Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1900-09-15
THE PROFESSORS GUN,

Observation-Disclosures

enough, and filed with greater fore
boiling when 1t became apparent that
the Apaches had not met with severe
repulse. They had carried off their
dead, and were drawn up upon a
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 90 back into the canons meant
certain destruction; to go forward
seemed equally perilous. But Murphy
was fighter; he feared the moral ef-
feet Of entrenchment, and so began to
put things in fighting order 70" al
| vance.
Four men We're 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 unfortunate" he said. His face
betrayed sorrowful emotion as the
dead were covered and salute fired.
Then he donned mis- hat and inquired
after the enemy. Of whose din his deaf
ears had heard nothing. The Indians
upon the ridge We're pointed out to
him.
The professor Strengthened out his
lank figure, adjusted his spectacles and
gazed intently toward the mirage-dis-
torted figures and the thin wreaths of
smoke which curled over them. Pres
emily he spoke.
Lieutenant, do you think-h-m-m-
they'll come on again"
"Surev said Murphy.
"Then," said the professor, calmly
then, lieutenant, we must, hmm,
must drive 'em OFF,
Immediately he began to unpack his
big gun-case. He worked deftly, talk
ing from its long cover and unwindlng
swaddled Creedmoor rifle of great
power and range. This ponderous
weapon, the barrel Of which had been
specially made to the professors Or
der, as I learned later, must have
weighed fifteen or sixteen pounds. To
1t had been fitted beautiful full
length telescope sight, with set screws
for regulating the elevation and wind.
age.
A laugh broke out among the troop
ers, who were unable to resist the hui
NOR of the situation. Murphy grinned,
but looked at the polished and costly
target gun with degree Of respect.
$50 you'd like to try shot," said the
lieutenant. "Well, guess 1t won't do
any HARM"
81 must rest upon wagon, lleuten-
ant. hmm. You'll have the mules re-
moved, to give steadiness."
He spoke nuthoritatively, and Muir
ply hesitnted for an instant; then,
with quizzlcal look. lie gave the
requisite order. Soon the cover Of the
unhitched wagon had been lifted, and
the professor stood upon feed box,
with his big gun resting across some
plled-up sacks of corn. He busted
himself at once in making careful es-
innate Of the distance. in adjusting the
set screws Of the telescope, and in TAX
ing the gage Of slightly adverse
breeze.
Never shall I forget the derislve
faces Of Murphy's men. or the half
excited, half-deprecatory flush upon
the lieutenant's face as he stood with
leveled field glass to note where the
first shot should strike. In the heat
mirage the figures Of the Apache horse
men were o distorted and magni-
fed that although nearly mile dis
tant, they were fair marks to the naked
eye. Grouped, however, they made a
great blurred patch upon the horizon.
Two minutes passed. and still the
professor was busy with delicate nd
justments; but then he got to work,
and presently the roar OF the Creed
moor burst forth. Some seconds of ST.
lence followed, then Murphy slapped
his thigh with whoop Of triumph.
"You got him, by George, you got
HIM" he cried.
There were EXPLANATIONS of incredu-
lily from the troopers.
mo-" said the professor. still peer
ing calmly through his telescope, ''only
the pony, hmm; the man has arisen"
Murphy sprang upon n "freighter"
and again leteled his glass. His COM
ments betrayed unwonted excitement.
Right you are!" he declared. "The
beggar's up and shifting. Say. they
think 1t was m accident! They're
spreading-think we can't do 1t again.
Now, then, professor. see that fellow
Mt the right of the big greasewoods?
Big chief. big medicine. logged and
painted to kill. Now, then, II you--"
The crack Of the target gun inter-
rupted, and four seconds later Murphy
threw up his hat and fell off the
freighter. yelling and whooping like
any crazy trooper of the line. He did
not cheer alone. Almost every man of
us had seen IN Indian bowled out of
his saddle Mt nearly two thousand
yards.
Bang! bang! bang! went the profess
sor's gun as rapidly now as he could
bring the cross-halrs of his telescope
to bear, and the cloud Of Apaches fed
as II thousand troopers were upon
their heels. They were out of sight in
no time. and the professor slid off his
perch, coolly wiping his rifle, while an
excited and elated crowd cheered him
to the echo.
This wns the last of the Jicarillas.
We had unlimbered ''too much big
gun" for them. OF course the COM
mand and Its officers warmed TO the
professor; yet when he parted COM
pany from us In the friendly land of
the Zunis. We neither knew his name
nor had we learned anything of his an
tecedents.-Youth's Companion.
Enamelled Cast Iron.