Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-04-26
CAPTURED BICYCLE.

Percy Terrell began TO realize the fool
ishness Of his act in sallying forth all by
himself.
The desert stretched on every han
until il was lost in the vast distance.
The grassless, treeless hills seemed to
heave to and fro under the hot sun like
billows-a strange, spectral landscape.
The previous morning Percy had start
ed out on his wheel from The Needles, a
town near the California and Arizona
line, intending to make the run to Bar
bacon In the desert. instead Of waiting to
take passage on the weekly stage. The
distance was considerable, but he felt lie
ought to have no trouble in making it on
his safety.
He had first fancied crossing thedesert
on bicycle, and not all the discussions
of his friends at The Needles had been
sufficient to induce him TO abandon the
idea. He wished now he had paid some
heed to what had been told him.
He had dismounted for rest and was
sitting on gravelly hillock. He un-
slung his water bottle and took short
pull at 1t. The water was warm and dis
agreeable. and worst of all il was alarm
ingly low, and he had no knowledge Of
how soon he might get more. He had
missed the c1ly spring in that section.
and for all ne knew there might not be
another on The entire Barbazon route.
His progress had been slower than he
had anticipated. The sand was so deep
in places that wheeling was ont Of the
question:; so Ear the work had been ex-
tremely fatiguing instead Of being an ex-
hilarating exercise.
Soon he remounted and again set out
in the direction indicated as the right one
by the little ,ocket Compass he had been
thoughtful iough to take. He would
have felt berter If there had been any
way to deter line the distance yet to be
traversed. g hoped he would not be
forced to make another night camp in the
desert.
As he set the wheels in motion he heard
singular clucking sound. Turning half
dians rise from behind low mound and
come running toward him.
The sight almost took away Percy's
breath Although he knew at glance
they were Yumas and had been told that
the Yumas were peaceably disposed,
there was something in their bearing
that filed him with fear. He felt even
more nervous when he saw two others
rise from another mound snort distance
ahead and place themselves in position
to intercept him.
He could not doubt that they had
stolen on him while he rested and were
now trying to hem In and capture him.
Why they should desire to do this he
could not guess. but their actions did not
look friendly.
The wheeling was fairly good at that
point, and Percy sent the bicycle for
ward at round gait and hoped he would
elude or dash by the two Indians in
front. AS the bicycle obediently leaped
ahead under the strong propulsion he
began to feel sure he could do it.
He swerved TO the right as he neared
the two Indians. and when they rushed in
that direction, too, he gave quick turn
and sent the safety spinning away on o
new tack Meanwhile the three in the
rear were hurrying up with all their
might and yelling in manner to dis
concert the bravest, and the two in front
now added their wild cries to the hideous
chorus.
yell away there, you red scoundrelsv'
Percy shouted as with a squirt he sped
by. beginning to feel he would make an
easy escape. yell away there and
catch me if you can"
He had seen that none Of them had
firearms, carrying only long lances Of
hard wood and tipped with iron.
But he had boasted too soon. The
Yuma nearest lifted his lance and hurled
it through the air with marvellous force
and skill. Percy gliinpsed it shooting
toward him, and with cry Of fear bent
down to escape it.
The weapon had not been hurled at
him, however. The willy Yuma had
aimed at the forward spinning wheel Of
the safety. The blade of the lance
passed between the spokes and down.
ward into the sand, where 1t stood i'm
bedded. the shaft between the spokes.
One of the spokes had been broken and
several others bent, and Percy had been
pitched headlong over the wheel into the
sand.
Before he could rise the Indians hands
held him in vicelike grip.
Pleased grins rested on the ugly faces
Of the Yumas as they gathered around
their captive and glanced from him to
the injured bicycle.
What do you want with me?" Percy
demanded, struggling to a sitting pos
lure and making a show Of bravery.
why did you wreck my safety that
way? I'll have you punished for it,"
The Indians chuckled with delight at
his anger.
Want to see um iron pony" one Of
them condescended to explain. "Injun
want to ride um iron pony! Injun want
um iron ponyl Savvy? Um iron pony
no eat. no drink, no git tired, no git
sleepy Make bully pony for pore In
jun"
Light dawned on Percy. These Yumas
wanted the bicycle for their own use.
Perhaps they had seen him wheeling
around The Needles on it. If so, they
probably had dogged him all the way.
His spirit rose He vowed he would
thwart them. He saw that, though some