The Russellville Democrat., 1893-06-22

vas shelter--saw the tall, uniformed
brigand leap lightly after them, and
beard him shout to the ready driver,
Now off with you'll
Craclxk went the whip as the men
sprang from the heads Of the frantic
mules, and with bound that nearly
wrenched the trace hooks from the
stout whiffietree, the Concord went
spinning over the sands to the south,
whirling so near him that over the
thud oe hoofs and whirl of wheels
and creak Of spring and woodwork
he could hear poor Fanny's despair
ing cry--the last sound he was
aware Of for hours, for now in dead
earnest Harvey swooned away.
Half an hour later, the rafteis Of
the ranch having by this time tum-
bled in and turned the interior into
glowing furnace, there came riding
from the west slender skirmish
line of horsemen in the worn cam
paign dress of the regular cavalry
With the advance there were not
more than six or eight, a tall,
slender lieutenant leading them
on and signalling his
instructions. With carbines adj
vanced, with eyes peering out from
under the jagged lat brims, the vet
eran troopers came Looping into the
light of the flames, expectant every
instant Of hearing the crack of out
laws rife, or perhaps the hiss of
feathered arrow of unseen foe.
Though some of the steeds looked hot
and wearied, the big raw oned
sorrel that carried the young com
mander tugged at his bit and bounded
impatiently as though eager for the
signal charge" Straight into the
circle of light, straight to the south
ern entrance, now gate of flame,
the soldier rode and loudly hailed
Moreno"
But Kissing, swapping oocwork
alone replied. Guided by an ex-
perienced sergeant, some Of the
troopers, never hating, rode on
into the eastward darkness, and
there were stationed as videttes to
guard against surprise. Returning
to where he had passed his lieuten-
ant, the sergeant dismounted, allow
ing his weary horse TO stand, and
then began minute examination.
Following the freshest hoof tracks,
he found the young officer riding
about through the thick smoke with
in the corral.
"Any sign of Moreno or his
people, sirY" he hailed.
"Not yet. Just see what's be-
yond that doorway. Ny horse is
frightened at something there, ard
| can't see for the smoke.
Obedient, the sergeant pushed
ahead, bending low to avoid the
sitting fumes. Between the tumble
down heap Of barley sacks and the
crumbling wall lay some writhing
objects III the sand, and his stout
heart almost failed him at the moan
of agony that met his ear.
"Help water! Oh, for mercy
sake, water ~
One bound carried him out of
sight of his superior The next in.
slant, dragging by the foot a pros
trate form, he emerged from the
bank into the fresher air of the cen
ter of the corral. OFF came his can
teen and was held to the parched
lips of stranger in scorehed civilian
dress, his beard and hair singed by
the flames, his legs and arms secure
ly bound.
"Who are you and what's hap
peneda Whose work is this3" de-
manded the lieutenant, leaping from
his saddle to his side. The man
seemed swooning away, but the
sergeant dashed water in his face
"Quick the others -or they'll
burn to death"
"What othersi Where, mani"
exclaimed the soldiers, springing to
their feet.
"Ohl somewhere in there-the
far end of the corral-or Moreno's
west room," was the gasping reply.
Another rush into the whirling,
eddying smoke, another search along
the wall, and presently in the flicker
ing light the rescuing pair came up
on barrier of barley sacks, burn
ing in places from huge flakes of
fire falling from the blazing rafters
of the overhanging shed, and behind
this, senseless, suffocated, and help
lessly bound, two other
forms. Thrusting the sacks aside,
the troopers seized and dragged
forth their hapIess fellow crea
tpres. Jared by sudden pressure,
a burning upright snapped. There
was a cracking, crashing sound,
and down came the rafters, sending
another column of fame to light up
the features Of men rescued not an
instant too soon from the death that
awaited them.
"My heavens !" cried Sergeant
Lee, "this is old Feeny-and yet
alive"
Together the two raised the sense
less form, bore it out into the open
space, laid it gently beside their
first discovery and ran back for the
next, big, heavy, bulky shape in
loose and blood stained garments.
1t took all their strength to lug it
forth. Then the lieutenant bent by
the side OF the slowly recnverino