The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-02-07
OF the rocky cave came tho low moan
Of anguish:

"Motherl motherl if you knew''-
Here, Patterson, can't stand this,
I'm going in to him." And picking
up the dim lantern which he had taken
from the Harvey wagon Drummond
stole in on tiptoe and knelt again be-
side his wounded comrade.
Wing! sergeant Look up, man.
Speak to me. You must DO in distress,
mental or bodily. Do let me help you
In some way"
For moment no reply whatever.
Wings face was hidden. Then no
looked gently upward
Lieutenant, I'm ashamed to be Civ
ing you SO much trouble. Please go and
lie down again, sir; you re worse hurt
than am-only 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; wo 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 Il
field hospital here a 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, but not in such way as to
alarm her.
Out came II restraining hand.
Lieutenant, she must not know at
ALL"
We'll, she can't, SO far rs I'm con-
cerned, as don't know her address.
But think moment; you know and
know Hold on, waitl" 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 daybreak the Apaches
may be upon us. and. who knows? it
may be my last fight. OF course l be-
lieve that our fellows can stand them
| off until rescue comes, but bullet may
find 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 i'll coming and fever
set i'll and this wound prove too much
for your strength is there nothing that
ought to he said to her for you?''
Again only painful silence. AT last
! Wing spoke.
II understand. 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"
so be it, man. Now rest all YOU
possibly can. It's almost day. The
craSs are beginning to light up back of
! us here already. Yes, and the sentry S
calling mo now. I'll be back by and
by. What is il, Pattcrson:" he Wills
pered, going to the mouth of the cave
I've Just come down from the tree
ptherc, sir. You can see quite Il ways
down the range now, though the light
is dim, and what l take to be sigma
fire lcapcd up not three miles below us
certainly this side of where Wing wa.
shot -
80 soon? All right; then get bach
to the post just as quick as YOU can
III rouse the man who has slept long
est. All must he astir in half an hour
but you keep watch there.
And half an hour later it is that field
glass i'll hand. he young officer is there
by Patterson 5 side, pcering eastward
almost into the eye of the sun, search
ing with anxiety ineXpressiblc for any
sign of dust cloud rising along the trail
on which they came, for the sight h,
has down, tn, 1,,l1, ,,,t
in the morning light, has filled hi.
heart with the first real dread it has yet
known. In three places. not more
than four or five miles apart. down
along the aunlit side of this wild ant
picturesque mountain chain sigma
smokes have been putting straight III
skyward, the nearest only Il couple o
miles from this lone picket post. hui
all on the same side of the valley.
Last evening the answer came from
across the broad desert. They hav,
! come over, therefore, and are hastcnin.
up the chain to join the eager advanc,
here SO close to their hiding place. Be
You'd Il doubt watchful spies are al
ready lurking among those heights tc
the west, striving TO get close enough
to peer into the rocky fortress and esti
mate the strength of the garrison
Great they well know it cannot he. fol
did not their keen eyes count nearly 81
chasing those hated brigands far down
! toward Sonora pass, and of that mum
Der how nlai:y have returned: Only
three. Did they not see the furry and
excitement when that sergeant WAS shot
from ambush! Now. therefore, is the
time TO strikc-now, while the main
body is far away. Whatsoever booty
| tlnrn lnaM En ohtuinnhln IN thnt rocl, !,