The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-12-11
CHAPTER xI-Continued.


Of Apaches is hurrying to join the fray.
Two are riding. Where got they their
horses? The others-over half dozen
come along at their tireless jog trot.
1t was this party that, seen but dimly
at first, gave rise to such ebullition of
Joy among the defenders and defended.
1t was this party that, closely scanned
through his fieldglass, occasioned Lieu
tenant Drummond's moan Of distress.
With all his heart he had been hoping
for the speedy coming of relief over that
very trail-had counted on its reaching
him during the day. He was sure it
could be nothing else when tho corpo-
raj reported something in sight, and so
when he discovered the approaching
party to be Apaches no words could
describe the measure of his disappoint-
ment and dismay. Not for himself and
his men; they were old hands and had
a fine position to defend. His thought
are all for those in whose behalf he has
already made such gallant fight and
for poor Wing, whose feeble moaning
every now and then reaches his ear.
At 10 o'clock he is able through his
glasses to distinctly make out the num-
Der and character of the coming party.
Nine Apaches, all warriors, but one of
them apparently wounded or disabled,
for they have to support him on the
horse, and this it is that hampers their
advance and makes it slower. They
gre heading for the oasis at the mouth
the canyon. There they will leave
dheir horses and their wounded. and
then come creeping up the winding
,orge or crouching among the bowlders
from the east to join in the attack on
le hated paleface. Drummond can
have no doubt of that. New disposi-
tions are necessary.
Stay where you are!' he shouts to
his men. You take charge up here,
Costigan; want to post man or two
below ut the bend" And down he
goes, sliding and scrambling until he
reaches the edge of the brook. Moreno,
squatted against a rock, glances up at
him appealingly.
'Senor Teniente, pray you loose
me and let me help. The Apache is
our common enemy" he pleads.
An idea comes to Drummond. Wings
carbine can be utilized. He can post
Moreno down the gorge at the second
bend to command that approach and
tut little McGuffy, the recruit. at the
next bend to command Moreno and
send bullet through him if he shirk OF
swerve.
Il declare / believe / will, you old
scoundrel, he says. Here, . McGuify,
unto this fellow. I've got to look
around a minute"
Into the depth Of the fissure where
Moreno's women are praying and rock
ing he peers % moment. Ono of the
wounded bandits is now past praying
for. The other, painfully shot but
plucky, begs to be given chance to
fight for his life.
You are too badly hurt now. We
couldn't get you up there" is the an
swer.
We'll, then, put me on with Moreno.
wherever you're going to assign him.
Surely if You can trust a greaser you
can white man. I'm only fit to
hang perhaps, but d--n me il want TO
lie here when there's an Indian fight
going on
And so he, too, is loosed and lifted
to his feet. Leaning on McGuffy's
shoulder and supported by his arm. the
pale faeed stranger. preceded by Mo-
reno. who goes limping and swearing
soto voce down the rocky way, is led
100 yards along the canyon where it
makes second bend. Here they can
see nearly 100 yards more ahead of them,
and here some loose powders are hur-
riedly showed or rolled to form rifle
pit, and these volunteer allies are placed
In position.
I'VE cover the approaches above so
that they can't sneak up and heave
rocks down upon you. All you've got
to do now is to plug every Apache that
shows his nose around that bend be-
low" says Drummond. "McGuify,
you take pest at the point behind.
Watch the overhanging cliffs and sup
port as best you can" And Little
Mack" as the men call him, gets fur
ther instructions as he takes his posi-
tion, instructions which would give
small comfort TO Moreno could he only
hear them. Then back goes the lieu
tenant to where Wing is lying. Miss
Harvey bending anxiously over him,
her beautiful eyes filing with tears at
sight of Drufhmond's brave but hag-
gard young face. Ruth is crouching
by her sisters side, but rises quickly az
Drummond enters, her fears lessening,
her hopes gaining.
ANY newsf Anything IN sight--of
ours?" Is Miss Harvey's eager query.
Not yet, but they're bound to be
along almost any minute now. Some
Apaches whom l could sec coming
across from tho east have wounded
man with them. 1t makes me hope our
fellows have met and fought them and
are following close on their trail.
How's WingY"
She can only shake her head.
He seems delirious every now and
then, perhaps only because Of so much