The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1900-09-14
THE PROFESSORS GUN.
BY FRANKLIN WELLEs CALKINs.

at us with deafening yells, dIscharglng
a rain Of feathered shafts, and lung
ing fiercely at horse and man with
their long 'ances. And they rode down
and over and through our thin line,
veritable bosom OF destruction.
When this whrlwind OF savagery
had howled over US and the dust Of it
Of our casualties. or twenty eight
| fighting men we had eighteen left un.
injured. Three were killed outright
and three disabled. Nine horses and
mules had been killed or crippled.
The faces Of the living were grave
bodng when II became apparent that
the Apaches had not met with severe
repulse. They had carried off their
dead and were drawn up upon n
ridge marked by clumps OF grease
wood In five minutes three thin col
umns OF smoke arose among them,
and we knew they were signally for
the approach Of another band.
To go back into the caDons meant
certain destruction; TO go forward
seemed equally perilous. But Murphy
was a fighter; he feared the moral eff
feet Of entrenchment, and so began to
put things In lighting order for ad-
vance.
Four men were lowering the dead
into shallow pit, when the professor
came up out of the canon In our rear
We had reckoned him with the lost,
but somehow the Apaches had missed
him. He came among us with looks
Of concern.
"Why, why, men. this is-h.m-m-
most unfortunatep he said. His face
betrayed sorrowful emotion as the
dead were covered and n salute fired.
Then he donned mis- hat and inquired
after the enemy, of whose din his dear
ears had heard nothing. The Indians
upon the ridge were pointed out to
him.
The professor Strengthened out his
lank figure, adjusted his spectacles and
gazed lntcntly toward the mirage dis
torted figures and the thin wreaths Of
smoke which curled over them. Pres
emily he spoke.
"Lleu;enant, do you think-h-m-m-
they'll come on agalnp
"Surew said Murphy.
"Then," said. the professor, calmly,
"then, lieutenant, we must, hmm,
must drive 'cm off"
Immediately he began to unpack his
big gun-casc. lie worked deity, TAX
ing from its long cover and unwlnding
Il swaddlcd Crcedmoor rifle of great
power and range This ponderous
weapon. the barrel of which had been
specially made to the professors or
der, as | learned later, must have
weighed fifteen or sixteen pounds. To
1t had been fitted Il beautiful full
length telescope sight, with set screws
for regulating the elevation and wind
age
A laugh broke out among the troop
crs, who were unable TO resist the hu-
NOR of the situation. Murphy grinncd,
but looked at the polished and costly
target gun with n degree of respect.
80 you'd like to try shot" said the
lieutenant. "Well, l guess II won't dc
any harm"
Il must rest upon n wagon, lieuten
ant hmm. Youll have the mules re-.
moved, to give stcadiness."
He spoke authoritativcly, and Muir
ply hestated for an instant; then
with quizzical look, he gave tn,
requisite order. Soon the cover of the
unhitched wagon had been lifted. and
the professor stood upon a feed box
with his big gun resting across some
pilcd-up sacks of corn. He busted
himself at once I'm making careful cs
innate of the distance. In adjusting the
set screws of the telescope, and In TAX
ing the gage of slightly adyers,
breeze.
Never shall l forget the derisiv,
faces of Murphy's men, or the half
excited, alf-deprccatory flush upoI
the lieutenants face rs he stood will
lcveled field glass To note where th,
first shot should strike. In the hea
mirage the figures of the Apache horse
men were distorted and magni
fled that although nearly mile dis
tant, they were fair marks TO the nakc'
eye Grouped. however, they made
great blurred patch upon the horizon
Two minutes passed. and still tn
professor was busy with delicate ad
justments; but then he got TO work
and presently the roar of the Greed
moor burst forth. Some seconds of 81
lence followed. then Murphy slappc
his thigh with whoop of triumph.
"You got him, 10y George, you &c
hlmr' he cried.
There were oxclamations OF incrcdr
lity from the troopers.
NO" said the professor. still peel
. ing calmly through his telescope, "onl
the pony. hmm: the man has arisen.
Murphy sprang upon n "frcighter
. and again leveled his glass. His con
ments betrayed unwonted excitement
;. fright YOU arer' he declared "Tl
! bcggar's up and shifting. Say. the
/. think IL was an accident! They'I
] spreading-thlnk we can't do II ngnii
= Now. then. professor. see that fcllo
$ at the right of the big grcasewood'
Big chief. big medicine. logged an
I painted TO kill. Now. then. II you
h The crack OF the target gun int
;. rupted. and four seconds later Murpl
d threw up his hat and fell of Il
z freighter. yelling and whooplng I'D
u any crazy trooper of the line. He d
not cheer alone. Almost every man