Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1884-07-18

over the top at our pursuers.
They gained nearly half the distance
during the first five minutes, but the ih-
crcasing qu;cknsss of the click OF the
wheels at the joints Of the rails gave me
a little hope as i watched them. As 10
George, he was so terrified rs to bc an-
conscious; but Il long life OF engineering
upon tho plains had hardened me little !;
neither was this my first adventure.
The sun poured down OH It's, and but for
motion, it would have prostratcd us; the
wind was blowing the same way that We
were going, but we were moving faStcr
than it, and this gave US faint breath of
! air. / took of my light coat and formed
shade over George, who was helpless,
and looked ahead.
Far away, through the moving waves
Of heat, could see the smoke rising lazily
from the engine, and the two rails stretch
ing in 4 long perspective, until they were
lost where the grass seemed dyed brown; {;
but the steady click-a-click-click of the
way of, and fastened my eyes on the
Indians.
They were spreading out. One Of them,
OH my right, had left the main body be-
hind, and was circling around 10 get
ahead OF us. Then thought how lucky
it was there were no curves to give them
an advantage.
When | first sighted thom they were
making a great many cXtravagant mo-
tions; but now they were ready for ac-
ton, and could see the foam on the dark
breasts of their ponies rs they leaned well
forward. But In proportion rs their stccds
tired, our stccd gathered new energies,
and the two thousand feet that separated
us did not appear to lessen very rapidly.
Whether they wanted to adorn their belts
with our scalps, or wanted to hold us for
a ransom, WAS another question, for they
had fired but once, and doubtless that rs 4
"long tom," fired OH = ship, retards, in II
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 IS l could judge, only ono Of
them was gaining on US, and | graspcd
the handle Of my revolver rs saw that
he tods lessening the distance between US.
lie was covered behind his horse, except
ing his right leg and foot, but did not
see fit to waste a shot yet; there was no
knowing what might happen, | thought.
Besides, my revolver would not carry ac-
curately that distance, and every ball
might be required.
ycnturcd to look ahead moment, and
saw that the smoke was nearer, and that
the outlines OF the engine and few cars
were distinct against tho blue sky beyond;
and then another thought flashed across
my mind. We were going down grade
of tarty-fyc feet to the mile, hardly fall
enough, reasoned, TO move the stiif truck
along over the scaly surface of the rails.
could even see the change Of grade,
nearly a mile ahead, and hoped (and
only mind in danger knows hon TO hopc)
that the sun would beat down more un-
mercifully and overcome those tough
ponies.
was helpless; the truck was running
rs fast as the laws OF grayitation and fric-
ton would let it, and did not doubt but
that the Indians were urging their ponies
to the utmost. Any word or action OF
mine, however, would not increase our
speed, and as near as | could judge we
were going at the rate Of fifteen miles an
hour.
This may seem cxtravagant, but think
it is hot so. am sure the truck did It's
best. Perhaps the Indians saw that they
were not gaining much, for I heard an
other bullet whiz over our barricadc, and
cautiously lowered my head. The report
was lost to my cars, full Of the cllck-a-
elick-click.
Then determined TO shoot. The near
est pony was but little over thousand
feet away, and the change of grade was
not much more than that ahead. took a
careful aim, holding the sights so they
centred 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 is
head, and struck one of the rear riders.
One Of them fell back, anyway, and de-
liberatcly cooked the revolver again.
This time | did not aim SO high. ]
could feel my heart beating rapidly when
thought how much might depend OIL my
accuracy. The tcn-foot grade was not
far away, knew, and fred. heard
savage yells, but my shot did not take
effect except as 1t reused their anger, and
| heard several bullets slug, slug Into the
spruce ties.
The truck still kept up It's speed, aud
lasty look over my shou'ler-I was lying
fiat behind the ties-enablcd me to judge
how far away from safety we were. We
had covered about half TIE distance, aud
distinctly saw the end Of the tlIirty-foot
grade.
The InIians evidently saw that we were
nearing the construction train, too, FOR
they lashed their ponies furiously. r
determined upon another shot. The
nearest Indian had gained little in the
last few minutes. L aimed at the pony's
forctop and fired That shot determined
the day. saw the pony stumble few
steps and fall, throwing his rider over his