The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-04-25
>ppyMaaI, 1893 By CHARLES KING:

over toward the other side, a little party
Of Apaches is hurrying to join the fray.
Two are riding. Where got they their
horses? The others-over half a dozen
come along at their t~ireless jog trot.
1t was this party that, seen but dimly
at first, gave rise to such ebullition Of
Joy among the defenders and defended.
It was this party that, closely scanned
through his feldglass, occasioned Lieu
tenant Drummond's moan Of distress.
With all his heart he had been hoping
for the speedy coming Of relief over that
very hail-had counted on its reaching
him during the day. He was sure it
could be nothing else when the corpo-
raj reported something in sight, and so
when he discovered the approaching
party to be Apaches no words could
describe the MEASURE of his disappoint-
ment and dismay:: Not for himself and
his men; they were old hands and had
a fine position to defend. His thought
are all for those in whose behalf he has
already made such gallant fight and
for poor Wing, whose feeble moaning
every now and then reaches his "a
At 10 o'clock he is able through his
glasses to distinctly make out the num-
Der and character of the coming party.
Nine Apaches, all warriors, but one Of
them apparently wounded OF disabled,
for they have to support him On the
horse, and this it is that hampers their
advance and makes it slower. They
are heading for the oasis at the mouth
of the canyon. There they will leave
their horses and their wounded, and
then come creeping up the winding
gorge OF crouching amongthe powders
from the east to join in the attack on
the hated paleface. Drummopd can
have no doubt of that. New DISPOSE
tons are necessary.
"Stay where you are!" he shouts to
his men. You take charge up here,
Costigan; | want to post a man or two
below at the herd" And down he
oes, sliding ard scrambiing until he
reaches the edge of the brook. Moreno,
squatted against a rock. glances up at
him appealingly.
"Senor Teniente, l pray you loose
me and ret me help. The Apache is
our common enemy" he pleads.
An idea ONE to Drumm ond. Wings
carbine can be utilized. He can post
Moreno down the gorge at the second
bend to command that approach and
put little McGufy, the recruit, at the
next bend to command Moreno and
send a bullet through him if he shirk or
swerve.
I declare l believe l will, you old
scoGndrel, he says. Here, McGufy,
unite this fellow. I've got to look
around a minute"
Into the depth of the assure where
Moreno's women are praying and rock
ing he peers i moment. One Of the
wounded bandits is now past praying
for. The other, painfully shot but
plucky, begs to be given a chance to
fight for his life.
tYou are too badly hurt now. We
couldn't get you up there is the an
swer
well, then, Put me on with Moreno,
wherever you're going to assign him.
Surelyif you can trust a greaser you
an a white man. Ia only fit to
hang perhaps, but ia me if I want to
lie here when there's al Indian fight
going on."
80
And SO he. too, is loosed and lifted
to his feet. Leaning on McGufy's
shoulder and supported by his arm, the
pale faced stranger, preceded by Mo
reno, who goes iinpiny and swearing
soto vcce down the rocky way, is led
100 yards along tie canyon where It
makes a second bend. Here they a
see nearly $50 yards more ahead of them,
and here some loose powders are hur-
riedly showed or rolled to form a rife
pit, and these volunteer allies are placed
in position.
I'VE cover the approaches above so
that they can't sneak UP and heave
rocks down upon you. All you've got
to do now is to plug every Apache that
shows his rose around that bend be-
low" says Drunmond. McGufy,
YOU take post at the point behind.
Watch the o~verhanging cliffs and sup
port as best you can" And Little
Mack as .he men call him, gets fur
Their instructions as he takes his posi-
tion, instructions which would give
small comfort to Moreno could he only
hear then. Then back goes the lieu
tenant to where Wing is lying, Miss
Harvey bending anxiously over him,
her beautiful eyes filing with tears at
sight of Drummond's brave but bag
gard young face. Ruth is c%rouching
by her sisters side, but rises quickly as
Drummond enters, her fears %lessening.
her hopes gaining.
amy news: Anything in sight-of
ours:" is Miss Harvey's eager query.
Not yet. but they're bound to be
along almost any minute now. Some
Apaches whom / could see coming
across from tho east have a wounded
man with them. It makes me hope our
cc-. ~ o-5 fo,rhf %bo,o on1