FOR OUR BOYS & GIRLS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 187, 9 August 1890, Page 3 (Supplement)

FOR OUR BOYS & GIRLS.

Sunset Pass,

EDITED BY MRS FRANCES HODGSON BURNETT

fcUNNiNG THE GAUNTLET THROUGH APACHE LAND.

By Captain Charles Kino, Author of 'Tho Deserter,' 4 A Wartime Wooing, , Etc.

1889 by S. S. McClure.]

[Anil Rights Reserved.]

CHAPTER X.

ffROM the babel of voices that reached old Pike's ears every now and then and the bustle and noise going on overhead, he judged that there must be twenty or thirty Indians busily engaged in the work of heaping up firewood in fronb of the cave. The mountain side, as he well knew, was thickly strewn with dry branches, dead limbs, uprooted trees and all manner of combustible materials, and the very warriors who, when around their own ' rancheria,' would have disdained doing; a stroke of work of any kind, were now labouring like bo many .beavers to add to the greab pile that was already almost on a level with the breastwork and nob more than eighb feet away. Some of the logs firsb thrown had rolled off and scattered down the elope, but enough iad remained to make a sure foundation, and once this was accomplished the rest, was easy work. Poor Jim looked around imploringly at bis superior. 4 Ain'6 dey some way to stop that, corporal V he asked. 4 Don't you worry, Jim,' was the prompt reply. 'It will take them an hour more at . leaeb to geb ib big enough, and then 'twill do no great harm. We can knock down

our barricade so that they can't use ib, and ' fall back into the cave where it's dark and cool, aVid where the smoke and flame can'b i' reach ua. Keep your eyes on your corner, 1 man !' And though he spoke reaseuringly, • the old soldier felt a world of anxiety. Under cover of that huge heap of brush- ; wood, growing bigger every minute, it 1 would soon be possible for the Indians from - balow to crawl unseen close upon them, and set fire to the mass. Even now he felt certain that there were

: several of the more daring of the Apaches : • lurking just around the corners which be and Jim were co faithfully guarding. The { negro seemed so utterly abashed at his

