The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1894-03-29

To avert this he gave orders to be pass
ed back along the column to fire no shot
until they had closed with the band,
and then to be most careful to aim wide
of the wagons. Every man in the little
troop well knew how much was at
stake, and men, all mercy to their
beasts at other times, were now plying
the cruel spur.
Five, 6 o'clock had come and gone
The chase was still out of sight ahead,
yet every moment seemed to bring them
closer upon their heels. At every bend
of the tortuous trail the leaders, eye
was strained to see the dust cloud ris-
ing ahead. But jutting point and roll.
ing shoulder of bluff or hillside ever in
terposed. Drummond had just glanced
at his watch for perhaps the twentieth
sime since daybreak and was replacing
it in his pocket when an exclamation
from Sergeant Meinecke startled him.
Look at Lee!'
The head of the column, moving at the
moment at a walk to rest the painting
horses, had just turned rocky knoll
and was following the trail into
broader reach of tho canyon, which now
seemed opening out to the west. In
stead of keeping i'll the bottom as here
tofore, the wagon track now followed
gentle ascent and disappeared over
spur 400 yards ahead. Here Lee had
suddenly flung himself from his horse,
thrown the reins to Patterson. and
crouching behind bowlder. was gazing
eagerly to the front, while with hat in
hand he was signalling. SLOW: keep
down." Up went Drummonds s gaunt-
let in the well known cavalry signal
Halt" Then, bidding Meinecke dis
mount the men and reset blankets and
saddles, the young officer gave Ches-
ter rein and was soon kneeling by the
side of his tr1sty subordinate.
Lee said no word at all, simply point
ed ahead.
And here was sight to make a SOL
dier's pulses bound. Not a quarter
mile away the rocky, desolate gorge
which they had been following since
dawn opened out into wide valley,
bounded at the west by range of rug
ged heights whose sides were beard
ed with dark growth of stunted pine
or cedar. On each side of their path a
tall, precipitous rock stood sentry over
the entrance and framed the view of
the valley beyond For full mile
ahead the trail swept straight away,
descending gently to the valley level,
and there, just pushing forth upon the
wide expanse, with dots of horsemen
on flank and front and rear, dimly
seen through the hot dust cloud rising
in their wake, were the three wagons.
The foremost, with its white canvas top,
was undoubtedly the new Concord; the
second, dingy mustard yellow, the
battered old ambulance of the paymas-
ter; the third and last, with no cover
at all, Moreno's blackboard. 1t was
what was left of the notorious Morales
gang, speeding with its plunder to some
refuge in the rocky range across the
farther valley.
Drummond had spent in the garrisons
of Lowell, Bowie or Stoneman he had
heard mention of mysterious hiding
place in the Cababi mountains whittier,
when pressed by sheriffs' posses, Pas
quail Morales had been wont to flee with
his chosen followers and there bid de-
fiance to pursuit. And now the young
soldier saw at glance that the chase
was heading along fairly well defined
track straight for dark, frowning
gorge in the mountains some three or
four miles ahead of them. If allowed
to gain that refuge, it might be possible
for Morales to successfully resist at
tack. With quick decision Drummond
turned to the men still seated in sad
die.
Dlsmount where you are, you two.
Reset all four saddles We mount
again here, sergeant, and we'll take the
gallop as soon as the troop comes up"
Its the only way, l believe, SIR"
answered Lee, his eyes kindling, his
lips quivering with pent up excitement.
Most of them will stampede, l reckon,
if we strike them in the open. But
once they get among the rocks we'd
have no chance at all. I"
Drummond merely nodded. Field
glasses in hand, he was closely study
ing the receding party. moving now at
ACiouIciy SdlJ DIS though assured OF
safety. His heart was beating hard his
blood was bounding in his veins. He
had had some lively brushes with the
Indian foe, but no such scrimmage as
this promised to be. Never once had
there been at stake anything to COM
pare with what lay here before his eyes.
Sometimes in boyish day dreams he had
pictured to himself adventures of this
characterize rescue of imperiled
beauty from marauding foe. But never
had he thought it possible that it would
be his fortune to stand first in the field,
riding to the rescue of the fair daugh-
ters of one of the Oldest and most re-
spected citizens of the territory In
view OF their peril the paymaster s
stolen funds were not to be considered.
Jim Drummond hardly gave single
thought to the recapture of the safe.
So far as he could judge the forces
We're about equally matched. Some
saddle horses led along after the wagons
seemed to indicate that their usual rid
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