The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1898-10-25

against the Keen Diasrs Cnat swept in
winter time across the prairie from the
upper valley Of the Rio Bravo. Four
hours out and just where the road dip
ped into that broad deep swale quar-
ter mile behind the rearmost troopers
just where the wreck Of one Of Fuller's
wagons and the bones Of two Of Full
ler's mules and the soft spongy mud to
the west Of the trail told how the wa
iters could gather there in the rainy
season and evaporate to nothingness
when needed in the dry-a solitary
stake driven into the yielding soil bore
on bullet perforated cross board the
legend, "Twenty miles to Worth and
only 20 rods to hell. -
Only 20 miles in four hours. with
fresh horses and the cool Of the morn
ing, and paymaster with $4,000 in
deadly danger some 60 to 80 miles
away. Slow going that, yet scientific.
Not another drop Of water could those
lively chargers hope to have until they
reached the springs at Crockett. 40
miles away.
Thrice has Brooks halted for brief ten
minutes rest, the resetting Of saddles.
etc., and now, after 10 minutes likely
jog, he signals walk" again. and
chances back to watch the march Of his
men. By this time the cpumn is long
drawn out. The two troops are split up
into four sections each, riding a little
over dozen men in bunch by this
means they are relieved from the i'll
effects Of the choking clouds Of dust.
Mullane halts with the major. It
pleases him to convey the impression to
his men that Brooks can't get along
without him A big pull at his pommel
canteen, ten minutes back, has tenn
porarily braced him, and he wants to
talk, whereas Brooks, intent on the
duty before him, wishes to think.
sHwat time will we make Crockett'a.
major?''
.'Not before s or 80. " is the brief
answer.
"L troop can do it in two hours less. -
So could d, if it hadn't to push on,
again at nightfall." Brooks answers in
civil tone, despite the hint conveyed by
the brevity Of his words. despite tho
conviction that is growing on him as he
somewhat warily glances over his COM
panion. that what T. might do its
captain won't do il he consults that
canteen again. Two silent but keen
cared orderlies are sitting in saddle
close beside their respective officers and
it will not do to give his thoughts
away.
Then Mullane tries another tack. He
seeks confidential relations with his
chief, and when an Irishman has man
he is jealous Of to talk about and whis-
Ky to start him, he needs no supply Of
facts; they bubble from his seething
brain, manufactured for the occasion.
THE preacher was caught where he
couldn't get out Of it. :" says he, withia
leering wink at the leading horseman
Is he larnin his thrade from Lawrence.
afther Robin him Of his throop?'
And now Brooks fires up unexpected
". Turning quickly on the Irishman
with anger in his eyes, the major bends
forward over the pommel Captain
Mullane." he says. SO low that the,
nearby troopers fail to catch his words,
SO distinctly that the captain cannot
fail to- "there are things Of more value
in a trade than the tricks Of it that you
seem to know so we'll. You can learn
more from Captain Barclay that is
worth knowing than you can ever teach
him, and I'll listen to no slur at his ex-
pense. You've been drinking too much,
Mullane. Take my advice and pull the
stopper out Of that canteen and put one;
on your tongue. .
! The Irishman boils up with wrath.
The idea Of Major Mildmanners pitch
ing into him-him. that was once the