by Charles King
CHAPTER XVI.
Moreover, as some one said in speaking of the sudden engagement, "Itcame about on a Friday evening, didn't it?" And then, too, when peoplewere talking it over a few weeks later, as Mrs. Archer said, "it seemeddifferent." Soldier folk sometimes have superstitions as surely as thesailor man is never without his, and a start on a voyage of love life,clearing port of a Friday evening, had its inauspicious side. But forthe mishap that suddenly enveloped the happy man in flames at a momentwhen he was sprawled on his back with his whole right side, as it were,in a sling, Mr. Harold Willett might indeed have returned to duty anddepartment headquarters with no other encumbrance than a mortgaged payaccount, and it was not fair to Lilian to speak of her engagement as"announced" that Friday evening; but in her wondrous happiness shecould find no fault with anything about it. It was all just perfect,just heavenly (where they neither give nor are given in marriage, whichpossibly accounts, as said our cynic, for so much that is heavenlyabout it). As an engagement, in fact, it did not exist until four dayslater, after other and equally important things had occurred, and wehave merely taken Lilian's point of view, and left them out of thatchapter and all consideration, as she did, so far as we are concerned,in order to have it all over and done with. But of course there had tobe time for Willett to recover from the effects of the shock, to beclothed in his right mind and something less fragmentary than therelics of a _robe de nuit_, and a day in which to realize what hadtaken place. (I shrewdly suspect that our good friend Mrs. Stannard sawto it that Mr. Willett was informed of what Lilian had done andsuffered on his account, if she did not dilate on what Lilian hadbetrayed.) And then came his very properly worded plea to be allowed tosee her and thank her; and when there was equally proper demur on Mrs.Archer's part, Willett made his avowal in what even the mother held tobe manly and convincing fashion, for, now that she knew that herdarling's heart was gone--that it was too late to avert theinevitable--mother-like, she strove to see with her darling's eyes allthat was good in him, and there was so _very_ much that wasgood-looking. She never even hinted to her husband, much less toLilian, that she had heard the paragon most vehemently accused of mostunmanly and unbecoming conduct (for what was Mr. Case, after all, butan irresponsible inebriate?), and she saw that her daughter's happinesswas wrapped up in this brilliant and most presentable young soldier.Willett certainly gave many a promise of eminence in his career andprofession, so she set herself at once to work to talk the general intocomplaisance, and he, who loved her with all his heart, and believedher the best, the bravest, fondest, truest wife in all the army (asindeed she might have been without being the wisest), and who coulddeny Lilian nothing from the time she turned his best silken sash intoa swing for herself and Wauwataycha Two Bears, her tiny Sioux playmate,till now that she had set her heart on one Harold Willett for ahusband, broke down and surrendered as ordered. But there was that inthe old soldier's face as he took Willett's hand that made the juniorwince more than did the grip, which was mild enough. "She will be justsuch another wife as is her blessed mother," said Archer. "Be good andtrue to her, Willett."
"I will, so help me God!" said Willett solemnly, and then, at least, hemeant it.
There had been an awkward little conference, an impromptu affair, atthe mess the morning after the alarm of fire. Willett stock had beenrunning down before that episode, and went "plumb out of sight" forseveral hours. It was held by Bonner, Bucketts, Briggs and Strong amost womanish thing on his part to have raised such a row and then"wilted." It was Bentley, the most disgusted man at the post, who nowcame to the rescue. "He was dumped on the porch like a sack ofpotatoes," said he, "and probably suffered exquisite pain, let alonethe burns and the shock." Then, bunglingly, as bachelors will, andbachelors two of them were, they began to talk of the revelation thatmet their eyes and what it portended. No one, as yet, had told "the OldMan" of Willett's night at the store, and now no man would do it.Bygones were bygones. Willett would be up in a week or so, the better,perhaps, for enforced rest and abstinence, and now, of course, therecould and would be no more of--of that sort of thing, and all hisbetter traits would shine by contrast with his probably temporary lapseinto frivolity. Even then, however, they wondered what Harris wouldthink, and speculated as to what he would say. Bucketts had not guessedamiss when he said there was no love lost between the classmates.Bucketts, and all, had seen how much both the young men had beenattracted by Lilian's grace and beauty, and the sweet, girlishfreshness that proved such a charm. Bucketts, and all, had been in, asusual, to see Harris, and found him, as he said, a trifle set back bythe excitement, and therefore rather more grave and quiet even thanusual, but they said no word of Lilian and--possibilities. He knew.Strong had seen him when he came, and looked, and stood inert onemoment there, unable to be of use, and had turned slowly back to hisroom under Bentley's roof. Everybody knew it could not be more than aday or two before the affair would be announced as an engagement, andwhile every man felt that Willett had won a prize far beyond hisdeserts, there was not one that felt like tendering congratulation.
