Year: 1877

riding on, " q cool twelve hundred aplee
Throw out your old shell and join the
hunt"


The driver mumbled some foreign an
swer, as if the nectar were clouding his
understanding, and whipped up his horse.
If he did attempt to move the coffin,
was lost


They kept within hailing distance for
the length of three or more miles, Dick
smashing the heavy wagon along at
steaming pace; and / expected that the
coffin would be jostled out.


By-and-by, there was sudden shout;
loud "tally-ho," as if the huntsman
had sighted his quarry. 1t came from
the right Nothing but an unwarrant-
able amount of liquor could have infiu-
enced them to conduct themselves as they
did and to make this noise. The proba-
bility was that not soul (save the one
they fancied they were pursuing) was
within miles and miles, but men bound
ON these raids are cautious. No sooner
was the noise heard than my driver came
to halt Listening for moment, he
threw the reins across the horse, leaped
down, and started off towards his friends.
Perhaps the temptation of the money
(that they might then be dividing) was
too much for him.


For one instant my heart stopped beat
ing at thought of the hazard which was
about to run. The next moment l sprang
from the coffin to the ground. A few
lightning like strokes, and had severed
the traces and the rude bands OF the
harness.


The whole scene is wildly pictured in
my mind now. The moon lighted prairie,
the sloping ravine towards which the
renegades had been dashing, and the
wagon standing in the trail | mounted
one of the horses and urged him onward.
All might have been we'll, had not the
quick ears of the men caught the echo OF
his footsteps. Looking round, they saw
me making off-and / think must have
known me, for / was lighted up by the
bright moonlight. With a wild shout,
they came on in pursuit. There was the
sharp report of two rifles / felt sting
in my foot, another in my shoulder; but
the horse was unharmed, and the race for
life began.


There was one disheartening disad-
vantage for me had no saddle but
was riding for my life, and l held my
steed between my knees, and took the
broad trail with the fury of tornado.
The issue would rest chiefly with the
horses. knew nothing of the one which
/ rode; / knew nothing of those that
were pursuing me, excepting my own
white e-faced horse. He could run like an
antelope, and outwind hurricane.


On, and on, and on, my steed, desper-
ately spurred with the point of the knife,
bore ahead, actually causing me to gasp
for breath; and not 200 yards in the rear
rode those would-be assassins.


On the rolling prairie now /; and my
animal took the declivities with a plunge,
and the elevation with sure, fierce
stride. Across the brawling ford now
but crack came another rifle echo, and
again stream of fire seemed to strike
my shoulder. They were closing in
closing up. / could now make ont only
two horsemen following. One of these
had discharged his rifle at me the other
/ supposed was keeping his in reserve
until he should be few yards nearer
L knew not where 1 was, how far had
come, or how far had to go but did
think and hope must be nearing civih-
zation and Col. Southard's camp.


Could / keep up this pace? Would
the horse fail me Away and away went
we / in front, they behind.


A momentary dizziness threw me for
ward on my horses neck. Whether l
should have yielded to the faintness, 1
know not but distant sound struck on
my ear, and brought me up. Oh, it was
good, that sound but / was not sure
yet, 1 broke into the wild, long, fierce
yell of the border rangers, and sped on
again but my horse had that peculiar
twist now and then in his gait that told
me he was faltering.


Again that echo reached me, swelling
out on the rising wind, and my heart
leaped up. 1t was the shrill music of
the fife, and the rumble of the drums of
the infantry; who were probably return
ing to camp from some expedition to
Fort l.. Again / sent out that long,
wild, border cry, and / knew by the
quicker breathing of the fife and the
rapid pulsing of the drum, that the sol
diers had heard, and were coming to my
rescue.


A parting shot fred at random, and
my two pursuers turned; they could not
face the soldiers. But one of them, at
| lttSb, WIS uOb uOut Will. l.
horse with peculiar whistle that he
knew. L repeated and repeated it; and
then heard him come crashing again in
pursuit, while his rider shouted and
lashed him, and tried to pull him round
the other way. For a brief space of
time, Wolf, for he it was, wrestled with
the animal, lashed, goaded, roared at
him; but my incessant, jerky whistle
call kept his mind and head toward me.
Wolf only gave up the fruitless struggle
and leaped from his back, when a squad
of infantry dashed over billowy swell
of the prairie.


1T is Wolf" L painted, as they bore
down. Go in pursuit of him; am all
right now"


No need to urge them A price was
set on VOLTS head, as they knew, for he
was the most dangerous and desperate
outlaw of the time. / just saw some of
them fly off-while the plain seemed to
be rising and falling about me, and then
quietly tainted; partly with fatigue and
excitement, chiefly with loss of blood.
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