The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-04-25
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44S440 - SAS~A
it is an arm, too, she points up to the
rock above where Walsh is evidently
exercised about something. He has
dropped his gun, picked up the glasses
and is gazing down the range to the
south.
"Perhaps he sees some Of our fellows
coming for good this time. -Four Of
them tried itawhile ago, but were prob
ably attacked some miles below here
and fell back on the main body. They'll
be along before a great while, and
won't it be glorious if they bring back
the safe and all?:" He says this by
way Of keeping Up their spirits, then,
once more YEARLY, but fun of pluck
and purpose, he climbs the rugged path
and creeps to Walsh's side.
els it any of our men you see?' he
whispers.
"Diyil a wan, sir! It's more of thin
Internal Apaches."
Drummond takes the glass and stud
les the dim and distant group with the
utmost care. Apaches beyond doubt.
a dozen, and coming this way, and
these, too, have a couple of horses. Can
they have o~verpowered his men, am
pushed and murdered them, then Sc
cured their mounts? Is the whole CHR
icahua tribe, REINFORCED by a swarm
from the Sierra Blanca. concentrating
on him now? The silence about him is
ominous. Not an Indian has shown him
self along the range for half an hour,
and now these fellows to the east are
close to the copse. In less than 20 mir
utes there will be FIVE times his puny
force around him. Is there no hope of
rescue?
Once more he turns to the east, across
the shimmering glare of that parched
and tawny plain, and strains his eyes
in vain effort to catch sight of the
longed for column issuing from the OPP
pos1te valley. but it is hopeless. The
hot sun beats down upon his bruised and
aching head and sears his bloodshot
eyes. He raises his hand in mute ap-
peal to heaven, and at the instant there
is a fash, a sharp report not 80 yards
away, an angry spat a. the leaden mis-
sile strikes the shelving top Of his para
pet and goes humming across the gorge,
a stided shrek from Ruth looking fear
fully upfrom below, IN Irish oath from
Walsh as he whirls about to answer the
shot, and Drummond can barely repress
a little gasp.
Marrow squeak that, Walsh! That
devil has crawled close up on Us. Can
you see him.
"Begad, sir, I can see nothing at all
but rocks, rocks, rocks. How a a nan
fight anyway ag'in human beings that
crawl like snakes:"
Zip! Another shot, close at hand too,
and from another unseen foe. The first
came from somewhere among the bowl
ders down to the southeast, and this
second whizzed from across the canyon.
A little puff of blue smoke is floating
up from among the rocks SO yards or SO
to the north OF the narrow slit.
Crouching lower, Drummond calls
across to Costigan, posted as the eastern
most Of the two men On the opposite
side:
That fellow is nearest you, corporal.
Can you see nothing Of him."
Nothing, sir; I wa looking that
way, zoo, when he fired. Not even the
muzzle of his gun showed"
This is serious business. If one In
dian or two can find it so easy to creep
around them, and armed only with their
muzzle loading guns send frequent
shots that reach the besieged in re-
verse;, what can be hoped when the
whole band gathers and every rock on
every side shelters a hostile Apache?
From the first Drummond has feared
that however effective might be these
defenses against the open attack of
white men, they are i'll adapted to pro-
tect the defenders against the fire Of In
dams who e. climb like squirrels Or
crawl CT souir1n through any chink Or
crevice like SO many snakes.
Another shot! Anather bullet fatteDs
itself on the rock close to his right
shoulder and then drops into the dust
by his knee. It comes from farther up
the clif-perhaps 900 yards away
among those stunted ceGars-but shud-
deringly close. Costigan and the other
men glance anziously W their shout
ders at the point where their young
commander and Walsh are crouching.
They are no. yet subjected to a fire from
the rear, these others. The lookout.
the signal station. as it might be call
ed, is the highest point and most e1-
posed about the position.
For Gods sake, lieutenant. cries
the corporal.''don't stay there. They've
got your range on two sides anyhow.
Come out CT it. You and Walsh can
slip down as we open fire. Well just
let drive in every direction until you
are safe below"
Drummond hcsitates. He sees a half
pleading look in Walsh's honest face.
The Irishman would willingly tackle
the whole tribe in open fight, hut what
he doesn't like is the idea of being pot