The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-01-10
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tude, but Barclay, riding onward stur.
Oily If not quite so easily as was Law
renee gave no sign. He was listening
with head inclined to the words Of the
keen campaigner on his right.
Brooks was quick to note the inten-
ton, Of the Irish officer, and equally
quick to note the flushed and infamed'
condition Of his face, the thickness Of
his tongue. $50 no, my Celtic friend"
said he, as he saw that two canteens
were swung on the off side of Mullane' g
saddle, one at the camille under the
rolled blanket, the other half shaded
by the bullying folds Of the overcoat at
the pommel. II thought there was
more whisky than wit in your eager.
ness at the start. Now know 1t"
But even to Mullane the major would
not speak discourteously. "We all
know L troop is ready for anything,
captain, he smilingly answered, "but
l have to call for unusual exertion to.
day, and the fresher they are tonight
the better. Let them open out, as I
say" be continued, and Mullane saw
it was useless to put on further airs
"Ye 'tind to it, sergeant" he grunt-
ed over bis shoulder to his loyal bench
man, and then, unlimited, ranged up
alongside the leader.
The prairie was open here, the road
split up into several tracks from time
to time, and the men could have ridden
platoon front without much difficulty
for two or three miles Away to the
southeast the ground rose in slow,
gradual, almost imperceptible, slope to
the edge Of the far horizon, not tree
or shrub exceeding q yard in height
breaking anywhere the dull monotony
Of the landscape. Eastward, miles and
miles away, a line Of low rolling hills
framed the dull hues Of the picture
Northward there was the same almost
limitless expanse of low, lazy undula-
ton. To the right front, the south and
southwest, the land seemed to fall away
in even longer, lazier pillows until it
fattened out into broad valley. drain.
ed by some far distant, invisible stream.
Only to the west and northwest, over
their right shoulders, was there CLEAN
of something brighter. The faint blue
outline Of the faraway Apache range
was still capped in places by glistening
white, while straight away to the north
west, back Of and beyond the dim dust
cloud through which the swallowtailed
guidons were peeping, lowered over
their winding trail the bold and COM
manding heights, Fort Worth's shelter
against the keen blasts that 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 a 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
tiers 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 30 rods to hell" y
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 go to so 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 Is minutes likely
jog, he signals "walk" again, and
glances back to watch the march of his
men. By this time the column is long
drawn out. The two troops are split up
into four sections each, riding q 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 tho 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.
"Hwat time will we make Crookett's,
major?"
"Not before or $780," is the brief
answer.
al troop can do 1t in two hours less"
$50 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 the
conviction that is growing on him as be
somewhat warily glances over his COM
panion, that what L might do its
captain won't do If he consults that
canteen again. Two silent but keen
cared orderliss 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 wits.
ky to start him, he needs no supply Of
facts; they bubble from his seething
brain, manufactured for the occasion.
1.-THE preacher was caught where he
couldn't get ont Of ii. says he with a
leering wink at the leading horseman
SIS he larnin his thrade from Lawrence
afther Robin him Of IS throop?"
And now Brooks fires up unexpected.
ly. 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 trade than the tricks Of it that you
seem to know SO well. 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"