The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-06-14


feet that separated is did not appear to
lessen very rapidly, Whether they
wanted to adorh their belts with our
scalps, or wanted to hold us for ran
som, was another question, for they had
fired but once, and doubtless reasoned
that: as long tom" fired on ship
retards, in slight degree, its motions,
SO their rifles, fired at us, would check
them. They did not fire, anyway, but
their reasons for not doing SO can only
be guessed at.
So far as | could Judge, only one of
them was gaining on us, and grasped
the handle of my revolver as saw that
he aCas lessening the distance between
us. He was covered behind his horse,
excepting his right leg and foot, but |
did not see lit to waste shot yet; there
was no knowing what might happen, |
thought. Besides, my revolver would
not carry accurately that distance, and
every ball might be required.
ventured to look ahead moment.
and saw the smoke was nearer, and that
the outlines of the engine and few
ears were distinct against the blue sky
beyond; and then another thought
flashed across my mind. We were go
ing down grade of thirty-five feet to
the mile, but three miles west of the
tank-house the grade changed to ten
feet to the mile, hardly fall enough, |
reasoned, to move the stiff truck along
over the scaly surface of the rails. |
could even see the change of grade,
nearly mile ahead, and | hoped (and
only a mind in danger knows hose to
hcpe) that the sun would beat down
more numerically and overcome those
tough ponies.
was helpless; the truck was running
as fast as the laws of gravitation and OF
friction would let it, and | did not doubt
but the Indians were urging their ponies
to the utmost. Any word or action of
mine, however, would not increase our
speed, and as l could Judge we were
going at the rate of fifteen miles an
hour. This may seem extravagant, but
| think it is not so. am sure the truck
did its best. Perhaps the Indians saw
that they were not gaining much, for /
heard another bullet whiz over my
head, The report was lost to my ears,
full of the elick-a- click-click.
Then / determined to shoot The
nearest pony was but little over a
thousand feet away, and the change OF
grade was not much more than that
ahead. | took careful aim, holding
the sights so they eentered two feet
above the pony's head, and fired. !
heard them yell at this aggression, but
the bullet. instead of hitting the forward
pony, carried strong, think, over its
head, and struck one of the rear riders.
One of them fell back, anyway, and
deliberately cooked the revolver again.
This time | did not aim so high.
could feel my heart beating rapidly
when l thought how much
might depend on my accu-
racy. The ten-foot grade was moi
far away, knew, and fired. heard q
savage yell. but my shot did not take
effect except as it aroused their anger,
and | had heard several bullets STAG,
Stag, into the spruce ties. The truck
still kept up its speed, and a hasty look
over my shoulder was lying fiat, be-
yond the ties-enabled me to judge how
far away from safety We were. Ne had
covered about half the distance, and ]
distinctly saw the end of the thirty foot
grade. The Indians evidently saw VIC
were nearing the construction train, too,
for they dashed their ponies furiously
determined upon another shot. The
Indian had gained little IN the last few
minutes. 1 aimed at the pony's foretoE
and fired. That shot determined the
day. saw the pony stumble few
steps, and fall. throwing his rider ovel
his head. Tie remaining three, with q
savage yell, fired parting volley, and
drew rein. And Just at that moment
the truck struck the ten-foot grade.
felt its pace slacken instantly, but luck
lily, the Indians did not know one grade
from another, and in few minutes
more they were mile away, consoling
| their brother who would have to walk
to their camp
Seeing that | was safe, took a look
! at George. He was not totally uncon-
scious, but looked at me with an expires
| sion OF terror. 1t took NE some time tC
assure him of his safety, but | finally
did, and We Joined the track-layers witt
thankful hearts The engineer, when hi
heard my story, uncoupled the engine
from the train and gave chase the In
| dams were too wise, however, to follow
the track, and we saw them disappear
| ing far to the south. An ET-EHgineer
in I0aith's Companion.