The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-12-09

oppressed or excited alternately In
way that baffied Drummond complete
ly, for no explanation was plausible.
Two or three times during the night no
had been heard moaning, and yet the
moment Drummond or, as once hap
pened, Miss Harvey fastened to his
side he declared it was nothing. IT
must have been doing and imagined
the pain was greater than it was"
Awake and conscious, so stout soldier
as he would be the last to give way to
childish exhibitions of suffering, yet
twice Drummond knew him to be
awake despite his protestation Of doz-
ing, and he did not at all like it that
Wing should bury his face in his arms,
hiding it from all. What could have
occurred to change this buoyant, joyous,
high spirited trooper all on sudden
into signing, moaning, womanish fell
low? Surely not a wound of which,
however painful, any soldier might be
proud.
Somewhere along toward o'clock,
when it was again Patterson's watch,
and Drummond arose from his blanket
after refreshing sleep of nearly two
hours and he and his faithful sentry
were standing just outside the mouth
of the cave, they distinctly heard the
same moan Of distress.
lis there nothing we can do to ease
the sergeant, sir?" whispered Patter-
son. "This makes the second time i
have heard him groaning, and it's so
unlike him."
1--WE have no opiates, and doubt il
he would use one if we had. He de-
clares there is no intense pain"
"Well, first off, sir, / thought he was
dreaming, but he was wide awake, and
Miss Harvey came in only moment
after got to him. Could those devils
poison bullet as they do their arrows.
and could that make him go into fever
SO soon?"
Il hardly think so, but why did you
say dreaming?"
Because once it was mother he
called, and again-just now-I thought
he said 'mother.'''
The lIeutenaDt turned. looking
straight at his 1ldierly subordinate.
"By Jove, Patterson, SO did IT.
There was a little stir across the
canyon. Moreno was edging about un-
easily and beginning to mutter bias
phemy at his bonds.
THAT fellow begged very hard to be
moved down into that wolf hole of a
place where the Mexican women are,
lieutenant, with those two bunged up
bandits TO take care Of. Nice time
we'd have sir, if the three of them was
able to move. The boys'd make short
work of them now, the way they're
feeling. went in and took look at
those two fellows. One of 'em is a
goner. sure, but they're dead game,
both of 'em. Neither one has word
20 say
NO." answered Drummond, "they
refused to give their names to me-said
it was no earthly consequence what
name we put over their graves the right
set of fellows would DO along after
awhile and do them all tho honor they
cared for. How were the Moreno women
behaving?"
THE girl was asleep, should judge,
sir. The old hag was rocking to and
fro, grooming to herself until one of
the two--the live one, should call
him-hurlcd a curse at her in Span
ish and told her to dry up or he'd kill
her. All bluff, for he can't move
peg"
Watch them well, Patterson, oil
the same. Hush!"
Again from within tho deep shelter
of the rocky cave came the low moan
of anguish:
Mother! mother! if you knew''--
Here, Patterson, l can't stand this.
I'm going in to him. And picking
up the dim lantern which he had taken
from the Harvey wagon Drummond
stole in on tiptoe and knelt again be-
side his wounded comrade.
Wing! ssrgeant Look up. man.
Speak to me. You must be in distress,
or bodily. Do let me help you
In some way"
For moment no reply whatever.
Wings face was hidden. Then he
looked gently upward.
Lieutenant, I'm ashamed TO DO Civ
ing /, o. - much trouble. Please go and
lie down again, sir; you're worse hart
than am-only suppose get to doz-
ing off and then turn on that side"
"No, it isn't that, sergeant. There's
wrong. and it has all come
on you since yesterday morning. Where
is your motheri"
Again Wing turned away, burying
his face in his arms.
Listen, sergeant; we hope to get
you out of this by tonight. DR.. Gray
ought surely to reach US by that time,
and while we may have to keep up
field hospital here day or two my
first duty will be to write and tell your
mother how bravely you have served
us, and she shall be told that you are
wounded, but not in such q way as to
alarm her. !"
Out came restraining hand.
Lieutenant, che must not know go
all"
a. u. r..