The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-04-25

comes tipping through. One Of these
fearful missiles tears its way through
Costigan's sleeve, and striking poor
old Moreno in the groin stretches him
groaning 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
are moved to sudden sympathy as his
hapless wife and child PROSTATE them
selves beside his rocky bier. Drum
mond can afford to lose no more and
orders the lower half of each hole to
be stopped with blankets, blouses, shirts,
anything that will block a shot, and
then for an hour the fire Of the besiegers
is harmless. and no longer can the be-
sieged catch even an occasional glimpse
of them. At noon their fire has ceased
entirely, and even when breathing a sigh
of relief the men look into IN anoth-
er's faces questioningly. How long
can this last? How hot, how close the
air in the cave is growing!
Drumnond has gone for a moment
into the inner chamber, where Moreno
is now breathing his last, to inquire for
Wing and to speak a word of cheer to
his fair and devoted nurses. Not n
murmur of complaint or dread hasfall-
en- from their lips. though they know
their father to have ridden on perilous
quest and into possible ambush; though
they know their brother to be lying at
the ruined ranch, perhaps seriously
wounded; though their own fate may
be capture. with indescribable suffering,
shame and death. Fanny Harvey has
behaved like a heroine, as the two troop
ers remarked, and Ruth has done her
best to follow her sisters lead. Yet
they, too, now realize how close and
sitting the heavy atmosphere is grow
ing. Isit to be the black hole of Calcutta
over again? Even as he takes her hand
in his Drulnmond reads the dread in
Ruth's fearless face. Even as he holds
it and whispers words of hope and COM
fort there is a heavy, continuous, crash
ing sound at the mouth of the cave.
Just in front of the rock barricade. and
he springs back to learn the cause.
They're heaving down logs and
brushwood. sir whispers Costigan.
They mean to roast US out if they
can't do anything else
More thunder and crash: more heap
ing up of resinous logs from the cliffs
above them. Some Of the men beg to
be allowed to push out and die fighting.
but Drummond sternly refuses. AT
the worst, he says, we a retire IN
to tie back cave; We have abundant
water there. The air will last several
hours yet. and tell you help will
come-must come. before the day is
much older"
Two o'clock. Kissing flames and
scorching heat block the cavern en-
trance. The rocky barrier grows hotter
and hotter; the air within denser and
more sitting. The water in the car
teens and pals is no longer cool. It is
hardly ever cooling. The few men
who remain with Drummond in the
front of the cave are lying full length
upon the floor. The pain in Drum
mond's battered head has become in
tense. 1t is almost m~addening. Wing is
moaning and unconscious. Walsh is
incoherent and raving. All are painting
and well nigh exhausted. The front OF
the cave is like an oven. Overcome by
the heat, Ole OF two of the men are
edging toward the inner cave, but
Drummond orders them back. To the
very last the lives of those fair girls
must lie protected and cherished. In
silence, almost in desperation, the men
obey and lie down again, face down
ward, their heads at the rear wall Ct
the cave.
And then Costigan comes crawling
to the lieutenant's side:
"Have you heard any more logs
thrown down lately. sir:"
.No, corporal. | have heard moth
ing"
"They were yellin and shootin out
there in the gulch half an hour ago.
Have ye heard no more Of it, sir::'
No; no sound but the fames.'
GLORY be to God, thin! Dye know
wat hit names, SIR"
Il know what | hope" is Drum
rond's faint answer. Our fellows are
close ut hand. for the Indians are clear
ing out.
"Close. at hand. is it," cries COST
gan, in wild excitement, leaping to his
feet. Listen, sir! Listen, all of yes!
Dye hear that:-and that? And there
now! Oh. Holy aiother of God! isn't
that music? Trims the trumpets of
K throop.!"
Aye. Out along the crests Of the
winding canyon the rifles are ringing
again. The cheers of troopers, bound
ing like goats up the rocky sides, are
answered by clatter of hoof and snort
of excited steeds in the rocky depths
below. Here we are, lads! Dis
mount! Lively now!' we'll known
voice is ordering. and Costigan fairly
screams in ecstasy of JOY, Tear away