Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-04-17

Il 1890 eAAoS aiN oSS
his mental apprehension, had
~ understood enough of my stran-
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 / 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 / could
not doubt that he would pick off his
man at close range as soon as the flu.
gitive should have reached the en-.
trance to the arroyo.
There can be no question that he
would have done so had not his Mexi.
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 a second time, again without re
suit. barrow turned sharp to the left
and began desperately to scale the
steep cliffs.
l once took part in wild boar hunt
on the coast of California. Our dogs
had penned small band at the head
Of narrow barranca, from which n
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 u
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 pulled"
Pulz fred from the knee. The dust
this time puffed below.
Thought she'd carry up that dis.
tance," he Nuttered.
The niger, too, missed, and Thrac-
kles grinned triumphantly.
II get a 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 I saw that Percy Oar
rows fate was in the hands of that
dangerous class of natural marksmar
that possesses no nerves. But for the
second time my teeth saved his life
The trigger guard slipped against
Thrackles' lacerated hand almost al
the instant Of discharge. He missed
and the bullet went wide.
barrow had climbed 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 rife
muzzle across the top Of n 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 steadiel
than the stonelike rightly Of his thicl
arms.
| The firing now became miscellane
GUS. No one paid any attention to any
one else. Each discovered what
could have told them, that even tn,
human figure at 500 yards is a small
mark for strange rifle. The constan
correction of elevation, however
brought the puffs of dust always clos
er, and could not but res1iize that til,
doctrine of chances must bring hom
some Of the bullets. soon discovered
by way of comfort that only Thrackle
and Handy Solomon really understood
firearms, and Of those two Thrackle
alone had had much experience at lon,
range. He told me afterward he hat
hunted otter.
About halfway up the cliff Thrackle
fred his fifth shot. No dust followe,
the discharge, and saw Percy Oar
row stagger and almost lose his hold
The men yelled savagely, but the as
sistant pulled himself together and con
tinued his crawling.
The sun had been shining in on
faces. I could imagine its blurring eff