Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-25
CHAPTER III.
Only Just in Time.

episode the siege of Tonic Pass has ever
been able to forget. The last drop of water
was gone by sunset. the last scrap of bacon
OF bareback long s'nce deyoured. 1t was
too dark for those of the besiegers who
would have been glad to steal In upon the
suffering party. II was too light for any
of the besieged to venture down in search
of water. Three of the wounded became
delirious before midnight. All of the de-
tenders were worn and well-nigh exhaust
cd. 1t was mercy that the Apache Is
coward when he cannot clearly see his
way.
just before dawn there had come CLEAN
of hope. a drop of comfort. The moon had
sunk be hind the Matizal. The gnal fires
that had been burning far to the west
across the Coyotero died out before IL. and
others q appeared ten or twelve miles to the
north. Between the Tonic tanks and the
east. the direction in which lay the reser-
walton and the fort, rose the high. rugged
range that stretched for many a league, q
barrier between the sparkling. swift-rush-
ing stream they had crossed with their
prisoners now thirty-six hours agone and
the broad valley and more sluggish current
of the Salado. a good days march to the
east. Signals from the reservation could
not be seen the west side of the pass,
but somebody was signaling to Dolan, sig
mailing something those vagabOndS about
them should know without fail. for they
Were being repeated from a high point
the bold crest of Sombrero Peak. the
Apache signal tower. and the westward
face of the Tonic range could readily be
seen. Those signals" said Dolan. like
as anything mean Look out, Soldiers COM
ingr" Like not they meant that Laf-
ferty had managed to reach the post. give
warning of their plight, and Capt. Turner.
with lots of the boys. was already in
march TO relieve them. 1t was a cheering
faith, at all events and did much to bolster
heart and courage through the dismal hours
before the dawn. The drop of comfort
came through little Sutton. Inspired by his
commanders daring. and determined to
make amends for his own weakness. SUIT
ton. too had won his spurs and the bless
ing of h fellows
Thrice during the late afternoon he had
noted that certain mountain birds. twitter
ing and towering over the tanks now held
by the Apaches, came flying up the slope,
and every time had dropped at the same
spot among the powders, somewhere about
pistol shot away to the west of
circlins lines. They daren't get water
at the usual place. he argued. They
know some hole in the rocks up here"
Warm, stagnant. lifeless pool of rock
basin raInwater though ii might be 1t was
priceless If only they could reach ii. SUIT
ton whispered his theories to Dolan. grimly
Keeping watch and ward while Fame. for
a while. slept the sleep of exhaustion. and
Dolan whispered back it was worth the
trial With three big felt-covered canteens
strapped to his shoulders, his revolver In
his belt and his boy heart in his mouth the
youngster crept cautiously down in the
shadow of the cedars. then wormed himself
along on his belly through the soft warm
sand, past rock and bowlder and grease
wood clump. until he came to a hollow per-
hapS twenty feet wide. and down in this
dip on the westward slope were stony ba-
sins. three or four, and in two of these
beneath overhanging rock. something was
cleaning. Water! water-God be thanked
A lir1tr an
down. stopped. drank his hll-drank till he
could drink no mOre-then noselessly un-
Corked and sank his canteens, noting with
sorrow that after filling the three he had
well-nigh emptied the first and deepest of
the two receptacles. Then back he crouched
with his priceless treasure, and in three
minutes more parched tongues and fevered
lips were praising him. Two more expe-
utons made the boy, unseen, unheard I'M
molested Of their foe. and then though
still there was need, there lived no war
rant for another trip-the last drop had
been sponged up and squeezed into the last
canteen Blessed relief and comfort it
brought, indeed, but all was gone by noon
or that second day. even that portion
boarded for the wounded men. and by early
afternoon the torment was again upon
them.
Whatever the meaning of the signal fires.
there had been nothing as yet In the con-
quot or the siege to warrant the belief that
the Apaches Were in any wise disturbed
Knowing they did that the only food of
the besieged was the handful of bareback
or bacon they had seized from the packs
before the rush for the cedars knowing
that they must be suffering sorelv for
want OF water, and hearing from TINA to
ume the sweet music of the cries of the
delirious wounded. the savage -,-,rriors
were apparently hiding their time md TAX
Ing no chances. Those about the tank IL
was true, had crawled across the road. and
as many as thirty or more had established
themselves among the powders down the
slope, interposing between the coveted
water ana the craving garrison of the little
Tort. Others too, had been having a merry
time among the slaughtered horses and
mules, emptying saddle bags. -four, sugar
ana co1ee sacks and gorging themselves.
the first In possession. with beans and
bacon and bareback But all the time thera
were dozen or more of their best marksmen
Keeping vigilant watch on every side send
ing IN a spiteful shot whenever hat or hand
or the besieged showed above the rock
parapets they had piled up during the
night Ne
AT = O'Clock in the afternoon poor Muir
ray was dying. and Doyle sinking fast
higgins was tossing and moaning in few
erlsh torment. Fuller lay with ehast
race, biting into the flesh of his forearm
10 stlne the groans that agony would have
"runs from him. Poor young Hayden by
turns dreamed deliriously or woke to fuiI
consciousness of his increasing pain and
their imminent peril. He was beginning to
realize what he had escaped when. in awe
St44Ihcu tunes, Mullins, posted as lookout
toward the south, announced. MY God
fellers, they've found Sincairs body. Hear
EN- screechfng. 1t was true Creepinp
stealthily forward sheltered by the rocks
and secure against sortle. three or four OF
the most venturesome had at last come
upon the lifeless form. and had proceeded
after their kind and custom, to make the
most OF their opportunity. Their shouts
and shrieks of rejoicing attracted others
10 the spot. and tempted one young brave
beyond his covert. when Mullins stretched
him with n well-aimed shot. But all the
same the revelry went on. Presently a
blood-dripping shirt was waved In triumph
over the rocks. Then Sinclaif's riding
trousers were swung and fourished. Then
presently, an awful sight-a human head
was tossed in air and thrown about and
finally set up, staring with sghtless eyes
from the highest bowlder. 1t sickened Null
Inns. and he covered at the foot of the
parapet. There's where you'd been.
Hayden" he sobbed. az it hadn't been for
the lieutenant!
The situation was becoming unbearable
Up the pass. to the east, only at one point
was II possible TO see the road. From that
direction. said they all. must rescue come II
IL were coming. and Dolans haggard eyes
again and again turned thither, for again
IL his watch. while Fame. who had
walked most OF the night and all the morn
ing. and Scott. his helper sought what
sleep IL was possible to find Little SUI