The Florence daily tribune., 1898-03-31

into the paiiiu dawn, ror tnat Iittte cleft
in the foothills Flny had named "Mon
Abri." Faint and shimmering the day.
beams came at last, and then, and not
until then, Murdock, n faithful trooper,
now riding by his lieuienant's side and
supporting him with his arm. turned to
his comrade, who, dismounted. was
striving with the aid of match or two
tc study some footprints they had
found in the soft surface. Jimmy he
whispered, there's something moving
along that ridge yonder--coming this
way. What is it?"
And though soft the whisper II
caught poor Rnndy's drowsy ear. and
he strove TO straighten up in saddle
What? Where?" he family asked.
"Ionder, sir. not half mile away.
It's some of our fellows, or I'm duifer
ell to 'em, Jimmy"
And obedient to the word Jimmy
yelled. Over the rolling surface the sol
dier's voice went ringing through the
dawn, and echo sent it Gathering back
from the bu,tes and powders to the
west. This way, you fellersl-this
way." he cried, and then, mounting,
c'apped spurs TO his pony and sputtcred
away down the intervening swale.
Ten minutes later Randy Merriam
was lying on the ground in swoon.
and George Grafton, with grave. sad
face, well-nigh as haggard as the lieu
tenants, was bending over him and
striving to force some brandy down HI
throat. Following for all they wer,
worth" the Apache trail. they had over
hauled the supposed marauders not .
miles back in the foothills pacific
hunting-party, provided with the agen-
cy pass and safeguard, ard cuipablt
only in thnt they had come too fa- and
had picked up on the plains an Amer
ic3n horse. abandoned at sight Of ther
by some Mexicans who gallopei
far away; and that American horse
minus saddle and bride. WAS Fioy'
pretty bay mare. Miguon.
Then where iii heavens name wa
she?
1t was some minutes before Merriam
revived. Then he stroye to stngger 1
his feet, but fell helplessly tack. /
was nearly broad daylight, but the sr,
was still below the distant Guadnloupt
Gathering his feeble energies, Rand,
strove to describe the little cove and is
implore Grafton to bear him thisher
and was interrupted by an enge
sergeant. who said: Eve passed III:
such brook, sir, noI mile hnck. Sha
] take haif-a-dozen men and follow
rp?"
"Yes, at once" said Grafton, 'and II
go, too. Stay here, Randy" Indeed. ths
caution YVES not needed. for Merriau
was past moring now, poor fellow, anu
his head sank helplessly lack upon the
soldiers supporting arm. And then
they rcde awny. Grafton ard hn,f-a
dozen OF his men, with Mignon, leg
weary and reluctant, trai.iue behind
And meantime the troop Gisnounted
and set about making coffee. while ont
orderly rode back 81 II. trail to sum
mon DR.. Could. jogging wcarily mile
behind. And presently the doctor
came and knelt by Randy's side and
scolded through his set teeth, egen
while he sltillfully stripped away the
hunting-shi5t and so reached the shat
tered arm.
Then came the glorious sunshine
streaming over the Guadaloupe and
gliding the westward Mescalero, and
then far out among the buttes, one
two-three, at regular intervals. the
ringing, echoing signals of the cavalry
carbine: and rough-garbed troopers
sprang to their feet and shouted loud
and capped ball cartridge into the
brown bellies of their guns, and fired
unlicensed salvos into the air. anf
danced and swung their hats, and drew
coarse flannel shirt-sieeves across thei.
blinking cyes--all at Sergt Hogan's
iubilant cry: MY God. boys. they've
found her!"
/