The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1916-06-02
CHAPTER llI-Continued.

II believe I'll send a detail over
there to see what is going on, sir. Ser
geant, go and tell the old priest that
the major and are leaving camp and
shall not return till morning. Report
to me at my tent when you have told
him. Now, major, If you care to go
along can give you change of cloth
ing and a fairly good horse to ride"
The major nodded assent.
"Of course I'll go. That's what /
came down here for-to see for my
self-and tell the general just how
things are going. Here come the
horses now"
Ten minutes later they trotted lei
surely out Of the camp, headed south
east
A horned moon was swinging clear
of the cloud-capped Buffalo mountains.
Southwark they could see in the
moonlight the dim mountains in old
Mexico, standing like silent sentinels,
locking with grim disapproval on the
scenes of riot and disorder, of murder
and Of pillage that were making the
unhappy land veritable wilderness.
AS they reached the level ground, the
old sergeant rode back to his young
superior, his hand raised to the brim
of his scouting hat.
What is it, sergeant" asked Kynas-
ton.
There's a little fire over yonder,
sir"
The gauntleted hand stabbed the
dark, its finger in the direction Of the
fire, and Kynaston's gaze followed. A
blade-shaped flame stood out in the
blackness of the night.
Whats over there? Any houses?
Any Americans live over there?" Ma
jor Updyke's query was as quick as a
shot.
Kynaston paused moment.
mo, sir. That fires on the Mexi-
can side of the line. What can il be,
sergeant"
The sergeant puzzled a moment or
two. Then:
"Sir, 1 know. It's the Santa Cruz
mine, where the Uptons live. AS sure
as I live, sir. the rebels are attackin'
the mine! Don't you remember. sir
Mr.. Upton came through with the two
ladies today? Sure as anything. them
rebels have attacked the place; heav-
en- help the Uptons!" he calculated.
ANY orders, sir?"
Kynaston turned to Updyke.
II know, sir. what the orders are.
= | know the orders are very strict that
no American shall cross the line un-
less he has a residence there. / wish
you were deaf, dumb and blind for a
few hours"
In the darkness Major Updyke
grinned behind his hand.
"Why?" he asked.
IF you were." said Kynaston slowly,
I'D go back to my camp and There
are two American women over there"
he concluded lamely.
II am deaf and blind" said Major
Updyke impressively. II can neither
see nor hear at night. am quite sure
that"
"Twos left about Gallop!"
The orders shot out like the shots
from a machine gun; almost before he
knew It the major found himself gal.
loping back TO the little camp.
Have twenty men saddle up at
once. sergeant" cried Kynaston.
Take nothing but canteens. rifles. and
a hundred rounds OF ammunition per
man. Get the men ready at once"
The sergeant hesitated and finally
ventured on a liberty that was rare in
deed for him.
"Sir. is the lieutenant goin' to cross
the line?" he asked. DO you remem-
Der, sir. what the orders are? It'll
cost the lieutenant HIS commission"
IF it'll cost my commission to help
a couple Of American ladies who are
in trouble-then I'll have to pay the
price, sergeant Hurry up Tell that
old priest to come over to my tent at
once"