Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1883-07-26
ward. Tom suggested that he ride with

"s AoLi oubScotCu tudt ue Ilue WILL
me part way.
"Do," said I, "and wen run over tc
Oilyille and see about that new drill,
You can got back here by dark, and
We'll be together to the turn and tall,
matters up well."
This we did, riding together to the
little town, then back to the turn OF
ctoss roads where we must separate. Ii
was about dusk when we reached that
sl'ot and, as we sat talking, sudden
,hout arose from the roadside on either
hand, half dozsn figures appeared in
The cleaning rushing toward us, two or
three pistols rang ont, ana the hum and
whlz OF bullets sang in our ears, mingled
with coarse oaths and cries Of "Down
with EN-! Down with 'em''
The spiesH cried Tom. "Follow
me.
He turned his horse toward the open
country. striking one fool who grasped
at his reins to the earth, where he lay to
be trodden upon by my mare as she flew
after Toms bay, well frightened by the
cries and even more SO by the pistol
shots behind her.
For few moments we rode in silence,
then Tom slackened his speed and [
drew alongside.
"Icaughtone of their balls in my arm, "
said he. did you get any ?"
h., no" = s!, ! replied. "Are you much
Only flesh wound, which can
bind with my handkerchief. These lel-
lows have horses in the brush and will
be after us. You see, they must either
kill us now or leave the country, SO it
behooyes us to keep ont of their way.
Hist! / hear them now."
The rattle of hoofs was distinct
upon the night air. We turned and
hed.
1t was seven miles across the country
to the nearest town of any size, and in
that direction we rode. There were too
many OF the others to fight, and we could
only run.
AS we pressed onward, now through
brush and woods, again across the open,
the heavens above us grew dark and
threatening. aud before half the distance
had been made, rain began to fall.
BAIL" said l; "this is worse STILL"
8 Yes" replied my companion; "and if
it proves to be thunder storm, the
very worst, for we are among the tanks
now, just in little valley that L don't
like"
"Let us hurry" said l, ''for it is a
thunder storm"
l had hardly spoken, when a most
vivid flame lit all the air, followed by the
crash OF the thunder. But after that
came wild, exultant cry ringing
through the pouring rain from behind
us. The pursuers had noted us in the
single sleam of the lightning, and were
now fast following.
But even that danger fed from our
minds in hepresence of the greater one.
The storm was now in its full fury, and
the fiery path of the lightning Lit the
heavens about us almost constantly, fol.
lowed by the heavy, cracking roar of
the thunder; and we yet among the oil
tanks-great iron tanks, half-dozen or
more along the line of the little valley,
any one of which, if struck by light
alng, would fill the lowlands with blaz-
ing oil! --
'sFaster! Fasterw cried Tom, urging
his terrified horse forward at break
neck speed. "We must reach the
ridge"
+" Pm after YOU" replied I, pressing
my Knees against my mare. ''1f we can
only"
l was interrupted by a resounding
crash of thunder, which roared ever as
the lightning famed close beside us, and
ere either could speak, second dull
roar answered that OF heavens artillery,
and broad glare shot upward on our
right, illuminating all the country
round.
a tank had been struck and burst.
"Great heavens, look" cried my com.
panlon, turning in his saddle.
My gaze followed his. The sight be-
fore us w s terrific.
Not a quarter of q mile away, in the
lowest line Of the valley all oil tank was
burning dcrcely, and from it ran a
broad, flaming river, tending toward the
other tanks below.
The heavens were lit with Il lurid
CLEAN that almost hid the blaze of the
lightning, aid the roar Of tie rushing,
burning oil sounded a deep undertone To-
the rattling thunder. Z
"lts terrible" cried s'But, thank
God, we are safe. This is higher
ground than that where the tanks are.
'4es!' hoarsely whispered Tom, eve
are safe; but look! Yonder are the men
who chased MS. They are doornedr'
My comrade spoke true, and low L
saw the poor wfetches from whom we
had tied. They were now fleeing wildly
before more ierrible, more relentless
enemy. Wildly they rode and well, but
faster swept the seething tide of fire
behind them, until suddenly l. saw it
swirl about. them, all. Their horses
struggled madlys a moment, then sank
beneath the flames and were gone. We
1ynrn a lnne nnI ,nund ns, In E,1l