Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1875-03-27

e4A4oSo " Dulslin4, MS dIilS WeF
around the body Of his adversary a
though in death grip. The herculeal
form of Reynolds was almost erect
his hat off, his long hair streaming
his eyes flashing like those of beas
OF prey about to spring on it's victim
Both of his hands elasped the driver.
throat, who at length, unable to with.
stand the vice-like grip. loosed hi.
hold and fell heavily, almost under the
wheels.
Our wild ride now commenced.
Reynolds seized the realms and whir
and lashed the horses into madness not
much less than his own. At intervals
he uttered cry, something of yell
and laugh, that chilled one to the
heart. Onward we sped with the rap
idity of the wind.
| turned to my companions. They
had evidently taken in the situation.
The farmer, though very much alarm
ed, was self-possessed and courageous
Theyoung lady was terrified to such an
extend that her face was blanched and
her features fairly distorted.
The situation was awful How to
escape was the question. Ny first
thought was that we could leap from
the coach, but one look at the jagged
rocks on one side and the deep ravine
on the other convinced me that such
course would be our certain destruc-
tion. To remain seemed equally hope
less. We were threatened with instant
annhihilation.
Our mad driver piled the lash and
yelled at his maddened steeds. The
noise was fearful. The coach rocked
from side to side, and several times
nearly turned over. Our fate seemed
death by being dashed to pieces against
the rocks on one side and precipitation
into the rayine on the other. The
wheels shaved the edge of the preci-
plce, sending the rocks tumbling be-
low. My acquaintance with the feat
ures of the road, having travelled it
once or twice before, enabled me to de-
eide on some plan of escape.
About mile ahead there was fork
in the road. The left hand was the
route formerly Travelled, but being
through bad part of the country, and |
always considered dangerous, it had
long been abandoned, was out of re-
pair, its bridges down, etc. The right
hand, or new road, was wide, level,
and in good condition. Idecided that |
If the left was taken it would be bet |
ter to risk death by leaping from the |
coach, than to remain and face inevi- |
table destruction. But ifthe right was
taken, ourchances would be altogether
better, it being evident that the horses
could not much longer keep up their
break-neck gait, and that they would
probably run themselves down to such
an extent as to make our exit from the
vehicle comparatively safe.
As soon as l declared my plan it was
accepted as the only feasible one. We
must bide our time. The suspense be-
come intense. How concentrating is
dangerl In the presence of imminent
peril how small seems the expanse of
the universe The whole world, the
whole of life seems to be compressed
into the small space Immediately
around US, and everything depends on
Our own salvation. All is forgotten
save our immediate safety. So strong
IS the instinct of self-preservation.
The decisive moment approached.
Onward! still onward with undated
rapidity. Objects few past without
shape; the heavens turned circle.
Would the devil who was driving give
Us but one chance for our lives?
| felt relieved when the time for ac-
ion arrived. l pushed opened the
coach door, grasped the doorpost,
eaned forward, and glanced up the
road. Ahead was a steep descent, at
,he foot of which was the place where
the roads parted. Aud yet no slack
in speed; the wild infurated animals
dashed on; the merciless driver, now
/ demon with bloodshot eyes and foam
ng mouth, still urged them on, and
uttered the rawlings of his madness.
Now we were almost there. One
hundred yards aheadl
Fifty yards ahead
| looked at Miss Castle. She SEEM
ID lifeless. | told her to approach the
loor where | stood. She did so with
,ut a word.
Now we are there. Will the fend
IN the box pull to the right or to the
eft?
He seems undecided. He flashes his
Glance first on one side and then on
he other.
He pulls to the right, and we are
aved mol he has changed his
purpose he pulls to the left.
His indecision saved our lives. The
eaders, first reined to the right, turn
d that way, then Immediately after
ward reined to the left, endeavered to
,bey, but the change was too sudden
they halted for a second. One of
hem was confused he reared, plunged
onward, and almost fell, but recover
d himself. Then was our time, if {
.ver. | called to Miss Castle; she did
10 appear to hear me, and did not
move. There was no time for cere-
nony. | took her in one arm, and
hen grasping the door and leaning
onward as far as possible, | gave one
dance around me and then leaped
,lindly out.
| struck hard a heavy darkness
me- | became insensible.
A few hours afterward, when | re-
covered consciousness, | was in farm !
louse near by, receiving the best at
ention that could be bestowed. Miss
castle and the farmer were active in
to my wants. The for
ner was prOfuse in her expressions of
gratitude to me for having, as she
claimed saved her life. Such words, |
Issure you, were balm to my wounds.
l was happy to see that she and the
armer had escaped with little injury.
was severely but not dangerously !
bruised, and. so well was | attended, | ;
vas able to resume my journey in few .
lays.
As to Reynolds, the last seen of him
md his coursers alive, was as they
cached the summit of high hill on
he old road. He was standing erect,
me hand holding the reins, the other
extended forward, as though urging
onward to the tragic doom that
waited him. 1t must have been
grand picture.
Reaching a stream, unbridged, run
hing between steep, rocky banks. he
doubtless halted not moment, but
lrove over the brink, and was proba-
by instantly killed by the crash and
,uin which followed. His body, once
20 grand and majestic in its strength
md grace, now scarcely recognizable,
50 mangled was it, was taken to his
amily at D.
| should not omit to state that "Old
Jimmy" was not fatally hurt in his
struggle with the padman and fall
from the coach. He recovered, and