J having been overcome by sleep during the

hour before the dawn, and possibly so refreshed by that deep slumber, that now He •was vigilance itself. . Within the cave old Kate had seen, of course, the falling of the logs and brushwood, and though she could not compre- ? hend their object it .served bo keep in mind that their eavage foes' were all around her i and her little charges, and to add to her alternate prayer and waiting. Unabje to leave his post,' Pike Could only cry sternly to her from time to time to cry shame ujxra her for frightening Nellie so, and to remind her that they had shot five Indians without getting a scratch themselves. ' We can stand 'em off for hours yet, you old fool,' he said, • and the boys from Verde are sure to get here to-day.' And whether it waa •old , or the 'fool' in Pike's.contemptuous remark, that stirred her resentment, ib certainly resulted that Kate subsided into suffering and indignant protest. Then Ned's brave, boyish voice was heard. ' Corporal! Can't I come to you now ? I'm no good here, and I'm sick of the row Kate keeps up. You said you'd let me come back.' • Wait a few minubes, Ned. I want to be sure they are nob sneaking around these corners,' was the reply, followed almost instantly by the bang of Pike's carbine. Kate gave a suppressed shriek, and the corporal a 6hout of exultation. Encouraged by the sound of his voice to suppose thab the guard on the east side of the barrier was neglecting bis watch, a daring young Apache crawled on all fours around the foot of the rock to take an observation. The black head came in view even as Pike was speaking, and the fierce eyes peered cautiously at the breastwork, but the corporal never moved a muscle, and the savage, believing himself unseen, crawled still further into view, until half hie naked body waa in sight from the narrow slit through which the old trooper was gazing. The brown muzzle of the calvary carbine • covered the creeping ' brave,' and the nexb instant the loud report went eohoing over the gorge, and the Indian, with one convuleive spring, fell back upon the ground, •writhing in the agonies of death. In striving to drag the body of his comrade back behind the rock, another Ton to-ventured to show head and shoulder, and came within an ace of sharing his fate, for Pike's next shot whistled within an inch of the flattoned noee, and Apache number two dodged back with wonderful quickness, and did not again appear. ; This would tend to help them from sneak- ! ing around thab particular corner, thought Pike, and be only wished that Jim could have similar luck on bia side, but the. Indians had grown wary. Time and again the veteran glanced down the hill to see if there was any sign of their crawling upon him from below, bub thab threatening pile of brushwood now hid most of the slope from his weary, anxious eyee. The crisis could not be long in coming. . •Oh God, , he prayed, 'save tifeese little children. Bring us aid.' ' s Poor old Pike ! Even as the whispered words fell from his lips, a lew, eracklfng Bound caught his ear. Louder it grew, and, looking suddenly to the left, be saw a thin -. curl of emoke risiog through the branches and gaining every instant, in volume. Louder, louder snapped the blazing twigs. Denser, heavier grew the smoke. Then : tiny darts of flame came shooting upward through the top of the pile, and then yells of triumph and exultation rang from the rock above and the hillside JjeJow, j A '-, minute or two wore, and while the Indierii continued to pour fresh fuel from above, the great heap was a mass of roaring flame and the heat became intolerable. A puff of wind drove a huge volume of smoke and '" flame directly into Jim's nook in the forfci- : fication, with a sboub thab he^could ./ hold on no longer the negro dropped back ? into the cave rubbing his blipded eye 3, *~ '-■ 'Come back, Jim. Quick!' ehgufced ?-" Pike. 'Down with these stones now! \ , Kick them over !—bub watch for Indians on : your.eide, Down with 'em !' and suiting ; | action to the word, the old soldier rolled * rock after rock down towards the blazing %" pyre, until his side of the parapet was -.. almost demolished. Half blinded by] smoke \ and the scorching heab, be lost sight for a |, moment of the shoulder of the ledge on the ;."■, eaabeide. Two seconds more and jb mlfifnb >' have been all over wibh him ; for now, yelyJiv, i|>B en the fierce heab to drive the defenders f; . back, a young Apache had stepped f( cautiously into view, caught eififbfc of the j£F tall old soldier pushing and kicking at the rocks, and, quick as a cat, up leaped the

hie boyish form quivering with excitemenb ani / ik u c Seized Mm in h « arms ff£. i y BS6 t fchß giowin * face - ' God B ofdL y « u k my boy! bub y° u are a lifcfcle st£ n ll ere eV6r Wa3 one! ' wa9 hiß onflow, all three of us must watch the front, as far forward as you can, Jim. We ye got to hold those houndij backuntil the boys come!' Until the boys come! Heavens! When would that be? Here waa the day nearly v?if Spen<, and no Bi S n of relief for the little party battling so bravely for their lives at Sunset Pase. Where-where can the father be ? Where is Al. Sieber ? Where the old comrades from Verdi ? Let us see if we cannot find them, and then, with them, hasten to the rescue. Far over near Jarvis' Pass poor Capt. (xwynne had been lying on the blankets the men eagerly spread for him, while the surgeon with Capt. Turner's troops listened eagorly to the details of the night's work, and at the same time ministering to_ hia exhausted patient. Turner, the other officers and their favourite scout held brief and hurried consultation. It waa decided to push ab once for Sunseb Pass ; to leave Captain Gwynne here with moat of his nearly yorn-oub escorb; to mount the six Hualpai trailers they had with them on the six freshest horsea, so as to geb them to the scene of the tragedy as soon as possible, and then to start them afoot to follow the Apaches. In ten minutes Captain Turner with Lieutenant Wilkins and forty troopers were trotting off eastward following the lead of Sieber with his swarthy allies. Ten minutes more and Captain Gwynne had sufficiently revived to be made fully aware of whab was going on, and was on his feet again in an The surgeon vainly strove to detain him, but was almosb rudely repulsed. 1 Do you suppose I can rest one conscious minute until I know what has become of my babies ?' he said. And climbing painfully into the saddle he clapped spurs to his horee and galloped after Turner's troop.

Finding ifa useless to argue, the doctor, with his orderly, mounted, too, and followed the procession. It waa an hour before, they camo up with Turner s rearmost files, and found burly Lieut). Wilkine giving the men orders to keep well closed in case they.had to increase the gait. The scouts and Sieber, far to the front, were galloping. • What is it?' asked the doctor.

