Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1901-04-16


not fail US at this moment"
very well, then" said the lieuten-
ant, 'recall the mer."
The bugle rang out and the pursuers
turned and slowly retraced their steps
to the fort.
''After ALL he went on, ''it is our best
chance, for they could never catch him.
Just look at the pace he is going at!
would not lose that scoundrel for any
thing, and if we cannot take him alive
we must anticipate his fate and take
him dead"
Several men had been potting at the
fugitive with their rifles, but without
success, so he ordered them to desist,
as it was only throwing away ammuni-
ton.
Lighting cigarette, he sat down and
calmly watched the ever-lessening form
of the brigand. l now went up to him
and asked the reason of this strange
apathy on the part of the garrison.
Don't be in a hurry, my friend" re-
piled he, smiling; 1--WE are not so lazy
and foolish as doubtless you think. Lis
ten to me-" He then explained that
just as he was also starting in pursuit
of the fugitive the old gunner had told
him that there was far quicker and
surer method of arresting him than that
of pursuit. The big gun in the center
Of the rampant on that side had, by
constant practice, been trained to
throw it's projectile exactly in the mid
die of the narrow path just before it
dipped out of sight, and had been kept
permanently in that position. "And,"
the lieutenant went on, Gunner Muller
is ready to swear that ball or shell
thrown from that gun will hit the ex-
act spot, provided the gun has not been
shifted. Now, in that case, all we
have to do is to wait till our friend
there gets on, or near, that spot, and
there you are! You see it is impossible
for him to turn to the right or left till
he gets out of the pass, owing to the
precipices on either side. You know,
Muller" said he, turning to the gunner,
who was standing by, "the right kind of
shell for this case"
eyes, sir" said the soldier, saluting;
Il know the very thing required, and
if the rascal is within ten yards radius
of the bursting point he won't gain the
end of that path
Good" said the officer; '1oadv'
The heavy shell was hoisted into the
breech, and everything was got ready
for the shot. This all happened in
much less time than it takes to describe
it, and now the man was within eighty
yards of the fatal spot. After finding
that he was not pursued, he relaxed the
speed at which he started from the
fort, and was now trotting steadily on
toward the desired goal, keeping in
the middle of the path, and no doubt
congratulating himself on his escape
When within thirty yards of the place
he dropped to leisurely walk, looking
round continually to make sure that nc
one was after him. Once he stopped
and, turning round, made what seemed
gesture of contempt at the fort and
having thus relieved his feelings
walked on again.
Slowly he neared the fatal spot. AL
on the fort were breathless with sus
pense and doubt, for it seemed quite
| possible that the gun might somehow
have got shifted since the last practice
Only the old gunner was calm and con
fdent and lovingly eyed his great
| charge. l was standing with the lieu
tenant near the gun, and the wall was
lined with every man in the fort, eager
ly gazing at that small, dark spot NOV
ing so slowly on.
AS the bandit neared the end of the
path the old gunner handed the lanyard
of the gun to a subordinate and bade
him fire when he lifted his foot. Then
taking telescope, he directed his gaze
on the fugitive. A deadly silence
reigned in the fort. 1 could hear my
heart beating plainly, and 1 believe ev
cry man was in an equal tremor of ex
citement. 1 half hoped that the man
robber and murderer though he was
might escape.
When would the signal be given? The
suspense was becoming unendurable.
looked at Muller-he was gazins
through the telescope. Suddenly he
kicked out his leg, still keeping his eye
to the glass. A vivid flash followed, 8
| deafening roar, which shook the fort
and then a cloud of white smoke OBJ
scured everything. When it had cleared
away Muller was standing beside my
companion, with look of content OF
his face.
81 was right, sir" he cried; che was
hit fair"
True enough, nothing was to be seer
where the bandit had been. A lou6
cheer followed the announcement, anG
the officer shook hands heartily witt
Muller, and retired to make report o1
the matter, while party was sent tt
collect the remains of the victim. A
few hours later l left the fort with my
escort, after a hearty farewell to tht
commandant. AS we passed the fata
spot I shuddered to see unmistakablt
signs of the accuracy of the shot,
Chambers Journal.
Not "Broncho-Buster" from Choice
Gov. Roosevelt, in speaking once O.
his experiences in the far West, mad,