Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1894-04-12

eager but suppressed excitement Mein-
ecke and the men came trotting up tho
slope.
Halt" signaled Drummond Then
Forward into line, " and presently the
lieutenant stood looking into tho sun
tanned faces of less than 90 veteran
troopers, four sets OF fours with two
sergeants, dusty and devil may car,
with horses jaded, yet shifting mischief
ahead and pricking up their ears in ex-
element Drummond had been the
troop leader in scout after scout and in
several lively skirmishes during the
year gone by. There was not one of
his troopers whom he could not swear
by thought he, but then the recollection
of BANDS treachery brought his teeth
together with vengeful force. He
found his voice a trif,e tremulous as he
spoke, but his words had the brave
ring the men had learned to look for.
and every one listened with batcd
breath.
'Our works cut out for us here.
Not more than mile ahead now is
just 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 i'll the
white topped wagon, and that ia the one
we must and shall have. Don't charge
till | 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
1t was to he melee, as each trooper
we'll knew, in which though obedient
to the general plan of their leader, the
little detachment would be hurled for
ward ut the signal Charge " and then
it would be practically a case 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 single gesture. We
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 hoarse
murmur few 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 lope.
Out on the sandy barren, winding
among the cactus plants, the weary mule
teams with dropping heads We're 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, ard dark,
swarthv face, grooved from ear Zip 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, i want to know exactly. The
sun is getting blazing hot, and These
girls can't hold out longer. Tell Pas
quail | 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 refined in his foaming broncho.
Hold your team one minute, Jake. )"
was the order TO the driver, and, moth
ing loath. the mules stopped short i'll
their tracks. Pasqual's ambulance was
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 long
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 Haryoy's well 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 blinkod sleepily, wear
lily. There hung in the heavy air dull.
low rumble as of thunder III the faroff
1