Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-03-09
busy about other matters. l"

 heath the veil must be accomplishedl
 "You must explain to the rest of us," said Padre Gutierrez, "what you have ment in our prospects. What has hap pened?"
 Simply that we have an intelligent messenger to send to camp" replied the lieutenant in Castellano. "Victoriana is very accomplished doggy"-stoop- ing and fondling her head and ears. ''She has had great pains taken with her education and can do many things. Among others she can carry messages. How far is it to the camp, father?''
 "Nine miles"
 '"Then Vic can do it. Sergeant, whit tie out a stick which she can carry in her mouth, and will write letter. Father Gutierrez, please stand guard at the window"
 Gould we not send her back to Jemez, sir?" asked the sergeant. "The distance is much less"
 No; hardly think could make her understand our wishes in that direction. There is little doubt but she will go to camp"
 ASB ASAOAoS0 AAAO PANPtAAeAe4OA of the message, went back to her couch in the corner, where the two beautiful hands received her into a gentle em- brace, and Q face bent down and nestled in her silky ears with no intervening veil. Ono nun remonstrated in an un- dertone, but the other turned and added other caresses to those of the girl.
 Ut will not do to send her until after dark. said Raymer, flor the Navajoes might see her and kill her, but we will make our preparations by daylight
 A letter was written upon leaves torn from a notebook and addressed to Ser geant Mulligan at the camp, telling the story of the party's predicament and or dering him to send a detachment to raise the siege. Upon the fiat stick prepared by Sergeant Cunningham was written in plain characters, Examine her col lar" It was intended that she should carry the stick in her mouth, as she had always hitherto carried messages and articles, for fear she would not under stand she was to go Upo,i an crrand un- less all the conditions ui her education were observed.
 During the latter part of tho afternoon the NavajOes had withdrawn into the edge of the forest and showed them- selves rarely i'll the opening. Once the rapid strokes of an aX wero heard for some time, causing the inmates of tho cabin to wonder what was going on. It was by no means unusual for this tribe to fell trees, and the white mans ax found a ready sale at their Indian trad CTS.
 The Navajoes seemed disposed to wait for night before beginning operations, whatever might be their intentions. As dusk began to settle Raymer called Vic to him and attached n note wrapped in his handkerchief to her collar.
 "Now, little girl, he said fondly as he knotted the package, you have chance to help us out of bad scrape. You are to go to camp to the sergeant and deliver him this stick, placing the chip in her mouth. Then opening the eastern door, the one by which tho par ty had entered, Raymer pointed to the north and said: "Now, littlo Vic, take that stick to the sergeant. Col"
 The setter heSitated q moment, looked questioningly into her masters face, turned, and walking across the room dropped the stick at Sergeant Cunning ham feet. The sergeant stopped, and placing his hand under her chin raised her head upward, saying:
 Well, Vicky, there is but one ser geant in all the wide world to you, and he is here, isn't he?''
 That is true. never sent her to any sergeant but the first sergeant I'll have k- nF friends, perhaps in her estimation her best-the cook Here, Vic''-placing the chip once more in her mouth-''take this stick to the cook. Cor
 The dog looked from lieutenant to sergeant, walked to the door. looked out and again glanced questioningly at her master.
 "Yes, little one, the cook. Cop She bounded through the doorway, and the yelled girl in the corner rose and went to the eastern window, where she stood a moment with her veil raised in her right hand and watched the mes- senger turn tho corner of the butte and | disappear. The girl remained a few 1 moments gazing into the gathering | darkness, then lowered her veil and re- turned to her seat Raymer caught no glimpse of her features.
 After the departure of Vic food was distributed, and the men stood in the doorways or at the windows eating and | watching.
 In order to husband the supply of l fuel against possible contingencies, the lieutenant put off lighting the fire upon the roof as long as 1t appeared to be safe to do so. As evening fingered on the borders of night the watchers heard a crushing and grinding sound, as of Q heavy wheel rolling over twigs and gravel, but were unable to guess its meaning
 Fearing disaster might follow any further delay to light the fire, the lieu tenant told the sergeant to kindle it. | Cunningham ascended the chimney, lighted a few splinters of pitch pine and placed them on the roof, and as soon as they wero we'll afiame added to them several billets of wood which Father Gutierrez passed up to him. Soon a blaze was leaping upward, and, strongly reflected by the white sandstone shelf above, lighted the whole space about the cabin.
 "Heu tHe cTSe<AuI ucSOouucu dBuIu " the floor, the men made Q close observa- tion from the windows Everything was plainly visible to their eyes, and they felt sure their own movements could not be seen by the Indians To the east all was silent, and for a long time noth- ing had been seen of the lurking foe To the west also the enemy seemed to be absent but for the strange grinding sound which had not ceased since it first began, and which showed the Navajoes were intending mischief. What it could mean and what it could threaten was the serious question.
 The lieutenant adjusted his fieldglass