The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-07-11
CHAPTER II.
A WILD RIDE.

Three hours hence and the water would be
pouring down the valley through which my
course Law. No wonder I had to ride for my
life, and perhaps the lives Of hundreds Of my
fellow creatures depended on mine. Ammer-
ing junction was some miles away. My route
lay through an unknown country, across moor
land intersected by flooded streams and swept
by the fierce wind and rain.
must do it, thought, as my horse picked
his cautious way amid the loose stones down
the steep by-road we had asccnded the previous
day. should need all my strength, though,
to execute my task, so pressed on. valua-
bic slice out of my time had heen expended
when reached the broad highway and urged
INV horse to speed. had to turn of again, !
knew, but fancied I should easily find the
path Beside, was there not q sign-post
Therefore, urged by dreadful tidings, and with
the fierce wind and biting rain by turns and oil
together assaiiing ME, urged my horse on
w.rd. reached the turning and pulled up to
read the direction + should take. l nearly
tainted with horror az I read. The fatal finger
ro;nted up the cross road I was pursuing
TO Holmesdalc and Seaham." Tho opposite
index pointed ITO Ruddall and Ammering.
/ could scarce credit my senses. Surely was
right We had come up the previous day, and
up the hill to the reservoirs. l had merely to
reverse the route We had Travelled. At that
moment, if you will believe me, the true state
OF the case, and my own stupidity, flashed upon
rle. We had come from Holmesdale; was
now bound for Ammerins, :ch lay at the
opposite side.
This was terrible mistake. 1t was now past
six o'clock. One Of the three precious hours
had elapsed and was further from Ammering
than when I started. l WAS seized with de-
spair. Whatever could I do now? Two hours
remained, and had three up hill miles to ride,
and then about seven more across the moor,
before could reach the junction, and before
that the trains might have started. and =
burst out into a cold perspiration at the
thought. and then, desperate, and only half
conscious, l rode madly back to the Ammer-
ing road and up the hill again. But the storm
ticnd was sbroad, and had arrayed all his
forces against me.
As We gained the more open ground the blast
came down with such violence as to stageer as.
tore across the hillside, and Kissed among
the gorse and swaying grass. The rain came
down more detcrminedly than ever. At length
reached small cluster of stone cottages. and
halted under the lee of the last ono to take
reath for fresh struggle over the moor
which lay before ME. A straight road lay over
ia good road. but crossed at intervals by
r.pid streams which lad overhowed their usual
limits, and 9welled over their boundaries across
the 1lIty stones which had deied them all the
summer long. -.
The SUBMITS Of the neighboring hills were
s.lrouded in veil of mist, but far in advance,
on the level, I could trace the railroad line.
From the elevation at which l stood, could
trace the channel of the Apps river down the
valley, and could guess the spot Mt which the
food would strike the railroad and the branch
line over the spur of the hill. / could just dis
tingui>h the junction in the middle distance. A
dark smoke appeared to be rising from it an
engine perhaps waiting to start train and
was lingering on the hill. All this, and more,
| could perceive as l rested on the summit.
Somewhat refreshed, rode maufully forward
into the storm.
How nv horse kept his feet do not to this
hour understand. The wind, which had been
high before, appeared to have gathered new
force while We had halted, and it rushed across
the track terriiicaly. Pebbles were frequently
blown across the road, and every pool had its
waves. like miniature sea. Some helpless
crows were blown over my head, and sinister,
looking raven skinned the moor close by,
uttcring weird croak which fell upon my ears
Ike knell, and chilled my blood. I was quite
alone, not human being in sight, but suddenly
the whistle of Il locomotive was carried to my
ears. An engine moved out of the station.
Another whistle shortly aftcrw"rd. The train
was safe. watched it glide sway over the via,
duct. Five minutes later l rode into the sta
ton. and called for the station-master. AS dis,
mounted the clock struck eight. The time was
up, and no signal from McCausland. Tele'
graphing would now be easy. a porter came
cut in response to my summons.
I'm sorry ye lost the express, he began.
-. don't want the train, replied, i must
telegraph at once, though. Where is the sta
tion-master?
Hell be here in minute. But We cam
telegraph. The wires is blown down. We had
to send pilot with the express to clear the
line up to Handleish.'
Not telegraph I tell you, man, 1 must
stop the traffic. The South Holmesdale reser
voir will burst this very hour"
':Can this be true?' inquired a cool, gentle
manly man at my elbow. It was the station
master himself.
"True!' l echoed. cts only too true.
have ridden to tel you. We must stop thu
trains"
1.-The excursion leaves Handleigh at sos,
r,used the station-master. There may bt
time come with me-"
He crossed the line and entered the shed op
posite followed. just then loud booming
sound rent the air. The sound came back from
the hills like thunder.
1T is the signal" exclaimed. The watel
is out. Heaven help lis low"
The station-master called out. A cleaner ap
pcarcd.
as that engine ready
"Yes, sir. waiting for the excursion"
:" Run and open the points. Now. sir. gc
up"
l obeyed mechanically, and before l quite
realized the situation we had crossed to the uI
line. The station-master stopped to get ret
flag and give few instructions to his subordi
nate. / now perceived that we were to race
the flood. Steam versus water. Which woulC
conquer?
A whistle-we started.
THE flood the food - shouted the porter
We turned one glance up the valley. A NOV
ing brown wall, capped will snowy ridge, wal
tearing down to the devoted viaduct. No time
to lose.
500 ahead" cried the station-master
turned on stesm,pu the lever over another
notch, and the race began in earnest.
We flew along the metals. few minute
would decide it. We mus. get to the riaduc
and over it first, or the excursion, unwarncd
would dash to destruction. depressionin in tht
ground ran beside the raiiroad for short dis
tance. We trusted to this to turn the velocit,
Of the approaching water. 1t was an exciting
race, and one never to bo forgotten.
On rolled the flood. We wcrerunning "necl
and neck Tor one terrible hall minute. NOV
the resistless flood bore directly to the bridge
Stones were rolled before it like marbles
Trunks Of trees, havstacks debris of every de
scription, came headlong down upon the doome
structure. We fled like lightning over the rails
Our speed told now.
Sparks flew from the chimney Another notch
The beat of the piston quickened to an almos
inconceivable rapidity. Wewere on the bridge
Hurrah The curling wave beneath seemed
spring forward 1t broke against the buttresses
In a second we were across.
I shut of steam, the station-master pr
down the brakes. A tearing, rending sounG
that was not the brakes-a crash We locke
! back. The line dropped behind us like stag
trap. The bridge gave way, and with roa
that was heard two miles off, the pretty Wis
duct was swept away by the boiling, furiou
water.
/ We we're truly thankful for our narrow eE
cape.
And now to save the excursion. Speeding fol
! ward again, whistling like a demon, our goo
! ensineSvigilant by name-soon came in sigl
Of the excursion train. BY waving ourred fla
VIC avertcd another danger-a collision. Th
! telegraph posts being down, trains had to ri
upon the same line as far as Handleigh, but OF
IL 1oak