The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1896-10-15

Of phantasmal slumber. | dreamed
of mounting a single wagon wheel
and riding the clumsy thing a thous
and miles on a telegraph wire for a
prize. the same being beautiful
princess, whom | won against hund
reds of competitors. But Just as |
was about to take her fair hand and
lead her to the altar. there arose a
horrible clamor of opposition from
my disappointed rivals, who rushed
at me in fury of jealousy and would
have torn me limb from limb. but |
awoke Just in time to hear the tin
tinnabulation of my clock alarm. |
sprang from my bed and in half an
hour was ready for the race.
Still punctlllious in holding to my
point Of honor, | waited until an hour
before sunrise, and then sailed away
in the dim twilight and bracing air of
that fated morning, on a mission as
ul-thrilling as any that ever sent a
knight to the arena or Il political
martyr to Washington.
l made my first two leagues before
the suns imminent gloly had blanch-
ed the sweet, nun like faces of the
morning stars.
began to feel a little uneasy about
the signs" which the first rays of the
sun pencilled on the ''feecy canvas of
the dawn" Natures scenic artist
may sometimes use his brush without
definite purpose, but for one [ am
superstitious enough to reef sails
when | note las did them a rather
lavish touch of crimson on the edge
of the morning But l scudded along
the dusty country road, not exactly
under bare poles" but under the
kind of stimulus that turns burdens
into pillows and obstacles into incen
tives.
| made the first twenty miles with
out serious check or interruption,
barring the temporary annoyance of
being at one time chased a mile by a
ferocious dog, that persistently tried
to fasten his fangs into my trousers.
But when [ finally slowed mp and
sprang from my wheel to render a
sacrifice to Moloch, the cowardly cur
turned tail and literally out-stripped
the boulder [ sent after him
The twenty mile station was Dingle-
wood, a queerly laid out village built
along the highway for half mile
with no cross streets. The sun was
about an hour high as | entered this
place. AS l skinned past the houses
the inmates came to the doors and
windows, and an occaional glance at
their distraught visages showed that
most of them were ENJOYING their first
view of bicycle. Dogs and children
poured out Of open gates and followed
me, yelping and bowling like imps OF
the pit. Other children and dogs
further on attracted by the clamor,
anticipated me, and before | reached
the end of the burg at least twenty
dogs of all sizes and varieties were
bounding me with that familiar i'm
pudence of which the village dog
enjoys an unshared monopoly. Their
attempts to nip my heels exas
perated me. and | yelled at them
savagely, but with poor effect. At
last an unusually active meat hound"
caught me by the ankle, and his sharp
teeth rasped my flesh like a hackle.
| jerked loose and tried to kick him,
the effort causing my wheel to wabble
frightfully' Before [ could recover
balance a wretched looking tise got in
front, and my leader knocked it down
and ran over it, with disastrous results
to both man and dog.
1t was the worst header in my ex
perience. / think ! fell thirty feet,
with the wheel, of course. on top. In
a second or two the entire bowling
pack surrounded me, like so many
Colorado wolves, snarling and snap
ping. | scrambled up, and, pulling
a small revolver which l had taken
the precaution to put in my hip peck
ct, began peppering right and left.
The canine mob quickly scampered
off, leavingone of their number, amon
grel cur, walloping around and stain
ing the clean dust with his plebeian
blood.
Ipicked up my safety and grip,
and. finding that the wheel was all
right, | was about to mount when |
began to realize that my ankle-the
one that was bitten-was painfully
sprained IL the excitement | had
not noticed it before. While l was
rubbing it four or five men and
dozen boys gathered to the spot and
regarded ne with silent and gaping
curiosity.
Despite my many bruises | was
in mood to fight The whole village.
dogs and all Strengthening up, |
pointed to the struggling cur and
said:
IF any of you yaps own that dog
you are at liberty to take his price ont
of my hide"
They all looked at the cur and then
at one another, but not Il word was
spoken in reply to my challenge.
Presently two of the men walked
slowly away, and most of the young
sters followed their example. Those
who remained still gazed at me in a
soft of expressionless suspense, as if
waiting to be kicked or shot.
l suddenly thought of Bessie Bolla
and. forgetting my injuries. | mounted
and moved off, carefully at first, being
by the sharp pain in my
ankle As left the village | heard a
hoarse yell behind me. a species of |
coon hunters clarion, quite familiar |