The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1881-06-04

Wncn-1n tne Drlel llStint "HiOh was
allowed him to think-he had seen that
he could do nothing to save his coach,
had jumped with all his might into the
road and was saved. Two passengers |
escaped, also, with bad bruises and
of their limbs, but the others |
were killed. Three of the horses were |
killed outright-but where was Whis-
tier? From every team up and down
the mountain side men had collected,
and were doing everything to aid the
sufferers, and all noticed that there
were but three horses. Where was the
fourth The driver, Dick Swinley. at
last found time to think of his favorite.
Going carefully out onto rock that over
hung the chasm, he heard little whin-
nv underneath him, and looking down,
what should he see but Whistler, stand
ing on a narrow ledge about one hum
dred feet below! Yes! he had fallen
upon his feet like cat, and bruised and
frightened as he was, he had had sense
enough to stand still, and there he was,
hung as it were in mid-air, between
heaven and earth.
But he could not move! If he had
moved one step he would have been
dashed down to certain death like the
rest! For the ledge was only just big
enough to hold him. He had not three
inches of spare space! He could just
stand there-and that was all. As Dick
cautiously crept out little way on the
boulder, he gave low, sweet whistle
which he had often used as call to his
fine horse, and Whistler picked up his
ears and whinnied again, pitiful, sad
sounding whimper, as if he knew his
desperate condition and felt that he
must sooner or later die. 80! boys"
cried Dick, getting back into the road,
"Pll be derned if thar amt Whistler.
alive and kickin'-no, no not kickin',
cause he can't move-but thar he
stands like a statoo, a-waitin' as peace
full as lamb for me to come and git
him!"
And with that the poor fellow, from
excitement and horror and sorrow,
burst into tears and sobbed like a baby.
"Carn't we do nothin' fer himp" said
he. We've got all the folks up, and
doin' as well ez can be expected, and
can't we do nothin' for Whistler? 1
vaowr' he exclaimed. tearing off his
coat, " Pm goin' to githim myself. 1
kin do it, and willr'
"Why, Dickr' every one cried,
"you can never get at that horse in the
world! You can neither get him up
nor down. He will stand till he can't
stand any longer. and then he will have
to fall over
ale sha'n't! He sha'n'tp' cried Dick.
am save him if you kin help! Whar's
the ropesP"
They soon produced some ropes, and
wondered what Dick was going to do.
"Puti it around my body" said he, land
let me down! I'll take a blanket and
some more ropes, and hitch up tackle
that'n bring Dick to the surface, if
thars power enough to haul himp'
They did as he bid them and soon he
was being let gently down towards the
waiting animal. But alas, the ropes
were not long enough. Dick hung full
five feet above, and in front of Whis-
tler-and they could let him go no far
Their. Great was his disappointment.
But Whistler seemed to understand that
rescue was at hand. Dick encouraged
him and told him to stand still. He
said impressively, "Whoa! Whoa!
Whoa! old boy" and Whistler whin-
MED his reply: "Yes, master. will. I"
Dick was drawn up again. Then came
a long and weary delay. The nearest
place to get ropes was many miles
away. A boy was put on horseback
and told to ride for his life, and bring a
big coil of new rope back with him. BY
this time almost all the day had passed.
What would be done if they could moi
get that patient animal up before dark
Would he stand still? Could the pool
creature stand still?
Sunset was over, twilight came creep
ing into the valleys and faster and faster
up the mountain sides, and at last dark.
ness hung over the scene. Dick was
almost frantic. The men about hin
sympathized with his anxiety. At last
the boy came back with a cart full o.
ropes and great band of leather which
had been suggested by men to whom h
had told his pitiful story-but now
nothing could be done in the darkness
Nothing to be done but wait. To be
guile the time the men did a LITTLE
cooking, ate their suppers and smoked
their pipes. told stories, and at las
fixed themselves as well as they coule
and tried to sleep. But not Dick Swim
ley! Over and again he crawled out OF
the treacherous boulder and gave hi
CHEEKY whistle-over and again out o
the depths of the darkness, the horrible
yawning gulf of blackness, came thu
little whinny loving, SO trustful, 8,
patient, so intelligent, that the rougl
men who were waiting to rescue thi
noble animal-would turn to each othe
with strange, sympathetic countenance
and with low voices. such as men us
by tho beds of the dying would say, I'D
you think he'll last it out! Can he stan'
itP Plucky creetur! he's q hero. tina
he is!''
o! in the long, silent hours when al
had fallen asleep but Dick. how b
strained his ears for the fatal sound Q
: a footstep on that little rocky ledge
1 \ .