The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1901-10-18

AiHiiN1s AtIe WIS QUICK uVllAAlMH
ON the bits, another sharp call, and
then the astounded lumbermen saw
the great black bulk rise In the air
and shoot out over the food. And
the horse had landed fairly upon the
broken planks OF the farther side!
A shout went up, a shout that horror
checked, FOR the treacherOus plank
gave way, and down upon breast and
knees came the gallant horse, down
and slipping backward toward the
swift water.
But the horse had determined
spirit. Again came the sharp COM
mand, and as If on springs Of steel the
stallion once more struggled forward,
only TO go down again upon the treach.
erous planklng. A broken, jagged
jolst had caught him In the neck, and
the men could see the deep, three-cor-
nered cut, from which a small red
stream was trickling.
Still unsubdued, the stallion plunged
again, and this time reached the firm,
unbroken floor. Then with a bound
he left the bridge, and splashing girth-
deep across the overlooked strip be-
low the road, he scrambled up the In
cline to the track, and a moment later
disappeared, still at a gallop, around
the curve.
Benson, the engineer, was scanning
the track closely as the train swung
down the grade toward the curve that
hid Sinking River bridge, when he
was startled to see through the gather.
ing mist horseman galloping up the
track straight toward the train, and
gestlculating wildly. In an instant
the whistle beloved out its hoarse
call for brakes.
And then the watching lumbermen
saw Number II swing round the curve
with engine reversed and brakes set,
still sliding forward on the wet and
slippery rails, but stopping at last
twenty-five feet from the ruined
bridge.
The fireman and presently a number
of men jumped down from the train
and ran forward. They looked at the
twisted, broken rails that reached Out
over the tumult of waters below, and
the broken wagon bridge above, with
its crowd of watching lumbermen.
The fireman, remembering the warn.
ing horseman, turned and explained
and a group Of men instantly started
back up the track.
Directly they found him whom they
sought, a young fellow standing by
the road bed in his shirt sleeves, un
mindful of the rain into which the
heavy mist had thickened. He was
bandaging with narrow strips that he
had cut from his coat an all but fatal
wound in the neck of the big stallion,
whose proud head dropped by his
shoulder.
1t was a number of days later, and
the men Of Pinerift lumber camp were
at dinner, when Dick Turner once
more went up the path that led past
the main shanty. He walked slowly
and with a limp, for his leg had been
badly bruised during the scramble on
the bridge. Over his arm was the
bride of the black horse, which also
walked with an unsteady, shutting
gaia gait that would, however, soon
regain it's former ease and vigor.
The young fellow cast half-ap-
prehenslve look at the camp as he
went by, and wondered If he were to
undergo more Of the old treatment
He turned off at the little path that
led to the rude shed in which Ugly
Mack was used to being isolated, but
stopped presently in quick surprise
A clean, new stable stood in the place
of the shed, and above it's door were
the words, ugly Mack"
With a quick thrill of appreciation
young Turner led the horse into. the
handsome stall and fed him sparingly
from a generous supply Of corn thrown
up in one corner Of the building.
Coming out presently, he was sur
prised to find all the Pinerift mel
awaiting him. He tried to thanl
them, but Velvet Joe cut him short.
"We're glad if you like the hut
young feller," he said, "and if it'll d.
you any good to know it, I'll tell yol
now that there amt man on this jol
but what'll give his last dime-yes
and the last coat off his back if neces
sary-to buy corn for that ugly critic
in yonder. And as for you, yOunl
chap" the voice Of the big fellow
softened, "why-well, this crowd
goin' to give a kind of a salute and
cheer for the bravest chap that ever
struck Sinking River"
And by way of Salute" the bi