El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1901-01-28
A STRIKING SHOT,


the fort. the site on which it was built
being admirably adapted for defense. The
road, il road it could be calle6--perhn ps
pass would be better word-here ran
for a full mile in a kind of glen or gully,
lined on either side by lofty and precipi-
tous rocks, which. towering up high on
each side. left only a narrow way in the
middle. Standing in the center of this
gully you could look along the path about
half a mile each way, at which distance
it came to a stop, the road suddenly dip
ping down on one side to Rabensburg
and on the other toward forest of this
valley.
My friend the lieutenant soon Joined
me, and / remarked on the strong posi-
ton held by the fort. Yes" said he,
smiling, II think we could give n good &C
count of ourselves before an enemy could
pass along the road from end to end"
and he pointed to the three guns mount
ed on each side, commanding the two
roads. 4 large one was in the middle, and
a smaller one was on each side of it, and
very formidable they looked. He said L
might leave them at noon. A prisoner, a
bandit. was to be taken to Rabensburg,
and the escort would be ready at that
time. Hardly had he finished speaking
when a shout was heard in the fort, fol-
lowed by the report of rife and babel
of cries. The officer rushed down to see
what was the matter, 1 following him
closely. Arrived at the square. we found
a crowd of soldiers assembled round a
man lying on the ground, bleeding pro-
fusely from wound in the shoulder. The
officer was quickly told the cause of the
tumult. The bandit, while being led out
of his cell preparatory to being marched
away, had suddenly stabbed a soldier
with n hidden knife and, taking advan-
tage of the surprise he had created, had
escaped from the fort, though a sentry
had fired at him. He was soon deserted
flying down the road which led to the
forest, and several men started in pur-
suit.
The officer was about to follow them
when a grzzled veteran touched his Shout
der and said n few words to him. care
you quite sure you can do ii, gunner?"
asked the lieutenant. Perfectly certain,
sir" replied the old soldier. II will lay
my life on it she will not fail us at this
moment" every well, then" said the
lieutenant. Recall the men," The bu-
gle 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 il we cannot take him alive
we must anticipate his fate and take him
at the fugitive with their rifles, but with
out success, SO he ordered them to desist,
as it was only throwing away ammuni-
ton.
Lighting a 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 hurry, my friend" replied
he. smiling. I'VE are not so lazy and !
foolish as doubtless you think. Listen to
me-" He then explained that just as he
was also starting in pursuit of the fugi-
tive 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 ram
part on that side had by constant practice !
been trained to throw it's projectile ex-
actly in the middle of the narrow path |
Just before it dipped out of sight and |
had been kept permanently in that posi- |
ton. "And,' the lieutenant went on, |
Gunner Muller is ready to swear that n |
ball or shell thrown from that gun will |
hit the exact spot provided the gun has !
not 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 Ell
ther side. You know, Muller" said he.
turning to the gunner, who was standing
by. ''the right kind of shell for this
case?"
"Yes. SIR" said the soldier, saluting.
81 know the very thing required. and if
the rascal is within ten yards radius of
the bursting poiht he won't gain the end
Of that path" Good" said the officer
Load" The heavy shell was hoisted in
to the breech, and everything was got
ready for the shot. This all happened in
much less time than it takes to describe
Of the fatal spot. After finding that he
was not pursued he had 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 him
self on his escape. When within 80 yards
Of the place he dropped to a leisurely
walk, looking round continually to make
sure that no one was after him. Once he
stopped and, turning round, made what
seemed gesture of contempt at the fort,
md having thus relieved his feelings
walked again. Ie
Slowly he neared the fatal spot. All on 2
he fort were breathless with suspense 4
md doubt. for it seemed quite possible +
hat the gun might somehow have got I
shifted since the last practice. Only the :
III gunner Chilli ana comment ana Z
ovingly eyed his great charge. l was ;
tanding with the lieutenant near the =
Jun. and the wall was lined with every :,
nan in the fort. eagerly gazing at that 6,
mall, dark spot moving so slowly on.
As the bandit neared the end of the
'ath the old gunner handed the lanyard
f the gun to a subordinate and babe him
ire when he lifted his foot. Then, taking
telescope, he directed his gaze on the
fugitive. A deadly silence reicned in the d