Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1895-08-09

Inc reader can fCIulIy imagine WHdS
sort of a tumu't was occa~Oned by this
unexpected resistance.
"kill himl" cried on.
"Ridc him down." shouted another.
"Get off this bridge, all of you," com
mandcd the Colonel, rctreating quiet Y
across it, as he brandished his axe warn
ingly. "Not step moro"
"Oh, we shant worry about you, Coo
mel" interrupted Gaddler, putting spurs
to his horse. well not only have our
man but we'l take you with him, il
necessary, and have you both as make
weights from the same limb"
"Hodl" shouted the Colonel, flourish
ing his axe again. "You cannot cross
this bridge"
"And why can't we?" asked Gaddler
Because it has been keyed and braced
in such way that one blow from this axe
will suffice to tumble it into the river, J"
explained Whipsaw. "If you take an
other step, therefOrc-"
"Head him off, Gilly," interrupted
Sam Gadder, addressing one of his fol-
lowers, with a significant gesture.
Too late!
The blow from tho Colone!'s axe de-
scended at the very instant he reached
the inner end of the bridge, and in that
same instant the whole structure went
down with tremendous crash into the
deep and narrow gorge beneath it.
The yells and denuuciations that arose
from the Co oaeps as.ailants can be
imagined.
A couple of horses werc killed and
two or tho limbs were broken, in addi-
tiOn to which every man was obliged to
struggle out of the stream as he cOu'd,
and the cries and threats with which
this task was accomplished made up a
scene resembling pandemonium.
The Colonel did not wait, however, to
note the resu is of the measure he had
taken, but beat rapid retreat to his
residence, shutting himself in.
"Wcll, Mr.. Baker," he announced,
"the rasca S having begun war, l have
given them a touch some of them will
doubtless remember, tumbling them into
the river. That bridge, you sec, was
built in the early days, when redskins
and road agents were about equally dan
gerous, and it was so constructed by the
original occupant Of these premises that
it could be instantly demolished without
losing a single timber, they being al
fastened together. He took it down re-
peatedly, but this is the first time | have
had occasion to do So"
"Of course they will tc furious" re-
turned the ming expert, seizing his rife.
Doubtless" admitted tho Colonel, as
he also armed himself. "But l have
1vo tor Ia LOT do
that bridge and we will score others be-
fore they drive US from the peninsula
BY the time the couple had made all
snug around them, Sam Gadd!er and
several of his chosen spirits struggled
up the bank, and took their way eau
tiously toward the house, at length gain
ing the shelter of large pile of wood
between it and the river
"And now to give it to them hot and
heavy" muttered the leader of the as
saiants. "If we don't kill them both, 1t
will be because there is no virtue in
bullets"
We need not lnger upon the details of
the fight that succeeded. Thanks to
the shelter both parties had secured,
not the least injury was accomplished
during the first half hour, except that
every window, with most of the sashoS,
had been broken out of the Coloncls
dive ling
"This will never do" at length
growle1 Sam Gadd er. 1--WE must set
the house atre, whatever the cost or
risk. Can you manage it, Dakin?"
81 can at least try, sir"
The ruffian tr ed so well, taking ad-
vantage of certain shelters and angles
afforded him. that it was not long before
he had kind ed two fires at the side of
the dwelling and one on its roof.
THAT will do the business, Cap" he
a. he returned to the shelter
of the wOod-pile, despite the bullets that
were sent after him. "Wc can shoot
them If they come out to extinguish the
fire, and if they don't come out they'll
be roasted"
The situation had, indeed, become a
bad one for the gallant defenders.
"The house is sure to CO." remarked
the Colonel, after listening moment to
the roar of the flames.
"What pity that have got You into
this troubled" was Bakers answer.
"Never mind that" said the Colonel.
"Another house can be readily built If
we make our escape, and these chaps
can all be sent to prison for good long
term when we once get hold Of thom |
think now is good moment 10 give
them the slip and go the stable. With
start of few moments we may be able
10 secure our horses, which are saddled
and bridled, and so make our escape
acl oss the river"
The attempt was duly made, tho
couple slipping out by side door, and
hey had the good fortune to reach the
stable before the assailants caught sight
If them.
"They see u.s." exclaimed Baker, as
he cries of the enemy announced the
act. ave must be lively"
Fortunately there was q side door to
jhe stable, and no time was lost by the
couple in availing themselves of this
lOor to make bee-liDc for the river a. |
ull gallop needless of the instant pur-
uit and the shower of bullets by which |
heir flight was accompanied.
"Of course there is a chance against |
is while we are crossing the stream"
the Colonel, as he led the way /
mo IHc water. heep ClOSc W mc,
}aker. There is a sort of ford here, if
We don't miss it, These horses have
ften practiced this swim, and will make
is no trouble"
He lodged involuntarily as a number
f balls whstled past the couple, some
f them dangerously near, but the start
ad been well taken, and the fugitives
we're out of the river before their assai-
nts had reached the opposite bank.
ave might dispute their passage"
old tho Colonel "and could certainly