The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1907-07-31


hulging classify, he covered in the
farthest corner. But the worst was
over. We were passing out of range.
A few scattered parting shots, and
the crowd transferred its compliments
TO the next car. tried to soothe the
shivering as with the ague.
I'VE stopped. From in front
could hear the buffers coming together
-clank! rattle! bang! The engine had
been reversed. Slowly we trundled
back. We're we to receive another
hail of torpedoes? But all was quiet.
Apparently the boys had exhausted
their ammunition. We stopped again,
directly across the street Outside rose
confused voices. 1t made me uneasy.
What fresh mischief was Matching
| now? | soon found out.
Once more the train started. To
me the grinding Of the wheels was
welcome. | had had quite enough of
that town.
Then without warning, right be-
meath us, came n crash that seemed to
lift the ear from the track! The boys
had put Il giant cartridge on the rail.
This completed the mischief begun by
the torpedoes.
prince Max shrieked like tortured
human being, and sprang straight up
ward. A beam struck him across the
ears with shock almost heavy enough
to crack his skull. Half-stunned, he
tottered, shaking his head, Then, be-
fore | could guess at his intentions or
or prepare to guard against them, he
came at me furiously ears laid back,
lips raised from his long white teeth,
! nostrils inflated, and eyes like blazing
Goals.
Il jumped to the right, and shooting
by me, he crashed against the end of
the car. His head srazed my shoulder;
his teeth snapped close to my left ear.
My foot struck q metal water-pail, still
half-full. | picked it up, and as he
turned, gave him the contents square
ly in the face. Sobered he retreated,
dripping into the opposite corner.
"A tiger is lamblike compared with
mad horse If Max was really 60
ing crazy, | was in fearful peril. The
pail was the nearest apology to a
weapon. Worst of all, was hopeless
ly trapped, with one door closed tight,
and both barred by gratings which it
would require some time to remove.
Mao ntybi pf ha toll a,
powerful jaws or a single stroke from
a steel-shod hoof might seal my fate.
Il spoke to him, at first gently, then
in tones of command, but to no effect.
His eyes glared; his teeth ground to-
gether, foam dripped from his lips.
Poor fellow, he was suffering horri-
bly,! But had no time for pity. With
a sudden wild scream of fury he rushed
on me again.
81 retreated behind my hammock,
swinging the empty bucket over my
head the bail came out in my hand,
and the pail clattered on the floor.
Fortunately, at that instant the car
sweryed sharply, hurling Max against
the right grating. That disconnected
him, and he backed into his corner.
His flaIks heaved, his ears pricked
forward, his nostrhs expanded. The
membrane of his dilating eye grew red
as blood, contrasting sharply with the
CLASSY clearness of the cornea He
grasped fold of stout padding with
his teeth, and shredded it from the
wall like tissue-paper. He tore and
champed at the backing of excelsior
until the car was threwn with curling
| 6bers. Heart-sick and terrified, |
realized that he was stricken with
phrenitis, or, as it is more commonly
called, the mad staggers.
"A horse suffering from that afflic-
ton does not attack a man maliciously.
He simply flies at him blindly, as at
| post or a tree. But he is none
the less dangerous because his violence
is not deliberate. In one of his mad
rushes Max might pin me down and
tear me to pieces.
How | lolged for the brakeman's
hobnailed tread and cheerful whistle!
But he did not pass overhead; and the
train was making too much noise for
me to hail the caboose.
"Stupor succeeded frenzy. Max
stood quiet, with hanging heed.
watched him apprehensively. Speedy
bleeding was, | realized, the only thing
that would prevent the phrenitis from
terminating fatally. l scared to ap-
proach him, however, for in two or
three seconds he might again become
dangerous maniac. Yet | must seize
the earliest opportunity for drawing
the blood away from his brain; for not
only did the prospect of saving his
life lessen with every minute, but each
fresh paroxysm exposed me anew to
deadly peril.
IAN idea came to me. Keeping close
watch on the horse. unhooksd my