The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1896-01-09

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If 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 and
three troops of cavalry, fresh from the
saddle work Of the plains and utterly
untaug ht 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 a flash the major
realized that his little force was scat
tered or scattering-Foster somewhere
up in the Socorro to the northwest, pos
sibly pushing still farther away from
the post and into peril; Turner already
marching cut in support of him and N
pursuit OF the ambushing Indians, who,
at this rate, before another sunset
would line the Prescott road with
graves, and this left only Raymond's
troop, diminished in strength by the
detachment of Lieut.. Crane and his
party to go to che rescue now. Thorn
ton was quick to think and act.
''Mount your horse, you'll" he cried to
the orderly trumpeter just issuing from
the adjutants office. ride like
streak after Capt Turner. He can't be
across the lowlands vet. Tell him to
return at once"
Fosters strong enough to take care
of himself" reasoned the major. Poor
Rafferty's done for, and anybody who's
fool enough to be riding the Prescott
road this morning must take. his own
chances. My first 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 TO arms" since the whole
command was practically alert and
beted now-no need to sound reveille
since the entire post was up and astir.
The sunbeams were gliding the west
ward peaks and the upper pillows of
the clouds of dust, in which Turner's
troop came trotting back and, met half
way by instructions, never entering
the post, turned "column half right"
midway across the sandy swale and
went cantcring westward into the dim
valley, squirting swiftly to the rescue
Thornton and his adiutant with
them, leaving Raymond in command at
Retribution.
And as the sun climbed higher and
blazed slantlng down upon the mesa
and the soaring dust cloud faded out of
sight, men, and women, too, gathered
on that westward bluff to watch for
further sign of veal or woe, "Oh! that
we had l:1,3t Leon with us!" was Mrs.
Fosters plant. SIT breaks my heart
to think of him." Indeed, Leon and
Icons fate seemed uppcrmost in the
hearts of all. Rare, indeed, were the
occasions and strong their numbers
when Apachcs had dared to face a
whole troop in the field, and Capt Ray
,gcond stroye to soothe the fears Of
those who trembled at the thought of
peril to Foster and Turner and their
men. "Apauhcs have raided the ranches
most probably, was his theory. "Crane
cannot protect them and the old post,
too Hchas probably been penned at the
corral and could hardly look out for
even Kclly's homestead. The Apaches
arc possibly there all around them, but
Turner will brush them off like sc
many flies, Kelly's people are safe in
sSthc cellars, haven't doubt, and the
Goldman, with the assistance he has, can
easily stand off the providers until they
sec Turner coming; then they'll all skip
for the range, perhaps run slap into
!, Foster, and between the two there
won't be much left of the Tontos."
All this was very buoyant and reas.
surfing, but women can see so many