The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-04-25
sFur Gods sake, come quick, sirr

u y
'.Fur Gods sake, come quick, sir!r'
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 lifeless 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..o shouts Drunmond, and
Costigan goes at speed to carry out the
order. A few minutes of intense ex-
citement and suspense, then Moreno is
seen linping around the point. Behind
him Costigan is slowly helping their
brigand friend. A few more shots come
singing overhead. A moment more
and the watchful Indians will come
charging up the now u~nguarded canyon
and crown both banks.
Now. lads, give 'em two or three
shots apiece to make them hug their
cover Then Gown for the caves every
man Of you" is the order.
For a moment the Indian fire is ST.
fenced in the rapid fusillade that fol-
lows. Sharp and quick the carbines are
barking their challenge, and 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, lieutnant. 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 lieutenant's side
and lays a broad. red hand on his Shout
der. The men have fired mor 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 n last wistful glance out over the
desert, turns to pick up the binocular.
when it is struck, smashed, and sent
cIaruer1ng OVID Into the caiivon by a
shot fired not 20 yards away.
Fur Gods sake, come quick, sir
gasps Costigan. Then. desperate at his
loved young leaders delay, the Irish
man throws a 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-
tain Drumnond in case of accident.
Down, hand under hand. to the accom-
paniment of cracking rifles and IN
swering carbines. while every other sec
oad the bullets come "spat' upon the
rocky sides, close and closer, until, al
most breathless, Ccstigan 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 to join their COM
rades. At the mouth of the cave Cos
tigan strives to push Drummond in
through the narrow aperture left for
their admission, but m~iscalculates his
commanders idea of tie proprieties.
Like gallant Craven at Mobile Bay,
Drum,nond will seek no safety until his
men are cared for. After you, pilot,
the chivalric sailors last word as the
green waters engulfed his sinking ship,
finds its cavalry echo in Drumlnond'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
fame and smoke leaps downward from
the crest and the foremost Apache sends
a hurried, i'll aimed shot at the last
man left. Before another shot a 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 instant
through the ragged loopholes the black
muzzles of half Il dozen carbines are
thrusting, and Costigan shouts exult-
ingly, "Now,~you black legged black