Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1894-04-26
CONTINUED
CHAPTER TX.

slept only an hour or so. For months
he had lived in the open air, ION the
warpath," said his captain, veteran
who had won his spurs twice over in
the war of tho rebellion and declared
himself quito ready to take his ease
now and let the youngsters see fo1
themselves the hollowness of military
glory. WEAKNESS and physical exhaus
tion had lent their claims, and despite
bruises and many a pang, despite the
realization of the presence of the fair
girls whom his dash and energy had
rescued from robber hands, the young
fellow had dozed away into dreamland.
Why not? The object Of his mission
was accomplished. Fanny and Ruth
Harvey were safe. All that was left
for the party to do now was rest in
quiet until another morn, then it would
be quite possible to start on the return
without waiting for the coming of their
friends. Before sunset his men would
be rcassembled. They could have
long nights sleep, and with the rising
of the morrow's sun, conveying their
three wagons and their captured trea-
sures, the little detachment would take
the back track for the Tucson road,
confident Of meeting "old Harvey"
md probably a doctor on the way.
He himself though most in need of
surgical attention when they reached
the caves, had such confidence in the
skill of Sergeant Wing as to feel that
his arm was set as perfectly as could
be done by almost any other practition-
er, and before dropping off to sleep had
quite determined that he would make
the morning march in saddle.
Still, he could not sleep for any great
length of time. The instinct of vigi-
lance and the sense of responsibility
would not leave him. In his half
dreaming, half waking state, he once
thought he heard light football, and
presently as he dozed with eyelids shut
there came soft touch upon his tenn
pie. Lifting his hand he seized that of
his visitor-Fanny Harvey.
why are you not resting?" he asked
And where is Ruth"
Ruth is sleeping, as we hoped you
might be. Tired natures sweet re-
ftorer' is all you need, MIR. Drummond,
vet you do not seem to have had more
L
in here to see you, and then, though /
was fearful of waking you, you slept
peacefully through it all. "
well, I must have slept couple of
hours anyway, and | slept soundly until
within the last few minutes. Has
none of the men got back yet, Miss
Harvey? Do you know what time it
is? ! suppose Wing is sleeping.
Mr. Wing ought to be sleeping, but
he isn't. The sentry-Patterson think
they call hlm-summoned him up to
the lookout there in the rocks, Oh about
an hour ago, and when the sergeant
came back he mounted his horse and
rode away down the canyon. He said
there was something requiring his at
tentiOn. But you are to drink this
chocolate and lie still"
Drummond slowly strove to rise.
He was too anxious, too nervous, to re-
main where he was
And none of them has returned
YETI" he asked. Il cannot understand
that No, please do not strive TO detain
me here. I'm perfectly able to be up
and about, and if Wing is gone it's my
business to look after things"
Over among the rocks across the
narrow canyon the first object to meet
his gaze rs he arose was Moreno, reclin.
ing there bound and helpless, while al
hand soldier had thrown himself on
his saddle blanket and was sound asleep
The plash Of the waters in the brook,
dancing and tumbling down the chasm,
made sweet, browsing music for his
ears, lulling soothing sound that ex.
planned perhaps the deep slumber Of
his trooper friend.
81 heard Mr.. Wing tell that man tc
lie down and sleep" said Miss Harvey
as the young officers eyes seemed tc
darken with menace at the sight of a
sentry sleeping on guard. moreno is
securely tied, and both Patterson VI
there and | here are now his keepers.
The sonora and her daughter are in the
other cave, forbidden to go near him, -
CHANGING up at the stunted cedar
where Patterson stood faithful to his
trust, Drummond saw that he was
peering steadily southwark through the
black tieldglasses.
What do you see, Patterson" he
hailed. "Where is Wing? Any of the
men coming back2"
Wing has gone on down the valley,
sir. Some of our fellows, two or three
only, were coming back, but they
didn't como fast enough to suit him.
The ambulance will be here in minute
or two-it's just below us down the
canyon now"
Indeed almost at the moment the
click of iron shod hoofs was heard, and
the detected mule team came into view
around a jutting point, the dingy vel.
low ambulance jolting after them, one
soldier in the drivers seat handling the
reins, the other riding behind and lead
ing his comrades horse.
Come up here to the mouth of the
cave, Merrill" called the lieutenant.
"You can unhitch and unharness just
bayOnd but [ want that safe unloaded