Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-01-06

he doesn t like is the idea of being pot ted like a caged tiger, never knowing whence came the shot that laid him low. Then the lieutenant peers about him. Yes, it is exposed to fire from a point in the cliffs to the west, and there are rocks over there to the north that seem to command it, but if aban- doned there will be no way of prevent ing bold advance on the part of the Apaches up the rugged eastward slope. It would then stand between the de- lenders and the assailants, giving to the latter incalculable advantage. Hold it he must for a few minutes at least, until, recalling McGuffy, he can set him and one or two others to work pd- ing up rock barricade in front of the cave. Then if driven out and no longer able to stand the Indians off they can retire into the caves themselves, hide their precious charges in the farthest depths, and then, like Buford at Get tysburg, fight like the devil" till res cue comes.
 No, down with you, Costigan," he answers. "Get McGuffy and Fritz block up the front of the cave with rocks; move in those Moreno women carry Sergeant Wing back to the far ther cave-Miss Harvey will show you where. Stand fast the rest of you Don't let an Indian close in on us.
 Look, lieut. 'nant, '' whispers Walsh they're coming up down beyant you there.
 And peeping through a narrow slit 1off in l,11Yo just see bobbing among the powders far down toward the willow copse two or three Apache crests-Apache unmis- takably, because of the dirty white tur- banlike bandages about the matted black locks. At that distance they ad- vance with comparative security. It is when they come closer to the defenders that they will be lost to view.
 Obedient to his orders, Costigan slips out of his shelter and takes a sneak' for the edge of the cliff. In an instant, from half dozen points above, below, and on both sides, there come the flash and crack of rifles. The dust is kicked up under his nimble feet, but he reaches unharmed the cleft in which some rude steps have been hacked and goes, half sliding, half scraping, down into the cooler depths below.
 Mother of Moses!'' he groans, "but we'll never get the lieut. 'nant out alive. Shure they're all around him now.'
 Then bounding down the gorge he finds McGuffy kneeling at the point.
 "They're coming, Barney,'' whispers the boy, all eager and tremulous with excitement. and pointing down between the vertical walls. "Look!" he says.
 Gazing ahead to the next bend, Cos tigan can see Moreno and his Yankee compadre crouching behind their shel- ter, their carbines leveled, their atti- tude betokening intense excitement and suspense. It is evident the enemy are within view.
 "I'll have one shot at 'em, bedad, to pay for the dozen their brother blackguards let drive at me-" mutters Costigan. Come on, you; it's but a step." And, forgetful for the moment of his orders in his eagerness for fight, the Irishman runs down the canyon, leaps the swirling brook just as he reaches the point, and obedient to the warning hand held out by their bandit ally drops on his knees at the bend, McGuffy close at his heels. Off go their hats. Those broad brims would catch an Indian eye even in that gloom.
 How many are there coming?" he whispers.
 Moreno puts his finger on his lips, then throws out his hand, four fingers extended.
 "One apiece then, be jabers! Now, Little Mac, your to take the second from the right-their right, I mean and don't you miss him, or I'll break every bone in your skin.''
 Hist"
 Down they go upon their faces, then, Indianlike, they crawl a few feet far ther where there is little ledge. The canyon widens below; the light is stronger there, and bending double, throwing quick glances at one another, then from sheer force of Indian habit shading their eyes with their brown hands as they peer to the front exchang- ing noiseless signals, creeping like cats from rock to rock, leaping without faintest sound of the moccasined foot across the bubbling waters, four swar- thy scamps are coming stealthily on. Two others are just appearing around the next bend beyond.
 Ready, boys? They re near enough now. Cover the two leaders! Drop the first two anyhow!'
 Breathless silence, humping hearts one instant longer, then the chasm bel lows with the loud reports. The four guns are fired almost as one. One half naked wretch leaps high in air and falls, face downward dead as nail. Another whirls about, bounds a few yards along the brookside, and then goes splashing into a shallow pool, where he lies writhing. The two farthest down the canyon have slipped back be- hind the rocky shoulder. The other two, close at hand, have rolled behind the nearest shelter and thence send harmless bullets whizzing overhead. Costigan lets drive a wild Irish yell of triumph and delight.
 "Now, then, run for it, boy. We'll done, you two, if ye are blackguards, '' he calls to Moreno and his mate. "They won't disturb ye again for 10 minutes anyhow. Hold your post, though, till we call you back. We're going to block the mouth of the cave."
 Twenty minutes later, and working like beavers Costigan and his two men have lugged rocks, logs, bales of blank cts, everything, anything that can stop bullet, and the entrance to the cave is being stoutly barricaded. Patter- son, who was sorely exposed at his post and ordered down by Lieutenant Drum mond. is aiding in the work. Wing has been carefully borne into the back cave, whither. too, the wailing, quak- ing Moreno women are herded and bid den to hold their peace. There, too, Fanny and Ruth, silent, ,pallid perhaps, but making no moan, are now kneeling by their patient. Costigan runs in with two buckets he has filled with water and ''Little Mac" follows with half a dozen drinninp caOteenS More rocks