The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1892-11-05

in Maybelo about sunset Of one of the
lovelicst of days imaginable. Prospects
for propitious weather on the morrow
were excellent, and my heart beat high
in anticipation CT a renewal of sport
1 loved so we'll. The northern ter
minus of the line-El Altar-was some
twenty-one miles distant. had estab-
lished station one mile south, south
east of that point, so that, following
the old trail, would thus have very
nearly straight-away of twenty miles
Next morning / was awake and up
bright and early. What a day it was!
The air was crystal. The golden sum
beams danced and twinkled over the
earth like swift-fying arrows. was
in the best of spirits. With some ad-
justing had succeeded in putting the
wheel, which had apparently been used
rather roughly, in tolerably good con-
dit;on. After a hasty breakfast l was
ready for the journey.
Instructing the Navajoe lad to follow
me the next day with the provisions. |
mounted and rode slowly out toward the
long stretch of country. executed
few trick maneuvers and soon felt per-
fectly at ease. My actions were viewed
by the young Navajoe with OPEN
morthed wonderment The use of the
strange two-wheeled affair that he had
been carrying seemed never to have
dawned upon his conception, although
during the journey to Maybelos had
caught him more than once ogling the
concern, and handling it very ginger
~.
But to my story: rode out upon the
old path and found the soil as had ex-
pected, hard and level. Striking an
easy rate of speed was away; my ride
had commenced. had ridden possibly
a mile. when observed to the east and
| a little way ahead of me, tiny wreath
of blue smolxe-I had to look twice to
distinguish it from vapor-rising from
| a clump of pines. knew what it was.
| 1t told me that there was camp there.
l guessed the rest; rowing band of
half-breeds and red-skin trappers were
resting thereabouts. Whether my way
lay directly to this spot or not 1 was at
| loss then to tell. As proceeded, how
ever, this proved to be the fact. was
not exactly satisfied what course to
pursue. but recollecting that since our
stay in the region none of our party
had ever received bodily injury from
| the ringers" l resolved to continue
my way. attracting as little attention
as possible. Perchance / could pass
| them unobserved. AS l neared the
place l found that my course was
some twelve or more rods from
where the camp was. Under cover
of some shrubs which lined the trail
for a considerable distance at this
point, l was able to reconnoiter. There
were fifteen ringers in ali. Four of
these were half-breeds, five native In
dams, three Apache and the rema inder
| Creoles. / must confess that l would
have given little for the privilege of
altering the situation somewhat. How
ever, / saw that l was ''in for it,"
and placing my feet resolutely to the
| pedals ! continued at an increased
speed. saw that would be obliged
to leave the friendly cover of the
shrubbery ere long. and pass over a
stretch of about Eve rods unscreened. If
could make this distance without being
discovered was safe. l resolved to
try. Setting the pedals rev diving mer-
rily few out from the bushes and
across the intervening space at a high
spec1. was half way across and be-
ginning to breathe much easier, when l
saw, coming along the trail few feet
ahead of me, big Creole buck carry
ing huge gourd filed with water ev-
identity from spring near by. At that
instant he caught sight of me. will
never forget the look that came over
his face. With n yell that would have
made steam-whistle blush in envy, he
sprang into the air, and, dropping his
gourd, fell headforemost in the patch.
This was beautiful state of affairs
for me! Hearing his cry of alarm
his companions had jumped as one
man, and stood gazing transixed in
statue-like amazemcnt at the strange
scene that must have greeted their
eyes. The next minute both wheels of
my machine had passed over the neck
of the PROSTATE Creole and had dis
appeared into the shrubbery. Tine
reader may surmise that l did not dis
mount and return to ascertain whether
or not had crushed the breath out of
the unfortunate Creole's body. On the
contrary put spurs to Icy steed, as it
were, and dashed on faster still.
My apprehensions were thoroughly
aroused. The question forced itself into
my mind: What will the result of the
occurrence be-will the ringers give
chaser" ] felt sure that if had seri-
ously injured the Creole his companions
would certainly follow me, for by them
the love of revenge is regarded as one
of the noblest instincts, and the great
est incentive to belligerent effort. l
had not long to wait for an answer. My