The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1898-04-22

gained the head of the great gorge, and
now, with combing front OF many feet
in depth, ever speeding down it with
frightful velocity, while the far-off
lightning-rent cloud still poured out It's
reinforcing floods.
The giant wave had, perhaps, two miles
to travel before striking the mouth of the
small canon. while Jack, in going and
coming, had less than one mile; but the
former was racing down an incline of at
least one foot in twenty, which would
tell terribly against the latter while re-
| turning. Twas a race between the ram
pant forces of nature and mere creature
of flesh and blood. Which, oh, which
would win?
Ii content to save himself and May
nard, the daring youth might come of
conqueror; but we who knew him 30 well
feared that he would try TO rescue also
the four mules-and that is precisely
what he did.
Leaning we'll back and holding a taut
rein, he let the gallant mare go down the
| slope at fight of speed which carried
her to the wrecked wagon in, at most,
thirty seconds; and then we saw a won
dr0us sight indeed. Throwing himself
from the saddle, Jack passed rapidly
from mule to mule, gently, as we were
| atterward told, caressing each in turn
and speaking to each in tones as soft and
| soothing as those OF a mother to her
| FrntfuI he Tho cHacT xrvaa .,ono;oa1
At once the maddened animals Quoted
down, as if knowing that all was right,
now that their friend had come; and in
less time than it takes to tell 1t the delft
hands of the two teamsters had stripped
| them Of all but collars aud brides. Then.
vaulting to the back OF the stanch old
leader, Jim Maynard led the way, while
| Jack, springing into his saddle again,
| brought up the rear, merrily laughing
and cheering, yet all the time so artfully
pressing on and then retiring from the
flank Of the aligned mules as to cajole
each one of the laboring creatures into
| the pleasant belief that it was outstrip-
ping the thoroughbred marei No fear
of panic now; this new excitement had.
as its originator intended, driven all
thought Of the threatening downpour
from each long cared philosophers head.
Steadily, without break, the quartet
pounded along; but the course was all
uphill, while that of the hungry food.
each instant increasing in volume, was
sharply down, thus giving it a fearful
advantage over its puny competitors.
To Insure perfect immunity, the refu-
gees must not only enter the side canon
in advance of the coming waters, but
ascend it's sloping floor for at least fifty
yards. would they, could they do 1t ?''
we asked each other as we watched In
trembling anxiety the fateful race.
YES" they have i'll" s'No, the food
gains!'' one and another of us cried; for
now the curling crest of the descending
cataract was within eighty yards of the
little gulch, while the foremost
mule was still twenty-five yards
away. Should this beast stumble
or even momentari1y shrink from the inn
pending danger, all would be lost. The
horrible suspense was almost unendur-
able. Involuntarily each one of us
reached out and drew back his air clutch
ing hands, as if,somehow, that act would
help, must help, our imperi1ed friends.
But what's this? While some of us.
helpless spectators, screamed aloud in
impotent anguish, glorious Jack Mere
dith suddenly drew his revolver and dis
charged It's six sbo's skyward as fast az
he could pull trigger; then, with all the
power OF bis strong lungs, ne gave vent
to blood-curdling yell, so exactly coun
terfeiting the Apache war whoop that
the mules who had learned TO regard
this sound with deadly terror, forgot the
simulated race, made supreme effort,
bounded convulsively forward, wheeled
into the sheltering canon, and had. In a
few moments, scrambled up TO q place
OF safety.
Jacks ruse. begotten Of sublime cour-
age and presence OF mind, had proved |
successful; but by hairs breadth only. |
So close was the call, that he himself, |
being last In the line, had not quite |
reached secure position when an or
shoot from the main torrent dashed in
after him, greedily chased him MP the in
slined plane and actually rose TO the
mares saddle girths ere she made her
inal spring to dry rock.
Jack Jack Jack Hurrah! Hur-
'ahl God bless the boy Yell, fellows, l