Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-04-28

low, me blood weliIng from deep
cash along the temple. He lies sense
less at his commanders feet.
For moment the air seems alive with
humming missiles and shrill with yells
from ON every side. In their triumph
three or four savage foes have leaped
up from behind their sheltering rocks,
and one of them pays the penalty-a
| vengeful carbine from across the can
| yon stretches the 1.-THE. slender, dusky
| form ifeless among the rocks with the
dirty white of his breech clout turning
crimson in the MONDAY glare. Up
from the cave, catlike. Patterson and
Little Mac come climbing the mar
row trail. Between them they drag
Walsh S senseless body to the edge, and
then. somehow, despite Kissing, spatter-
ing lead, they bear him safely down
and carry him within the cave.
Now call in Moreno and help his
partner back!" shouts Drummond, and
Costigan goes at speed to carry out the
order. A few minutes of intense ex-
.citoment and suspense, then Moreno is
| seen lilnping around the point. Behind
him Costigan is slowly helping their
brisand friend. A few more shots como
singing overhead. A moment more
ard the watchful Indians will come
charging up the now unguarded canyon
and crown both banks.
Now, lads, give 'em two or three
shots apiece to make them hug their
cover. Then down for the caves, every
man of YOU is the order.
For moment the Indian fire is ST.
fenced in the rapid fusillade that fol-
lows. Sharp and quick the carbines are
barking their. challenge, ard wherever
a puff of powder smoke has marked the
probable lurking place Of an Apache,
thither hiss the searching bullets warn
ing him to keep down. Then Costigan
comes climbing to the lookout.
| Let us help you, lieut. 'nant Now's
your time, sir, while they're firing"
But Drummond shakes his head. He
wants to be the last man down.
| Don't hang on here, sir. Come
now. Sure the others can get down from
where they are easy enough, but you
can't except when they re firing. Please
| come, sir, and Costigan in his eager
ness scrambles to the lieutenapt's side
and lays broad. red hand on his shout
der. The men have fred more than
the designated number of shots and
now are looking anxiously toward their
commander. They do not wish to move
until he does
Give 'em another whack all around,
fellers, shouts Costigan, while
help the lieut. nant down. and SO, with
"a laugh, Drummond gives it up, and aft
er one last wistful glance ont over the
desert, turns to pick mp the binocular,
when it is struck, smashed. and sent
gathering down into the canyon by a
shot fred not 30 yards away.
Fur Gods sake, come quick, sir!'
gasps Costigan. Then. desperate at his
loved young leaders delay, the Irish
man throws brawny arm about him
and fairly drags him to the end of the
steep. Then down they go, Costigan
Leading and holding up one hand TO sus-
.ain Drummond IN case of accident.
Down. hand under hand, to the accom-
panimeut of cracking rifles and an
swcring carbines. while every other Sec
oIld the bullets come ''spat' upon the
rocky sides. close and closer, until, al
most brcathless, Costigan reaches the
solid bottom of the gorge and swings
Drummond to his feet beside him. See
ing their leader safely down. the men.
with one defiant shot and cheer, scurry
TO the edge of the canyon and come
slipping and sliding 10 join their COM
rades. At the mouth of the cave Cos
tigan strives to push DIummond in
through the narrow aperture left for
their admission. but miscalculates his
commander idea of the proprieties
Like gallant Craven at Mobile Bay,
Druln1nond Will seek no safety until his
men are cared for. AFTER you, pilot. "a
the chivalric sailors last word as the
green waters engulfed his sinking shin,
finds its cavalry echo in Drummond' s
After you, corporal, in this faraway
canyon in desert Arizona. The men
have scrambled through the gap, then
Costigan, with reluctant backward
glance, is hurried in Just as a flash OF
flame and smoke leaps downward from
the crest and the foremost Apache sends
u hurried, i'll aimed shot at the las,
man left. Before another shot can fol.
low. Drummond's arm is seized by mus.
cular hands, and he is dragged within
the gap. Two or three huge stones are
rolled into place. and in an instan,
through the ragged loopholes the blacl;
muzzles OF half dozen carhines are
thrustirg, and Costigan shouts exult.
ingly, Now, you black legged BLACK.
| guards, come on if ye dare!''
| But no Apache is fool enough to at.
tack a strong position. Keeping well
under cover, the Indians soon line the
crest and begin sending down a rain
of better aimed bullets st the loopholes,
and every minute the fiattened lead
comes tipping through. One of these
fearful missiles tears its way through
Costigan's sleeve, and striking pool
old Moreno in the groin stretches him
grooming upon the floor. A glance
shows that the wound is mortal, and
despite his crimes the men who bear
him, moaning, in to the farther cave