The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1866-01-11

see us w be suddenly exclaimed "Wha
a magnificent sight See, King see :
they are in line, and ready, like trained
t cavalry horses, to charge upon us Nc
+. more fighting among themselves now =
They have an enemy in front Are yor
ready? They are about to plunge upon
US Take that great sorrel one on the
left. will kill this white one. What
splendid animal There is not another
one in Texas would not take a thou
sand dollars for him. Fire y
Simultaneously the explosion of the
caps, followed by the report of the rifles,
broke upon the stiffness of the scene.
The next moment, the magnificent
f creature, so enthusiastically spoken of by
, Ruxton, sprang from the ground with a
wild, quick cry, and then fell forward
! dead, before his astonished followers
The ball had struck the eye of the beast
and penetrated the bratn.
King was equally Fortunate The sor-
rel was hit fairly in the breast and fell,
almost without struggle
"Now p and Ruxton wheeled his horse
toward the train, "now for the arroyo
Reload as you rlde," 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 loaded and cap
ped.
King followed his example, but more
clumsily. He had not been accustomed,
although an expert marksman, to replen-
ish his rife with powder and ball while
2 riding steed that was urged by its very
fear to outdo the tremendous pacing of
the blooded bay. However, he succeed
ed in accomplishing his object, and then
he laid it trausversely before him on his
saddle, ready for any emergency.
For several moments the guide and
his companion rode on in silence. At
length Ruxton cried:
"Ah do you hear them They are
following US. They have got new lead
ers. Do you see yonder cliff, King =
Make for it. The descent on the other
side is easy. If we reach it in time, we
may have an opportunity of seeing what
progress the train has made toward the
gulch. The wagons should be on the
other side of it, and the animals, women,
and children corraled by this time"
; Two or three minutes hard riding
brought them to the brow of the hill the
guide had indicated. There they slack
ened their pace, and while King looked
toward the great moving mass-the i'm
mense army of stations that were still
following them, shrieking, snorting gnash-
ing their teeth, and driving them into
each others torn fanks, the guide turned
his eyes anxiously eastward.
'Great Heaven p he suddenly exclam-
ed, "are those people mad Look, King
the train has stopped What does it
mean? 1t is impossible to get across the
arroyo in time to save it from attack. |
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 in 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 rubicund, told
the guide that he fully appreciated the
danger:
"Hand me your rife, King, and hasten
toward the train. Cause it to be drawn
up into square Immediately. Join wag-
on to wagon. Leave not an opening
anywhere and if the wild devils charge
it; place the women and children under
F their bodies between the wheels. l will
remain here and cheek them"
"No, Ruxton, that would not be fair.
Let me stay My life is not worth as
much as yours to the people yonder, .
cried King.
r "No time for talking" replied that
guide in low determined voice ''I am
captain and must be obeyed-hand me
r your weapon"
His companion, sorely against his-,will
: placed his rifle in the hands of Ruxton
. who carefully examined the nipple, and
satisfied himself that the percussion cap
would not fail him on an emergency.
). "Now for the train Quick W.
e have no time to parley."
t The next minute King was on his way
}, to the train, which, when he had reach
: ed it, without stopping to ascertain the
r cause of delay, instantly organized itsel
e for defence, as directed by the guide
: Meantime, Ruxton looked far out on The
S plain towards the west. Notwithstand
g ing the critical position in which he fount
S himself placed-the lives ofso many help
r less ones depending on his vigilance anc
e courage-he could not repress an cxcla
e nation of admiration, as his clear, dark
n penetrating eyes rested on the spectacle
n beneath.
:, "It is worth life to look upon such ;
scene ]" he exclaimed. 81 would | were
here alone All, yonder noble coursel
:, would be mine if | had to follow him o
yer hill and valley to the Guadaloupe.-
|, How splendidly he carries himself, HI
e seems to know, too, that with his cree
e ears, curved tail, and flowing name, he il
t. the undisputed leader of the thousand.