The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-05-14
FOES IN AMBUSH.
BY CAPTAIN CHARLES KING, U. S. A.
Author OF the coloners Daughter" "Marion's Faith"
"Kitty's Conquest" "A Soldiers Secret" &c.
Cepyrteh. 1899. bp Charles King.
CHAPTER vi.

CHAPTER VI
Harvey could not long havo lain uucon-
seious No bones were broken. no severe con-
cussion sustained In the rapid drag over the
sandy surface. and the awful sense Of the ca
amity that had befallen him and the dread
and doubt as to the fate OF his beloved ones
seemed to rally his stunned and bowi!dored
faculties and bring him face to face with the
horror OF the situation. Barely able TO
breathe. he found himself rudely gagged.
Striving to raise his hand to tear the hatetui
bandage way. he found that he was pinioned
by the elbows and bound hand and foot by the
very RATA. probably. that had dragged him
thither. No doubt as to tho natl onality OF his
unseen %captors here. The Skill with which
he had been looped. tripped. whiskod
away, and b%ound-the sharp. biting edges.
even the odor OF dirty rawhide %rope-nil told
him that though Americans were not lacking
in the gang. his immediate antagonists hailed
from across tho Sonora limo. Who and what
they were mattered little. however. Tho TACT
that after hours OF repulsc In open attack the
foe had all on n sudden carried their castle by
q mean ruse was ONLY too forcibly appar-
emit. writhing. struggling in miserable effort
to free himself from his bonds. poor Harvey's
burning eyes were maddened by the picture
before him only q couple Of hundred yards
AWAY. III IN l ilkit " hho illV
now bursting from every window and roaring
and shooting high in air from the brush
heaped roof OF Moreno's r~anch-there stood
the Concord wagon. stalwart men clineing to
the heads o" the plunging and excited ules.
. big runian already in the drivers sea,
whip and reins in hand: there be-
side It was the paymaster's ambulance.
into which three Of the gang were Just
showing the Green-paintcd iron safe-the Pan
dora's box that had caused all their sorrows:
there Moreno's California blackboard. pressed
into service and being used to carry the
wounded. drawn by the extra mules: and
then heavens! what a sight for broth
er's eyes to see and make no siGn!-then one
big brute lifted from the ground and handed up
to n fellow already ensconced within the COW
cred wagon the senseless. perhaps lifeless.
form OF pretty little Ruth. his father's idol.
The poor child lay unresistinR in the r%uflan's
arms. but not so Paquita- 1t took two men.
strong. and burly. to lift and force her into the
dark interior. and one Of those. to the utter
most detail OF his equipment. was to all ap-
pearance q trooper OF the United States cav
airy. There stood his painting horse. with hang
ing head and faded withers. tho very steed
whose rush they had welcomed with such ex-
ceedinR JOY. saddled. bridled. blanketed. sad
dle.hagGed. lariated. side.lined. every item
complete and exactly as issued By the Ord
nance Department The trooper himself wore
the field uniform Of the cavalry-the dark blue
blouse. crossed by the black carbine sling.
whose big brass buckle Ned could even now
SEQ cleaning between tho broad shoulders.
and gathered at the waist by the old fashioned
"thimble belt the troop saddlers used to
mako for field service before the woven glrdle
was Devised. Even more: Harvey in his mis-
cry remembered the thrill OF JOY Will which
he had noted. as the splendid rider refined in
aud threw himself from tho saddle. the
crossed sabres. the troop letter &C" and the
regimental number cleaning atthe front OF his
campaign hat. Who. who could this be. wear
inE tho honorable garb OF a soldier ofthe United
States. yet figuring as a ringleader in q band
Of robbers and assassins now adding rapine to
their calendar Of crime' Edward Harvey's
heart almost burst with helpless raee and
wretchedness whom he saw his precious sis
tsrs dragged within the canvas shelter-saw
tho tall. uniformed brigand. leap lightly after
them. and heard him shout to the ready dri-
yer. Now. of with you"
Crack! went tho whip as the mon sprang
from the heads Of the frantic mules. and with
. bound that nearly wrenched the trdce hooks
from the stout whifletree. the Concord went
spinning over the sands to the south. whirling
80 near him that over the thud OF hoofs ard
whirl OF wheels and creak Of spring and wood
work he could hear poor Fanny's despairlng
cry-tlie last sound he was aware OF for hours.
for now In dead earnest Harvey swooned away.
Half an hour later. tho ~rafters OF the ranch
having by this time tumbled In and turned the
interior into a glowing furnace. there came
riding from the west a slender skirmish line
OF horsemen In the worn campaign 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 bis
instructions. With earhines advanced. with
brims. the veteran troopers came looping into
the light Of the flames. expectant, every in
perhaps the hiss OF feathered arrow OF unseen
ice. Though some OF the steeds looked hot and
the young commander tugced at his BIT and
sisnal."ehaTce.', Stra'eht into the circle Of
E Ss Tsts 2, iiame, the soldier rode and loudly
,, but kissing; snappine woodwork alone re.
i sS%f the q. , ass, tre1fe dsrk ns,sr h nna tS.r rode Ss on
otetioneu as videttes to guard against sur
Ptise, Returning to where he had passed his
Lieutenant, the sergeant dismOunted. allow
;%iaPts sSamiSation 20 ''f foi!o MIN snf The 'i Sooi
tracks, he found the YOUNG nicer riding about
'":: :Any sign 1sS t q Mo s%"ss sly w y he tai hs'I corral
Yet Just see what's beyond that door
No.. NY morse ib frightened at som thinR
tn6ete' ana can't SEQ for the smoke"
opeuleht, me sergeant pushed ahead, bend |
ihg low 70 avoid the sitting fumes. between
sne 1 ,9m6ie;down heap of barley sacks and the
ctumDllne wal lay some writing objects in
shs SAM. and his stout heart almost faiiedhlm
Atthe moan OF agony that met his ear
Help! water! oh. Tor mercy's sake. waterp,
one bound carried him out OF sight OF his
euporior. The next instant. draggin@ hv lie
loot a ,n pros s ! form he merged from the
forral. on came his %canteen ana was held to
the ,parched Inns OF n stranger in searched
civilian dress. his beard and hair sinred Nv
the flames. his legs and arms securely hound.
Who arc you and what's happened; Who's
work Is this demanded the Lieutenant. leap
ing rom saddle 10 ms side, The man seemed
II. his face. ""''
"Quick!-the others!-or they'll burn to
What others2 Where. man" exclaimed
the soldiers. springing to their feet.
ON! somewhere In there-the far end Of
gasping reply.
Another rush into the whirling, eddylng
smoke. another search along the wall. and
presently In the rickering light the rescuing
pair came upon q barrier OF harley sacks.
nnHEning In places, from huge flakes or fire