The Princeton union., 1900-11-01
Warrior Gap
BY Brigadier- General
CHARLES KING. -.

wind. "Trot," said Dean, and without
other word the little column quick
ened the pace.
less tortuous, but was still narrow
and dangerous spot. For mile or
two from the Springs it's course was
nearly east of north, then it bore
away to the northeast, and the Sweet
water trail abruptly left it and went
winding up cleft in the hills to the
west Just as they reached this point
the heavens opened and the clouds de-
scended in deluge of rain. Out came
the ponchos, unstrapped from the sad
die, and every mans head popped
through the slit as the shiny black
"shedwater'' settled down on his
shoulders.
THAT outfit behind us will get a
soaking if it has been fool enough to
follow down to the Springs" said
Carey to the sergeant, as they began
the pull up the slippery trail.
"What outft?" asked Dean, turning
in the saddle and looking back in sur
prise,
A binding flash of lightning, fol-
lowed almost on the instant by the
crack and roar of thunder, put sum-
mary stop to talk of any kind. Men
and horses bowed their heads before
the delpge and the rain ran in streams
from the names and tails. The as
cending path turned quickly into
running brook and the black forms
of steeds and riders struggled sidewise
up the grass-grown slopes in search
of higher ground. The heavens had
turned inky black. The gloomy ra-
vine grew dark as night. Flash after
flash the lightning split the gloom.
Every second or two trooper faces
cleaned ghastly in the dazzling glare,
then as suddenly vanished. Horses
slipped or stumbled painfully and,
man after man, the riders followed
the example of the. young soldier in
the lead and, dismounting, led their
dripping beasts farther up the steep
incline. Halfway to the summit,
peering through the wind-swept
sheets of rain, palisaded clump of
rocks jutted out from the heights
and, after hard climb, the little
band found partial shelter from the
driving storm, and huddled, awe
stricken, at their base. Still the
lightning played and the thunder can
nonaded with awful resonance from
crag to crag down the deep gorge
from which they had clambered, evi-
IDENTIFY none too soon, for presently,
far down the black depths, they could
see the Box Elder under white
wreath of foam, tearing in fury down
it's narrow bed.
beg pardon, lieutenant" shouted
the veteran sergeant in the young
commanders ear, even in that mo-
ment never forgetting the habitual
salute, "but if I didn't see the reason
for that sudden order to saddle
more than see it now. We would have
been drowned like rats down there in
the gulch."
I'm wondering if anybody has
drowned like rats" shouted Dean, in
reply. Carey says another party was
just behind us. Who could they be?"
But for answer came another vivid,
dazzling flash that for an instant
blinded all eyes. by God! but that's
stunner!' gasped big trooper, and
then followed the deafening bang and
crash of the thunder, and it's echoes
went booming and reverbera ting from
earth to heaven and rolling away,
peal after peal, down the bluff-bound
canyon. For a moment no other
sound could be heard; then, as it
died away and the rain came swash-
ing down in fresh deluge, Carey's
voice overmastered the storm.
"That's struck something, sir, right
around yonder by the Springs. God
help that outfit that came a-gallopin'
after mel" .,- -
what was it? Which way were
they coming?" Dean managed to ask.
fright along the bluff, sir, to the
east. Seemed like they was ridin' over
from the old camp on the Frayne
read. There was 25 or 80 of 'em, I
should say, coming at a LOPEZ
"Cavalry?" asked Dean, a queer look
in his face.
mo, Sir. They rode dispersed like.
they was a mile away when sighted
them, and 1t was gittin' so black then
l don't think they saw me at all.
They were bout off yonder, half a
mile east of the Springs, when !
dipped down into the ravine, and
what seemed queer was that two of
them galloped to the edge, dismount-
!, ed, and were peering down into the
, gorge like so many Indians, just as
though they didn't want to be seen
I was goin' to tell the lieutenant
, bout it first thing if had found our
fellows off their guard, but you were
!, all mounted and just starting -.
, Instinctively Dean put forth his
hand under the dripping poncho and
: tugged at the straps of his off saddle.
= bag. No need for dread on that score
r The bulky package. wrapped, sealed
and corded, was bulging out Of the
. side of his field pouch till it looked al
, though he had cranmed a cavalry
boot into it's NAV.
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