The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-01-10
sentry's side. No need to question
"Where aMaY?"

Far out across the intervening plain
column of tlamo was darling upward,
gaining force and volume with every
moment. Tho lieutenant never oven
paused to raise tho glass to his eyes.
No magnifyiny power was needed to
see tho distant pyro; no prolonged
search to tell him what was meant.
Tho troopers who had spi ing to their
feet and wcro already eagerly follow
ing turned short in their tracks ut his
first word
Saddle up, men. It's tho beacon
at the signal peak.
Then came IL scene of hustle. No
words were spoken; no further orders
given With the skill of long practice
the men gathered their few belongings.
shook out the dingy horscblankets and
then, after careful folding, laid them
creaseless back of the gaunt withers of
their faithful mounts. The worn old
saddles were dcftly set; lariats coiled
and swung from the cantlc rings; dusty
old bits and brides adjusted then cainc
tho slipping into carbine sings and
thimblo belts, the quick lacing of Indian
moccasin OF canvas Logging, the filling of
canteens in the tepid tanks below, while
all the timo the cooks and packers
were flying about gathering up the
pots and pans and storing rations, bags
and blankets on the roomy apparejos.
Drummond was in the act of swinging
into saddle when his sergeant FASTENED
up.
beg pardon, lieutenant, but shall
leave Il small guard with the pack train,
Or can they come right along?"
They'll go with us, of course. We
can't leave them here. We must head
for Ceralvo's at once. How could those
Indians have got over that way?"
1t is beyond me to say, sir. | didn't
know they ever went west of the Santa
Maria"
Il can hardly believe it now, but
there's no doubling that signal; it is to
call us thither at all speed wherever
we may be and means only one thing
-'Apaches here. Sergeant Wing is
not the man to get stampeded. Can
they have jumped the stage, do You
think, or attacked some of Ceravos
people?"
Lord knows. sir. l don t see how
they could have swung around there
There's nothing to tempt them along
that range until they get to the pass
itself. They must have como around
south of Morenos."
Il think not, sergeant"
Tho words were spoken in a very
quiet voice. Drummond turned in sur
prise, his foot in the stirrup, and looked
at the speaker, a keen eyed trooper of
middle age, whose hair was ALREADY
sprinkled with gray.
why not, Bland?"
Because we have been along the
range for nearly so miles below here.
Sir, and haven t crossed sign, and be-
cause understand now what | couldn't
account for at . o'clocl-what ]
thought must be imagination.
What was that:''
Smoke, sir, off toward the ella,
north of Ceralvos. should say, Just
about north of west of where we are.
why didn't you report it?''
You We're asleep, sir, and by the
time got the glasses and looked it had
faded out entirely, Int it's my belief the
Indians are between us and the river.
OF were over there north of Ceralvo's
today. If not Indians, who?"
You ride with me. Bland. iii
talk with you further about this. Come
on with the men as soon us you have
the packs ready, sergeant F" And so
saying Lieutenant Drummond mounted
and rode slowly down the winding
trail among the powders. At the foo;
OF the slope, where the water lay glenn.
ing III its rocky bed, he refined his horse
to the left 10 give him his fill OF the
pool and here the troop addressed rs
Bland presently Joined him