St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-03-22

at gallOp-they were ANIMALS which
needed no urging-kept to the road, and
the cool-headed young fellow was not
pitched out.
"There's lot of 'em," he shouted in
at me moment later. 81 can just see
four or five getting on to their horses.
They've killed the driver, l guess, and
are after US nOW."
With that he gathered up the long
dashed whip, which lay in the boot. and.
dropping upon his knees, began yelling
and laying the whip upon the team.
In moment we were going at fear
full pace, and despite the excitement
and fright of the moment l noticed that
our four horses came to hand and ran
with a steady, even gait, which did
credit to the young mans driving.
"Get ready for 'em now!'' he screamed
back at me, "they'll be down on us in a
minute. Open the back flap m pour it
into 'em with your guns, and when
they're empty get mine under the
seat!n
He was my captain as we'll as driver,
and l Obeyed instinctively. for GER
tainly had formed no plan of defense or
action on my own account.
l managed to unbuttOn and roll up the
leather behind, and peering out, on my
knees before the back seat, saw that
we were indeed followed. 1t was light
enough to distinguish objects dimly at a
hundred yards. and there were at least
five hOrsemen in our rear, tearing along
at the top of their animals speed.
Knowing that they were within rifle
shot, | opened fire on them over
the seat. l worked the lever OF my gun
as rapidly as could, but made awkward
business of it. Presently | got shell
stuck, and began trying to get it out. In
the meantime our pursuerS were gaining
with every second.
They were within fifty yards before
could get out out my shell, and l was
too excited to think of using another
gun. Suddenly the light in the hack
went out, and hand upon my shoulder
jerked me backward. Then voice
yelled in my ear:
''Let me get at them! Load the guns
for me IN let the team go. We might
IS well smash as be riddled with bullets.
Here-here's two boxes of cartridges"
| dropped back to the other seat and
gave place to MIN. He threw his car
bines over the back of the hind seat
and began firing.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
1t seemed to me that steady stream
of fire poured out of the back of the
stage, and before had filled the maya
zine of my gun his was empty. He
snatched mine, however, and thrust his
own back to me.
Loading was awkward business at
first, as had to feel for the feeder; but
managed soon to thrust them into my
gun as fast as he could work the lever
of his own. The men. whoever and
whatever they were, rode up to within
twenty-five or thirty yards, and, spread
ing out, opened fire on us.
Keep close down in The bottom ~
shouted my cOmrade. as he kept on with
his firing.
The road agents" did not come near
er, evidently fearing too great exposure
to the stream of shots from the hack,
and my courage rose to something near
the level of my companions. / caught
glimpses, as l glanced up now and then,
of plunging hOrseman with shadOwy,
outstretched arm, from which flashed
blaze after blaze of light.
All at once we began descending into
gully, and the hack bounced from
side to side so violently that it was i'm
possible for US to do anything but cling
to the sides of the box.
tits all right" rang my companions
voice in my ear, shortly after we had
begun the descent; they've quit. They
can't ride along the side of the gulch
and daren't follow straight behind.
There's stage ranch below, too. re-
member the road.
Sure enough the men had dropped
back and the shots had ceased. My
cool, brave comrade now clambered
over me, aud in some way got into the
front seat of the jumping coach. A
moment later l noticed that we were
slowing up and running more steadily.
Five minutes more and we halted,
what was left of us, safe and sound in
front of
A Stage Station.
Our story was soon told, our horses
exchanged, and fresh driver, doubly
armed, put with US. Such little acct
dents did not stop stages in those parts.
There was no danger. they told us.
from that same gang. The three men
who were left promised to go imme-
diately and look after our other driver.
1t was only the darkness and the mo-
ton of the vehicle and horses that had
saved us from being hit. We found
several bullet marks about the coach
next morning. One of them, well
aimed, had gone through the
back seat at an angle and into the front,
and might have passed directly between
US. My respect for my young comrade
was greatly raised by the events of that
night, and was further increased by an
after acquaintance which discovered his
real mOdesty and worth.
On my return to the "Hills'' learned
that our driver had been picked up at
the crossing of the creek badly wounded,
and also that the brave fellow had yelled
to the team to go the very second he
was hit. He had been carried to Sidney.
AS to the rheumatic old man, he was, of
course. rascal in league with the band
who attacked us.
EASE Your Cough by using DR..
Javna's EyDectOrant a Sllre and helnful