Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-11-02

starting point we moved slowly away.
About two miles distant lay the first
battery which the enemy had thrown
up to command the road; beyond that
were several more, TO say nothing of
the picket lines scattered along the
tracks. So you will perceive we were
20 run pretty warm gauntlet.
1--WE had proceeded but a very short
distance when there was flash and re-
port from the shrubbery skiriing the
road, and bullet crashed through the
window Of the cab. An outpost had al
ready discovered US, and had given us
forctaste of what we had to expect fur
Their on.
"'Let her outr / said TO the engi-
neer. There is no use in trying to
hide ourselves. Speed is our only
chance now
VERY good, sir, replied the engi-
neer, opening the valve as he spoke.
The engine bounded like spurred
horse. On we went, swaying from side
TO side, until IL seemed as II we must
Jump the track. Meanwhile our friends
along the road were not idle. Bullet
after bullet whistled by us. but fortu-
nately. what with the darkness and the
rapidity of our motion, none of them
reached us.
Eve had now arrived in sight of the
| first battery. by the lights moving
hurriedly along the parapet, il was OBJ
vious that our approach was expected.
As we passed abreast the battery. it
gave us It's first compliment in the shape
Of round shot. followed by storm IF
grape. Here. again. the darkness and
our speed saved US. Several of the
grape shot glanced off the frame of the
engine without doing any damage. ho0-
ever.
"'Give her some more fire, John,
said the engineer, grimly. If they
happen 10 knock hole in us with one
Of them hits of iron, you won't do no
more firing, my boy. | can tell you
| that
"'Not in this world. anyway re-
| spOndcd the fireman. with saturnine hui
NOR. Can't tell what may do in the
next, William
''Thc reckless bravery of the two men
in the face of such danger shamed away
my own arising trcmor, and / folded my
arms and looked toward the battery,
which was evidently preparing to give
us another salute. IL came in the
shape Of n conical shot. with so true an
aim that II whizlcd within n foot Of the
boiler. and carried off the bell. which
fell with aclang among the bushes.
THANK YOU said the engineer, with
a grin, we don't need the bell. any
how. You can Use IL yourself TO ring to
\ dim r with
by this time We had passed out of
range Of the first battery and were under
| the guns If two more. These works had
been constructed to command the juno
/ ton Of our road with another running
south. There was also a station at this
| point, and as we whirled by | Jaw an
engine standing upon n siding with
steam up. | caught sight Of a number
Of men running toward IL. rs well rs
others busy with car which stood near
IL. What they were at | could not make
OJt. for we passed them like flash of
lightning. At this moment. too, the
batteries which had probably received
Geographic notice Of our approach,
opened fire upon us, and for moment
the air seemed to be alive with Shrek
ing iron.
More fire. John cried the engineer;
ram her full to the door, or it's all up
with us
1.-The fireman stopped to obey. but at
that moment shell struck upon the
cabOose and burst within three feet of
us. IL was n ten-inch monster, and how
any Oi us escaped alive / fail to see. As
IL was. when the smoke and dust cleared
away ! found the top of the cab gone, a
portion of the cabOOse torn off, and the
fireman lying on heap on the floor,
with his arm broken.
"'Pm knocked out, William he
groaned, land who's to fire her for the
rest Of the trip
Il will. said I; Il think 1 can man
age it,
after placing the poor fellow in as
comfortable n position n possible.
seized the shovel and began my new
duties.
by this time we had passed out of
rang Of the batteries, which now and
then. however. sent n slrllcn shot in our
direction, rs parting evidence of their
good will
1--WE are safe ! said. with sigh Of
relief; that was their last line of works.
The road is clear before Us
80 hope so, sir responded the en-
ginCer. 'How's your arm, JOhn?'
Very bad. William groancd the
fireman; but that amt the worst of IT,
We amt through with the trouble yet =
"'What do YOU mean asked. The
scouts say that there are no troops be-
yond us. except our own at Kanakia
station
80 But they're following u.s. replied
the fireman. They are after us hot and
heavy
II looked Mt the engineer under the
impression that the poor fireman was in
n delrum with his injury.
Hes right. Captain said the en-
ginccr. listening intently. Sure as fate
they have pulled ont that engine we saw
ut the junction aud are chasing us
49, But there's no possibility of their
oycrtaking US replied.
e. don't know about that he said.
gravely. That engine is n heavy one,
and have seen her make n good fifty
miles with train behind her. This
one is n light machine, and 4 can't
promise more than forty at the most.
Besides they have the advantage Of us
in the fact that they have car attached
and we are running alone
81 should suppose that our lightness
would be rather in our favor than other
WISE l responded.
"'GOt something to balance her, '
grunted the fireman. septentiously.
go John Is right, explained the en-
gineer. You see. sir, Il an engine has
no weight behind her she is apt 10 Jump
and pound tho rails. aud, IL YOU put
her at her full speed, TO get of the track
altogether. So. while that engine behind
VS. can do her level best. we can't even
let out to forty niles without danger of
a smash up
now cOmprehended the extent of our
peril. We had only run the gauntlet
Of Scylla to be more effectually de-
stroyed by Charybdis. To have been
killed by round shot from the fort
woul1 have been at least n soldier
death. To be run down and picked of