The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1893-08-05

the path before him. The first two
miles was on the rise, and the climb
was hard, but Dick reached the point
where the slope commenced.
"Now then, Dick, you've got to pull
for the shore for sure" uttered he as
he let the wheel go. There was moth
ing for him to do but steer the ma
chine and rest his feet upon the coast
bars.
What a mad, wild ridel There were
places where the swerve of a fraction
of an inch would throw him upon the
rocks below. The branches swept
against his face and cut his cheeks, and
his hands smarted as the briars threshed
them. Once or twice 1t seemed almost
impossible to penetrate the thick
growth which almost covered the path,
The dangerous part was yet ahead of
him; the narrow, winding, steep cut
just above Milbury.
The wheel went spinning down the
trail, and Dick looked like some
gnome upon a spider web as he swept
along the steep.
"Here she is-now for it Dick or-you
don't get to Middle Fork again, say
nothing of the one thousand dollars"
muttered he, through his clenched
teeth.
For mile the path was scarcely over
a foot wide, it was crooked, too. The
river swoolen to twice its size tumbled
along three hundred feet below. The
fall was to the left, and upon the right
the stormy side of the mountain rose
several hundred feet.
Whiz-zip! How the wheel hummed.
Now Dick-to the left or you will take
such a headed as no rider ever took.
Dicks body leaned quickly to the left
as he cleared the big heap of stones.
His body almost hung for an instant
suspended in mid air over the river;
then a sudden leaning to the right and
the first dangerous point was passed.
Now then, Dick, ahead of you is the
narrowest part of the trail; down it
goes, up and to the right. Be careful,
boy. Pshaw! There is no need to tell
you that. The wheel is master now and
you only passenger aboard.
Dick leaned back as the wheel plung-
ed down the steep. The force carried
him up the opposite side and he leaned
forward and to the right, as the ma
chine whizzed around the turn.
"Phewl 1 wouldn't like that ride
again for ten thousand dollars" uttered
Dick. He had scarcely breathed while
passing the two dangerous points. The
rest of the trail was comparatively
level and devoid of danger, and he
soon reached the road leading to Mil
bury, which he easily covered in a few
minutes.
The message was delivered at the
telegraph office, and Dick started for
home by the same trail; bu: he didn't
take mis- wheel with him, however; he
left it in Milbury and went on home
ward afoot.
"No, sir; not for all the money in
the world would 1 do that job over"
said he as he reached the dangerous
| points where he discovered that bis life
had hanged as by thread.
1t was long walk but he reached
Middle Fork where he found the strang-
er anxiously pacing the floor of the
store. did you do it, boy9"
Il said l would. Your message has
gone"
How did you do it, Dick9" asked one
of the group.
"Took the trail along the mountain
side. I'm hungry now" and Dicl
darted upstairs.
"Moses! Took the traill It's a HARD
road to travel on foot. Nothing short
of a wizard on a wheel could do what
Dick has DONE" uttered the boys
father.
"The thousand dollars belongs to you
son, Mr.. Rogers. Give to him." sale
the stranger. The wallet was takeI
from the safe and the money for Dicl
was counted out and the wallet handed
to the stranger, who said to the mel
about:
81 have discovered a rich mica be-
worth many thousands of dollars. Othe
parties have the same discovery; the.
mean to send a message in the morninI
to negotiate with the owners of tn