Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1894-05-10


the ruined ranch, perhaps seriously
wounded; though their own fate may
he capture, with understandable suffering,
shame and death. Fanny Harvey has
behaved like heroine, as the two troop
ers remarked, and Ruth has done her
hest to follow her sisters lead. Yet
they, too, now realize how close and
sitting the heavy atmosphere is grow
ing. Is 1t to be the black hole of Calcutta
over again? Even as he takes her hand
in his Drummond 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 can retire in
10 the 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
teens and pals is no longer cool. 1t is
hardly even 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
moud' s battered head has become in
tense. 1t is almost maddening. Wing is
moaning and unconscious. Walsh is
incoherent aud raving. All are painting
and well nigh exhausted. The front of
the cave is like an oven. Overcome by
the heat one or 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 be protected and cherished. In
silence, almost in desperation, the men
obey and lie down again, face down
ward, their heads at the rear wall of
the cave.
And then Costigan comes crawling
to the lieutenant side:
Have you heard any more logs
thrown down lately. SIR"
No, corporal. l have heard moth
ing"
They We're yellin and shootin out
there in the eulch half an hour ago.
Have We heard no more Of 1t, sirt"
No; no sound but tine flames"
GLORY be to Cod, thin! Dye know
wat hit names, sir?"
Il know what I hope" is Drum
mond S faint answer. Our fellows are
close at hand, for the Indians are clear
ing ont. -
Close at hand, is it," cries COST
gan. in wild excitement, leaping 10 his
feet. Listen, sir! Listen, all of yes
Dye hear that and that? And there
now! Oh, Holy Mother of God! ism
that music? Thin 5 the trumpets OF
~ tnrOOp'
Ave. Ont 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
/ the fire, captain, an then we ii heavt
over the rocks. -
| Stalwart forms, brawnv arms, are
| Ilready at the work. The wagon
tongues are prying under the heavy
kissing, suffering logs. Daring hand
scatter the embers. Buckets OF water
are dashed over the live Goals. "Ul
wild We now, boys" shouts Costigan
"Heave over thin rocks" Down wifi
crash goes the barricade. A cloud o.
steam rushes into the cave. A dozer
sturdy troopers come leaping in, lifting