The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1894-08-10
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4 49, E-XlANzy1ZS9
Drummond has gone for moment
into the inner chamber, where Moreno
is now breathing his last, to inquire for
Wing and to speak word of cheer to
his fair and devoted nurses. Not one
murmur of complaint or dread has fall
en- from their lips, though they know
their father to have ridden ON perilous
quest and into possible ambush; though
they know their brother to be lying at
the ruined ranch, perhaps seriously
wounded; though their own fate may
be capture, with indescribable suffering,
shame and death. Fanny Harvey has
<k1behaved like heroine, as the two troop
" ers remarked, and Ruth has done her
best to follow her sisters lead. Yet
they, too, now realize how close and
sitting the heavy atmosphere is grow
ing. Is it to be the black hole of Calcutta
over again? Even as he takes her hand
in his Drummond reads the dread in
Ruth's fearless face. Even as he holds
it and whispers words of hope and COM
fort there IS heavy, continuous, crash
ing sound at the mouth of the cave,
just in front of the rock barricade, and
he springs back to learn the cause.
They're heaving down logs and
brushwood, sir,' whispers Costigan.
They mean to roast us out if they
can't do anything else
More thunder and crash; more heap
ing up of resinous logs from the cliffs
above them. Some of the men beg to
I,a oil 10 MI die EC,hfino,
but Drummond sternly refuses. "At
the worst" he says, 1--WE can retire in
to the back cave; we have abundant
water there. The air will last several
hours yet. and. tell you help will
come-must come, before the day ID
much older"
Two O'Clock. Kissing flames and
scorching heat block the cavern en-
trance. The rocky barrier grows hotter
and hotter; the air within denser and
moro sitting. The water in the can
teens and pals is no longer cool. 1t is
hardly even cooling. The few men
who remain with Drummond in the
n front of the cave are lying full length
Nupon the floor. The pain in Drum
mond's battered head has become in
tense. 1t is almost maddening. Wing is
moaning and unconscious. Walsh is
incoherent and raving. All are painting
and we'll nigh exhausted. The front of
the cave is like an oven. Overcome by
the heat, one OF two Of the men are
edging toward the inner cave, but
Drummond orders them back. To the
very last the lives of those fair girls
must be projected and cherished. In
silence, almost N desperation, the men
obey and lie 1vwn again, face down
ward, their heads at the rear wall of
the cave.
And then Costigan comes crawling
to the lieutenant's side:
"Have you heard any more logs
thrown down lately, sir?"
mo, corporal. / have heard moth
ing"
"They were yellin and shootin out
there in the gulch half an hour ago.
Have We heard no more of 1t, sir?"
mo: no sound but the flames"
''Glory be to God, thin! Dye know
wat hit names, sir?"
II know what l hope" is Drum
mond's faint answer Our fellows are
close at hand, for the Indians are clear
ing OUT
"Close at hand, is it?'' cries Costi-
gan, in wild excitement, leaping to his
feet. "Listen, sir! Listen, all of yes !!
Dye hear that ?-and that? And there
now! Oh, Holy Mother of God! isn't
a. that music? Trims the trumpets of
K throop!"
Aye. Out along the crests of the
winding canyon the rifles are ringing
again. The cheers of troopers, bound
ing like goats up the rocky sides, are
answered by clatter of hoof and snort
Of excited steeds in the rocky depths
Below. "Here we are, lads Dis
mountl Lively now!" well known
voice is ordering, and Costigan fairly
screams in ecstasy of joy, Tear away
the fire, captain, an then We'll heave
over the rocks"
Stalwart forms, brawny arms, are
already at the work. The wagon
tongues are prying under the heavy,
Kissing, suffering logs. Daring hands
scatter the embers. Buckets of water
are dashed over the live Goals. up
wild We now, boys!" shouts Costigan.
"Heave over thin rocks" Down with
a crash goes the barricade. A cloud of
steam rushes into the cave. A dozen
sturdy troopers come leaping in, lifting
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