The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1894-06-08

ssASA CUI USSN MUCCluCS AOT N00
safety Of the had Of human beings
clinging to the tied.
Not 80; for III q moment, just as
panther sprang from q tree across the
roal. probably not fifty feet behind the
sled, the oxen were in the road again
and madden than ever with fright.
Eddy, who had been Obliged to look
ahead. though comprehending fully all
that Ind occurred behind, knew what
the others did not, that Waldo's team
must be far ahead, for he had not heard
nor seen anything Of him for long
time; and they themselves were flying
past the Boulder Spurs," with the
three dangerous lodges less han a half
mile beyond.
Turning his face back, he shouted
hoarsely, "For Gods s,,ke, shoot the
oxen and be quick about 1t, for we are
nearing the ledxes!"
Two shots instantly answered his
command. and In the short interval of
partial silence that ensued, he heard
two sounds. which. strong, brave man
as he was, he never forgot, and always
remembered with a sense of unforgiven
cruelty. 1t was long, nlournful "lOo,"
a pitiful petition for help, as 1t We're,
from one of the doomed oxen; and,
"Oh, see! The poor thirg Is dragging
his mate" In Il sweet, glrlisl voice.
But soon the fellow was left fur be-
hind, and when they heard the next
scream from the panthers an ugonizcd
below followed, telling Of the fate of
the oxen.
For while I'LL believed themselves
free from the pantherS, and the oxen
which were drawing them evidently
shared their belief, for they showed
signs Of slackening speed; though ten
minutes before it had seemed as though
nothing could save the party from being
swept over the lodges. II carried upon
them with such fearful speed. Now all
began to hope TINT the team might
be slowed up sufficiently to allow them
to jump of. They began to take an
interest In young Edly's effort to stop
his oxen, and even; noticed that Waldo
was not ahead of them. They saw that
Eddy was redoubling his efforts to
slacken up with II vigorous use of his
thick gond upon the 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 the upper
side"
A few more cruelty vigorous blows.
Then, jerking the head Of his ncar OK
sharply round, he cried. "Jump" And
with one wild shout the whole sled
load landed In a struggling mass In the
deep, soft snow.
Young Eddy, when he saw his sled
empty, let so his hold OH his oxen and
fell backward. through sheer cxhaus-
ton: but almost Immediately he slrang
to his feet again In horror. The worst
danger they had been in Tonight was
upon them, for either one of the former
purslcrs, " an entirely new conner,
had uttered his blood curdling scream
just over their heads.
They were in a narrow opening only
n few feet from the first ledge. where
there was sheer descent of sixty feet,
with a rise of twenty five feet Of bro
ken rock above them. Nothing could
save them now from an encounter
with a Ihnngry panther
Were the poor oxen fated that night,
one and all, to perish that their
precious load might be saved?
Tho oxen had made hut Il few stag
gcring bounds away, Just to the open
ledge, when they were checked and
sent hudtlling 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 the ledge.
just for a moment tAe Mortified
young people forgot their own danger
as they watched the white stripes in
the leaders, faces and listening to the
sound of the sled runners OH the rocky
ledge; then another notwithstanding
scream, and the huge body shot
through the misty air. There was a
frightful believing, and short scram-
bic Of hoofs; then sled, oxen and PAN
thcr disappeared, to be heard from
but once more with IL crashing tlud as
they struck tho rocks below,
The suppressed feelings OF the straw
riders found vent this time in a regll-
lar stampede for their homes; the girls
were crying and sObbing and unc0ndi-
tionally accepted help from the young
men; and all. though it was midwinter,
forgot completely their lost wraps,
caps. hoods and mittens.
All thought for certain that WaldO's
team must have gone over the ledge,
but only few Of the strongest young
men had breath to express their grief
or pity. Their surprise and joy were
about equal, after they had recovered
their breath sufficiently to see, count
and remember names, to find in the
crowd Of settlers coming out to meet
them every individual of the first load.
Waldo and Eddy suffered the most
from the adventure; Eddy had rlle,l-
matte fever. Waldo constituted him
self doctor and nursc-in- general to
him, and they talked over many a
time the fearful incidents Of the ride.
Thc two places where the oxen fell
We're made the common hunting
grounds of both settlements, and many
q panther. wolf and fox were killed
there before the winter was. through.