The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1893-06-01


they're worse than useless. At the
first sign of an attack they'd be
stampeding out into the darkness,
and that's the last we'd see of them.
Heard anything further out this
way, sirY"
"Why, confound it, yes. / try
to convince myself it's only imagi-
nation, but two or three times, far
out there toward the Picacho, I've
heard that whip cracking. | have
felt sure that there was a hammer
ing sound, as though some one
were pounding ON a wagon tire.
Once | was sure / heard a horse
snort. That / was in measure ex-
pecting. If those fellows mean to
attack they'll come mounted, of
course but what wagon would they
havei"
zone of Ceralvo's perhaps to cart
off the safe in if they couldn't bust
into it here"
"There Hark now, sergeant
Didn't you heart" suddenly spoke
the major, throwing up a warning
hand.
Both men held their breath,
listening intently. For a moment
nothing but the beating of their own
hearts served to give the faintest
sound. Then, out to the west, I'M
der the starlit vault of the heavens,
somewhere in that black expanse of
desert, plainly and distinctly there
rose the measured sound of iron or
stone beating on iron. Whether it
were tire or Inch pin, hame or
brake, something metallic about a
wagon or blackboard was being
pounded into place or shape.
"It's them, SIR" muttered the
sergeant; otis that bloody gang, for
there's no stage due tonight, and if
it was Harvey's ambulance recap
tured, It's from the northeast it
would be coming.
"Mightn't they have missed the
trail in the darkness, and, having no
ranch lights to guide them, got lost
somewhere out theref"
"Not likely, sir; shure there'd be
a squad of the troop and half
dozon old hands with 'em if it was
Harvey's. This has come from the
pass, and it won't be long before
they'll be coming ahead. You'll
need your carbine then. Confound
that man Mullan Can't | wake
him yeti"
Apparently not; even the we'll
directed kick only evoked groan.
Taking a couple of carbines, Feeny
returned to the major, silently hand
ing him one of the weapons, saying,
sits loaded, sir, and here's more
cartridges"
Then again both men listened in
tently.
No sound now. The hammering
had ceased. One-two minutes
they waited, then nearer at hand
than before, clear, sharp and dis
tinct, out from the darkness came
the unmistakable crack of a whip.
At the sound Feeny knelt. Click,
click went the hammer of his car
bine to full cock. Another moment
of breathless silence. Then the
muffied sound of hoofs, the creak of
wagon springs, then voice.
at can't be far away. Ride
ahead and see if you can't rout
somebody out"
And then Feeny's challenge again
rang out on the still night air, fol-
lowed instantly by muffied sounds
of stir aud excitement in the ranch
behind them.
"Who comes theref'
"Hellol What's that Who's
thati Is that Morenoi"
"Who comes there, | sayf Halt !
or I'll fire."
"For Gods sake don't fire, man;
we've got ladies here"
"What ladiesf Who are you
anyhow Quick !"
"George Harvey's daughters, of
Tucson. I'm his SON.
"God be praised /" shouted Feeny,
springing to his feet and rushing
forward. "Are they all safei-un-
harmedi Where did you overtake
themf"
"Overtake whoi What in blazes
are you talking abouti" asked tall,
fellow, bending down from
his saddle. "Who are youf"
Sergeant Feeny, Of the cavalry,
and here's the major just back of
me. "
"Major whoi"
"Mai. Plummer; him you was
talking with this morning when you
came for help" answered Feeny,
his voice tremulous with excite
men. Already he was beginning to
see light.
"Why, I'vo never seen Maj.
Plummer nor any other major to-
day. The only troops ! met were
Sergeant Wing and his guard at the
pass just after nightfall- Have you
met the Apachesf You saw the sig
nal, Of course.
aSignal, yes, but not an Apache.
Tell me, now, wasn't it you Was here