登陆注册
26108500000056

第56章 WEST POINT TO THE RESCUE(1)

It was understood that the sheriff should make a perfunctory defense against the mob in order to "square" him with the voters at the election soon to be held.But the word had been quietly passed that the bullets of the prison guards would be fired over the heads of the attackers.This assurance lent an added braggadocio to the Dutch courage of the lynchers.Many of them who would otherwise have hung back distinguished themselves by the enthusiasm which they displayed.

Bannister himself generaled the affair, detailing squads to batter down the outer door, to guard every side of the prison, and to overpower the sheriff's guard.That official, according to programme, appeared at a window and made a little speech, declaring his intention of performing his duty at whatever cost.He was hooted down with jeers and laughter, and immediately the attack commenced.

The yells of the attackers mingled with the sound of the axe-blows and the report of revolvers from inside the building.Among those nearest to the door being battered down were Denver and the few men he had with him.His plan offered merely a forlorn hope.It was that in the first scramble to get in after the way was opened he and his friends might push up the stairs in the van, and hold the corridor for as long as they could against the furious mob.

It took less than a quarter of an hour to batter down the door, and among the first of those who sprang across the threshold were Denver, Missou, Frisco and their allies.While others stopped to overpower the struggling deputies according to the arranged farce, they hurried upstairs and discovered the cell in which their friends were fastened.

Frisco passed a revolver through the grating to McWilliams, and another to Bannister."Haven't got the keys, so I can't let y'u out, old hoss," he told the foreman."But mebbe y'u won't feel so lonesome with these little toys to play with."Meanwhile Denver, a young giant of seventy-six inches, held the headof the stairs, with four stalwart plainsmen back of him.The rush of many feet came up pell-mell, and he flung the leaders back on those behind.

"Hold on there.This isn't a free-lunch counter.Don't you see we're crowded up here already?""What's eating you ? Whyfor, can't we come?" growled one of the foremost nursing an injured nose.

"I've just explained to you, son, that it's crowded.Folks are prevalent enough up here right now.Send up that bunch of keys and we'll bring your meat to you fast enough.""What's that? What's that?" The outlaw chief pushed his way through the dense mob at the door and reached the stairway.

"He won't let us up," growled one of them.

"Who won't?" demanded Bannister sharply, and at once came leaping up the stairs.

"Nothing doing," drawled Frisco, and tossed him over the railing on to the heads of his followers below.

They carried Bannister into the open air, for his head had struck the newel-post in his descent.This gave the defense a few minutes respite.

"They're going to come a-shooting next time," remarked Denver."Just as soon as he comes back from bye-low land you'll see things hum.""Y'u bet," agreed Missou.We'll last about three minutes when the stampede begins."The scream of an engine pierced the night.

Denver's face lit."Make it five minutes, Missou, and Mac is safe.At least, I'm hoping so awful hard.Miss Helen wired for the militia from Sheridan this nothing.Chances are they're on that train.I couldn't tell you earlier because she made me promise not to.She was afraid it might leak out and get things started sooner."Weak but furious, the miscreant from the Shoshones returned to the attack."Break in the back door and sneak up behind on those fellows.We'll have the men we want inside of fifteen minutes," he promised the mob.

"We'll rush them from both sides, and show those guys on the landing whether they can stop us," added Bostwick.

Suddenly some one raised the cry, "The soldiers!" Bannister looked up the street and swore a vicious oath.Swinging down the road at double time came a company of militia in khaki.He was mad with baffled fury, but he made good his retreat at once and disappeared promptly into the nearest dark alley.

The mob scattered by universal impulse; disintegrated so promptly that within five minutes the soldiers held the ground alone, save for the officials of the prison and Denver's little band.

A boyish lieutenant lately out of the Point, and just come in to a lieutenancy in the militia, was in command."In time?" he asked anxiously, for this was his first independent expedition.

"Y'u bet," chuckled Denver."We're right glad to see you, and I'll bet those boys in the cage ain't regretting your arrival any.Fifteen minutes later and you would have been in time to hold the funeral services, I reckon." "Where is Miss Messiter?" asked the young officer.

"She's at the Elk House, colonel.I expect some of us better drift over there and tell her it's all right.She's the gamest little woman that ever crossed the Wyoming line.Hadn't been for her these boys would have been across the divide hours ago.She's a plumb thoroughbred.Wouldn't give up an inch.All day she has generaled this thing; played a mighty weak hand for a heap more than it was worth.Sand? Seh: she's grit clear through, if anybody asks you." And Denver told the story of the day, ****** much of her unflinching courage and nothing of her men's readiness to back whatever steps she decided upon.

It was ten minutes past eleven when a smooth young, apple-cheeked lad in khaki presented himself before Helen Messiter with a bow never invented outside of West Point.

