The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1894-02-22

Morales gang had never been equaled.
Even had they failed to secure the safe
the richer booty was theirs in having
seized the girls. But few people in Ar
izOna-as Arizona then was constituted
would make great effort to overhaul
a gang of robbers whose only victim
was Uncle Sam and Ibis iveried hire
lings.' Nobody in Sonora would fail
| to regard them with envious eyes, but
in the deed of rapine that made them
| the captors and possessors of those de-
fenseless sisters each man had put a
price upon his head, halter round his
neck, for "gringo" and "greaser, :"
American and Mexican alike, would
spring to arms to rescue and avenge.
AS the rearmost of the little party
Of pursuers disappeared in the darkness
and the wearied pack mules went jog
ging sullenly after, urged on by the goad
| OF their half Mexican driver, the ser
geant left in charge Of the detachment
at the corral looked at his watch and
noted that it was just 9 80 O'Clock.
The dawn would be creeping on at 4.
Wearied as were his men, he Cid not
| permit them all to rest. The condition
Of his wounded and the instructions left
him by Lieutenant Drummond made it
necessary that they should have constant
attention. 1t was sore trouble for him
to look at the old paylnaster, whose
life seemed ebhing away, lying there so
pallid and moaning at times so pitiful-
ly, but Feeny lay torpid, breathing, yet
seeming to suffer not at ALL
Both were in desperate need of sur
gical attendance, but where could sur
geon be found? The nearest was at
Stoneman, the little cantonment across
the Christobal, 80 miles to the cast,
and though a gallant fellow had vol
unteered to make the ride alone through
the Apache infested pass and carry the
dispatch that Drummond had hurried
ly penciled there was no possibility
of doctors reaching them before the
coming night, and the thought of all
they might have to suffer through the
fierce white heat of the intervening
day was one that gave the sergeant
deep concern. Then, too, who could
say whether the solitary trooper would
succeed in running the gantlet and
making his way through? He was a
resolute old frontiersman, skilled in
Indian warfare and we'll aware that
his best chance was in the dark, but
speed as he might the broad light of
day would be on him long before he
could get half way through the range.
The stage from the west would prob
ably come along about sunset, but moth
ing could be hoped for sooner. No
troops were nearer than the Colorado
in that direction except the little signal
post at the Picacho. Corporal Fox and
two men had been sent thither to in
quire what the signal meant, and it
would soon be time for them to come
riding in with their report. How he
wished Wing were here! Wing knew
something about everything. He was
an expert veterinarian, something of
doctor, knew more of mineralogy
than all the officers put together and
could speak Spanish better than any
man in the regiment When it became
necessary to have signal station at
the peak and it was found that no one
knew anything about the business,
Wing got one of the old red manuals,
studied the system and inside of week
was signaling with the expert sent
down from San Francisco
The interior of the ranch was still
smoldering furnace as o'clock drew
nigh. Woods, weak and exhausted,
had fallen into an uneasy sleep. The
trooper detailed to watch over old Plum
mer and Feeny and battle their faces
with cold water was nodding over his
charge. Here and there under the shed
on the north side which the flames had
not reached the men were doing, or in
low, awestricken tones talking of the
tragic events of the night. Near the
east gate, reverently and deeply covered
with the only shroud to be had, the
newest of the saddle blankets, lay the
stiffening remains of poor Donovan and
his comrade. Lurking about the west
ward end of the Enclosure, their beady
eyes every now and then glittering in
the freight, the Mexicans, men and
boy, were smoking their everlasting
papelitos, apparently Indifferent to the
fate that had deprived them Of home
and occupation.
One of the troopers had burrowed
hole in the sand, started a little cook
fire and was boiling some coffee in
tin quart mug. Overhead and far down
to the horizon on every side the stars
shone and sparkled through the vapor-
less skies. Eastward toward the Chris
tobal they were just beginning to pale
when a faint voice was heard pleading
for water. Sergeant Butler sprang
from his seat and fastened to where he
had left Mr.. Harvey but few minutes
before, still in deep and obstinate
swOOn.
Water. is it, sir? Here you are!
I'm glad to see you picking up little.
Mr.. Drummond left this for you too,
sir. He said you would maybe need
it," And the sergeant raised the dizzy
head and held little flask to Harvey's
lips.
Where is he p at last the sufferer
oh 70