The Irish standard., 1895-09-21

post to the point where it was crossed
by the Prescott road, and instead of
the prolonged and melodious call OF the
hour, when it came his turn, it was the
sentry's challenge--sharp, clear and
imperative--that split the morning air.
There was something nerve tingling,
something that smacked Of swift COM
ing alarm in the very tone, and its only
answer at the front was the quick, ris-
ing thud of galleping horses hoofs.
Again rang the challenge-all three
words jumbling this time into one
.Whoconeshere?" -then HALT" Halt,
or Ill flre!" and then Raymond's power
full tones rang out through the breath
less air. .s5
.sHold your fire, sentry. That horse
has no rider!" t b.
But the only answer was the loud
bang of the Springfield and the leaden
bullet went whistling away toward the
pole star. That sentry had heard
enough Of the perils Of post No. for
one night, and preferred to take no
chances. \. :s's'Sure, didn't hear the cap
tain" he explained, a few minutes
later. He heard only the rapid coming
Of horses hoofs, and despite the fact
that horses were things the mountain
Apachea never thoughtfof using except
when hungry, Private Hanrahan be-
lieved all the Tonic tribe were coming
and let drive accordingly. It was only
a troop horse, blown and bleeding, only
another evidence Of the devilish cum i
ming Of the savage foe, for the moment
! Corporal Dunn could reach them on the
lump, he cried, with a sob in his voice:
SITS Tralee, of G troop, sir. Jim Raj
ferty's horse" And SO at last here was
Fosters courier from Ration Spring
but where were the dispatches? Where,
alas, was Jim? Tralee's heaving TANKS
and l1istended nostrils and eyeballs told
his story of peril and homeward fight,
even as the long welt in his broad
haunch and the cash through the high
pommel Of the Mcclellan tree were elo-
quent Of its cause. Like Ruclkel, the
sentry, poor Rafferty, horneward speed
ing with his captain's midnight dis
patch. had been ambushed at the rood
side. I.. Il Fl sl = II
Another thrill to the chorus OF excite
ment that had 6throbbed the long night
through, and yet not the last. y here
were still left q few minutes to dark
ness and the devil Of mischief seemed
aaoat in the very air. Go and tell Mrs
Foster the truth the best way you can,
said the major, miserably to his adjti-
tant. s.There she is on the veranda
now. I'll 20 round the west side 9 q II the
Office. You can join me there. Yes
Turner. mount and start at once If your
men have had their coffee. Now sweep
that road clean from here to the Sandy,
and don't leave an Indian to tell the
story. Look for Foster or his men and
try to and Rafferty,. Z And 90 saying
he turned him to the west and pushed
slowly up. the slope, q heavy hearted
man. Almost the last thing he hesrd
as he reached the end Of officers ROW
was Nellie Fosters weeping. lf -sto9t,
so1dierlike Irish Jim conl1d be sosWift
surely nassacred by unseen foes what
must have been Leon'x fate2 Little
black-eyed Leon riding alone, unarmed,
With Mrs. Downey's sorely needediss
med icine, through the dark depths ct
this Indian .haunted night But now
the mountain tops were al sl1irnnaering
with the glow of coming day, md even
nto the valley dept The faint 1iEht
seemed to peer, ar,d stii there vsslked
n,.a,s'ssian 81 liiel ontp
y fame 81 "a biz
81 Tie boy 81 comm 3 q,
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