of Mr.. Mason, ordered
the first platoon dismounted and pushed
ahead as skirmishers. Compelled to
leave their horses with number four OF
each SET the other troopers, sullenly, but
in disciplined silence, advanced afoot ur
the gentle slope which led to the heights
on the right of the gorge.
Not shot impeded their advance; not
sound told them that they We're ever
watched But far up through the pass
itself the sound of sharp firing continued
and every now and then a shrill yell in
dicated that the Apaches were evidently
having the best of it.
Again Mason rode to his captain. ''.
beg you, sir" he said, "to let me take
nv platoon, or the other one, and charge
through there. 1t isn't possible tina
they can knock more than one or tive
of us out of the saddle; and if you fol
low with the rest of the men they cal
easily be taken care Of" But Noel thi
time rebuked him.
'sMr. Mason, have had too much o
your interference" he said, land | vii
tolerate no more. am in command o
, this troop, sir, and 1 am responsible 70
its proper conduct"
And Mason, rebuffed. fell back with
! out further word.
, The pass was reached, and still not
| shot had been fired. Over the low ridg
, the dismounted troopers went, and no
an Apache was in sight. Then at last
a became evident that to cross the strear
they would have to ford; and then tn
"recall" was sounded, the horses wer
9 run rapidly forward to the skirmish line
{ the men swung into saddle, the rea
platoon closed on the one in front, an
/ cautiously, with Mason leading and Not
r hanging back little as though to direo
|. the march of his column, the troo
! passed through the river and came OF
b on the other side. The moment the
/: reached the bank Mason struck tire
n without any orders and the men TO
8 lowed him.
: Noel fastened forward. shouting on
/. 'Walk, walk" But, finding that the
= either did not or would not hear him, /
galloped in front of the troop and steri
ly ordered the leaders to decrease the
o gait and not again to take the trot unle
n he gave the command.
|, Just at this minute, from the heigh
IS to the right and left, half dozen sho
,, were fired in quick succession a troops
10 riding beside the first sergeant threw I
, his arms, with the sudden cry: "My Go
D. I've got it!' and fell back from the sa
% die. Noel at the same instant felt
t. twinge along his left arm, and, wheelir
ye his horse about, shouted: "To the rea
n to the rear! We're ambushed" An
l. despite the rallying cry OF Mason al
$, the entreaties of the guide, the me