Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-10-09


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
night, they have made their bivouac, and
are having a revel and feast while await
ing the return of the raiders or news
from the rear that they must removing.
The range is rugged and PERCEPTIONS
north of the gorge; cavalry cannot pene-
trate it; but Lanes plan is quickly laid.
He will let his men sleep until 2
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 the
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
dash down. into their midst, rescue the pris-
oners in the panic and confusion that he
knows will result from the sudden attack,
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 well that they are armed
with magazine rifles and supplied by
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
ful 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 a
fate more awful than words can portray.
By or in the morning, he argues, K
troop mustS 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 well 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 a 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 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 at once; but never stop your
rush: get right in 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 or 9; and it cannot be
that the cavalry now pursuing the
Apaches from the north will be more
than few hours behind. Now. do you
for there will be no chance
Of orders up there. Leave your can
Gems; leave anything that will hinder or
'attle. Those Of you who have on spurs,
AXE them off. Those of you who have
ronto or Apache moccasins, take off
rour top boots and put them on; they
Ire all the better for going up these hill
tides. Now get your coffee, men; make
10 noise, light no additional fires, and
De 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
ives, then fall back here to the gorge of
he San Simon. They far outnumber
Is, and you cannot reach US too soon. l
cunt upon your being here by in the
morning, and hope with your. aid to hold |
he enemy until GreeneIs command ar
ives. 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
ers to ride back on the trail until he
meets z troop and deliver TITO Lieut..
Jason or whoever is in command, and
n half an hour Luce is away.
And now, just as the dawn is break
ng and faint pallid light is stealing
trough the tree tops along the rocky
ange, there come creeping slowly,
along the slope a score of
hadowy forms, crouching from bowlder
D bowlder, from tree to tree. Not a
7ord is spoken, save now and then a