The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-10-27

from sheer force of habit sung out, "All aboard the huge bell of the engine rang out weirdly into the quiet night; and they started. Lancelot and the bullion clerk, each armed with 6 rife, took up their positions by the side of the engineer and the stoker in the caboose of the locomotive, whence they could see all that might happen, and direct operations.
 At five o'clock, just as the gray dawn was streaking the skies over the pine woods, they saw a red light agi- tated violently some two hundred yards ahead. The word was passed along the cars to be ready, the engine bell rang out, and the brakes were put hard down.
 Scarcely had the train been brought to standstill, when from the thickets on each side of the track swarmed groups of withholding individuals, armed with rifles, the foremost of whom leaped upon the engine, off which he was promptly knocked with billet of wood by the engineer, whereupon he picked himself up, swearing horribly, brought his rife to the ready, and sung out:
 "I reckon you had better tell the colonel to give up the keys of your freight cars, or there'll be shooting" ]"
 "I reckon you'd better stand of, captain, you and your boys," replied the bullion clerk, covering him with his rife as he spoke, "or there'll be a bead or two drawn on you in return" l"
 At that moment the bullion convoy showed themselves on the platforms of the cars, to the rage and amazement of the robbers, who stood irresolute whether to open fire or to bolt.
 The man who had leaped on to the engine, and whom Lancelot at once recognized as being like himself, turned to his men, and said:
 "Well, boys, we're as good as them !; we haven't had haul for some months l; what do you say?"
 "Go for lem '" was the growled re- ply.
 But before the suggestion could be acted upon, the bullion convoy dis charged volley, and half-a-d dozen of the assailants lay stretched on the ground. The robbers, who had backed into the bush, let fly in return, and the calm and peace of beautiful morning was broken by the crack of the rifles, the cries of wounded men, the curses of the combatants, the en- shouts of their leaders, and the crash of bullets through the and the thick foliage.
 In the midst of it all the colonel came tumbling out of his car, half dressed, and with face which was 6 perfect study of rage and astonish- ment, but bullet whizxing past his ear, and making a neat hole in the woodwork about foot of him, drove him back into shelter.
 The combat was of but short dura- tion, for the robbers, not having ex- pected resistance, were but poorly armed, and in ten minutes time dozen pairs of hands were thrown up and all was over.
 Then the colonel came forth to view the scene, and to take over again the of which he had been, by accident, deprived.
 The first corpse which met his won- dering gaze was that of the leader of the robbers, the man who, previous to the commencement of hostilities, had been so summarily elected from the engine.
 "Whati Great Scott '" he exclaim- ed. "If that ain't Jem Forrest, the man who would have married my daughter if that skunk of a Britisher hadn't gone of with her 1"
 "Yes, colonel, ;" said his clerk. "That's Jem Forrest, the out and -outest black guard on the track. He's handed in his checks now, and I reckon he'll have a powerful deal O blood lettin' to answer for"
 "Well," said the colonel, "I wouldn't have believed it. He was one of the quietest, say nothing to- nobody sort of cueses ever met. and that's why kinder froze to him as . husband for my Pansie, and that's fact"
 "It's real lucky we had the boys aboard, colonel" said the clerk. "I reckon it warn't your fault"
 "Who did it? Who was it?" said the colonel. I don't care who he is, but he's saved the bullion train, and Cornelius P. Wyman ain't the man to forget such a good turn. You're right, Hawkins, Pve been a sight too easy of late, and this has learned me . lesson. Say, who's the mani"
 "That thar Brittisher yonder," re- piled Hawkins, jerking his head in the direction of Lancelot, who, stripped to his shirt, was busy among the wounded.
 The colonel rushed up to the young Englishman and shook him energetic ally by the hand.
 "Sir," he said, "I don't know how I can thank you for what you've done.