The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1895-12-04

Ine upland Urall Jhey came IN SlBnO OF
the broad valley of the Sandy above
the range, Thornton decided to go on
down to the lowlands and water before
starting ON his return. 1t was high
noon, hot noon, scorching noon, and
the mems eyelids were blistered by the
fierce rays of an unclouded sun. They
were hungry, too, for not one had had /
bite or sup since coffee at dawn, but
they bit at their plug tobacco and |
logged silently on, and up to the mo-
ment of their catching sight again of !
the old trail that wound beside the
Sandy not an Indian had been seen or
heard of. Now there rose into mid
air little dust cloud far out near the |
Prescott road telling of some party in
rapid movement, "Muncey and Car
doza skipping for all they're worth"
hazardcd Kelly, but Turner shook his
head. "That clouds coming this way"
said he, ''and coming ,fast-and it's
some Of our own people,"
And so it proved. Less than half an
hour later, down by the splashing
gether. Comrades of the same regi-
ment, yet from stations miles apart.
The sunburned, dust-covered fellows
from far up the Sandy rode in to the
welcoming ranks from Retribution.
"What news of the Indians?" was nat
urally the first inquiry, and rapidly,
officer to officer, man to man, the two
parties exchanged views. The captain
of the little party from Camp Sandy
was soldierly fellow, Tanner by name,
and with him were two or three ex-
perienced scouts. Al zeibor was one, a
man who knew Apachos and Arizona
even as their old guide, Buffalo Bill,
knew the Pawnees and the plains.
"There isn't d hostile west of the Sandy
this day." said he, "Thcy've all had
their Jump and done what damage
they could, and now they're skipping
back to the Mogollon country" But
Zeiber looked grave and troubled when
told of the deeds of the previous night.
"They are little detached war parties" :"
said he. eve may strike one of them
down near the springs, but doubt it."
In brief conference the officers decided
what should then be done. Tanner sent
his lieutenant with q scout and twenty
men down along the north face of the
Socorro to find Foster and follow fr{l
speed any of the struggling Apachcs
whose trails they might discover, hop
ing even yet to recapture Leon. Then
the pack train came up and presently
cook fires were blazing in the timber
and from the Camp Sandy supplies a
hearty dinner was served out to Thorn
tons men while Tanner proposed his
plan. MY Instructions" said he,
''were to leave an escort of twenty
men here at the ford for the general S
ambulance. He is hurrying down from
Prescott and should be here by sunset.
We have little party to meet him at
the ranch over toward Willow creek.
Now, you and your men and horses
need few hours rest. Suppose you
stay here with your detachment and
III take my men and see what we can
find up yonder in the hills" and Tan
.ner pointed to the Socorro. "Leon's
captors may be waiting there for dark.
ness before attempting to cross the
open country toward the Mogollon.
You can have four hours sleep and be
ready to ride on to Retribution with
the general tonight"
7 So said, SO done. Capt. Tanner
called up his men, saddled and rode
away, Thorntons horses were given a
good feed of barley from the pack train
and, with small herd guard on duty
the rest Of the command sprawled any
where they could find shade and were
snoring in ten minutes time.
The sun went down red in the west
ern sky. The smoldering fires in the
Sandy bottom beganto glow with the
deepening twilight. One after another
the troopers began to awaken, stretch
and yawn and ask if further news haG
come, and just at nightfall one of Tan.
ners sergeants brought in three jade6
civilians--Ferguson and his friends
All night they had hunted Muncey
without success. All day they had
hidden from Apaches, who at dawn
said they, were thick as leaves il
Socorro, and Ferguson was loud in dis
gust at the escape Of two arch thieves
And not ten minutes after they came il
from the south, covered with dust ant
drawn by six spanking mules, with {
dozen grimy troopers as escort, the
generals big black ambulance drove il
from the north.
First to emerge from the interior wal
a snappy aid-de-camp, followed quickly
by the grave, quiet hammered chic
himself.
"What's the truth about Muncey'
party?" asked the aid in gasp "H'
and Mexican rode by us like mad
said they'd been cleaned out completed.
and were so demoralized they couldn'
stop"
"Only case Of diamond cut dia
= mond," answered Thornton, briefly
"They had been running off horses
| mules and boys for what know, ant
! the Apaches caught them red-handed
, These gentlemen" said he, indicating
| Ferguson and his party, want then
r for horse stealing, Kelly for murde
, and mule stealing, and all Of us,
fancy, for boy stealing"
/ A tall man in scouting dress was back
. ing out of the ambulance at the me
: ment, helping bright blue-eyed lad t
| alight. He turned in quick anxiety a
the general asked: "What boy?"
: Leon, sir. Little MacDuff. If h
) wasn't with Muncey I'm sorely afrai
( the Apaches have got him."
Whereupon the blue-eyed boy burs