Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-11

as Carmedy strove to lift his head, she
promised''-but the head sank back on
Blakely's knee. Stern was shouting at the
stone gate-shouting and springing to his
feet and swinging his old scouting hat
and gazing wildly down the canon.
For Gods sake hush. man!' cried the
lieutenant. Il must hear Carmody." But
Stern was past further shouting now. Sink
ing on his knees. he was sobbing aloud.
Scrambling out into the daylight of the
opening. but still shrinking within it's shell
ter, the half-crazed half-broken soldier
stood stretching forth his arms and call
ing wild words down the echoing gorge,
where sounds of shouting, lusty-lunged. and
ringing order or two, and then the clam
or OF carbine shots, told of the coming of
rescue and new life and hope. and food and
friends, and still Blakely knelt and circled
that dying head with the one arm left him,
and pleaded and bes0ught-even command
ed But never again would word or order
stir the soldiers willing pulse. The ser
geant and his story had drtfted together
beyond the veil. and Blakely, slowly rising,
found the lighted entrance swimming dir
lilly about him, first level and then. up
ended; found himself sinking, wither he
neither knew nor cared; found the canon
filling with many voices, the sound of hur
rying feet and then of many rushing wat
ers, and then-how was it that all was dark
without the cave, and lighted-lantern-
lighted-here within? They had no lantern,
no candle. Here were both, and here was
familiar face-old Northumberland
reassuringly over Wren; and someone
was Why; where was Carmody? Gone!
And but moment ago that dying head
was there on his knee. and then 1t was day
light, too, and now-why. 1T must be after
nightfall. else why these lanterns! And
then old Heartburn came bending over him
in turn. and then came a rejoiceful word:
Hello, Bugs! Well 1T Is high time you
woke up! Here. take a swig of this!'
Blakely drank and sat up presently, daz-
ed, and Heartburn went on with his CHEEKY
there
tain Stout. Tell him Mr.. Blakely's up and
asking for him. and feeling presently
glow of warmth coursing in his veins, the
Bugologfst reused to sitting posture and
began to humble questions And then
burly shadow appeared at the entrance,
black against the rudy freight In the
canon without. where other forms began
to appear. Down on his knee came Stout
to clasp his one available hand and even
clap him on thes back and send unwelcome
jar through his fevered, swollen arm;
Good boy, Bugs! You re coming round
famously. Well start you back TO SANDY
in the morning, you and Wren for nursing.
petting and all that sort of thing. They are
flashing the saplings now for your ntters;
and We've sent for Graham, too, and he'll
meet you on the way, while we shove on
after Shields people,
''Shield-Raven Sheld?" queried Blakely,
still half dazed. .'Shield was kliled-at
Sandy" and yet there was the memory OF
the voice he knew and heard in this very
canon.
Shield. yes and now his brother heads
them. Didn't he send his card down TO
you, after the donicks, and be d. to him!
You foregathered with both OF them at the
agency. Oh, they're all alike, Bugs. once
they're started on the .warpath. NOW we
must get you out into the open for awhile.
The airs better"
And so. an hour later, his arm carefully
dressed and bandaged, comforted by needed
food and fragrant tea and the news that
Wren was reviving under the doctors min
fstrations, and would surely mend and re-
cover, Blakely lay propped by the fire and
heard the story of Stout's rush through the
wilderness to their succor. Never waiting
for the dawn, after few hours rest at
Beaver Spring the sturdy doughboys had
eagerly followed their skilled and trusted
leader all the hours from H., stumbling.
but never hating eIcss for rest or rations,
and at last had found tie. trail four miles
below In the depths of the canon. There
some scattering shots had met them. arrow
and rifle both, from up the heights, and an
EFFORT was made to delay their progress.
Wearied and footsores though were his men.
they had driven the scurrying foe from
rock to rock and then. in a lull that follow
ed had heard, the distant sound of hiring
that told them whittier to follow on. Only
one man, Stern. was able to give them
coherent word or welcome when at last
tney came, for Chalmers and Carmody