TWO UNEXPECTED CHAMPIONS
It may well be imagined that there was a commotion among the
passengers when this stern summons was heard. The highwaymen were
but two in number, but each was armed with a revolver, ready for
instant use.
One by one the passengers descended from the stage, and stood
trembling and panic-stricken in the presence of the masked robbers.
There seems to be something in a mask which inspires added terror,
though it makes the wearers neither stronger nor more effective.
Luke certainly felt startled and uncomfortable, for he felt that
he must surrender the money he had with him, and this would be
inconvenient, though the loss would not be his, but his employer's.
But, singularly enough, the passenger who seemed most nervous and
terrified was the stalwart Colonel Braddon, who had boasted most
noisily of what he would do in case the stage were attacked. He
nervously felt in his pockets for his money, his face pale and
ashen, and said, imploringly: "Spare my life, gentlemen; I will
give you all I have."
"All right, old man," said one of the stage robbers, as he took
the proffered pocketbook. "Haven't you any more money?"
"No; on my honor, gentlemen. It will leave me penniless."
"Hand over your watch."
With a groan, Colonel Braddon handed over a gold stem-winder,
of Waltham make.
"Couldn't you leave me the watch, gentlemen?" he said, imploringly.
"It was a present to me last Christmas."
"Can't spare it. Make your friends give you another."
Next came the turn of Mortimer Sprague, the young dude.
"Hand over your spondulics, young feller," said the second
gentleman of the road.
"Weally, I'm afraid I can't, without a good deal of twouble."
"Oh, curse the trouble; do as I bid, or I'll break your silly head."
"You see, gentlemen, I keep my money in my boots, don't you know."
"Take off your boots, then, and be quick about it."
"I can't; that is, without help. They're awfully tight, don't
you know."
"Which boot is your money in?" asked the road agent, impatiently.
"The right boot."
"Hold it up, then, and I'll help you."
The road agent stooped over, not suspecting any danger, and in doing
so laid down his revolver.
In a flash Mortimer Sprague electrified not only his assailants,
but all the stage passengers, by producing a couple of revolvers,
which he pointed at the two road agents, and in a stern voice,
wholly unlike the affected tones in which he had hitherto spoken,
said: "Get out of here, you ruffians, or I'll fire!"
The startled road agent tried to pick up his revolver, but Sprague
instantly put his foot on it, and repeated the command.
The other road agent, who was occupied with the minister, turned
to assist his comrade, when he, too, received a check from an
unexpected source.
The minister, who was an old man, had a stout staff, which he used
to guide him in his steps. He raised it and brought it down with
emphasis on the arm which held the revolver, exclaiming. "The sword
of the Lord and of Gideon! I smite thee, thou bold, bad man, not in
anger, but as an instrument of retribution."
"Well done, reverend doctor!" exclaimed Mortimer Sprague. "Between
us we will lay the rascals out!"
Luke, who was close at hand, secured the fallen revolver be fore the
road agent's arm had got over tingling with the paralyzing blow
dealt by the minister, who, in spite of his advanced age, possessed
a muscular arm.
"Now git, you two!" exclaimed Mortimer Sprague. "Git, if you want
to escape with whole bones!"
Never, perhaps, did two road agents look more foolish than these who
had suffered such a sudden and humiliating discomfiture from those
among the passengers whom they had feared least.
The young dude and the old missionary had done battle for the entire
stage-load of passengers, and vanquished the masked robbers, before
whom the rest trembled.
"Stop!" said Colonel Braddon, with a sudden thought. "One of the
rascals has got my pocketbook!"
"Which one?" asked Mortimer.
The colonel pointed him out.
Instantly the dude fired, and a bullet whistled within a few inches
of the road agent's head.
"Drop that pocketbook!" he exclaimed, "or I'll send another
messenger for it; that was only a warning!"
With an execration the thoroughly terrified robber threw down the
pocketbook, and the relieved owner hastened forward to pick it up.
"I thought I'd fetch him, don't you know," said the dude, relapsing
into his soft drawl.
By this time both the road agents were at a safe distance, and the
rescued passengers breathed more freely.
"Really, Mr. Sprague," said Colonel Braddon, pompously, "you are
entitled to a great deal of credit for your gallant behavior; you
did what I proposed to do. Of course, I had to submit to losing my
pocketbook, but I was just preparing to draw my revolver when you
got the start of me."
"If I'd only known it, colonel," drawled Mr. Sprague, "I'd have
left the job for you. Weally, it would have saved me a good deal
of trouble. But I think the reverend doctor here is entitled to
the thanks of the company. I never knew exactly what the sword
of the Lord and of Gideon was before, but I see it means a good,
stout stick."
"I was speaking figuratively, my young friend," said the missionary
"I am not sure but I have acted unprofessionally, but when I saw
those men of violence despoiling us, I felt the natural man rise
within me, and I smote him hip and thigh."
"I thought you hit him on the arm, doctor," said Mr. Sprague.
"Again I spoke figuratively, my young friend. I cannot say I regret
yielding to the impulse that moved me. I feel that I have helped to
foil the plans of the wicked."
"Doctor," said one of the miners, "you've true grit. When you preach
at the Black Hills, count me and my friends among the listeners.
We're all willing to help along your new church, for you're one of
the right sort."
"My friends, I will gladly accept your kind proposal, but I trust
it will not be solely because I have used this arm of flesh in your
defense. Mr. Sprague and I have but acted as humble instruments in
the hands of a Higher Power."
"Well, gentlemen," said Colonel Braddon, "I think we may as well get
into the stage again and resume our journey."
"What shall I do with this revolver?" asked Luke, indicating the one
he had picked up.
"Keep it," said the colonel. "You'll make better use of it than the
rascal who lost it."
"I've got an extra one here," said Mortimer Sprague, raising the one
on which he had put his foot. "I don't need it myself, so I will
offer it to the reverend doctor."
The missionary shook his head.
"I should not know how to use it," he said, "nor indeed am I sure
that I should feel justified in doing so."
"May I have it, sir?" asked one of the miners.
"Certainly, if you want it," said Mr. Sprague.
"I couldn't afford to buy one; but I see that I shall need one
out here."
In five minutes the stage was again on its way, and no further
adventures were met with. About the middle of the next day the
party arrived at Deadwood.