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

the gap. Two or three huge stones arc
rolled into place, and in an instant
through the ragged loopholes the black
muzzles of half dozen carbines are
thrusting, and Costigan shouts exult-'
mgly, Now, YOU black legged black
guards, s6pAs on F ye dare." I
But no Apache is fool enough to at
tack strong position. Keeping well
under cover, the Indians soon line'the
crest and begin sending down q rain
of better aimed bullets ut the loopholes,
and every minute the nattened lead
comes tipping through. One of these
fearful missiles tears its way through
Costigan's sleeve, and striking poor
old Moreno i'll the groin stretches him
groaning upon the floor. A glance
shows that the wound is mortal, and
despite his crimes the men who bear
him, moaning, in to the farther cave
are moved to sudden sympathy as his
hapless wife and child PROSTATE them
selves beside his rocky bier. Drum
mond can afford to lose no moro and
orders the lower half of each hole to
be stopped with blankets, blouses, shirts,
anything that will block shot, and
then for an hour the fire of the bcsiegers
is harmless, and no longer can the be-
sieged catch even an occasional glimpse
of them. At noon their fire has ceased
entirely, and even when breathing sigh
of relief tho men look into one anoth-
er's faces questioningly. How long
can this last? How het, how elese the
air in the cave is growingl
Drummond has gone for moment
into the inner chamber, where Moreno
is now breathing his last, to inquire for
Wing and to speak word of cheer to
his fair and devoted nurses. Not one
murmur of complaint or dread has fall
en- from their lips, though they know
their father to have ridden on perilous
quest and into possible ambush; though
they know their brother to be lying at
the ruined ranch, perhaps seriously
wounded though their own fate may
be capture, with indesc, bable suffering,
shame and death. Fanny Harvey has
behaved like a heroine, as the two troop
ers remarked, and Ruth has done her
best to follow her sisters lead. Yet
they, too, now realize how close and
sitting tho heavy atmosphere is grow
ing. il to be tho black hole of Calcutta
over ain? Even as he takes her hand
in his )rummond reads the dread in
Ruth g fearless face. Even as he holds
it and whispers words of hope and COM
fort there is heavy, continuous, crash
ing sound at the mouth of the cave,
Just in front of the rock barricade, and
he springs back to learn the cause.
They're heaving down logs and
brushwood, SIR, whispers Costigan.
"They mean to roast us out if they
can't do anything else"
More thunder and crash; more heap
ing up of resinous logs from the cliffs
above them. Some of the men beg to
be allowed to push out and die fighting,
but Drummond sternly refuses. SAT
the worst" he says, ''we can retire in
TO the back cave; we have abundant
water there. The air will last several
hours yet, and / tell you help will
come--must come, before the day is
much older"
Two o'clock. Kissing flames and
scorching heat block the cavern en-
trance. The rocky barrier grows hotter
and hotter; the air within denser and
more sitting. The water in the can
teens and pals is no longer cool. 1t is
hardly even cooling. The few men
who remain with Drummond in the
front of the cave are lying full length
upon the floor. The pain in Drum
mond's battered head has become in
tense. 1t is almost maddening. Wing is
moaning and unconscious. Walsh is
incoherent and raving. All are painting
and well nigh exhausted. The front of
the cave is like an oven. Overcome by
the heat, enc or two of the men are
sdging toward the inner cave, but
Drummond orders them back. To the
very last the lives of those fair girls
must be protected and cherished. In
silence, almost in desperation, the men
obey and lie down again, face down.
ward, their heads at the rear wall Of
the cave.
And then Costigan comes crawling
TO the lieutenant s side:
"Have you heard any more logs
thrown down lately, sir!"
"No, corporal. / have heard moth
ing"
They were yellin and shootin ont
there in the gGlch half an hour ago.
Have ye heard no mere of IT, sir r., -
"No; no sound but the hames."
"Glory be to God, thin! Dye know
wat hit names sir Yv
II know what hope" is Drum
mond's faint answer. "Our fellows are
close at hand, for the Indians are clear
ing out"
"Close at hand, is it," cries Costi-
gan, in wild excitement, leaping to his
feet. ''Listen, sir! Listen, all of yes
Dye hear that ?--and that2 And there
now! Oh, Holy Mother of God! isn't
that music? Thim's the trumpets of
X throopl"
Aye. Out along the crests of the
winding canyon the rifles are ringing
again. The cheers Of troopers, bound
ing like goats up the rocky sides, are