Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1883-05-30
4 WoMHN'S VIII.

One Of the horses dead The driver
tumbles down from his seat, second
later followed by an outside passenger.
The crash Of glass, flying splinters,
the shrill whistle of the rifle balls !!
Over and above all the unearthlY
yell Of the savages Taken prisoners
Billy and Dave Hopkins, known on
theatrical posters as the 'Balsamo
Brothers, 'Mademoiselle, Helene, the
the Queen of the Floating Wire IN
private lie Mrs. Billy Hopkins; 'El
Nino. the child WONDER in fact Billy
Hopkins, Jr. DeaI-the driver and
two passengers.
The Balsame Brothers, Mademolselle
Helene and El Nino were enroute to
eli an engagement in Denver, just then
assuming the importance of mining
city.
The prisoners were tied upon the
coach horses and hurried some 10 or l5
miles away. When night approached
a green spot was selected by running
stream, and the party encamped.
Words fail to portray the anxietics,
the agonies Of the prisoners. When
the fire was built, the victims imagined
1efy death; when the chiefs touched
their knives or so much as turned to
look at their captives it seemed as if
they were experiencing IN advance the
delights of laceraling and mangliug
human flesh.
The Indians were altogether different
from the noble red mem represented
on the stage. These fiends were dirty.
lacking even The busy brave who poses
upon the bill boards. In their faces
could be read the record Of brutal,
beastly, bloody, nature.
Poor little woman! How she re-
preached herself, IN an agony Of tears
for she it was who urged the accept
apce Of this Western engagement. The
salary, which was something wonder.
ful in figures, was 10 be paid in gold.-
It's dazzling light blinded Mrs. Lucy to
the risk of which they had spoken,
and at which they had laughed; the
salary which would 90 so far towards
paying tor the little home they meant
to buy, and for which they had been
boarding ever since their boy was horn
Great heavens, DaYe what are We
to do? These devils mean TO tortue US.
See they are collecting wood for tht
purpose! My wife and child may be
saved for worse fate y
1T would have been much better fol
US all TO be lying on the road, stiff ano
and stark like those other poor fellows!
L tell you what, Dave, l mean t,
glye them trouble yet.'
What can we do, Billy? Our hands
are tied and wherever we 60 We are
guarded
The two men relapsed into gloomy
silence.
For some time the Indians amused
themselves over the wardrobe Of thC
show people. Especially were they
delighted with the stage jewelrY, ant
the fluffy skirts in which the Queen o
the Floating Wire appeared in public
The tights belonging TO the Balsamo
brothers, however, occasloned much
wondernent. Over these they gesticu-
lated and vociierated as they were
passed from hand to hand.
Presently a couple Of tue brave
brou ght the garments forward and
reeled of words, the purport OF which
the brothers might not have tathomed
had the gestures been omitted. 1t wa:
evident they asked an explanation o
the use or merits of the Singular affairs
Il say, Dave spoke up Billy, quick
lly. they want to know what thes
tights are for. If we eau only pursuad
them TO allow us TO do some stage busi
ness it may save our lives a day o
two
Or they may take us for medicin
men, answered Dave. five get ou
hands free we may escape somehow
With this idea in their minds they
| went through a great amount of panto
mimic dialogue, and succeeded 10 con
yeying some ideas into the brains
their dusky captors, which resulted. i
their being released, still CAREFUL
guarded, however. -
They swung the trapeze from thu
bough of a large oak--performers OF
THIS continuance always carrying th'
necessary rope and bars with them.
The savages watched every move
ment with tue deepest interest, thel
curiosity increasing with every moYe
meni. rarsasr arn-oa ..
Billy managed to exchange a ie
words with his wife, and was glad 1
find she had her hands tree. ~ -
Lucy when, you see these fellow
looking their eyes out, take the boy an
slip away. Follow that star and yo
] will strike some town before long.
And leave you, my husband ?Neve
We can die together
7 you must fly, my darling! A wor'
> fate Than death awaits sou. Oa, n
e God, Lucy. do not hesitate we vi
keep them interested as long as we cal