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

and darted. with goat-like ease and agility,
zlgzagg1ng up the eastward wall.
1t was foolish thing to do, but Bakely
followed with a wasted shot. aimed one
handed from the shoulder before he could
regain command of his judgment. In
thirty seconds the cliff was as bare of
Apaches as but the moment before it had
been dotted. Something, in. the moment
when their savage plans and triumph
seemed secure, had happened to alarm the
entire party. With warning shouts and
signals they were scurrying out of the
deep ravine, scattering, apparently, north
ward. But even as they fled to higher
ground there was order and method in
their retreat While several of their num-
Der clambered up the steep. an equal num-
Der lurked in their covert. and Blakely's
single shot was answered instantly by
half dozen the bullets striking and
splashing on the rocks. the arrows bound
ing or glancing furiously Stern ducked
within out Of The storm. Blakely, fatten-
ing like hunted squirrel close to the para
pet. flung down his empty carbine and
strove to reach another. lying loaded at
the southwark loophole, and at the out
stretched hand there whizzed an arrow
from aloft whose guiding feather fairly
scared the skin, so close came the barbed
messenger Then up the height rang out
a shrill cry, some word of command in
a voice that had a familiar tang to it.,
and that was almost instantly Obeyed for,
under cover of sharp well-aimed fire from
aloft, from the shelter of projecting rock
into sight a few scattered, sinewy forms
that rushed in bewildering zigzag up tho
steep, until safe beyond their supports,
when they, too. vanished. and again the
cliff stood barren OF Apache foemen as the
level of the garrison parade. 1t was science
In savage warfare against which the drill
book of the cavalry taught no method
whatsoever. Another minute and even the
shots had ceased One glimpse more had
Blakely of dingy. trailing breechclouts
f1uttering in the breeze now stirring the
fringing pines and cedars, and all that was
left of the late besiegers came Gathering
down the rocks in the shape of an Indian
shield. Stern would have scrambled out
to nab it, but was ordered down. Back
you idiot, they'll have you next! And
then they heard the feeble voice of Wren
pleading for water and demanding to be
lifted to the light. The uproar of the final
volley had reused him from an almost
death-like s'upor. and he lay staring. M
comprehending, at Carmody, whose glazing
eyes were closed. whose broken words !iaid
ceased The poor fellow was drifting away
into the shadows with his story still I'M
told.
watch here, Stern. but keep under
cover cried Blakely. ''Tll see TO the cap
tain Listen for any shot or sound. but
hold your fire." and then he turned to his
barely conscious senior and spoke to him
as he would to helpless child. Again he
poured little brandy in his cup. Again
he held it to ashen lips and presently saw
the faint fiutter of reviving strength. Lie
still Just a moment or TWO, wren, he
murmured soothingly. Lie still. Some
body's coming. The troop is not far off.
You'll soon have help and home and-An-
gela,,-even then his tongue faltered at her
name. And Wren heard, and with his eager
eyes questioned imploringly. The quiverin2
rs repeated huskily the name of the child
he loved. "Angela-where?"
"Home-safe-where you shall be soon,
old fellow, only-brace up now. l must
speak one moment with Carmody," and to
CarmoGy eagerly he turned. You were
speaking of Elise and the fire-of Downs,
sergeant His words were slow and
clear and distinct, for the soldier had drift
ed far away and must be recalled. Tell
me again. What was it,"
But only faint. swift gasping answered
him. Carmody either hearu not, or. hear
ing was already past all possibility of
reply. Speak to me, Carmody. Tell
me what / can do for your" he re-
peated. What word to Elise?" He thought
the name might rouse him. and It did A
feeble hand was uplifted. just an inch or
two. The eyelids slowly fluttered and the
dim, almost ifeless eyes looked patheti-
cally up into those Of the young COM
mander. There was a moment of almost
GREATNESS silence broken only by faint
moan from Wrens tortured lips and the
childish whimpering of that otller-the half
crazed. terror-stricken soldier
Elise" came the whisper, barely audible,