FORT YUMA. 143 
sergeant for the stray mule, one of the deserters 
(Corporal Hays) said to the other, ‘Now is our 
chance, as there is only a man apiece;’ whereupon 
they levelled their muskets, took deliberate aim, and 
fired. Hays, who shot the Colonel, was within five feet 
of him. 
“The buck-shot from Condon’s musket passed 
through the calf of Sergeant Bale’s leg, the ball at the 
same time pierced the body of the horse which he was 
ridmg. He discharged two or three shots from the 
Colonel’s revolver; but the prancing of the animal 
under the wound received, prevented true aim being 
taken. The horse almost immediately fell; and before 
the sergeant could disentangle himself from the trap- 
pings, the deserters caught hold of him, and wrenched 
away the revolver, but promised to inflict no addi- 
tional injury upon him if he would remain quiet, 
which, under existing circumstances, he very properly 
engaged to do. He asked them to allow him to go to 
the Colonel; to which they did not object. They 
inquired if the Colonel had not some brandy with him. 
He replied; probably not, the Colonel not being a 
drinking man. However, they went to the body ere 
life had left it, and searched, and probably rifled, the 
pockets, as some small articles known to belong to 
the Colonel have not since been found. 
“They then turned in pursuit of Sergeant Quin, 
discharging several shots at him, their object probably 
being to obtain the two mules. Quin, as already 
remarked, effected his escape with his own animal; 
but they secured the Colonel’s. Both mounted it, and 
made directly for the mountains.” 
