Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1884-08-06

could see the foam on the dark
breasts Of their ponies rs they leaned
well forward. But in proportion ms
their stecds tired, our stecd gathered
new energies, and the two thousand
feet that separated us did Tot appear TO
lessen very rapidly. Whether they
wanted to adorn their belts with our
scalps, or wanted To holl us for ran.
som, was another question, for they had
fired but once, and doubtless reasoned
that, as a ''long TOM fired ON ship
retards, in slight degree, It's motions;
so their rifles, fired nj 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 rs ] saw that
he ,Vds lessening the distance between
us. He was covered behind his horse,
excepting his right leg and foot, but !
did not see fit 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.
I ventured TO look ahead q 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 n grade Of thirty-iive feet to
the mile, but three miles west OF tile
Al .n 10 .I,,, IL.
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 mind in danger knows h0v TO
hope) 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 grayilation and of
friction would let il, 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 | could Judge we were
going ut the rate of fifteen miles an
hour. This may seem eXtrayagani, but
| think IL 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 click-a-click-click.
Then ! determined to shoot The
nearest pony was but little over n
thousand feet away, and the change Of
grade was not much more than that
ahead. took n careful aim, holding
the sights SO they conferred 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 ! thought how much
might depend on my accu-
racy. The tcn-foot grade was not
far away. knew, and fired | heard a
savage yell, but my shot did not take
effect except as il aroused their anger,
and | had heard several bullets slug,
sing, into the spruce ties. Tue truck
still kept up its speed, and a hasty look
over nv shoulder was lying Hat, be-
yond the ties enabled me to Judge bow
far away from safety we were. Ne had
covered about half the distance, aud |
distinctly saw the end of the thirty-foot
grade. The Indians evidently saw we
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. aimed at the pony's foretop
and fired. That shot determined the
day. | saw the pony stumble few
steps, and fall, throwing his rider over
his head. The remaining three, with a
savage veil, fired n parting yolley, and
drew rein. And just nj that moment
the truck struck the ten foot grade.
felt its pace slackcn instantly. but luck
lily. the Indians did not know one grade
from another, and in few minutes
more they were mile away. cunsoing
their brother who wcuhl have Ia walk
to their camp.
Seeing that was safe, took look
ut George. lie was not totally uncon-
scious, but looked At me with an express
sion of terror. II took me some time to
assure him of his safety. but finally
did, and we joined the track-layers with
thankful hearts. The engineer, when he
heard my story. uncouplcd The engine
from the train and gave chase the In.
dians were too wise, however. to follow
the track, and we saw them disappear.
ing far to the south. In Er-Enginccr,
in Youths Companion.