The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1889-07-24
novabiIity that give little hope 0.

moyability that give little hope OF
an early start.
Frank shouted and spnrred; the
mule only set back the harder He
pricked him with his hunting knife,
and he began tobuck. When Brim-
stone set out to buck time was no
object to him. So his rider did not
urge the point. The situation was
interesting and very critical.
There were the Indians coming
on like the wind and already begin
ming to widen their line fan-shaped,
to cut off the haplcss rider. His
two companions were third of the
way to the train and safety, and bar
ring untoward accident, sure to
make it. And he, held to the spot
by baking mule whose inaptitude
to change its mind he knew by
hard experience. He had no time
to apply his usual arguments.
The indians were SO near that be
could sec the paint on their faces
and hear their yells. The wind
brought down to him their charac-
teristic odor. Birthstone smelled
and did not at all like them; he
even showed symptom or two Of
moving. Then, as if in scorn of his
momentary vacillation, he set his
feet more firmly than bofore and
stood like rock.
Frank thought that all was up
with him and made desperate re-
solve. he had six shots in his re-
volver. He would indulge, before
the end, in the brief but intense
pleasure of putting bullet through
Brimstone's head. He would be-
stow four on the Indians and then
shoot himself to escape falling alive
into their hands.
Arrows began to fly. One sang
past his head SO close that he felt its
wind. Another passed directly in
front of Brimstone's eyes, but that
consistent creature only blinked
and held his ground. AS Frank
was about to slip off and carry. his
design into effect third arrow
whistled and struck something just
behind his saddle with an unmista-
kable "sput."
Evidence of grievous pain and
astonishment appeared forthwith in
the mule. His backward laid ears
came suddenly forward as for q
moment his head faced round with
an expression of deep and reproach-
full surprise. His body bumped to-
gether until it seemed as If the sad.
die at the apex must go over the
neck or crupper. Then he headed
toward the wagon train, straighten.
ed out and went.
And how he wentl His first iumT
was SO sudden as nearly to leave his
rider behind on the prairie. His
next was longer and his pace kept
improving all the way. A line Of
dust explosions marked the spot
wherc his hind feet struck. AS his
body heightened in long bounds the
saddle cinch fairly swept the grass,
and all Frank could do was to hold
on, save bis breath and try to keep
his toes from striking the prairie
dog mounds.
His two companions when half
way to the train suddenly became
aware that Frank was not with
them. Without stopping they look
ed back. They afterward told him
that they saw something coming, or
the dead jump, behind them. Il
went SO fast they couldn't well make
out whether it was mule or pan.
ther that was making such surpris-
ing speed, but could only see that ii
was gaining headway ut every leap
1t overhauled them in no time
passed them as yellow streak and
directly they saw, thousand yards
ahead, commotion among the
wagons.
In their narration something is tc
be allowed for the exaggerated form
of expression in vogue on the plain,
in that day, and which is even yet
not wholly extinct. 1t is certain
that the mule went very fast, and IL
the race to the train badly beat the
two good horses which had long
start.
The pursuing Indians never got
nearer the mule than when he start.
ed, and were quickly left far behind
They were not numerous enough to
attack the train, and stopped wei
out of rife range. Those who
watched from the wagons said thai
the redskins had followed Frank but
a short distance, when they stopped