The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1895-10-30

come. Westward, along the south face
of the Socorro, was his probable course;
for if Cardoza had slipped through
from the Springs toward the old post,
us now seemed possible, they could
meet at the fords of the Sandy, not a
mile from where the dim lights were
twinkling there at old Retribution
earlier in the evening-not half mile
from the base of Signal Butte and
barely short rifle shot from old Sergt.
KellY's ranch.
And now the question arose: Where
were the Apachcs? The miners and
prospectors who had fled from the,
Santa Anita said they fairly swarmed'
in that valley, fifty miles to the east.
The dispatches from department head
quarters represented them as having
already, at three different points,
swooped down apon the Prescott road,
both east and west of the Sandy; but,
so far as heard from, they had not ven
turcd into the valley south of the Soc;
orro range, cluster of rough, rocky,
pine crested upheavals that bulgcd out.
eastward from the main range, jutting
like some huge promontory into the,
Tonto basin. 1t was through II rift in
this clunp from the Ration Springs to
tho site of old Retribution that ran the
Tonto train of past generations, and
through another, still further to the
west, q deep jagged fissurc in the bed
hot fl,a cd a. Lob fn1
and tore-the ill-favorcd Apache can
yon. Fifty miles north Of the Socorro,
on the banks of the same stream and in
the very heart of the Apache country
was military post somewhat larger
than Rctribution-old Camp Sandy
and there were stationed the head
quarters and four strong troops of the
new regiment that had replaced the
Eleventh cavalry, all commanded by
Col Pelham. Thornton, at Rctribution,
felt we'll assured that by this time Pei
ham would be pushing out his scout
ing parties after the Tonic raiders, and
that between Sandy and Retribution
they could make it very lively for the
Indians in day or two, but meantime
should they work around into the
Sandy valley, south of the old post, just
as Capt. Raymond said: Heaven help
the scattered settlers therc!'
"If they reach the lower Sandy by
night or day." were the majors orders
to Lieut.. Crane, who commanded the
guard at the old site, don't wait an in
slant. Fire the beacon on Signal
Butte"
And now, one o'clock of the hot June
night had come. There had been slsirm-
ishing to the north, chase to the
northwest, signal fires ablaze to the
east, across the broad basin. Couricrs
had been pushed out northwestward
after Foster with ncws of Munccy's
bolt and information rs to the Cardo2a
party. Ferguson and two friends-dar-
ing fellows, well armed and mounted
had just left the post determined to
ride westward in the hopes Of over
hauling Muncey, and-well, hanging
was the horse thief's penalty in those
days. The troops of the garrison
arms and equipments close at hand
were sprawled about the veranda of
the new quarters, eager for the order
to saddle, and the major had just dis
patched messenger to say to the cap
tain that the men might as well turn in
for the night, when once again there
came the clear and ringing summons
for the corporal of the guard-this
time from the westward bluff. Those
who happened to be nearest that side
Of the garrison had already before the
cry heard the sharp, stern challenge:
"Who comes there?"
Even before the majors little party
could reach the north side the trim
figure of Corporal Lynch came bound
ing back up the slope. "What was the
matter, corporate" hailed the post COM
mander, and Lynch, halting short,
brought his carbinc to the carry and his
glovcd left hand to the salute, replying
with soldierly brevity:
Its MacDu1f, sir"
"MacDuff? You mean little Leon?"
"Yes, sir, with note for the doctor.
He stopped to water Sergt. Kelly's
broncho at the spring"
Another minute and riding brisllly
up from the dark, low ground to the
wcst'of the mesa came the 1.-THE, young
courier himself. He rcined in the in
stant he heard the majors voice, and
threw himself from the saddle.
What on earth brought you here al
this time, Leon?"
Mrs. Downey, sir, was very sick
The women folks from Downey's ranch
all came up to the post at dark, said
they didn't dare stay-thc Apaches were
surely coming into the valley, and they
got word somehow they were every
where along the north face of the Socor
ro, and Sergt. Kelly sent the girls in tC
the post from his ranch, but Mrs. Kelly
wouldn't leave him. She stayed there
There's really no place around the ole
post for women, but they've got then
into tent for the night. They darcnT
remain at the farmhouse up by the
canyon, and the lieutenant couldn't de
tach any men as guard-he needs then
all at the post, Mrs. Downey was il
such pain that we were oil worried
about her, so 1 borrowed the pony
without saying anything 70 Sergt
Kelly, and came up to get some medi
cine"
"Well, great Scott, boy! That's talk
ing tall chanccs," said the major
Didn't you see or hear anybody?'
"a fellow passed me, riding like mad