The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-04-25

&AIl1t ~ SdS vi WV LIN ivan -
ing up a rock barricade in front CT the
cave. Then if driven out and 10 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 McGufy and Fritz;
block up the front of the ave with
rocks; move in those Moreno women;
carry Sergeant Wing ba~.s to the far
thsr 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 Il narrow slit
LETT in his parapet Drummond can
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 adj
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 al instant,
from half a 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
unframed 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 lieutnant out alive.
Shure they're all around him now"
Then bounding down the gorge be
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 shell
ter, their carbines leveled, their atti-
tude betokening intense excitement
and suspense. It is evident the enemy
are within view.
cpl have ore shot at ZEN, 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,
McGufy 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.
lone apiece then. be jabers! Now,
Little Mac, you're to take the second
from the ~right-their right, I mean
and don't you miss him, or I'll break
every bone N your skin"
"Hist!!"
Down the1 go upon their faces, then,
~Indianlike, they crawl few feet far
Their where there is Il 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 peerto the front: e1charg-
ing noiseless signals, creeping like cats
from rock to rock, leaping without
faintest sound Of the mcccasined foot
across the Subbling 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"
B~reathless silence, humping hearts
one instant longer, then the chasm bel
lows with the loud reports. The four
guns are fired almost as III One half
naked wretch leaps high in air ard
falls, face downward, dead as a nail.
Another whirls about, bounds a few
yards along the brookside, and then goes
splashing into a shallow pool, where
he lies writing. 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.
Ccstigan lets drive q wild Irish yell OF
triumph and delight.
Now, then, run for it, boy. Well
dcne, you two. if ye are blacksuards,
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 a
Tv-or+y niD-taS-1atnr and working