But, as we said, there were other and important matters to claim theattention of the garrison, and just an hour before sunset that eveningcame the first. Case's week was up, and, sharp on time at noon onSaturday, Case came forth from his room, tubbed, trimmed and shaved,went silently to his desk and then turned to Mr. Craney to ask what hadbecome of the mail.
"Nary mail," said Craney. "Not a cuss got in or out for over a week."
"Didn't Sanchez bring--anything from Prescott?"
"Nothing but his ghost has even been heard of. You told of that."
"I? Do you mean he hasn't been here--hasn't told you what's happened?"And Case's eyes were looking wild again.
"What _has_ happened, Case? By gad, if you know, out with it, forno mother's son of us here has heard a thing for a week, and Sanchezhas never set foot on the post."
"Then send for Mr. Strong, quick," said Case, sinking into a chair, thesweat of weakness and distress of mind showing instantly on his brow,rare symptom in Arizona. And then, while somebody ran up to the post tosummon the adjutant, Case, pressing his hands to his head, beganstriding up and down the low-ceilinged, half-darkened room. "Wait," hesaid, as Craney and Watts, excited and anxious, would have pressed himto begin. "Wait. Give me just three fingers," and the whiskey washanded forthwith. He downed it in two gulps, and presently the colorbegan to come back to his cheeks, and then Strong came hurrying in. "IsMr. Harris still here?--and that other specimen--Mr. Willett?" Casedemanded on the instant. "That's well, anyhow! And the cavalry stillout? That's bad. We want 'em here, _here_, I tell you, and quick, too!Gentlemen, this is no cock-and-bull story. There's enough Apaches backof us here in the Mazatzal to head off everybody from Prescott orMcDowell. They've killed three parties--a dozen soldiers, perhaps--already,and they've cut off Prescott and Date Creek and Sandy, and murderedevery courier that tried to get through. They headed off and killed therunners sent to find General Crook and give him the news, but worsethan all, they've been down here begging the Sierra Blancas, and thebands of Deltchay and Eskiminzin--nearly eight hundred they'd make--tocome up here and get between Turner and the post, eat him up in thecanons--he's had a lot killed and wounded already--and then turn on us.How do I _know_ it?" he demanded, in the midst of his excited harangue."Sanchez told me--'Patchie Sanchez, the runner, last night. No--nightbefore, or _some_ night. Right here, I thought; right here where youall heard! He said they'd ordered him ironed in Prescott for tellingthe truth, and he said the sergeant had orders to flog him with abull-whip, and he killed the man that tried to flog him. You mean youdidn't hear this? You didn't know it? You didn't see him?--that I'vebeen dreaming as well as drunk? By God, drunk or dreaming, it's so! andthat's why Jose Sanchez and the others lit out for McDowell! They wereafraid to stay. 'Patchie says Deltchay and Skim are coming, sure,whether the Sierra Blancas join or not. All the cavalry are up on theBlack Mesa 'cept Turner's troop, and now's their turn. Call me drunk,crazy, mad, _anything_
you like, but tell the general what I say! Tellhim to get ready to fight like hell!"
"Keep watch now all around, especially east andsoutheast." Page 175]
And so it would seem Case, the bookkeeper, had "inside information,"and so it happened that, within an hour after sunset, once again thegray-haired commander and the wounded subaltern were in conference, andCase's strange story was told in full. "There's more than enough in itto demand our warning Turner," said Harris. "Can you get me up toSquadron Peak--to-night?"
Just at tattoo the old-fashioned, yellow ambulance, drawn by a brace ofmules, backed up at Bentley's quarters, and Harris was carefully liftedaboard. The general, with Strong and Bonner, stood at hand to saygodspeed. "Promise him safe conduct," said the commander, as they droveaway, and Harris touched his hat in acknowledgment. Briggs, with twentystout foot soldiers, awaited them at the abandoned ranch. The doctorand two attendants accompanied him. The road for nearly four miles layalong the sandy flats, then went boring westward into the foothills,while a little worn branch turned off to the peak. Two-thirds of theway to the top the mules were able to pull the jolting vehicle, andfrom thence half a dozen brawny arms bore the young soldier on astretcher to the summit. It was then after eleven, and the moon stillbehind the Mogollon, lowering black against the silvering skies fullforty miles to the eastward. Already there was sufficient light toguide them, and a sergeant led on to a point where, surrounded byknee-high rocks, was a little blackened space where in bygone days manya signal fire had blazed, and here the men tossed the tinder, the pinecones and dead branches they had gathered on the climb. A match wasapplied. All crouched or stooped among the rocks, as the flamespresently leaped on high, and gave ear to the quiet orders of the youngsoldier, practically in command. "Keep watch now, all round, especiallyeast and south-east. It may be ten minutes before you get an answer,and there _may_ come a dozen. More fuel may be needed," whereat half adozen dark forms silently backed away down the slope, and all menwaited and watched. Harris, with one arm and shoulder still bandaged,and obviously weak, sat grasping at the corner a folded blanket andbusily coaching Briggs, who listened, absorbed. Ten, twelve, fourteenthe minutes rolled by. The silvery sheen spread higher over theeastward sky. The crest of the distant Mesa was just fringing withdazzling white, when two voices at once exclaimed: "There you are,sir!" And afar over to the south-east, the direction of Tonto Creek, alittle ruddy spark appeared through the gloom, and a moment later stillanother was made out, farther to the left. In twenty minutes three werein sight. "Anywhere from fifteen to twenty miles away," said Harris, ashe studied them with the signal glass, "and," he continued, "I lookedfor one much nearer."
