The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-04-04
1HAklES NNS,U

by. thought he, but then the recollection
Of BANDS treachery brought his teeth
together with vengeful force. He
found his voice a trihe tremulous as he
spoke, but his words had the brave
ring the men had learned to look for.
and every one listened with bated
breath.
"Our works cut out for Us here.
Not more than a mile ahead now is
lust the worst band of scoundrels in all
the west and in their midst George
Harvey's daughters. You all know
him by reputation. They are in the
white topped wagon, and that is the one
we must and shall have. Don't charge
till I give the word. Don't waste a
shot. Some of them will scatter. Let
them go! What we want is their cap
tives." With that he swung quickly
into saddle.
Ready now? No, don't draw pistol
till you're close in on them and no car
bines at all this time. All right. Now
steady. Keep your alignment. Take
the pace from me. Forward"
Up the gentle slope they rode, strain
ing their eyes for the first sight of the
hunted quarry, opening out instinct
lively from the center so that each
trooper might have fighting space.
No squares of disciplined infantry, no
opposing squadrons, no fire flashing
lines, were to be met and overthrown
by compact and instantaneous shock.
It was to be a melee, as each trooper
well knew, in which, though obedient
to the general plan Of their leader, the
little detachment would be hurled for
ward at the signal Charge" and then
it would be practically a a of'every
man for himself"
Il want you four fellows to stick
close to me now" said Drummond,
turning in his saddle and indicating the
desired set with a single gesture. I'VE
move straight for the leading wagon.
See that you don't fire into it or near
it."
And these were the last instructions
as they reached the ridge, and a hoarse
murmur flew along the eager rank, a
murmur that, but for Drummond's
raised and restraining hand and Ser
geant Lees prompt STEADY there; 81
lence!' might have burst into a cheer.
And then the leader shook loose his rein,
and just touching Chester's glossy
flank with the spur bounded forward at
the 1ope.
Out on the sandy barren, winding
among the cactus plants, the weary mule
teams with dropping heads were tug
ging at the traces. Bearded men, some
still with coal blackened faces. rode
drowsily alongside the creaking wagons.
In one of these, the foremost, an arm in
blue flannel suddenly thrust aside the
hanging canvas curtain, and a dark,
swarthy face, grooved from al tip to
jaw with a jagged scar, appeared at the
narrow opening.
"How much farther have we got to
go, Domingo?"
Only across this stretch, two-three
miles, perhaps"
well, l want to know exactly. The
sun is getting blazing hot, and these
girls can't hold out longer. Tell Pas
quail I say there is more danger of his
killing them with exhaustion than there
is of their making way with themselves.
Say the little ones about dead now.
Here, take this canteen and get some
fresher water out Of the barrel under
the wagon"
The fellow hailed as Domingo leaned
to the right, took the canteen strap and
then reined in his foaming broncho.
Hold your team one minute, Jake
was the order to the driver, and, moth
ing loath, the mules stopped short in
their tracks. Pasqual's ambulance was
a few rods behind, and to save time
Domingo dismounted, and placing the
canteen under the spigot drew it full
Of water. rewarded himself with a hong
pull, handed it up to the waiting hand
above and swung again in the saddle
Just as the second ambulance closing
on the first came also to a willing halt,
and the lead mules Of the blackboard,
wherein lay two wounded bandits, at
tended by Moreno's womenfolk, bumped
their noses against the projecting boot.
Some cool water, for Gods sake!"
gasped one of the PROSTATE men, and a
comrade rode to the leading wagon to
beg a little from Harvey's we'll filled
barrel. One or two men threw them
selves from the saddle to the sands for a
brief rest. The dust cloud slowly set
tied earthward in their wake. Mules,
horses and men blinked sleepily, wear
lily. There hung in the heavy air dull.
low rumble as Of thunder in the faroff
mountains. There seemed a faint
culver and tremor of the soil. Was
there a distant earthquake:
Suddenly a wild yell, a scream from
Moreno's blackboard, half stifed Shrek
from the white covered wagon. The
man in blue leaped forth and made a
mad dash for the nearest riderless
horse. Whips cracked and bit and
stung. The lnaddened mules flew at