The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-04-25

distanced them In their first mad run was
plain, but that gavo tho unfortunate straw
riders no hope Of an ultimate escape, for
they could now count by tho screams tho
rapidly mado Jumps of their pursuers,
which wero fast closing in upon Thorn.
Waldo's team, though much winded,
was running fairly woll, through his timo-
ly forothought in turning loose his lead
ers, whilo Eddy, who had had barcly timo
to catch tho horn of his near OK, had no
control over lis leaders, which, in their
successive frights ut each scream from tho
panthors, bolted frightfully, adding to
their danger es we'll as lesscning their
chances Of escape by flight.
1t would seom that the dangers already
surrounding tho party could not DO in
creased, but those In the last sled became
suddenly aware that Waldo's abandoned
leaders wero In tho road behind them.
They recognized tho danger Immediately
and tried, by flinging out their FREQ arms
and shouting, to change tho course of tho
pursuing oxen, but the poor, terror blind
ed creatures plunged straight on, needing
nothing.
There was no timo to escape this new
danger had tho occupants of tho sled any
strength to do aught but hold ON, and each
face turned toward tho end of tho sled
awaiting tho crash Of tho galloping hoofs
upon tho sled boards. But when the shock
camo it almost seemed that Providence in
terfored to save them, for only ono OK
planted his feet over the end board, whlo
tho other fell with only his big horns and
head inside, where by miracle they hung
only to DO snvagoly shaken off by tho next
stump or stone.
Tho continually nearing screams Of the
panthers showed that they were still in
hot pursuit, and there was a rcgrctful hopc
In each mind that tho poor oxen might
not be able to rise, thereby becoming u sac
riflco for the safety of the load of human
beings clinging to the sled.
Not So for in n moment, just as q pan
ther sprang from tree across the road,
probably not 80 feet behind the sled, the
oxen were In the road again and muddcr
than ever with fright.
Eddy, who had been obliged to look
ahcad, though compromising fully all
that had occurred behind, know what tho
others did not-that Waldos team must be
far ahead, for no had not heard nor seen
anything Of him for long time, and they
themselves were flying past tho Boulder
spurs with tho three dangerous lodges less
than half milo beyond.
Turning his face back he shouted hoarsc-
ly, "For Gods sake, shoot tho oxen and
be quick about it, for we are nearing the
lcdgcs!'
Two shots instantly answered his COM
mnnd, and in the short interval of partial
silence that cnsucd he heard two sounds,
which, strong, bravo man as he was he
never forgot and always remembered with
sense of unforgivcn cruelty. 1t was
long, mournful "loo," pitiful petition
for help, as it were, from ono of the DOOM
cd oxen, and, ooh, see! The poor thing is
dragging his mattel" in n sweet, girlish
voice. But soon the poor fellow was left
far behind, and when they heard the next
scream from the panthcrs IN agoniZcd bel
low followed, telling of the fate of tho OK
en-.
For awhile all believed themselves free
from the panthcrs, and the oxen which
were drawing thom evidently shared their
belief, for they showed signs of slackening
speed, though 10 minutes before it had
seemed us though nothing could savo tho
party from being swept over the lodges, If
carried upon them with such fearful speed
Now all began to hope that the team might
be slowed up sufficiently to allow them to
jump off. They began to take an interest
in young Eddy's efforts to stop his oxen
and even noticed that Waldo was not ahead
of them. They saw that Eddy was redou-
bling his efforts to slacllcn up, with IL Wig
orous uso of his thick gond upon tho noses
of his oxen. The stick had not left his
hand in all that terrible ride down the
mountain. Then he shouted, Get ready
to jump when tell you, and jump to tho
upper side.
a few moro cruelty vigorous blows
Then, jerking tho head of his near OK
sharply round, he cried 'Jumpl" And
with ono wild shout tho whole sled load
landed in struggling mass in tho deep
soft snow.
Young Eddy, when he saw his sled emp
ty, let go his hold upon his oxen and fell
backward, through sheer exhaustion, but
almost Immediately he sprang to his feet
again in horror. The worst danger thcy
had been In tonight was upon them, for
either ono Of their former pursuers or an
entirely now conner, had uttered his blood
curdling scream just over their heads
They were in n narrow opening only
few feet from the first ledge whcrc there
was sheer descent of 60 feet, with rise
of 30 feet of broken rock above them.
Nothing could save them now from an en-.
counter with hungry panther.
Were the poor oxen fntcd that night,
one and ali to perish that their precious
load might be saved?
Tho oxen had made but few stagqcr-
ing bounds away, just to the open ledge,
when they were checked and sent hud-
ding and backing upon each other again
by the sudden renewal Of danger, and the
leaders, in their efforts to get back to their
human friends, turned completely round
upon the other yoke, twisting them until
the sled grated over tho ledge
just for moment the Mortified young
people forgot their own danger as they
watched the white stripes in the leaders
faces and listened to the sound of the sled
runners on the rocky ledge then another
death threatening scream, and huge body
shot through the misty air. There was a
fr1ghtful following and n short scramble
of hlnfc nl.o., al.