The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1895-12-17

was spent. and yen may be sure that the
race was net forgotten. In the home of
the sisters WAS 4 toddler Of slme three
years, Who took Its greatest pleasure in
riding on a carrier on the head of Fast
leigh's machine. II was an easy task
for the big nachinist to carry the tot up
the stiilezt Of hills. while hIs little com
panion Smaley rode alongside. Here it
WAS that the disparagemeBt III their
sizes WAS first noted, When the BOYS
commenced distinguishing them as the
Little In" and the Big Tn. " You
see Plumbettvlle had read that III
sports sporting parlance should prevail.
So absorbed Were the cyclers that by
the time Of the race they had quite for
gotten about the prospective raid Of the
soldiers There was considerable delay
in getting the men off. At the last mo
ment the handicapper-new III the pc
sition-diseovered that he had gotten
mixed i'll the measurements, and there
WAS SO long "a delay that 1t became mp
parent there was great danger Of meet
ing the military. When the men started
on their journey thoughtful onloOkers,
with watches and calculating minds,
foresaw that a collision was imminent,
but the racers themselves had no watches
and never thought Of anything but to
get off.
Three miles from the starting point
there was a slight descent i'll the course.
Here was the half road, half lane that
led into the second part Of the course,
and here was located the home of the
young ladies' at whose gate two wheels
were so often seen. From the start, as
was expected, Fastleigh took the lead,
with Smaley tagged right ON behind
and the bunch close after them. The
race had progressed SO far that handi-
caps had been forgotten. From the top
of the decline nothing was seen of the
soldiers, and it Was thought now that
the other road and safety would be
reached before they appeared. This WIS
vain hope, for before two pedals had
been turned on the down hill line of
skirmishers spread over the face of the
country, and it seemed that the full
regiment was right behind them, charg
ing at double time. At least there was
by four horses Down the road charged
the cyclers and up the road charged the
soldiers, and both were too excited to
think of stopping for the other Just
before the junction with the turn off
road was reached the big cannon was
Whirled into place, and instantly there
was IA huge roll Of smoke, hiding for a
ba # In
Then came laundering report A
Texan pony carrying an officer became
frightened at this, dumped his rider i'll
10 Il ditch and came flying up the road.
Just before he reached the wheelmen he
swerved, jumped Il fence and was off
over the field. Wheelmen We're yelling
officers shouting and guns cracking on
every side now, and it seemed real war.
Suddenly, as the heavy white smoke
curlol up, right i'll front Of charging
Wheelmen and advancing troops, stood
the little tot who rode, only yesterday,
so Glecfully ON the handle bars of the
very wheel which Fastleigh Was riding
in advance, and which, il seemed,
would HON be her death, if the soldiers
did not reach and crush her first. 1t was
"A question of seconds. Would the line of
galloping horsemen reach the turn off
road first, shut off the wheelmen, crush
the child and bring on IA calamity? 1t
was more than probable that the smoke
would hide the child from them as it
had from the Wheelmen.
Then it was that Fastleigh spurted
and all the others after him. 1t was
Fastleigh : first squirt and he drew ahead
of the others as though they were an
chorcd, making the pedals Of his high
gear hum. Down the road he came With
magnificent sWoop on the child, and "A
swirl into the off road; with the sWoop
there bad been leaning from the sad
die and giants clutch at Il little White
dress. The child was snatched from the
dust and death by the cycler S arm. But
the feat was too much for him. The
sharp turn, the furious pace, and the
side weight threw Fast leigh oEt Of bal
ance, and he came down heavily into Il
ditch at the very gate Of his friends, but
he held aloft in his unconscious hands
the rescued child. He was picked from
the wreck of his wheel aud carried into
the house, where he suffered for many
weeks from broken bones. Smaley,
when he saw the intent Of his compan-
ion, spurted right after him, and when
he fell quickly jumped from his wheel
and brought assistance Both had lost
the race, hut both had become local
heroes loaded With glory, with two of
the urpttlr, urls in the comfy for