Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-05-30
" Number eight" l replied, wondering

"we'll fix their fints yet, by gosh !" -.
So we set to work with will, but while
we were uncoupling the wagon the other
train arrived. Abel communicated his
suspicious to the conductor, and in o few
moments the specie was safely included
among the passenger cars. By this
time the evening was closing in, and we
had placed the train on the siding at the
top of the incline, to clear the track for
the passengers, began to hope that our
fears of an attack were groundless.
We ran down again with steam on, to
get in the rear of the passenger train, and
the other engine followed at a little dis
lance. As our engine neared the points,
Just beyond the log-huts have mentioned,
several figures rose from their conceal
ment. Without warning of any kind they
deliberately fired at the engines as they
passed. Surprise, more than fear, kept
us for q moment inactive. But Abel
quickly recovered himself. Shouting to
me to lie down, he discharged two barrels
at the nearest of our assailants. With a
groan, he fell dead in his tracks. In n
| few seconds we had run out of range, but
those upon the other engine were less
fortunate.
Unarmed as they were, the driver and
fireman could make no resistance, and we,
as we'll as the passengers, who were now
turning out their assistance, were obliged
to remain passive spectators. The poor
fellows were tumbled off the engine by
their assailants, whose intention to seize
the specie was now evident. But in this
way they were foiled. Some of the pas
sengers, having got within range, had by
this time commenced pretty hot fire
against the filibusters," who now found
themselves in fix, as Abel, reversing his
engine, returned to tie attack. Their
position thus becoming untenable they
started their engine, and ran quickly out
of the range of the passengers fire. But
Nemesis was behind them. Abel, seeing
their maneuvre, turned on full pressure,
and swore he'd shoot them ere he slept.
Now commenced the most extraordinary
chase ever heard Of
The engine in front had a start of about
half mile, but we had greater power, and
understood the management of the machine.
Both locomotives were well supplied with
wood and water. One Of our opponents
attempted to jump off, as speed was for a
moment sackened, but he was hurled upon
the line bleeding mass. His terrible fate
deferred his companions, who increased
their distance and disappeared over the
brow of the hill. We followed, going at a
terrible rate, humping and oscillating to
such degree upon the uneven track that
| fancied we should run off the line. We
kept ouI course, however, gaining slightly
for time, Abel taking every opportunity
of sending bullet through the weather.
board of the rctreating engine.
As the excitement cooled little, for
the first time discovered that | had been
chit" A trickling of blood from wound
; in my arm, and a numb sensation, were
ANYTHING but agreeable. A rough band
age stopped the bleeding, and we were
! then at liberty to observe the chase once
more. Darkness came on, yet there was
$ no token of any abatement of the speed
3 nor any apparent change in our relative
positions. Occasionally defiant whistle
D was borne back to us, but still on we swept
, through the night. Suddenly the rec
glow upon the track in front seemed tt
y stop. We neared it rapidly.
q dDivem roared Abel, Just in time. A
l he spoke two shots came whizzing through
the glass in front, and fell harmless from
r the iron plate behind us.
= "a shave that" laughed my com
I panion, "but I'll be quits" As he spok'
| he got out upon the frame, and told me tt
; lie cached.
"What on earth are you about9" Hi
h reply made me shudder.
l. "I'm going to kill them on that engin'
: goodbye, friend" He was gone-creep
l. ing over the wheel-casings to the bufe
e beam.
j. Now determined to win, employee
e every means to do so. We we're surel
r, gaining. Another log upon the alread
70 roaring furnace. The valves discharge
G a cloud of Kissing steam, but on | wen
y hurrying to destruction.
a In few moments more the engine
/ were almost touching another shot, bu
" no harm done. We bumped!-a gfindin
! noise was heard then another BUMP
y "Hurrah," I cried, or rather tried to cry
10 for my throat was so parched that | coul
y scarcely utter a sound, and regardless {
i risk, was about to join Abel, when shri
/ noise arose beneath us, and the other er
CINE shot into the darkness ahead of III
u With an oath | shut off the steam, Gul
70 ther progress | knew was impossible wit
u. the heated machinery and shouted t
u, Abel. AS soon as | could pull up jumpe
III off and ran to the front. Abel had di'
Il appeared! Gracious heaven! had Il
r. fallen when the engines touched9 | b.
. gan to fear the worst, and to call Wild
u in the vain hope that he might hear, bl
IL the whisper of the wind was the onl
e. reply. 1t was impossible that he coul
a. have gained the footplate Of the othC
s., locomotive and escaped instant dealt
~ had he fallen the engine would hay
1e killed him. Thus / argued, and after
" time mechanically filled pipe, and toe
the lamp behind to oil the cranks. Loo
" ing at my watch, found we had bee
Vi running thirty minutes, and at such
~ pace / knew the up mail was not far di
nc tant, and that Landerville was only fe
,il miles off. So l ran gently ahead agai
~ and had not proceeded far when suddc
y "lft" of the engine nearly threw n
a., ~ down. stopped and descended. At Il
80 side of the track lay body horribly di
Oh figured. The cowcatcher had struck hir
" and dragged him along. An indetinab
:, sensation of fear took possession of m
Gu Was this Abel after all
'af 1t was too awful; l managed, howevt
at to turn the corpse upon its back. T
he features were indistinguishable, but
ms doubt was speedily set at rest; for by n
be lanterns light | recognized Abel's C
~ +:.L4l.- olnrnnl Il, tLn dnal mania Lnnl