The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1894-04-19

again iiplh "ltulu tne ueep Snelte
OF the rocky cave came the low moal
of anguish:
Mother! mother if you knew''--
Here, Patterson, can't stand this
I'm going in to him. And pickins
up the dim lantern which he had taker
from the Harvey wagon Drummont
stole in on tiptoe and knelt again be.
side his wounded comrade.
Wing! sergeant! Look up, man,
Speak to me. You must be in distress,
mental or bodily. Do let me help you
in some way
For moment no reply whatever.
Wings face was hidden. Then he
looked gently upward.
Lieutenant, l IN ashamed to be Civ
ing you so much trouble. Please go and
lie down again, sir; you re worse hurt
than am-only l suppose get to doz-
ing Oft and then turn on that side'
NO it isn't that, sergeant. There's
something wrong, and it has all come
on you since yesterday morning. Where
is your mother?"
Again Wing turned away. bu1ying
his face in his arms.
Listen, sergeant; we hope to get
you out of this by tonight. DR.. Gray
ought surely to reach us by that time,
and while we may have to keep up
field hospital here day or two my
first duty will be to write and tell your
/ mother how bravely you have served
us, and she shall be told that you are
wounded, lat not in such way as to
alrm her.
Out came r7.training hand.
Lieutenant, Lhe must rot know at
all. F."
Well. she can't, SO far as I'm con-
| cerncd, as 1 don't know her address.
E"t thInk moment; You know and /
knoW- nold On, waltz And Drum
mond rose and tiptoed to cleft in the
rock through which shone dim light.
1t was the entrance to the remote in
ner cave where the Harvey girls were
sleeping. Assured that his words could
reach there no listening ears, Drum
mond returned, kneeling again by the
sergeant's side. "Just think, man;
any moment after day break the Apaches
may be upon us, and, who knows? it
may be my last fight. OF course be-
lieve that our fellows can stand them
off until rescue comes, but bullet may
lind me any moment, and then who is
there to report your conduct and secure
the recognition due you, or if the doc
tor should be late in coming and fever
set in and this wound prove too much
for your strength is there nothing that
ought to be said to her for you?''
Again only painful silence. At last
Wing spoke.
Il understand. 1 appreciate all you
say. But I've got to think it over,
lieutenant. Give me an hour or so.
Don't ask me to tell you now."
80 be it, man. Now rest all you
possibly can. It's almost day. The
crags are beginning to light up back of
us here already. Yes, and the sentry's
calling me now. I'll be back by and |
by. What is it, Patterson 20 he whis-
pered, going to the mouth of the cave.
I've just come down from the tree |
up there, sir You can see quite ways
down the range now. though the light
IS dim, and what l take to be signal
tre leaped up not three miles below us,
certainly this side of where Wing was
shot.
80 soon? All right; then get back
to the post just as quick as you can.
I'll rouse the man who. has slept long
est All must be astir in half an hour,
but you keep watch there"
And half an hour later it is that, field
glass in hand, the young officer is there
by Patterson's side, peering eastward
almost into the eye of the sun, search
ing with anxiety inexpressible for any
sign OF dust cloud rising along the trail
ON which they came, for the sight he
has seen down the range. now brilliant
In the morning light, has filled his
heart with the first real dread it has vet
known. In three places, not more
than four or five miles apart. down
along the sunlit side of this wild and
picturesque mountain chain, signal
smokes have been putting straight up
skyward, the nearest only couple of
miles from this lone picket post, but
all on the same side of the valley.
Last evening the answer came from
across the broad desert. They have
come over, therefore, and are Fastening
up the chain to join the eager advance
here SO close to their hiding place. Be-
Tond a doubt watchful spies are al
ready lurking among those heights to
'he west, striving to get close enough
20 peer into the rocky fortress and esti-
nate the strength of the garrison.
treat they we'll know it cannot be. for
lid not their keen eyes count nearly 90
chasing those hated brigands far down
oward Sonora pass, and of that num-
Der how many have returned? Only
hree. Did they not see the furry and
excitement when that sergeant was shot
rom ambush? Now, therefore, is the
line to strike-now, while the main
,ody is far away. Whatsoever booty
here may be obtainable in that rocky
anyon It's well worth the attempt. And
% from north to south the puff balls of
,iue white smoke go sailing upward
through the pines, and it all means
peed speed!
At 2 O'Clock the little command has
lad coffee and a hearty breakfast. No