The Irish standard., 1895-09-21

blush 81 dawn, deep hued below where
IL left the black base, then all on a sud.
den il burst into lurid glare, red, yell
low, banishing the rose and flaming
{ over tile valley for many a mis-. No;
welcome signal that, telling of the
wanderers safe return, no message OF
hope or comfort, but most dreaded;
sign 81 all, 1t was the cry for help from
the Sandy valley, the appeal Of terrified q
women and chit drer the token shat
red war had burst about the walls Of
the old frontier fort, and even It's 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 snd
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-
certed blows. All in fash the major
realized that his little force was scat
tered or soattering-Foste somewhere
up IA the Socorro to the northwest, pos
sibly pushing still farther away fron
the post and into peril; Turner already
marching ont ia support OF him and in
pursuit of the ambushing Indians. who,
at this rate before another sunset
would line the Prescott road with
4, &c. 1aQ% or,1 H1
troop, diminished in strength by the
detachment OF Lieut.. Crane and his
party to go to the rescue now. Thorn
ton was quick to think and act
'.Mount your horse, you!'' he CRIED to
tho orderly trnr1 peter just issuing from
the adiutants Office. ride like
streak after Capt Turner. He can't be
across the lowlands vet. Tell hitn to
return at once.
Fosters strong enough to take care
Of himself, reasoned the major. Poor
Rafferty's done for, and any body Who's
fool enough to be riding the Prescott
road this morning must take his own
chances. My hrst 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 s'To arms, since the whole
command was practically abort asd
belted now-no need to sound Eeveille
since the entire post Yves up and a.aSir.
The sunbeams were gliding the wsst-
ward peaks and the upper billows OF
II A. ~f ~, -sr1; oh ns.t.S.
troop came .trottin9 back and, met half
way by Instructions, never entering
the post, turned column half right"
midway across the sandy swale and
went cantering westward int, the dim
valley, squirting swiftly to The rescue
Thornton and his adjutant with
them, leaving Raymond in command ut
Retributon. $'.
And as the sun climbed higher and
blazed slaatlng down upon the mesa
and the soaring dust cloud faded cut Of
sight, men, ana women, too, gathered
on that westward bluff to watch for
further sign Of veal or woe. ''Oh! that
we had kept Leon with us!' was Mrs.
Fosters plant. lit breaks my heart
to think of him" Indeed, Leon and
Icons fate seemed uppermost In the
hearts Of all. Rare, indeed, were the
occasions and strong their numbers
when Apaches had dared to face .
whole troop in the field, and Capt Ray
mond strove to soothe the fears Of
those who trent led ut the thought Of
peril to Foster and Turner and their
men. "Apaches have rnided the ranches
most probably" was his theory. "crane
cannot protect them and the old pest,
too He has probably beenpenned at tho
corral and could hardly look out for
even Kelly's homestead. The Apaches
are possibly there i'll around them, but /
Turner viii brush them of Aike 50
many, flies. Kelly people are safe il I
the cellars, haven't q doubt, snd the
old.man, with the assistance he has, can
easily stand OF the providers until they
see Turner coming; then they'll all skip I
for the range, perhaps run slap into
Foster, and between the two there
won't be mnch left OF the Tontos. ? 333sS., , \.
All this was very buoyant and reas-.s
Surfing, but women can see so many
d