Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-06-26

necessary TO rescue tIle SIl "uooe
image filed his thoughts. Closing the
box, he returned to his horse and depos-
tied the treasure in pouch attached to
his saddle.
Directing the men to throw the end
of the lariat over tlS, limb of tree, that
the body of the Mexican might be drawn
above the reach of the wolves, and re.
ceiving the report of the returning cor
poral that the halt had been made at
"seven mile pine, Raymer ordered the
torches to be eXtinguished and the
march resumed.
The moon was just clearing the east
ern mountains, and its rays, tilterlng
through the screening foliage, made
the trail visible once more and permit
ted the gait of the animals to be greatly
| increased.
Half an hour later the detachment
reached the border of level opening
consisting of about dozen acres. On
the farther side were the cabins in which
the women and their attendants were
reported as being besieged by small
band of Indians. While yet consider
able distance from the edge Of the open
ing q halt was made, and the lieutenant
advanced alone and on foot to make all
| observation.
All was still. Not hostile sound
broke the silence Of tho night. If the
Navajocs were still there, they must be
in ambush awaiting the approach Of the
soldiers or else, as seemed more proba-
BILE to Raymer, they had overcome the
Mexicans and left. The finding Of the
dead man in the trail was good evidence
that the travellers had left the cabins,
but how?
A terrible dread seized Raymer as
this thought took shape. The familiar
jewelry in his possession suggested that
Dona Teresa was one of the prisoners at
the springs. If she had been there and
was not there now, she must be captive
or dead. His knowledge of the horrible
atrocities perpetrated upon captive
white women by the Navajoes made the
thought almost maddening.
The lieutenant reached the border of
the forest, and placing himself behind
some low bushes looked across the open.
ing toward the two gray adobe cabins,
but saw no signs of life. With impa-
tient fingers he dise1gaged his fieldglass
from its case and adjusted the focus.
He swept the whole northern limit of
the interval, including the cabins, with
out seeing all Indian. He removed the
glass from his eyes and stood gazing at
the silent, moonlit scene. Suddenly he
started. A figure had risen OH the roof
of the cabin to the left-another-two
more-a fifth and-last! Using his glass
again, he saw they were Indians, half
concealed by the walls which rose like
parapet two feet above the fiat, earth
covered roof They were STOPPING and
busy with something at their feet.
Watching them closely, he made out
that they were digging hole in the
roof.
This evidence that las senoras were
still prisoners in great danger caused
Raymer's heart to bound with joy and
a resolve to rescue them. He did not
doubt the result Success in his former
contests with the red man had given
him confidence in himself and his COM
rades. He turned his glass once more
along the border of the opening, and
looking more closely than before dis
covered, directly opposite, a party of
men and horses concealed in the wood.
Presently flame lit up the painted
tl,, Tl,ax, 1,a1 pooca1 m
dig and were grouped together, holding
bundles Of something in their hands.
They held something in the flame, and
its volume increased hundredfold.
They were lighting billets Of pitch pine
Yes, they were at their old game-drop-
ping the blazing brands into the interior
Something must be done, and that quick
ly.
Corporal Coffey, Clary, Evans, Sat
tier" called the officer in stage whis-
per, "come this way! Stand OIL my right
in line and take aim at those rascals OH
the roof Fire when do
Four of the oldest soldiers Of the COM
pany passed the reins of their animals
to their comrades and advanced softly
to the point indicated The click of five
locks was heard, and at the same mo-
ment the Indians OH the roof broke out
in 4 blood curdling warwhoop i'll which
they were promptly Joined by the main
body in the wood. The five savages OIL
the roof were plainly visible.
Now, corporal, said the lieutenant.
"you take the tallest fellow, Clary tn
shortest, Sattler the one with his shout
ders bare, Evans the one sitting OH the
wall, and l will take the one with the
three feathers. Ready! Aiml Firel
At the simultaneous discharge the III
dian sitting OH the wall toppled back
ward and fell to the earth never to stir
again. A subsequent inspection OF the
roof showed that two others had been
killed, and the trailing blood to the rear
wall proved that the rest had been
wounded.
Immediately upon the discharge OF
the rifles the door Of the cabin was
opened, the fiery brands were thrown
out, and the door closed again. The In
dians in the wood were seen to mount
in hot haste and disappear Raymer