The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-04-18
1881 CHARLES KING:

Of anguish:
mother! mother! if you knew
Here, Patterson, I 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 helt again be-
side his wounded comrade.
ewing! sergeant! Look up, man.
Speak to me. You must be in distress,
mental or bodily. Do let me help you
in some way"
For a moment no reply whatever.
Wings face was hidden. Then he
looked gently upward.
Lieutenant, I'm ashamed to be CIV
ing you SO much trouble. Please go and
lie down again, sir; you're worse hurt
than I am-only I suppose I get to doz-
ing of and then turn or that side
mo, it isn't that, sergeant. There's
something wrong, and it has all come
on you since yesterday morning. Where
is your mother?"
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 as by that time,
and while we may have to keep up a
field hospital here a 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 a restraining hand.
Lieutenant, she must not know at
ALL"
well, she can't, so far as I'm con-
cerned, as I don't know her address.
But think a moment; you know and l
know Hold on, waltz And Drum
mond rose and tiptoed to a cleft in the
rock through which shone a dim light.
It was the entrance to the remote IN
ner cave where the Harvey girls were
sleeping. Assured that his words could
reach there no listening ears, Drum
mond returned, kneeling again by the
s~ergeant's side. "Just think, man;
any moment after daybreak the Apaches
may be upon us, and, who knows? it
may be my last fight. Of course I be-
lieve that our fellows a stand them
off until rescue come, but a bullet may
find me any moment, and then who is
there to report your conduct and secure
the recognition due you, OF if the doc
tor should be late in coming and fever
set in and this wound prove too much
for your strength is there nothing; that
ought to be said to her for you?"
Again only painful silence. At last
Wing spoke.
81 understand. l appreciate all you
say. But I've got to think it over,
lieutenant. Give me an hour or so.
Don't ask me to tell you now
80 be it, man. Now rest all you
possibly can. It's almost day. The
crags are beginning to light up back of
Us here already. Yes, and the sentry's
calling me now. I'll be back by and
by. What is it, Patterson" he whis-
pered, going to the mouth of the cave.
.sI've just come down from the tree
up there, sir. You can see quite a ways
down the range now. though the light
is dim, and what l take to be a signal
fire leaped up not three miles below Us,
certainly this side Of where Wing was
shot"
$50 soon? All right; then get back
to the post just as quick as you can.
I'll rouse the man who has slept long
est. All must be astir in half an hour,
but you keep watch there
And half an hour later it is that, field
glass in hand. the young officer is there
by Patterson's side, peering eastward
almost into the eye of the sun, search
ing with anxiety inexpressible for any
sign of dust cloud rising along the trail
on which they came, for the sight he
has seen down the range. now brilliant
in the morning light, has filled his
heart with the first real dread it has yet
known. In three places, not more
than four or five miles apart, down
along the sunlit side Of this wild and
picturesque mountain chain, signal
smokes have been putting straight up
skyward, the nearest only a couple OF
miles from this lone picket post, but
all on the same side of the valley.
Last evening the answer came from
across the broad desert. They have
come over, therefore, and are Fastening
up the chain to join the eager advance
here so close to their hiding place. Be-
yond a doubt watchful spies are al
ready lurking among those heights to
the west, striving to get close enough
to peer into the rocky fortress and estl-
mate the strength Of the garrison.
Great they we'll know it cannot be. for
did not their keen eyes count nearly 20
chasing those hated brigands far down
toward Sonora pass, and of that mum
Der how many have returned? Only
three. Did they not see the furry and
excitement when that sergeant was shot
from ambush? Now, therefore, is the
time to strike-now, while the main
body is far away. Whatsoever booty