The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1898-05-19
CONTINUED from last weekly

tContihucd from last week.
lsy and by. in the heat of the day, the
solitary rider turned into a short lane
mt the further end OF which stood nj
empty house, and in front of this house
near the door of log stable, lay G
trough of water. supplied by a tiny
stream trickling through an old muskei
barrel
All appeared quiet; not sign Of life
was to be seen anywhere about; and
the thirsty trooper. without dismounting
dipped up in lis cantccn copious
draught and imbiled it loisurcly, while
his good horse drank deeply from the
trough. Just as the unsnspicious young
man had thrown back his head to drain
the last drop Of the refreshing flnid he
heard slight shnfllIng noise and stimuli.
tancOusly an oIninous click. Half turn
ing in his saddle he saw within q few
yards Of him two barefootcd "bush-
whackcrs,' who had evidently up till
now been concealed in the stable.
One of these dangerous tramps car
ried n long duclsing gun, already stead.
lily covering Ilerbert's breast, and the
other loclslcss rife and bayonct.
"Up with yer hands. We id Yank!"
yelled the fellow with the gun. But
Private Leslie was not that kind of q
"Yank He had been carefully
coached for just such an emergency MS
this, and instead Of leaving his revolver
in the holsters had one of them living
on the pommcl of his saddle. Quick
Ms thought he dropped his hand to the
weapon, but swift as his motion was
his fingers had barely touched its butt
when the mcnacing rufiian pulled tho
trigger Of his smoothborc.
II the clumsy piece had exploded its
tnrcc-ouncc load Of slugs and buckshot
would have torn the bold nnionist's
body to shrcds. but fortunately for him
the hammer fell upon spoiled cap
and seeing there was no time to replace
it the grCrillas rushed forward with
frightfnl oaths.
One took two steps, the other three,
and then both lay weltcring in their
gorc--shot down by the deadly, rapid
fire Of their boyish foe.
Not knowing how many more of these
vagabond, no-nation stragglers might
be ambushed within hearing, Herbert
dared not wait to ascertain the condi-
ton OF his ASSISTANTS, but, wheeling his
horse, rode Off Mt speed. little Imagining
what was next to bcfall.
He had arrived, with no further mo-
iestation. within six miles Of the outer
line ofrCrook's vidcttes and was riding,
now more slowly, along the edge Of n
wooded tract, when he heard Il low,
moaning cry which appeared to come
from an adjoining thickct.
Some poor, wounded 'reb' needs
help" the humane young fellow NUT
tered, and, promptly dismounting, he
proceeded TO make search, having
hiBt, for fear of treuchery, placed re-
volver in his belt. Creeping on hands
and knees through the dense under
brush and guided by the still-continucd
plnint, he came presently to PROSTATE,
blood-stcined form clad in u torn uni
forin-not of gray, but of blucl
"Ah. one of our own brave bows"
thought he, and, kneeling by the side OF
the helpless man, lie gently raised his
head. Tho wan, pinchcd, hunger
stricken face, covered with mud,
seemed that Of stranger, but no
sooner had the sunlscn eyes turned upon
Leslie than the wounded soldier raspcd:
"Oh Herbert - don't you - know
ne?"
"Mercifrl Heaven exclaimed the
astounded rcscuer, sit Is Fred Ainslie!"
and, throwing his arms around his SO
found friend, he burst into
very unsoldierlilsc tears.
why, lay dear Ered"--he began, but
the wornout boy had tainted and now
lay scnsclcss upon his old schoolmate's
brcu.t.
Owing to the hasty manner in which
Herbert had been Obliged to leave the
water he had not rcfilled his cuntccn.
md now hc had not so much as n drop
% force between the swollen lips OF his
unconscious comrade. Yet not mo-
nent must be lost. lie saw that Fred's
light leg was shot through above the
snee, that he was utterly exhausted by
oss OF blood and might die before other
lelp could be brought, and, besides. his |
'wn business would not admit of DELAY.
so, with infinite care and tenderness.
ie drew the motionlcss form out to the |
Dad and placed it across his saddle.
Then, remounting, he held the lipht |
weight fairly in his arms and, putting |
lis well-trained charger to an easy |
anter' carried poor Fred safely, and |