Diamond Dick's Daring Deeds — page 6: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

eynill he heard a roar and a rattle, increasing swiftly in volume. ‘‘What the blazes is that, Diamond Dick?’’ asked Burton. : ‘“Now you’ve got me,’’ replied Dick. A moment later the source of the noise was explained. Twelve horses, in wild flight, tore around the bend in the canyon, a few rods ahead. Behind them rumbled and rattled two immense ore wagons, gibinvg fearfully to right and left and leaping high as their wheels came in contact with various rocks that strewed the trail. There was no driver to be seen with the outfit. “Tt’s the ore haulers’ rig!’’ exclaimed Dick. ‘‘Turn for your life, Burton, or you’ll be run down! Push over toward the wall of the gulch—quick, man!”’ The canyon at this point was about a hundred yards wide. On the extreme right flowed the waters of Puma Creek; on the extreme left, close to the base of the cas- tellated wall of the gulch, was one of the openings of the Comet mine—a lateral shaft sunk for exploring and ventilating purposes. The mine buildings were all behind, and between the creek and the ventilating shaft was acleared stretch, covered only with stones and bowlders. The ou-coming horses were spread out as much as the harness would permit so that their trail covered con- siderable ground. Burtou realized his danger in an instant. His teain was stricken with the fear and excitement which come to animals under such conditions as then existed, and they were uot obedient to the quickly ap- plied lash nor the sharp commands of the deputy. Trembling and crouching back in the harness they refused to budge and reinained snorting and immovable in their track: y- ky . ‘ ’ x. Meee oof oy ‘ 5S ~~ P 7. DIAMOND DICK, JK.—THE BOYS: BEST WEEKLY. ie 7a eos ee aa ae Ol roe i et! : oe ait a4. ee e ae eel 7s ‘y x oe’ pee ah Oat o* y + ak a aes 5S . > . using his whip, the prisoner attempted the wagon. ‘Old Lightning’’ dropped the lines, cast aside his whip and picked up his revolver. ‘Sit where you are!’’ he roared, ttvining one hand in Morgan’s collar and pressing the muzzle of the revolver against his temple ‘‘If there’s a wreck here you and I will be right in the middle of it and take our chances 1) together! That was like Burton, according to all that Dick had heard of him. If his duty called upon him to face death he would do so every time. Seeing that Burton could not help to get the rig out of the way of danger, Dick struck the near horse with his hat and gave a shrill yell. The animals lurched ahead and Dick sprang clear of the leaders of the twelve-horse team, escaping their hoofs by the fraction of an incl. The mountain wagon was almost dragged clear. The runaway horses escaped it and flashed along on their breakneck way, but one of the bobbing wagons leaped sideways, collided with the wheels of the other vehicle and cut them off as though miade of cardboard. Not only this, but the mountain wagon was hurled into the air by the impact, and when it fell was bottom side up. The two passengers, in some miraculous way, escaped serious injury. The old veteran darted for the wreck as‘soon as the two ore wagons were out of the way, and hauled out Burton, who was on his feet the moment he was disen- tangled from the débris. ' Morgan!’ gasped Burton; ‘‘where is he?” ‘“He must be somewhere under these timbers,” returned Dick. : >. ' ae Dick get tien: turned and started toward safety, but just at Diawoiud leaped to their heads and managed to the critical momeut when Burton should have continued No, he’s not there! Look out that he doesn*t jump one of the horses and make off!’ The team had broken from the wagon and were gallop- cor -— ae a ’ S: * ¢ é we’ : *» f g #4 P nd - aif —— y=, | 4 my ~) —s a id ~ Soe ay we we t a4: “hy FY i a> oe s.com.