The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1894-03-29

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now broad and clear, though the sun
tain range to their left. The pace was
rapid, Drummond frequently urging
| his men to the trot or canter. Out to
the front 400 OF 500 yards, often lost to
view in the windings of the way, Ser
! geant Lee with single trooper rode in
, the advance, but not once had he sig
nailed discovery worth recording.
Both wagon and hoof tracks here pur.
sued common road. 1t was evident
that some horsemen had found it neces-
| sary to ride alongside. 1t was evident
too, that the outlaws were travelling at
full speed, as though anxious to reach
some familiar lair before turning to face
their expected pursuers. Every one in
the gang, from Pasqual down to their
humblest packer, well knew that it
could not be long before cavalry in
strong force would come trotting in
chase. The squadron at Stoneman
would surely be on the march by the
coming sunset AS for G troop, they
had little to fear. Pasqual laughed
with savage glee as he thought how
he had lured them in scattered detach-
ments far up to the Gila or over to the
Christobal Noneed to fear the coming
of the late escort of the paymaster. By
this time those not dead. drugged or
drunk were worn out with fatigue.
Over the body of his bandit brother, the
swarthy Ramon, he had fiercely rejoiced
that seven to one he had avenged his
death, and Pasqual counted on the fin
gers of his brown and bloody hand the
number of the victims of the night
Donovan and his fellow trooper killed
on the open plain; the paymaster and
his clerk, Mullan and the other soldier,
dead in their tracks and burned to
ashes by this time, and, best of all,
that pig of sergeant, as Moreno
called him, that hound and murderer,
Feeny-he who had slain Ramon
bound, gagged and left to miserable
death by torture. Indeed, as he was
jolted along in the ambulance, groan-
ing and cursing by turns, Pasqual won
lered why he had not insisted that Har-
vey, too, should be given the coup de
grace before their start. 1t was an I'M
pardonable omission. Never mind!
There in the brand new Concord that
came gathering along was booty that
outrivaled all There was wealth
far exceeding the stacks of treasury
notes-old Harvey's daughters-old
Harvey's daughters. 1t was with mad,
feverish joy that when as last the sun
came pouring in "a flood of light over
the desert of the Cababi he listened to
the report of a trusted subordinate.
Il could see every mile of the road
with my glasses. captain. from the cliff
top yonder-every mile from Moreno's
to where we struck the canyon. There
isn't sign of dust-there isn't sign
of pursuing party.
"Bueno Then we rest when we
reach the cave. This is even better
than hoped.
But there were two elements in the
problem Captain Pasqual had failed to
consider Lieutenant Drummond's
scout in the Christobal, Cochises' band
of Chiricahuas in the Santa Maria.
Who could have foreseen that the little
troop, finishing its duties at the north
ern end Of the range and about turning
south to rescout the Santa Maria, had
ridden out upon the plain, summoned
by the beacon at Picacho pass, and less
than two hours after their hurried start
from the burning ruins at Moreno's
were speeding on their trail? The best
fieldglasses ever stolen from the paternal
government could not reveal to the flee
ing outlaw that, only two or three miles
back in the dim recesses of the crooked
gorge, the bluecoats were following
in hot pursuit. Who could have dream
ed that band of Apaches, cut off from
their native wilds by detachments from
Bowie, Lowell and Crittenden, and
forced to make wide detour to the
southwest, had sought refuge in the
very gorge of the Cababi whittier Pas
quail with all speed was urging his
men?
I'VE rest when we reach the cave"
All, even the torment of his wound
could not have wrung from the robber
chief this longed for order had he
dreamed what was coming at his back
How are the girls getting on?'' he
asked of his hot and wearied aid. Are
they tranquil now3"
They have to be-, was the grim re-
ply. "The little one dare not open her
eyes, and Sanchez has his knife at the
elders throat.
And the sunrise had brought with it
new inspiration-new purpose to those
who came trotting to the rescue. Just
as the cliffs on the western side were
tipped and fringed with rose and gold,
Sergeant Lee, riding rapidly far ahead
from point to point, always carefully
peering around each bend before signal
ing come on. was seen suddenly to
halt and throw himself from his horse.
The next instant he stood erect. waving
some white object high in air. Spur
ring forward, Drummond joined him.
"a lady's handkerchief, lieutenant"
he quietly said. ''They seem to have
halted here moment; you can tell by
the hoof prints. One of their number
rode over toward that high point yon-
der and rejoined them here. I don't be-
ieve they are more than half an hour