The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-02-11

ally drops on MS knees ut the bend,
McGuffy close ut his heels. Off 20
their hats. Those broad brims would
catch an Indian ego even in that gloom.
How many arc there coming?" he
whispers.
Moreno puts his finger on his lips,
then throws out his hand, four fingers
extended.
"Ono apiece then, bo jabcrsl Now,
Little Mac, you're to take tho second
from the right-thcir right, L mean
and don't you miss him, or III break
every bono i'll your skim
"Histr'
Down they go upon their faces, then,
lndianlikc, they crawl Il few feet far
ther where there is lttlo ledge. The
canyon widens below; the light is
stronger there. and bonding double.
throwing quick glanccs ut ono another,
then from sheer force of Indian habit
shading their eyes with their brown
hands us they peer to the front; exchang-
ing noiselcss signals, creeping like cats
from rock to rock, lcaping without
! funniest sound Of tho mCccasined foot
across the Dubbling waters, four swar-
thy scalnps are coming stealthily on.
Two others are Just appearing around
the next bend beyond
Ready, boys? They re near enough
now. Cover tho two leaders! Drop
the first two anyhow!"
BreathleSU silence, humping hearts
one instant longer, then the chasn bel
lows with the loud reports The four
guns are fired almost as one One half
| naked wretch leaps high in air and
| falls, face downward, dead as nail.
Another whirls about, bounds n few
yards along The brookside, and then goes
splashing into shallow pool, where
he lies writing. The two farthcst
down the canyon have slipped back be-
hlnd the rocky shoulder. The other
two, close at hand. hive rolled behind
the nearest shelter and thence send
harmless bullets whining overhead
Costigan lets drive wild Irish we'll OF
| triumph and delight.
Now, then, run for it. boy. Well
done, you two, if we are blackguartls. a"
he calls to Moreno and his mate.
They won't disturb We again for 10
minutes anyhow. Hold your post,
though, till we call you back. We're
! going to block the mouth of the cave"
| Twenty minutes later. and working
like beavers Costigan and his two men
have lugScd rocks, logs. halcA of blank
cts, everything anything that can stop
bullet, and the entrance TO the cave
is being stoutly barricadcd. Patter-
son, who was sorely exposed mt his post
and ordered down by Lieutenant Drum
mond, is aiding in the work. Wing
hp f,-l1 IL
: cave WHITTIER too. the wailiig. ulIak-
! ing Moreno women arc hcrdod ANA bid
! den to hold their peace There. too.
Fanny and Ruth, silent. palid perhaps
! but making no moan, are now knccliny
| by their patient. Costiean runs in with
two buckets he has filled with water
and Little Mac follows with half a
dozen dripping cantccns. More rocks
! are being lifted on the barricadc. con
vcnient apcrturcs being left through
which to fire, and Costigan, fevcrishlv
eager, is making every cxertion. for
any minute may b" the last with those
! plucky fellows battling; there aluft
! The air rings with the shots of the en-
| clrcling Apachcs and with the ,oud re-
| port of the cavalry carbine answering
| the hidden foe. Twice has Ccstiwan
/ llnplorcd the lieutenant to come down
anyhow, 50 long as his crippled condi-
| ton prevents his firing gun. hut Drum
mond pokcs his handagcd head one in
slant over the edge 10 Shout something
to the effect that he ~ on deck" until
! he has seen the last man down. and Cos
tigan knows it is useless IL argue. NJ
last the harricado is ready. Walsh.
! pccring grimly around. iust the Top of
his head showing over the pHrapet hegs
for one Shot ANA shouts his tiilernian
! challenge to the Apachc nation to come
| forth and show itself Drummold
! picks mp the glasses for one final look
down the desert and across the valley
i'll search Of friends who surely should
he coming, cautiously places the hin
ocular on tho inner edge of The top
of his shelving rock. then raises his
! head TO the level.
Fur the love o God, lieut. 'nant. don I
sit SO high up implorcs Walsh.
They sure to spot Oh. Christi
And down goes the poor faithful fell
low, the blood yelling from deep
cash along the temple. He lies sense
less mt his commanders feet
For Il moment the air seems alive with
! humming missiles and shrll with Wells
from on every side. In their triumph
X. 7 Is 4a g,