The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-01-10

| AiPliNo DOCK OF his company
reterred to simply rs "saber scar on
rlghe Jaw" but it deserved mention
moro extended, for tho whitish streak
ran IKE groove from just below tho
ear UP to the anglo of tho square, reso-
iute chin. 1t looked rs though in some
desperate fray mad sweep had been
made with vengeful blade straight for
tho Jugular. and, just missing that,
had lad open the jaw for full four
| inches.
But" said Feeny, what could no
have been doing, and in what position
could he have been, sitting or standing.
to get saber stroke like that? Where
was his guard2 A bowie knife, now''-
and there the suggestion ended.
But 1t was tho Scared side of BANDS
soldierly face that young Lieutenant
Drummond was so closely studying as
they rode out into tho starlit Arizona
night. He, too, had heard tho camp
chat about this apparently frank, open
hearted trooper, and had found himself
more than onco specializing as to his
real past. not the past of his imagina-
ton or OF his easy offhand description.
by this time, i'll perfect silence save for
tho occasional clink of canteen, the
gurglc of imprisoned water, or, once in
while, the click of ironshod hoof, the
troop was marching in shadowy col
umn of twos we'll out beyond tho falda
and over the almost dead Lowell of the
plain. Far ahead tho beacon still
blazed brightly and beckoned them on.
1t was time for precaution.
Sergeant" said Drummond, "send
them spread out across the front and
keep 800 or 400 yards ahead of us.
Better take those with the freshest
horses, as l want them to scout thor
oughly and to be on the alert for tho
faintest sound. Any of our men who
know this valley well?'
None better than Bland here, sir"
was the half hesitant reply
We'll, l need Bland just now.
Put sonse of the old hands and older
heads on. and don't let anything escape
their notice.
Beg pardon, lieutenant, but what's
to be the line of direction? When wo
started it was understood that we wero
to take the shortest cut for Ceralvo's,
and now we're heading for tho Pr
cacho."
mo, we make for tho pass first;
that's the quickest way to reach the
signal station, then we learn where to
strike for the Indians. Did you ever
hear of their being as far west as the
Maricopa range before?"
Never, sir, in the whole time we've
been here, and since the lieutenant
Joined they've never been heard of
crossing the Santa Maria valley"
What on earth could tempt them
out so far? There's nothing to be
gained and every chance of being cut
off by troops from Grant and Bowie,
even If they do succeed in slipping by
u.s.
That's moro than L can tell, sir.
The men say the paymastcr's coming
along this week; they heard it from the
quartermaster's train we passed at the
Cienega three days ago."
Trooper Bland was riding in silence
ON tho left of tho detachment com
mander as he had been directed. The
sergeant had como up on tho other
flank.
What men heard this?" asked
Drummond, quickly.
WIZ, Patterson told me, sir, and
Lucas and Quinn, and think Bland
here was talking with tho train escort
and must have heard it,
Did you, Bland:" asked the lieu
tenant, as he whirled suddenly in his
saddle and faced the trooper.
Yes, sir, was the prompt reply;
several of the men spoke of it. It's
q n
they could give TO fellows who had four
months pay due.
In the isolation of this mountain
scouting business, when, as often hap
pens, one officer is out alone for weeks
with no comrades or associates but his
detachment it naturally results that a
greater freedom CT intercourse and
speech is developed between the com
mander and some, ut least of his party
than would ever be the case in years
of garrison life; and so it happened that
for the moment Drunmond forgot tho
commander in the man.
1t is most extraordinary, " he said,
that just when paymaster is anxious
to keep secret the date and route of his
coming the whole thing is heraldcd
ahead. We have no telegraph and yet
three days ago we knew that Major
Plummcr was starting on his first trip.
He ought to have been at Ceralvo's
last night. BY Jupiter! suppose he was
and had but small escort? What
else could that signal fire mean? Here!
get those men out to the front now ct
once; We must push ahead for all We IL
worth.
And so at midnight, with stecds