Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-09-26


1t left the black base, then all on a sud
den it burst into lurid glare, red, yell
low, banishing the rose and flaming
over the valley for many mile, No
welcome signal that, telling Of the
wanderers safe return, no message Of
hope or comfort, but most dreaded
sign Of all, It was the cry for help from
the Sandy valley, the appeal Of terrified
women and children-the token that
red war had burst about the walls Of
the old frontier fort, and even its little
garrison was now In peril.
II Maj. Thornton was in grave dis
tress before he was in the depths Of de-
lection now. For hours he had been
longing for day, and day had only
brought him new and worse disaster
Here he was with one small company
Of infantry as permanent guard and
three troops Of cavalry, fresh from the
saddle work Of the plains and utterly
untaught in mountain fighting, as his
striking and scouting column. Well
had the Apaches chosen their time, and
dire indeed was the effect Of their con-
eerted blows. All in flash the major
realized that his little force was scat
tered or scattering-Foster somewhere
up In the Socorro to the northwest, pos
sibly pushing still farther away from
the post and into peril; Turner already
marching out In support Of him and In
pursuit Of the ambushing Indians, who,
at this rate, before another sunset
would line the Prescott road with
graves, and this left only Raymond'a
troop, diminished in strength by the
detachment Of Lieut.. Crane and HIS
party to 60 to the rescue now. Thorn.
ton was quick to think and Act.
mount your horse, you'll" he cried to
the orderly trumpeter Just issuing from
thu adjutant's Office. ride like Q
streak after Capt Turner lie cant DO
across the lowlands vet. Tell him to
return at once"
Fosters strong enough to take care
Of himself, reasoned the major. poor
Rafferty's done for, and anybody who's
fool enough to be riding the Prescott
road this morning must take his own
chances. My first duty is to save these
people to the west Already the SEN
try's cry had summoned the corporal.
The guard was springing to ranks at
the tidings that the beacon was blazing
on Signal Butte There was no need
OF sounding ITO arms, since the whole
command was practically alert and
belted now-no need to sound reveille
aimee the entire post was up and astir.
The sunbeams were gliding the west
ward peaks and the upper pillows Of
the clouds Of dust, in which Turner's
troop came trotting back and met half
way by instructions, never entering
the post, turned Column half right"
midway across the sandy swale and
went cantering westward into the dim
valley, squirting swiftly to the rescue
Thornton and his adjutant with
them, leaving Raymond in command at
Retribution.
And as the sun climbed higher and
blazed slantlng down upon the mesa
and the soaring dust cloud faded out of
sight, men, and women, too, gathered
on that westward bluff to watch for
further sign Of veal or woe. "Ohl that
we had kept Leon with us" was Mrs.
Fosters plant 1t breaks my heart
to think of him. Indeed, Leon aud
Icons fate seemed nppermost In the
hearts Of all Rare, indeed, were the
occasions and strong their numbers
when Apachcs had dared to face a
whole troop in the field, and Capt Ray
mond strove to soothe the fears Of
those who trembled ut the thought of |
peril TO Poster and Turner and their
men. "Apaches have raided the ranches
most probably" was his theory. Crane
cannot protect them and the old post,
too He has probably been penned at the
corral and could hardly look out for |
even Kelly's homestead, The Apaches
are possibly there all around them, but
Turner will brush them of like so |
many flies. Kelly's people are safe in |
the cellars, haven't a doubt, and the |
old'man, with the assistance he has, can |
easily stand off the providers until they |
see Turner coming; then they'll all skip |
for the range, perhaps run slap into
Foster, and between the two there
won't be much left Of the Tontos."