The state herald., 1890-07-04

"Therc's lot OF en-" he shouted In
at me u moment later. Il can just
see four or i've getting onto their
horses. They've killed the driver, I
guess and are after us now"
With that no gathered up tho 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 4
fearful pace, and, despite tho excite.
ment and fright Of tho moment, l no.
ticed that our horses came to hand
and ran with a steady. even gait, which
oid credit to the young mans driving.
Get ready for 'em now," he yelled
back at met they'll be down on us in
4 minute. Opcn the back dap N pour
II into 'em with your guns, and When
they're empty got mine Under the
seat"
He was MY captain MS well as driver,
and l obeyed instiuctively, for GER
tainly had formed no plan of defense
or action.
l managed to unbatt6h and roll up
the leather behind, and peering out,
saw that we We're indeed followed. It
was light enough to distinguish objects
dimly at 100 yards. and there were Of
least five horsemcn in our rear, tearing
along at the top OF their animals speed.
Knowing that they were within rifle
shot open fire on them over the seat.
! worked the lever of my gun as rapid.
ly rs could but made awkward bust.
ness Of it. Presently ] got shell
stuck. and began toying to get it out.
In the meantime our pursuers were
gaining with every second.
They were within fifty yards before
l could get 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 Id my ear:
LET me get at themi Load the
guns for me m let the team go. We
might > wei. smash rs be riddled with
bullets. Here--hcre's two boxes Of
cartridges"
dropped back to the other seat and
gave place to him. He threw his car
bine over the back of the hind scat and
began firing. Crack cracki crack 1t
oCOthCu W thC thIt ~ stCfuN bllCtltt VI
fire poured nut Of the back Of the stage
and before l had filled the magazine Of
my gun his was empty. lie snatched
mine, however, and thrust his own
back to me-.
Loading was awkward business nj
first, as had to feel for the feeder, but
managed soon to thfnsl them into
my gun rs fast u. 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
spreading out. opened fire on VS.
Keep close down !. The bottom"
shouted my ccn.rade, as he kept on
with his hiring.
The "road agents" did not come
nearer, evidently fearing too great es.
posture to the stream of shot: IRON the
hack, and my courage rose to some
thing near the level ofmy companions.
caught glimpses as l glanced up now
aud then of plunging horseman, with
shadowy, outstretched arm, from
which flashed blaze after blaze OF
light.
All at once we began descending In.
to gully. and tho hack bounced from
side to side so vioently that II was
impossible for us to do ANYTHING but
cling to the side. Of the box.
Its all rigtt.' rang my companions
voice Ia my ears, shortly after we DO.
gan the descent; They've quit. They
can't ride along the side OF the gulch.
and daren't follow straight bcbirtt
There's stage ranch below, loo.
remember the road
Sure enough, the mon had dropped
back. and the shots had ccascd. My
cool, brave companion now rlamSered
over me. and In some way got into the
front seat Of the jumping coach. A
moment ln.nr noticed that wo werc
slowing up and running more steadily.
Five minutes more and we halted. what
was left Of US. safe aud sound In front
OF stage station,
Our story was soon told. our horses
exchanged, and a flesh driver. double
armed. PM with us. Such little acci-
dents did not stop stages In thcss parts.
There was no dsrEsi. they told US,
from that senie gang The three men
who were left promised to go imme-
dlately and look after our other Rfivcr.
oHtN wv NathHcss uuu tUb
motion Of thu vehicle and tho 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 tho
back seat at an angle and into the
front. and might have passed directly
between us. My respect for my young
comradc was greatly raised by the
events Of tina, niyhL and was further
Increased by ar after acquaintance
which discovered his real modcsty and
worth.
On my return to the Hills" learned
that our driver had been picked up at
the crossing Of the creek badly wound.
etl. and also that the bravo fellow had
yelled to the team to 90 the very See
ond he was hit lie had been carried
TO Sidney. As to the rheumatic old
man he was of course N rascal In league
with the band who attacked us.