The Lamar register., 1903-03-04
AQubikeCk, Ihe 0n-TQ1neT.
ev SEWARD w. HOPKINS.
Author OF Jack Robbins Of America" In this
China Sea-" Two 0entiemen Of
Hawaii" ''on q Paiss
Charge" Etc.
osu.sh,. 1895. by Ropr.r Bo.r..'s so.>
CHAPTER TX.

tnlS morning, ana go out 10 WoTh Oh
the public boulevard"
was known as Number 101. My
keeper impaired the above delightful
information to me on the ninth day
of my Imprisonment.
say delightful because | mean 1t,
and do not use the word in an ironi-
cal sense. The news was indeed de-
lightful and gratifying. 1t was what
l had waited for 1t was the begin
ming of my labor for the state. and
my hopes rose. for now, surely. /
would find an opportunity to strike
for my liberty.
The officer in command lost no
time. but put us at once to work.
Most of the prisoners had evidently
been there before, for they seemed to
know Just what to do, as If they were
resuming work that had but recently
been laid down.
After dinner, l., in company with
the same il-smelling ruffian who was
my marching partner, was sent some
distance away to bring back supply
of cement in a wagon drawn by
small horse. rugged, stout little
animal, that did not seem to feel
fatigue.
AS we left the main force behind,
my heart began to beat violently and
my brain to work quickly, for now,
thought. the only opportunity l would
get had come.
We travelled perhaps three miles.
Then we came to a sort of storehouse
or shed. where we stopped. The guard
had the key to the shed, and, handing
it to me. he ordered me to open the
door.
did as l was told. Nothing could
exceed my humility and meekness at
that moment.
The stuff used for these roads
proved to be kind of asphalt
brought from the coast farther north.
and stored in the shed until needed.
1t was now dry, and lay in piles of
broken Jumps and blocks.
The guard stood looking on while
my companion and l proceeded to
carry the stuff to the wagon and load
up for our return trip. l had resolved
that this return trip would never be
made-at least by me.
Suddenly an overwhelming influ-
ence seized me, and struck the blow
that l had been dreaming of ever
since my incarceration.
l had not the least cause to feel
murderously inclined toward the
guard. but it was my liberty against
his life, and the balance fell my way.
l had reached his side with heavy
piece of the asphalt in my hands.
Without giving him time to raise
4 IL
crashing against his skull.
With groan he fell into a heap on
the floor.
l sprang to the horse and began
rapidly to loosen him from the wagon.
But now an enemy arose upon whom
l had not counted. My fellow prison
err either from a mistaken sense of
duty or from a desire to win favor
and perhaps pardon for himself.
sought to prevent my departure. He
sprang upon me, and we had a hand
to-hand tussle, in which it seemed at
times as IL 1 was going to get the
worst of it. Backward and forward
we swayed, now with his hand at my
throat now with my fist thrust square
against his jaw, writhing, twisting, bit
ing and kicking, until l finally got
good grip on his throat and nearly
strangled him.
Seizing him with mighty effort,
hurled him against the body of the
guard, and with last pull at the
straps, freed the horse from his en-
cumbrance.
Leaping upon his back, I banged his
sides with my heels, and away he
went to the northward, carrying me
toward freedom.
But the Sandman prisoner was not
yet beaten. 1 heard the crack of the
guards rifle behind me, and felt
stinging sensation in the back. l
was shot.
felt the warm blood oozing down
my back. and began to feel weak and
dizzy. Even though I had not been
hit in vital spot, knew that the
loss of blood would finish me unless l
was able soon to stay it. But to
halt now would be death anyhow, and
l kept on. The rifle was fired again,
but this time the distance was too
great for the Sardinian's aim, and I
was not touched.
On, on we went, my little horse and
I, past woods and past farms. until l
saw the road across the valley, which
l had seen from my prison window,
and which had seemed to lead to
places of refuge in the mountains.
Suddenly my horse stumbled and
fell My weakness was now SO great
that my hands refused to cling; my
legs were as those of a man para
lyzed. l rolled from the animals back
and fell with thud by the wayside.
Relieved of his burden, the horse re-