"I am Lieutenant Beecher.Governor Raleigh presents his compliments by me, Miss Messiter, and is very glad to be able to put at your service such forces as are needed to quiet the town.""You were in time?" she breathed.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 霸王劫,妃不可恕

    霸王劫,妃不可恕

    十万大军狂扫掀腥风血雨,金戈铁马铮铮踏碎你万里山河,不枉你视我为妖女一场!又怎解你施与本公主的怨恨!她终于洗去了他给的她的梦魇,他加诸于她的耻辱,他劫掠去的她的幸福。男子缓缓睁开眼浑身褴褛遍布,血葫芦般的鞭痕泛着污血,独凭着超强大的意志力在控制自己的清醒和理智。她这一分一分戏弄他的体力,凌迟着他的自尊的游戏,如猫捉老鼠的滋味真是爽到爆。月黑风高被劫抢而来,原就为了让他与她痛苦。樵夫,你可还在世上?虹裳霞帔步摇冠,钿璎累累佩珊珊。洞房燕尔难逃他鸠占鹊巢阴魂不散的算计“被你辱,吾宁死!”【情节虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 娘子在上:桃花满园

    娘子在上:桃花满园

    野草般的林辰辰竟然因为见义勇为嗝屁了,还穿越成了不受人待见的将军夫人!女儿当自强,去他的将军,这个身体的主人是眼瞎了才爱你,再敢欺负我一下,老娘我休了你。男人,哼哼,邪魅猖獗、清冷傲人,妖孽单纯,只要本公主入了眼,收了!本文纯属虚构,请勿模仿。
  • 画地为牢:我的老公是无赖

    画地为牢:我的老公是无赖

    一纸婚约把他们绑在一起,他年少气盛,厌恶被人安排,冷落她三年,最后变成了折磨她。他想,就这样互相折磨到永远吧。七年后……一张尿布摔在他的脸上,他欲哭无泪。“霍霖云,还不快去洗尿片!”她大声地吼着,他想说什么,还是没有说,妻子大于天啊,她得意地笑着,谁叫你当初那样虐我,就让宝宝虐死你!是谁说的,就这样被你征服,不对不对,就这样折磨他到永远。
  • 穿到末世后

    穿到末世后

    从星系联邦时期穿到不知道多少年前末世结束后的新时代。要啥啥没有。苏颖表示智脑在手,天下我有。粮食?不够吃?没关系,智脑会催熟啊!不就是能量波么?异能?我不会。可是我的智脑会模拟啊!不就是能量波么?科技?我没有。可是我的智脑有记录啊!不还是能量波么?末世什么最多?天然能量波啊!
  • 一方天下

    一方天下

    世界的阴谋,到底是谁在主宰这个天下,是众神的裁决?还是来自地狱的审判?能号召天下的,究竟是强者?还是所谓的独裁者?这座大陆上发生的故事,需要人统治。
  • 三国霸王传

    三国霸王传

    华丽都市,超级兵王…雷凰陨落!而此时正值九星连月!……我叫项昭,字应祥,西楚霸王项羽嫡系子孙!……看我收纳百川,重振先祖大业,天下英雄,天下之美人尽入手掌中!*^_^*
  • 上古世纪之诺伊传说

    上古世纪之诺伊传说

    她的童年是寂寞的,在一个小小院落里度过了九年。她的命运是未知的,从一个村子漂泊到世界之都。她逆转了天命,成为新大陆的诺伊女神。----库子
  • 你若安蓝自清逸

    你若安蓝自清逸

    一部关于霸道傲娇腹黑男主的故事。女主角坚强果断人不犯我我不犯人类型的或许迷糊可爱的女主会很讨喜,但是在这个社会,经历了太多伤害和背叛的我们很难做到那么天真被从小就小心呵护的金丝雀或是不懂人间险恶的单纯姑娘有但绝不是我们这样的大多数我们在这个社会摸爬滚打,要竖起厚厚的保护层,防止各种的伤害,包括那些我们认为永远不会伤害我们的人,所带来的伤害不过还是会加入可爱单纯的人物毕竟这个世界上,永远有着那样可爱的人儿
  • 爱情有多远

    爱情有多远

    [花雨授权]她对他的每一任情人都比他熟悉,跟他分手后的情人,总是能跟她成为朋友,她怎么可以不喜欢他?!打赌、威胁、利诱……她好像还是无动于衷的样子?这一次,就算要踏进“婚姻的坟墓”,他也要将她手到擒来!
  • 晶石村

    晶石村

    在晶石村与护林村之间,有一片神秘的森林,地下埋藏着一种神秘的晶石,这两个村的人们世代守护着这片森林和他的秘密。而生活在京北市的人们,他们拥有着最先进的技术,他们完全借着高科技生活在这座超现代的城市。与之相反,在市区近郊的一个原生小区,他们生活在大自然的里,保持着较为原始的生活习惯。一块神秘的碎片打破了这种和谐,他将人类分为新生人与原生人,新生人生活在高冷的市区,渐渐的脱离了地球人的特性,他们向外星球取得联系;原生人渐渐搬离市区回归田园生活,两类人慢慢的产生了分歧,原生人遭到新生人的排斥,原生人为了生存,必须找到一种能对抗新生人的武器,新生人与原生人终究有一战。