The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-01-28

Each man In succession disnountcd at
the same point.
ing at the same point, and with more
or less elasticity coming on in the foot
steps of his leader Tho faint wan light
of early dawn was rendering neighbour
ing objects visible on tho sandy plain
behind Them but had not yet penctrat-
ed into the depths of the gorge. Lying
far to the west of the Tucson road this
was a section of tho country unknown
to any of tho troop, and with every
prospect of a broiling ride across the
desert ahead so soon as the sun was I'D
no chance for watering their horses
could be thrown away. Just us he ex-
pected, Drummond found the descent
becoming more gradual, and in mo-
ment or two the bottom of the dark rift
was found, and presently, keeping keen
lookout for the reflection of the stars
still lingering overhead. the leading
men were rewarded, and halted at the
edge of shining pool of clear though
not very cool water and the horses
thrust their not muzzles deep into the
wave Here, shaded by the broad
bri1nmed hats of white felt. such as tho
Arizona trooper of the old days gener-
ally affected, match or two WAS struck
and the neighborhood searched for
Sign" The rocks around the tank
were dry; the little drifts of sand blown
down from the overhanging height
were smooth. Whatsoever splashing
had been done by the horses of the out
laws there had been abundant time for
1t to evaporate, therefore the command
could not thus far have gained very
rapidly on the pursued. But Drum
mond felt no encouragement Up to
this point the way had been smooth and
sufficiently hard to make wheeling an
easy matter. Tho wagons had been
lugged along ut brisk trot, the attend
ing cavaliers riding at lively lol..
Now, however, there would be no like
Hhood of their making such time. Tho
ambulance could only go at slow walk
tho rest of the way, and the guards must
remain alongside to protect the stolen
funds, not SO much from envious out
slders as from one another. Pasqual
Morales showed his accustomed shrcwd-
ness when he forbade that any ono
should Try to burst into tho safe and
extract the money. for well he knew
that if divided among the men thcro
would be no longer IL loadstono to hold
them together, to call for their fiercest
fighting powers if assailcd The instant
the money was scattered the gang would
follow suit and he be left to meet the
cavalry single handed.
The horses of the little detachment
were not long in shaking their thirst.
hn lncg al
given, and following in the lead of
their young lieutenant the troopers rode
silently down the winding CANYON
Drummond and Sergeant Lee bending
low over their chargers nccks to SEQ
that they did not miss tho hoof prints.
Little by little the light of dawn began
TO penetrate the dark depths in which
they were scouting, and trailing became
an easier matter. Presently the SER
geant pointed to the face of the oppo-
site slope, now visible from base to sum
NIT where an abrupt bend threw it
against the eastern light
onder's where the ambulance came
down, SIR
Il see, and we can't be far from
where it crossed. Trot ahead and take
look. Let Patterson go with you. If
you find chance for short cuts, sig
nal"
Another half hour passed away, and
still the trail led along this strange
rock ribbed groove in the desert, the
dry bed of some long lost stream.
When first met, it seemed to be cutting
directly across their line of march, now
1t had turned southwark and for sew
eral miles ahead south or west Of south