The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-12-08
CHAPTER TX.

BeuceiNl as was MS itSt, biuhihiOit'
slept only an hour or so. For months
he had lived in the open air, ''on the
warpath, " said his captain, veteran
who had won his spurs twice over in
the war of the rebellion and declared
himself quite ready to take his ease
now and let the youngsters see for
themselves the hollowness of military
glory. WEAKNESS and physical exhaus--
tion had lent their claims, and despite
bruises and many a pang, despite the
realization of the presence of the fair
girls whom his dash and energy had
rescued from robber hands, the young
fellow had dozed away into dreamland.
Why not? The object of his mission
was accomplished. Fanny and Ruth
Harvey were safe. All that was left
for the party to do now was rest IN
quiet until another morn, then 1t would
be quite possible to start on the return
without waiting for the coming of their
friends. Before sunset his men would
be reassembled They could have n
long night sleep, and with the rising
of the morrow's sun, conveying their
three wagons and their captured trea-
sures, the little detachment would take
the back track for the Tucson road,
confident of meeting "old Harvey"
and probably doctor on the way.
He himself, though most in need of
surgical attention when they reached
the caves, had such confidence in the
skill of Sergeant Wing as TO feel that
his arm was set as perfectly as could
be done by almost any other practition-
er, and before dropping off TO sleep had
quite determined that he would make
the morning march in saddle.
Still, he could not sleep for any great
length of time. The instinct Of vigi-
lance and the sense of responsibility
would not leave him. tn his half
dreaming, half waking state, he once
thought he heard a light football, and
presently as he dozed with eyelids shut
there came a soft touch upon his tenn
pie. Lifting his hand he seized that Of
his visitor--Fanny Harvey.
"Why are you not resting?" he asked.
"And where is Ruthf"
Ruth is sleeping, as we hoped you
might be. Tired natures sweet re-
storer' is all you need, Mr.. Drummond,
ygt you do not seem to have had more
than cat nap. Twice have stolen
In here to sec you, and then, though /
was fearful of waking you, you slept
peacefully through it all.
"Well, / must have slept n couple of
hours anyway, and l slept soundly until
within the last few minutes. Has
mono of the men got back yet, Miss
Harvey? Do you know what time il
is? l suppose Wing is sleeping.
"Mr. Wing ought to be sleeping, but
he isn't. The sentry-Patterson l think
they call him-summoned him mp to
the lookout there In the rocks, oh, about
an hour ago, and when the sergeant
| came back he mounted his horse and
| rode away down the canyon. He saic
there was something requiring his at
tention. But you are to drink tins
chocolate and lie still.
Drummond slowly strove to rise
| He was too anxious, too nervous, to re-
main where he was.
| "And none of them has returned
| vet p he asked. II cannot understand
that. No, please do not strive to detair
me here. I'm perfectly able to be III
and about. and if Wing is gone it's M,
business to look after things.
Over among tho rocks across the
j narrow canyon the first object to NEE
his gaze as he arose was Moreno, reclin
ing there bound and helpless, while a
hand soldier had thrown himself OF
bis ssaddle blanket and was sound asleep
The plash of the waters in the brook
dancing and tumbling down the chasm
made sweet, browsing music for hi
ears, n lulling. soothing sound that ex
planned perhaps the deep slumber o
his trooper friend.
81 heard Mr.. Wing tell that man Z
lie down and sleep, said Miss Harve,
as the young officers eyes seemed Z
darken with menace at the sight of
sentry sleeping on guard. Moreno l
securely tied, and both Patterson "a
there and / here are now his keepers
The sonora and her daughter are in th
other cave, forbidden TO go near him.
Glancing up at tho stuntod ceda
where Patterson stood faithful to hi
trust, Drummond saw that he wa
peering steadily southwark through th
black feldglasses.
What do you see, Patterson" h
hailed. where Is Wing1 Any Of tn
men coming backl"
"Wing has gone on down the valley
sir. Some Of our fellows, two or thre
only. were coming back, but the
didn't come fast enough 70 suit hin
The ambulance will be here in aminu
or two-it's just below us down Il
canyon now"
Indeed almost az the moment y
click of iron shod hoofs was heard, an
the detected mule team came into vie
around a juiting point. the dingy ye
Low ambulance iolting after them OF
, soldier in tho driver ss5at handling u
reins. the other riding behind and lea
ing his comrades horse.
Como up here 20 the mouth OF q
. cave, Merrill" called the licutenar