The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1896-02-01


ing pace, orr ears strained to catch
the first sounds of pursuit, but the
hum of our wheels alone broke the
stiffness, and reaching the brow of
tho hill we threw ourselves off to
take breath and listen. Everything
was still as death, and Dick laughed
good deal at our scare as we glided
on our way, but he did not laugh
long
The road wound along the noun
tain side, now and then running far
back into some dark nook to get
around the head of u canyon, only to
double and come back on tho other
side little lower down, but not
stones throw away. Bowling out of
the first of these bends, we scanned
the road above and behind Suddenly
our ears caught sound that set our
hearts beating to its own time
Pity pat, pity pat. quick and
sharp on the still air it came. There
was no mistaking that sound, and as
we whirled around the point we saw
| two horsemen dash over the brow
of the hill
At sight of them Dick fairly
bounded ahead. I hung on to his
flank and shouted in his ear to steady
up. ! might as well have called to
the rocks, for tho reckless scamp
threw his weight into every stroke
until we flashed along the mountain
side at a rate that was madness
itself with the weight we carried.
Our mounts were the lightest road
sters, and ! expected every minute
to see wheel collapse.
Come on! Come onr' Dick
shouted without turning his head,
and it took my breath away to see
him hug the bank and WIKI round
those dizzy heights. More than once
/ thought he was gone, only to sec
him riding faster than ever when I
swept round the turn myself. But,
fast as we were going, our pursuers
gained upon us, and the clatter of
hoofs came palmer to our ears each
time we caught it. Nearer and nearer
they came until, on rounding a bend,
we saw them dash past the next one
behind.
A yell and couple of pistol shots
rang along the hillside, and we heard
the bullets whistle over our heads.
We were well down the mountain
now, but mile ahead was the
Devils elbow" where tho road
almost paralleled itself for half
mile to get across canyon fifty
yards in width. / sLaldercd as we
rushed hcadlong down toward it.
They would be sure to head US off at
! the angle, and it would be next to
miracle if we escaped their bullets
at that range.
AS we neared the point / shouted
to Dick to jump off and take to the
brush, but he was too far ahead to
understand.
Come on! We're all right" he
yelled back, sprinting ahead all tho
faster, and l felt the blood leave my
face as ! saw what the madcap
meant. An old mining ditch ran
along the side of the road at this
point, and, instead of following it
around the bend, was carried
straight across the mouth of the
canyon by a high trestled fume.
The top of the flume was planked
over, and the path at either end
showed that il was much used rs q
footbridge
! shouted myself hoarse, but could
not stop him. Like flash he steered
down the path and went flying over
the abyss on track scarcely wider
than the length of his handle bars.
I should never have dared to follow
had not rush of hoofs and wild
yells close beh ind warned me that
it was but the least of two evils.
Come on" shouted Dick as he
went out of sight on the other side,
and then felt myself sailing off into
| opdSO, VAIN tho IaiioW IidAAS tIehA-
ing and trembling under me.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bullets whis-
tied past me on all sides. Ifelt some
thing like club hit me in the small
of the back, and a spoke twanged
musically, but with quaver, as if
of pain, that went through both
wheel and rider. How | got across
l hardly knew, but felt faint and
limp enough when I struck the bank
on the other side at last. Dick had
Stacked up to see that l pulled
through all right and let off yell
Of defiance when joined him round
the bend. With three level miles
ahead and the start we had gained,
we knew there was little to fear.
Ten minutes later we whirled up
to the express Office and astonished
the agent not a little by dumping
those gold bricks out Of our creels
on to his counter. The higbwaymen
had pinned their faith on broncho
endurance and the Devils elbow"
but our good wheels and Dicks
reckless daring lost them the race
and won for US the hearty thanks of