Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1894-04-12

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It would then stand between the de
tenders and the assailants, giving to tn.
latter incalculable advantage. Holt
it he must for few minutes at least
until. recalling McGuffy, he can sci
him and one or two others to work pil.
ing up a rock barrfcade in front Is the
cave. Then il driven out and no longe,
able to stand the Indians off they car
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.
mo, down with you, Costigan, {" he
answers. Get McGufy and Fritz;
block up the front of the cave with
rocks; move in those Moreno women
carry Sergeant Wing back to the far
ther cave-Miss Harvey will show you
where. Stand fast the rest of you.
Don't let an Indian close in on u.s."
Look, heut 'nant, :" whispers Walsh
they're coming up down beyant you
there"
And peeping through a narrow slit
left in his parapet Drummond can
just see bobbing among the bowlders
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 ad-
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 sneak"
for the edge Of the cliff. In an instant,
from half 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
unhar1ned 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 lieut. 'nant out alive.
Shure they're all around him now"
Then bounding down the gorge he
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. "Lookl" he says.
Gazing ahead 10 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. 1t is evident the enemy
are within view.
"Ill have ono shot at 'eln, 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,
McGuffy close at his heels. Of go
their hats. Those broad brims would
catch an Indian eye even in that gloom.
'How many are there colning?" he
whispers.
Moreno puts his finger on his lips,
then throws out his hand, four fingers
extended.
Zone apiece then. be jabersl 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 scamps are coming stealthily on.
Two others are just appearing around
the next bend beyond r
Ready, boys7 They're near enough
now. Cover the two leadersl Drop
the first two anyhowl"
Breathless silence, humping hearts
one instant longer, then the chasrn 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 a nail.
Another whirls about, bounds a few
yards along the brookside, and then goes
Bplashing into q 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 lets drive wild Irish yell of
triumph and delight.
[coNTNUED.l ~ ;:Y