The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1905-09-21
M0IbikGCk, The L0lIQng|.
BY SEWARD w. HOPKINS,
Author of Jack Robbins of America" I'm the
China Sea- Two Gentlemen Of
Hawaii ''On.a Palso
Charge" Etc.
Copyright, 1895, by RoBxRr BoxnEa's SOFA
CHAPTER TX.
Number 1Ol!"

NuIuDer lOl.
What is it?"
you are to be put into a road gang
this morning.. and go out to work on
the public boulevard"
| was known as Number 1O1. My
keeper impaired the above delightful
information to me on the ninth day
OF my Imprisonment.
| say delightful because 1 mean it,
n 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, 1
would find an opportunity to strike
for my liberty.
The officer in command lost no
time, but put us at once to work.
Nest 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 ill-smelling rufian who was
my marching partner, was sen some
distance away to bring back a supply
of%cement in a wagon drawn by a
small horse, a 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, l
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 I was told. Nothing could
exceed my humility and meekness at
that moment.
The stuff used for these roads
proved to be a 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 I proceeded to
carry the stuff to the wagon and load
up for u return trip. l had resolved
that this return trip would never be
made-at least by me.
Suddenly an overwhelming infu-
ence seized me, and l struck the blow
that | had been dreaming of ever
since my Incarceration.
| 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 a heavy
piece of the asphalt in my hands.
Without giving him time to raise
his rifle, I lifted the lump and sent it
crashing against his skull.
With a groan he fell into a heap on
the floor.
| sprang to the horse and began
rapidly to loosen him from the wagon.
But cow ar enemy arose upon whom
had not counted. My fellow prison
er, 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
spTang upon me, and We had a hand
to-hand tussle. in which it seemed at
times as if was going to get the
worst Of it. Backward and forward
VIC swayed. now with his hand at my
throat, now with my fist thrust square
against his jaw, writing. twisting, bit
ing and kicking, until I finally got a
good grip on his throat and nearly
s%trangled him.
Selling him with a mighty effort, |
hurled him against the body of the
guard, and with a last pull at the
straps, freed the horse from his en-.
:um brance.
I-eaping upon his back, | 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. I heard the crack of the
guards rifle behind me. and felt a
singing sensation in the back.
was shot.
I felt the warn blood oozing dowr
my back. and began to feel weak anc
dizzy. Even though l had not beer
hit in a vital spot, l knew that the
loss of blood would finish me unless
vas able soon to stay it. But tc
halt now would be death anyhow, anC
l kept on. The rifle was fired again
but this time the distance was too
great for the Sardinian's aim, and
was not touched.
On. on w went, my little horse ant
l, past woods and past farms, until
SAL the road across the valley, which
l had seen from my prison window
ard which had seemed to lead t.
places of refuge in the mountains.
Suddenly my horse stumbled ant
fell. My weakness was now so grea
that my hands refused to cling; m.
legs were as those of a man para
lyZed. l rolled from the animals bacl
and fell with a thud by the wayside
Relieved of his burden, the horse re
covered his footing and plunged for
var out of sight.
! was stunned by the fall. I be
came conscious of a burning sensa
ton in my throat, then an excruciat
y iDU noip in INV hand thu, orD+Lo, :,