The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1898-10-25
moving as part OF one harmonious Iri.il,

uMA Aau received aCCeSSlOnG. Fuller,
tne sutler. finely mounted and bristlins
with arms Of the latest and most ap
proved pattern, backed by two sun
tanned Texans from his ranch, had over.
taken the command at noon, bent on
sharlng its fortunes in the tussle antiei-
pated with the outlaws, and they were
now riding with headquarters, - from
which. on the other hand, two figures
were missing-Lawrence and one OF the
orderlies. AS early as 2 o'clock the ex-
captain had pushed on ahead, q double
object IN view, to warn Cramer's troop
OF the coming Of the Worth command
and the tidings they bore of the Friday
gang, also to have a little party moans
at once and gallop northeast, ten miles
to the Saba trail-a short cut from.
Worth to the San Saba pass, used Ly
horsemen in the rainy season Captain
Cramer might or might mt have re
ceived warning Of the appearance OF
the gang in the valley below his catlp
ct the springs, but the Fridays.
whoever their leader, would cer-.,ialy
have friends and confederates Oh ..u
watch near Worth, friends who We
probably take that very short cut ,.,l
gallop at speed to warn the gang Of ,he
coming vengeance. Oddly enough, it
was not Brooks nor Lawrence who was
first to think Of this, but Barclay. 1t
was his modest suggestion at the noon
halt. q suggestion that was put in form
Of q question, that had opened the ma
3or's eyes. II remember, sir, - said he.
that the springs lie in sort of elbow
The trail runs nearly east and west fer
many miles beyond them, and nearly
north and south on this side. Is there
noEway in which scouts could CELLO,
across our left and give warning to
those fellows?''
By Jove, +" said Crooks, there S tie
old San Saba cut off What had we bet
ter do. lawrence, And Lawrence si.ia
to send at once a sergeant with set t,f
tours to the left until they cut the trall
in order to prevent information gong
to the gang that way and to report ii
any horsemen had already passed, which
latter any old frontiersman could tell az
. glance. Mullane, lurching drowsiiv
In saddle all through the, last stage. h.,4
thrown himself on the turf and so,c
sound asleep the moment the colaeiA
halted. Only with extreme difficulty
could he be aroused and made to ulllcs
stand what was wanted. Mr. VIM
standing silently by. turned his back on
his temporary commander. He knew
the Irish captain was we'll nigh s,yaa.p
ed with liquor, and he had no wis., II
bear witness against him. Those WEI.
days SO close to the war that os.lceis,
old and new. still thought more of what
q man had done than of what he was
doing, and Mullane had been gallant
trooper. EYE 'tind to it, sergeant,
was again the Irishinan S comprehensive
order 30 his first sergeant when at list
he grasped the significance of Brooks
words, and FIVE horsemen rode away at
the lope to the left front tho moment
the column again mounted Again ai,
Brooks see ftto caution lis leading tluc.
commander. II am afraid you haa..
sampled that whisky once too often,
+ Mullane. No more OF it now. Or you J
go to pieces when youare most needed
Fhe muttered, then rode on to the head
of column.
And the prediction came true. AT the
very next halt .Mullane had fallen into
sa stupor SO heavy that it was found I'M
possible to rouse him. The assistant
surgeon with the column made brief ex-
animation, then unslung and removed
the canteen at the captain S pommel and
whispered his conclusion. Better leave
his horse and orderly here with him. -
Then" said the major briefly,
Winn, you command L troop" Ard
when again the column mounted Bar
clay rode back and directed his leading
section to incline to the right. SO that
they passed the lonely little group, the
two horses placidly cropping at the
scant heritage, tho orderly squattine
with averted face filled at once with
shame and sympathy. the recumben1
figure sprawled upon the prairie, its
bloated red visage buried in the blue
sleeved arms Barclay s rearward sec
tions instinctively followed the lead.
and only furtive glances were cast, and
no audible comments made. The ranks
were full of tough characters in those
days, yet imbued with strange fidel.
ity in certain lines that reminds one OF
the dog immortalized by Bret Harte al
Red Gulch-the dog that had such deel
sympathy for "a helplessly drunken man
There was nothing in their code to pre-
vent their stealing from Uncle Sam,
their captain, or any other victim, blu,
to hint that an officer or q friend was
drunk would have been the height o1
improperly.
VIM, not Mullane therefore, lee
1.-the DEVILS Own, +" as Mullane's trooI
together with others no doubt-hat
been appropriately designated. Barclay
followed at the head of ID, when, near
ing Crockett Springs at s O'Clock, :
dim speck Of courier came twisting ou
upon the trail to meet them, and Brooks
long after recalled the thought tina
came to him as he read the dispatch
that reached him there. 1t was from
Lawrence:
rra,,,or not wind of the eone, aorlx, tbi