Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1894-04-19

plalu, btIbedDt. L HdU NHeIO Inty
struck water first, and l reckon they
couldn't mako up their minds to come
farther. / can make out one or two
of the fellows coming back far down the
desert to the south. Horses played out
probably"
Anything to be seen across the val
ley along the trail we came?"
Nothing, sir; not puff OF dust.
But here's something ! don't under
stand-off here in the range south of us
well up toward the top"
Whats that?" asked Wing, drop
ping the coil of lariat he held in his
hand and looking quickly up.
We'll, it's more like signal smoke
than anything else. Just exactly such
smoke as we have seen in the Ohirica-
hua and Catarinas and Well, just
come up here with your fieldglass, if
you can, sergeant. / believe there an
answer to it way down to the southeast
-t'other side of the valley"
In an instant Wing turned. "Sorry
for you, Senior Moreno, ," he grimly NUT
tered. But rs only two men are with
me, and both are otherwise engaged, I'll
have to secure you temporarily. 1t
isn't pleasant, but it serves you right"
In vain the Mexican pleaded and pro-
tested. A rawhide RATA was wound
and looped about him in few scien
tifio turns, and he was left reclining
against the rock, conquered yet inward
ly raging, while Wing stole in TO Drum
mond's rude couch, slipped the field
glass from its case, then, with long
ing look into the darker depths beyond,
and moments hesitation, he stepped
to the projecting rock that seemed to
divide the cave into two apartments
and called in lower tone, miss Har-
vey."
Here Mr.. Wing. What is wanted ?"
And at the instant, prompt, alert,
even smiling, Fanny Harvey appeared
before him. The pallor was gone. The
disheveled hair had been twisted into
shape. Food, rest, relief from dread
and misery and that little appreciated
beautifer, fresh water, had wrought
their transformation here. Wings
handsome eyes glistened as he removed
his hat.
Il have to go up to that point yonder
few minutes, leaving old Moreno
alone, bound, to be sure, but his wife
or daughter might slip out and release
him. VIII you have the goodness to
take this and shoot him if they should
make the attempt!" And he handed
her his pistol.
"I'll see to it that no one interferes
with him, Mr.. Wing. What has hap
pened? Are the others coining?" And
she took the revolver balancing it in
her accustomed and practiced hand.
The admiration deepened in Wing 5
gaze.
Il SEQ you handle a pistol as though
you had used one. You re true from
tiersman's daughter. I'll have to be
away for few minutes. I'm going up
- look from our rock above there.
Some of our men, they say, are in sight
slowly returning, and the paymaster' 5
ambulance is only mile away, proba-
bly, waiting for the rest Of tho party,
How is Miss RUTH"
Sleeping like baby, bless hel
heart"
We'll. have promised Mr.. Drum.
mond that she should be his nurse.
hope you will consent. He is sleeping
too. No fever yet, 1 am thankful tC
say"
Ruth will be ready, and so will
TO help in any way we can. But wher
are you to have a rest, may tvsk:'
"O-oh-by and by. Lee and thu
others must have theirs first. The.
have been in saddle much longer an(
farther than l. When is Miss Harvey
to have her rest, may | ask"
"W-e-l-l, | don't know. III say
perhaps by and by too. Look, tina
man is calling YOU"
Whirling about, Wing saw his senti
mel reckoning, and in a moment he Wen
clambering up the rocky trail, activ
as mountain Apache.
What is it, Patterson"
at is signal smoke, sir, across tn
valley. That amt more than eigh
miles away, and down here in the rang
amt more than six. What Indian
could be out here, / would like to know
Do they grow everywhere IN this III
fernal country"
Wing took his glasses and long an
earnestly studied the blush whit
clouds rising in puffs, faint and barrel
distinguishable i'll the opposite heights
then fixed his gaze upon the tilmy col
umn soaring up among the dark pine
at the heart Of tho range to the south
ward. His face grew graver every min
ute.
"Stay here and watch" he said. g
must go and get those other men i
with the ambulance. OF course if it
Apaches, they've sighted that part
and the few men struggling back, an
those Signals mean, close in on them
I'll send the team right in and then rid
and hurry the other fellows out. "
The sun was retiring behind tn
Cababi range as Wing went leapin
down the trail.
Sorry for you. Dick, old boy" b
said to his horse, who was browsing i
| the shade more work for us bot