Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-12-31

In rting again the shdul fell array.
pound itacture, as the lieutenant knows
is difficult thing 10 treat, even Will
the bes surgical appliances. Pyemit
is 10 b., feared.
1T ibay prove fortunate for the boy
that wJhaye no surgeon, said the lieu
tenant "Do the best you can for him.
Do youlspcak Spanish:'
"Not well, sir.
"Th,h | will tell the first sergeant &c
detail Richards as an assistant He is 9
good nbrse, and he can interpret fol
you" Turning TO the boy. Raymer ask
ed:
"whb BIC is your name?"
''Rai pom Vaca Of Albuquerque, Sc
nor"
"Well. Ramon, keep up good heart.
Mason as for long time In hospital
in the .ield in the east and has a good,
practical knowledge Of surgery. HC
will do bill that is possible to make you
well aglin in time.
"ThaLk the senior teniente. Twill try
TO be pttient, but don't delay to go to
the he'll; OF las senoras in tho mountains.
Help t,lem quickly, or it will be toe
late
1--WE lhall be off in a few moments.
Goodby1" and taking the wounded boys
hand foI an instant Raymer went out IL
oversee the preparations for the march.
In til army men are accustomed ia
sudden lurprises, and they learn 10 &C!
promptly in emergencies. Consequently
in little time four of the mules were
made rebdy for riding, and two soldiers
skilled ~ packing were filling the pack
saddles bf the other two with rations,
ammunt tion, cooking utensils and other
necessary articles. The two bronchos
mentiorI,d in previous chapter as kept
for emeilgent service and the boys pony
we're reJdy to be mounted.
Telliik Sergeant Mulligan to follow
as rapidly rs possible with the pack ami
mails ami tho I2 men on foot, Lieuten'
ant RaiYner and seven mounted men
started bt q rapid pace on the Abiqul
trail. As the soldiers passed round the
headlank into the northern half Of the
valley they saw the shadows cast by the
western range were creeping fast up the
forest hid slopes of the valley and the
middle basin already deepening into
darkness
A flock Of ducks nesting in the reeds
by the l|rookside, alarmed by the gal
loping dolumn, fiuttered noisily across
the streslm; hare leaped out OF tuf'
of grass and disappeared in the gloom,
while toyote, disappointed at the los:
of daii)ty morsel, skunk sullenly away
into the Same screening obscurity.
A staI| CLEANED here and there IN the
sky wheh the detachment reached the
northerI limit and plunged into the
heavy Itne timber, the shadows OF
which nkarly hid the path from view,
| The treeb stood so near together that thu
trail male frequent turns between the
trunks ahd rose and fell over the undu
| lating aid gradually ascending ground,
making II impossible to proceed mucf
faster thbn walk.
The sbughing of the wind in tn,
pines adhed gloom to the night. In th'
| forest "the voices Of the night" were
unlike those Of the open valley. There
were mu terings and whisperings. sigh'
and gro ems, cluckings and chattering
and scabpering of feet, suggestive O
the SUPERNATURAL, but caused by thu
moving foliage and branches or disturb
ed anim}l life.
| The darkness increased as the distanc'
To Los bios Frios lessened, and th'
foliage became SO dense that Raymel
could diItinguish no objects beyond hi
horses Head. Depending upon the AMI
mails better vision or instinct to keel
tho trail he rode on, followed clcsel!
by the Ihen, when suddenly his hors'
stopped jhort and became SO restive tha
it was v,ttth great difficulty he could b
CONTROLLED. Turning to the men, tn
lieutena3t commanded:
"Haltl Dismount! Hold your animal
as still aE possible and listen!''
With 1.-THE silence Of the marching
party th}re broke upon the stiffness tn
sound Of scampering footsteps, MOVING
to the right and left, accompanied b,
the rustllng and cracking Of dry twig
and leavls. After the sound had ceaset
there ardse the unmistakable chorus o
the grayIwolf. With this positive evi
dence thkt something had frightened tn
horses aid mules-for all had becom
restive--lRaymer ordered Cain TO ligh
q pile of|dry pine spines and twigs, wit
\, which tile ground was covered
| A fire was quickly kindled, and whe
the ofiirF's eyes became accustomed 9
the lighk he peered into tho darknes
and saw nn object lying across the pat
q few rolls in advance What it was b
could nat make out, bat he determine
TO ascerthin its character.