Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-02-24

Imperative there came the CRY from the
ups Oh the farther sentry:
Fire. sir-out to the wcst!"
IN an instant Lieutenant Drummopd
nad Ieaped down the rocky CANYON. and
heldglass in hand was standing by the
aem.rys side. No need to question
where away?"
Far out across the Intervening plain
column of fiamc was dnrting upward,
ginning force and volume With every
moment. The lieutenant never even
paused to raise the glass to his eyes.
NO mngnifying power was needed to
see tho distant pyre: no prolonged
search to tell him what was meant.
The troopers who had sprung to their
iect and were already eagerly follow
ing turned abort in their tracks ut his
first word.
Saddle mp. men. It's the beacon
Mt tho signal peak"
Then came sccnc OF hustle. No
words were spoken; no further orders
given. With the skill of long practice
the mon gasheredtheir few belongings.
shook ont the dingy horseblankets and
then. after careful folding. laid them
creaselcss bEc,: Of the gaunt withcrs of
their faithful mounts. The worn old
siddlcs were deity set: laria.s coiled
| and swung from the cantle rings; dusty
| old bits ana brides adjusted: then cane
| the slipping into carbino slings and
fhimblc belts. the quick lacirg OF Indian
| inoccas!n or canvas Logging. the filing of
cantccris In the tc..id tanks below, while
all the time the cooks and packers
were flying about gathering up the
pots and pans and storing rations. bags
ana blankets ON the rocmy appareios.
Dru;nmond was in the act of swinging
into saddle when his sergeant hastened
M.
Beg pardon. lieutenant. hut shall
leave u small guard with the pack train.
or ran they come right along?"
They'll go with US, Of course. We
can't leave them here. We must head
for Ceralvo's at once. How could those
Indians have got over that way
1T is beyond me to say. sir. didn't
know they ever went west of the Santa
| Maria"
Il can hardly believe 1t now. but
there's NO doubling that signal: il is to
rail- us th:ther mt all speed wherever
Ne may b. and means only one thing
| --'Apachcs here Sergeant Ning -
not tho man to get stampeded. Can
they have jumped the stage, do you
think. or attacked some Of Ceralvo's
| pcoplc:"
Lord knows, sir. don't sec how
/ fhcy cn,tli hnye sv.r,urv around .bero
1ncrc's nothing to tempt them along
that range until they get To the pass
itself. They must have come around
south of Moreno's."
II think not. sergeant"
/ Tho words were spoken in n very
| quiet voice. rTummord turned in sur
1 prise. his foot In the stirrup. and looked
at the speaker. u keen eyed trooper OF
middle age. whose hair was already
sprinkicd with gray.
why not. Bland?"
"Eccariso we have been along tho
range for nearly 80 miles below here,
sir. and haven't crossed sign. and be-
cause l understand ROW what couldn t
account for at o'clocls-what !
thought must bc imagination.
what was that:''
| Smoke. sir. off toward tho ella,
north of Ceralvo's. should say. Just
about north OF west OF where wo are.
why didn't you report it:''
| You We're asleep. sir. and by tho
time got the glasses and looked it had
faded out entirely. but it my belief the
Indians are between us and the river.
or were over there north Of Ceralvo's
today. II not Indians, wLo?''
You ride with me. Bland. I'll
tall: with You further about this. Como
on with tho men rs soon as you have
the packs ready, sergeant And so
saying Lieutenant DrUm,nond mounted
and rode slowly down the winding
trail among the powders. At the foot
of the slope. where the water lay gleam-
ing in it, rocky bed. ne reined his horse
| to tine LETT TO give him his fill of the
pool. and here the troop addressed rs
Bland presently joined him.
Where was il you enlisted. Dlard?"
wrs the youuge. soldiers first gues-
ton. II understand you arc familiar
with all .his country"
Il ~ ulcOsi. oAh- sh-> sAAphtAio dlsC- tlt-
CT the stage company discharged me-"
II remember" was the answer rs
the lieutenant gently drew rein TO lift
his horses head. II think you were go
frank "a 20 give tho reason OF your
quitting their employment.
We'll, there was I'D sense trying to
conceal 1t or anything clse inan may
do cut here. lieutenant. They fired me
for drinking too much ut tho wrong
time. Tho section boss said he couldn't
help himself. and ! don't suppose he
could"
as remember" said Drumiaond
presently. and with hesitation. for he
hated TO pry into tho past of n man who
spoke ed frankly and who made no
effort ~ conceal his weakness. "you
wcr. driver Of the blackboard the Mo-
ralcs gang held mp last November over
near tho Casarinas."
Eyes; that's the time got drunk,
sir. IT'S al that saved me from being
killed. end between keeping sober and