• Smoke,' pants Wilkins. ' The Hualpaie saw it up the mountain south of the Pass.'

G wynno'a haggard face waa dreadful to see. The jar of the rough gallop had started afresh the bleeding in his head, and the doctor begged him to wait and let him dress it again, but the only answer was a look of fierce determination, and renewed spurring of his wretched horse. He waa Boon abreast the head of the column, but even then kept on. Turner hailed him and urged him to stay with them, but entreaty was useless. 'I am going after Sieber' was the answer. 'Did you see the smoke ?'

' No, Gwynne; but Sieber and the Hualpais are sure a big column went up and that it means the Apaches cant't be far away. We're bound to get them. Don't wear yourself out, old fellow ; etay with us !' but Gwynne pressed on. Far out to the fiont he could see that one of the Indian acout3 had baited and was making signs. It took five minutes' hard riding to reach him.

* What.'did you ccc? What has happened ?' he gasped. 'Heap fire!' answered the Hnalpai. 'See !' But G Wynne's worn eyes could only make out the great mass of the mountain with its dark covering of stunted trees. He caw, however, that the ecoub was eagerly watching his comrades now so long a distance ahead. Presently the Indian shouted in excitement:

4 Fight! Fight ! Heap shoot, there !' and then at last the father's almosb breaking heart regained a gleam of hope, a new light flassed in his eyes, new strength seemed to leap through hia veins. Even his poor horao seemed to know that a supreme efforb was needed and gamely answered the spur. Waving his hat above his head and shouting back to Turner * Come on !' the captain dashed away in pursuit of Sieber. Turner's men could hear no sound, but they saw , the excitement in the signal ; saw the sudden rush of Gwynne's steed, and nothing more was needed. ' Gallop !' rang the trumpet, and with carbines adyanced and every eye on the dark gorge, etill three miles before them, the riders of the beautiful • chestnut eorrel' troop swept across the plains. Meantime the savage fighb was going on and the defence was sorely pressed. Covered by the emoke caused by fresh armfuls of green wood hurled upon the fiery furnace in front of the cave, the vengeful Apaehee had crawled to within a few yards of where the little breastwork had stood. Obedient to Pike's stern orders, Kate had crept to the remotest corner of the recess and lay there flat upon the rock, holding Hellie in her arms. The corporal had bound a handkerchief about his lefb arm, forsome of the besiegers, finding bullets of no avail, were firing Tonto arrows so that they fell into the mouth of the cave, and one of these had torn a deep gash midway between the elbow and the shoulder. Another had struck him on : the thigh. Jim, too, had a bloody scratch. It stung and hurt and made bini errib his teeth with rage and pain. Little Ned, eprely againsb hie will, was screened by hie father's saddle and some blankete, but he clung to his Ballerd, and the hope of at least one more shot.

And still, though sorely pressing the besieged, the Indians kept close under cover. The lessons of the mdgning had taught them that the pale faces could shoot fast and straight. They had lost heavily and could afford no more risks. But every moment their, oircle seemed closer to, the moufeb. of the cave, and though direct asBault JSoiild not now be made because of their great bonfire, the dread that weighed on Pike. wa» thaVthey should suddenly rush in from east and west. 'In that event,' eaid he to Jim, * we must sell our lives as dearly aa possible. , 'I'll have two at teaefc bef° r e they can reach me.

Hardly had he spoken when bang came a shot from beyond the fire; a bulleb zipped past his head and flattened on the rock WeUVeek Jn the cave. Where; could that have come from? was the question. A Jifcble whiff of bl«e emoke sailing away on, the wind from the. fork of a tall oat not fifty feet in front told the story. Hidden from view of the besieged by the drifting B.mok<e from the fire, a young warrior had clambered until he reached the crotch and there had drawn up the,rifle and belt tied by his comrades to a f lariat.' Straddling] a convenient branch and lashing himself to | the trunk be was now in such a position that he could peer around the tree and aim right into the mouth of the rocky recess, and only one leg w»§ exposed to the fire of. the defence. t • ■ .- But that was one leg too much. Blaze away at him, Jim,' was the order. ' Wβ 11 fire alternately.' And Jim's bullet knocked i chip of bark into epace.but did no further harroT 'It's my turn now. Watch your 8I B»t, before Pike CQttid take aim> there feajne ft shot! «oml; thefor* of fhe tree thai* well nigh robbedtbe little garrison of Its brave leader. The corporal wae justi creeping forward to where, hf could, rest his rifle 6a 'a little rock, and the Indian's bullet struck fairly in the shoulder and toro its way

