The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1905-11-18
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Copyright. 1897. by F. Tennyson Nicely.
CHAPTER XIX.
Surrounded by Fire.
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Surrounded by Fire.
Truer words were never spoken
than when Trayers declares they had
hot work before them.
AS the others comprising the little
party of defenders come tumblinS out
OF the compartments which they have
defended so bravely. they, too. dis
cover the advance of the guerrillas,
marked as it is by a dozen waving
fiarlbeaux hastily snatched from the
fires.
Jack is by instinct a leader of men.
His quick mind grasps a problem
ane almost on the instant solves it.
He seems to know by intuition. as
it appears. just what sort of action
suits an emergency.
Speedily he places mis- men where
fhey can do the most execution. and
in the darkness they crouch along
side the carriage, awaiting the coming
of the enemy.
There is hardly a breathing spell be-
fore those who come running along
the railway track will be close enough
to invite an opening of the engage
msnt
The guerrillas of course cannot see
the carriage since all lights have
been extinguished: but knowing the
nature of the ground, they are able
to guess its present position with
some degree of certainty.
Jack is there in the van ready to
give a good account Of himself. He
has regulated matters so there may
be no great waste OF ammunition.
Smithers and himself are to open the
ball. and if it becomes necessary, the
others will chime in.
The two comrades are close togeth-
er. and have time for the exchange
of a few sentences ere the nearest
vorchbearers come within. the range
where they have marked an imagin-
AIRY dead line.
Then the ball opens.
Doubtless the advancing guerrillas
understand the situation as soon as
the double flash cleaves the darkness
up the rise. for their savage shouts
seem to increase in volume.
Those in the lead are naturally the
ones to suffer when meeting with
such an obstacle.
Two torches are seen to plunge
downward and those who carried
them will hardly give further trou-
BILE
Still. behind presses a throng; the
Dnatastrophe has not dulled their en-
thuslasm. but rather whetted their ap-
petite for revenge.
Asain Jack and Smithers let loose.
They are as cool and collected as
though practicing at wooden targets.
Each second is the signal for double
discharge. and the regularity of this
death dealing report stamps itself
upon the mind with awful distinct
ness.
Unseen by Travers. two heads have
appeared at the carriage window. An
overpowering curiosity to see the ma
ture of the danger that hangs over
them has influenced Jessie and the
Spanish girl to thus endeavor to sur
vey the scene.
They discover the advancing
torches, and hear the shouts OF the
assailants; then come the reports
of firearms and the terrible confusion
that ensues down the track. Secret
ly one of these gentle hearts is pray
ing for the safety of the man who
has offered his body as a bulwark be-
tween those desperate devils and her
self; for Jessie Cameron has indeed
made startling discovery. though
she does not as yet breathe it's ma
ture even to her stepsister
Meanwhile. the fusillade has borne
fruit. Even brave men might re-
coil before such systematic firing.
The shots continue to ring out as if
by machine work--each discharge