St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-04-12

fortunate as to be stationed in Texs is an indo-
lent and lazy one. He tits back his chair
and places his feet upon the railing of the
long back barrack piazza He is troubled but
little with serious thoughts-one writer of
army stories to the contrary-and has many
day dreams, in all of which he figures on
the time he has yet to serve upon the barren
plains and mountains of the great arid south
west.
The day the detail came ordering troop
sixteenth cavalry, into the field the men re-
paired to the stables to inspect their horses
and there did vast deal Of swearing.
Why certain dark-complected handsome
man, living in that portion of Texas watered.
or not watered, by the Rio Grande river, and
OF Mexican origin should organize revolution
against the government of his fathers was
more than our captain could answer.
10 the handsome Mexican it meant period
OF thrilling adventure. To us 1t meant hard
rlolng over hot sand beneath merciless sun
In the daytime, and lying at night upon the
hard earth to SILVER for hours-for the nights
are cold-with nothing between us and the
wide world but a threadbare blanket
our captain was known throughout Texas as
nara rider, and we knew what to expect on
this occasion
boots and saddles sounded and we rode
Iorth as eager to do our duty as though every
man did not know it was hopeless chase
On the third day our Mexican guide found
trail in the sand and we followed it hotly.
Inc country over which we had been travelling
was so dry that our horses suffered greatly
from lack Of water We, however could carry
enough water in our canteens to keep our lips
moist But as the Mexican guide led us fur
Their into the deserts and mountains of this
barren country the places where water could
be obtained grew fewer and the water more
muddy and less refreshing For eight hours
We nad not found water, and unless some was
soon discovered we would be obliged to turn
pack We passed many wells or rather pools
put they were all dry. Around these pools
the black carcasses of dead cattle dotted the
sand. Their trails all led from the direction
opposite from that in which we had come
This proved as conclusively to us that the land
ahead was waterless as though we had been
through it and seen for ourselves Yet we
pushed on.
suddenly the Mexican guide, who was far
IN advance, signaled halt" The captain rode
Forward and consulted with the guide. They
came DacK slowly and we were ordered to
d1smount The guide was sure that the very
banc we were in search of lie concealed in
the crevice Of a high mountain that Law d.
fectly In front of us. Leaving our horses with
guard we crept forward trying to keep
concealed from the eyes of the reyolutionists
who, from their camp upon the mountain. had
a f1ne view of the plain below. From boulder
to boulder and from cactus to cactus we crept
on our hands and knees. We had nothing
with us but belt Of cartridges and a car
bine. Everything that could Jingle or click
had been left on the mounts. Not even the
captain had sword that could clank-clatter
all the way up. AS we came closer we could
distinguish objects here a red rag like
piece Of flannel shirt worn by cowboy, and
there tin pan, shining brightly in the sun
light. AS we came to the top of the mountain
IVo md f,,1l1y H.
ledge, looked down into the rebel camp. Not
a Mexican was in sight. A sergeant took ten
men around to the other side, the troop spread
out in skirmishing order and the camp was
surrounded. We waited and yet there was no
sign Of life. The captain ordered a man to
fire a shot into big cave in the side of the
crevice. Bang! The noise awoke the echoes
and vibrated from the walls of the canyons and
sent a cloud Of dust upward from the mouth
of the cave. Still no sign of life. The cap
tain looked puzzled, but the Mexican guide
looked frightened, and under his dark tan
grew pale. The captain wondered why the
rebels did not show themselves. The guide
knew.
Come" he said, in voice that sounded
hollow. Down the steep sides Of the crevice
he dashed and we followed. At the entrance
of the cave he paused. He was afraid to en-
ter. The captain pushed him aside and sprang
into the cave, we following close at his heels.
Upon the sandy floor of the cave lay the reb-
els, seventeen of them, all dead. Near them
lay their pigskin water bottles-dry. They
had died of thirst, and now the same fate
awaited US.
Good God!' was all the captain said. and
turning he walked out of the cave and down
the side of the crevice.
"Get back to your mounts was the only
order he gave, and we obeyed 1t silently,
stumbling down the steep sides of the noun
tain and speaking no word.
Every eye was turned upon the captain,
and all waited anxiously his next command.
What was he going to do?" That was the
question each man asked himself. What
could he do? But that silent officer had grown
white in the service and already he had
formed plan to deliver his men from the
danger of dying in the desert of thirst.
Mount" came the order, and as we
climbed into our saddles the captain spoke a
few words to the first sergeant.
"Trot march," The order came as clear as
a pistol shot and seemed to awaken in each
breast a renewed energy. We were trotting
as fast as our tired horses could travel in
different direction from that in which we had
come. Where we were going no one knew.
Some one said a railroad ran somewhere in
the direction in which we we're trotting.
Our horses were by this time so tired that
they tried to lie down whenever the captain
called halt to rest them. There was hardly
a man Of US that was able to sit on his sad
die.
And now would come thoughts Of home