The Shasta courier., 1866-01-06


cry and then fell forward dead before his
astonished followers The ball had struck
the eye of the beast and penetrated the
BRAIN.
King was equally fortunate The sorrel
was hit fairly lii the breast and fell almost
without struggle.
Now !" and Ruxton wheeled his horse
towards the train. 80 Now for the arroyo.
Reload as you ride he added, as his bay
with great strides swept over the grass at
the rate of almost mile in minute
Meantime he was not idle. In few mo.
ments his weapon was reloaded and cap
ped.
King followed his example, but more
clumsily. He had not been accustomed,
although an expert marksman, to replenish
his rifle with powder and ball while riding
steed that was urged by its very fear to
outoo the tremendous pacing Of the blooded
pay. However, he succeeded in accomplish
ing his object, and he then laid it trans
versely before him on his saddle, ready for
any emergency
For several moments the guide and his
companion rode on in silence. At length
Ruxton eried:-
: All do you hear them. They are fol-
lowing US. They have got new leaders
DO you see yonder cliff, King? Make for
| 1T. The descent on the other side is easy.
If we reach it in time, we may have an
opportunity Of seeing what progress the
tram has made towards the gulch. The
wagons should be on the other side of it
and the animals, women and children
corralled by this time"
Two or three minutes hard riding brought
them to the brow of the hill the guide had
indicated. There they slackened their
pace, and while King looked towards
the great moving mass-the immense army
of stations that were still following them,
shrieking, snorting, gnashing their teeth
and driving them into each others torn
| TANKS, the guide turned his eyes anziously
| eastward"
''Great Heaven y he suddenly exclaimed:
. are those people mad? Look, King, the
train has stopped What does it mean p
1t is impossible to get across the arroyo in
time to save it from attack. l fear those
poor defenceless creatures in it will never
see another hour. They will be trampled
and torn to pieces !"
The guide swayed to and fro on his saddle
as if irresolute of purpose. The crisis was
near at hand. At length he cried, as he
looked at his companion, whose pale face,
usually ruoicond, told the guide that he
fully appreciated the danger; "Hand me
your rifle, King, and hasten towards the
train. Cause it to be drawn up in square
imm ediateIy. Join wagon to wagon
Leave not an opening anywhere and if
the wild devils charge it, place the women
and children under their bodies between
the wheels. | will remain here and check
them"
No, Ruxtou. that would not be fair
Let me stop My life is not worth as much
as yours to the people yonder," cried King
No time for talking" replied the guide
in low determined voice. g am captain
and must be obeyed- hand me your
weapon"
His companion, sorely against his will,
placed his rifle in the hands of Ruxton, who
carefully examined the nipple, and salts
fed himself that the percussion cap would
not fail him On any emergency.
Now for the train Quick We have
no time to parley."
The next minute King was on his way to
the train, which, when he had reached it,
without stopping to ascertain the cause of
delay, instantly organized it for defence, as
directed by the guide. Meantime, Ruxton
looked far out on the plain towards the
west. Notwithstanding the critical position
in which he found himself placed-the
lives of so many helpless ones depending
upon his vigilance and courage-he could
not repress an exclamation of admiration,
as his clear, dark, penetrating eyes rested on
the spectacle beneath.
:" 1t was worth a life to look upon such
scenen' he exclaimed. =" | would | were
here alone All! yonder noble courser
would be mine if l had to follow him over
the hill and valley to the Gaudaloupe.-
How splendidly he carries himself! He
seems to know, too, that with his erect ears,
curved tail and flowing name, he is the un-
disputed leader of the thousands that are
hghting and following whatever way he
turns his head. | would that he took the
Whlm to gallop any way but the route he is
on he seems to scent the trail of the mares,
and death only can stop his career. He
must de-"
AS the guide spoke he drew his own trustv
rifle to his shoulder; ere he drew it there
from the noble steed he so much admired
lay breathless, lifeless at the front of his
thousands of equine followers
respitel" he cried .Ha. will they
not stop? Another leading already. He
TOO must go-and thus everything depends
on chance; wish the wind blew to the
Ane inuAzle Oh hlngs weapon covered the
new ne leader. The trigger was pulled. and
,ne beast IL iell ere he had taken his place as
leader. The stations now stopped as if
,rresoiute how to proceed; but Ruxton saw
leaving the ranks, far in the rear. self
appointed captain. who, with movements we
might IN some degree of truth saw ware
analogous to lightning, pushed to the front
=" 1t will be full minute before be reacba. .Jns.
the van," unused the guide; II will have
time enough to reach the train. Ha, tho
wind is changing. We are sayed-saved :"
AS he spoke, he rode down the Hill and
IN little while was within the lines # tha
wagons " ''e
Pull all of you, the grass from aro,nd
here. Leave the ground bare. The nra;r;a
must be fired. 1t is our only chance ~ be
cried, as he alighted from his painting bav
In an instant the men, women and chill
dren, who had previously been made fnIlv
acquainted with the impending DANGER
were at work with knives and sickles. shear
ing the earth of its herbage A few minntas
suficed for this; but it was not wholly fo
ished when the front rank of the wild stall.
lions were seen coming over the brow of the
hill which the guide had just left.
Without word his directions were obey-
ed.