The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1894-03-15
FOES In AMBUSH.
From first page

some imprOvised spl1nts and bandages,
and Drummond believed it his duty
to make inquiry as to whether he knew
Bland and what was the cause of his
excitement. Wing turned his grave.
troubled face and looked his young SUI
perior straight in the eye.
MIR. Drummond. have known that
man for good and for i'll many long
year. If our fellows have killed him,
let his crimes die with him. If he is
brought in brought to trial
may have to speak. but not now, sir.
Bear with me, lieutenant-not now.
Was Drummond dreaming? He could
have declared that tears were starting
in the sergeant's eyes as he turned has
tily away, unable for the moment to
continue the setting and bandaging of
the broken arm.
Take your own time. Wing" said
the young officer gently. Speak or
keep silent as you will. You have
earned the right. And the sergeant
mutely thanked him.
The primitive surgery of the frontier
LUX lltOlc CIuie;, Siiu Will HIS al III Gull
fortably and closely slung Drummond
lay impatient for the coming of his
men, impatient perhaps to hear a softer
voice, to feel again the light touch of
slender fingers, yet in his weakness and
exhaustion dropping slowly off to sleep.
All efforts to keep awake proved vain.
His heavy eyelids closed, and presently
he was in dreamland.
Meantime Sergeant Wing had busted
himself in many a way. First he had
gone to loosen old Moreno's bonds
enough, at least. to relieve his pain, yet
hold him securely. The soldier sitting
drowsily on the rock beside the prisoner
gladly accepted permission to put aside
his carbine and go to sleep.
III watch him, Mat" said Wing.
"You lie down there. Moreno, and see
to it that you make no effort to slip a
knot while I'm at work here. How
far away is that ambulance now, Pat
terson?" he called to the man on look
out.
Halted down at the edge of the
plain, sergeant. That's where they
struck water first, and | reckon they
couldn't make 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 a puff of dust.
But here's something l don't under
stand-of here in the range south of us
well up toward the top
What's that?" asked Wing, drop
ping the coil of lariat he held in his
hand and looking quickly up.
well, it's more like signal smoke
than anything else. Just exactly such
smoke as we have seen in the Chirica-
hua and Catarinas and Well, just
come up here with your fieldglass, if
you can, sergeant. believe there's 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 as only two men are with
me, and both are otherwise engaged, I'll
have to secure you temporarily. It
isn't pleasant, but it serves you right. I"
In vain the Mexican pleaded and pro-
tested. A rawhide RATA was wound
and looped about him in a few scien-
tific 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 it's 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.
II have to go up to that point yonder
q few minutes, leaving old Moreno
alone. bound, to be sure, but his wife
or daughter might slip out and release
him. Will you have the goodness to
take this and shoot him if they should
make the attelnpt2'' 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 coming?" And
she took the revolver, balancing it in
her accustomed and practiced hand.
The admiration deepened in Wings
gaze.
Il see you handle pistol as though
you had used one. You're true from
tiersman's daughter. I'll have to be
away Tor a rev minutes. I'm GONG ,rp
to look from our rock above there.
Some Of our men, they say, are in sight
slowly returning, and the paymaster's
ambulance is only mile away, proba-
bly, waiting for the rest of the party.
How is Miss Ruth?''
ssS1oorino 1il-o q hohv h1ooo hor