Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1893-08-18
CAPTURED BICYCLE.

The desert stretched on every hand
until it was lost in The vast distance.
The CRASHES, t~reeless 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 he
ought to have no trouble in making it on
his safety.
He had first fancied crossing thedesert
on a bicycle, and not all the discussions
of his friends at Tho Needles had been
sufficient to induce him to abandon the
idea. Ho wished now he had paid some
heed to what had been told him.
He had ~dismounted fol a rest and was
sitting ON a ~gravelly hillock. He I'M
slung his water bottle and took q short
pull at it. The water was warm and dis
agreeable, and worst of all it was alarm
ingly low, and he had no knowledge Of
how soon he might get more. He had
missed the only spring in that section,
and for all he knew there might not be
another on tho entire Barbazon route.
His progress had been slower than he
had anticipated. The sand was 50 deep
in places that wheeling was out Of the
question; so far 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 pocket compass he had been
thoughtful enough to take. He would
have felt better if there had been any
way to determine the distance yet to be
traversed. He hoped he would not be
forced to make another night campin the
desert.
As hcset the wheels in motion he heard
n singular clucking sound. Turning half
around in the saddle, he saw three In
dams rise from behind a low mound and
come running toward him.
Tho sight almost took away Percy's
breath. Although he knew at a glance
they were Yumas and had been told that
tho Yumas were p~eaceably 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 a short distance
ahead and place themselves in a 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 u round gait and hopedh he would
elude or dash by the two Indians in
front. AS the bicycle obediently leaped
ahead under tho 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 a quick turn
and sent the safety spinning way on a
new tack. Meanwhile the three in the
rear were hurrying mp with all their
might and yelling in q manner to dis
concert the bravest, and the two in front
now added their wild cries to the hideous
chorus.
yell away there, youred scoundrelsF'
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 non of them had
firearms, carrying only long lances of
hard wood and tipped with iron.
But he had boosted too soon. The
Yuma nearest lifted his lance and hurled
it through the air with marvellous force
and skill. Percy glimpsed it shooting
toward him, and with n cry Of fear bent
down to escape it.
The weapon had not been hurled al
him, however. The willy Yuma had
aimed at the forward spinning wheel OF
the safety. The blade of the lance
passed between Tho spOkes and down
ward into the sand, where it stood inn
bedded. the shaft between the spokes.
One of the spokes had beer 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 q yiceliko 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 mey' Percy
demanded. struggling to a sitting pos
turo and making a show of bravery.
Why did you wreck my safety that
wayf I'll have you punished for it."
The Indians chuckled with delight at
his anger.
Want to SEQ UNI iron pony" ono Of
them c~ondescended 10 explain. ''IDjln
want TO ride um iron pony! Injun want
pm iron ponyi SavYy? I'm 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 Tho Needles on it. II so, they
probably had dogged him all tho way.
His spirit rose. He vowed he would
thwart thcm. Ho saw that, though som,
Of the spokes were ruined, the wheel wa.
still strongenough to do good service.
Ho got up and stepped nearer, as if L