The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-11-12
rhe three men Keps closeIy rogesner, as

The three men Kept closely rogeoner, as
IF re1viup on one another for assistance.
AZ they elm bed down through the canyon
thew remained on it's darkest side, in order
To avoid any possible discovery, although
IL made their narrow footway still more
dangerous. Far behind them they could
see on the mountain side blaze of light,
and they knew that it was signal of their
escape 1t made them push forward with
still greater exertion, for now they knew
that the pursuit was close behind, and
that it would be only with the greatest
effort they could escape, as the Indians
had probably discovered the direstion in
which they were going and would endeay-
or to intercept them. AS they pushed for
ward with renewed haste the man In the
rear suddenly slipped and fell, carrying
with him his two comrades. The fall was
but slight one. The little pebbles it had
started had hardly ceased rolling before
two of the men were again on their feet.
picking up their ARMS Harry tried to join
them and rose to his feet but only to fall
again.
whats the matterp' asked one of his
comrades
II think have sprained my leg some
way he replied.
The two men assisted him to arise, BUT
when he was on his feet his left leg seemed
to be without life so far as any control of
the muscles of it was concerned. He tried
to step forward, but it dragged as if it
were paralyzed. A cold sweat broke out
all over him, aud when one of the men
who supported him said, 'sThis is HE'LL"
it sounded like a sentence of death.
Cant you move it at ALP" asked one
of his comrades, his voice betraying his de-
sire to be once more on his way towa{d
the settlements They were still standing
where they had fallen in the moonlight,
and one of them, noticing it, sd the way
back into the shadow
NO am afraid it is broken" an
swered the disabled man. His voice sound
ed strange and changed. He could hardly
recognize it. The dead man whom they
had left lying back by the campfire SEEM
ed very near 30 him, and in his fear and
pain he wondered if the Indians had mu-
tilated him much
The two men laid him down, and one,
taking the disabled limb in his hand,
moved it gently back and forth and in an
instant moved his hand far up on the
thigh.
ssYes, it's broken there. You can feel
the ends of the bones. z. AS he said it he
glanced from the face of the wounded man
into that of his other comrade Even in
the shadow the wounded man caught the
expression on the faces of the two men and
knew that they were thinking how long it
would be before the Apaches would over
take them if they remained there. Both
had seated themselves by his side in the
shadow, SO that il their pursuers were near
they would offer a poorer target.
Don't you think you can limp along
with our help?" asked one.
No, it's no use, boys, could never
get through the canyon You will have to
leave me. If / tried, they would attack
us before day break. !" As he said this he
unbuckled the belt from around his waist,
with its cleaning row of cartridges, and
handed it to one of the men after taking
the revolver from it's holster
well, we amt going to leave you,
said one of his comrades
Boys, that is nonsense" said the dis
abled man. His voice was SO calm and
clear now that it surprised him. You
car do me no good by staying, and there
will be three instead of one to die. By to-
morrow morning you can be within reach
of the settlements and safe, but my time
has come.
The tvs men looked at each other in
silence. After all, it was but true that
nothing would be gained by their staying
They had both risen to their feet like men
who had been given new hope.
Boys, tell Matte how it was and give
her what have got in town" At the
mention of the girls name there again
came into the voice the unsteady strange
ness that was there when he first told them
that he was hurt, while in the moonlight
they could see there were tears in his eyes
For an instant the wounded man was ST.
lent, and then he added: You had better
take my arms with you. You may need
them. +"
AS he finished speaking he cooked the
revolver and placed it to his head, but be-
fore he could press the trigger one of the
men grasped his hand and exclaimed:
Don't do thatp'
"Yes, you are right The report would
netray u.s." said the wounded man as he
lowered the weapon. give me that knife
instead"
81 didn't mean it that way" said the
man who had made the remark, ashamed
that the true feelings which prompted it
had been perceived by the wounded man.
Don't kill yourself. We will stay with
you, and we may yet pull through. .
The wounded man shook his head quiet
ly The tone of the speaker told him as
plain as words could have done that
there was but one chance of escape for any