down along bhe muscles of bhe back, glancing upward from the shoulder blade and flattening on the rock overhead fell almo3t before Ned's eyes. The shock knocked the old soldier flab on his face, and there came a yell of savage triumph from the tree, answered by yells from below and above. Ne ?: terror-stricken, sprang to the old soldier's side, jusb as he waa struggling to rise.

' Back ! boy, back ! They'll be all on ue now. My God ! Here they come 1 Now, Jim,fight for all your worth. . Bang ! bang ! wenb the bwo rifles. Bang ! bang ! bang ! came' the shots from bofch sides and from the front, while the ducky forms could be seen creeping up the rocks east and wesb of the fire, yelling likefiende. Crack ! wenb Ned'a libtle Ballard again, and Pike seized the boy and fairly thrust him into the depbhs of the cave. A lithe naked form leaped into sighb just at the entrance and then wenb crashing down into the blazing embers below. , Another Indian gone. Bang ! bang ! bang ! Heavier came the uproar of the shots below. Bang ! bang. 'Good God! , groened Pike. 'Has the whole Apache nation come to reinforce them ? Yell, you hounds—aye—yell! There are only two of us 1' Shots came ringing thick and fast. Yells resounded along the mountain side, bub they seemed more of warning than of habred and defiance. Bang, bang, bang the rifles rattled up the rocky sldpee, bub where could the bullets go ? Not one had struck in the cave for fully ten seconds, yeb bhe rattle and roar of muskebry seemed redoubled. Whab can ib mean ? Pike creeps still further forward to geb a shot at the firsb Indian that shows himself, bub pain and weaknese are dimming the sighb of hia keen.brave eyes ; perhaps telling on his hearing. Listen, man ! Listen. Those are nob Indian yells now resounding down the rocks. Listen, Pike, old friend, old soldier, old hero. Too late —too late. Just as a ringing brumpeb call, ' cease firing' comes thrilling up the steep, and libtle Ned once more leaps forward bo aid him, the veberan falls upon his face and all is darkness.

Another moment and how the very hillside seems to burst into shouts and cheers, joy, triumph—infinite relief. Victory shines on face after face as the bronzed troopers come crowding to the mouth of the cave. Tenderly they raise Pike from the ground and bear him out into the sunshine. Respectfully they make way for Captain Turner as he springs into their midsb and clasps little Nellie in hia arms ; and poor old Kate, laughing, weeping, and showering blessings on ' the boys, , is frantically shaking hands with man after man. So, too, is Black Jim. And then, half carried, half led, by two stalwart soldiers, Gapbain Gwynne is borne, trembling like an aspen, into their midst, and, kneeling on the rocky floor, clasps his little ones to his breast, and the strong man sobs aloud his thanks to God for their wonderful preservation.

• Papa—papa, 1 shot an Indian !' How many a time little Ned has to shout it in his eager young voice before the father can realise what is being said. 'It's the truth he's telling, sir,' says a big sergeant. ' There's wan of 'em lies at the corner there with a hole no bigger than a pay under the right eye,' and the captain knows not what to say. The surgeon's stimulants have restored Pike to consciousness, and Gwynne kneels again to take the old soldier's hand in hie. Dry eyes are few. Hearts are all too full for many words. After infinite peril and suffering, after moat gallant defence, after a night of terror and a day of fiercest battle, the little party was rescued, one and all, to life and love and such a welcome when at last they were brought back to Verde, where Pike was nursed back to strength and health, where Nellie was caressed as a heroine, whore little Ned was petted and well nigh spoiled as • the boy thab shot an Indian ' —and if he did brag about it occasionally when he came east to school, who can blame him ? But when they came they did not this time try the route of Sunset Pass.

THE END,