Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1886-07-29

'No. Mr.. Cranestick," said to tina
worthy, "a much better plan will be t.
secure as comfortable hiding-place a.
possible between and among the bags
1t is now quite dark, and while l an
preparing my nest in there l will be
obliged to you, Mr.. Cranestick, if you
will be good enough to supply me will
some sandwiches for the journey.
will leave the truck-door little ajar.
Thrust the parcel between, Bring nc
light Speak not word, but leave me
again as quickly and quietly as you
can"
With these Injunctions my assistant
went away.
Not more than ten minutes elapsed
before l had the satisfaction of feeling
a friendly hand cropping mine, and !
knew it was the faithful foreman re-
turned. Another instant, and felt ]
was secure and alone.
With determined perseverance ]
tugged at the bag nearest the slx-foot
entrance to the truck, until 1 had
formed comparatively comfortable
cavity, large enough to admit of my
lying more than half-length quite con-
cealed in one corner of the wagon.
On, on we went, the huge engine
snorting and pulling laboriously along,
while the minutes that wore away
seemed hours to me, and the hours
days.
cannot tell how long we had been
travelling, but I think it was close upon
2 in the morning when / heard the rain
patttering heavily on the roof above
me, and at intervals low rumbling
sound, as of thunder. Then, as the
| morning advanced, the storm became
more intense, and could not repress a
feeling of ungovernable dread that came
over me. My thoughts were of the
sperm oil and the chances OF it being
struck by the electric fluid. Nor were
my fears without foundation.
One great crash of thunder came and
shook the train like leaf in the storm,
and then, great heaven! lurid flame
shot up against the black sky. / saw
the glare through the crevices of the
carriage door, and was just scrambling
from my hiding place, with the object of
raising an alarm, when the engine slack
cncd and, to my great relief, came to a
dead halt.
Cautiously l dropped down the side of
the truck, willing, if need be, to lend a
helping hand, even at the risk of expos
ing a wcll-matured scheme.
Great was my joy, however, the mo-
ment my feet reached the ground, and
before could run up to the fire, to find
it was confined to one small cask of oil.
This the guard and fireman, assisted by
the driver, soon dislodgcd from it's fell
lows by means of a long pole, and had
the satisfaction of seeing it roll its fiery
fight down the steep cmbankment into
what sounded like deep ravine below.
Then the darkness became darker,
and, under its cover, | sought my hid
ing place again. | had escaped detec-
tion-a circumstance which owed its
existence more to good fortune than
good management.
We made another start, and as soon
as the morning hours advanced the
fury of the storm gradually passed
away, and | could hear nothing now
but the monotonous rumble of the
wheels.
| was beginning to think that after
all mine would prove fruitless expedi-
ton, when | became sensible of slack
ening of the engine, as if it was mount
ing a steep ascent.
Slower, still slower, until the train
stood still.
At that moment lifted my head for
ward and perceived the first faint dawn
of the day peering from the eastern
sky.
There was just enough light, indeed,
to show below wooden hut at the en-
trance of tunnel, whose heights were
crowned by very steep and jagged rock.
Something in the way, surely" !
muttered to myself as | resumed my
now cosy corner of the wagon. Barely
was | settled there, however, before
the door that was fartheSt from me
was opened, and two men climbed on
the piled-up wood.
Look, alive, Harry" said one OF
them, whom l recognized as the guard.
1--WE are twenty minutes behind time.
had an accident on the road. There,
have you got it all right?"
LAY, ay; let go
And down went a bag of wool.
The door was closed again, when,
with the agility of a panther, 1 sprang
out, and, just as the train was set in
motion, cleared the siX-foot way on the
opposite side. flung myself fiat in q
ditch, from whence l could dimly see
the wooden hut before me. The guards
van had just vanished in the dark bow,
els of the mountains when l saw the
form of man disappearing in the hut,
pushing the stolen wool before him.
About ten minutes elapsed. A grayel
light suffused the earth, and still lay
there watching My patience was soor
rewarded. The same man came forth
again, bearing great gray bag, pan
nier-wise across his shoulders, and
saw him entering a winding foothpatt
from behind the hut, evidently with the
intention of disposing of his spoil.
l logged his footsteps as sleekly al
an Indian trails his foe. But the fea
was by no means an easy one of active
ment. All the care and ingenuity
could command were taxed to theil
fullest capacity, for there was !, in thu
uniform of a railroad porter, will
country surroundings strange to me a
, Abyssinian wilds, and to make thing
worse, the day dawn grew more ant
more unfavorable to the carrying out o