Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1903-1917, 1908-02-20

gled cry. He had not heSitated nor de-
layed for an explanation, but had turn
ed track and was now running as fast
as his long legs would carry him back
toward the opening Of the ravine. My
companions stood watching him, but
making no attempt either to shoot or
to follow. For moment l could not
understand this, then remembered the
disappearance Of Perdosa. My heart
jumped wildly, for the Mexican had
been gone quite long enough to have
cut off the assistants escape l could
not doubt that he would pick off his
man at close range as soon as the fu-
gitive should have reached the en-
trance to the arroyo.
There can be no question that he
would have done so had not his Next
can Impotence betrayed him. He shot
too soon, Percy barrow stopped in
his tracks. Although we heard the bull
let sing by US, for an instant we
thought he was hit. Then Perdosa
fired second time, again without re-
suit barrow turned sharp to the left
and began desperately to scale the
steep cliffs.
1 once took part in a wild boar hunt
on the coast Of California. Our dogs
had penned a small band at the head
of narrow barranca, from which a
single steep trail led over the hill. We,
perched on another hill some 300 or
400 yards away, shot at the animals
as they toiled up the trail. The range
was long, but we had time, for the
severity of the climb forced the boars
to foot pace.
1t was exactly like that. Percy OAR
row had 200 feet of ascent to make.
He could go just so fast; must con-
sumo just so much time in his snail
like progress up the face of the hill.
During that time he furnished an ex-
cellent target, and the loose sandstone
showed where each shot struck.
A significant indication was that the
men did not take the trouble to get
nearer, for which maneuver they
would have had time in plenty, but
distributed themselves leisurely for a
shooting match.
First shot," claimed Handy Solo,
mon, and without delay fired offhand.
A puff of dust showed to the right.
"Nerve no good" he commented.
"Jerked her just as 1 pulled"
Pulz fired from the knee. The dust |
this time pulled below.
Thought she'd carry up that dis !
lance" he muttered.
The niger, too, missed, and Thrac-
kles grinned triumphantly.
Il get show" said he.
He spread his massive legs apart,
drew deep breath and raised his
weapon. 1t lay in his grasp steady
as a log, and l saw that Percy OAR
rows fate was in the hands of that
dangerous class of natural marksman
that possesses no nerves But for the
second time my teeth saved his life.
The trigger guard slipped against
Thrackles' lacerated hand almost at
the instant of discharge. He missed,
and the bullet went wide.
barrow had climbed a matter Of
twenty feet
Now, the seamen distributed them
selves for more leisurely and accurate
craftsmanship. Handy Solomon lay
fat on his stomach, resting the rifle
muzzle across the top of a sand dune.
Pull sat down, an elbow on either
knee for the greater steadiness. The
niger knelt, but Thrackles remained
on his feet. No rest could be steadier
than the stonelike rigidity of. his thick
arms.
The firing now became miscellane-
ous. No one paid any attention to any
one else. Each discovered what I
could have told them, that even the
human figure at 500 yards is a small
mark for n strange rife. The constant
correction Of elevation, however.
brought the puffs of dust always clos
er. and ! could not buS realize that the
doctrine Of chances must bring home
some of the bullets ! soon discovered
by way Of comfort that only Thrackles
md Handy Solomon really understood
irearms, and of those two Thrackles
llone had had much experience at long
'ange He told me afterward be had
hunted otter.
About halfway up the cliff ThracEles
ired his fifth shot No dust followed
he discharge and | saw Percy Oar.
'ow staEger and almost lose his hold.
The men yelled savagely. but the as
istant pulled himself together and con-
inucd his crawling.
The sun had been shining in our
aces. I could imagine its blurrinc eff
eCt On the sights. Now abruptly It
VAS hlotfed out. and a semitwilight
ell We all looked Up in spite Of our
elves. An Opaque veil had been
lrIwn quite aCross the heavens,
through which we could not make out
wen the shape Of the sun. 1t was like
! thunder cloud except that its under
uTface instead Of being the usual gray
Jack was a deep earth brown. As we
o3ked up 4 deep below stirred the air.
yhich had fallen quite still. long forks
{ lightning shot horizontally from the '
Erection Of the islands interior. and =
lashes Of dull red were reflected from s
be canopy Of cloud
The men stared with their mouths [
pen Undoubtedly the change had !
cen some time IN preparation. but all
ld been 50 absorbed IN the affair Of {
be doctors assistant that no one had
Oticed IL cane 20 our consciousness e
nth the sgddenress Of q theatrical I
hsnge. A dull rearing commenced. &
rev in volume. and then a great ex-