Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1898-06-23

were Scared where outlets mad clipped
off Jumps of adobe, and the whole place
looked as IL il had stood a protracteo
siege.
Dust looked into the well. BY ener
getic bailing. he and the trumpeteI
succeeded in getting most of the waite,
out. He then lowered himself down CT
bucket to the bottom. foot or two
of water was still left, but it's surface
was below the spring which was its
source.
The bottom was soft and Shiny. With
q handful of this Shiny stuff he as.
cended to the corral. On examining IL,
he saw that IT very evidently contained
some substance which was undoubted.
ly the poison.
With the help of the little trumpeter
the lieutenant filled several buckets
with pure water from the live spring
which supplied the well. This water.
even If he had no antidote, might help
the men. Dust rushed about to supply
ii to them and TO make them comfort
able.
He brought blankets for them. filled
their canteens with pure water. ar
ranged their saddles as pillows, and
placed their arms near them. He fed
the horses and the mules, and even held
a canteen to the lips OF the brute who
had struck him such cowardly blow
that afternoon. Meantime he prayed
with all his heart that the Indians
would not attack him while his com
mand was in this condition.
When he had done all he could fol-
the men, he and the trumpeter drank
some of the pure water and ate food
What was he to do? No
help could be had; il would take three
days to send for and receive aid. for
the nearest troops we're back at the
post. Meantime the men seemed easier.
and certainly none were worse.
BY and by they began to fall asleep
Dust hoped the effects of the poisoning
would pass off during the night. There
WITS no rest for him or the trumpeter
that night. The sick men continually
walked and called piteously for water:
the watchers had TO catch
and tie up horse or mule that broke
loose.
Toward morning a big white mule
his halter-strap and scamp
cred down to the bad-water hole to
drink The lieutenant went after him.
but the mule ran off in the dark. Think
ing 1t was useless to chase him, Dust
turned back to the corral.
Before he had gone halfway he was
startled by a noise behind him, and
stepped aside just in time to escape
being run over by the mule. which was
lying terror-stricken back toward the
gate of the corral. Suspecting the cause
If the animals fright, the Lieutenant,
threw himself on the ground and crept
back to the water hole. There he
up behind cactus-bush and
ay down, pistol ia hand, listening.
He had been there but a few minutes
oeering into the dark, when he became
lware that something was creeping
,oward him through the sage-brush.
Nearer and nearer II came. till Dust
,ould distinguish the naked limbs and
zee the cloth band around the head OF
in Apache Indian. The lieutenant Gov
red him carefully with his revolver
md waited till he felt he could not
Miss, then he fired. Without stopping
o learn the effect of his shot, he
up and ran for the corral.
Shots rang out in the dark and bull
is whistled over his head, but while
lie was flying to the corral gate provi
Ience sent him a strange inspiration
" which he might save the troop.
The trumpeter, alarmed at the shoot |
ng. ran out to meet him, carbine in |
Iand.
go get your trumpet, boy, and blow |
TO horse quickly" cried Dust; then
Ielp me put brides on some of the
orses."
In few seconds the notes of the
rumpet rose on the night air. Some OF
he sick men started up from their
lankets and grasped their guns, but
he effort was too much for them, anu |
hey sank back moaning, even while
hey stared wondering to see the lieu
enant and the trumpeter rushing
bout among the horses, fastening
rides on them hurriedly.
They heard the lieutenant call out:
Link the horses together in sets OF
ours with the skirmish links, as if the
roop was going to fight on foot. Twill
lad the first four. you the second; the
est will follow"
Presently they were both mounted.
hen Dust said: BLOW Forward
Straight out of the
orral they went in column of tours.
ist as the troop would have gone, the
eutenant lashing his leaders with the
nd of lariat, over sand and brush on
mad run. the trumpet sounding the
charge"
A few scattering shots greeted them
5 they emerged from the gate of tho
orral. But the trumpet-calls had
'ightened the Indians, and thinking
whole troop of cavalry was charging
lem. they fed.