The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-04-19

As he set the wheels in motion he heard
a singular clucling sound. Turning half
around in the saddle, he saw three In
dians rise from behind a 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 short 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 a round gait and hoped he would
elude OF dash by the two Indians in
front. AS the bicycle obediently leaped
ahead under the strong propulsion he
began to feel sure he could doit.
He swerved 10 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 a
new tack. Meanwhile the three in the
rear were hurrying up with all their
might and yelling in a 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 scoundrelsl'
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 glimpsed 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 it stood inn
bedded, the shaft between the spokes.
One of the spokes mad 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 a 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 mey" Percy
demanded, struggling TO sitting. pos
tire and making a show of bravery.
why did you wreck my safety that
way? I'll have you punished for it."
I The Indians chuckled with delight at
his anger.
Want 10 see um iron pony" one of
them condescended 10 explain. "Injun
want TO ride um iron pony. Injun want
TJm iron pony! 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
Of the spol1es were ruined, the wheel was
still strong enough to do good service.
He got up and stepped nearer, as if to
inspect the damaged wheel. A heavy
hand fen on his shoulder, and he was
drawn rSsner roughly back.
'Injun ride um pony now. Mebbe
little white boy git hurt! Savvy!"
Percy smiled against his will. Com
pared with these Yumas he had to con
fess he was a very little white boy"
All five were broad shouldered giants of
fellows, with arms and legs like bronze
beams and muscles that stood out in
knotted rolls of strength.
The Indian who had grasped Percy's
shoulder stepped up to the overturned
bicycle, drew ont the shaft of the lance
and swung himself awkwardly into the
seat. The safety toppled over with him
as soon as he tried TO set his moccasined
feet on the pedals. a laugh greeted his
failure. but comrade came to his as
sistance, and the discounted Yuma tried
again.
He seemed TO find It great fun to sit in
the saddle and be wheeled about on the
sand, but it was impossible for him TO
keep his seat and work the wheel with
out aid.
Another and another tried it, with no
better success.
If the entire performance had not Been
so exasperating, Percy might have seen
IN it much TO amuse him. 1t was really
a most laughable exhibition of awkward
ness. These Yumas would have had no
trouble in mounting and riding the
widest pony that ever bounded across
that desert. but here they found their
skill at fault. What looked SO easy
proved to be entirely beyond them all.
Grunts Of delight or derision arose at
each failure. and when one of the fellows
was shot head first into the sand and got
up digging 1t ont of his mouth and eyes
and making wry face the yells of his
companions rose in an ecstatic chorus.
They spent more than an hour in an
endeavor TO conquer the little white
boys" steed. but at the end of that time
were forced TO give it up as hopeless.
Little iron pony heap buck" one of
them explained, crossing over to where
Percy reclined on the sand and pointing
to the unmanageable safety. White boy
show Injun how to ride um."
This was an opportunity Percy had
begun 20 fear would never come.
"Oh. ride it yourself" he said, with a
show Of scorn and indifference. You'll
learn soon"
But when the Yuma grsyely shook his
head and pointed once more to the BIZ
cycle Percy arose and walked toward it
with assumed indifference, though he
felt his limbs trembling under him.
He examined the injured wheel leisure
II and saw that practically it was as good
as i sound. Nevertheless he POINTED to