The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1894-04-26

tigan can see Moreno and his Yankee
compadre crouching behind their shell.
ter, their carbines leveled, their atti.
tude betokening intense excitement
and suspense. 1t is evident the enemy
are within view.
IN 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 eageruess 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 &c
their hats. Those broad brims would
catch an Indian eye even in that gloom.
How rhany 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, you're to take the second
from the right-their right, l 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 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 lnoccasined foot
across the bubbling waters, four swar-
thy scalnps are coming stealthily on.
Two others are just appearing around
the next bend beyond.
Ready, boys? They're near enough
now. Cover the two leadersl 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 few
yards along the broo,;side, 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 let's drive wild Irish yell of
triumph and delight.
Now, then, run for it, boy. Well
done, you two, if ye are blackguards, "
he calls to Moreno and his mate.
They won't disturb we 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, whittier, 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
eo1
dozen dripping canteens. More rocks
are being lifted on the barricade, con-
venieDt apertures being left through
which to fire, and Costigan, feverishly
eager, is making every exertion. for
any minute may be the last with those
plucky fellows battling there aloft.
The air rings with the shots of the en-
circling Apaches and with the loud re.
port of the cavalry carbine answering
the hidden foe. Twice has Ccstigan
implored the lieutenant to come down
anyhow, so long as his crippled condi-
tion prevents his firing gun, but Drum
mond pokes his bandaged head one in
slant over the edge to shout something
to the effect that he is Ion deck" urtil
he has seen the last man down, and Cos
tigan knows it is useless to argue. At
last the barricade is ready. Walsh,
peering grimly around, just the top of
his head showing over the parapet, begs
for one shot and shouts his Hibernian
challenge to the Apache nation to come
forth and show itself Drummond
picks up the glasses for one final look
down the desert and across the valley
in search of friends who surely should
be coming, cautiously places the "bin-
ocular" on the inner edge of the top
of his shelving rock, then raises his
head to the level.
Fur the love o. God, lieut. 'nant, don't
sit SO high up!" implores Walsh.
They're sure to spot Oh. Christ!''
And down goes the poor faithful fell
low, the blood yelling from a deep
cash along the temple. He lies sense
less at his commanders feet.
For moment the air seems alive with
humming missiles and shrill with yells
from on every side. In their triumph
three or four savage foes have leaped
up from behind their shelterinp rocks.