"There you have it, sir!" And almost opposite them, it seemed, andlower, straight away to the east, so near they could almost mark thewaving of the flame, a fourth blaze burst into view.
"That's more like it!" said Harris. "Now the blanket. Give me a boost,corporal," and with that, supported by the strong arm of one of thesoldiers, he stepped upon the nearest rock, the blanket in his lefthand. Briggs grabbed the opposite corner with his right, and the nextmoment a woollen curtain swung flat between the fires.
"Now, Briggs, up!" and the hidden red eye was suddenly unmasked andglared out over the east. "Down!" and all toward the opposite fire wasdarkness again. Twice more was it raised and lowered. Then a fiveseconds' pause. Then twice again. "Thirty-two," said Harris. "'Tonio'sold signal. Now watch for the answers!" From those at a distance therecame no sign. The flare at each was steady. From the nearmost, almostinstantly, came the desired response. It suddenly disappeared, andHarris, at second intervals, counted low, "One, two, three." Then camethe red glow again, just a moment. Then darkness only for two seconds.Then light again. "It is 'Tonio," said he, "and that's his call to me.Now, Briggs, again! Slowly this time!"
And very slowly was the blanket raised and lowered twice. Then came twoor three quicker movements. Then the blaze spoke untrammelled, and alleyes were on 'Tonio's torch, and they who had heard ill of him--haddoubted him--found themselves oddly drawn to him across the interveningmiles of darkness. Twice, thrice slowly his light, too, was curtained.Then for a moment it burned clearer; then seemed suddenly to sputterout. Within a few seconds, far more swiftly than it rose, the signalfire vanished from sight, and Harris stepped quietly down. "That'sall," said he, yet the doctor, at least, could read the suppressedexultation in his tone. Then, seeing inquiry and disappointment, both,in the eager eyes about him, the young officer added, "He understands.He's coming, or sending, in."
"Did you promise him safe conduct?" asked Bentley.
"He did not ask it," was the answer.
Two hours later, once more safe at the post, the doctor had stowed hisweary patient in bed, renewed the dressing and bandages, and wasbidding him try to sleep, but Harris smiled. "You'll need me totranslate," said he. "The general's message to Turner is being writtennow. Let us finish this while we're about it."
Sure enough. Toward half-past one the sentries on Numbers Six and Sevenset up a shout for the corporal of the guard, and an Indian girl,trembling a bit, was led to the office, and half the garrison knew thatword was in from 'Tonio. The general took his messenger kindly by thehand. Food and chocolate were in readiness at the Mess, but she shookher head. "Capitan Chiquito," she insisted, and then was conducted upthe line, and, shrinking not a little, was led into the doctor'squarters. There, at sight of Harris, she instantly stepped to hisbedside, knelt, and taking his weary hand, placed it on her head. Hewhom 'Tonio held in reverence, his followers could but blindly obey.
To his question in her own tongue, "Where is 'Tonio?" she answered,"Toward the moon, now two hands high. When it is straight above Panchacan reach him again." "Is 'Tonio well?" "'Tonio is well, but--othersbrought Pancha. They say they are afraid that soldiers shoot. Theyawait Pancha's returning."
Evidently, despite the kindness in every face, the girl still fearedthe white man and wished to be gone. "He has sent her, general," saidHarris. "Whatever you wish to send now to Turner will go through, if'Tonio is not killed in the attempt."
And so, with unexpected burden of food and gifts and with a briefdespatch to Turner, bidding him hasten with his entire force, thedusky, fleet-footed daughter of the mountain was led back to thestream, went bounding lightly across from stone to stone, anddisappeared among the shadows toward the east.
"And now," said Harris, "Deltchay and Skiminzin may come as soon asthey like. Turner will get here in time, and then--you may judge as to'Tonio."
And this was Saturday night or rather Sunday morning, not yet one fullweek since Willett was brought in swearing he saw 'Tonio takedeliberate aim at him, although only the horse was shot, and as mattersstood in the gross and scope of garrison understanding, the weight ofpresumptive evidence was against the Apache, and there was more tocome.
