Tombstone epitaph., 1916-07-16

the defenders.
 Darkness fell over the little valley. With the coming of the night the fears of the little garrison increased.
 Just as like as not they'll try to sneak up and set fire to the house." said MT. Wilkes. Its as dry as punk. We'd better keep men watching all night
 So the party was divided into two reliefs: Mir. Wilkes, Upton. and Mexican composed one; Kynaston. No Ian. and Wilson the other. It was pitch-black the hours passed like years. The night was so still. and the stiffness so nerve-racking that every crackle in the brush, every call of a night bird, every gurgle of the creek, brought the defenders to their loop holes in anticipation of an attack But the night passed without alarm, though it was not until dim daylight showed the column of smoke from the besiegers' camp fire that the defense relaxed its vigilance.
 T wish l dared run out to that creek bed for bucket of water" growled Kynaston. Salt bacon isn't any too appetizing. There are ponies in the stables behind: I'm going to try 1t. Give me the bucket
 Before anyone could stop him he he seized bucket and dashed into the stable. A moment later they saw him fiat upon his pony. carrying his rife low and to the right. galloping down the trail to the creek bottom. where the water gurgled halfway be- tween the two contending parties.
 A hundred yards. A shot. Two hundred yards, storm of bullets from the defense covered his reckless venture. Three hundred yards, His pony, stumbling and slipping down the steep banks, plowed its nose along twelve feet of earth-and the young American found himself lying face down behind a mesquit bush on the banks of the stream. his hand holding the bucket over the edge. trying to haul back forty pounds of dirty water.
 A bullet wheeped past his ear. The scream of q horse in pain made him turn, spilling half the contents of his bucket His pony was down. shot through the barrel. He wormed his way back to the shelter of it's body. carrying with him the halfbucket of dirty water that meant life to the de- lenders of the house.
 Halfway to the house he got! Then the fusillade from the attackers made him throw himself to the ground in wild attempt to seek cover. The an swering roar from the loopholes of the house atop the slope behind him told him the grateful news that the gar rison had seen his predicament. Time after time a shot wheeped close to his head. Time after time he carefully pulled that half.flled bucket with its precious contents closer to him so that it should not be spilled. Time after time he sank closer and still more close into the little hollow that sheltered him. biding his oppor- tunity for final scramble uphill to the safety of the house.
 From this vantage-point on the slope. kynaston could see one rebel after another attempt to take a posi- tion from which he could be outfianked and thus forced to run across the open space Of the unsheltered hillside.
 Bullet after bullet made him hug the ground closer and closer.
 Presently he heard shout from the house that sent the red blood coursing again through his veins.
 oh. Kynaston," it said. duck your nut. youngster; duck your nut. You're right in my line O fire-lm comin' down to you"
 Down went kynaston's head. He dared not turn to look. for he knew that no man living can turn without partially rising. Three Mexicans skulked across the road, taking cover in the thin fringe of mesquit along the trail. The leader stopped long enough to fire twice at Kynaston. The American rife spat out its answer. At the same time kynaston heard another rife crack from higher up the hill. Upton, prone in the dirt, was cover ing Kynaston's retreat
 Kynaston heard Upton's shot wheep past him just as his own finger pressed the trigger. The man in the road be- low him staggered, spun around twice and dropped upon his face
 He waiter no longer. but sprang to his feet, gripped the half-empty water bucket with one hand. and trailing his rife with the other dashed up the mar row trail to the house. where he was received with hearty congratulations.
 "Of course. we needed it badly" said Mrs. Fane as she took the bucket from his hand, but not so badly as that" She pointed to a thin line of red that showed above his collar. Kynaston raised his hand to it and laughed.
 Tt cant be anything. I pledge you my word never knew l was touched Oh, say"
 He broke on suddenly as he looked at Dorothy Upton, for her eyes were full of telltale tears.
 There they come again." growled Wilkes. pointing down the hill
 A group of rebels had gathered ahnt,f the dead man Even as sha