Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-25
GeNfH4L CH4NeS hzVG

bu, that moment fed, poor Doyle whose
eyes the corporal was striving gently to
close and could not. for the tears that
blinded his own-tO the writhfng form ana
clinching hands of Hayden and Fuller, both
burning now with fever. to little Sutton hid
ing his face in vain efforts to hide his Suf-
fering. Fame saw what was meant-saw 1t
In the drawn features and haggard, plead
Ing eyes before Dolan ventured to speak
again: I'VE can't let the lieutenant risk
anything now, sir. when we've lost SO much
already
Then may God bring relief" was the
murmured prayer, unheard among the
hefihts Of the Sierras. yet answered from
on high. There came a hail from the look
out post to the northward, and Dolan signed
to Mullins to see what was needed. The
Irish trooper back in an instant. his
eyes blazing with hope. "Lootnti Lootn't?
he cried. There's somethin comin-God
knows what-only the Injuns are lighting
outr'
Then those northward signals. those bea-
con lights on the Jagged cliffs of the Matft-
zaf, meant something after all-something
the Apaches might wisely have earlier
needed. Lighting OUT they were indeed!
Far down the. sunset slope of the range,
five and six hundred yards away, the 1.-THE
forms, with their tapping clouts of dingy
white. could be seen at intervals scurrying
toward the roadway in the ravine. Glanc-
ing eastward In response to the excited
shout. Look yonder. There's more of
EN- Fame could see still other dusky
shapes gliding noiselessly among the bowl
erS, all heading southwark. They had ceaS-
ed their fire, too. 1t seemed as thought they
were striving to escape from some swift
coming force giving no sound to guide the
pursuit Then what the enemy dreaded the
enemy should get, was Fane'S instant and
impulsive decision. though well he knew
there were in all their belts perhaps not
thirty cartridges left. He was ablaZe with
excitement enthusiasm, lust for vengeance
now-he who had been so cool, calcula ting
and determined the day before. The fever
of his hurts had burned into his blood The
hot rage of battle was again In his soul,
and 1t was a sudden word from Mullins
that swept for the moment sense and judg
ment from his brain. MY God. fellows.
can't we get after those blackguards that
chopped up Sinclair" One look southwark
showed that CHASTITY head still mutely star
Ing at them in the glare of the slanting
sunshine
Wen do it," cried Fame. springlng to his
feet. Come On!' And never needing, never
hearing. perhaps, Dolan's restraining plea,
never thinking now of personal risk or pos
sible ambush, the young officer. followed by
four or five still active and uninjured men,
carbines in hand. went bounding down the
slope. MY God" moaned the sergeant
1T may be only a trick. and we haven't
five shots left apiecer' And still he too
found his feet and went Keeling after them.
With yell of vengeance and fury the
little party dashed straight as the rocks
would permit toward that dead yet sum-
moning mask. Four seconds took them
forty feet on their way. Then suddenly,
down went the bloody, sightless head,
jerked from behind; some savage Apache,
even in flight. seeking to take his fearful
trophy with him. Then a dark form APP
peared one instant. fifty yards ahead and
three carbines barked almost In unison, and
missed. But on rushed the shouting troop
ers. Back came the answering shout. and
almost before they knew it they were once
again halfway down the slope, again the
center of at least a partially encircling. If
hurried and ill-aimed fire. One Indian, and
only one, they felled close to the bowlder
where lay the poor butchered remnants;
where lay, too, the severed head; but by
this time reason had resumed her sway,
and Fane's wits were again about him.
Halt and kneel!' he shouted. Hold your
shots until you see Indianr' and even as
he glanced about him to enforce his order.
before himself seeking shelter, a sudden
numbness seized his left arm, a sudden
gush of blood soaked the blue flannel
sleeve. Something had torn through the
bone only just below the shoulder, and,
broken short off, the now useless member
dangled dripping at his side.
Oh, we'll for Fame and his raging follow
that it was mere Indian trick to lure
them forth, then surround and finish them!
Oh. well for him and his that the muir
INJURED prayer had indeed been answered
from Hight Even as he crouched be-
hind the granite boulder. half disposed to
curse his boyish folly. the exultant shout
came ringing from the cedars: It's the
captain, fefIerS-the captain ana the nun
id caboodle, Hurray!' If confirmation
were needed they could find 1t in the sound
of distant shots. of distant cheering, In
the sight of streaming breechclouts down
the southwark slope and across the road.
Only a few more missiles, mere Parthian
arrows, came whiZzing and HURTING back.
unaimed. unnoted. and their tormentors of
the two long nights and days were fast
scurrying out of range. and then from a
distance, with beady, hate-burning eyes,
watching the reunion of soldier comrades,
rescued and rescuers, among the bloody
sands and burning rocks Of Tonic Pass.
Ito be continued tomorrow