The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1899-09-07

Rio San Saba, on foaming horse, who
came Juggling at both ,sins, suffering
and plunging, up to the head of column
and blurted out his news: ~ thought
you was the escort. sir-the paymas-
ter's escort. They left camp at 8 last
night, and at 2 this morning Corporal
Murphy got back, shot, and said they
were corralled in the hills on the old
trail. The captain is coming along with
20 men and sent me ahead. They must
be ten miles from here yet, sir
1.-The paymaster or the captain?'
asked Brooks, his heart beating hard,
but his face imperturbable
"Both, sir, I reckon; one one way
and the other the other.''
Then Brooks signaled over his shout
der: We've got to gal]op, Barclay.
It's neck or nothing now And some
horses even then were dropping at the
trot.
Six O'Clock now. Six miles from the
eastward mouth Of the pass, and spurs
were plying here and there throughout
the column, for many found their horses
tagging sorely. Barclay on his splendid
blooded bay was far out to the front,
the corporal courier with him, for
theirs were the only mounts that could
stand another forcing of the pace.
Rearward three or four horses, ex-
hausted, were being gathered up by a
burly sergeant and with their weary
riders led slowly along the trail Six
Internationally and his corporal were
but dots along the falda now and NOV
ing swiftly. Then at higher point, in
plain view, one dot began circling tc
the left at speed. Every man knew
what that meant, and the signal was all
swered by another squirt The sun was
telling at last. The dew had dried, but
along the turf there was but little dust
to rise, and Brooks could keep most Of
his men together. Far off to the left
all eyes could see now the sign that told
that rival rescuers were gaining. The
little squad from the San Saba camp
came squirting along the beaten trail,
betrayed by the cloud of dust that rose
above them.
Young Connolly, the guidon beare,
OF Barclays troop, unfurled his color
and set it Tapping in the rising breeze
in trooper challenge, and down the col
umn set and haggard faces lighted ul
with the CLEAN of soldier joy. It was
to be race-a race to the rescue Six.
thirty, and over a low ridge went
Brooks and Vim, close followed by
their orderlies. Far away, midway u1
the opposite slope, stretched slender,
twisting, traversing seam-the winding
trail to Crockett's. The black dots in
the lead were now three in number,
darting toward two others, black dots
too, some four miles away and to the
right front, right in among the hills.
keep it up, lads. The quicker to wa.
ter and rest,'' are the majors words
now, and spurs set home again despite
equine grunts in protest. Six-forty,
and the dots in front are blacker anc
bigger and popping about. three Of
them at least in lively motion, check.
ing suddenly, then darting to and fro,
and the cry bursts from the leaders
lips: "By God, they're at it! Now,
lads for all you're worth, come on. .
Six'forty-fve, and rounding a project.
ing spur, shoulder from the range,
Brooks, VIM and the doctor burst il
view Of scene that banishes the last
thought Of WEAKNESS. Barely mile O,
so away rocky ledge lies beyond and
parallel with the trail. Its jagged crest
is splitting smoke and fire. It's smoother
slopes, toward the east are dotted in
places by the bodies of dead or dying
horses, and in places, too, by other
smaller forms, apparently stiff and mo.
tionless. Off the trail as though drag.
ged there by affrighted and agonized
animals, lies an overturned ambulance,
it's six draft mules outstretched upon
the turf about it; so, too, are other
quadrupeds, troop horses evidently.
Well back Of the ruined wagon some
trusty soul has rallied the remaining
troop horses, while most of their riders,
sprawled upon the turf or behind i'm
provised rifle pits, stick manfully tc
their duty. Fridays ambuscade, in
the still hours of the night, has cos,
the government heavily in horses, men
and mules, but old Pennywise' precious
safe is guarded still, and every rush the
outlaws make to get it is met by re.