Evening star., 1903-08-13
less numbered with powders than were the

less numbered with powders than were the
ridges and ravines through which they had
come. less obstructed too, with stunted
trees. Here was opportunity for horse
men. hitherto denied, and Stout called on
Brewster and his score Of troopers, who
| for hours had been towing their tired steeds
at the rear OF column. Mount ana push
ahead" said he. You are Wren's own
men. 1t is fitting you should get there
first
Wont the captain ride with us-now"
asked the nearest sergeant.
Not If 1t robS a man of his mount, was
the answer. Yet there was longing In his
eye and all men saw it. He had led them
day after day, trudging afoot because
had been few hours when any horse could
safely bear rider. There came half
dozen others now. AII tramp afoot II the
captain'H only take my horse" said more
than one man. And so the captain was
with them. as with darkness settling down
they neared the great cliff towering against
the southeastward sky. Then suddenly
they realized they were guided thither only
just in time to raise well nigh fatal
siege. laundering down the mountain side
big bowlder came tearing its way.
| launched from the very point that had
been the landmark Of their eager coming.
and with the downward crashing of the
rock there burst q yell of fury.
Midway UP the steep decline, among the
struggling timber. two 1.-the young Indians
were seen bounding out Of little gully.
only just In time to escape. TWO or three
others. farther aloft, darted around q
shoulder OF the cliff as though scurrytng
pice the crack Of revolver was followed
by a second. and then by q scream. DIS
mountr cried Brewster. as ne saw the
captain throw himself from HIS horse;
then. leaving only two or three to gather
in their now excited steeds. swapping their
carbines to full cock with blazing eyes and
hrm-sst lips. the chosen band began their
final climb Don't bunch. Spread out
rfoht and lAft - thA OTllV CanttOQA
and then In long irregular line. up the
mountain steep they clambered. hope and
duty still leading on. the last faint light
Of the November evening showing them
their rocky way Noy, reneeadoes, It is
fight or fee for your hyes!
Perhaps a hundred yards farther up the
Jagged face the leaders came upon an in
clina so steep that like the Tontos above
the southwark. whittier their comrades fol-
lowed. Presently. dssung from the shelter
OF the pines. they came upon bare and
brought them piainiynanto view Of the
heights above. and almost instantly under
fire. Shot after shet. N which they could
make no reply. spat and hattened on the
rocks about them. but lodging ana ducktng
instinctively. they pressed swiftly on Once
more within the partial shelter OF the pines
across the open. theyt again resumed ths
climb coming suddenly upon sight that
fairly spurred Them There. feet upward
among the bowlders.; stf6 and swollen in
death. lay all that the lynxes had left OF q
cavalry horse. Close at hand was the bat
tered troop saddle. Caught in the bushes
few rods above was the folded blanket. and
lodged In a crevice. still higher. lay the
felt-covered canteea. stenciled with the
number and letter Of Wrens own troop. Il
was the horse of the orderly, Horn-tho
horse on which the Bug0logist had ridden
away In search Of Angela Wren II was all
the rescuers needed to tell them they were
now on the trail OF both. and now the car
bines barked In earnest at every Aitting
glimpse of the foe. sending this wary Ton
tos skipping and scurFying soutAwafd. And,
at last. breathless. painting. weIl-nigh e1-
hausted. tho active leaders found them
selves halting at q narrow. twisting little
game trail. winding diagonalg up the
slope. with that gray scarp OF granite tut
ting from the mountain sida harely one
hundred yards farther: and. waving from
its crest. swung by unseen hands. soms
white. duttering object. family ss~n In the
gathering dusk. beckoned thesm on. Ths
last shots hred at the last Indians seen