The Van Buren press., 1897-05-15

in the sentry was Withdrawn from that
beat.
The unhappy man dared not strike
light, for this would have exposed
him to the deadly aim Of possibly lurk
ing foes. lie did, however, several
times venture to CALI "Waltl Walt!
Waltz rapidly shifting his position
after each cry. but there came no an
swer. lIurriedlY then he loosed the
nine remaining animals. added them To
his own string and led all to camp,
every inmate of which was instantly
aroused by his dread tidings. first COM
munieated to the astonished sentries.
Amid all the vengeful clamor ex-
cited by the sad news. Hugh Austin re-
manned silent. His grief seemed too
deep for words. With blanched face
and fearless eyes, he stood awhile like
statue, and then, noticed only by two
or three of us, stole away. TO vent, as
we thought. his sorrow in secret.
whats TO be done first, Dave p
| asked Goodson. lets start out TO the
rescue at once, before It's too late
Nothing can be done till morning,
JOHN gloomily replied the guide.
THE yillainous Apaehes have already
| rot far into the pass with their prizes
Any attempt to follow them in the dark
/ would be a useless throwing away OF
our lives. They've planned for rs to
make instant pursuit. If We did, not
one of us would live TO tell the story.
/ We'd all be riddled by bullets or arrows
| before we saw single reaskin. We
| couldn't see to shoot al all, but their
eyes are keener than ours. and they'd
pick every last one of the pursuing par
ty off. Then they'd rush down and
oyerpower the men left in camp, and 50
capture the whole outfit"
/ But, merciful heaven! Dave, they'll
slaughter my poor brother long before
morning. distractedly cried Goodson
NO, they won't kill him, unless his
rescue seems certain. He's so young
that they'll try to keep him for adop-
/ ton into the tribe. The whole band is
/ probably hiding in the pass now, not
many miles away, waiting to take our
scalps. When they find that we don't
come along, they'll lie down and SLEEP
I'll daybreak. After that, they'll loaf
around till their scouts bring in word
that we're coming. | reckon those
scouts will never see me, though, for
| count on taking the main body SO
completely by surprise that there1l
be no time to kill the prisoner. Gheal
up, Hugh. Wen save your chum I'll
right Why, bless me, where is tt.
boy2"
Where was he, sure enough? All the
covered wagons were carefully
searched, but no Hugh could be found
nor could the two reYolvers belonging
TO him and Walter!
No one could imagine why the youth
had stolen away. though some of us
thought that, half crazed by grief, he
had gone forth with the wild idea OF
either rescuing or dying with his friend,
which last he would most certainly do
should he chance to come upon and be
discovered by the ambushed foe,
To the half-frantic wailing of John
Goodson was now added that of Robert
austin. and it was all we could do to
prevent both from rushing off in blind
search for the lost boys.
Not an eye was again closed in camp
that night. All of us remained watch
fully awake, each man with his rifle and
revolver ready for instant use But
nothing occurred to disturb us. So far
as appearances went, there might not
be hostile Indian within 100 miles.
We breakfasted long before day, and
W hen the first lance-shafts of coming
GAVIN strealled the eastern sky, 20 of
us, all on foot, and armed to the teeth,
hunted up the trail, utterly undistin-
guishable to all but the guide, who,
after momentary inspection, conf
IDENTIFY asserted that only three Indians
had been engaged in the raid upon
horses and BOY,
Its just as | thought he said, "the
main body is ambushed somewhere in
the pass Those three scouts have been
sent out to decoy us into n trap. The
plan won't work; not if know myself,
Wen go around. over the range, and
come on the numbering crew from the
west end of the canyon. No watch will
be kept in that direction; and, with
proper care, a surprise will be easy.
but I'm very doubtful whether well
ever see Hugh Austin again. HeA
either get lost in the mountains or
fall into the clutches of the redskins
In that case, he's sure to show fight,
and will be killed otThand."
In accordance with Dave Ingram s
decision, We crept noiselessly through
the mountain Businesses, giving the
Vass a wide berth, and after four hours
If arduous toll, came round to its west
ern mouth. Then we divided, and went
east, ten Of US stealing silently through
the scrubvood on the left side of the
canyon, and the other ten doing the
same on the right.
l happened to be one Of the first
named party, in which were also John
Goodson and Robert Austin We had
gone, perhaps, a mile from the end of
the pass. when suddenly We heard q
slight rustling among the mesquite
bushes in our front. Instantly every
man of us sank out of sight behind the
nearest convenient cover, all expecting
the next moment to see either some
dangerous wild beast or still more dan
gerous Apache warrior.
What. then, was our joyful surprise
y hen the bushes parted and revealed
Walter Goodson, staggering heavily
along with Hugh Austin on his back!
Next moment both boys were in their
brothers arms, ang we then found that
Hugh was quite disabled by a severe