Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1894-05-03

of anguish:
Mother! mother! if you knew'--
"Here, Patterson, | 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! 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 | am-only suppose l get to dog
ing off and then turn on that side"
mo. it isn't that, sergeant. There's
something wrong, and it has all come
o.. you since yesterday morning. Where
is your motherr'
Again Wing turned away, burying
his face in his arms.
Listen, sergeant we hope to get
you out of this by tonight. DIR. 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 he told that you are
wounded. but not in such a way as to
alarm her"
Ont came a restraining hand.
Lieutenant. she must not know at
all"
We'll, she can't, so far as I'm con-
cerned, as | don't know her address.
But think Il moment; You know and
know Hold on. watt" And Drum
mond rose and tiptoed to cleft in the
rock through which shone a dim light.
1t was the entrance to the remote in
ner cave where the Harvey girls were
sleeping. Assured that his words could
mond returned kneeling again by the
sergeant'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 / be-
lieve that our fellows can stand them
off until rescue comes, but a bullet may
find me any moment, and then who is
there to report your conduct and secure
the recognition due you, or if the doc
tor should be late in coming and fever
set in and this wound prove too much
for Your sArength is there nothing that
ought to DO said to her for you 2"
Again only painful silence. At last
Wing spoke.
g understand. / appreciate all you
say. But Two got to think it over,
lieutenant. Give me an hour or so.
Don t ask me to tell you now"
so 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.
I'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 | take to be signal
fire leaped up not three miles below us.
certainly this side of where Wing was
shot. -
80 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 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 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 t.
the west, striving to get close enough
to peer into the rocky fortress and est
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 num-
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
there may be obtainable in that rocky
canyon It's well worth the attempt. And
SO from north to south the puff balls of
blue white smoke go sailing upward
through the pines, and it all means
| speed speed!
At 7 o'clock the little command has
| had ,ntfpa and "A hearty hrankfa NJ,