The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-02-28

1
sentry's side. No need to question
"Where away?'
Far out across the intervening plain
column Of flame was darting upward,
! gaining force and volume with every
moment. The lieutenant never even
paused to raise the glass to his eyes.
| No magnifying power was needed to
see the distant pyre; no prolonged
search to tell him what was meant.
The troopers who had sprung to their
feet and were already eagerly follow
ing turned short in their tracks at his
first word.
Saddle up, men. It's the beacon
at the signal peak"
Then came scene Of hustle. mo
words were spoken; no further orders
given. With the skill Of long practice
the men gathered their few belongings,
shook out the dingy horseblankets and
then, after careful folding, laid them
creaseless back of the gaunt withers OF
their faithful mounts. The worn Old
saddles were deftly set; lariats coiled
and swung from the cantle rings; dusty
old bits and brides adjusted; then came
the slipping into carbine slings and
thimble belts, the quick lacing OF Indian
moccasin or canvas logging, the filing OF
canteens in the tepid tanks below, while
all the time the cooks and packers
were flying about gathering up the
pots and pans and storing rations, bags
and blankets on the roomy apparejos.
Drummond was in the act of swinging
into saddle when his sergeant fastened
up. ;, !,
beg pardon, lieutenant, but shall l
leave small guard with the pack train,
or can they come right along?"
They'll go with US, of course. We
can't leave them here. We must head
for Ceralyo's at once. How could those
Indians have got over that way?''
1T is beyond me to say, sir. 1 didn't
know they ever went west OF the Santa
Maria. -
II can hardly believe it now, but
there's no doubling that signal; it is to
call us thither at all speed wherever
we may be and means only one thing
l-,Apaches here Sergeant Wing is
not the man to get stampeded. Can
they have jumped the stage, do you
think, or attacked some of Ceralvo's
people?''
Lord knows, sir. don't see how
they could have swung around there.
There'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. "
The words were spoken in very
quiet voice. Drummond turned in sur
prise, his foot IN the stirrup, and looked
at the speaker, keen eyed trooper of
middle age, whose hair was already
sprinkled with gray.
"Why not. Bland?''
Because we have been along the
range for nearly so miles below here,
sir, and haven't crossed sign. and be-
cause understand now what l couldn't
account for at 2 oclock-what l
thought must be imagination.
''What was that:?''
..Smoke, sir, off toward the Gila,
north Of Ceralvo's, should say, just
about north of west of where we are. >
sWhy didn't you report it:''
'You were asleep, sir, and by the
time I got the glasses and looked it had
faded out entirely, but it's my belief the
Indians are between Us and the river.
or were over there north o. Ceralvo's
today. IF not Indians, who::''
You ride with me, Bland. I'll
talk with you further about this. Come
on with the men as soon as you have
the packs ready, sergeant And so
saying Lieutenant Drum1nond mounted
and rode slowly down the winding
trail among the powders. At the foot
of the slope, where the water lay glea'n-
ing in its rocky bed, he reined his horse
to the left to give him his fill of the
pool, and here the troop addressed as
Bland presently joined him.
Where was it you enlisted, Bland:'
was the younger soldiers first ques-
ton. ''I understand you are familiar
with all this country.
AT Tucson, sir, SIX months ago, aft
er the stage company discharged me.
s'I remember, - was the answer as
the lieutenant gently drew rein to lift
his horses head. Il think you were so
frank as to give the reason of your
quitting their employment. .
"Well, there was no sense trying to
conceal it or anything else man may
do out here, lieutenant. They fred me
for drinking too much at the wrong
time. The section boss said he couldn t
help himself, and don't suppose ne
could. -
LAS remember, said Drumaond
presently, and with hesitation, for he
hated to pry into the past OF man who
spoke so frankly and who made no
effort to conceal his weakness, you
were driver of the blackboard the Mo
rales gang held up last November over
near the Catarinas.
Eyes; that's the time got drunk,
| rs